WO2012067580A1

WO2012067580A1 - A stand for use adjacent to pieces of furniture

Info

Publication number: WO2012067580A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/051385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Magnus Eklund
Original assignee: Magnus Eklund
Priority date: 2010-11-17
Filing date: 2011-11-17
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Also published as: SE535419C2; SE1051206A1

Abstract

A stand for use adjacent to pieces of furniture, comprising a vertical pole (2) with a base (1). The stand further comprises a first vertically adjustable support element (3) extending horizontally from the pole and designed to be supported against the underside of the furniture, and a second vertically adjustable support element (6) extending horizontally from the pole and designed to be resting against an upper side of the furniture. The second element has a large support surface and might function as a table as well as a support surface.

Description

A STAND FOR USE ADJACENT TO PIECES OF FURNITURE

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a stand, and more exactly a stand for use adjacent to furniture, beds etc. Background

There is a need for handling laptop computers, keyboards, food, books, documents etc. when sitting in a sofa, an

armchair, lying or sitting in bed. The use of a laptop

computer when sitting in a sofa or in an armchair implies uncomfortable positions irrespective if it is placed on a sideboard or in the lap. A laptop computer becomes warm and it feels unpleasant to have it in the lap for a long time.

If several people want to be together in the same room while at the same time performing different activities, there are normally no suitable surfaces offering a safe use and which, when e.g. having a meal minimize the risk of spillage.

The Invention

In view of the above, one object of the present invention is to provide a stable and secure stand for use adjacent to a piece of furniture.

This and other objects are achieved with the stand according to the invention, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Developments and preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the sub claims . In use the stand is placed adjacent to a piece of furniture, such as a sofa or a bed. The stand is stabilized at said piece of furniture in that a first support element abuts the

underside of the piece of furniture or part of its underbody.

According to the development disclosed in claim 2 the stand also comprises a second support element. When the second support element is in contact with part of the upper side of the piece of furniture while at the same time the first support element is in contact with the underside of the piece of furniture the stability of the stand will be independent of the weight of the piece of furniture in question, especially when nobody is sitting or lying on it.

Short description of the drawings

Further objects, advantages and characterizing features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed

description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, which however are only shown for exemplifying purposes. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 schematically shows one embodiment of a stand according to the present invention with equipment,

Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of part of the stand shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 schematically shows a frontal view of the stand

according to Fig . 1.

Detailed description

The invention relates to a stand to be placed at pieces of furniture, such as sofas, armchairs, beds. The stand can be supplemented in many different ways in order to create a versatile product. As will be evident below, the stand can function as a computer stand with a source of light, as a floor lamp with a turnable table etc. Thus, with the stand according to the invention it is possible to e.g. use a laptop computer at a sofa in a safe and ergo omically advantageous way. With that a family can be assembled even if the family members occupy themselves with different things .

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be evident from the following description and further

possibilities will be obvious.

The stand according to the invention comprises a base 1 and an pole 2 connected to the base. Further it comprises a first support element 3, which in the embodiment shown is comprised of a rod element 4 extending horizontally from the pole, on which a load distributing element 5 might be arranged, is is shown in Fig. 2. The first support element is however not limited to be a rod, but can also be formed as a plate or any other configuration.

In the embodiments shown, the first support element is arranged to be vertically adjustable in the pole 2. The vertical adjustability can be achieved with a mechanism of any suitable kind, and which is not a part of the present

invention as such. In the most elementary form it can be comprised of a catch which as loosened manually, whereupon the first support element is manually pushed to a desired position and is locked against the pole in this position. It can also be a mechanical mechanism comprising a screw which moves the first support element vertically, and in this way the support element can be forced against a piece of furniture. The mechanism can also be driven electrically and/or

hydraulically. As a further alternative the units arranged on the pole can be designed with a fastening part surrounding the pole and with a tightening mechanism like a clamp being able to be locked in a desired position on the pole, and also being displaceable on the pole. The pole might then be solid or tubula .

According to a further embodiment, which is not shown in the attached drawing, the first support element might be connected to the base 1. It might then be designed so, that it is forced up from the base and is pressed against the underside of the piece of furniture. It might also be designed so that the support element 3 is mounted and adjusted from the side of the base .

According to a further alternative embodiment the pole might be solid, e.g. manufactured from wood or a plastic material, with a rail arranged in a groove cut into the pole, which rail is used for fastening and fixing of the different parts of the stand as well as further components .

When the stand is to be placed adjacent to a piece of

furniture, the first support element is inserted under said piece of furniture, e.g. underneath a strut in the underbody of a sofa, and is brought into contact therewith. Since the base 1 is extended horizontally, the pole will be fixed in a stable way when the base rests against the floor and the first support element rests against the piece of furniture. In Fig. 2 the first support element is shown as a rodlike element 4 comprising a load distributing element 5. The load distributing element 5 as adapted to abut the underbody of a piece of furniture, whereby a more lenient abutment is achieved while at the same time the risk for sliding off is substantially reduced. The load distributing element can have any suitable form and as has been said above, the support element can be designed as a plate which is brought into contact with a smooth underside of a piece of furniture.

If the stand is loaded in a direction from the piece of furniture and the furniture is not loaded and per se is not heavy, the stabilizing action of the first support element might possibly be insufficient. In order to rectify this problem according to a development of the invention, the stand comprises a vertically adjustable second support element 6, extending horizontally from the pole. This is also connected to a mechanism for vertical adjustment arranged in the pole, corresponding to the mechanism for the first support element. In order to further enhance the stability of the stand, the second support element is conveyed downwardly towards a piece of furniture, for example toward the armrest of a sofa, against the upper part of a bed or similar. By designing the second support element as a plate it might also be used as for example a tray or a table, and simultaneously it reduces the risk of permanent influence of the piece of furniture in question, thanks to the extended abutment surface.

When the first and second support elements are in contact with a piece of furniture or an object from underneath and from above, respectively, the stand is stabilized so that it can be used in a safe way for many different purposes. In the embodiment shown in the drawing the stand is further provided with an arm 7 carrying a table 8, which optionally can be turnable. In order to optimize the function of the table as a computer table it might advantageously also be tiltable. This arm is also fastened in the pole 2 and can be turnable and vertically adjustable. An electric motor, a balance mechanism, hydraulics, or alternatively a telescopic pole might be used for vertical adjustment of the arm.

In order to reduce the risk for the stand to tip over because of overload but also for reducing the influence on the piece of furniture in question, turning limiters can be arranged for this arm. For example it might be proper to restrict the turning mobility of the arm to 180°, where 90° implies that the arm is turned in towards the piece of furniture in

question. Further, in the embodiment shown in the drawing a source of light 9 is arranged at the upper end of the pole. The power supply for the source of light can be arranged in the pole or an electric conductor might be laid inside the pole.

The possibilities of using the stand in different environments are almost unlimited and the embodiment shown in the drawing is only one example intended to illustrate the invention.

Claims

1. A stand for use adjacent to pieces of furniture, beds etc, comprising a vertical pole (2) and a base (1) connected to and extending horizontally from the pole, a vertically adjustable first support element (3) arranged adjacent to the lower end of the pole (2) and being designed to be supported against an underside of a piece of furniture, bed or similar, a

vertically adjustable second support element (6), arranged above said first support element (3) and extending

horizontally from the pole, intended to rest against un upper side of a piece of furniture, bed or similar, as well as an extending, preferably turnable, arm (7), characterized in that said second support element (6) is comprised of a plate or a corresponding means, which might function as a table while it at the same time offers a large support surface in contact with an object.

2. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that said first support element (3) is arranged to be vertically

adjustable in the pole (2) .

3. The stand according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that said first support element is part of the base.

4. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm (7) is vertically adjustable.

5. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that said turnable arm (7) at a free end comprises a plate (8) or similar, which can be arranged to be turnable and/or tiltable.

6. The stand according to any of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the stand comprises a source of light (9) arranged at the opposite end of the pole (2) in relation to the base (1) .

7. The stand according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and/or balance mechanisms for vertical adjustment of said first and/or second support element and/or said turnable arm (7) built-in in the pole (2) .

8. The stand according to any of the preceding claims,

characterized in that said first support element (1) is comprised of a horizontally extending rodlike element (4) and in that is has a load distributing element (5) , possibly adjustable thereon, adapted to the underside of the piece of furniture in question.