EP1616501B1 - Office furniture with an underframe allowing multiple configurations - Google Patents

Abstract

Office furniture has leg frame assemblies (4) on which a table top assembly (2) is fixed, and distributed along a longitudinal axis (D) of a table top (3) of the assembly (2). Each assembly (4) has a finite number of units fitted with each other to modulate configurations of the assemblies (4). The fixation of the assembly (2) is moved relative to a symmetry axis to create two portions having different lengths, in sectional planes (A, B). The units of the leg frame assemblies constitute a plate, a base, an extender, angular parts and upright rods.

Description

The present invention relates to office furniture of the type comprising on the one hand a tray assembly provided with at least one tray whose height can be adjusted and on the other hand at least two vertical legs supporting the tray assembly, each base being modular.

The US Patent 7,752,449 discloses a work table consisting of a tray placed on support arms at the side edges, with support feet which are connected to the arms, the support legs having a vertical profile with external T-shaped grooves for receiving a device height adjustment for the table top. The vertical profiles are connected to bases forming feet, arranged horizontally and can be removed and / or exchanged in the service position of the work table which can take several configurations.

The use of this type of furniture has spread in recent years because of the advantages offered by their flexibility of use to adapt each piece of furniture to each use and all workplaces. Nevertheless, the change of configuration of a base is accompanied in the known systems of adding parts or substitution of parts by others, which forces the users of office furniture, or at least the persons in charge of their layout, to keep and store all the necessary parts to achieve all configurations. This fundamental aspect is particularly detrimental to this type of furniture because the stored and / or stored parts may be misplaced, which then inevitably leads to restrictions in the possibilities of configurations of the legs or eliminates any possibility.

In addition, the storage of these parts requires the assignment of a dedicated place for this storage, furniture or local which, in any case, causes a loss of space and / or unnecessary costs.

The object of the invention is to eliminate these disadvantages by providing office furniture whose legs are flexible, mounted easily and quickly, and whose structure is extremely simple.

For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, there is provided office furniture comprising on the one hand, a set-tray having at least one reversible plate whose height can be adjusted and on the other hand, at least two legs on which is fixed the set-plate, distributed along a generally longitudinal axis of the plate and arranged transversely to said axis, each of said legs belonging to a vertical plan of poor, vertical, remarkable in that it has a provision in accordance with the claim 1.

Contrary to the provisions already known, the invention advantageously allows to obtain a plurality of configurations for the legs which then offers a particularly simple and fast modular aspect, each of the possible configurations requiring all the elements forming the legs.

Thus, no storage is necessary to store and store parts that are used to achieve only certain base configurations and are useless for other configurations.

Furthermore, the legs according to the invention implement a finite number of elements that advantageously allow to configure the legs in three characteristic forms.

The furniture according to the invention comprises a plate, two legs to which it is possible to add a beam in the form of bar or tubular section having stabilizing and stiffening effects. The following three forms of legs thus make it possible to create arrangements for meeting rooms as well as individual workstations.

For meeting tables, the beam is located in the middle of the tray, that is to say, it extends along the generally longitudinal axis of the plate, which gives everyone sufficient legroom. To do this, two base configurations are possible: the so-called "I" shape and the so-called "inverted U" shape.

The extra space needed for the legs in the case of individual workstations is achieved by translating the beam backwards, that is to say in a direction opposite to the person in front of the workstation and moving simultaneously backwards also the uprights of the legs. This base then takes a shape called "C" for the future.

Thus, the legs according to the invention advantageously allow to be configured according to the three preceding conventional forms and this, by means of a finite number of parts, all of these parts being necessary for each configuration.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the office furniture is provided with means for adjusting the height of the tray. This makes it possible to meet the expectations of some people who do not want to work all day in the same position or to respond to the fact that an office can be assigned to different operations that may require different plateaus heights depending on the desired anthropometric and ergonomic adaptation.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une variante de mobilier de bureau conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon le plan A de la figure 1 du mobilier de bureau illustré à la figure 1 qui permet de montrer la configuration du piétement en forme de « U renversé »,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon le plan A de la figure 1 du mobilier de bureau illustré à la figure 1 qui permet de montrer la configuration du piétement en forme de « I »,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon le plan A de la figure 1 du mobilier de bureau illustré à la figure 1 qui permet de montrer la configuration du piétement en forme de « C »,
• la figure 5 est une vue de détail de côté de la fixation de l'ensemble plateau sur la platine d'un piétement conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de mobilier de bureau conforme à l'invention muni de moyens d'élévation à grand débattement, fixés sur chacun des piétements.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of a transformable office furniture according to the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a variant of office furniture according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a sectional view along plane A of the figure 1 office furniture shown in the figure 1 which makes it possible to show the configuration of the U-shaped base,
• the figure 3 is a sectional view along plane A of the figure 1 office furniture shown in the figure 1 which shows the configuration of the I-shaped base,
• the figure 4 is a sectional view along plane A of the figure 1 office furniture shown in the figure 1 which shows the configuration of the "C" shaped base,
• the figure 5 is a detailed side view of the attachment of the tray assembly to the plate of a base according to the invention,
• the figure 6 is a perspective view of an example of office furniture according to the invention provided with high-rise means of elevation, fixed on each of the legs.

With reference to the figure 1 , the office furniture variant 1 according to the invention comprises on the one hand a set-plate 2 provided with a plate 3 and on the other hand legs 4 which, whatever the desired configuration among the set of configurations possible that will be described later, belong globally respectively to a vertical plane A and B.

The illustrated example comprises a plate 3 of rectangular shape, but it is understood that the shape of the plate 3 can be any without departing from the scope of the invention. As shown in figure 1 , the two vertical legs 4 are distributed along a generally longitudinal axis D of the plate 3, here the axis of symmetry, and arranged transversely with respect to said axis D.

Of course, the office furniture 1 according to the invention may comprise several trays arranged one above the other or next to each other, even as the number of legs may be greater than two, for example typically three to support an angular plane, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Each base 4 has a finite number of elements that are nestable into each other and this, to allow a modularity of the configuration of the base 4. It should be noted that each of the possible configurations, 3 in number, requires all the elements.

The figure 2 which is a sectional view along plane A of the figure 1 office furniture 1 can show the configuration of the base 4 which is then in the form of "U reversed". Of course, the description which follows would be completely analogous in considering a section along the plane B of the figure 1 . The set-tray 2 of the office furniture 1 is fixed to the base 4 by fastening means 5. The fixation obtained is then offset with respect to the vertical axis E of symmetry of the edge of the plate 3 in section along the plane vertical A when the plate 3 is horizontal. This essential feature will be necessary later to achieve the following configurations shown in figures 4 and 5 and this defines in the plane of the figure 2 two portions 31 and 32 of the slice of the plate 3 in section, respectively on one side and the other of the vertical axis G passing through the fastening obtained by the fastening means 5, the portion 31 being of shorter length than that of the portion 32. This also allows to provide an upper leg space for users.

The figure 2 illustrates the office furniture when the base has the configuration called "inverted U", the base 4 then being composed of a plate 6 which cooperates by fastening means 5 with the assembly-plate 2 to achieve complete fixation of the last. The main part of the body of the plate 6 extends generally vertically and below the portion 32 of the plate 3. The plate 6 is fixed on its lower part 61 to a base 7 which is horizontal regardless of the configuration of the base 4. This base 7, generally rectilinear, has a tubular structure of rectangular section and comprises two fictitious portions 71 and 72, the portion 72 being defined as the portion which has the axis E as vertical axis of symmetry and the portion 71 defined as the complementary portion of the portion 72 to form the base 7.

Moreover, in the "inverted U" configuration, the portion 71 of the base 7 is situated generally vertically and below the portion 31 of the plate 3. The end of the portion 72 of the opposite base 7 at the end in contact with the portion 71 of the base 7 and marked 721 while the end of the portion 71 of the base 7 opposite the end in contact with the portion 72 of the base 7 is located 711. At the end 721, the base 7 is extended by an extension 8, itself extended by an angular piece 9. A second angular piece 9 is fixed in the extension of the portion 71 of the base 7 to the end 711. The angular pieces 9 are constructed so that they are each adapted to receive a rising tube 10 arranged vertically and oriented downwards. Each riser tube 10 is provided with extension means 101 allowing the length of said riser tube 10 to be adjusted, which allows the height of the tray 3 to be adjusted at the discretion of the user of the office furniture 1 or according to the functions of the user. it is intended for said office furniture 1.

The adjustment means 101 of a rising tube 10 consist in fact of a unlockable pawl mounted on a first tube 102 forming part of a rising tube 10, said pawl being able to cooperate with a series of lugs arranged on a second tube 103 forming a second portion of a riser tube 10, the second tube 103 slidable in the tube 102. Nevertheless, the skilled person could consider any equivalent and known solution to achieve this type of adjustment.

Moreover, each rising tube 10 is designed to so as to be able to receive at its lower end 104 a cylinder 11 which advantageously makes it possible to ensure by a fine adjustment, that the contact is actually continuous and simultaneously at the level of each support on the floor of the office furniture 1, so that the latter is not wobbly.

Finally, all the elements previously described can be fixed relative to each other by any means known to those skilled in the art.

The figure 3 illustrates the office furniture 1 when the base 4 has the configuration called "I", the base 4 is composed of all the elements described in the previous configuration but their relative nesting is different. In addition, the elements can be fixed relatively to each other. Here, the plate 6 on which is fixed the set-plate 2 is supported by the two upright tubes 10 in its lower part 61, arranged vertically and fixed on the plate 6 which extends generally vertically and below the portion 32 of the slice of the plate 3. The upright tubes 10 are fixed at their lower end 104 on the base 7 and more precisely on the portion 72 of the base 7.

In addition, in the so-called "I" configuration, the portion 71 of the base 7 is situated generally vertically and below the portion 31 of the edge of the plate 3. The base 7 is extended by the extension 8 to the end 721. The extension 8 is itself extended by an angular piece 9, the second angular piece 9 is fixed in the extension of the portion 71 of the base 7 at the end 711. The angular pieces 9 are built so that they are each able to receive a jack 11 which are identical and which then have the same purpose as in the description of the configuration in "U reversed".

The last possible configuration of base shown in the figure 4 is the so-called "C" configuration where the tray assembly 2 of the office furniture 1 is fixed on the plate 6 which then extends generally vertically and below the portion 31 of the slice of the plate 3. The plate 6 is supported by the two tubes 10 in its lower part 61, arranged vertically and fixed on the plate 6. The upright tubes 10 are fixed at their lower end 104 on the base 7 and more precisely on the portion 72. In the "C" configuration, the portion 71 extends generally vertically and below the portion 32 of the plate 3. The base 7 is extended by the extension 8 at the end 711, the extension 8 is itself extended by an angular piece 9, the second angular piece 9 is fixed in the extension of the portion 72 of the base 7 at the end 721. As well as in configuration 1, the angular pieces 9 each receive a jack 11.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, with reference to the figure 5 the tray assembly 2 comprises two support brackets 12 whose number is equal to the number of legs 4, fixed on the plate 3 on its lower face 33 and arranged near the legs 4 so as to cooperate with the plates 6 of each of the legs 4 in order to achieve the attachment of the entire tray 2 on the plates 6. The attachment of each support bracket 12 on the plate 3 is obtained by any means known to those skilled in the art that ensures that the attachment is easily removable and that these assembly / disassembly operations can be repeated without the quality of the attachment being altered.

In addition, each support bracket 12 extends generally in a plane parallel to the plane (A, B) of the base 4 with which said support bracket 12 cooperates to achieve the attachment of the tray assembly 2 by means of at least two screws 13 screwed each into a thread 62 made in the plate 6 and each passing through a light 121 made in the support bracket 12 ( figure 5 ). This type of attachment has the advantage of being particularly simple and fast implementation for both mounting and disassembly and not to be expensive.

Typically, the legs 4 are arranged perpendicular to the axis D ( figure 1 ) and at least one of the lights 121 is an elongated shape of an arcuate shape which makes it possible to adjust the inclination of the plate assembly 2 relative to the horizontal and to fix it on the plate 6 at the desired inclination by tightening the screws 13.

In order to allow a sufficient amplitude of inclination of the set-tray 2 relative to the horizontal, the upper face 63 of each plate 6 of each base 4 is inclined relative to the horizontal.

In the embodiment described here, the two portions 71 and 72 of the base 7 each form an independent part, respectively 14 and 15, nested one inside the other and fixed relative to each other. In addition, the part 14 is identical to the extender 8, which allows to significantly reduce manufacturing costs by having as much identity as possible in the manufactured parts.

Moreover, and in accordance with the figure 6 , it is possible to add to this set at least one stiffening bar 16 of any section connecting the legs 4 between them and which is, in this case, fixed on each of the plates 6 of the legs 4.

In order to adjust the height of the tray at the discretion of the user and / or depending on the application it is intended for office furniture 1, elevation means 17 are added to the legs 4. The set of plateau 2 is then attached to the elevation means 17 which may be of the mechanical type, hydraulic, electrical, a combination of these means or any other type since they have a large amplitude of travel.

As illustrated by figure 6 in the previous case, the plate 3 is fixed to the elevating means 17 by means of a plate 18 at each base, identical to a plate 6, said plate being then arranged so that its part 181 equivalent to the lower part 61 of a plate 6 is in contact with the lower face 33 of the plate 3. A second stiffening bar 19, in the form of bar or tubular section, identical or not to the bar 16 can connect each plate 18 at the level each base to increase the overall rigidity.

Advantageously, the range of movement of the means 17 must be between 0 and 600 mm, which allows the user to be standing or sitting according to his wishes and / or obligations. Specifically, a zero elongation corresponds to a standard office height, an elongation of 400 mm corresponds to a semi-sitting height from the user, and an elongation of 600 mm allows a setting where the operator is standing. Finally, this effect can be obtained by the actuation of the elevation means 17 conjugated or not to the actuation of the extension means 101.

Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the office furniture 1 which has just been described by way of non-limiting example without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. An item of office furniture (1) that includes firstly a leaf assembly (2) with at least one leaf (3), and secondly at least two leg assemblies (4) to which the leaf assembly (2) is attached, lying on a generally longitudinal axis (D) of the leaf (3) and positioned transversally in relation to the said axis (D), with each of the said leg assemblies (4) lying in its own vertical leg assembly (A,B) plane, characterised in that each leg assembly (4) has a finite number of elements (6,7,8,9,10) that can be inserted into each other, with the said elements (6,7,8,9,10) capable of being attached to each other, and in that the attachment of the said leaf assembly (2) onto each of the said leg assemblies (4) is offset in relation to the vertical axis of symmetry (E) of the edge of the said leaf (3) in section in the leg-assembly (4) plane (A,B), thus delimiting on either side of the vertical attachment axis (G) a first portion (31) and a second portion (32) forming the said leaf (3) in the section plane (A,B), the first portion (31) being of shorter length than that of the second portion (32), with the leg assembly (4) including a plate (6) to which the attachment of the leaf assembly (2) is effected using attachment means (5), the said plate (6) being supported by at least two upright tubes (10), a base (7) formed of two portions (71,72), at least one extension piece (8) and two angular parts (9).
2. An item of office furniture (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each upright tube (10) has extension means (101).
3. An item of office furniture (1) according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the plate (6) is attached at its lower part (61) to the horizontal base (7), where the said base (7) includes a first portion (72) with the vertical axis of symmetry (E) of the edge of the leaf (3) as its vertical axis of symmetry, and a second portion (71), which is the complementary part of the first portion (72) to form the said base (7), with the base (7) being extended by the extension piece (8) to the end (721) of the first portion (72), and the said extension piece (8) itself being extended by an angular part (9), with a second angular part (9) being fixed in the extension of the said second portion (71) of the said base (7) at the end (711) of the second portion (71).
4. An item of office furniture (1) according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the plate (6) is supported by the upright tubes (10) in its lower part (61), attached to the said plate (6) and positioned vertically, the said upright tubes (10) being attached at their bottom end (104) to the first portion (72) of the base (7) with the vertical axis (E) of the edge of the leaf (3) as vertical axis of symmetry, and the second portion (71) of the base (7), which is the complementary part of the first portion (72) to form the base (7), the said base (7) being extended by the extension piece (8) to the end (721) of the first portion (72), the said extension piece (8) itself being extended by an angular part (9), and the second angular part (9) being fixed in the extension of the second portion (71) of the said base (7).
5. An item of office furniture (1) according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the main part of the body of the plate (6) extends generally in a vertical direction and below the first portion (31) of the edge of the leaf (3), and in that the plate (6) is supported by upright tubes (10) in its lower part (61), attached to the said plate (6) and positioned vertically, the said upright tubes (10) being attached at their bottom end (104) to the first portion (72) of the base (7) with the vertical axis (E) of the edge of the leaf (3) as the vertical axis of symmetry, with the second portion (71) of the base (7), which is the complementary part of the first portion (72) to form the base (7), being located generally in a vertical direction and below the first portion (32) of the edge of the said leaf (3), the said base (7) being extended by the extension piece (B) at the end (711) of the second portion (71), the extension piece (8) itself being extended by an angular part (9), with the second angular part (9) being fixed in the extension of portion 72 of the said base (7).
6. An item of office furniture (1) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the leaf assembly (2) includes support brackets (12) whose number is equal to the number of leg assemblies (4), fixed onto the lower face (33) of the leaf (3) and located close to the said leg assemblies (4) so as to mate with the plates of each of the said leg assemblies (4) in order to effect the attachment of the said leaf assembly (2) onto the said plates (6).
7. An item of office furniture (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that each support bracket (12) extends generally in a plane parallel to the plane (A,B) of the leg assembly (4) with which the said support bracket (12) is mated in order to achieve the attachment of the leaf assembly (2) by means of at least two screws (13), each screwed into a thread (62) created in the plate (6) and each passing through a hole (121) created in the support bracket (12).
8. An item of office furniture (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the leg assemblies (4) are positioned perpendicularly to the generally longitudinal axis (D) of the leaf (3), and in that at least one of the said holes (121) is a hole that is elongated into the shape of a circular arc.
9. An item of office furniture (1) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the upper face (63) of the plate (6) of each leg assembly (4) is inclined in relation to the horizontal.
10. An item of office furniture (1) according to any of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that each of the two portions (71,72) of the base (7) forms an independent part (14,15), these being inserted into each other and fixed in relation to each other.
11. An item of office furniture (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the part (14) closing off the second portion (71) of the base is identical to the extension piece (8).
12. An item of office furniture (1) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one stiffening bar (16) of indeterminate section connects the leg assemblies (4) together, and is attached onto the plate (6) of each leg assembly (4).
13. An item of office furniture (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that elevating means (17), onto which the leaf assembly (2) is attached, are added to each of the leg assemblies (4), these said elevating means (17) being of the mechanical, hydraulic or electrical type, or any combination of these types.
14. An item of office furniture (1) according to claim 13, characterised in that the travel amplitude of the elevation means (17) is between 0 and 600 mm.

Images