GB2338179A

GB2338179A - Load bearing unit

Info

Publication number: GB2338179A
Application number: GB9811038A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Lanyon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-22
Filing date: 1998-05-22
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-22
Also published as: GB2338179B; GB9811038D0

Abstract

A load bearing unit or base comprises at least three elements A,B,C linked to one another in a chain. The unit is movable between a first storage configuration in which the elements lie nested, one within the other, and a second load bearing configuration in which the elements are extended, whilst remaining linked. Resiliency within the unit urges the chain between these two configurations. One or more props extending between the first and last elements in the chain maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration. The unit can be formed into a table, cupboard or bookcase and may incorporate a drawer. Several units may be used together.

Description

LOAD BEARING UNIT 2338179 1 This invention relates to a load bearing unit.

In particular it is concerned with a load bearing unit for use in furnishing.

There is widespread marketing of items of furniture in the form of a flat pack of component parts which pack can be readily transported to a site where it is to be assembled. The component parts are then unpacked and the item assembled following simple instructions and using a small number of tools. Producing furniture in this way for subsequent assembly involves the use of production techniques providing accurately cut panels with closely located and relatively close tolerance locating points. This serves to provide for the ready assembly of closely reproducible items. The design of furniture for assembly in this way normally involves the use of flat panels (often of chip board or plywood) which can be linked by conventional coupling means. The widespread use of flat panels can lead to products of unremarkable appearance unless close attention is paid to the design, particularly the proportions and finish, of the assembled product According to the present invention there is provided a load bearing unit comprises a chain of at least three elements linked to one another; the chain in a:

first, storage, configuration having the elements lying nested one within the other to provide a minimum height dimension to the unit; and second, load bearing, configuration wherein the elements are extended while remaining linked to one another as a chain of elements; resilient loading is provided by way of the chain, or by way of, links between one element and the next in the chain; the loading serving to urge the chain between a load bearing configuration and a storage configuration; and at least one prop extending between the first and last element in the chain to maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration against the effect of the resilient loading.

1 2 According to a first preferred aspect of the present invention the resilient loading tends to drive the unit from the load bearing to the storage configuration and the prop or props serves to resist the tendency of the loading to drive the unit from the load bearing to the storage configuration and to maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the resilient loading tends to drive the unit from the storage configuration to the load bearing configuration and the prop or props serves to resist the tendency of the loading to drive the unit from the storage configuration to the load bearing configuration and to maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a table of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the table in a storage configuration and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table of Figure 1 when extended into a load bearing configuration.

Figure 1 shows a table 11 in a storage configuration. The table 11 is cut from a single sheet 12 of plywood. The sheet 12 is cut through with a pair of U-shaped slots comprising outer slot 13 and inner slot 14 to form three links A, B C which are more readily viewed in figure 2 which will be referred to hereafter. It will be seen that ends 13A, 13B of slot 13 end some way from the nearest outer sides 12A, 12B and end 12C of the sheet 12. This enables the parts of the sheet 12 in the vicinity of the ends 13A, 13B to undergo a degree of distortion and store elastic energy without splitting or other irreversible effect on the local region. Likewise ends 14A, 14B of slot of slot 14 end some way from the nearest part of slot 13 and from central open area 15 of the sheet 12. This enables the parts of the sheet 12 in the vicinity of the ends 14A, 14B to undergo a degree of distortion and store elastic energy without splitting or other irreversible effect on the local region.

The central area 15 of the sheet 12 is removed to reduce the overall weight of the finished product..

3 The sheet 12 has four holes H1 to H4 near its outer corners extending through the sheet 12. Likewise four holes J1 to J4 extend through the sheet 12 near the inner corners of the central area 15. These are for use with struts to hold the table in its erected load bearing 5 position as shown in Figure 2 to which reference is now made.

Element A of the table 11 is drawn upwardly in a generally horizontal alignment while leaving element C in contact with floor F. The central element B tends to twist relative to: the element A about a horizontal axis Z1 in the vicinity of ends 13A, 13B; and the element C about a horizontal axis Z2 in the vicinity of ends 14A, 14B. This twisting action serves to store elastic energy in the wood of the element and causes the table structure to tend to restore itself to its storage configuration. This tendency is resisted, and the table maintained in its load bearing condition, by inserting X-shaped prop X1 with its lower ends in holes H1, H4 and upper ends in holes J1, J4 in element C.

Likewise X-shaped prop X2 has its lower ends in holes J2, J3 and upper ends in holes H2 H3 in element A. In this case the props Xl, X2 are of twisted mild steel rod.

The erection of the table 11 is completed by placing on element A a sheet G of glass (shown in broken outline) to serve as table top. The element A is provided with non-slip pads to resist motion of the sheet G relative to rest of the table.

The assembly of the table 11 is readily carried out in a short period of time. The table particularly lends itself to being readily stored in its storage configuration from which it can be readily moved and assembled for use at short notice.

The appearance of the erected table 11 is distinguished by the fact that the end elements A and C in the chain while subject to the twisting action maintained by way of the props Xl, X2 are curved along their length. Thus element A is concave upwards and element C is concave downwards. Element B remains relatively straight. This results in a striking appearance for the erect table and removes any tendency for the appearance of the table to be obviously derived from a flat panel of material.

1 4 In the exemplary embodiment the elements A, B, C are integrally attached to one another in such a way that they are deformable relative to one another so as to be able to move between the storage and load bearing configurations. This deforming action serves to causes energy to be stored within the elements as they tend to be driven from the load bearing to the storage configuration. As a result the elements would spring back towards the storage configuration without the props Xl, X2. The effect of these props can be embodied in a variety of forms. In addition elements corresponding to elements A to C can be pivotably attached to one another with the added provision of some form of resilient loading such as spring components. In addition it is envisaged that the table could be configured to end to expand from the storage configuration and in this case props would serve to stop the upper element moving away from the lower element.

The props can be of variable length to provide more than one possible height of the erected table.

The exemplary embodiment shows a load bearing structure in the form of a table (or desk). Placed on end a similar structure could serve as a basis for a cupboard or book case and an end element or an intermediate one in the chain could serve to support a separate loadable element such as a shelf or rail. The load bearing structure of the present invention could also serve as a load bearing support for a drawer or tray or a plurality of these.

It is also envisaged that more than one load bearing unit according to the present invention could be coupled to one another to provide a combination unit for bearing a load.

The unit described in the exemplary embodiment is of skeletal form and could incorporate lighting, plants or models or other decorative or functional features enabling them to be visible from outside the unit. In another version the unit of the present invention can incorporate screening or other means in order to conceal the interior of the unit to a greater or lesser extent.

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Claims

1 A load bearing unit comprising a chain of at least three elements linked to one another; the chain in a: first, storage, configuration having the elements lying nested one within the other to provide a minimum height dimension to the unit; and second, load bearing, configuration wherein the elements are extended while remaining linked to one another as a chain of elements; and resilient loading provided by way of the chain, or by way of, links between one element and the next in the chain; the loading serving to urge the chain between the load bearing configuration and a storage configuration; and at least one prop extending between the first and last element in the chain to maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration against the effect of the resilient loading.

2 A load bearing unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the resilient loading tends to drive the unit from the load bearing to the storage configuration and the prop or props serves to resist the tendency of the loading to drive the unit from the load bearing to the storage configuration and to maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration.

3 A load bearing unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the resilient loading tends to drive the unit from the storage configuration to the load bearing configuration and the prop or props serves to resist the tendency of the loading to drive the unit from the storage configuration to the load bearing configuration and to maintain the unit in its load bearing configuration.

A load bearing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one element in the chain, typically the first element, is in the form of a table top and, at least in the load bearing configuration, the element in the form of a table top is substantially horizontal 1711, A load bearing unit as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 forming or incorporated into a cupboard or book case.

6 A load bearing structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an element in the chain serves to support a separate loadable element such as a shelf or rail or a drawer.

A structure comprising a plurality of lead bearing units as claimed in any preceding claim providing for the distribution of load between at least two units in the structure.

A load bearing unit as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.