IE902202A1

IE902202A1 - Table apparatus

Info

Publication number: IE902202A1
Application number: IE220290A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Bartholemew Foley
Priority date: 1990-06-18
Filing date: 1990-06-18
Publication date: 1991-12-18
Also published as: GB9112153D0; GB2246290A

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a plurality of surface members 11 to 13 articulated together by arms 17 for relative movement between a first position wherein the surface members are arranged edge-to-edge in a substantially common plane to form a table surface (Figure 1), and a second position (Figure 2) wherein the surface members are arranged one above the other to form shelves. The apparatus may be wall-mounted.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus which is convertible from a table to shelves and vice versa.

According to the invention there is provided an 5 apparatus comprising a plurality of surface members connected together for relative movement between a first position wherein the surface members are arranged edge-to-edge in a substantially common plane to form a table surface, and a second position wherein the surface members are arranged one above the other to form shelves .

The invention has the advantage of providing an apparatus which can be converted from a table into a shelf unit. The apparatus of the present invention has a particular application where space is at a premium.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table 20 apparatus according to the invention in the table position; and - 3 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table apparatus according to the invention in the shelf position .

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an apparatus 10 which comprises three rectangular surface members 11, 12, 13 articulated together by arms 17 for relative movement between a first position (Figure 1) wherein the surface members are arranged edge-to-edge in a substantially common, generally horizontal plane to form a table surface, and a second position (Figure 2) wherein the surface members are arranged generally in parallel and spaced-apart one above the other to form shelves. The upper surface of the surface members 11, 12, 13 form the surface of the apparatus 10 in the table position of Figure 1 and the surface of each of the shelves of the apparatus 10 in the shelf position of Figure 2. The innermost surface member 11 has a pair of brackets 15 (only one shown) adjacent its rear edge which can be fixed onto a wall 14 by means of bolts 16 or the like for mounting such member generally horizontally against the wall. Each surface member 11, 12, 13 is mounted in a conventional manner on a respective pair of support members 30, 31, to strengthen and support the members 11, 12, 13 along their opposite side edges, as shown.

The arms 17 comprise two pairs of substantially parallel arms with the surface members 11, 12 and 13 being located between the two pairs of arms. Each pair of arms 17 is pivoted to each of the support members 30, 31 and 32 at a respective one of the two opposite edges of each surface member 11, 12 and 13, the pivot points being shown at 18 and 18', 19 and 19', and 20 and - 4 20' for the members 11, 12 and 13 respectively. The location of the connection points 18 and 18', 19 and 19', 20 and 20' on the members 30, 31 and 32, are selected so that the apparatus 10 can be readily converted from the table position of Figure 1 to the shelf position of Figure 2 by lifting or lowering the outermost surface member 13.

When the apparatus is in the table position the arms in each pair of arms 17 lie closely side-by10 side generally parallel to the plane of the table surface so as provide support for the latter. As the arms 17 are disposed one on top of the other in the table position, this serves to limit the pivotal movement of the arms 17 and thus secures the apparatus in the table position. In the shelf position of the apparatus the arms in each pair of arms 17 are spacedapart and extend in a substantially vertical direction, generally perpendicular to the surface members.

The apparatus 10 may optionally be provided with a leg 21 which may be attached to the underside of the outermost surface member 13 in use. The leg 21 provides further support for the apparatus 10 in the table position .

The underside of the outermost surface member 13 may also be provided with a fastener (not shown) which engages with a corresponding fastener (not shown) mounted on the wall at a suitable location to hold the apparatus 10 in the shelf position. - 5 The table apparatus 10 may be converted from the table position illustrated in Figure 1 to the shelf position illustrated in Figure 2, by detaching the leg 21 from the outermost surface member 13 and then pushing the outermost surface member 13 upwards. If desired, the apparatus 10 may then be held in the shelf position using the fastener (not shown). This procedure can be reversed in order to convert the apparatus 10 from the shelf position illustrated in Figure 2 to the table position illustrated in Figure 1.

It will further be appreciated that any other suitable form of securing means may be used to secure the surface members in the shelf position. Also, a cantilever type bracket may be used rather than the pair of brackets 15.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An apparatus comprising a plurality of surface members connected together for relative movement between a first position wherein the surface members are 5 arranged edge-to-edge in a substantially common plane to form a table surface, and a second position wherein the surface members are arranged one above the other to form shelves .

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one 10 of the surface members has means adjacent one edge for mounting such member generally horizontally against a wall, and the other surface members are articulated to said one member by a plurality of arms each pivoted relative to each surface member. 15

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, including two sets of substantially parallel arms with said surface members being located between the two sets of arms, each set of arms being pivoted relative to a respective one of two opposite edges of each surface 20 member, such that in the first position of the surface members the arms in each set of arms lie side-by-side generally parallel to said common plane and in the second position of the surface members the arms in each set of arms extend spaced-apart generally perpendicular 25 to the surface members.

4. An apparatus set of arms consists as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each a pair of arms.

5. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.