WO2019193489A1

WO2019193489A1 - Multifunction table

Info

Publication number: WO2019193489A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/052679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kingsley Antonio Diego BORELLO; Marco Francesco Giuseppe BORELLO; Franco Luini
Original assignee: Borello Kingsley Antonio Diego; Borello Marco Francesco Giuseppe; Franco Luini
Priority date: 2018-04-03
Filing date: 2019-04-02
Publication date: 2019-10-10
Also published as: IT201800004168A1

Abstract

A multifunction table (10) suitable for being used both as a drawing table for work or recreational/educational activities and as a table for dining, or for similar convivial occasions, modular and configurable/reconfigurable and characterized in that it comprises constitutive elements defined by a support or horizontal plane (12), a support structure (14) for said support or horizontal plane, possible optional elements (16) that can be coupled with the support or horizontal plane (12) and further possible optional elements (18) that can similarly be coupled with the support or horizontal plane (12), the fixing constraints between said constitutive elements being defined by shape interlocking couplings.

Description

MULTIFUNCTION TABLE

The present invention refers to a multifunction table.

More specifically, the present invention refers to a furnishing accessory and, even more specifically, to a multifunction table suitable for being used both as a drawing table for work or recreational/educational activities and as a table for dining or for similar convivial occasions.

As is known, a table is a furnishing accessory or piece of furniture formed of a horizontal plane which can be made from different materials (for instance, wood, glass, crystal, metal, plastic material or other similar rigid material) supported by one or more legs whose extent in height defines the distance of the horizontal plane to the ground and very often it characterizes the utility function of the table; for instance, legs having a small extent in height define a small table (of a type generally arranged near a sofa) , whereas higher legs define a work or dining table which can be matched with chairs or stools on which a user can sit.

A multifunction table is a furnishing accessory having the characteristics of a table (i.e. it comprises a support horizontal plane and a certain number of support legs) and which can be reconfigurable, i.e. modifiable in its shape and/or in its dimensional characteristics in order to allow the users to perform different activities such as, for instance, recreational/educational activities, work activities, and the like.

For example, gaming table are known which can be modified, in accordance with the game type, by replacing the horizontal plane (a poker table which transforms in a table appropriate for another card game, in a roulette table, or in a table suitable for being used in snake and ladders or monopoly game, or the like) .

Modifiable drawing tables are also known such as, for instance, those adjustable in the height of the work or horizontal height, those adjustable in the inclination of said plane, or those modifiable in shape and dimensions in order to allow a more appropriate (and ergonomic) work posture or to have a sufficient work space for the specific activity which a user is performing.

With more specific reference to drawing tables, tables are known that allow to perform a free hand drawing activity or decoration activity, of an amateur or professional type, equipped so as to have an organized management of sheets or equally known supports and drawing tools, tables that are used as simple laying plane for sheets to be used in free hand drawing (or also technical drawing) by using pencils, pens, markers, brushes, or even tables which feature surfaces suitable for using chalks or the like.

However, such known types of tables have a number of major drawbacks .

A drawback is in that to modify the utility function of the table the support or horizontal plane has to be replaced; this entails having a place or room where to store the temporarily not used plane.

A further drawback is in that such tables might have a complex structure (for instance, with reference to the possibility of modifying its shape and/or dimensions) which might make the table reconfiguration operation as a function of the activity difficult, define a table heavy and, consequently, difficult to handle and reposition, or define a table characterized by high costs, both of manufacturing and selling .

An object of the present invention is to obviate the above- mentioned drawbacks.

More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction table of a modular type as well as configurable/reconfigurable and for which the modification of intended use is simple, quick and easy both for adult users and for younger users, such as children or young people.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a table whose constitutive elements are suitable for guaranteeing a multiple use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction table capable of "evolving", i.e. of reconfiguring itself in accordance with the user's age.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction table suitable for guaranteeing high resistance and duration over time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a constructively simple multifunction table that can be manufactured in a cost-effective and easy manner.

These objects and others are achieved by the invention that has the characteristics according to claim 1.

In accordance with the invention a multifunction table is provided which is suitable for being used both as a drawing table for work or recreational/educational activities and as a table for dining or for similar convivial occasions, modular and configurable/reconfigurable and comprising constitutive elements defined by a support or horizontal plane, a support structure for said support or horizontal plane, optional elements, if any, that can be coupled with the support or horizontal plane, and further possible optional elements that can likewise be coupled with the support or horizontal plane, by way of fixing constraints between said constitutive elements which are defined by shape interlocking couplings .

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims .

The constructional and functional characteristics of the multifunction table according to the present invention can be better understood from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the attached drawings which represent a preferred, non-limitative embodiment thereof, and wherein :

figure 1 schematically shows an axonometric view of the multifunction table according to the present invention;

figure 2 schematically shows an axonometric, exploded view of the table according to the invention;

figures 3 and 3A show respectively an axonometric, schematic view and a schematic bottom view of a support plane of the table according to one embodiment of the invention;

figures 4, 4A, 4B, and 4C schematically show a support structure of a support plane according to one embodiment of the present invention;

figures 5 thru 8 schematically show optional elements of the table according to the invention.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, the multifunction table according to the invention, identified by the reference numeral 10 as a whole, comprises a support or horizontal plane 12, a support structure 14 for said support or horizontal plane, possible optional elements 16 which can be coupled with the support or horizontal plane and further possible optional elements 18 which can be similarly coupled with the support or horizontal plane 12.

The support or horizontal plane 12, schematically shown in detail in figures 3 and 3A, is defined by a plate-like element 12' centrally provided with a through opening 13 and comprising, on a lower front 15 opposite to an upper front 15' , shaped recesses 17 which, starting from said lower front 15, develop through the thickness of the plate-like element 12' .

In the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures, the plate-like element 12' defining the support or horizontal plane 12, features a circular shape; however, it should be understood that such plate-like element might feature a square, rectangular or substantially quadrangular, elliptical or mixtilinear shape as a function of the requirements imposed by aesthetic precepts.

The support or horizontal plane 12 is made from wood, crystal glass, metal or plastic material or from another material suitable for this purpose.

Said support or horizontal plane 12 is supported and spaced away from the ground by way of a support structure 14 that comprises a first half-element 14' and a second half-element 14'' coupled with each other as better defined here below. Each of the first half-element 14' and the second half element 14'' comprises a pair of legs 19 developed in height and joined through a crossbeam 20, the latter being made, typically but not exclusively, integrally with said legs.

The crossbeam 20 of the first half-element 14' comprises a cavity 21 formed starting from a lower edge of the crossbeam 20 towards an upper edge opposite to the pair of legs 19.

The crossbeam 20 of the second half-element 14'' comprises a further cavity 22 formed starting from an upper edge of the crossbeam 20 towards a lower edge facing the pair of legs 19. Starting from the upper edge of each crossbeam 20 of the first half-element 14' and of the second half-element 14'', according to a direction opposite to the lower edge, a pair of appendixes 23 is developed, the latter having, in cross section, a shape that corresponds to that of the shaped recesses 17 of the support or horizontal plane 12.

In order to form the support structure 14, the first half element 14' and the second half-element 14'' are coupled with each other and joined with the cavity 21 of the first half element 14' which is inserted into the cavity 22 of the second half-element 14'' so as to define an interlocking shape-coupling constraint, said first and second half-element being arranged perpendicularly to each other and to the upper edges (according to a direction opposite to the lower edge of each crossbeam 20 facing the legs 19) of the pairs of appendixes 23 of the first and the second half-elements which lay on the same horizontal plane whenever they are coupled. The appendixes 23 of the half-elements 14' and 14'' are inserted into the shaped recesses 17 of the support or horizontal plane 12 thus defining an interlocking shape- coupling constraint with respect to said support or horizontal plane 12.

Optional appendixes 25, if any, can be coupled in a known manner (for instance by way of pins, screws, or known shape couplings) with the appendixes 23 of each half-element 14' /14'' in correspondence with the upper edge of said appendixes 23, such optional appendixes 25 featuring a cross section shape which corresponds to the shape of the shaped recesses 17 of the support or horizontal plane 12.

The above-mentioned optional appendixes 25 have, when they are fixed to the appendixes 23 of the first and second half element 14' and 14'', the function of allowing an increase in height or distance of the support or horizontal plane 12 with respect to the ground; this is useful, for instance, in case the user is close to the table in stand-up position or in the case he/she is sitting on a stool.

Figures 5 thru 8 show optional elements which can be combined with the table according to the invention and, more specifically, with the support or horizontal plane 12.

Figure 5 shows a box element 28 superiorly open and suitable for being coupled with the through opening 13 of the support or horizontal plane 12; for this purpose, such box element 28 features a cross section shape which corresponds to that of the through opening 13 and dimensions which substantially correspond to those of said opening in order to allow the interlocking insertion of said box element into said opening. The box element 28 is usable as a pencil case or writing material case or the like and forms an optional element which, if not necessary, might be removed and the through opening 13 of the support or horizontal plane can be closed by a cap 30; the cap 30 itself can be used as a closing element for the box element 28.

Figure 6 shows an optional element defined by a whiteboard 32 suitable for being arranged on the support or horizontal plane 12 to be used as writing or drawing means by using chalks, erasable crayons o similar tools.

Said whiteboard 32 consists of a film whose opposed fronts (the upper and lower ones) are uniform so as to define a writing/drawing surface on both said fronts.

The whiteboard 32 features a shape which substantially corresponds to that of the support or horizontal plane 12 and it is also provided with a through opening 32' the shape and dimensions of which correspond to that of the through opening 13 of the support or horizontal plane 12.

Said whiteboard 32 is fitted to the upper front of the support or horizontal plane 12 by means of the box element 28 inserted into the through opening 32' .

Figure 7 shows a further optional element defined by a paper or cardboard sheet 34 or the like suitable for being arranged on the support or horizontal plane 12, said sheet 34 featuring a shape and dimensions which substantially correspond to those of the support or horizontal plane and which is also provided with a central through opening 34' which corresponds to the through opening 13 of the support or horizontal plane 12.

In this case too, the paper sheet 34 is stabilized with respect to the upper front of the support or horizontal plane

12 by way of the box element 28 inserted into the through opening 34 ' .

Figure 8 shows a further optional element defined by a ream 36 of paper sheets or equivalent writing/drawing material or the like suitable for being arranged in contact with the upper front of the support or horizontal plane 12; such ream of sheets 36 features shape and dimensions which substantially corresponds to those of the support or horizontal plane 12 and is also provided with a central through opening 36' which corresponds to the through opening

13 of the support or horizontal plane 12.

The ream of sheets 36 is stabilized with respect to the upper front of the support or horizontal plane 12 by way of the box element 28 inserted into the through opening 36' .

The above-described optional elements can be used alternatively to one another or combined (for instance, the whiteboard and the box element or the ream of sheets and the box element) and can be applied on the support plane of the table or removed therefrom in a quick and easy manner as a function of the specific activity that the user intend to do. In addition, the optional elements defined by the whiteboard 32, the paper sheets 34 and the sheet ream 36 might be white or coloured or can even have characters to be coloured or other graphical representations intended for recreational/educational purposes (particularly suitable when the table is intended for being used by children) .

The advantage achieved with the multifunction table according to the present invention are apparent from the foregoing.

The multifunction table according to the invention makes it advantageously possible to modify the utility function as a function of the specific and different activities the user intend to perform, both an adult user and a child user; the presence of optional elements easy to apply and remove makes such variation quick to perform.

A further advantage is in that the table can also be used as a dining or work table (for instance, a computer workstation) or also as a game table to use for a table game or card game. Further advantageous is the fact that the height of the support or horizontal plane of the table according to the invention can be modified in a simple and quick manner just by applying the optional appendixes to the support structure of the support or horizontal plane; this circumstance allows, for instance, to use the table in accordance with the evolutionary process of child's physical growing.

A further advantage is given in that, thanks to the presence of interlocking shape-coupling constraints, the table according to the invention is easy to assemble and disassemble . Although the invention has been described with reference to an embodiment thereof provided for explanatory non-limitative purposes only, numerous modifications and variants will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the above description. Therefore, the present invention is to be construed to embrace any modifications and variants that fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A multifunction table (10) suitable for being used both as a drawing table for work or recreational/educational activities and as a dining table or for similar convivial occasions, modular and configurable/reconfigurable and characterized in that it comprises constitutive elements defined by a support or horizontal plane (12) defined by a plate-like element (12') centrally provided with a through opening (13) possibly being closable by means of a cap (30) and comprising, on a lower front (15) opposite to an upper front (15')_/ shaped recesses (17) which, starting from said lower front (15), develop through the thickness of the plate like element (12') towards the upper front (15), an optional element defined by a box element (28) suitable for being used as a pencil case or stationery case or the like, open in its upper part and suitable for being coupled with the through opening (13) of the support or horizontal plane (12) and closable by means of a cap (30), if any, an optional element defined by a paper or cardboard sheet (34) or the like suitable for being arranged on the support or horizontal plane (12) provided with a central through opening (34') which corresponds to the through opening (13) of the support or horizontal plane (12) and stabilized with respect to the upper front of the support or horizontal plane (12) by means of the box element (28) inserted into the through opening (34'), a support structure (14) for said support or horizontal plane, optional elements (16), if any, that can be coupled with the support or horizontal plane (12), and further optional elements (18), if any, that can similarly be coupled with the support or horizontal plane (12), the fixing constraints between said constitutive elements being defined by shape interlocking couplings .

2. The table according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure (14) comprises a first half-element (14') and a second half-element (14'') rigidly coupled with each other .

3. The table according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the first half-element (14') and the second half-element (14'') comprises a pair of legs (19) extended in height and joined through a crossbeam (20), the crossbeam (20) of the first half-element (14') comprising a cavity (21) formed starting from a lower edge of said crossbeam (20) towards an upper edge opposite to the pair of legs (19), the crossbeam (20) of the second half-element (14'') comprising a further cavity (22) formed starting from an upper edge of the crossbeam (20) towards a lower edge of the crossbeam itself facing the pair of legs (19), starting from the upper edge of the crossbeam (20) of the first half-element (14') and of the second half-element (14'') being developed, according to a direction opposite to the lower edge of the crossbeam (20), a pair of appendixes (23) having a cross section shape which corresponds to that of the shaped recesses (17) of the support or horizontal plane (12) so as to accomplish an interlocking shape-coupling constraint with said shaped recesses (17) .

4. The table according to claim 3, characterized in that the first half-element (14') and the second half-element (14'') rigidly coupled and made integral with each other with the cavity (21) of the first half-element (14') fitting into the cavity (22) of the second half-element (14'') so as to define a interlocking shape-coupling constraint, said first and second half-elements (14', 14'') perpendicularly arranged to each other and with their upper edges, arranged in a direction opposite to the lower edge of each crossbeam (20) facing the legs (19), of the pair of appendixes (23) of the first and second half-elements (14', 14'') laying on the same horizontal plane when they are coupled with each other.

5. The table according to claim 3, characterized in that it might comprise optional appendixes (25) which can be coupled with the appendixes (23) of each half-element (14', 14'') in correspondence with the upper edge of said appendixes (23), said optional appendixes (25) featuring a cross section shape which corresponds to the shape of the shaped recesses (17) of the support or horizontal plane (12) so as to be coupled with said shaped recess (17) by way of an interlocking constraint and being suitable for realizing a distance or height increase with respect to the ground of the support or horizontal plane (12) .

6. The table according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the box element (28) features a cross section shape which corresponds to that of the through opening (13) as well as cross section dimensions which substantially correspond to those of said opening to allow said box element to insert and to couple, by shape interlocking coupling, with said opening.

7. The table according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises an optional element defined by a whiteboard (32) suitable for being arranged on the support or horizontal plane (12) so as to be used as a writing or drawing support with chalks, erasable markers or similar items, formed of a film the opposed upper and lower fronts of which are uniform so as to define a writing/drawing surface on both said fronts, the whiteboard (32) featuring a shape substantially corresponding to that of the support or horizontal plane (12) and a through opening ( 32 ') featuring a shape and dimensions which correspond to those of the through opening 13 of the support or horizontal plane (12), said whiteboard being fitted to the upper front of the support or horizontal plane (12) by way of the box element (28) inserted into the through opening ( 32 ') .

8. The table according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the sheet (34) features a shape and dimensions which substantially correspond to those of the support or horizontal plane (12) .

9. The table according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises an optional element defined by a ream (36) of sheets made from paper or another appropriate writing, drawing, or the like material, suitable for being arranged in contact with the upper front of the support or horizontal plane (12), the ream (36) of sheets, that features a shape and dimensions which substantially correspond to those of the support or horizontal plane (12), being provided with a central through opening (36') which corresponds to the through opening (13) of the support or horizontal plane (12) and is fitted to the upper front of the support or horizontal plane (12) by way of the box element (28) inserted into the through opening (36') .