EP1645210A1

EP1645210A1 - Support for pieces of furniture

Info

Publication number: EP1645210A1
Application number: EP05076958A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paulus Arthur Ronald Von Barnau Sythoff
Original assignee: Barnau Management BV
Current assignee: Barnau Management BV
Priority date: 2004-08-25
Filing date: 2005-08-25
Publication date: 2006-04-12
Also published as: NL1026908C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support for articles of furniture, comprising:

a first frame provided with a first and a second support leg for supporting the frame on a ground surface, wherein the first frame is suitable for bearing a first article of furniture;
a second frame provided with a first and a second support leg for supporting the frame on the ground surface, wherein the second frame is suitable for bearing a second article of furniture;
a shared pivoting support leg which can be placed on the ground surface and comprises at least a first support leg part to which the first frame is fixed, as well as a second support leg part to which the second frame is fixed;

wherein the support leg parts take a pivotal form for the purpose of pivoting at least one of the frames relative to the ground surface and/or the other frame.

Description

The present invention relates to a support for articles of furniture, for instance tables, cupboards, sofas, wall furniture and the like.
For furnishing a space in a house or a public space such as museums, theatres, hotel lobbies and office buildings there is a need for furniture whose arrangement can be changed quickly and easily. By adjusting the arrangement of the furniture the space is given a different atmosphere, and the functionality can also be modified.
Known from DE 88 09 657 U is a support consisting of a tabletop and a table leg on which two rotatable support parts are mounted. In the non-folded out situation the two support parts form a unit with the table top. In the folded-out situation the support parts are rotated relative to each other such that two tabletops can rest on the table leg. One of the two tabletops is however only a tabletop (Einhängeplatte) which is placed on a support part when necessary. The sheet cannot stand independently and must always be arranged between two successively placed supports.
Known from DE 298 08 054 is a system in which, on a central table leg, a first tabletop is arranged at seating height and a second tabletop is arranged at standing height. The known system however requires an anchoring of the central table leg in the ground to be able to produce a stable support.
The present invention has for its object to provide a support for an article of furniture, whereby the functionality of the article of furniture can be modified quickly and easily.
In order to achieve this object there is provided a support of an article of furniture, which support comprises:

The first frame supports on two legs and on the pivoting support leg, while the second frame likewise rests on two support legs and on the same shared pivoting support leg. The shared pivoting support leg not only serves as support for both frames, but also as point of rotation along which the frames can be rotated in random direction relative to the ground surface.
According to a preferred embodiment, the frames take an elongate form and a pivoting support leg is embodied for the purpose of pivoting frames between a folded-in position, in which the long sides of the first and second frame run substantially parallel, and a folded-out position, in which the short sides of the first and second frame run substantially parallel. In said first position, also referred to as the closed position, the long sides of the frames are mutually adjacent. Because the articles of furniture now stand with their long sides toward each other, they form a more or less closed surface. In the case the frames form a rectangle, the two frames form a rectangle of relatively large dimensions around which the users can walk. In the completely folded-open position, in which the frames are rotated through about 180', the short sides of the frames are mutually adjacent. The articles of furniture then stand with the short sides against each other and form an elongate whole which can for instance be readily placed against a wall. It will be apparent that diverse intermediate positions are also possible. It is thus possible for instance to rotate the frames at an angle of about 90° relative to each other so that the articles of furniture can for instance be placed around a corner of the space. A further advantage of placing in such a position is that each of the frames can have a separate function. A first frame with tabletop is for instance used as workplace, while the second frame with tabletop is used as a dining table.
Changing the disposition of the pieces of furniture is very simple and requires little effort. The shared central support leg ensures that the articles of furniture can be readily rotated to any desired position. In all positions the support legs give the frames sufficient support so that a substantially stable assembly is provided.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the pivoting support leg is provided with locking means so that the chosen position of the frames can be fixed.
In a further preferred embodiment, the support legs provide length-adjusting means for adjusting the length of the relevant leg in order to set the height of the furniture parts above the ground surface. Support is hereby guaranteed and the articles of furniture also stand straight and stable on an uneven floor.
In a first embodiment of the shared support leg, both the first and the second support leg part are embodied for rotation relative to the remaining part of the support leg, so that when the remaining part of the support leg is placed on a ground surface, both the first and the second frame can be rotated relative to the stationary part of the support leg. In other embodiments only one of the two support leg parts is rotatable relative to the remaining part of the shared support leg, so that only one of the frames is pivotable relative to the other frame and the ground surface.
In order to increase the options of use of the pivotable support as much as possible, the pivoting support leg is preferably mounted close to both peripheral edges of the first frame, or even close to the corner point hereof. When the support leg is arranged in the corner point of the first frame as well as in the corner point of the second frame, this ensures a maximally pivotable assembly.
In a further preferred embodiment, a locking element is provided for locking the frames in folded-in position and in folded-out position. This locking element can take on the form of a separate component, for instance a bracket, with which engagement can be made with the edges of the first and the second frame situated opposite the pivoting support leg. The user can hereby fix both frames relative to each other in rapid and simple manner by having the bracket engage on the first and second frame.
As already stated above, in another embodiment the shared support leg is itself provided with locking means. With these locking means the frames can not only be fixed relative to each other in folded-in position but also in the folded-out position in all intermediate positions between the completely folded-out and completely folded-in position.
In a further embodiment, the central support leg of the support comprises:

a first support leg part which is provided with a fastening element for fastening the first frame and with a cylindrical protrusion;
a second support leg part which is provided with a fastening element for fastening the second frame and with an elongate element which is provided internally with a tubular receiving element in which the protrusion of the first support leg part can be received in freely rotatable manner.

In this manner the pivoting connection between the frame elements can be effected in simple manner. In other embodiments lubrication, one or more intermediate rings and/or bearings can be applied between the first support leg part and the second support leg part to further improve the rotation capability.
The frames are herein preferably fixed to the respective first and second support leg parts via fixing elements such that the frames extend at substantially the same height. When the frames serve for instance to support tabletops, a flat table can be provided wherein the different table parts are pivotable relative to each other between different positions. A flat table with different possible table configurations is hereby provided.
In the above described embodiment the frames are used to bear tabletops of equal height. It is however also possible to envisage placing the first frame at a lower height than the second frame, so that first frame can be pushed at least partly under the second frame. This ensures that the support takes up less space, for instance for the purpose of storage thereof. It is noted that in some cases it is necessary to remove the first and/or second support legs from the frame to enable rotation of the first frame completely under the second frame. For this purpose the support legs can be fixed releasably or removably to the frame in a manner known to the skilled person.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the support is embodied for stable arrangement on the ground surface with an unanchored, shared support leg. Since no anchoring, for instance an anchoring in the ground surface, is necessary in this embodiment, the unit of the support and pieces of furniture always remains freely displaceable in the space. Furthermore, no special measures need to be taken in the ground surface, whereby the ground surface, and thereby the appearance of the ground surface, can remain unaffected. A possibility is provided for this purpose if the shared support leg has a substantially flat underside for stable placing thereof on the ground surface.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the frames are arranged permanently on the shared support leg and in the fixed situation the frames are pivotable in step-free manner between extreme positions. The frames can herewith be folded in and folded out without releasing the frames in any way whatsoever from the central support leg.
According to a further preferred embodiment, each of the frames comprises a stop part, for instance a longitudinal edge of a rectangular frame, for limiting the pivoting movement of the frames relative to the support leg. In this embodiment it is the shapes of the frames which define the extreme positions of the support.
The invention also relates to the use of the support.
Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be elucidated on the basis of the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof. In the description reference is made to the figures, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in completely folded-out situation;
figure 2 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of figure 1 in an intermediate position;
figure 3 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of figure 1 in completely folded-in situation;
figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the shared support leg;
figure 5 is an exploded view of a part of the shared support leg; and
figure 6 shows a perspective view of a locking element.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a support 1 which is suitable for supporting tabletops, bookcases and so on. Support 1 is constructed from a left-hand frame 2 and a right-hand frame 3, wherein both frames 2 and 3 are fixed to each other using a shared leg 9. The central leg 9 engages on a corner point of left-hand frame 2 and on a corresponding corner point of right-hand frame 3. Both the left and right-hand frame 2,3 are further provided with a number of support legs, viz. support legs 6 and 7 arranged respectively on the left and right-hand frame 2,3, this at the respective corner points thereof which are situated opposite that corner point where the shared support leg 9 engages. The first and the second frame 2,3 are further provided with support legs 4,5. Support leg 4 is arranged on the edge of left-hand frame 2, this being the edge lying opposite the edge extending between the above stated corner points. The right-hand frame 3 is likewise provided with a support leg 5. Each of the support legs is provided with a round cap 8, whereby the support legs can slide easily over many types of ground surface. Other solutions can however also be envisaged. The support legs can thus for instance be provided with swivel wheels.
Figures 4 and 5 show the construction of the shared support leg 9 in more detail. The shared support leg allows folding-in and folding-out of frames 2,3. In the shown embodiment the shared support leg 9 consists of two parts, viz. a lower part 15 and an upper part 10. Both parts 15,10 are fastened to the associated frame 2,3 in known manner, for instance using a nut and bolt connection, by means of respective mounting plates 11 and 13. In the shown embodiment mounting plate 11 is connected to the right-hand frame, while mounting plate 13 is connected to left-hand frame 2. The two said parts 15,10 of the shared support leg 9 rotate over each other substantially independently of each other in the horizontal plane.
An inner tube 20 is inserted and welded fixedly into the upper part 10 of the shared support leg 9, which tube 20 has a length of about twice the length of upper part 10. The tube of which the shared support leg 9 is made has an inner diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of inner tube 20. This entity of tubes is then inserted into lower part 15. Inner tube 20 is not welded into lower part 15 of the support leg. Owing to these overlapping tubes in the tube construction the two parts 10,15 of the shared support leg 9 can rotate separately of each other in the horizontal plane. Due to its length and cross-section the inner tube 20 provides both the pivot point and stability in the shared support leg 9. The shown construction makes it possible to uncouple the first frame from the second frame rapidly and easily when the support is not in use. The second frame remains standing, while the first frame is placed upside down on the second frame, so that the support takes up relatively little storage space. When the support is in use, the frame parts can remain permanently arranged on each other, also during the adjustment of the position of the one frame relative to the other frame.
As set forth above, figure 3 shows the situation in which the long sides of frames 2,3 are mutually adjacent. In this position the long sides of the frames form stop surfaces which limit the pivoting movement of the frames. Because the frames lie closely against each other in the shown embodiment (which in no way has to be the case in other embodiments), a monolithic appearance can as it were be achieved. When the top sides of the frames (or optionally the top side of tabletops or the like arranged on the frames) extend at the same height, a flat top side of the construction can be realized.
In the situation shown in figure 3 the articles of furniture stand with their backs side by side and more or less form a square so that it is possible to walk round the article of furniture. In the position shown in figure 1, frames 2,3 are rotated through 180° until the short side of the two frames 2,3 lie mutually adjacent. The articles of furniture now stand with their short sides abutting, whereby an elongate assembly is obtained. This assembly can for instance be placed against a wall. Because in this position the frames also lie closely against each other, the monolithic character can be preserved. A wholly flat (i.e. (practically) uninterrupted) top side of the construction can also be realized in this position.
Figure 2 shows an intermediate position in which frames 2,3 now extend at an angle of about 90°. In this position the frames 2,3 can for instance be placed in a corner. It is noted that because of the construction according to the invention the frames can be positioned in numerous positions relative to each other in step-free manner. During the pivoting movement the frames can moreover remain permanently arranged on the central support leg, which enables a rapid and efficient adjustment of the positions of the frames. This is particularly important when the frames are used to bear relatively heavy pieces of furniture such as cupboards and the like. It is also possible in such a case to rotate the cupboards relative to each other, without the cupboards having to be emptied to enable release of the frame from the support leg.
Figures 1 and 3 further show that the frames can be locked in the opened position or in the closed position of support 1 using a locking element 16. The locking element is shown in more detail in figure 6. This locking element can be displaced in the direction of the arrow and fixed by a person to the outer ends 17 and 18 of frames 2 and 3 respectively. Element 16 is provided for this purpose with protrusions 19 which engage in corresponding openings 21,21' in the end edges of frames 2,3.
The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment of the invention described here. The rights sought are rather defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

Support for two or more articles of furniture, comprising:
- a first frame provided with a first and a second support leg for supporting the frame on a ground surface, wherein the first frame is suitable for bearing a first article of furniture;

- a second frame provided with a first and a second support leg for supporting the frame on the ground surface, wherein the second frame is suitable for bearing a second article of furniture;

- a shared pivoting support leg which can be placed on the ground surface and comprises at least a first support leg part to which the first frame is fixed, as well as a second support leg part to which the second frame is fixed;
wherein the support leg parts take a pivotal form for the purpose of pivoting at least one of the frames relative to the ground surface and/or the other frame.
Support as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the first and the second support leg part are embodied for rotation relative to the remaining part of the support leg, for the purpose of pivoting both frames relative to each other and the ground surface.
Support as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivoting support leg is mounted close to the peripheral edges of the first and second frame.
Support as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivoting support leg is mounted in a corner point of each of the frames.
Support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the frames take an elongate form and the pivoting support leg is embodied for the purpose of pivoting the frames between a folded-in position, in which a long side of the first and second frame run substantially parallel, and a folded-out position, in which a short side of the first and second frame run substantially parallel.
Support as claimed in claim 5, comprising a locking element for locking the frames in folded-in position or in folded-out position.
Support as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking element comprises a bracket which can engage on edges of the first and second frame situated opposite the pivoting support leg.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the central support leg comprises:
- a first support leg part which is provided with a fastening element for fastening the first frame, and with a cylindrical protrusion;

- a second support leg part which is provided with a fastening element for fastening the second frame, and with an elongate element which is provided internally with a tubular receiving element in which the protrusion of the first support leg part can be received in freely rotatable manner.
Support as claimed in claim 8, wherein in use the second support leg part rests on the ground surface and the first support leg rests on the second support leg part.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the pivoting support leg comprises locking means for locking the frames in one or more pivoted positions.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the support legs comprise length-adjusting means with which the length of the legs can be adjusted in order to set the height of the frames above the ground surface.
Support as claimed in any of the claims 1-11, wherein the frames are fixed to the first and second support leg parts such that the frames extend at substantially the same height.
Support as claimed in any of the claims 1-11, wherein the frames are fixed to the first and second support leg parts such that the first frame extends at a lower height than the second frame such that the frames can be pivoted into a position wherein the first frame is positioned under the second frame.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first and second frame are suitable for attaching respectively a first and second tabletop.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the frames take an elongate, substantially rectangular form, and wherein the first support leg of the frame is fixed in a first corner point, the pivoting support leg is fixed in a second, opposite corner point, and the second support leg is fixed in the frame edge opposite the two corner points.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, which is embodied for stable arrangement on the ground surface with an unanchored, shared support leg.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the shared support leg has a substantially flat underside for stable placing thereof on the ground surface.
Support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the frames are arranged permanently on the shared support leg and in the fixed situation the frames are pivotable in step-free manner between extreme positions.
Support as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of the frames comprises a stop part for limiting the pivoting movement of the frames relative to the support leg.
Use of a support as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.