Sectional modular table with rotating drawers and top

Abstract

 This invention concerns a sectional modular table with underlying rotating drawer units hinged to an upright rod which connects the same and supports the overlying rotating top.

Description

[0001] This patent application concerns a table consisting of an underlying pair of rotating drawer units and top; the item in question is a sectional modular furniture unit which while maintaining the basic structure can be realised in many different alternative embodiments.

[0002] Although the table in question is ideal for use in the home, it can also be used in shops or other sales points in that its drawer units can be fitted with wooden doors or chests of drawers in which the products on sale can be stored without being visible to the public or alternatively realised without doors or glass doors so as to act as a display cabinet.

[0003] Although prior techniques include tables with drawer units or chests of drawers under the top, none of these prior models are constructed according to the structural principle of the table according to the invention, nor can they claim to offer the practical, aesthetical and economical advantages of the same.

[0004] The table in question is an absolute and interesting novelty in a field where the techniques used have been standardised for many years.

[0005] The table according to the invention consists of three basic elements, namely a top and two underlying drawer units mounted on revolving wheels - which are connected together by means of an upright rod which is also the pin around which the above three components rotate independently.

[0006] In particular the rod is fitted and rotates freely in a series of special brackets projected from the opposing sides of the two drawer units; a coupling is fitted at the top of the rod in order to support an "L" shaped shelf above which the table top is screw fitted.

[0007] The ability of the upright rod to rotate with respect to the brackets housing the same is the feature which allows the top and the drawer units to rotate separately from each other.

[0008] More specifically, the top can rotate without in any way moving the two underlying drawer units; in the same way either of the drawer units can be rotated on the revolving wheels without necessarily moving the other drawer unit or the table top.

[0009] This brief description makes the exceptional characteristics of the table according to the invention quite evident.

[0010] Not only is the table extremely practical, original and attractive it is also extremely versatile, especially for shops.

[0011] In this case the free rotation of the table components permits placing the top and underlying drawer units in the most convenient position for both the customer and the shop assistants in terms of displaying the goods on the table top and in terms of removing the products from the underlying drawer units.

[0012] It is also evident moreover that without modifying the basic structure of the table in question - the shape of the top and the drawer units can be customised according to the specific characteristics of the products on display or for specific practical and aesthetical requirements.

[0013] For major clarity the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings which are intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, where:

* figure 1 is a front view of the table according to the invention;

* figure 2 is a cross-section of figure 1 on plane II-II;

* figure 3 is an axonometric view of the rod used in the table fitted into two of the brackets projecting from the drawers.

[0014] With particular reference to figures 1 and 2 the product in question consists of a top (2) and two drawer units, both mounted on revolving wheels (2) where the width of the drawer unit on the left (3) is inferior to that of the drawer unit (4) on the right.

[0015] The drawer units (3 and 4) shown in these drawings are of the type without doors and are fitted internally with shelves forming numerous identical compartments having horizontal axis; obviously however the same could be provided with transparent or non transparent doors or drawers.

[0016] Moreover, as an alternative to the embodiment shown in figure 1, said drawer units can be realised in different arrangements, namely a table with two identical drawer units (both having a smaller or larger width) or table with the smaller drawer unit on the right and the larger drawer unit on the left.

[0017] In all cases the three components of the table in question are connected and rotate independently by means of a single upright rod (5) having a circular cross-section.

[0018] The upper end of said rod being fitted with a sleeve (6) at whose top two horizontal arms (6a) are fixed at 90°, abutting and screwed to the bottom face of the top (1).

[0019] Rod (5) is fitted and housed and rotates freely in a series of brackets (7 and 8) fixed to the sides of the drawer units (3 and 4) which, when the table is fully assembled as shown in figure 1, are arranged in regularly alternating positions.

[0020] In particular each of the brackets (7) fixed on the side of the drawer unit (3) which in figure (1) is positioned on the left and consists of a "V" shaped metal plate with widely opened arms positioned edgewise and with the concave face turned towards the drawer unit (3); said bracket (7) is provided at the ends with two flat lugs (7a) bent towards each other abutting and screwed into the holes on the sides of the furniture.

[0021] A coupling with vertical axis (7b) in which the upright rod (5) is welded eccentrically on the concave face of the bracket (7), at three-quarters of its length and in proximity of the vertex of the "V".

[0022] The front of said bracket (7) towards its ends also being provided with holes (7c) precisely aligned with the holes on the lugs (7a); the holes (7c) being provided to allow fitting of the screws through the holes on the lugs (7a).

[0023] Each of the brackets (8) fixed on the side of the right hand drawer unit (4) consists of a shelf abutting and screwed to the furniture unit by means of a longitudinal edge (8a) bent upwards by 90° provided with a number of holes for the passage of the fixing screws; it being evident moreover that this edge could alternatively be bent downwards by 90°.

[0024] The cantilevered section of said bracket (8) being provided with a special front "V" shaped edge with widely opened arms.

[0025] At about three quarters of the length of said bracket (8) and in proximity of the vertex of the "V" shaped edge, positioned slightly inwards, being fitted a bushing (8b) having vertical axis which crosses the cantilevered section of bracket (8); the bushing (8b) being designed to precisely house the above upright rod (5).

[0026] The upright rod (5) being fixed between the two drawer units (3 and 4) by means of a small plate (9) which abuts under the bracket (8) and which can be fixed by means of a screw (10) which passes from down to up, in a through hole (9a) at the centre of plate (9) and which engages in a threaded cylindrical housing aligned with said hole (9a) provided at the bottom end of the upright rod (5).

[0027] In particular figure 2 illustrates that the position of hole having vertical axis on the bracket (8) corresponds precisely to the position in which the coupling with vertical axis (7b) is mounted on the "C" shaped bracket (7); it is evident that this permits fitting the upright rod (5) simultaneously into all the brackets (7 and 8) of the two drawers (3 and 4) so that the front face and the back face of the same are perfectly aligned, at least while these are in the position shown in figure 1.

[0028] In this regard it is also interesting to note that the hole for insertion of the rod (5) on the two brackets (7 and 8) is provided at the point of major width, which is identical for both types of brackets (7 and 8); thanks to this feature, the upright rod (5) is placed in a position which is at exactly the same distance between the left hand drawer unit (3) and the right hand drawer unit (4). See figure 2.

[0029] Figure 1 shows that the cantilevered section of the brackets (8) of the right hand drawer unit (4) is positioned precisely between two of the "V" shaped brackets (7) of the left hand drawer unit (3).

[0030] As mentioned previously, the special connection realised between the three components of the table in question makes it possible to rotate the top (1) by 360° without in any way changing the position of the drawer units (3 and 4); it also permits rotating one or both of the drawer units (3 and 4), also without changing the position of the top (1).

[0031] The possibility of rotating said drawer units (3 and 4) with respect to the upright rod (5) is much less extensive; each drawer unit can in fact rotate for a small angle, and only until the rear or front edge of its side interferes with the corresponding edges of the side of the opposing drawer unit.

Claims

1. A modular sectional table characterised by a top (1) and two drawer units (3 and 4) joined together by means of an upright rod (5) which also acts as pin for the independent rotation of the three components; it being provided that the rod (5) supports the top (1) thanks to an "L" shaped shelf (6a) welded to a coupling (6) fixed at its top and thanks to the fact that the rod (5) is fitted, and is free to rotate freely, in an alternated series of brackets ( 7 and/or 8) fixed respectively on the opposing sides of the two drawer units (3 and 4) which have a "V" shaped profile-the top of which is provided with a hole having vertical axis through which rod (5) passes; it being provided moreover that the bottom end of said rod (5) is provided at the centre with a threaded housing having vertical axis into which a screw (10) is fitted and which also passes from bottom to top, the centre hole (9a) of a plate (9) fitted on the bottom face of the last bracket of the series as well as the same hole of the same bracket.

2. A modular sectional table according to claim 1 characterised in that each of the brackets (7) consists of a "V" shaped metal plate with widely opened arms positioned edgewise, provided with two flat slotted lugs (7a) at the ends, facing each other and, provided at the vertex, with a coupling having vertical axis (7b) fitted on the concave face of the bracket (7).

3. A modular section table according to claim 1 characterised in that each of the brackets (8) consists of a shelf having a "V" shaped front edge with widely opened arms crossed at the vertex by a bushing having vertical axis (8b) which is crossed by the upright rod (5); it being provided that said bracket (8) features a back longitudinal edge (8a) bent by 90° and fitted with holes for the insertion of fixing screws.

Drawing