Piece of furniture

Abstract

 The invention provides a piece of furniture comprising a horizontally oriented base to be supported on a supporting surface and a top, which base and which top are connected via a column which is vertically oriented in an operative position, with the column comprising a foot extending outside the circumference of the column at the bottom side thereof, and with connecting means being provided for detachably connecting the column, via said foot, to the base in the operative position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising a horizontally oriented base to be supported on a supporting surface and a top, which base and which top are connected via a column which is vertically oriented in an operative position.

[0002] Such a piece of furniture is known from US patent No. 5,560,303. The piece of furniture in the form of a table that is disclosed in said patent specification is intended for use as a standing table, for example at parties or receptions, to which end the table includes three detachable main parts, viz. a tabletop, a baseplate and a column extending therebetween. For such tables it is very important that the disassembly and reassembly thereof can take place within a very short period of time. It is in this regard that the prior art table exhibits shortcomings, since it has become apparent in practice that on average 0.35 man-hours are required each time for disassembling such a table as well as for reassembling such a table. The labour costs involved constitute a major cost factor, which is a significant drawback, for example for companies that rent out and install such tables. The relatively large amount of man-hours involved in the disassembling and reassembling of the table are caused, among other things, by the fact that the three main parts of the table must be collected in three separate groups after a few tables have been disassembled or, upon reassembly of the table, be delivered as a complete set at one location before they can be combined into one unit again. Another major drawback of the prior art table is the fact that all three main parts must be provided with relatively complex constructional elements at the location where they are to be interconnected, in order to obtain the required stiffness. The presence of said elements is part of the reason why neither the baseplates nor the tabletops are suitable for being stacked together in a stable manner, which is disadvantageous from a logistic and storage point of view. In addition, the aforesaid relatively complex constructions for interconnecting the main parts increase the cost price and make the disassembly and reassembly of the tables last longer.

[0003] The object of the invention, whether or not in preferred embodiments thereof, is to provide a piece of furniture, for example a table or a chair, which constitutes an improvement at least as regards the disadvantageous aspects of the prior art as described above. In order to accomplish that objective, the piece of furniture according to the invention is characterized in that the column comprises a foot extending outside the circumference of the column at the bottom side thereof, and in that connecting means are provided for detachably connecting the column, via said foot, to the base in the operative position. Within the framework of the present invention, the term "connecting" is understood to mean that a situation is effected in which the column fitted with said foot and the base are immovable with respect to each other. The use of such a foot makes it possible to obtain the required constructional stiffness of the connection between the foot and the column in a constructionally simple manner by making use of the fact that the foot is larger than the column, at least in the horizontal plane. By having the forces required for providing the connection between the foot and the column act on the outer side, or at least on the outer side of the foot, said forces will be smaller, on account of the equilibrium of moments, than in the situation in which a foot according to the invention is not provided and said forces must be absorbed within the circumference of the column.

[0004] A quick way of detachably connecting the column to the base via the foot can be obtained if the base comprises a guide for the foot, for the purpose of moving the foot and the column along the guide between an inoperative position of the column and the operative position of the column. In this way the foot can be quickly and correctly oriented and positioned with respect to the base so as to realise a connection between the column and the base via the foot by making use of the connecting means, which may be inoperative in the inoperative position of the column.

[0005] In order to obtain a compact configuration in the inoperative position of the column, and thus of the piece of furniture, the column is preferably connected to the base in such a manner that it is capable of tilting movement between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation in the inoperative position of the column. Because of the fact that a connection is provided between the column and the base, said parts will remain together in the inoperative position of the piece of furniture as well. Since the column is in addition capable of tilting movement as described above, the base and the column require little space in the inoperative position of the column, in which they extend parallel to each other in the collapsed position.

[0006] In order to realise a tiltable connection between the column and the base, the column may be tiltably connected to the foot. The foot will retain its orientation with respect to the base in that case, therefore.

[0007] Alternatively, the foot can tilt jointly with the column in the inoperative position of the column. The advantage of this alternative is that it is possible in principle to move the column and the foot even further towards the edge of the base in the inoperative position of the column, as a result of which the column and the base will overlap to a greater extent in the horizontal, inoperative position of the column.

[0008] Preferably, the guide comprises a laterally extending U-shaped part so as to prevent undesirable tilting of the foot and the column. The foot and the column are prevented from moving in vertical direction by accommodating part of the foot, for example wheels thereof, within said U-shape.

[0009] According to an advantageous preferred embodiment of the invention, the piece of furniture is provided with, preferably rotatable, guide means for guiding cooperation with the guide. Such an aspect makes the piece of furniture more user-friendly, which manifests itself in a quicker assembly and disassembly of the piece of furniture. Within the framework of the present invention the phrase "disassembling the piece of furniture" does not necessarily mean that the various parts of the piece of furniture are in actual fact physically separated from each other. It is quite conceivable, for example, and even advantageous for the various parts of the piece of furniture to remain interconnected also in the disassembled position of the piece of furniture, in which position the parts take up significantly less space than in the assembled position of the table, in view of the more compact arrangement of the various parts.

[0010] In order to keep the column with the foot on the one hand and the base on the other hand together, also in the inoperative position of the column, it may be very advantageous if the base is provided with retaining elements for keeping the column and the base interconnected in the inoperative position of the column by retaining at least some of the guide means.

[0011] Although it is possible in numerous ways within the framework of the invention to detachably connect the column to the base via the foot in the operative position of said column, for example in that the base is provided with upwardly extending screw threads, which extend through openings in the foot, preferably along the circumference of the foot, and in that the foot is clamped against the base by tightening (wing) nuts, the base preferably comprises receiving means for accommodating at least part of the foot in the operative position. Preferably, in order to achieve a maximum constructional and visual effect, the foot is accommodated in said receiving means as a whole. When the foot is accommodated in this manner, the column can be prevented from tilting and/or moving (in vertical direction) with respect to the base in a constructionally simple manner, for example in those cases in which a retaining guide as described above is not used. In order to enhance this effect, it is advantageous if the foot is held down within said receiving means, for example receiving means in the form of a housing, by means of adjusting screws. An additional advantageous effect of the use of said receiving means is that the foot, as well as at least part of a guide that may be provided, can be hidden from view in an aesthetically sound manner. It is noted in this connection that said receiving means does not necessarily perform a constructional function in connecting the column to the base, but that its only function may be to hide a guide (if present) from view, for example, and to prevent parts of the body getting wedged between the guide (if present) and guide means.

[0012] A very advantageous embodiment of the piece of furniture according to the invention is characterized in that the receiving means is provided with a first opening on one side of the receiving means, through which at least part of the foot can pass upon movement of the foot with the column along the guide between the operative position and the inoperative position, with the foot being positioned outside the receiving means in the inoperative position. A first form-locked connection is realised by simply moving the foot into the receiving means via said first opening, which connection prevents the column from tilting undesirably. Alternatively, it is possible within the framework of the invention to move the foot into the receiving means from above, to which end the receiving means is provided with a pivotable cover at its upper side, which pivotable cover may consist of two parts disposed on either side of the column, for example, and which can be fixed in its downwardly pivoted position, in which position the foot is accommodated in the receiving means, therefore.

[0013] Preferably, the receiving means is provided with a second opening at its upper side, through which the column can extend. When such a second opening is used, the foot may be located centrally with respect to the column, whilst in addition the foot may be centrally positioned within the receiving means, without the column extending outside the receiving means, seen in top plan view. This means that the dimensions of the foot necessary for achieving the required stiffness of the connection between the base and the column can remain limited.

[0014] Said second opening, when combined with a first opening as explained above, is preferably slot-shaped, extending parallel to the guide from said first opening. Said slot-shaped configuration of the second opening makes it possible to slide the foot with a column centrally present thereon into the receiving means via the first opening. Preferably, the width of the slot is just as large or slightly larger than the outside diameter of the column, so that on the one hand the column can move through the slot in the direction of said slot without impediment, whilst on the other hand the upper side of the retaining means can be used maximally for contributing to the required stiffness of the connection between the column and the base.

[0015] A very advantageous preferred embodiment of the invention is obtained if a pivot arm is provided, which pivot arm is pivotally connected to the top at a first end and which is pivotally connected to the column at the second end located opposite said first end for changing the position of the top between a horizontal position, in which the top extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the column, and a vertical position, in which the top extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the column, through pivoting movement of the pivot arm with respect to the column through an angle of at least 180°. This makes it possible for the centre of the top to be positioned considerably below the upper end of the column in the vertical position of the top, as a result of which a very compact assembly of the column and the top can be obtained. An additional advantage is the fact that the top and the column remain interconnected in the vertical position of the top as well, so that the column and the top will be positioned in close proximity to each other at all times and need not be brought together as two separate parts.

[0016] The preferred embodiment as described above can also be used advantageously with a piece of furniture, such as a table, according to the prior art, i.e. without a foot being present at the bottom side of the column as described above. Within this framework the invention also relates to a piece of furniture comprising a chassis and a top supported by said chassis, a characteristic feature of the invention being the fact that a pivot arm is provided, which pivot arm is pivotally collected to the top at a first end and which is pivotally connected to the chassis at the second end located opposite said first end for changing the position of the top between a horizontal position and a vertical position through pivoting movement of the pivot arm with respect to the column through an angle of at least 180°. The chassis may be made up of a combination of a foot and a column as described above, but other chassis forms are also possible, for example consisting of a number of legs, to the upper ends of at least some of which a first end of a pivot arm is connected, whilst an opposite end of the pivot arm is connected to the top. Preferably, such legs are also interconnected so as to keep all the parts of the piece of furniture together, also in an inoperative position of the piece of furniture.

[0017] Preferably, a supporting surface for the top extending outside the cross-section of the column is connected to the upper side of the column for the purpose of realising a stable connection between the top and the column.

[0018] The piece of furniture according to the invention is furthermore quite suitable for being used in an embodiment in which the column comprises at least two parts which are telescopically movable with respect to each other. This makes it possible to use the piece of furniture both as a table to sit at and as a table to stand at. Moreover, the column will take up less space in the telescoped position. The use of two parts which can telescope with respect to each other is also quite possible in those cases in which no use is made of a foot on the column which can be detachably connected to the base, using connecting means, in accordance with the main aspect of the invention as described above.

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter by means of a description of a preferred embodiment of a table according to the invention, in which reference is made to the following Figures:

Figure 1 is a front view of a table according to the invention, showing the column thereof in the operative position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the table that is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the table that is shown in Figure 1, showing the tabletop thereof in a lower position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a more detailed, opposite (transparent) side elevation of the table that is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the column during tilting movement thereof.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the column in the fully downwardly tilted position thereof.

Figure 9 shows a detail of the connection between the column and the tabletop.

Figure 10 is a (transparent) top plan view of the tabletop of the table.

Figure 11 is a sectional view along the line XI-XI in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is view similar to Figure 9, showing the tabletop during tilting movement thereof.

Figure 13 is a side elevation similar to Figure 9, showing the tabletop after the tabletop has been tilted further.

Figure 14 is a side elevation similar to Figure 9, showing the tabletop in the fully tilted position thereof.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the table in the fully collapsed position thereof.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a table according to the invention, showing the table in the operative position thereof.

Figure 17 is a side elevation of the table that is shown in Figure 16, showing the table in the inoperative position thereof.

[0020] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a table 1 comprising a tabletop part 2, a leg part 3 and a base part 4. The tabletop part 2 comprises a frame 5 on which a tabletop 6 is mounted. As is shown in Figure 10, the frame 5 is built up of a number of interconnected steel sections extending perpendicularly and parallel to each other. A hook 8 provided with a slot 9 is provided at the bottom side of the frame for reasons yet to be explained in more detail, which hook 8 can pivot about a pivot pin 7. The leg part 3 comprises an outer tube 10 and an inner tube 11, which tubes are telescopically connected and which can be fixed in position with respect to each other by means of a locking bolt 12. Thus the tabletop 6 can be positioned at different heights, so that the table 1 is suitable for use both as a table to sit at and as a table to stand at. The outer tube 10 is internally provided with a guide groove 13, within which an outwardly extending pin 14, which is attached to the inner tube 11, extends. At its upper side, the guide groove 13 is provided with a laterally and downwardly extending element 47 which functions to maintain the tabletop 6 in its uppermost position. Such elements may also be provided at random positions along the length of the guide groove 13, of course, for defining specific vertical positions of the tabletop 6.

[0021] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the base part 4 comprises a hexagonal tubular frame 15, between two opposite sides of which two parallel, laterally extending U-sections 17, 18 extend. The upper sides of said U-sections extend in directions away from each other. The U-sections 17, 18 are interconnected via the central section portion 19. Present on said central section portion 19, near one end thereof, is a bracket 20 which is intended for receiving the outer tube 10 of the leg part 3 in the downwardly tilted position, as will be explained in more detail yet. The outer tube 10 is rigidly connected to a foot 22. The foot 22 has two edges 23, 24 extending in downward direction at the outer sides of the U-sections 17, 18. Mounted in bearings on the downwardly extending edges 23, 24 are the outer and inner wheels 25, 27 and the outer and inner wheels 29, 28, respectively. Said wheels 25, 26, 27, 28 extend within the legs of the two U-sections 17, 18, enabling movement of the foot 22 in the longitudinal directions of the U-sections 17, 18 between an operative position as shown in Figures 1-6, for example, and an inoperative position as shown in Figures 8 and 15. The U-sections prevent tilting movement of the foot 22. The foot 22 with the leg part 3 present thereon can be fixed with respect to the base part 4 in the operative position by tightening the locking bolt 32. This causes the foot 22, or at least portions of the part extending between the downwardly extending edges 23, 24, to be pressed against the ends of the adjusting bolts 33, 34 that are present in threaded holes in the central section portion 19. A housing cover 29 forming part of the base part 4 extends over the foot 22, at least in the operative position thereof. Purely for aesthetic reasons, said housing cover 29 is hexagonal, seen in top plan view, to correspond to the form of the tubular frame 15. In order to enable movement of the outer tube 10 between the operative position and the inoperative position, the housing cover 29 is provided with a slot 36, which is screened by a cover 35 in the operative position, which cover is fixedly connected to the outer tube 10 or to the foot 22. As a result, the cover 35 and the housing cover 29 form one whole, as it were, in the operative position. Although this does not apply in the embodiment as described herein, the foot 22 may be retained in position in the vertical direction by the housing cover 29 instead of by the upper legs of the U-shaped sections 17, 18.

[0022] Stops 37 are formed on the lower legs of the U-shaped sections 17, 18, on the outer side of the housing cover 29, in line with the inner wheels 27, 28, past which stops the inner wheels 27, 28 cannot move, unlike the outer wheels 25, 28. The stops 37, together with the end of the slot 36 in the housing cover 29, thus retain the foot 22 and the outer tube 10 in position in the horizontal direction of the guide. At the ends of the U-sections 17, 18, the upper legs of said U-sections 17, 18 have been locally removed at the positions indicated at 22.

[0023] When the table is to be collapsed, the foot 22 with the leg part 3 connected thereto and the tabletop part 2 are rolled along the U-sections 17, 18 forming a guide after the locking bolt 32 has been loosened, and at some point the inner wheels 27, 28 will strike against the stops 37. It is emphasised in this connection that said moving in horizontal direction inter alia of the leg part 3 with respect to the tubular frame 15 of the base part 4, although advantageous, is not necessary within the framework of the present invention. Thus it is alternatively possible for the leg part 3 not to be slidably or rollably connected to the base part 4, although the leg part 3 will be tiltable. With this alternative the space, more specifically the height that the table occupies in the inoperative position will generally be greater.

[0024] In the position in which the inner wheels 27, 28 abut against the stops 37, the outer wheels 25, 26 are positioned near the part of the U-sections 17, 18 where the upper legs thereof have been removed, as indicated at 22. This makes it possible to tilt the leg part 3, of which the foot 22 forms part, about the two inner wheels 27, 28 (see Figure 7). After having tilted through 90 degrees, the outer tube 10 of the leg part 3 is supported in the bracket 20. A hook 38, which is pivotable about a pivot pin 40 and which is provided with a slot 39, is mounted on the side of the bracket 20. In the folded position, the slot 39 can be slipped over the locking bolt 12 through tilting of the hook 38, after which a fixed position is obtained by tightening the locking bolt 12, as is shown in Figure 8.

[0025] Mounted on the upper end of the inner tube 11 of the leg part 3 is a U-section 46, whose legs extend in downward direction on either side of the inner tube 11, whilst also the ends of the U-section 46 extend on either side. Each of the downwardly extending legs of the U-section 46 has a tilting arm 41 pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin 48, which tilting arm is pivotally connected to the frame 5 of the tabletop part 2 by a pivot pin 49 at its opposite end. A slide 42 is mounted on said frame 5, which slide can be moved under the web of the U-section 46 in the horizontal position of the frame 5 with the tabletop 6 (not shown) present thereon, so as to fix the tabletop 6 in this horizontal position. When the table 1 is to be collapsed, the slide 42 is moved away from its position under the web of the U-section 46, after which, as is successively shown in Figures 12, 13, 14, the frame 5 can be tilted from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation by pivoting the tilting arm 41 through an angle of about 270 degrees, after which the upper end of the frame 5 will be positioned at approximately the same level as the upper end of the inner tube 11. It is possible in this vertical position to have the slot 9 engage the locking bolt 12 by tilting the hook 8 about its pivot pin, so that the tabletop 6 can be fixed in its folded position as well. When the tabletop 6 is to be moved to its horizontal position again, the reverse procedure is followed, with the fixation hook 43, which is fixed to the frame 5, moving under the horizontal part of the U-section 46 after the tilting arm 41 has been tilted back. Once the slide 42 has been moved to its fixing position, the frame 5 and the tabletop 6 are prevented from tilting with respect to the U-section 46 and thus with respect to the inner tube 11.

[0026] Figure 15 shows the table 1 in the fully collapsed position. It is noted that if the stop 37 is moved even further to the right in Figure 15, the base part 4 can be moved even further under the leg part 3 and the table topper part 2, as it were.

[0027] Figures 16 and 17 show a further embodiment of a table according to the invention in the operative position and in the inoperative position, respectively. Besides a round tabletop 66, the table 60 also comprises a chassis 61 having four legs 62, 63, 64 and 65, which support the tabletop 66. The lower ends of said legs are oriented substantially vertically, whereas the upper ends are oriented horizontally. In the operative position as shown in Figure 16, the tabletop 66 is supported on the upper ends of the legs 62, 63, 64 and 65. The legs 62, 63, 64 and 65 are bent inwardly at a position slightly below a point halfway their length, at which position they are connected to a central tube member 67. The connection between the legs 62 and 64 on the one hand and the tube member 67 on the other hand is a rigid connection, whereas the legs 63 and 65 are pivotally connected about a vertical pivot pin to the tube member 67, in a way that will become clear upon comparison of Figures 16 and 17.

[0028] A bracket 68 comprising downwardly extending (in the operative position) parts 69, 70 is provided at the bottom side of the tabletop 66. Two pivot arms 71, 72 are provided between the upper ends of the legs 62 and 64 on the one hand and the downwardly extending parts 69, 70 on the other hand. The connections between the pivot arms 71, 72 on the one hand and the downwardly extending parts 69, 70 and the legs 62, 64 on the other hand are pivoted connections realised by means of a horizontal pivot pin.

[0029] When the position of the table 60 is to be changed from the operative position as shown in Figure 16, in which the pivot arms 71, 72 extend substantially parallel to the tabletop 66, to the inoperative position as shown in Figure 17, the legs 63, 65 are initially pivoted through 90 degrees in the same direction, so that the legs 63, 65 will be positioned substantially in abutment with the legs 62, 64. Then the tabletop 66 is slightly lifted so as to enable the pivot arms 71, 72 to pivot through about 270 degrees, during which pivoting movement the tabletop 66 will pivot through approximately 90 degrees and (the centre of) the tabletop 66 will moreover move downwards, so that the tabletop 66 will take up a vertical position, in which it extends along the legs 62, 63, 64 and 65 within the space defined by the height of said legs. As a result, the table 60 will take up relatively little space, more specifically little height, in the collapsed, inoperative position.

[0030] Although the invention has been explained by means of a description of possible embodiments of tables according to the invention, it is important to note that the invention is also quite suitable for use with other types of furniture, such as workbenches, office furniture, camping furniture, chairs and bar stools.

Claims

1. A piece of furniture comprising a horizontally oriented base to be supported on a supporting surface and a top, which base and which top are connected via a column which is vertically oriented in an operative position, characterized in that the column comprises a foot extending outside the circumference of the column at the bottom side thereof, and in that connecting means are provided for detachably connecting the column, via said foot, to the base in the operative position.

2. A piece of furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the base comprises a guide for the foot, for the purpose of moving the foot and the column along the guide between an inoperative position of the column and the operative position of the column.

3. A piece of furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that the column is connected to the base in such a manner that it is capable of tilting movement between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation in the inoperative position of the column.

4. A piece of furniture according to claim 3, characterized in that the column is tiltably connected to the foot.

5. A piece of furniture according to claim 3, characterized in that the foot can tilt jointly with the column in the inoperative position of the column.

6. A piece of furniture according to any one of the claims 2 - 5, characterized in that said guide comprises a laterally extending U-shaped portion.

7. A piece of furniture according to any one of the claims 2 - 6, characterized in that said foot is provided with, preferably rotatable, guide means for guiding cooperation with said guide.

8. A piece of furniture according to claim 7, characterized in that the base is provided with retaining elements for keeping the column and the base interconnected in the inoperative position of the column by retaining at least some of the guide means.

9. A piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base comprises receiving means for accommodating at least part of the foot in the operative position.

10. A piece of furniture according to claims 2 and 9, characterized in that the receiving means is provided with a first opening on one side of the receiving means, through which at least part of the foot can pass upon movement of the foot with the column along the guide between the operative position and the inoperative position, with the foot being positioned outside the receiving means in the inoperative position.

11. A piece of furniture according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the receiving means is provided with a second opening at its upper side, through which the column can extend.

12. A piece of furniture according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that said second opening is slot-shaped and in that said second opening extends parallel to the guide from said first opening.

13. A piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pivot arm is provided, which pivot arm is pivotally connected to the top at a first end and which is pivotally connected to the column at the second end located opposite said first end for changing the position of the top between a horizontal position, in which the top extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the column, and a vertical position, in which the top extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the column, through pivoting movement of the pivot arm with respect to the column through an angle of at least 180 degrees.

14. A piece of furniture according to claim 13, characterized in that said pivoting angle ranges between 240 degrees and 300 degrees.

15. A piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a supporting surface for the top extending outside the cross-section of the column is connected to the upper side of the column.

16. A piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the column comprises at least two parts which are telescopically movable with respect to each other.

17. A piece of furniture comprising a chassis and a top supported by said chassis, characterized in that a pivot arm is provided, which pivot arm is pivotally connected to the top at a first end and which is pivotally connected to the chassis at the second end located opposite said first end for changing the position of the top between a horizontal position and a vertical position through pivoting movement of the pivot arm with respect to the column through an angle of at least 180 degrees.

Drawing