WO2007113672A1

WO2007113672A1 - Foldable table

Info

Publication number: WO2007113672A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/000945
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Baccolini
Original assignee: Ares Line S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-04-04
Filing date: 2007-03-29
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: ITVI20060100A1

Abstract

The invention is a furniture accessory (1, 100) comprising a bearing element (2) suited to bear, via articulation means (3), a support element (4) that defines a substantially plane support surface (5). The articulation means (3) are suited to allow the support element (4) to be moved from a first operating position in which the support surface (5) is substantially horizontal to a second rest position in which the support element (4) faces the bearing element (2), said support element (4) being positioned, both in operating and in rest position, towards the same side (2g) of the bearing element 2.

Description

FOLDABLE TABLE

The invention concerns a furniture accessory particularly suited to be used in congress halls, conference halls and similar places.

As already known, the public attending congresses, conferences and meetings in general often needs a support for placing appointment books, notebooks and/or documents and/or laptops, in order to be able to work comfortably while seated in the room.

According to a known solution for this need, a suitable moving tablet is connected to the structure of the user's chair via articulation means, thus defining a support surface.

More precisely, the moving tablet can substantially assume two stable positions, in particular a first operating position and a second rest position.

In operating position, the tablet is arranged in front of the seat, so that the support surface defined by it is substantially horizontal, while in rest position the tablet is positioned vertically at the side of the seat, in such a way as to allow the user to stand up and/or sit down.

A first drawback posed by this type of embodiment is constituted by the fact that in operating position the tablet limits the movements of the person who is seated, thus making him/her uncomfortable. A further drawback lies in that the movement that the user has to perform to bring the tablet from the rest position to the operating position and vice versa is difficult, awkward and uncomfortable.

According to another solution, the moving tablet is connected via articulation means to the back of the chair positioned before the one occupied by the user. More precisely, these articulation means comprise a hinge that allows the tablet to rotate around a horizontal axis and assume the above mentioned operating and rest positions. In this case, in rest position the tablet is positioned vertically with the support surface facing the back of the chair with which it is associated.

A first drawback of this further solution lies in that the tablet is difficult to arrange and install in optimal position with respect to the chair where the user will be seated. This drawback can be noticed in particular in the rooms where the chairs are arranged in staggered rows and/or on parallel planes at different heights.

A further drawback is constituted by the fact that during use of this support surface vibrations and impacts are transmitted to the chair connected to it, thus

- l - disturbing the person who is seated there.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above. In particular, it is an aim of the invention to carry out a furniture accessory for chairs particularly suited to be used in congress halls, conference halls, meeting rooms and similar places, in order to provide the user a support surface.

It is another aim of the invention to carry out a furniture accessory that is economical and easy to use, as well as easy to construct and to assemble and suitable for mass production. The aims mentioned above have been achieved through the construction of a furniture accessory described and characterized according to the main claim.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The proposed solution advantageously makes it possible to carry out a furniture accessory that is completely independent of the chair and therefore ensures freedom of movement to the seated person who uses it, while at the same time during use it does not represent a nuisance for the person seated before. Still advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory that is easy to install in optimal position before the seat with which it is going to be associated, so that the user can be absolutely comfortable. Still advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory that can be folded and thus makes it possible to obtain more free space between the rows of chairs for the passage of people. Still advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory that in rest position has minimal overall dimensions, where more particularly the space is substantially occupied by the support column, thus leaving more space between the rows of chairs, in such a way as to allow people to pass therebetween more comfortably and/or alternatively to reduce the space between the rows of chairs. Still advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory that can be easily cleaned and serviced both in operating and in rest position and that allows the surrounding area to be easily cleaned as well. Still advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory that allows installation in optimal ergonomic position of multimedia systems and/or data transmission systems like for example a microphone and/or a multimedia screen and/or electric and/or electronic and/or telematic connections capable of connecting, for example, a laptop computer to the power mains and/or to a local network, to the internet or another IT network. Still advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory where any additional function does not represent a nuisance and does not affect the ease of use of the accessory.

The aims and advantages described above will be highlighted in greater detail in the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, supplied as an example without limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a furniture accessory carried out according to the invention, installed in a conference room, in a first operating position;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the furniture accessory shown in Figure 1 in another rest position it can assume;

- Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the accessory shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the accessory shown in Figure 1 in rest position;

- Figures 5 and 6 show a longitudinal cross section of the accessory shown in Figure 1 in other intermediate positions it can assume;

- Figure 7 shows a longitudinal cross section of the accessory shown in Figure 1 in rest position; - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further furniture accessory carried out according to the present invention in operating position.

The examples of embodiment of the invention described below refer to furniture accessories particularly suitable for use in congress halls, conference rooms and similar places, in combination with corresponding chairs, said chairs being generally arranged on balconies and/or in staggered rows, so that each chair is distanced from the chair in front of it.

An example of embodiment of a furniture accessory subject of the present invention and installed in the vicinity of a chair S is represented in Figures 1 and 2, where it is indicated as a whole by 1. It comprises a bearing element 2 suited to support, via articulation means indicated as a whole by 3, a support element 4 that defines a substantially plane support surface 5.

The articulation means 3 are suited to allow the support element 4 to be moved from at least a first operating position in which the above mentioned support surface 5 is substantially horizontal, as shown in Figure 1, to at least a second rest position, shown in Figure 2, where the support element 4 faces the bearing element 2, said support element 4 being positioned, both in operating and in rest position, towards the same side 2g of the bearing element 2, preferably constituted by the side facing the user. This advantageously makes it possible to carry out a solution in which the support element 4 engages one side only of the bearing element 2, so that bearing elements 2 of any height can be constructed and the rear and/or upper part of the element 2 can be used for applying further accessories comprising for example protection or decoration panels and/or electrical devices as will be better explained below.

More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, when the support surface 5 is in rest position it faces the bearing element 2. This advantageously also allows the support surface 5 to be protected against accidental damage caused by the user when he/she, for example, after arranging the support element in rest position, stands up or leaves the chair S.

More precisely, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, when the surface 5 is in rest position it is substantially parallel to the bearing element 2. More particularly, the articulation means 3 allow the support element 4 to rotate around a first axis 6 that is substantially horizontal and/or parallel to the floor P to bring the support surface 5 on a plane that is substantially parallel to an axis of symmetry 7 of the bearing element 2 and to translate along the same plane, as will be described in greater detail below. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of the furniture accessory 1 proposed, thus increasing the space available between the chair S and the accessory 1 itself and facilitating the user's movements, including the movements he/she performs to leave the seat.

As regards the bearing element 2, in the preferred embodiment of the invention represented herein it comprises a hollow tubular element 2a, visible in detail also in Figures from 3 to 7, with substantially circular cross section, provided at its lower end with a base 8 suited to be fixed to the floor P.

It is clear that in other embodiments of the invention the bearing element 2 can have different cross sections, for example polygonal, elliptical, etc. It should also be noted that the bearing element 2 is advantageously provided with a housing or seat 9 suited to house the support element 4 when this is in rest position.

More precisely, in the preferred embodiment of the invention represented herein, said housing 9 is obtained by shaping the tubular element 2a and more particularly by removing a portion of the tubular element in such a way as to define a seat 9 for the articulation means 3 that will be described in greater detail below.

This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the overall dimensions of the accessory 1 when this is in rest position and in particular the above solution allows its height and depth to be reduced, said height and depth being respectively indicated by 10 and 11 in Figure 7.

As regards the support element 4, in the example illustrated it comprises a tablet 4a whose thickness 12 is less than the depth 13 of the housing 9. This solution advantageously makes it possible to reduce the depth of the accessory 1 so that it substantially coincides with the depth of the bearing element 2, thus making the accessory 1 itself more versatile and increasing the possibility of installing it even in reduced spaces.

As regards the articulation means 3, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the attached drawings they comprise a hinge 16 defining the above mentioned substantially horizontal rotation axis 6 and guiding means 23 suited to allow the hinge itself to translate along a longitudinal axis.

More particularly, the hinge 16 comprises a first hinge element 17 suited to be fixed to the tablet 4a via connection means that in the example are constituted by screws 17d and joined, via at least one pin 19 defining the above mentioned rotation axis 6, to a second hinge element indicated as a whole by 18. The first hinge element 17 comprises a plate 17a provided with holes 17b suitable for receiving the above mentioned screws 17d for anchoring to the tablet 4a and two substantially L-shaped connection brackets 17c, each provided with a through hole 20 suited to receive the corresponding pin 19. The second hinge element 18 comprises a moving plate or cursor 21 that, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is slidingly housed into a longitudinal seat 22 in the guiding means 23, visible in particular in Figures from 4 to 7. More particularly, the longitudinal seat 22 defines, as explained above, a rectilinear translation axis 7a substantially parallel to the axis 7 of the tubular element 2a. The seat 22 is defined by a boxed element comprising a main element 24 shown in Figure 3, with a front element 27 and two side elements 26 fixed to it via screws 25, each of them being provided with a longitudinal groove 26a with which the cursor 21 engages.

The longitudinal openings 26a are at least as long as the stroke of the plate 21 inside the seat 22 and, therefore, as the translation movement that the tablet 4a can perform.

Alternatively, reference elements may be provided inside the longitudinal seat to counteract the movement of the plate and limit its stroke.

As explained above, the dimensions of the boxed element are such that it can be advantageously housed inside the tubular element 2 a, to which it is fixed through fixing means constituted, in the example, by screws 28.

The articulation means 3 also comprise first reference means 29 suited to limit the rotation of the tablet 4a around the axis 6 and second counteracting means 30 suited to prevent its translation along the longitudinal axis 7a when the tablet 4a is moved to the operating position.

The first reference means 29 comprise a shaped groove or slot 29a that substantially develops on a sector of a circle and is present on at least one of the brackets and a first counteracting element constituted by a pin 29b integral with the plate 21 and sliding in said shaped groove 29a. In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the second counteracting means 30 comprise at least one portion 30a of the shaped profile of at least one of the brackets 17c, suited to cooperate with a corresponding second counteracting element 30b, integral with the bearing element 2.

More particularly, said portion 30a is created in the shorter arm of the L-shaped brackets 17c and substantially defines a sector of a circle whose angular amplitude exceeds the angular amplitude of the above mentioned groove 29a.

As regards the second counteracting element 30b, it comprises a portion of a cylindrical surface obtained in the vicinity of the upper end of each side element

26. The radius of said surface is substantially equal to the radius of the sector of a circle of the above mentioned portion 30a with which it cooperates.

It should be observed that this solution allows the rotation of the hinge to be guided, thus reducing slacks and the corresponding undesired vibrations to a minimum. It should also be noted that each bracket 17c also has a guiding portion constituted by a guiding surface 33 suited to cooperate with the above mentioned guiding means 22, so that translation along the axis can take place only when the tablet 4a is arranged in a given position, and more precisely when the support surface 5 is positioned substantially parallel to the rectilinear translation axis that, as explained above, is substantially parallel to the axis 7 of the tubular element 2a.

A covering element 34 is also applied to the upper part of the bearing element 2 at the level of its upper part.

This advantageously makes it possible to prevent any part external to said bearing element 2, like for example the user's clothes, from coming into contact with the internal parts and thus becoming dirty and/or entangled.

A further covering element not represented herein may be applied to cover the first hinge element 17c.

These covering elements improve the global appearance of the furniture accessory, making it aesthetically pleasant. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention indicated as a whole by

100 in Figure 8, the furniture accessory also comprises multimedia systems and/or data transmission systems indicated as a whole by 50, including for example a microphone 51 and/or a multimedia screen and/or electric and/or electronic and/or telematic connections 52 capable of connecting a laptop computer to the power mains and/or to a local network, to the internet or another

IT network.

In the same embodiment, the furniture accessory comprises a panel 53 applied to the rear side of the bearing element 2.

These systems are preferably positioned in the upper part of the bearing element 2 that, being hollow, can advantageously contain the necessary connection cables.

More particularly, these systems are positioned over the bearing element 2, substantially in place of the covering element 34.

This advantageously makes it possible to arrange said systems in an optimal ergonomic position, that is, the nearest to the user. This solution also enables the overall dimensions of the accessory to be considerably reduced, even when it is equipped with multimedia systems.

Always according to the invention, the rear side of the bearing element 2 is never engaged with the support element 4.

This advantageously makes it possible to use said rear side for the application of any fixture, like for example the panel 53. In other embodiments of the invention, the same multimedia systems are positioned in the rear part of the bearing element 2 and connected to it, if necessary, through a suitable support.

The operation of the furniture accessory that is the subject of the invention is described here below with reference the preferred embodiment illustrated above.

As previously explained, the tablet 4a, in operating position, is arranged horizontally as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

In this configuration the tablet 4a is kept in position thanks to the first reference means 29 that prevent it from rotating around the axis 6 and to the second reference means 30 that prevent it from translating along the longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the axis 7 of the bearing element 2.

In practice, when the user wants to move the tablet 4a to the rest position, he/she lifts it, or better, inclines it towards the bearing element 2a, as shown by the arrow 40 in Figure 5, making it rotate around the axis 6. It should be noted that during said rotation the tablet 4a is guided by both the pin

29b that slides inside the shaped seat or slot 29a and the conjugated surfaces 30a and 30b belonging to the side elements 26 and to the two brackets 17c.

Said rotation is possible until the pin 29b reaches the end of the slot 29a, as shown in Figure 6. In this position the guiding surface 33 of each bracket 17c is substantially parallel to the translation axis 7a and to the wall of the longitudinal seat 22.

This means that the plate 21 and the tablet 4a can translate along said axis 7 until reaching the rest position shown in detail in Figure 7.

It should be noted that the final position is determined by the end-of-stroke position assumed by the cursor 21 inside the longitudinal seat 22.

It should also be observed that, advantageously, when performing this operation the user is aided by the force of gravity which acts also on the tablet 4a and facilitates its movement.

To bring the tablet 4a back to the operating position, the user must simply carry out the same operations in the reverse order, that is, he/she must first translate the tablet 4a until disengaging the guiding surface 33 from the wall of the longitudinal seat 22 in such a way as to release the hinge 16 and then rotate the tablet 4a along the axis 6.

According to the above description, the furniture accessory 1 that is the subject of the present invention can be individually installed in any place by fixing it to the floor and be used alone or in combination with the respective chair. In this second case the furniture accessory 1 can be easily installed in optimal position before the seat with which it is going to be associated, independently of the latter, so that the user can be absolutely comfortable. In this way the seated user can position the tablet 4a as shown in Figures 1 and 4 to take notes and/or put appointments books and/or documents and/or laptops on it, or fold the tablet 4a and move it to the position shown in Figures 2 and 7, in such a way as to allow anyone to pass between the rows of chairs. Advantageously, the tablet 4a can be easily moved from the position shown in Figures 2 and 7 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, since it is only necessary to pull the tablet 4a upward and forward as previously described. Vice versa, to move the tablet 4a from the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 7 it is sufficient to incline the tablet 4a towards the bearing element 2 and to let it slide naturally in the position parallel to the bearing element 2.

It should be noted that, advantageously, in rest position the overall dimensions of the furniture accessory 1 comprise only the bearing column and this ensures more space between the rows of seats, in such a way as to allow the public to pass between them more easily and comfortably and/or the rows of chairs to be arranged nearer to each other.

Advantageously, the proposed solution makes it possible to construct a furniture accessory where any additional function does not represent a nuisance and does not affect the ease of use of the accessory. Even though the invention has been described making reference to the attached drawings, in the construction phase changes can be made that shall all be considered protected by the present patent, provided that they are within the scope of the inventive concept expressed in the following claims. It is also important to remember that when the details mentioned in the claims below are followed by references, these must be understood as an aid to improve the comprehensibility of the claim in question and not as a limit to the interpretation of the same.

Claims

1) Furniture accessory (1, 100) comprising a bearing element (2) suited to bear, via articulation means (3), a support element (4) that defines a substantially plane support surface (5), said articulation means (3) being suited to allow said support element (4) to be moved from at least a first operating position in which said support surface (5) is arranged substantially horizontal to at least a second rest position in which said support element (4) faces said bearing element (2), said support element (4) being arranged, both in operating and in rest position, towards the same side (2g) of said bearing element (2).

2) Furniture accessory according to claim 1), characterized in that in said rest position said support surface (5) is arranged substantially parallel to said bearing element (2).

3) Furniture accessory according to claim 1) or 2), characterized in that said bearing element (2) is provided with at least one housing (9) suited to house said support element (4) when this is in rest position.

4) Furniture accessory according to claim 1) or 2) or 3), characterized in that said articulation means (3) are suited to allow said support element (4) to rotate around a first axis (6). 5) Furniture accessory according to claim 4), characterized in that said axis is substantially horizontal. 6) Furniture accessory according to claim 4) or 5), characterized in that said articulation means (3) comprise at least one hinge (16) defining said rotation axis (6). 7) Furniture accessory according to claim 6), characterized in that said hinge (16) comprises a first hinge element (17) suited to be fixed to said support element (4) joined, via at least one pin (19) defining said rotation axis (6), to a second hinge element (18) fixed to said guiding means.

8) Furniture accessory according to claim 7), characterized in that said first hinge element (17) comprises at least one substantially L-shaped connection bracket (17c) provided with a through hole (20) suited to receive a pin (19) defining said rotation axis (6).

9) Furniture accessory according to claim 6) or 7) or 8), characterized in that said articulation means (3) also comprise guiding means (23) suited to allow said hinge (16) to translate along a longitudinal axis (7a). 10) Furniture accessory according to claim 9), characterized in that said second hinge element (18) comprises a moving plate (21) slidingly housed inside a longitudinal seat (22) of said guiding means (23).

11) Furniture accessory according to any of the claims from 2) to 10), characterized in that said articulation means (3) also comprise first reference means (29) suited to limit the rotation of said support element (4) around said first axis (6).

12) Furniture accessory according to claim 7) and 11), characterized in that said first reference means (29) comprise a shaped groove or slot (29a) that substantially develops on a sector of a circle and is present on one of said hinge elements and a first counteracting element constituted by a pin (29b) integral with the other hinge element and sliding in said shaped groove (29a).

13) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said articulation means (3) are suited to allow said support element (4) to translate along a longitudinal axis (7a).

14) Furniture accessory according to claim 13), characterized in that said axis (7a) is substantially parallel to an axis of symmetry (7) of said bearing element (2).

15) Furniture accessory according to claim 1), characterized in that said articulation means (3) comprise guiding means including a longitudinal seat

(22) that defines a longitudinal translation axis (7a).

16) Furniture accessory according to claims 10) and 15), characterized in that said longitudinal seat (22) is suited to slidingly receive said plate (21).

17) Furniture accessory according to claim 15) or 16), characterized in that said guiding means comprise a main element (24) with two side elements (26) fixed to it, said main element and said side elements defining together said longitudinal seat (22).

18) Furniture accessory according to claims 6) and 17), characterized in that at least one of said side elements is provided with at least one through side opening (26a) that develops longitudinally, with which the pin (19) of said hinge engages.

19) Furniture accessory according to any of the claims from 13) to 18), characterized in that said articulation means (3) comprise reference means suited to limit the translation of said support element (4) along said longitudinal axis (7a). 20) Furniture accessory according to any of the claims from 13) to 19), characterized in that said articulation means (3) also comprise second counteracting means (30) suited to prevent it from translating along said longitudinal axis (7a) when said support element (4) is in said operating position.

21) Furniture accessory according to claims 7) and 20), characterized in that said second counteracting means (30) comprise at least one portion (30a) of the shaped profile of at least one of said hinge elements, said portion (30a) being suited to cooperate with a corresponding second counteracting element (30b) integral with said bearing element (2).

22) Furniture accessory according to claim 21), characterized in that said portion (30a) substantially comprise a portion of a substantially cylindrical surface and that said second counteracting element (30b) comprises a portion of a surface with conjugated profile. 23) Furniture accessory according to claims 7) and 15), characterized in that said second hinge element (18) also comprises a guiding surface (33) suited to cooperate with the above mentioned guiding means (22) so that the translation along said longitudinal axis (7a) can take place only when said support element is in a given position. 24) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said furniture accessory also comprises multimedia systems and/or data transmission systems like for example a microphone and/or a multimedia screen and/or electric and/or electronic and/or telematic connections capable of connecting, for example, a laptop computer to the power mains and/or to a local network, to the internet or another IT network.

25) Furniture accessory according to claim 24), characterized in that said systems are positioned on the upper part of said bearing element (2).

26) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said bearing element (2) comprises a tubular element (2a). 27) Furniture accessory according to claim 26), characterized in that said tubular element is hollow and is provided at one end with a base (8) suited to be fixed to a floor (P).

28) Furniture accessory according to claim 7), characterized in that the thickness (12) of said support element (4) is less than the depth (13) of said housing (9). 29) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said support element (4) comprises a tablet (4a) that defines a substantially plane support surface (5).

30) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that in said rest position said support surface (5) faces said bearing element (2).

31) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said side (2g) is the side that faces the user of said accessory when this is in operating position.

32) Furniture accessory according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the back of said bearing element (2) is never engaged by said support element (4), so that said back can be used for the application of any fixtures.