[0001] The present invention relates to a manoeuvring device of an extension leaf of an
extensible table, that is, a device that enables a table to assume a reduced size
or an extended size.
[0002] Manufacturing of extensible tables according to different techniques is known. In
particular, extensible tables are known which have one, or more commonly two, extension
leaves that in rest position are housed so as to not protrude from the principal plane
of the table, whereas in use position extend the principal plane itself.
[0003] In conventional devices of such type, priority was given to functionality, often
to detriment of the aesthetic aspect; usually, in fact, manoeuvring devices were any
way located beneath the plane of the table, thus in a scarcely visible position.
[0004] Only in relatively recent times devices have been proposed for tables with crystal
planes. Due to such material, which is transparent and relatively delicate, specific
devices have been proposed; an example of such a device is described in
IT 1318461.
[0005] However, while being perfectly suitable for the purpose, such device is rather complex,
also visually, and thus results in both an elevated cost and notable aesthetic constraints.
[0006] The problem at the basis of the present invention is to provide a simple device that
is both easy and economical to make and has minimal visual impact, thus enabling it
to be usefully employed also for glass or crystal tables.
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a manoeuvring device according to claim
1, as well as to an extensible table according to claim 9. Preferred characteristics
are indicated in dependent claims.
[0008] More specifically, in a first aspect the invention relates to an extension leaf of
a table extensible relative to a principal plane of the table, comprising a primary
element adapted to be fixedly fastened to the principal plane of the table therebeneath,
a body rotatable relative to the principal element around a pivot axis, a secondary
element slidable relative to the body along a slide axis and adapted to be fixedly
fastened to the extension leaf, and an actuating mechanism of the secondary element
relative to the body.
[0009] Such a device enables to actuate the extension leaf both in rotation (around the
vertical pivot axis) and in translation (along the vertical slide axis), so as to
cause the extension leaf to assume the desired rest and use positions.
[0010] More specifically, and preferably, the body is angularly moveable around the primary
element between a retracted position corresponding to the extension leaf in a rest
position beneath the principal plane of the table and a protruding position corresponding
to the extension leaf in a use position, and the secondary element is moveable between
an upper position corresponding to the use position of the extension leaf, aligned
with the principal plane of the table, and a lower position corresponding to the extension
leaf completely beneath the principal plane of the table.
[0011] Preferably, an interlocking mechanism is foreseen which prevents wrong manoeuvres
by the user. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the interlocking mechanism
enables rotation of the body relative to the primary element only when the secondary
element is in the lower position; in another possible embodiment of the invention,
the interlocking mechanism enables sliding of the body relative to the secondary element
only when the body is in protruding position. More preferably, the mechanism has a
double functionality: it enables rotation of the body relative to the primary element
only when the secondary element is in lower position and sliding of the body relative
to the secondary element only when the body is in protruding position.
[0012] Thanks to such an interlocking mechanism, the user is prevented from inadvertently
making manoeuvres that may cause the extension leaf and the principal plane of the
table to knock against each other, with the risk of damages. Typical manoeuvres of
such type are trying to rotate the extension leaf to cause it to return underneath
the principal plane of the table when the extension leaf is not sufficiently lowered,
as well as trying to raise the extension leaf to align it with the principal plane
of the table when the extension leaf has not been correctly rotated. It should be
noted that the risk of causing damages to the table with manoeuvres of such type is
particularly crucial when the principal plane of the table and/or the extension piece
are made of relatively delicate materials, as for example - but not exclusively- glass
and crystal.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the interlocking mechanism comprises a rod slidably
guided in the body between a first locking position and a second locking position,
a first end of the rod being turned toward the primary element and able to be inserted
in a corresponding hole formed in the primary element to prevent rotation of the body
relative to the primary element when the rod is in first locking position, a second
end of the rod being engaged with a moveable hooking member capable of locking the
actuating mechanism of the secondary element relative to the body when the rod is
in second locking position. The desired double interlocking function is thus easily
obtained.
[0014] The actuating mechanism of the secondary element may be made in a variety of ways.
Preferably, the actuating mechanism of the secondary element relative to the body
comprises a rotating shaft carried by the body, an actuating handle to rotate said
shaft and a rotating eccentric fixedly connected to said shaft, and engaged in thrust
with the secondary element, and the moveable hooking element is a rocker arm engaged
with the second end of the rod by means of a cam profile and provided with a hooking
seat adapted to engage said handle.
[0015] Preferably, the actuating mechanism of the secondary element relative to the body
comprises a runner, placed between the eccentric and the secondary element; thus better
controlling friction forces which arise during movement of the eccentric is made easier.
[0016] In its second aspect, the invention relates to an extensible table with a principal
plane to which the primary element of a device according to the first aspect of the
invention is fastened and an extension leaf on which the secondary element of the
same device is fastened.
[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of either the principal plane
or the extension leaf is of glass or crystal.
[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent
in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with
reference to the attached figures. In such figures:
- Figures 1a and 1b are side and top views of a device according to the invention, respectively,
under condition in which the extension leaf is retracted.
- Figures 2a and 2b are respectively side and top views of the device of figures 1a
and 1b, under condition in which the extension leaf is extracted.
- Figure 3 is a partially exploded bottom perspective view of the device from the previous
figures.
- Figure 5 is a view corresponding to the view of figure 4, in a different working condition.
- Figure 6 is an exploded view of the device of figures 1 a and 1 b.
- Figures 7 and 8 are prospective views of a table according to the invention, provided
with extension leaves under rest and use conditions, respectively.
[0019] An extensible table 10 according to invention comprises a principal plane 11, two
extension leaves 12 and a manoeuvring device 15 for each extension leaf.
[0020] Device 15 comprises a monolithic body 17 with an elongated shape, with two opposite
end zones 19 and 20 connected by a median tapered zone 21. Body 17 is rotatably coupled
to a primary element 23 at end 19, whereas body 17 is slidably coupled to a secondary
element 24 at end 20.
[0021] Primary element 23 comprises an upper plate 26 for fastening beneath principal plane
11 of table 10, a median cylindrical tubular shaft 27, fastened to plate 26 and rotatably
coupled around a pivot axis A in a corresponding cylindrical seat 28 formed at end
19 of body 17, and a lower flanged edge 29 formed on shaft 27 for holding body 17
in axial direction. Two holes 31 are provided around seat 28, which are parallel to
axis A, located at 180° one to the other relative to axis A and open towards flanged
edge 29. A push rod 33 and a thrust spring 35 are mounted in each hole 31 to force
each push rod 33 towards a slide track 37, which is formed in flanged edge 29; two
sunken niches 39 are provided in track 37, which are disposed at 180° one to the other
relative to the axis A, so as to define two preferential angular positions of body
17 relative to primary element 23. A lower cover 41 is placed to cover shaft 27.
[0022] Secondary element 24 comprises an upper plate 46 for fastening beneath extension
leaf 12 of table 10, a median cylindrical tubular shaft 47, fastened to plate 46 and
slidably coupled along a slide axis B in a corresponding cylindrical seat 48 formed
at end 20 of body 17, and a lower bottom 50 for closure of shaft 47. A runner 52 is
mounted inside shaft 47, and in sliding contact both against plate 46 and against
bottom 50, in a direction perpendicular to slide axis B. A cylindrical hollow 54 is
formed in runner 52 with an axis C perpendicular relative to axis B. An eccentric
56 is rotatably mounted in hollow 54, fixedly and eccentrically connected to rotate
with a shaft 58 extended along axis C and engaged in thrust with secondary element
24 by means of runner 52; shaft 58 is rotatably supported in two opposed holes 60,
which are formed passing through the wall of body 17, and through two slots 62 formed
in shaft 47. Two springs 55 are housed in respective dead holes 51 formed in body
17 adjacent to seat 48, and push against plate 46, thereby tending to favour raising
of plate 46 and shaft 47 together relative to body 17.
[0023] A rotation actuating handle 64 is mounted fixed in rotation on shaft 58. For this
purpose, handle 64 has a "U" shape with two ends 65 turning outside of "U"-plane,
each end is inserted in a respective hole 66 transversally formed (diametrically)
in shaft 58. Caps 68 and washers 69 are inserted on shaft 58 and on handle 64, to
axially maintain shaft 58 in holes 60. Two pins (not visible in the figures) are inserted
in holes 71 formed within ends 65, to keep the same ends in holes 66 of shaft 58.
Therefore, each (angular) movement of handle 64 is matched by equal angular movement
of shaft 58 and thus of eccentric 56, which moves runner 52 raising or lowering secondary
element 24; in particular, handle 64 is moveable from a first position (visible in
figures 1a and 4), which corresponds to a lowered position of secondary element 24,
and a second position (visible in figures 2a and 5), which corresponds to a raised
position of secondary element 24. Therefore, all elements together indicated with
reference numbers 51 to 71 form an actuating mechanism of secondary element 24 relative
to body 17.
[0024] A rod 75 is mounted longitudinally in median zone 21 of body 17 with a first end
76 facing primary element 23 and a second end 77 facing secondary element 24. Rod
75 is housed in a bay 79, formed in the lower part in median zone 21 of body 17 and
closed by a cover 80, and is slidably guided in a longitudinal direction in body 17
thanks to two brackets 82 fastened to body 17.
[0025] The first end 76 of rod 75 has bolt-like shape and is engageable in a corresponding
hole 84 formed in shaft 27 of primary element 23, obviously only when the angular
position of primary element 23 is such that hole 84 is aligned with end 76.
[0026] The second end 77 of rod 75 is fork-shaped, with a transversal peg 86, A support
87 is mounted facing end 77, on which a moveable hooking member is mounted, formed
by a rocker arm 88 pivoting around a horizontal pivot 89. Rocker arm 88 has a slit
with a cam profile 91, in which peg 86 is engaged, and a hooking seat 92, in which
handle 64 is engaged when in first position (shown in figures 1a and 4).
[0027] Therefore, the rod 75 is longitudinally slidable between a first locking position
(figure 5) and a second locking position (figure 4).
[0028] In first locking position, end 76 is inserted in hole 84, thereby preventing rotation
of primary element 23. Furthermore, such position is clearly possible only when the
angular position of primary element 23 is such that hole 84 is aligned to end 76 of
the 75; the angular position of hole 84 on element 23 is such that conditions of alignment
between end 76 and hole 84 occur when extension leaf 12 fastened to device 15 is located
exactly in an external position thereof relative to principal plane 11 of table 10
(figure 2a, 2b and 5),
i.e. in which extension leaf 12 may be raised or lowered freely, without risking to knock
against principal plane 11.
[0029] Still in first locking position, hooking seat 92 is disengaged by handle 64 at end
77, since the position of peg 86 in slit with a cam profile 91 is such that it rotates
rocker arm 88 as shown in figure 5. Handle 64 can thus be freely actuated, raising
or lowering secondary element 24 relative to body 17 of device 15, that is, raising
or lowering extension leaf 12 relative to principal plane 11 of table 10.
[0030] In second locking position, handle 64 is in first position (figure 4) and engages
hooking seat 92 imposing an angular position to rocker arm 88 such that the position
of peg 86 in slit with a cam profile 91 maintains rod 75 as shown in figure 4, with
end 76 being extracted from hole 84. The first position of handle 64 induces secondary
element 24 into a completely lowered position relative to body 17, that is extension
leaf 12 is completely lowered relative principal plane 11; at the same time, primary
element 23 is free to rotate relative to body 17, i.e..extension leaf 12 is free to
rotate relative to principal plane 11.
[0031] Rod 75 forms an interlocking mechanism together with handle 64 and elements 76 to
92 which enables rotation of body 17 relative to primary element 23 only when secondary
element 24 is in lower position and enables sliding of body 17 relative to secondary
element 24 only when body 17 is in protruding position.
[0032] The two aforementioned locking positions dictate operation of device 15, as it will
now be described from condition shown in figures 1a, 1b, and 4.
[0033] As aforementioned, under such condition, rod 75 is in its second locking position,
handle 64 is in its first position and extension leaf 12 is completely lowered. Body
17 of device 15 can rotate relative to primary element 23. More precisely, two push
rods 33 determine two preferential angular positions with their engagement into niches
39, in which extension leaf 12 is in one case completely extracted relative to principal
plane 11 (figure 4), in the other case completely retracted beneath the principal
plane 11 (figure 2a, 2b); however, a minimal force applied to extension leaf 12 is
sufficient to overcome the restraining action of push rods 33 and enable rotation
of extension leaf 12 itself.
[0034] Thus, free rotation of extension leaf 12 relative to principal plane 11 of table
10 is possible when extension leaf 12 is in completely lowered position.
[0035] If the angular position of extension leaf 12 is not the completely extracted one
(figure 1a and 1b), handle 64 is not rotatable since hooking seat 92 of rocker arm
88 keeps it locked; in fact, rod 75 cannot move from second locking position since
the full wall of shaft 27 faces end 76, not hole 84, and the impossibility of movement
of rod 75 also keeps rocker arm 88 locked due to reciprocal engagement of peg 86 and
slit with a cam profile 91.
[0036] Thus, extension leaf 12 may not be raised unless completely extracted relative to
principal plane 11 of table 10.
[0037] Otherwise, if the angular position of extension leaf 12 is the completely extracted
one (figure 4), then handle 64 can be rotated towards second position. In such operation,
as handle 64 is moved from first position (figure 5), rocker arm 88 is rotated by
the action of handle 64 itself on hooking seat 92 and consequently rod 75 is pushed
(by the action of slit with a cam profile 91 on peg 86) towards its first locking
position, with end 76 being inserted in hole 84, such that any reciprocal rotation
between body 17 of device 15 and primary element 23 is prevented.
[0038] Thus, extension leaf 12 may be raised when completely extracted relative to principal
plane 11 of table 10; furthermore, as extension leaf 12 is raised, it may not be rotated
any longer.
[0039] In raising extension leaf 12 by means of actuating handle 64, two springs 55 help
the user by compensating the weight of the extension leaf itself. Clearly, such springs
55 will have greater stiffness if the weight of the desired extension leaf 12 is greater;
if such springs are correctly sized, the effort to actuate handle 64 required by the
user will only be that imposed by the coupling friction, and thus substantially the
same in raising as in lowering.
[0040] Extension leaf 12 remains spontaneously in raised position at the end of raising,
since the type of mechanical coupling achieved with eccentric 56 and runner 52 is
intrinsically unidirectional. In fact, each mechanical action exerted by rotation
of eccentric 56 causes both vertical and horizontal movement of runner 52, thereby
determining raising of secondary element 24; on the contrary, a raising or lowering
action applied directly to extension leaf 12 (such as action due to its own weight)
is not able to cause any movement of runner 52 and thus any rotation of eccentric
56.
[0041] On the contrary, once extension leaf 12 has been completely lowered by means of a
complete rotation of handle 64, rocker arm 88 is once again rotated by action of same
handle 64 on hooking seat 92 and thus pulls rod 75 with its end 76 out of hole 84.
Once extension leaf 12 has been completely lowered, conditions are restored (figure
4) in which extension leaf 12 can be rotated and returned beneath principal plane
11.
[0042] It should be noted that any intermediate position of rod 75 between the two locking
positions of figures 4 and 5 (due, for example to a positioning of handle 64 that
only partially moves rocker arm 88) is such as to maintain nevertheless the rotation
block, as end 76 of rod 75 nevertheless results at least partially engaged in the
hole 84.
[0043] That is to say, positions of the rod which permit both rotation of the body relative
to the primary element and translation of the secondary element relative to the body
are excluded. Thus the possibility that a careless user can manoeuvre extension leaf
12 causing it to knock against principal plane 11 of table 10 is completely avoided.
[0044] The device according to invention is thus particularly suitable for tables having
planes and/or extension leaves in relatively delicate materials, such as glass or
crystal. Furthermore, the simplicity of embodiment makes the device according to invention
particularly suitable for tables in which the device itself is clearly visible, for
example, due to the presence of planes and/or extension leaves in transparent material,
such as glass or crystal.
1. Manoeuvring device (15) of an extension leaf (12) of a table (10) extensible relative
to a principal plane (11) of the table, comprising a primary element (23) adapted
to be fixedly fastened to principal plane (11) of the table (10) therebeneath, a body
(17) rotatable relative to primary element (23) around a pivot axis (A), a secondary
element (24) slidable relative to body (17) along a slide axis (B) and adapted to
be fixedly fastened to extension leaf (12), and an actuating mechanism (51-71) of
the secondary element (24) relative to the body (17).
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein body (17) is angularly moveable around the primary
element (23) between a retracted position corresponding to the extension leaf (12)
in a rest position beneath the principal plane (11) of the table (10) and a protruding
position corresponding to the extension leaf (12) in a use position, and wherein the
secondary element (24) is moveable between an upper position corresponding to the
use position of the extension leaf (12), aligned with the principal plane (11) of
the table (10), and a lower position corresponding to the extension leaf (12) completely
beneath the principal plane (11) of the table (10).
3. Device according to claim 2, comprising an interlocking mechanism (75-92) which enables
rotation of the body (17) relative to the primary element (23) only when the secondary
element (24) is in the lower position.
4. Device according to claim 2, comprising an interlocking mechanism which enables sliding
of the body (17) relative to the secondary element (24) only when the body (17) is
in the protruding position.
5. Device according to claim 2, comprising an interlocking mechanism (75-92) that enables
rotation of the body (17) relative to the primary element (23) only when the secondary
element (24) is in the lower position and which enables sliding of the body (17) relative
to the secondary element (24) only when the body (17) is in the protruding position.
6. Device according to claim 5 wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises a rod (75)
slidably guided in the body (17) between a first locking position and a second locking
position, a first end (76) of the rod (75) being faced towards the primary element
(23) and able to be inserted in a corresponding hole (84) formed in the primary element
(23) to prevent rotation of the body (17) relative to the primary element (23) when
the rod (75) is in the first locking position, a second end (77) of the rod being
engaged with a moveable hooking member (88) capable of locking the actuating mechanism
(51-71) of the secondary element (24) relative to the body (17) when the rod (75)
is in the second locking position.
7. Device according to claim 7, wherein the actuating mechanism of the secondary element
(24) relative to the body (17) comprises a rotating shaft carried by the body (17),
an actuating handle (64) to rotate said shaft (58) and a rotating eccentric (56) fixedly
connected to said shaft (58) and engaged in thrust with the secondary element (24),
wherein the moveable hooking member is a rocker arm (88) engaged with the second end
(77) of the rod (75) by means of a cam profile (91) and provided with a hooking seat
(92) adapted to engage said handle (64).
8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the actuating mechanism of the secondary element
(24) relative to the body (17) comprises a runner (52), placed between the eccentric
(56) and the secondary element (24).
9. Extensible table (10), comprising a device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to
8, with a principal plane (11) to which the primary element (23) of the device (15)
is fastened and an extension leaf (12) to which the secondary element (24) of the
device (15) is fastened.
10. Table according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the principal plane (11) or the
extension leaf (12) is of glass or crystal.