WO2013104778A1

WO2013104778A1 - "magnetic lazy-susan and furniture comprising the same"

Info

Publication number: WO2013104778A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/050524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Filippo Ratti
Original assignee: Carlo Filippo Ratti
Priority date: 2012-01-11
Filing date: 2013-01-11
Publication date: 2013-07-18
Also published as: EP2802238A1; EP2802238B1

Abstract

A magnetic levitation lazy-susan is provided possibly integrated within a table to aid in moving food, floating and rotating, thanks to a magnetic levitation system located underneath the tabletop.

Description

"Magnetic lazy-susan and furniture comprising the same" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention is in the technical field of furniture.

More specifically, the present invention is in the technical field of dining tables.

More specifically, the present invention is in the technical field of lazy-susan systems for dining tables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention is a magnetic lazy-susan and a table with integrated trays placed on top of the table to aid in the moving food, floating and rotating thanks to a magnetic levitation system located underneath the tabletop.

Tables associated to lazy-susan systems represent a large part of the table market in China, Korea and Japan; most of them are round with a circular, rotating tray positioned in the centre.

The proposed invention suggests a different way to develop this kind of table, installing a magnetic levitation system underneath the tabletop.

Different configurations can be obtained: the lazy- susan can simply float, thanks to a magnetic levitation system; the configuration is the same of a traditional table system, but without having to make use of any mechanical connection between the rotating level and the table underneath.

In a second configuration, each dish is floating by itself on a single carrier, levitating thanks to the magnetic-levitation system. As one moves, the table automatically reconfigures all the others, following circular paths. This allows the use of tables of different shapes, not just circular ones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the table system of the present invention — different shapes can be designed;

Fig. 2 is a section detail of the applicable magnetic levitation technology;

Fig. 3 is a section view of the proposed invention; Fig. 4 is a functional diagram of the applicable

Linear DC motor technology;

Fig.5 is an illustration of how the system allows for tables of shapes other than circular ones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, a table is shown in Fig. 1 where, inserting a magnetic levitation system underneath the tabletop, different trays can move on the table surface following pre-set paths, suspended a few centimeters above the table by magnetic forces. This is possible thanks to the combination of a standard levitating technological system, already currently available, with a Linear DC motor, which determines the movement, under the tabletop and, consequently, the movement of the table objects above. In particular, the linear DC motor generates a moving magnetic field that can be controlled so as to drive the motion of the trays.

The invention advances, and could substitute, the traditional lazy-susan system, allowing the easy movement of plates around the table.

Referring now to applied technologies in more detail, we can see a standard levitating technological system in Fig. 2, which is currently available on the market.

The system is composed of a base (non floating-part) consisting of a copper or iron block (2), a permanent magnet base (3), and an oscillating field generator (4), and a floating-part consisting of a magnet ring - a carrier (1) - constantly rotating at a slow speed, and suspended a few centimeters above from the base.

This system permits the levitation of the carrier, thanks to the connection of the base to an electrical power source, which allows the creation of a magnetic field. In fact both carrier and base contain powerful magnets. Also permanent magnets alone can be used to suspend carrier 1 and the electrical power source controls a stabilizer, preferably an electromagnetic stabilizer. Once the carrier is placed in the middle of the base, it can be left alone: the magnetic field permits the self-levitation of the object .

The systems currently on the market allows for a maximum levitation of 44 mm with a device of the following dimensions: base with a height of 15 mm and width and length of 202 mm;

floating disc (carrier) with a height of 13 mm and diameter of 124 mm. The systems available on the market are able to carry loads of up to 1 kg.

Of relevance to the invention and particularly the carrier (s) of the objects on the table, is the following. A single carrier applied to a table object, due the nature of the system, is found to constantly rotate slowly on itself about a vertical axis. The application of two levitation systems (for example permanent magnets of base and carrier respectively) on a single table object constrains the object not to rotate, levitating motionlessly, thanks to the equilibrium between the two magnetic fields and gravity applied to the carrier.

The schematic section, represented in Fig. 3, shows the integration of the different elements:

below the tabletop (6) we can find the base of the levitation system: the copper or iron block, the permanent magnet base and the oscillating field generator. These elements are inserted into an enclosed compartment of the table (7) creating a magnetic force (5) that supports the carrier ( 1 ) .

On top of the table, the carrier (1) starts floating when the magnetic field is on. At this point the carrier (s) can be used to move the plates and other objects on the table. As a mere example, a levitation system according to the above is disclosed in WO-A1-2009038464.

Combining the levitating technology to a Linear DC motor or another electromagnetic drive coupled with the magnets of carrier 1, as shown in Fig.4, we can create a sliding movement or a translation in the carrier (s) above base (3) . A linear motor produces motion directly in a straight line or in different paths depending on the layout of the magnets defining the stator of the linear motor: applying this existing technology to the levitation system allows movement of the carrier (s) in a linear manner. In a further embodiment, the base stands still and the electromagnetic drive generates a moving electromagnetic field, either a rotating electromagnetic field or a translating electromagnetic field.

This movement allows the creation of a specific orbit on which, over the tabletop, the carrier (s) (the second magnet) can float.

The Linear DC motor works as a track for the carrier (s) . In fact, like a rotating motor, the stator (11) of the linear motor creates a magnetic shear wave (10), which moves the field and the carrier (s) accordingly. In Fig. 4 the directions of movement of the electromagnetic wave (8), the stator (11), the runner magnet (12) and the sharing force (9) are shown.

In further detail, and still referring to Fig. 3, the applied technological components can be sufficiently minimized to be inserted into a compartment the thickness of a standard tabletop (with minimum thickness of 4 cm) therefore creating a hidden system. The tabletop may be made with any material, but metal.

The shape and dimension of the table can be freely designed: the tabletop does not need necessarily be circular, just comfortable enough to allow space for the magnetic carrier (s) to move on the table following the set track (as shown in Fig.l and Fig.5) . In Fig. 5 the possibilities for applying the system, composed of the Linear DC motor and the levitating technology, are shown with tables of different shapes: the floating systems occupy the centre of the table with their individual orbits. The tracks (13), determined by the Linear DC motor, can be programmed to different shapes, preferably non- circular, according to the tabletop shape (6) contrary to that of a traditional lazy-susan that must be circular and cannot be made to fit other shapes.

In order to stabilize the lateral position and to avoid excessive tilting of the carrier with respect to base (3) a dedicated electromagnetic field can be generated and controlled by control unit (15) processing in closed loop a signal from position sensor 16 detecting the position of the carrier 1.

Other lateral stabilizing techniques comprise permanent magnet side tracks for the carrier or plurality of carriers aligned along the path defined by the stator of the linear DC motor. The side tracks stabilize the lateral position of the carrier.

Furthermore, a lateral stabilizer may comprise a mechanical contact guide.

In the description and the claims, a magnet can be either and electromagnet comprising one or more coils or a permanent magnet. Furthermore, electromagnetic coils controlled by a control unit comprising an inverter define an electromagnetic drive.

Claims

1. Lazy Susan unit comprising a magnetic base (3) and at least one permanent magnet carrier (1) levitating by repulsion with respect to said magnet base (3) .

2. The unit according to claim 1, wherein at least said magnetic base (3) comprises coils to define a preset non-circular path along which said carrier (1) translates.

3. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a mechanical or magnetic guide (4) to stabilize the lateral position of said carrier (1) in a substantially horizontal plane.

4. The unit according to claim 3, wherein the guide (4) comprises at least an electromagnetic coil, at least one position sensor (16) to detect the position of the carrier (1) and a control unit (15) controlling said electromagnet to stabilize at least the lateral position of said carrier (1) based on the input of said at least one position sensor (16).

5. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an electromagnetic drive (11, 12) to move said carrier (1) above said magnetic base (3) .

6. The unit according to claims 5, wherein said drive (11, 12) is the stator of a linear motor and said carrier (1) translates above said base (3).

7. The unit according to any of claims 5 or 6, wherein said drive (11, 12) is such to move a dish placed on said carrier (1) at no more than 0.3 m/s .

8. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a mechanical or magnetic stabilizer (?) to stabilize said carrier with respect to tilting, in particular to avoid food spillage or drop.

9. The unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the levitation of said carrier (1) is from 10 to 30 mm, dependently from the load on said carrier (1) .

10. The unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein said carrier (1) can sustain up to 1.5 kg.

11. The unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein said base (3) comprises a permanent magnet to sustain the levitation of said carrier (1) .

12. Furniture element (7) comprising a lazy susan unit according to any of the preceding claims.

13. Furniture element (7) according to claim 12, comprising a top wall (6) and wherein said magnetic base

(3) is housed within said top wall (6) .

14. Furniture element (7) according to claim 13, characterized in that said magnetic base (3) is hidden inside said top wall (6) .

15. Furniture element (7) according to claim 14 comprising a table and wherein said top wall (6) is the tabletop of said table.