US20220110444A1

US20220110444A1 - Table

Info

Publication number: US20220110444A1
Application number: US17/559,649
Authority: US
Inventors: Matthias Stegner
Original assignee: ASS EINRICHTUNGSSYSTEME GmbH
Current assignee: ASS EINRICHTUNGSSYSTEME GmbH
Priority date: 2019-10-09
Filing date: 2021-12-22
Publication date: 2022-04-14
Also published as: EP4041029A1; EP4041029B1; DE102019127114A1; CA3117351A1; WO2021069661A1; DE102019127114B4; EP4041029C0

Abstract

A table having a table frame and a table top is provided, where the table top rests on the table frame. The table frame has two front table legs and at least one rear table leg, and the two front table legs are each arranged outside an edge of the table top in such a way that each of the two front table legs protrudes laterally beyond an edge.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/078407, filed Oct. 9, 2020, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2019 127 114.2, filed Oct. 9, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a table, in particular a table for use in classrooms as a school desk, having a table frame and a table top, the table top resting on the table frame and being fixed to the table frame.

BACKGROUND

Tables, in particular school desks with four table legs, are generally known from the prior art. As a rule, the table tops of the tables are designed to be square or rectangular, a table leg being arranged perpendicular to the table top below the table top in the regions of each of the corners of the table top. However, the possible uses of such tables are limited. For example, such tables cannot be stacked, so that they cannot be stowed away to save space. Such tables can be placed next to each other, but the possibilities of how such tables can be placed next to each other are limited.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a table, in particular a school desk, with which the disadvantages known from the prior art can be at least partially avoided and with which, on the one hand, significantly more variants are possible for placing tables flush with each other, and which, on the other hand, is stackable in a simple and space-saving manner.

SUMMARY

According to this disclosure, this object may be achieved by a table according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the table according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
Accordingly, a table is provided which has a table frame and a table top, the table top resting on the table frame, the table frame having two front table legs and at least one rear table leg, and the two front table legs each being arranged outside an edge of the table top, in such a way that the two front table legs each protrude laterally beyond an edge. This means that the two front table legs are perpendicular to the table top, but are arranged outside the table top, i.e. extend below an imaginary extension of the table top, perpendicular thereto. The two front table legs are thus perpendicular to the table top, but are not arranged under the table top; rather, they run laterally outside the table top.
Because the two front table legs run laterally outside the table top—that is, they are offset from the table top to the outside of the table top—a stack of tables according to the invention is possible. This means that a table according to the invention can be stacked on top of another table (which does not necessarily have to be a table according to the invention), since the two front table legs of the “upper” table can be guided past the table top of the “lower” table to the side thereof.
In one embodiment of the invention, the table frame can have two rear table legs. The advantages according to the invention are achieved both with one rear table leg and with two rear table legs, i.e. tables according to the invention can be stacked easily and in a space-saving manner with only one rear table leg and with two rear table legs, and placed flush next to each other.
The distance between the two front table legs can be greater than the distance between the two rear table legs.
The at least one rear table leg or the two rear table legs can be arranged below the table top in such a way that they do not protrude laterally beyond the table top.
This means that the rear table leg or the two rear table legs, in contrast to the two front table legs, are arranged below the table top and are perpendicular to the underside of the table top.
One table leg of the two front table legs can be arranged offset with respect to the other table leg of the two front table legs by an offset. This means that one of the two front table legs is arranged on the table top offset to the rear, by the offset, relative to the other of the two front table legs. The distance between one front table leg and the front edge of the table top is therefore greater than the distance between the other front table leg and the front edge of the table top. In this way, tables according to the invention can be arranged flush next to each other in an improved manner.
It is particularly advantageous if the offset is greater than the diameter of the front table legs.
It is advantageous if the table top is pentagonal.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the table top has two 120° angles (that is, two corners with an angle of 120°). However, angles between 110° and 130° are possible.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the table top has three 120° angles (that is, three corners with an angle of 120°). However, angles between 110° and 130° are possible.
Furthermore, the table top can have two 90° angles (that is, two corners with an angle of 90°). However, angles between 80° and 100° are possible.
The two front table legs can each be arranged in a region between a 90° angle and a 120° angle of the table top. This means that the two front table legs are each arranged outside an edge of the table top running between a 90° angle and a 120° angle.
Rollers can be arranged on the two front table legs and/or on the rear table leg and/or on the two rear table legs.
The two rear table legs can be connected to each other via a rear connecting strut.
Each of the two rear table legs, or the at least one rear table leg, can be connected via a lateral connecting strut to a front table leg.
The two lateral connecting struts are each at an angle to the rear connecting strut, the angle being between 100° and 120°, preferably 110°.
The two lateral connecting struts can each extend outwards in the region of the 90° angle of the table top at one of the two edges of the table top, and the outwardly extending ends can each be connected to one of the two front table legs.
The table according to this disclosure can be stacked in a particularly simple and space-saving manner thanks to the front table legs arranged outside the table edge. At the same time, several tables can be placed flush against each other despite the front table legs being arranged outside the edge of the table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table according to this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a table frame of a table according to this disclosure in a perspective view;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the table frame shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a table top of a table according to the disclosure with a table frame arranged below the table top;

FIGS. 5A-C show three examples of how tables according to the disclosure can be placed next to each other; and

FIG. 6 shows several tables according to the disclosure, which are stacked on top of each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a table 1 according to this disclosure in a perspective view. The table in this case consists of a table frame 10 and a table top 20, the table top 20 resting on the table frame 10 and being connected to the table frame.
The table frame 10 in this case has four table legs 15, 16, namely two front table legs 15 and two rear table legs 16. The two rear table legs 16 are arranged below the table top 20 and perpendicular to the table top 20.
The two front table legs 15 are aligned perpendicular to the table top 20. However, the two front table legs 15 are not arranged vertically below the table top 20, but rather offset from the table top 20 outside the table top 20. This means that the two front table legs 15 are each arranged outside an edge 21 a, 21 b of the table top 20, so that the two front table legs 15 protrude laterally beyond the table top and/or beyond the edges 21 a, 21 b. Each of the front table legs is connected to the table top by means of cross-struts running perpendicular to each of the front table legs, such that the table top 20 does not rest on the front table legs 15, but rather on the cross-struts.
The two front table legs 15 are arranged relative to the table top 20 in such a way that their upper end ends below the table top 20, i.e. the upper ends of the front table legs 15 do not protrude laterally into the edges 21 a, 21 b of the table top 20. As a result, a number of tables according to this disclosure can be seamlessly lined up (that is, positioned flush next to each other), even though the two front table legs 15 protrude laterally from the table top 20. This is because the two front table legs 15 can accordingly be pushed toward the adjacent table below the table top 20.
Due to the front table legs 15 being arranged outside the table top 20, several tables according to this disclosure can also be stacked one on top of the other in such a way that all four table legs can be guided laterally past the table top of the lower table. This enables the tables to be stacked in a particularly compact and space-saving manner.
In the embodiment of a table according to the disclosure shown here, rollers 30 are arranged at each of the two lower ends of the rear table legs 16. This means that the table can be easily moved by lifting it at the front, which is particularly advantageous in schools when children should or want to move the tables.
On the two front table legs 15, felt sliders 35 are arranged at the lower ends, which on the one hand prevent scratching or damage to the floor and on the other hand still have a sufficiently large frictional resistance to the floor to prevent accidental displacement of the table.
Alternatively, the rollers 30 can also be arranged on the front table legs 15 and the sliders 35 on the rear table legs 16, as shown in FIG. 6.
In a further embodiment of the table according to the disclosure, the rollers 30 and/or the felt gliders 35 can also be dispensed with.
The table top 20 of the table 1 according to the disclosure is designed as a pentagon, which has several advantages as can be seen from the following description.
In one embodiment of the invention, instead of two rear table legs 16, it is possible to provide only one rear table leg, such that the table frame 10 has a total of three table legs. In this case, the rear table leg is arranged approximately in the middle, i.e. approximately in the middle between the two rear table legs 16 shown in FIG. 1. The circle K shows a possible position of the rear table leg if only one rear table leg is provided. Even with such a three-legged configuration of the table frame 10, the simple stackability of the table is retained due to the arrangement of the two front table legs 15 outside the table top 20.
FIG. 2 shows a table frame 10 of a table according to the disclosure in a perspective view.
The distance dV between the two front table legs 15 a, 15 b is greater than the distance dH between the two rear table legs 16. Due to the greater distance dV between the two front table legs and the fact that the two front table legs 15 are arranged laterally to the table top 20, simple stacking is made possible. To stack a table on another table, the upper table can be pushed from the side onto the lower table, so that the upper table only has to be lifted slightly for stacking.
The two rear table legs 16 are connected to each other via a rear connecting strut 40. The right front table leg 15 a is connected to the left rear table leg via a lateral connecting strut 41 a. Furthermore, the right front table leg 15 b is connected to the left rear table leg via a lateral connecting strut 41 b. This results in an essentially trapezoidal table frame 10.
As can be clearly seen from FIG. 2, the four table legs end at the same height, so that when the table top 20 is placed on the table frame 10, the table top rests on the two rear table legs 16, and the two front table legs 15 run perpendicular to the table top outside the table top, without the two front table legs 15 protruding into the table top.
In the case of a three-legged design of the table frame 10, instead of the two rear table legs 16, only one rear table leg is provided, which is then arranged approximately between the two rear table legs 16 shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the rear table leg is connected on the one hand to the right front table leg 15 a via the lateral connecting strut 41 a and on the other hand to the left front table leg 15 b via the lateral connecting strut 41 b.
FIG. 3 shows the table frame 10 shown in FIG. 2 in a view from above. The two lateral connecting struts 41 a, 41 b each extend outwards in the region of the front table legs 15, the outwardly extending portions of the two lateral connecting struts being connected to the respective table legs 15 a, 15 b. The two lateral connecting struts 41 a, 41 b accordingly each have a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being at an angle γ′ to the second portion, and the second portion being the portion that extends outwards to the table leg. The table top rests essentially on the two rear table legs 16, on the rear connecting strut 40 and on the two lateral connecting struts 41 a, 41 b.
The two lateral connecting struts 41 a, 41 b are each at an angle γ to the rear connecting strut 40. The angle γ between each of the rear connecting struts 40 and the lateral connecting strut 41 a, 41 b is between 100° and 120°, preferably 110°. Since the outwardly extending portions of the two lateral connecting struts 41 a, 41 b run parallel to the rear connecting strut 40, the two outwardly extending portions of the two lateral connecting struts are at an angle γ′=180°−γ to the given lateral connecting strut. At an angle γ=110°, the two outwardly extending portions of each of the lateral connecting struts are at an angle γ′=70° to the given first portion of the lateral connecting struts.
The two front table legs 15 a, 15 b are arranged offset from each other by an offset V. This means that the table leg 15 a is arranged offset to the rear compared to the table leg 15 b (or vice versa). The offset V is chosen so that it corresponds at least to the diameter of the front table legs. When two tables according to the disclosure are placed side by side, this ensures that, for example, the left front table leg 15 b of a first table can be pushed past the right front table leg 15 a of a second table, and pushed under the table top of the second table so that the two table tops can be arranged flush next to each other. At the same time, the right front table leg 15 a of the second table can be pushed under the table top of the first table.
FIG. 4 shows a table according to the disclosure in a view from above, the portions of the table frame 10 arranged below the table top 20 being shown as dashed lines.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the table top 20 is designed as a pentagonal table top. The table top 20 preferably has two 120° angles α, particularly preferably three 120° angles α. In addition, the table top 20 has two 90° angles β, the two 90° angles θ being two adjacent angles or corners of the table top 20.
Due to this special configuration of the table top 20 with the three 120° angles and the two 90° angles, several tables according to the disclosure can be placed flush against each other in a particularly large number of variants. At the same time, the special design of the table frame ensures that several tables can be stacked compactly on top of each other.
FIG. 4 also clearly shows that the two front table legs 15 a, 15 b are arranged vertically outside the table top 20, the two front table legs in the front region of the table top, i.e. in the region of the two 90° angles β or in the region of the two front corners, protruding laterally beyond the table top 20.
In a specific, but nevertheless exemplary embodiment of the table according to the invention, the table top 20 has the following dimensions:

- Length of the side/edge S1: approx. 70 cm
- Length of the sides/edges S2: approx. 40 cm
- Length of the sides/edges S3: approx. 40 cm (found from the lengths of the sides/edges S1 and S2 and from the angles α and β)

The associated table frame 10 has the following dimensions:

- Length of the two lateral connecting struts 41 a, 41 b: approx. 36 cm
- Length of the rear connecting strut 40: approx. 28 cm
- Distance between the two front table legs: approx. 71 cm
- Diameter of the two front table legs: approx. 4 cm
- Offset V between the two front table legs: approx. 4.5 cm
- Distance between the middle 120° corner
- and the rear connecting strut 40: approx. 14 cm

Of course, other dimensions of the table frame and the table top are also possible.
FIGS. 5A-C show three different variants of how several tables according to the disclosure can be placed flush with each other.
In FIG. 5A, three tables are arranged in a star shape so that the long edge of the table running between the two 90° angles can be used as a sitting area.
In FIG. 5B, six tables according to the disclosure are placed flush with each other in such a way that they essentially result in a circular table as a whole. In this case as well, the long table edges running between each of the 90° angles point outwards and form the area for sitting.
In FIG. 5C four tables are arranged flush together, wherein each pair of two table edges running between the 90° angles forms a shared, long table edge.
FIG. 6 shows an example of three tables stacked one on top of the other.
It can be clearly seen in this case that the two front table legs 15 are each moved laterally past the table tops of the tables below. The two rear table legs 16 are also moved laterally past the table tops of the tables below. This results in a very compact stacking of a plurality of tables according to the disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 table
10 table frame
15 (two) front table legs
15 a one table leg of the two front table legs 15
15 b the other table leg of the two front table legs 15
16 rear table legs, or one rear table leg
20 table top
21 a edge of the table top 20
21 b edge of the table top 20
30 roller
35 felt glider
40 rear connecting strut between the two rear table legs 16
41 a lateral connecting strut between a rear table leg and a front table leg 15 a
41 b lateral connecting strut between a rear table leg and a front table leg 15 b
α 120° angle
β 90° angle
γ angle between the rear connecting strut 40 and a lateral connecting strut 41 a, 41 b
d distance between the central 120° corner and the rear connecting strut 40
dV distance between the two front table legs 15
dH distance between the two rear table legs 16
K position of the rear table leg
S1 to S3 sides (edges) of the table top 20
V offset of the two front table legs 15 to each other

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A table (1) having a table frame (10) and a table top (20), wherein the table top rests on the table frame, wherein the table frame has two front table legs (15) and two rear table legs (16), wherein the two front table legs are each arranged outside an edge (21 a; 21 b) of the table top in such a way that each of the two front table legs protrudes laterally beyond the given edge, wherein the two rear table legs (16) are arranged below the table top (20) in such a way that they do not protrude laterally beyond the table top, wherein a distance (dV) between the two front table legs (15) is greater than the distance (dH) between the two rear table legs (16), wherein the two rear table legs (16) are connected to each other via a rear connecting strut (40), and wherein the table top (20) is pentagonal in shape.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein one table leg (15 a) of the two front table legs (15) is arranged offset by an offset (V) to the other table leg (15 b) of the two front table legs (15).

3. The table of claim 1, wherein the table top (20) has two 120° angles.

4. The table of claim 3, wherein the table top (20) has three 120° angles.

5. The table of claim 3, wherein the table top (20) has two 90° angles.

6. The table of claim 3, wherein the two front table legs (15) are each arranged in a region between a 90° angle and a 120° angle of the table top (20).

7. The table of claim 1, wherein rollers (30) are arranged on the two front table legs (15) and/or on the two rear table legs (16).

8. The table of claim 1, wherein the two rear table legs (16) are each connected via a lateral connecting strut (41 a; 41 b) to a front table leg (15 a; 15 b).

9. The table of claim 8, wherein the two lateral connecting struts (41 a; 41 b) are each at an angle (γ) to the rear connecting strut (40), wherein the angle (γ) is between 100° and 120°, preferably 110°.

10. The table of claim 8, wherein each of the two lateral connecting struts (41 a; 41 b) extends outwards in the region of the 90° angle of the table top (20) laterally at the given edge (21 a; 21 b) of the table top (20), and each of the outwardly extending ends is connected to one of the two front table legs (15 a; 15 b).