WO2011029820A1

WO2011029820A1 - Knock-down table

Info

Publication number: WO2011029820A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/063114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Iacuzzi; Mauro Busolini
Original assignee: Legnotecnica Srl
Priority date: 2009-09-10
Filing date: 2010-09-07
Publication date: 2011-03-17
Also published as: ITUD20090160A1

Abstract

Knock-down table (10) comprising at least a main top (13), a support element (11) with which the main top (13) is associated and at least three legs (12) which support the main top (13) keeping it substantially horizontal at a determinate distance from the ground. The main top (13) comprises at least a peripheral frame (20), defined by two or more strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) reciprocally attached to each other to define the perimeter thereof. The knock-down table (10) comprises a plurality of mechanical elements (22) operatively associated with the strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and conformed to define a first stable assembly position, in which they keep the strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) reciprocally assembled with each other in a determinate assembly condition to define the perimeter of the frame (20), and a second dismantled position in which they allow the reciprocal separation of the strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and the reciprocal re-assembly thereof in the same assembly conditions of the first position.

Description

"KNOCK-DOWN TABLE"

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a knock-down and possibly extendable table, provided with a main top raised from the ground, and the components of which, such as legs, frame and main top, can be reciprocally dismantled for packaging and re-assembled by the final user.

In general the invention can be applied to any furnishing element provided with a main top such as for example a table, a shelf, a desk, a bench or other, but also to chairs, shelves, shelving or other furnishing elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Knock-down tables are known, comprising at least a support frame, a main top and three or more legs attached to the frame to keep the main top in a substantially horizontal position and at a determinate height from the ground. Tables are known in which the main top provides a peripheral frame and a central panel supported by the frame. It is also known that the frame is formed by two or more strips assembled with each other in order to each define one side of the frame.

From the PCT international patent WO-A-97/32503, for example, tables are known in which the frame provides a plurality of strips each attached to a respective edge of the main top.

Great precision is required in the assembly of the strips in order to obtain the correct reciprocal angle, whether it is at right angles or with another angle.

This feature is particularly important for tables which have the main top provided with a peripheral frame, made of a first material, and on which a panel of a different material from the material of the frame, such as glass or metal, is assembled.

In this case, to guarantee the correct reciprocal position of the strips, the frame is pre-assembled during the production process, so as to definitively attach the strips to the main top, usually by means of gluing, or by means of pins to guarantee the alignment.

One disadvantage of this is the long production times and high production costs due to the steps of assembling and checking the frame. Further increases in the production costs are due to the varnishing step for which the cost is calculated on the whole area covered by the frame and not only on the frame itself.

A further disadvantage is the bulk of pre-assembled frames which occupy more space both in the warehouse and in packing, with consequent increase in the storing and dispatching costs.

Furthermore, in the pre-assembled condition of the frame, even the possible sanding of the surfaces is complex, with consequent increases in production times and costs.

A further disadvantage is the use of glues which can dirty parts of the frames in an undesirable way and make the work environment unhealthy, as well as producing polluting residues. In particular the disadvantages stated are amplified in the case of extendable tables where, as well as the main top at least an extension top is provided, having a first position in which it is disposed retracted under the main top and at least a second position in which it is extracted on one side with respect to the main top and is disposed coplanar and adjacent to the main top.

Such extendable tables are also provided with shaped guides made on the frame to condition the lateral extraction movement of the extension top with respect to the main top.

It is clear that the correct reciprocal position of the strips is, in this case, even more necessary, to guarantee that the tops can slide inside the guides and that they are aligned when extended.

Therefore, as at least two tops are provided, at least two frames are provided, with consequent doubling of the costs of production, varnishing, storing and packing.

One purpose of the present invention is to make a knock-down table, possibly extendable, which is simple and economical to make and which is easy to assemble even by an operator who is not an expert, or by the final user.

A further purpose of the present invention is to make a knock-down table for which the costs of sanding, varnishing, storing and dispatching are much lower than those of known knock-down tables.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a knock-down table according to the present invention comprises at least a main top, a support element with which the main top is associated and at least three legs able to support the main top keeping it substantially horizontal at a determinate distance from the ground.

The main top comprises a peripheral frame, defined by two or more strips reciprocally attached to each other to define the perimeter of the frame, and a panel supported by said frame.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the knock-down table comprises a plurality of mechanical elements associated with the strips of the frame and conformed to define a first stable assembly position, in which they allow each of the strips to be directly assembled on the adjacent strip in a determinate assembly condition in which all the strips thus reciprocally assembled define the perimeter of the frame, and a second dismantled position in which they allow the reciprocal separation of the strips and the reciprocal re- assembly thereof in the same assembly conditions of the first position.

With the present invention therefore the determinate assembly condition occurs directly from strip to strip, and not with respect to the top as happens in known solutions.

The use of mechanical elements, and the fact that each strip is assembled with respect to the adjacent strip, guarantees the simplicity of assembly of the frame by the final user, ensuring the repeatability and the precision of the assembly conditions, and therefore eliminating the need for pre-assembly of the table during the production process.

This gives a reduction in production times and a reduction in costs of sanding and varnishing, because the strips can be separated, treated singly and disposed alongside each other on the work top, covering a smaller surface than that taken up by the frame in an assembled condition.

A further advantage given by the dismantling of the strips is the reduction in bulk in the warehouse with consequent reduction in storing costs, as well as the possibility of substituting the individual strips in the event of imprecision or breakage, or the production of frames with strips having different colors, shapes and materials, which can even be replaced at a later moment.

Another and no less important advantageous characteristic feature of the dismantling of the strips is that it is possible to dispose the various individual components of each part of the table according to a disposition which can have the smallest volume possible, so as to reduce to a minimum the bulk of the package in which the table according to the present invention is dispatched.

This advantage gives a substantial reduction in the bulk of the packaging and dispatching, thus affecting the overall costs of the knock-down table.

According to a variant, template means are provided in order to dispose the individual components in a dismantled condition according to the most advantageous disposition, also depending on the sizes, shapes and materials of the individual components.

In this way the bulk and costs of packing, storing and dispatching are optimized and standardized.

According to a variant, the knock-down table according to the present invention comprises an extendable top selectively movable with respect to the main top between a first position, in which it is below and comprised in the bulk of the main top, and a second position in which it is raised and disposed substantially coplanar with respect to the main top.

The extendable top also comprises a peripheral frame, defined by two or more strips and a panel supported by said frame.

In this variant, the strips of the frame of the extendable top are associated with each other by mechanical elements of the same type provided for the strips of the frame of the main top, so as to have both the first stable assembly position and the second dismantled position with possible re-assembly in the same assembly conditions of the first position.

The use of mechanical elements to assemble the frame of the extendable top guarantees the correct reciprocal position of the strips even after dismantling, which is necessary to allow the extendable top to slide inside the guides with which the supporting element is provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the table in fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is a first detail of the table in fig. 1 ;

- fig. 4 is a section of a detail of the table in fig. 1 ;

- fig. 5 is a second detail of the table in fig. 1.

To facilitate comprehension, identical reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and features of one form of embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF

EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a knock-down and extendable table 10 according to the present invention comprises a support element 1 1, four legs 12 mechanically attached to the support element 1 1, a main top 13 and, in this case, an extendable top 14.

The main top 13 comprises a frame 20 and a panel 21 enclosed and supported by the frame 20.

The frame 20 comprises, in this case, four strips, respectively a first strip 20a, a second strip 20b, a third strip 20c and a fourth strip 20d, suitably shaped to support the panel 21.

To each of the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d relative mechanical attachment elements 22 are associated, conformed to define a first stable assembly position, in which they keep each of the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d reciprocally assembled with respect to the adjacent strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, in a determinate assembly condition, and a second dismantled position in which they allow the reciprocal separation of each of the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d from the adjacent strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, and the re-assembly thereof in the same assembly conditions of the first position. In this case, each of the mechanical elements 22 comprises a guide pin 24, an internally threaded block 25, an attachment pin 26, a holed bushing 27, and a headless or grub screw 28.

The frame 20 is assembled by attaching the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d to each other in correspondence with the end portions, by means of the relative mechanical elements 22.

With particular reference to fig. 3, for example, in order to attach the two ends of the third strip 20c perpendicularly to an end portion of the second strip 20b and to an end portion of the fourth strip 20d, respectively two mechanical elements 22 are used, that is one for each pair of strips 20c-20b and 20c-20d.

In particular, in correspondence with each end portion of the third strip 20c, a first hole 23a and a second hole 23b are made, in this case substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis, and a hole 70 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (fig. 4) and through with respect to the second hole 23b.

The bushing 27 has a cylindrical shape and is provided with a longitudinal cylindrical threaded cavity 60, having a diameter coordinated with the diameter of the grub screw 28.

The bushing 27 also comprises a transverse through hole 50 and is inserted in the perpendicular hole 70, so that its passing hole 50 is coaxial with the second hole 23b.

The attachment pin 26, in this case made of a metal material, has a diameter coordinated with the diameter of the third hole 23b and of the through hole 50, and is provided with a threaded portion 38 and a smooth portion 37. A flared through transverse hole 39 is made on the smooth portion 37.

The attachment pin 26 is inserted, by screwing, into the block 25 by means of its threaded portion 38 and by threading its smooth portion 37 into the second hole 23b, until it has completely passed through the through hole 50, and disposes the flared hole 39 in a substantially coaxial position with the threaded cavity 60 of the bushing 27.

The grub screw 28 is screwed into the threaded cavity 60 of the bushing 27, until one of its leading ends is in a condition of cooperation with the flaring of the flared hole 39.

In this way the axial clamping of the attachment pin 26 with respect to the bushing 27 and the hole 23b is guaranteed.

In correspondence with the end portion of the second strip 20b and of the end portion of the fourth strip 20d, a third hole 29a and a fourth hole 29b are made, in this case substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the second strip 20b and of the fourth strip 20d, and in a position corresponding and substantially coaxial, respectively to the first hole 23a and to the second hole 23b, with respect to the thickness of the strips 20b, 20d and 20c.

The insert 25 is inserted, for example by screwing, into the fourth hole 29b, while the guide pin 24 is partially inserted into the first hole 23a and, for the remaining portion, into the third hole 29a in order to facilitate the alignment during the assembly operations.

Each of the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d also defines a resting surface 60 on which the panel 21 is rested at the end of the reciprocal assembly of the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d.

The supporting element 1 1 comprises four side elements 1 1a, l ib, 1 1c and 1 Id, opposite each other in pairs, in this case, respectively, first side elements 11a and 1 lc provided with a pair of guides 16 shaped so as to actuate the movement of the main top 13 and the extendable top 14 during the extension of the table 10, and second side elements l ib and l id, mounted substantially orthogonal to the ends of the first side elements 11a and 11c.

In particular the guides 16 in which the extension top 14 slides have an arched or inclined development with respect to the substantially horizontal disposition of the main top 13.

The arched or inclined shape is necessary because of the need to progressively lift the extension top 14, during its extraction, from the retracted position under the main top 13 to the aligned and extracted condition, flush with the main top 13.

In a totally identical way to the main top 13, the extension top 14 has a peripheral frame 30 and a panel 31 enclosed inside the frame 30.

The frame 30 also comprises four strips, respectively 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d, reciprocally assembled one with respect to the other, by means of corresponding mechanical elements 22 which correspond in type and in number with the mechanical elements 22 used to assemble the strips 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d which define the perimeter of the frame 20 of the main top 13.

Each of the strips 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d also defines a resting surface 60 on which the panel 31 is rested at the end of their reciprocal assembly.

Each side element 1 1a, l ib, 1 1c and l id is mechanically attachable, in correspondence with the end portions, to a pair of legs 12 by means of mechanical coupling elements 15.

In particular each leg 12 is attached transversally to one of the first side elements 11 , 11c, by means of relative first mechanical coupling elements 15, and to one of the second side elements l ib and l id, by means of relative second mechanical coupling elements 55.

For example, with reference to fig. 4, the leg 12 is assembled to the side element 1 1a by means of the first coupling elements 15, which comprise a threaded tie rod 40 of a length coordinated to that of the leg 12, a holed bushing 43, a pair of wooden pegs 45, a washer 41 and a nut 42 (fig. 2).

The threaded tie rod 40 is inserted in a through hole 51 made longitudinally on the leg 12, and is clamped, at the lower end, by means of the washer 41 and the nut 42, and at the upper end, by means of the bushing 43. The latter is inserted in a transverse hole 44 made on the side element 1 la.

The assembly operation is guided by the wooden pegs 45 inserted in corresponding holes made on the leg 12 and on the side element 11a parallel to the threaded tie rod 40.

The leg 12 is assembled on the side element l ib by means of the second coupling elements 55 comprising a pair of screws 47, a pair of flat washers 48 and a pair of internally threaded blocks 46.

The blocks 46 are inserted in two transverse holes 53, for example by screwing, made on the upper end portion of the leg 12 and the screws 47 are coupled with them by screwing.

The screws 47 are disposed inside relative eyelets 49 made longitudinally on the side element 1 lb and open in correspondence with the non- visible face of the latter, so as to allow the screws 47 to partly emerge and to be screwed into the blocks 46.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the knock-down table 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of knock-down table, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Knock-down table comprising at least a main top (13), a support element (1 1) with which the main top (13) is associated and at least three legs (12) able to support the main top (13) keeping it substantially horizontal at a determinate distance from the ground, said main top (13) comprising at least a peripheral frame (20), defined by two or more strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) reciprocally attached to each other to define the perimeter of the frame (20), characterized in that it comprises a plurality of mechanical elements (22) operatively associated with each of said strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and conformed to define a first stable assembly position, in which they allow each of the strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) to be directly assembled on an adjacent strip (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) in a determinate assembly condition in which the totality of the strips thus reciprocally and directly assembled to each other defines the perimeter of the frame (20), and a second dismantled position in which they allow the reciprocal separation of each of said strips (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and the reciprocal re-assembly thereof in the same assembly conditions of the first position.

2. Knock-down table as in claim 1, comprising an extendable top (14) selectively movable with respect to the main top (13) between a first position, in which it is below and comprised in the bulk of the main top (13), and a second position in which it is raised and disposed substantially coplanar with respect to the main top (13), said extendable top (14) comprising a peripheral frame (30), defined by two or more strips (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) and a panel (31) supported by said frame, characterized in that the strips (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) of the frame (30) of the extendable top (14) are associated with each other by means of said mechanical elements (22), so as to have both the first stable assembly position and the second dismantled position with possible re-assembly in the same assembly conditions of the first position.

3. Knock-down table as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mechanical elements (22) are made of metal material.

4. Knock-down table as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the mechanical elements (22) comprise one or more blocks (25), one or more attachment pins (26) with shape and sizes coordinated with the shape and sizes of the blocks (25), one or more holed bushings (27), and one or more grub screws (28) with a diameter coordinated with the diameter of the bushings (27) and able to cooperate with said attachment pins (26) to determine an axial constraint with respect to the bushing (27).

5. Knock-down table as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the mechanical elements (22) comprise a plurality of guide pins (24) able to guide the assembly operations.

6. Knock-down table as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein the support element (11) of said table comprises a plurality of side elements (11a, l ib, 11c, l id), characterized in that it comprises first coupling elements (15) able to attach each leg (12) to a first side element (1 1a, 1 1c), and second coupling elements (55) able to attach said leg (12) to a second side element (1 lb, 1 Id).

7. Knock-down table as in claim 6, characterized in that the first coupling elements (15) comprise a tie-rod (40) able to be inserted in a longitudinal through hole (51) made on the leg (12) and able to attach said leg (12) by screwing to the first side element (1 1a, 1 l c) in correspondence with the lower face of the latter.

8. Knock-down table as in claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the second coupling elements (55) comprise a pair of internally threaded blocks (46) inserted in relative holes (53) made on a lateral face of the leg (12), a pair of plane washers (48) and a pair of screws (47), said screws (47) being positioned in relative cavities (49) shaped as eyelets and made in correspondence with the non- visible lateral face of the second side element (1 lb, 1 Id), to allow the screws (47) to be screwed into said blocks (46).

9. Knock-down table as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises template means to dispose the individual components of the table according to the most advantageous disposition, also depending on the sizes, shapes and materials, for stocking and/or packing.