WO2005025376A1

WO2005025376A1 - A folding support structure

Info

Publication number: WO2005025376A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/004966
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Casale
Original assignee: Alu S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-09-17
Filing date: 2004-05-10
Publication date: 2005-03-24
Also published as: ITPD20030212A1

Abstract

A folding support structure comprises at least one first (2, 3) and one second support element (4, 5) on each of which a first arm (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) connected to a connecting body (6, 7) and a second arm (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) extending substantially at right angles from the first arm, are defined. The first support element is articulated to the connecting body so as to pivot between a first, operative position in which the first arms of the support elements extend along intersecting axes (x, y) and a second, non-operative position in which the first arms of the support elements extend along substantially parallel and adjacent axes (y).

Description

A folding support structure Technical field of the invention The present invention relates to a folding support structure according to the characteristics set out in the preamble to the main claim. Background art The present invention is applicable in particular but not exclusively to the technical field of products for the fitting-out of display structures. In this field, it is known to use self-supporting support structures which are intended, as required, for supporting various further accessories such as shelves, table tops, information boards or for directly supporting the goods to be displayed. A first requirement of such structures is to ensure sufficient stability and effective support for the accessories used and, at the same time, to occupy minimal space when folded up for transport or storage purposes. A second requirement is to have available a single type of structure which can be adapted in various ways for the support of different accessories, whilst maintaining an overall aesthetic and functional uniformity. Folding structures, for example, tables or clothes rails, are known in this field but they have fairly complex configurations and mechanisms and, moreover, are not very versatile or suitable for the above-mentioned different types of use. Sectional structures the separate elements of which can be interconnected releasably by screw means are also known but operations to assemble and dismantle the structures require fairly long periods of time and the structures are subject to possible loss of screws or even of elements of the structure itself.

Disclosure of the invention The problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a folding support structure which is designed structurally and functionally to overcome the limitations discussed above with reference to the prior art mentioned. Within the scope of this problem, an object of the invention is to provide a support structure which is suitable for the various types of use and at the same time is of simple construction and pleasing appearance. This problem is solved and this object is achieved by the present invention by means of a support structure formed in accordance with the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof which are described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which :

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a support structure formed in accordance with the present invention in a first, operative position,

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support structure of Figure 1 in a second, non-operative position,

- Figures 3 and 4 are schematic views of a detail of the structure of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, in the first, operative position and in the second, non- operative position, respectively, and

- Figures 5 to 10 are views similar to Figure 1 of respective further embodiments of the support structure of the invention.

Best modes for carrying out the invention With reference initially to Figures 1 to 4, a first embodiment of a support structure formed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated 1. The structure 1 comprises a pair of first support elements 2, 3 and a pair of second support elements 4, 5, all connected to a pair of substantially identical connecting bodies 6, 7. The support elements 2, 3, 4 and 5 are preferably made of metal with a square-sectioned, tubular structure. They are generally C-shaped so that first, second and third arms extending substantially at right angles to one another and indicated 2a,b,c, 3a,b,c, 4a,b,c and 5a,b,c in the drawings are defined in each element. The second arms 2b, 3b, 4b and 5b are of equal length so that the first arms 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a, as well as the third arms 2c, 3c, 4c and 5c, are coplanar with one another, defining respective parallel planes in which the connecting bodies 6 and 7 are also arranged. Each connecting body 6, 7 is substantially cross-shaped with a pair of first appendages 8a, 8b and a pair of second appendages 9a, 9b extending in alignment along two substantially perpendicular axes X and Y, respectively. The second support elements 4 and 5 are connected to the connecting bodies 6, 7 by the coupling of their free ends, indicated 4d and 5d, with the pairs of second appendages 9a, 9b so as to face one another and to be aligned along the axis Y. The coupling between the second support elements and the connecting bodies 6 and 7 is releasable, providing for the engagement of the appendages 9a, 9b in the respective free ends of the arms 4a, 5a (and 4c, 5c, respectively) and their relative clamping by means of screws 10. According to a characteristic of the present invention, each first support element 2, 3 is connected to the connecting bodies 6 and 7 so as to pivot between a first, operative position in which the first and third arms extend from the connecting body along the axis X and a second, non-operative position in which they extend substantially parallel to the axis Y, adjacent the first and third arms of the second support elements 4 and 5, respectively. The free end, indicated 2d or 3d, of each of the first elements 2, 3, is connected to a corresponding joining arm 11 of the connecting body 6 or 7, that arm being articulated to the respective first appendage 8a, 8b in order to pivot between the above-mentioned positions about a pin 12. The joining arm 11 is engaged in the respective free end of the first support element 2, 3 and comprises a pair of spaced-apart flanges 13 which project, both in the same direction, from the end 2d, 3d and are housed flush in corresponding recesses 14 formed on the first appendage 8a, 8b, to which they are connected pivotably by the pin 12. The peripheral edge of each flange 13 comprises a rounded portion 15 connecting two portions 16, 17 which are substantially straight and perpendicular to one another. The straight portions 16 and 17 of the edges of the flanges 13 constitute means for limiting the pivoting of the arm 11 about the pin 12 since they can abut an abutment surface 18 of the first appendage 8a, 8b delimiting the recesses 14, when the arm is pivoted to the first, operative position and to the second, non-operative position, respectively. The provision of the rounded portion 15 allows the joining arm 11 to pivot freely between the two above-mentioned positions, beyond , which pivoting is prevented unidirectionally by the interference between the portions 16, 17 and the abutment surface 18, which thus constitutes complementary pivot-limiting means. The support structure 1 further comprises clamping means acting between the first support elements 2, 3 and the connecting body 6, 7 in order to clamp the first support elements in the first, operative position. The clamping means comprise the first appendages 8a, 8b and the free ends 2d and 3d of the first support elements 2, 3. The latter are connected to the respective joining arms 11 so as to be slidable to a limited extent owing to the provision of respective pins 19 fixed firmly to each arm 11 and housed in engagement in respective longitudinal slots 20 defined in the free ends 2d and 3d of the first support elements 2, 3. When the arm 11 is pivoted to the first, operative position along the axis X, the first support element 2, 3 can thus be translated away from and towards the connecting body 6, 7 in order to engage and be coupled with the respective first appendage 8a, 8b and to prevent pivoting of the joining arm 11 about the pin 12. With the above-described arrangements, the support structure 1 can easily move from the first, operative position in which the pairs of first arms 2a, 3a and 4a, 5a are aligned along the axes X and Y defined by the connecting body 6, respectively, to the second, non-operative position in which the pairs of first arms are adjacent and parallel to the axis Y. In wholly corresponding manner, the pairs of third arms 2c, 3c and 4c, 5c are first of all aligned with the axes X and Y defined by the connecting body 7 and are then arranged adjacent one another and parallel to the axis Y. In the first, operative position, the pairs of first and third arms define, with their crossed configuration, an upper plane and a lower plane of the structure, respectively, whereas in the second, non-operative position, the structure adopts an almost flat, relatively compact configuration. In order to change from the second, non-operative position to the first, operative position, it suffices to pivot the first support elements 2, 3 until they are aligned with the axis X. It should be noted that correct alignment is facilitated by the provision of the pivot-limiting means and complementary means so that, once they have reached the travel limit, the joining arm and the free end of the first support element are aligned with the first appendage. In order to clamp the first support elements in this position, the elements are translated along the axis X towards the connecting bodies 6, 7, guided by the sliding coupling between the pins 19 and the slots 20, so that the free ends 2d and 3d are fitted on the first appendages 8a, 8b, preventing further pivoting about the pins 12. It should be noted (Figure 1) that, in the operative position, the structure 1 adopts a perfectly symmetrical configuration both with respect to the connecting bodies 6, 7 and with respect to a horizontal median plane so as to ensure stability, effective support, and reversibility of the support surfaces. To release the structure, the first elements 2, 3 are translated along the axis X away from the central bodies 6, 7 so that the respective first appendages 8a, 8b come out of the free ends 2d, 3d and the first elements 2, 3 are then pivoted towards the second support elements. The structure 1 can advantageously be used as a support structure for forming display tables in which the upper table top is not pre-mounted on the structure. The top is placed on the first arms 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a and is anchored releasably thereto; it can therefore be selected at will, advantageously enabling display tables of various styles to be prepared. Figures 5 to 10 show further embodiments of the invention, indicated 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70, respectively, in which details similar to the previous embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals. The structure 20 (Figure 5) differs from the structure 1 in that, between the connecting bodies 6, 7, there extends an upright 21 member on which shelves 22 can be fixed for supporting objects on display. The structure 30 (Figure 6), on the other hand, has a rail 31 extending between the second arms 4b, 5b of the second elements 4, 5, parallel to the axis Y, on which, for example, coat hangers 32 can advantageously be hung. The structure 40 (Figure 7) is arranged for supporting an information board 41 which is housed between the second support elements 4 and 5, in accordance with methods known per se. The structure 50 (Figure 8), like the structure 30, has a rail 51 for supporting coat hangers 53. However, the rail 51 is fixed to the first arms 4a and 5a of the second support elements 4 and 5 by means of brackets 52. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the second support elements 4 and 5 are of different lengths. This characteristic may also be reproduced in the other examples given. The structure 60 (Figure 9) differs from the preceding structures in that only one second support element 4 is provided so that the structure has a T- shaped configuration rather than a cross-shaped configuration in the first, operative position. The connecting bodies 66 and 67 therefore differ from those described above in that they do not have the second appendages 9b. It should be noted that, in this case, both of the first support elements

2 and 3 can be folded close to the second element 4 in the non-operative position, minimizing overall dimensions. It is also possible to arrange for the structure 60 to have two second support elements 4, 5 and a single first element 2 articulated to the connecting bodies 66, 67. The structure 70 (Figure 10) differs from the preceding structures in that two pairs of first support elements 72, 73 are provided, articulated to respective pairs of connecting bodies 76, 77 wholly similar to the bodies 66, 67 of the preceding embodiment. These pairs of first elements are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart and are joined by a pair of parallel bars 74 extending between the pairs of connecting bodies 76 and 77. The structure is completed by a pair of upright members 71 on which a rail 78, a shelf 79, or information boards 80 may be mounted. The examples given above show the versatility of the support structure of the invention which enables it to be used in different configurations whilst maintaining substantial functional and aesthetic uniformity. The present invention thus solves the problem discussed above with reference to the prior art mentioned, at the same time offering many further advantages amongst which are the simplicity of operations to assemble and dismantle the structure and the fact that it can be clamped in the operative position without the need to use tools.

Claims

1. A folding support structure (1) comprising at least one first support element (2, 3) and one second support element on each of which a first arm (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) connected to a connecting body (6, 7) and a second arm (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) extending substantially at right angles to the first arm are defined, characterized in that the first support element (2, 3) is articulated to the connecting body (6, 7) so as to pivot between a first, operative position in which the respective first arms of the support elements extend along intersecting axes (x, y) and a second, non-operative position in which the respective first arms of the support elements extend along substantially parallel and adjacent axes (y).

2. A structure according to Claim 1 in which the connecting body (6, 7) comprises at least one first appendage (8a, 8b) and one second appendage (9a, 9b), which extend along the said intersecting axes (x, y) and to which the first and the second support elements are connected, respectively, the connecting body comprising a joining arm (11) which is connected to the first arm (2a, 3a) of the first support element (2, 3) and is connected pivotably to the first appendage.

3. A structure according to Claim 2 in which means and complementary means for limiting the pivoting of the joining arm (11) are defined on the joining arm and on the first appendage, respectively, in order to limit the pivoting of the first support element between the first and second position.

4. A structure according to Claim 3 in which the means and the complementary means for limiting pivoting comprise a peripheral edge (16, 17) of at least one flange (13) of the joining arm (11) and an abutment surface (18) delimiting a corresponding recess (14) of the first appendage in which the at least one flange is housed.

5. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims in which clamping means are provided, acting between the first support element (2, 3) and the connecting body (6, 7) in order to clamp the first support element in the first, operative position.

6. A structure according to Claim 5 in which the clamping means comprise the first appendage (8a, 8b) and a free end (2d, 3d) of the first arm of the first support element, the latter being connected to the joining arm (11) so as to be translatable by sliding to a limited extent so that, when the first element has pivoted to the first, operative position, it can translate away from and towards the connecting body in order to be released from and to be engaged and coupled with the first appendage by means of the said end.

7. A structure according to Claim 6 in which the first support element is connected to the joining arm by means of a pin (19) fixed firmly to the arm (11) and engaged slidably in a slot (20) formed on the first arm (2a, 3a) of the first support element.

8. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims in which each of the at least one first and one second support elements has two free ends, each of which is connected to a respective connecting body (6, 7).

9. A structure according to Claim 8 in which the at least one first and one second support elements are substantially C-shaped.

10. A structure according to one or more of the preceding clams in which a pair of first support elements (2, 3) and a pair of second support elements (4, 5) are provided.

11. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the connecting body (6, 7) is connected to an upright member (21, 71) substantially perpendicular to the first arms.

12. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims in which means are provided for holding an information board.

13. A display table comprising a support surface mounted on a separate support structure (1), characterized in that the support structure is in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims.