WO1980001640A1

WO1980001640A1 - Table with coupled-up chairs

Info

Publication number: WO1980001640A1
Application number: PCT/SE1979/000032
Authority: WO
Inventors: F Janzen
Original assignee: F Janzen
Priority date: 1979-01-02
Filing date: 1979-01-02
Publication date: 1980-08-21
Also published as: FR2448878A1; GB2042449B; GB2042449A; DE2951824A1; NL7901127A; SE7900032L

Abstract

Table with casters and at least one coupled up chair, which can be folded up from the support. Besides conventional tables with chairs there exist tables, which can be moved on casters and are provided with coupled up chairs, which can be folded up individually. Each chair must be folded up individually and manually be locked in folded up position, which is as tedious as, for example, manually putting chairs on a table. A further disadvantage of the known table provided with casters is that, owing to the casters, the tables have a relatively unstable stand even when in use and, therefore, are easily dislocated, which is inconvenient especially when a table is used as dining-table and also in the case of desks in schools and other workbenches. In order to eliminate these disadvantages, according to the present invention a table or the like is proposed, at which the casters (8) are liftable and lowerable relative to the support, on which the table is placed, and every distance member (5) on each side of the table via movement transmitting means is coupled together with the casters (8) so as upon the folding up of at least one chair to cause the casters to contact the support.

Description

Table with coupled-up chairs

This invention relates to a table provided with casters and coupled-up chairs, which chairs are connect¬ ed to the table by distance members pivotally supported at the table for swinging up associated chairs from their normal position of standing on the support to a position above the support, in which latter position the chairs are supported by the distance members entire¬ ly free from the support.

Conventional tables with detached chairs constitu- te obstacles to house-cleaning, because particularly the chairs simply are in the way. In order to facilita¬ te the house-cleaning work, the chairs usually are put on the tables which, however, is a tedious job and thereby renders the cleaning more expensive. In addi- tion to said conventional tables there are tables previously known which are movable on casters and provided with coupled-up chairs, which can be folded upward individually. In this latter case, the chairs must be folded up one by one and manually be locked in the folded-up position, which is as tedious as to put

ØMPI ^l ?_NAT\ 5 ^y the chairs on the tables. A further disadvantage of these known tables provided with casters is that, due to the casters, the tables when in use have a relative¬ ly unstable stand and easily can be dislocated, which is especially inconvenient when the table serves as a dining-table.

The present invention, therefore, has the object to produce a table with coupled-up chairs of the kind referred to above, which does not show the said dis- advantages of the known tables, and which in spite of its casters has a stable stand when in use and rapidly and simply can be arranged so as to facilitate the house-cleaning.

This object is achieved in that the table accord- ing to the invention has been given the characterizing features defined in the attached claims.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying draw¬ ings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are a lateral view and, respectively, an end view of an embodiment of the table according to the invention where in Fig.. 2 the chairs on one side of the table are omitted, Fig. 3 shows in a schematic manner a- coupling mechanism between the chairs and casters of the table for moving the same to a position supporting the table when the chairs are being folded up, Figs. 4 and 5 show in a schematic manner alternative devices for rendering it possible to fold lip and down all chairs of the table simultaneously, Figs. 6 and 7 show from the side and, respectively, from-the rear an alternative of the in¬ vention in the form of a desk with coupled-up chair, and Fig. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the mechanism for folding, down and lifting up the casters in response to the folding up and, respectively, down of the chair.

In the drawings, 1 generally designates a table provided with end face^" legs 2 and coupled-up chairs 3 according to an embodiment of the invention. Of the chairs of this table, however, only those at one side of the table which in Figs. 1 and 2 are equipped with legs 4, are shown in detail, but every chair 3 associated with the table is so coupled to the table that it can be folded up from its normal position supported on a support, for example a floor, to a position lifted from the support, as shown by dashed lines in Fig. 2, and that irrespective of its position the chair follows along with the table when the table is being moved.

The chairs 3 of the table, more precisely, are supported on distance members 5 projecting from the table and shown in the form of angularly bent tubes. The distance members 5 located on the same side of the table are interconnected and have such a pivotal rela¬ tionship to the legs 2 of the table, that the chairs .3 supported by the distance members on one side of the table can be folded up simultaneously about a common axle, which extends between the legs 2 of the table, and in the opposite direction to the chairs on the opposite side of the table, which chairs also can be folded up by the distance members 5 located on this side about a common axle,

extends in parallel with said first entioned axle between the legs of the table."At the embodiment shown in. the drawings, the distance members 5 on the respective sides of the table are interconnected by tubes 6 extending between

O Pl the legs 2 of the table and rotatably mounted- in said legs. Said tubes are located adjacent each other at the longitudinal vertical central plane of the table, and their longitudinal centre axes coincide each with one of said axles, about which the chairs 3 of the table can be folded up and down. Each tube 6 further is actuated by a spring means, which is not shown in detail in the Figures and which tends to turn the respective tube 6 in the direction for folding up associated chairs. The tubes 6 can be so cushioned each by a torsion bar, that it is easy to fold up the chairs to a position beneath the table top, or that the chairs are folded up automatically when not being in use, i.e. when nobody is sitting thereon. The chairs 3 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are provided with legs 4, but the table chairs also may be designed without legs and so that the distance members 5 supporlϊ- ing the chairs rest on the support, as illustrated by the right-hand distance member 5 shown in Fig. 2. For adjusting the distance between the table and the chair, the respective chair seat is mounted on movable slides 7.

The table according to the invention further is provided with casters 8, which are attached liftable and lowerable at or in the lower portions of the table legs, and which are located lifted from the support when the chairs 3 are in their normal position resting on the support. The table also comprises means, which upon the folding up movement of one of the chairs on each side of the table moves the casters 8 to a posi¬ tion for supporting the table, in which position the casters 8 render it possible to dislocate the table with associated chairs on the support.

The casters are shown in the form of link rollers 8, i.e. each caster is supported on a link, which is pivotally suspended and by a connecting rod 10 connected to a dog 9, which is located on the near¬ est rotatable tube 6 and acts as a rotating arm. In this way each caster 8 is connected to the rotatable tubes 6.

At the folding up movement of the table chairs, the tubes 6 as stated- before are turned in opposed directions and thereby effect- by means of the dogs 7 and connecting rods 10 the casters to be pivoted down from their position lifted from the support to a posi- ^■ tion beneath the surface of the end face legs facing to the support, i.e. to a position supporting the table. At this position, thus, the table rests on its casters 8, which implies that it easily can be dis- located together with associated chairs, which are in their folded up position, thereby providing a free support for cleaning, for example, which is facilitated very substantially by the table according to the present invention. When the chairs are pivoted back, the casters 8 are lifted from the support, and the table, thus, when in use has a stable stand on the support. Every caster 8, as shown in Fig. 3, can be actuated by a tension spring 11, which simultaneously is folded up and down, irrespective of which of the chairs of the table is being folded up and, respective¬ ly, down. This coupling of the tubes 6 can be effected, as shown in Fig. 5, by means of tooth segments 14 rigidly attached to the tubes 6 and meshing with each other. In order to position the chairs so that un- obstructed cleaning can be carried out, it is only necessary to fold up one of the chairs of the table, whereby the other chairs take part in this folding movement automatically, at the same time as the casters 8 are folded down to their position supporting the table. The table thereby permits easy cleaning and easily can be dislocated together with the folded up

-BUREAU

OMPI chairs.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the invention is illustrated in the form of a desk 15 with a coup-Led up chair 3 and with wheels or casters 8 liftably and lowerably mounted in the foot 16 of every end face leg. CFig.8). The end face legs 2 of the desk are shown telescopically liftab- le and lowerable for adjusting the desk height accord¬ ing to desire and demand.

At the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the chair 3 is supported on a U-shaped bow 17 of tubular steel or the like, the legs 18 of which are angularly bent at 19 and so to say form the legs 4 of the chair and the distance members 5 supporting the chair. The legs 17 further are formed with end portions 20 acting as axle journals, which substantially are in parallel with the cross-rod 21 of the U-shaped bow, to which the chair 3- is attached, and which are mounted each in a foot 16 for pivotal movement about a common axle for folding up the chair 3 to the position indicated in Fig. 6 by dashed lines.

Due to the fact that the chair 3 is supported by means of a bow of the design shown in Figs. 6 and 7, no axle extending between the feet and of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is required, but the space therebetween remains substantially free. This type of bow, of course, advantageously can be used also at tables and support on its cross-rod 21 the necessary number of chairs.

As shown in Fig. 8, a hinge joint 22 is rigidly connected to the end portion 20 of the bow which is mounted in a foot 16. Said joint is hingedly connected at each end to a thrust rod 23. Each such rod 23 is provided at its end remote from the hinge joint 22 with a thrust plate 24, which rests against a swinging lever 26, which supports a caster 8 and is hingedly mounted at 25 in the foot 16. Said thrust plate 24 is controlled by a control plate 27 rigidly attached to the foot and so inclined, that upon rotation of the end portions 20 of the bow in the direction indicated by the arrow 28 in Fig. 8 when the chair 3 of the desk is being folded up and thereby the rod 23 is displaced, the thrust plate 24 forcibly is moved downward and thereby the swinging lever^'26 is so actuated that its casters are pushed out of the foot 16 and lift the desk, where¬ after said desk is supported on the support by its casters 8 and easily can be dislocated, especially because in this position also the chair, is folded up. In order to prevent the desk by its weight to press the casters 8 into the feet 16, in each swinging lever 26 a notch 29 for the thrust plate 24 is formed, in which notch said plate is locked against unintentional movement. Upon the folding down of the chair 3, the locking or holding force effected by the notch 29 is surmounted so to say manually.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 8 for effecting the casters 8 to be pivoted out when one or more chairs are being folded up, of course, can also be used .at tables having chairs coupled up on opposed sides of the table. In this case the hinge joint 22, of course, may have the design, shown in Fig. 3.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be altered and modified in many different ways within the scope of the invention idea defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. An arrangement in the form o.f a table, bench, desk or the like and provided with casters and at least one coupled up chair, each chair connected to the arrangement by at least one distance member, which is pivotal relative to the arrangement for folding up an associated chair or chairs from a position normally supported when in use on a support, for example a floor, to a position above said support, in which latter posi¬ tion every chair associated with the arrangement is supported by the respective distance member entirely free from the support, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the casters (8) of the arrangement are movable between a first position, in which they are located lifted from the support, and the arrangement directly rests against the same with its legs _.(2), and a second position, in which the casters support the arrangement to be movable on the support, and that every distance member (5) on each side of the arrangement is coupled together via movement transmitting means with the casters (8) of the arrangement so as upon the folding up of the chair or chairs (3) of the arrangement to move the casters to their said second position and upon folding down of the chair or chairs to move the casters to their firstmentioned position.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that every distance member on each side of the arrangement is connected with the arrangement by an axle (6, 20) rotatably mounted in the legs of the arrangement, i.e. an axle for the distance member (5) of the chair or chairs located on one side of the^' arrangement, and, where appropriate, by a second axle- (6,20) for the distance member (5) of the chair or chairs located on the opposed side of the arrangement, which axle or axles

A are connected to the casters (8) of the arrangement by said movement transmitting means.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the chair or chairs on each side of the arrangement are supported by a substantially U-shaped bow, the legs of which are bent angularly and form the legs (4) of the chair or chairs mounted on the cross-rod of the bow as well as the distance members (5) thereof, and that the free end portions (20) of the legs are substantially in parallel with the cross-rod of the bow and mounted rotatably in the legs of the arrangement and, thus, constitute the axle, about which the associated chair or chairs can be folded up and down.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the casters (8) are supported each by a link (8,26) associated with the movement transmitting means, which link is mounted pivotally and connected to an axle (6,20) so as in response to the rotation movement of the axle at the folding up or down of the chair or chairs to move its caster to its second and, respectively, first position.

5. A table as defined in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d i n that the movement transmitting means for each caster (8) comprise, in addition to a link supporting each caster, a draw joint (10,23) located between the link and a swing lever (9,22).

6. A table as defined in any of the preceding claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the two axles (6,20) are coupled together with each other for a simultaneous rotation movement in opposed directions-.

7. A table as defined in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z- e d i n that the axles are coupled together with each ^"'" V 1 o

other by tooth segments (14) attached to each -axle and meshing with each other.

8. A table as defined in any one of the claims 2-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that an eccentric (13) or other means is provided to simultaneously actuate pivoting levers (12) for simultaneously rotating the axles (6,20) and thereby simultaneously folding up the chairs of the table.^'

9. A table as defined in any one of the claims 2-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that every axle (6,20) is actuated by a spring means tending to rotate its axle (6,20) in a direction for folding up the chairs.

10. A table as defined in claim 9, c h a r a c t e ¬ i z e d i n that said spring means consists of a torsion rod so prestressed that they automatically return the chairs after their use to folded up position.

-BURE

OMPI