EP0774221A2 - A piece of furniture, easy to assemble and to couple together with similar ones in selectable row configurations - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention refers to a piece of furniture, easy to assemble and to couple together with similar ones in selectable row configurations and forming a table or seat top (1) supported by at least two leg devices (2) and detachably connected therewith, said table or seat top (1) having elongated shape, as seen in a top plan view, and part-circularly curved short ends (4) and a subjacent coupling panel (5) protruding beyond the short ends (4) of the table or seat top (1) with a portion (6) having the shape of a sector of a circle, at the point (7) of which is arranged a coupling means (8) with a loop (8a) for being threaded onto a coupling bolt (14) sticking up from a leg device (2) together with corresponding loops (8a) of one or more further similar table or seat tops (1) at the same leg device (2), the angle of the point of the sector (6) of a circle of the coupling panel (5) is restricting the maximum possible number of such table or seat tops (1). In order to obtain a necessary and reliable stability in the joint between two or more tables or seats coupled together at the top of a leg device, the invention suggests that a filling circular disc (15) with a central nut member (16) is adapted to be finally and rigidly screwed uppermost onto the central coupling bolt (14) of said leg device (1).

Description

• The present invention refers to a piece of furniture, easy to assemble and to couple together with similar ones in selectable row configurations and forming a table or seat top supported by at least two leg devices and detachably connected therewith, said table or seat top having elongated shape, as seen in a top plan view, and part-circularly curved short ends and a subjacent coupling panel protruding beyond the short ends of the table or seat top with a portion having the shape of a sector of a circle, at the point of which is arranged a coupling means with a loop for being threaded onto a coupling bolt sticking up from a leg device together with corresponding loops of one or more further similar table or seat tops at the same leg device, the angle of the point of the sector of a circle of the coupling panel is restricting the maximum possible number of such table or seat tops.
• Collapsible tables and seats are known since long. In many opportunities in social life it is however often intended that a large number of people are to meet in connection with some opening or show event and remain standing och walking around in the hall while chatting with other participants. In such connections also small meals and refreshments are served in which case the participants will find it difficult to put away their glasses and/or plates even for the shortest moment while no other places are available than window-recesses etc. To arrange a plurality of dinner tables or the like is not found attractive while the tables on one hand are uncomfortable for standing persons and on the other occupies valuable floor surface and is found to be an obstacle.
• The object of the present invention is to suggest a further variant of a piece of furniture of the kind initially referred to, particularly a table which is adapted to have its top located at a higher level suitable for standing persons and which easily can be assembled and disassembled and coupled together end to end in a selectable row configuration and to be arranged in such order, such as in zigzag shape, that the best stability is obtained. The table also is adapted to be easily disassembled, be of low weight and non-bulky so as to be easily stowed away in some supply space when not in use. This is achieved according to the invention substantially in that a filling circular disc with a central nut member is adapted to be finally and rigidly screwed uppermost onto the central coupling bolt of said leg device.
• By way of example the invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a table top in its basic shape, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of three circumferencially distributed coupling means threaded onto the coupling bolt of a leg device and resting on a support disc carried thereby, Fig. 3 is a side view of a table top resting on two leg devices and Fig. 4 illustrates two examples of selectable row configurations of the pieces of furniture according to the invention.
• As is evident from the drawing, a table or seat according to the invention in its basic shape has a planar table top 1 which is supported by two leg devices 2 which are detachably connected with the table top 1. According to the invention, the table top 1 has an elongated shape, usually having opposed parallel and straight longer sides 3 and two short sides 4 which have inwardly part-circular shape. At the lower side of said table top 1 is attached a coupling panel 5 usually having the same thickness and width as the table top 1 and protruding beyond the short side 4 with a portion 6 having the shape of a sector of a circle. Said sector-shaped portion 6 rests on a coupling member 8. Preferably, the latter also has a shape of a sector of a circle or a triangle and has at its point a coupling loop 8a, both preferably being made of stamped metal sheet material of suitable thickness and intended for a purpose which will be further discussed below.
• Each table top 1 is adapted to be supported at each end by a leg device 2. Although suitable leg devices may be made in a plurality of various embodiments it has here been selected a shape in which a central pillar 11 is supported from a foot 12, and at the uppermost end of said pillar 11 is made a mount in the shape of a horizontal support plate 13, centrally of which protrudes upwardly a coupling bolt 14, onto which the coupling means 8 with their loops 8a are rotatably mounted onto an intermediate support disc 18. For guiding the end of each table top 1 on the leg device 2 is made at least one aperture 20 in the sector-shaped portion 6 for housing a corresponding upwardly-directed pin 19 on each of the coupling means 8.
• From the above-stated it is easily understood that each such leg device 2 through the coupling means 8 can carry the end or short side 4 of one or two further table tops 1. Limiting this number is only the joint angle of the coupling panel portion 6, the idea being that table tops 1 may be arranged in Y-pattern or at a mutual angle apart from a location having only one further table top 1 which then may be placed in alignment with the first top or at some suitable angle to one or the other side of the longitudinal axis of the first table top 1. Said top or said further table tops then in their turn are supported at their opposite ends by similar leg devices 2 etc. such that thus a plurality of table tops 1 may be coupled together mutually in a row or to the configuration or the like as desired, such as is particularly evident from Fig. 4.
• At each such leg device 2 there will be formed a circular recess or free space between the inwardly part-circular short sides of the adjoining table tops 1 and for filling said space a circular disc 15 of corresponding size and having at its bottom surface a nut member 16 is finally screwed onto the bolt 14 and covering the same. At the same time the respective table top ends will be rigidly secured onto the subjacent coupling means 8 an in their turn, they are secured to the intermediate support disc 18.
• In the aforegoing the inventive subject matter only has been described applied to a table top but there might also be a need of arranging selectable row configurations of seats in a corresponding manner and the leg devices 2 in such case are made with much shorter pillars 11 for suitable seat heights but for the rest, the same coupling means and procedures can be used between the respective seat portions or discs.
• As is evident from the above-mentioned, the table or seat tops 1 are joined together in pairs under the intermediation of a supporting leg device 2, the coupling loops 8a at the respective table top ends preventing the table tops from being drawn apart from each other at the joint while the circular filling disc 15 finally screwed thereonto will be responsible for the stability and the locking of the joint.
• From the above-stated it will also be immediately evident that after a disassembling operation in opposite order to what has been stated above the piece of furniture will be put apart to comprise a plurality of table or seat tops 1, a corresponding number of leg devices 2 minus one and filling discs 15. Said parts then preferably are grouped together and collected onto wheel-provided supports (not illustrated) which will provide for a simple and convenient transport to some supply space.

Claims (1)

1. A piece of furniture, easy to assemble and to couple together with similar ones in selectable row configurations and forming a table or seat top (1) supported by at least two leg devices (2) and detachably connected therewith, said table or seat top (1) having elongated shape, as seen in a top plan view, and part-circularly curved short ends (4) and a subjacent coupling panel (5) protruding beyond the short ends (4) of the table or seat top (1) with a portion (6) having the shape of a sector of a circle, at the point (7) of which is arranged a coupling means (8) with a loop (8a) for being threaded onto a coupling bolt (14) sticking up from a leg device (2) together with corresponding loops (8a) of one or more further similar table or seat tops (1) at the same leg device (2), the angle of the point of the sector (6) of a circle of the coupling panel (5) is restricting the maximum possible number of such table or seat tops (1), characterized in that a filling circular disc (15) with a central nut member (16) is adapted to be finally and rigidly screwed uppermost onto the central coupling bolt (14) of said leg device (1).

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