US20090151605A1

US20090151605A1 - Table, Particularly a Bar or Bistro Table

Info

Publication number: US20090151605A1
Application number: US12/332,956
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Buhler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-13
Filing date: 2008-12-11
Publication date: 2009-06-18
Also published as: ATE464807T1; DE102007060543B3; EP2070440B1; DE502008000562D1; EP2070440A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a table with a table top which is connected via a table leg to a pedestal which can be placed on the ground. Between the table top and the pedestal is arranged a swivel joint, by means of which the table top is pivotable relative to the pedestal about at least one swivel axis aligned perpendicular to the lengthwise extension of the table leg. The table has a catch device adjustable between an open position and a closed position for the swivel joint by means of which the table top is fixable in different swivel positions relative to the pedestal. The table top is connected so that it is rotatable about a rotation axis oriented more or less perpendicular to its horizontal plane and is drive connected to the catch device so that said catch device is adjustable between the open position and the closed position by turning the table top about the rotation axis.

Description

The invention relates to a table with a table top, which is connected by means of a table leg to a pedestal capable of being placed on the ground, wherein between the table top and the pedestal a swivel joint is arranged, by means of which the table top is pivotable relative to the pedestal about at least one swivel axis aligned perpendicular to the lengthwise extension of the table leg, and with a catch device for the swivel joint which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position and by means of which the table top is fixable in various swivel positions relative to the pedestal.
Such a table is disclosed in DE 20 2005 015 564 U1. The table leg of this table is connected to the pedestal by means of a ball joint so that it is capable of being pivoted or tilted laterally. The ball joint has an essentially ball-shaped first bearing element arranged on the lower end of the table leg and a corresponding second bearing element, which is solidly connected to the pedestal and has a receptacle for the ball-shaped end. So that the table top can be fixed on the pedestal in various swivel positions, the table has a catch device for the ball joint. This catch device has a set screw arranged on the ball joint, by means of which screw the bearing elements of the ball joint can be tightened against each other and locked, thus preventing them from swiveling. With the aid of the ball joint and the catch device, the table can be placed on a sloping and/or uneven surface, for example in the yard, so that the table top is always aligned in a horizontal plane. Objects placed on the table, such as wine glasses or beverage bottles, are thus not able to tip over as easily. A disadvantage resides in the table, however, in that the catch device is rather cumbersome to manipulate because the set screw is arranged under the table near the pedestal, where it is not easy to reach for the table user. An extension rod having a handle on its end remote from the set screw for actuating said set screw can be screw-connected to said set screw. The users of the table, however, are likely to find the extension rod annoying because in operative position it projects laterally outwards from the table leg at about a 45° angle, so that someone sitting at the table may strike the extension rod with his or her legs. When this happens, objects placed on the table top may tip over and/or fall to the ground. A further disadvantage resides in that actuation of the relatively small handle requires a not inconsiderable amount of physical effort. If the set screw is not sufficiently tightened, however, the table top can tilt uncontrollably, wherein objects placed thereon can also tip over and/or fall off.
The object is therefore to design a table of the aforementioned type in which the table top is alignable and fixable in a horizontal position, even on a sloping surface.
This object is achieved for the invention wherein the table top is connected to the pedestal so that it is rotatable about a rotation axis oriented more or less perpendicular to its horizontal plane and drive connected to the catch device so that said catch device is adjustable between the open position and the closed position by turning the table top about the rotation axis.
The catch device is thus easily actuated by turning the table top. To align the table top, the catch device is first disengaged by turning the table top in a first direction of rotation. The table top is then horizontally positioned by tilting it relative to the pedestal. Finally the catch device is locked in the previously adjusted position by turning the table top in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation. Because the table top has a relatively large diameter, little physical effort is required by the user to apply the torque needed for releasing and tightening the catch device. The table top is thus easily horizontally aligned when the table, for example, is placed on a sloping surface. To prevent the pedestal from tipping, the latter preferably rests on three places on the ground separated from each other in directions running transverse to each other. Preference is given to configuration of the pedestal as a tripod.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a blocking device is allocated to the catch device, which is able to be brought into a release position and a blocking position and operates coactively with the catch device so that in the release position, the latter is adjustable between the open position and the closed position, wherein in the blocking position the movement of the catch device is blocked. In the blocking position, the catch device is secured against an accidental release, thus preventing a subsequent uncontrolled tilting of the table top.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the swivel joint is arranged between the table leg and the pedestal. By adjusting the swivel joint, the table top as well as the table leg can then be straightened.
Preference is given to the swivel joint being pivotable relative to the pedestal about at least two swivel axes oriented perpendicular to each other and particular preference is given to configuration of the swivel joint as a ball joint. The table top can then be even more easily and precisely horizontally aligned.
In a further modification of the invention, the swivel bearing has a first bearing element connected to the pedestal and a bearing element pivotable relative to said first element and connected to the table leg, wherein the catch device has a joint gripping mechanism with a first gripping element and a second gripping element, wherein said first gripping element and said second gripping element are screw-connected to each other by means of a threaded fitting concentrically aligned to the rotation axis of the table top, wherein the first gripping element is connected to the first bearing element at a first abutment site and the second gripping element is connected to the table top at a second abutment site, and wherein said abutment sites are aligned so that a straight connecting line between the first abutment site and/or the center of area of the first abutment site and the second abutment site and/or the center of area of the second abutment site intersects the at least one swivel axis. The catch device then permits a simple and economic assembly.
It is advantageous if the first bearing element and the second bearing element have openings and if the joint gripping mechanism is fed through these openings. The catch device then permits particularly compact dimensions.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the table leg is configured as a stanchion with a hollow center, wherein the joint gripping mechanism is fed through said hollow center. The joint gripping mechanism arranged inside the stanchion is then not visible to the table user.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first bearing element is configured as a bearing seat with a spherical outer surface facing toward the second bearing element and a spherical inner surface facing away from the second bearing element, wherein the second bearing element is a bearing cup resting superficially on the outer surface, wherein the first gripping element is a nut and the second gripping element is a threaded rod screw-connected therewith, and wherein the nut has a spherical outer envelope surface which comes into superficial contact with the inner surface of the first bearing element. It is even possible for the adjacent surfaces of the bearing elements to be equipped with a friction lining or to have a corresponding surface structure.
Preference is given to the joint gripping mechanism having a device for acoustic and/or optical signaling of a torque acting on the joint gripping mechanism as the table top is turned about the rotation axis. Such a signaling device is known to the professional specializing in torque keys. It makes it possible to tighten the threaded fitting of the joint gripping mechanism easily with a predefined tension force and thus to fix the bearing elements of the swivel joint securely in a predefined position relative to each other.
It is advantageous if the table top has on its underside a bearing sleeve rotatably mounted on the table leg. An economical, sturdy swivel bearing is thus achieved, by means of which the table top is rotatable about the lengthwise central axis of the stanchion.
A bubble level is advantageously embedded in the top side of the table top. An even more precise horizontal alignment of the table top is thus possible.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the table top is connected to the pedestal so that it is tiltable between an operative position and an inoperative position about a tilting axis aligned more or less perpendicular to the lengthwise extension of the table leg and in terms of the tilting movement is lockable at least in the operative position. With the top in the inoperative position, space can be saved when storing the table.

An illustrative embodiment is explained in more detail in the following, with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a bistro table placed on a sloping surface,

FIG. 2 shows a view from above of a stanchion and a pedestal of the bistro table,

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the individual elements in preassembly position of a swivel joint of the bistro table,

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the swivel joint in which the table top is aligned parallel to the pedestal,

FIG. 5 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 4 in which, however, the table top is tilted relative to the pedestal, and

FIG. 6 shows a partial longitudinal section through the bistro table in which the swivel bearing of the table top can be particularly easily discerned.

A table designated in its entirety by 1 in FIG. 1 has a more or less circular disk-shaped table top 2, which is connected via a table leg 3, configured as a circular cylindrical pipe, to a pedestal 5 capable of being placed on the ground 4. It can be discerned in FIG. 2 that the pedestal 5 is configured as a tripod, which has three support legs offset from each other by about 120° with respect to a center, each of which legs contacts the ground 4 with its end remote from the center.
Between the bottom end of the table leg and the pedestal is arranged a swivel joint 6 configured as a ball joint, which has a first bearing element 7 and a second bearing element 8 pivotable relative to the first bearing element 7 about swivel axes oriented perpendicular to each other. It can be discerned in FIG. 3 that the first bearing element 7 is configured as a bearing seat with a spherical outer surface 9 facing toward the second bearing element 8 and a spherical inner surface 10 facing away from the second bearing element 8. The second bearing element 8 is configured as a bearing cup, which rests with its inner surface 10 superficially on the outer surface 9. By means of the swivel joint 6, the table top 2 is pivotable in different directions relative to the pedestal 5 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
In addition, the table 1 has a catch device, which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, for the swivel joint 6. In the open position, the bearing elements 7, 8 are pivotable relative to each other for tilting the table top 2, and in the closed position, the pivoting of the bearing elements 7, 8 is blocked.
It can be discerned in FIG. 1 that the table top 2 is more or less centrally reinforced on its underside with a reinforcement plate 11, which is solidly connected on its underside to a circular cylindrical bearing sleeve 12, which is aligned with its lengthwise central axis perpendicular to the extension plane of the table top 2 and axially to the table top 2. Preference is given to the reinforcement plate 11 and the bearing sleeve 12 being made of metal and they can be, for example, welded together. The table leg 3 is concentrically aligned to the bearing sleeve 12 and its upper end zone engages in the bearing sleeve. The inner diameter of the bearing sleeve 12 is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the end zone of the table leg 3 engaging therein.
With its underside, the reinforcement plate 11 rests on an upwardly-facing frontal end face of the table leg 3. The reinforcement plate 11 and the table top 2 solidly connected thereto are pivotable relative to the table leg 3 and to the pedestal 5 about a rotation axis 13 more or less corresponding to the lengthwise central axis of the bearing sleeve 12 and the table leg 3.
The table top 2 is drive connected to the catch device so that the latter is adjustable between the open position and the closed position by turning the table top 2 about the rotation axis 13.
The catch device has a joint gripping mechanism with a first gripping element 14 and a second gripping element 15. The gripping elements 14, 15 are screw-connected to each other by means of a threaded fitting 16 concentrically aligned to the rotation axis 13 and adjustable in its overall length. The first gripping element 14 is configured as a nut, which engages behind the first bearing element 7. It can be discerned in FIGS. 5 and 6 that the first gripping element 14 has an area shaped as a spherical segment which superficially comes into contact with a first abutment site 17 arranged on a backside of the first bearing element 7 facing away from the second bearing element 8.
The second gripping element 15 is configured as a threaded rod, which passes through a first opening 18 provided in the first bearing element 7 and a second opening 19 provided in the second bearing element 8. The diameter of the second opening 19 is somewhat greater than the diameter of the second gripping element 15. The diameter of the first opening 18 is greater than that of the second opening 19, thus enabling the second gripping element 15 to pivot laterally in the first opening 18.
The second gripping element 15 is screw-connected on one of its ends to the first gripping element 14. To this end, the first gripping element 14 has a threaded hole which is arranged behind an insertion funnel 20. On its other end, the second gripping element 15 is fixed to a second abutment site 21 provided on the reinforcement plate 11 by means of, e.g., a weld point or a welded seam.
It can be discerned in FIG. 1 that the abutment sites 17, 21 or their centers of area are arranged on the rotation axis 13 of the table top 2 and that the rotation axis 13 passes through the pivot point of the swivel joint 6. The table top 2 thus maintains its position exactly when the joint gripping mechanism is tightened or released.
A device 22 for acoustically signaling the torque transmitted over the second gripping element 15 upon actuation of the catch device is arranged on the second gripping element 15. The device 22 emits a noise as soon as a predetermined torque is reached.
It should still be mentioned that there is a bubble level 23 embedded in the top side of the table top.

Claims

1. A table with a table top which is connected via a table leg to a pedestal which can be placed on the ground, wherein between the table top and the pedestal is arranged a swivel joint, by means of which the table top is rotatable relative to the pedestal about at least one swivel axis aligned perpendicular to the lengthwise extension of the table, and with a catch device for the swivel joint adjustable between an open position and a closed position, by means of which the table top is fixable in different swivel positions relative to the pedestal, wherein the table top is connected to the pedestal so that it is rotatable about a rotation axis oriented more or less perpendicular to its horizontal plane and is drive connected to the catch device so that the latter is adjustable between the open position and the closed position by turning the table top about the rotation axis.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein a blocking device is allocated to the catch device, which is capable of being brought into a release position and a blocking position and which coactively operates with the catch device so that the latter is adjustable between the open position and the closed position and further characterized in that adjustment of the catch device is blocked in the blocking position.

3. The table of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint is arranged between the table leg and the pedestal.

4. The table of claim 1, wherein the swivel joint is pivotable relative to the pedestal about at least two swivel axes running perpendicular to each other and is preferably configured as a ball joint.

5. The table of claim 1, wherein the swivel bearing has a first bearing element connected to the pedestal and a second bearing element pivotable relative to the first bearing element and connected to the table leg, wherein the catch device has a joint gripping mechanism with a first gripping element and a second gripping element, wherein the first gripping element and the second gripping element are screw-connected to each other via a threaded fitting concentrically aligned to the rotation axis of the table top, wherein the first gripping element is connected at a first abutment site to the first bearing element and the second gripping element is connected at a second abutment site to the table top, and wherein the abutment sites are aligned so that a straight connecting line between the first abutment site and/or the center of area of the first abutment site and the second abutment site and/or the center of area of the second abutment site intersects the at least one swivel axis.

6. The table of claim 1, wherein the first bearing element and the second bearing element have openings, and in that the joint gripping mechanism is fed through these openings.

7. The table of claim 1, wherein the table leg is configured as a stanchion with a hollow center, and in that the joint gripping mechanism is fed through said hollow center.

8. The table of claim 1, wherein the first bearing element is configured as a bearing seat with a spherical outer surface facing toward the second bearing element and with a spherical inner surface facing away from the second bearing element, wherein the second bearing element is a bearing cup superficially resting on the outer surface, wherein the first gripping element is a nut and the second gripping element is a threaded rod screw-connected thereto, and wherein the nut has a spherical outer envelope surface which comes into superficial contact with the inner surface of the first bearing element.

9. The table of claim 1, wherein the joint gripping mechanism has a device for acoustic and/or optical signaling of a torque acting on said joint gripping mechanism when the table top is turned about the rotation axis.

10. The table of claim 1, wherein the table top on its underside has a bearing sleeve, which is rotatably mounted on the table leg.

11. The table of claim 1, wherein a bubble level is embedded in the top side of the table top.

12. The table of claim 1, wherein the table top is connected to the pedestal so that it is tiltable between an operative position and an inoperative position about a tilting axis aligned more or less perpendicular to the lengthwise extension of the table leg, and in terms of the tilting movement, is lockable at least in the operative position.