GB2334884A

GB2334884A - Collapsible furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2334884A
Application number: GB9804507A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Timothy Brett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-03
Filing date: 1998-03-03
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-03
Also published as: GB9804507D0; GB2334884B

Abstract

Collapsible furniture, eg a seat, chair or ironing board, has a pair of leg assemblies 19,26 pivoted on a common axis 4. Collapsing is achieved by rotation of the mechanism at axis 4, with one leg assembly 19 being held stationary in relation to the rotation of the mechanism. The erect form is achieved when a pushing bar 5 mounted on the mechanism housing contacts one leg assembly 19 thereby preventing any further rotation in that direction, whilst simultaneously a latch 7 is engaged to prevent counter rotation of the mechanism housing and thereby structurally bracing the mechanism. The latch 7 can be released by bar 28 to allow the mechanism housing to counter rotate and therefore reconfigure the collapsed form.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE This invention relates to collapsible furniture and in particular, a mechanism which facilitates simplicity of conversion between an erect configuration and a collapsed configuration by a single hand manipulation.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a collapsible mechanism for supporting a platform comprises: a platform support assembly; a pair of leg assemblies, each of which is supported by the platform support assembly for rotation about a common suspension axis; an articulating bracing linkage movable between a folded position and an unfolded position corresponding to a collapsed configuration and an erect configuration of the mechanism, respectively, wherein relative rotational movement between one leg assembly and the platform support assembly about the common suspension axis causes folding and unfolding of the articulating bracing linkage; and, a latch catch member rotatably supported by the platform support assembly for engaging the articulating bracing linkage in the unfolded position to prevent further rotational movement of the mechanism and thereby brace the mechanism in the erect configuration.

Preferably, the mechanism further comprises a release member which is operative to cooperate with the latch catch member and thereby disengage the latch catch from the articulated bracing linkage to allow the mechanism to be collapsed.

Preferably, the latch catch member is rotatably supported for movement about the common suspension axis.

Preferably, the mechanism further comprises a stop member which is arranged to cooperate with at least one of the leg assemblies to prevent further rotation beyond the unfolded position of the articulated bracing linkage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a collapsible table comprises a collapsible mechanism in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention in combination with a technical table surface mounted on the platform support assembly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a collapsible chair or seating surface comprises a collapsible mechanism in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention in combination with a chair or seating surface mounted on the platform support assembly.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a collapsible ironing board or ironing surface comprises a collapsible mechanism in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention in combination with an ironing board or ironing surface mounted on the platform support assembly.

The present invention provides a mechanism which is selectively reconfigurable between a collapsed form and an erect form by rotation about an axis. The transformation from one form to the other is achieved by means of a quarter rotation (approximately) of the mechanism at the common rotational axis, with one leg assembly being held stationary in relation to the rotation of the mechanism. The erect form of the mechanism is achieved when a pushing bar mounted on the mechanism housing contacts one leg assembly thereby preventing any further rotation in that direction, whilst simultaneously a latch catch is engaged to prevent counter rotation of the mechanism housing and thereby structurally bracing the mechanism. The latch catch can be released from a remote location to allow the mechanism housing to counter rotate and therefore reconfigure the collapsed form.

An example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a table in accordance with the present invention in a collapsed configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table in figure 1 in an erected configuration; Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the underside of the table of figure 2; Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the table shown in figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a portion of the underside of the table of figure 1; and, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the table shown in figure 5.

Referring to the drawings a mechanical mechanism 1 is provided as part of a collapsible table structure As shown the mechanism 1 consists of two handed mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 laterally spaced apart and parallel to each other. Furthermore, between mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 there is fixedly attached a horizontal and centrally disposed suspension axle 4 which is borne at right angles to the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3.

The suspension axle 4 bears the pendulously connected and independently acting leg assemblies, the front leg assembly 21 and the rear leg assembly 14. This method of independently connecting the front and rear leg assemblies 21 and 14 allows them to take up different positions relative to each other and the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3.

The front leg assembly consists of two leg bearing blocks 22 and 23 which are laterally spaced apart and parallel to each other. Furthermore the leg bearing blocks 22 and 23 are fixedly attached to one another by two torsion bars, the upper torsion bar 24 and the lower torsion bar 25 which are at right angles to the leg bearing blocks 22 and 23, and are parallel to each other and the suspension axle 4 . Protruding from and fixedly attached to the under side of the leg bearing blocks 22 and 23 are respectively the legs 26 and 27.

The rear leg assembly consists of two leg bearing blocks 15 and 16 which are laterally spaced and parallel to each other. Furthermore the leg bearing blocks 15 and 16 are fixedly attached to one another by two torsion bars, the upper torsion bar 17 and the lower torsion bar 18 which are at right angles to the leg bearing blocks 15 and 16 and are parallel to each other and the suspension axle 4. Protruding from and fixedly attached to the underside of the leg bearing blocks 15 and 16 are respectively the legs 19 and 20.

The mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 also bear a further member between them referred to as the pushing bar 5 . The pushing bar 5 is fixedly attached and at right angles to the mechanism sides 2 and 3 and is parallel to and laterally spaced from the suspension axle 4 at such a distance that when the mechanism 1 is rotated about the suspension axle 4 from a collapsed form towards an erect structured form, the pushing bar 5 will contact the bearing blocks 22 and 23 of the front leg assembly 21 causing the front leg assembly to rotate about the suspension axle 4 and away from the rear leg assembly 14 . The pushing bar 5 also bears a release bar guide 6 fixedly attached and centrally positioned on its length relative to the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3. The purpose of the release bar guide 6 is to guide the end of the release bar 28 to the point at which it can contact the rear of the latch catch 7 and act on the latch catch 7 at the appropriate time.

There will now be described a set of parts which when in conjunction with each other will be referred to as the articulated bracing linkage 8 and consists of; the linkage axle 9, handed struts 10 and 11, articulating axle 12, and bracing member 13. The mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 bear at right angles between them the linkage axle 9, which is parallel to and at a set distance from the suspension axle 4. Rotatably attached by one end to the linkage axle 9 and laterally spaced on its length are the handed struts 10 and 11, which are fixedly attached together at their opposite end by the articulating axle 12 which is also parallel to the suspension axle 4. The bracing member 13 is rotatably attached by one end to the articulating axle 12 and is rotatably attached by its other end to the lower torsion bar 18 of the rear leg assembly 14. The body of the bracing member overhangs by a set distance the point at which it is rotatably attached to the articulating axle 12 and its end is angled so as to best releasably engage with the hooked end of the latch catch 7.

When the articulated bracing linkage 8 is attached in the manner described above, rotational movement of the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 about the suspension axle 4, relative to the rear leg assembly 14, will cause folding or unfolding of the articulating bracing linkage 8 about the point of the articulating axle 12 depending on the direction of rotation of the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3. The maximum unfolded position of the articulated bracing linkage 8 is reached when the pushing bar 5 contacts the leg bearing blocks 15 and 16 of the rear leg assembly 14 making any further rotation of the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 about the suspension axle 4 impossible.

The suspension axle 4 has one further member rotatably attached to it known as the latch catch 7. Said latch catch 7 is centrally located on the length of the suspension axle 4 and directly in-between the front leg assembly bearing blocks 22 and 23 and is rotatably attached to the suspension axle 4 by one end with its unattached end free to rotate about the suspension axle 4 within its varying limits. The unattached end of the latch catch 7 is substantially hook shaped, and the radial distance from the suspension axle 4 to the inner apex of the hook is such that when the articulated bracing linkage is in its maximum unfolded position the unattached end of the latch catch releasably engages in a hook over' fashion with the angled end of the bracing member 13 which protrudes past the articulating axle 12. The engagement of the latch catch 7 and the bracing member 13 causes the structural bracing of the mechanism 1 in the said structured form, by preventing the movement of the articulating axle 12 away from the suspension axle 4 thereby preventing the folding action of the articulated bracing linkage 8 and consequently preventing counter rotation of the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 about the suspension axle 4.

There is provided in this preferred embodiment of the invention the means to release the engagement of the latch catch 7 and bracing member 13 by a release bar 28 the end of which pushes against the rear of the latch catch 7 at a point beneath the suspension axle 4 forcing the latch catch 7 to rotate about the suspension axle 4 in an upwards direction thereby disengaging with the bracing member 13. The release bar 28 is operated remotely from the rear edge of the surface structure 33 which is also the portaging hold position, and is actuated by an inward pushing action on the exposed section of the release bar 28 on the external edge of the surface structure 33. The release bar 28 is retained in the surface structure 33 by retaining pin 29 and due to its configuration is spring loaded against bar stop 30. This spring loading is necessary to stop release bar 28 acting on the latch catch 7 at an inappropriate time and so ensures that the latch catch 7 is only released when it is desired to collapse the structure.

The process of conversion between the preferred embodiment's collapsed form and it's erect form will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

When in the stand by form, shown in figs 1, 5, and 6, the surface structure 33 may be rotated from the portaging hold 31 about the suspension axle 4 by a quarter turn (approximately) towards the ground, whilst the rear legs 19 and 20 are kept in contact with the ground and the front leg assembly 21 is rotated by action of the pushing bar 5 away from the rear leg assembly 14 and into it's collapsed form position, simultaneously by the rotating action of the mechanism housing sides 2 and 3 the articulated bracing linkage 8 will unfold to it's maximum unfolded position and the latch catch 7 will releasably engage by action of gravity with bracing member 13 so structurally bracing the table.

The table shown in figs. 2,3, and 4, may be collapsed by pushing inwardly and holding the exposed section of the release bar 28 located at the rear edge of the surface structure adjacent to the portaging hold 31, this causes the end of the release bar 28 to contact and apply force to the rear of the latch catch 7 causing the latch catch 7 to rotate and disengage from the bracing member 13. With the mechanism 1 no longer structurally braced, the action of counter rotating the surface structure 33 by a quarter turn (approximately) from the portaging hold 31 will cause the articulated bracing linkage 8 to fold, while simultaneously allowing the front and rear leg assemblies 21 and 14 respectively to swing freely towards each other about the suspension axle 4 until they meet at their mutual stop 32 and form their stand by position with the surface structure assuming it's near vertical lie. This stand by form may with a single hand be grasped and transported by the portaging hold 31 and placed free standing according to desire.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A collapsible mechanism for supporting a platform, comprising: a platform support assembly; a pair of leg assemblies, each of which is supported by the platform support assembly for rotation about a common suspension axis; an articulating bracing linkage movable between a folded position and an unfolded position corresponding to a collapsed configuration and an erect configuration of the mechanism, respectively, wherein relative rotational movement between one leg assembly and the platform support assembly about the common suspension axis causes folding and unfolding of the articulating bracing linkage; and, a latch catch member rotatably supported by the platform support assembly for engaging the articulating bracing linkage in the unfolded position to prevent further rotational movement of the mechanism and thereby brace the mechanism in the erect configuration.
2. A collapsible mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a release member which is operative to co-operate with the latch catch member and thereby disengage the latch catch from the articulated bracing linkage to allow the mechanism to be collapsed.
3. A collapsible mechanism according to claim l or 2, in which the latch catch member is rotatably supported by the platform support assembly for movement about the common suspension axis.
4. A collapsible mechanism according to any preceding claim, further comprising a stop member is arranged to co-operate with at least one of the leg assemblies to prevent further rotation beyond the unfolded position of the articulated bracing linkage.
5. A collapsible table comprising a collapsible mechanism according to any preceding claim in combination with a table surface mounted on the platform support assembly.
6. A collapsible chair comprising a collapsible mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 4 in combination with a chair surface mounted on the platform support assembly.
7. A collapsible ironing board comprising a collapsible mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 4 in combination with an ironing board surface mounted on the platform support assembly.
8. A collapsible mechanism substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to any of Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A collapsible table substantially as shown in and /or described with reference to any of Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.