EP0045772A1

EP0045772A1 - Table

Info

Publication number: EP0045772A1
Application number: EP19810900488
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gunnar Myrstrand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-02-21
Filing date: 1981-02-19
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: WO1981002381A1; SE8001381L

Abstract

Une table comprend un dessus de table (2) et des pieds, qui peuvent etre fixes et enleves de maniere simple du dessus de table, et des moyens d'attache pour attacher les pieds au dessus de table. Chaque pied comprend deux parties (3, 4) qui sont attachees l'une a l'autre a l'extremite inferieure et mobiles en se rapprochant et en s'eloignant l'une de l'autre par l'action de l'elasticite propre du materiau. Deux de ces pieds sont attaches a leur extremite superieure de maniere espacee l'un de l'autre a l'aide d'entretoises, de maniere a former un treteau. A la petite extremite de chaque dessus de table (2), des moyens d'attache comprenant des blocs (11, 12) sont prevus. Les blocs (11, 12) possedent des evidements horizontaux (14, 15, 16), dans lesquels des projections correspondantes (9, 10) provenant des pieds sont introduites et maintenues par leur elasticite. Ces blocs (11, 12) sont positionnes dans le sens longitudinal du dessus de table (2) de telle sorte qu'un treteau puisse etre attache soit a la petite extremite du dessus de table (2) soit, alternativement, entre les blocs (11) positionnes le plus pres de la petite extremite du dessus de table (2) des deux dessus de table (2) places l'un a cote de l'autre, dans ce dernier cas le treteau reliant les dessus de table (2) entre eux, empechant des vides et des differences de hauteur de se former entre les dessus de table (2).A table includes a table top (2) and legs, which can be fixed and easily removed from the table top, and attachment means for attaching the legs to the table top. Each leg has two parts (3, 4) which are attached to each other at the lower end and are movable towards and away from each other by the action of elasticity clean of the material. Two of these feet are attached to their upper ends in a space apart from each other using spacers, so as to form a trestle. At the small end of each table top (2), attachment means comprising blocks (11, 12) are provided. The blocks (11, 12) have horizontal recesses (14, 15, 16), into which corresponding projections (9, 10) from the feet are introduced and maintained by their elasticity. These blocks (11, 12) are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the table top (2) so that a trestle can be attached either to the small end of the table top (2) or, alternatively, between the blocks ( 11) positioned as close as possible to the small end of the table top (2) of the two table tops (2) placed side by side, in the latter case the trestle connecting the table tops (2) between them, preventing voids and height differences from forming between the table tops (2).

Description

Table

This invention relates to a table, more precisely to a special leg arrangement.

A great number of embodiments of collapsible and erectile tables are known. The most usual type possibly is a table, at which one leg at each corner of the table is pivoted to the table top by means of a hinge or the like. The legs can be locked in a folded-out or retracted position, for example by means of wing nuts.

All collapsible and erectile tables of the kind here concerned involve two essential disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that the tables cannot, and are not intended either, be attached to each other when a number of tables are to be aligned. In such a case, gaps and differences in height between the tables arise, at the same time as there exist two space-requiring pairs of legs at each joint between two tables. The second disadvantage is that it is relatively tedious to erect and to fold the tables, because in most cases the legs in retracted as well as in folded-out position must be secured by means of wing nuts or the like.

These disadvantages are especially apparent when a great number of tables always are to be set up in different ways, as for example is the case in conference hotels, public premises, reception apartments etc.

The present invention provides a table, at which the aforesaid disadvantages are eliminated.

The present invention, thus, relates to a table comprising a top and legs, which are attachable to and removable from the top, and fastening means for attaching the legs to the table top.

The invention is characterized in that each leg comprises two parts, which are attached to each other at the lower end of the parts which is intended to rest on a floor or the like, and which by action of inherent resilience of the material are movable to and from each other at the upper end of the parts, that two such legs are attached in spaced relationship by means of ribs in such a manner, that one rib joins one upper end of the two legs and one rib joins the other upper end of the legs, so that a leg trestle is formed in that ben eath the table top at the two short sides of said top fastening means are located, which comprise blocks or corresponding members, which are provided with recesses, into which projections from the upper end of the legs are intended to be inserted and remained therein by said resilience force, and that said blocks are located so in longitudinal direction of the table top, that a leg trestle can be attached between two blocks at one short end of the table top or, alternative ly, between the blocks located closest to the short side of two table tops placed adjacent one another.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a lateral view of a table leg attached to the end of a table according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a plane view of the table leg, Fig. 3 is a view from above of the end of a table where the leg according to Fig.1 and its fastening means at one table edge are indicated by dashed lines, Figs. 4 and 5 show fastening means on an enlarged scale, the view being the same as in Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a lateral view of the short side of a table and a section through a leg and existing fastening means, and it shows by dashed lines an additional table adjacent said table and the leg arrangement (by dashed lines) according to the invention at a joint between two tables, and

Fig. 7 is a view from above of an example of a table configuration.

In Fig. 1 a table leg 1 according to the invention is shown seen from the side, and in Fig. 2 the table leg is shown seen from the left in Fig. 1.

The table according to the invention comprises a table top 2 and legs 1, which can be mounted on the table top 2 and be removed therefrom, and means for attaching the legs 1 to the table top 2.

Each leg 1 comprises two parts 3,4, which are attached to each other at the lower end 5 of the parts. Two such legs 1 are attached in spaced relationship by means of ribs 6,7, one 6 of which joins one upper end 8 of the two legs and one 7 joins the other upper end of the two legs. Hereby an upside down leg trestle is formed. The legs 1 are made of a resilient material, preferably wood, rendering it possible to move the ribs from and to each other by action of the resilient force of the material.

Along each of the ribs 6,7 a projection 9,10 is provided, see Fig. 6, which projections are directed to each other.

The means for attaching the legs 1 to the table top 2 comprise blocks 11,12,13 or corresponding members, which are provided with recesses 14,15,16, into which the projections 9,10 are intended to be inserted and be remained therein by the afore said resilient force, see Figs. 3,4,5 and 6.

Most closely adjacent the short side 17 of each table top 2 a first block 11 is located, which includes a horizontally extending recess 14,15 on both sides of the block, seen in the longitudinal direction of the table top. Spaced from said first block 11 a second block 12;13 is located which is provided with a horizontal recess 16 remote from said first block 11.

The distance between the short side 17 of the table top and the edge 18 of the first block 11 farthest away from the short side 17 is about half the distance between the edge 19 of the first block 11 closest to the short side and the edge 20 of the other block farthest away from the short side

At each table,blocks 11,12,13 are provided in the above manner.

For the sake of clearness is stated that the aforesaid applies to both blocks 12,13, which have only one recess. These blocks are identical but mirror-inverted.

Each block type occurs in pairs and are placed at the same distance from the short side 17 of the table top and at a distance relative to each other which corresponds to the dist ance between the legs 1 in said leg trestle, i.e. correspond ing to the length of the ribs 6,7, see Fig. 3.

The recess/recesses 14,15,16 at each block type terminate in the longitudinal direction of the recess/recesses in a shoulder 21,22,23 in order to retain a leg trestle in position relative to the width of the table top.

Owing to the aforesaid design of legs and fastening means, a leg trestle 1,6,7 can be attached either between two blocks 11,12 at the short end of a table top 2 or, alternatively, between the outermost blocks 11,11' of two table tops 2 , 2' placed adjacent each other, see Fig. 6.

In Fig. 6 the firstmentioned case is indicated by fully drawn legs 3,4, and the lastmentioned case by dashed legs 3', 4'.

At the mounting of legs 1 on a table top 2 the ribs 6,7 are moved slightly apart, whereafter the ribs are moved to the lower surface 24 of the table top. The ribs 6,7 then are released whereby the projections 9,10 slide into the recesses 14,15,16. The legs 1 hereby are held in the position shown in Fig. 6 by action of said resilient force in the legs 1. If in view of the material choice for the legs necessary, a helical spring 25 or the like can be attached between the ribs as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 3.

After such a simple mounting of a leg trestle at each end of a table top, a very stable table is obtained. As mentioned above, a leg trestle can be used for jointing two tables standing adjacent one another, see Fig. 6. This implies that there is no joint or difference in height between two adjacent table tops, at the same time as the number of legs at the joint between two tables is halved compared with when known tables of the type here referred to are used.

A further advantage of the present invention is that table tops and legs can be treated and stored separately.

In Fig. 7 only one example of a table setting is shown, at which seven tables are arranged angularly of seven table tops and eight leg trestles. The position of the leg trestles is marked by B in Fig. 7. The entire table here forms one unit, owing to the fact that the legs bridge over every joint between two adjacent tables. As appears from Fig. 7, the present invention is not restricted to rectangular or square tables, but can as well be applied to trapezoid, triangular or circular tables. It is, thus, obvious that the present invention brings about a substantially facilitated erection of tables in definite configurations, and that the disadvantages referred to in the introductory portion are eliminated.

The invention, of course, must not be regarded restricted to the embodiments set forth above. The projections, for exampl the recesses and the blocks as well as the legs may be design ed in a different manner without abandoning the invention idea.

It is obvious, too, that the invention can be applied to furniture other than the aforesaid tables, for example to shelves, cabinets etc.

The invention, thus, can be varied within its scope defined in the aτtached claims.

Claims

1. A table comprising a table top (2) and legs (1), which can be attached to and removed from the table top, and fastening means for attaching the legs to the table top, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that each leg (1) comprises two parts (3,4), which are attached to each other at the lower end (5) of the parts which is intended to rest on a, floor or the like, and by action of the inherent resilience of the material are movable to and from each other at the upper end (8) of the parts, that two of said legs (1) are attached in spaced relationship by means of ribs (6,7), one (6) of which joins one upper end of the two legs and one (7) joins the other upper end of the legs, so that a leg trestle is formed in that beneath the table top (2) at the two short sides of said table top fastening means are located, which comprise blocks (11,12) or corresponding members, which are provided with recesses (14,15,16), into which projections (9,10) from the upper end (8) of the legs (1) are intended to be inserted and retained by said resilience force, and that said blocks (11,12) are placed so in longitudinal direction of the table top, that a leg trestle (1,6,7) can be attached between two blocks (11,12) at the short end of a table top (2) or, alternatively, between the blocks (11,11') located closest to the short side of two table tops placed adjacent one another.

2. A table as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that closest to the short side of each table top (2) a first block (11) is located, which includes a horizontally extending recess (14,15) on both sides of the block (11), seen in the longitudinal direction of the table top. (2), and spaced from said first block (11) a second block (12) is located, which is provided with a horizontal recess (16) remote from the first block (11).

3. A table as defined in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each type of blocks (11,12) is provided in pairs, which are placed at equal distance from the short side of the table top (2) and at a distance relative to each other which substantially corresponds to the distance between the legs (1) in said leg trestle (1,6,7).

4. A table as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the recess/recesses of each block (11,12) terminate in longitudinal direction of the recess/recesses in a shoulder (21,22,13) in order to retain each leg trestle (1,6,7) in its position relative to the width of the table top (2).

5. A table as defined in claim 1,2,3 or 4, c h a r a c te r i z e d i n that a spring (25), for example a helical spring, is located between the two ribs. (6,7) comprised in each leg trestle (1,6,7).