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(11) | EP 1 609 390 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Hinging device for furnishing elements |
| (57) Hinging device (30) for a folding furnishing element, comprising a first supporting
element (1) associated with a first component of the furnishing element and a second
supporting element (2) associated with a second component of the furnishing element.
The first supporting element (1) and the second supporting element (2) are hinged
one with respect to the other. The hinging device (30) also comprises a cam (3) associated
with the first supporting element (1) and able to selectively cooperate with the second
supporting element (2) in order to determine the relative clamping of the two elements
at least in a first position of use wherein they are substantially parallel. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a hinging device able to be used in the field of metal small parts to allow the reciprocal rotation of the components of a furnishing element of the folding type, such as for example a table or suchlike, so as to allow the latter to be stored easily and tidily even in limited spaces during non-use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tables or similar furnishing elements of the so-called folding type are known, provided with a hinging device which allows to selectively rotate and position a top plane of the table with respect to its supporting legs, so that the table can be stored easily and tidily in limited spaces when it is not in use.
[0003] For example, a folding table is known which comprises a hinging device consisting of the following elements:
- a lower supporting element attached to the supporting legs of the table;
- an upper supporting element attached to the lower surface of the top plane of the table;
- a hinge that articulates the lower supporting element to the upper one;
- a tongue movable between the lower supporting element and the upper supporting element; and
- a hook applied to the tongue.
[0004] In this embodiment, in order to take the top plane of the table from its substantially horizontal position of use, to its substantially vertical storage position, it is necessary to pull the tongue and release it from the hook, so as to allow the lower supporting element and the upper supporting element to rotate freely one with respect to the other, and then to allow the top plane to be rotated with respect to the supporting legs.
[0005] In order to return the top plane from the substantially vertical storage position to the substantially horizontal position of use, it is necessary to rotate the upper supporting element with respect to the lower supporting element and clamp the two in the desired position. This clamping is effected by inserting the hook into the tongue, in order thus to allow a stable positioning of the top plane on the supporting legs of the table.
[0006] However, this type of folding table entails rather complicated maneuvers to open and close it, since the tongue must be manipulated precisely in order to release or constrain the hook which holds the supporting elements, upper and lower.
[0007] Moreover, this embodiment can entail a play in the coupling between the lower supporting element and the upper supporting element in the horizontal position of use, causing movements between the top plane and the supporting legs of the table. Moreover, this play has a negative effect on the stability of the positioning of the top plane and the table itself.
[0008] One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a hinging device for a furnishing element of the folding type which is simple to use and which guarantees the stability of the top plane of the table in its positions of use and of storage.
[0009] Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to obtain this and other purposes and advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
[0011] In order to guarantee that the purpose as above is obtained, the hinging device according to the present invention comprises a first supporting element associated with a first component of the furnishing element, and a second supporting element associated with a second component of the furnishing element. The first supporting element and the second supporting element are hinged together.
[0012] According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the hinging device also comprises at least a cam associated with the first supporting element and able to cooperate selectively with the second supporting element in order to determine the relative clamping of the two supporting elements at least in a first position of use of the folding furnishing element, wherein they are substantially parallel to each other.
[0013] According to a variant, the hinging device also comprises at least a shaped end made on the first supporting element and able to cooperate permanently with a corresponding groove made on the second supporting element, in order to keep the two supporting elements reciprocally clamped at least in a second storage position of the folding furnishing element, wherein they are substantially perpendicular to each other.
[0014] According to a preferential form of embodiment, the first supporting element comprises at least a first lateral wall and the second supporting element comprises at least a second lateral wall. Between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall a first pin is provided through, in order to hinge the first supporting element and the second supporting element together.
[0015] The cam is pivoted by means of a second pin to the first support and has at least an inclined plane able to cooperate stably with a corresponding inclined plane made on the second support, in order to keep the two supports clamped in their first position of use.
[0016] In order to take the two supporting elements from the first horizontal position to the second vertical position, the cam is simply rotated around its second pin, so as to release the inclined planes of the second supporting element and of the cam, thus releasing the reciprocal rotation of the first supporting element with respect to the second supporting element around their first pin.
[0017] According to a variant, an elastic element is associated with the cam and is able to keep it normally in cooperation with the second supporting element. Therefore, in this embodiment, the clamped repositioning of the two supporting elements in their first horizontal position occurs in trip-wise, following their reciprocal rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
- fig. 1 is a sectioned view of the hinging device according to the invention, in a horizontal position of use;
- fig. 2 is a sectioned view of the hinging device of fig. 1, in a release step;
- fig. 3 is a sectioned view of the hinging device of fig. 1, in a vertical storage position;
- fig. 4 shows a transverse section of the hinging device in fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT
[0019] With reference to the attached figures, a hinging device 30 according to the present invention is applied to a furnishing element of the folding type, such as for example a table or suchlike, of a substantially known type and not shown in the figures, in order to allow the selective stable positioning of a top plane of the table, with respect to its supporting legs, between a horizontal position of use and a vertical position which allows it to be stored in limited spaces.
[0020] The hinging device 30 according to the present invention comprises an upper supporting element 1, a lower supporting element 2, a cam 3, a lever 4, a spring 5, a first pin 6, an end 7, an inclined plane 8, a second pin 9, two lower walls 10 and two upper walls 11.
[0021] To be more exact, the upper supporting element 1 is associated, for example, with the lower surface of the top plane of the table and comprises laterally the lower walls 10 which extend downwards. The lower supporting element 2 is instead associated, for example, with the supporting legs of the table and comprises laterally the upper walls 11 which extend upwards.
[0022] To give a simple, non-restrictive example, the top plane of the table can be associated with the upper supporting element 1 of the hinging device 30 by means of a screw 20, for example with M10 thread, while the supporting legs can be associated with the lower supporting element 2 of the hinging device 30 by means of a screw 21 and a nut, not shown, for example with M10 thread.
[0023] The first pin 6 is arranged in through manner through the lower walls 10 and the upper walls 11 (fig. 4), so as to hinge together the upper supporting element 1 and the lower supporting element 2, and hence the top plane to the supporting legs of the table.
[0024] In this way, the top plane can be made to rotate around the first pin 6 so as to be selectively positioned between a substantially horizontal position of use of the table, fig. 1, wherein the first and the second supporting elements 1 and 2 are substantially parallel, and a substantially vertical storage position of the table, fig. 3, wherein the first and the second supporting elements 1 and 2 are substantially perpendicular with respect to each other.
[0025] In this last position, the top plane of the table forms an angle of 90° with the level of the floor, in this way reducing the space occupied.
[0026] The lower walls 10 of the upper supporting element 1 and the upper walls 11 of the lower supporting element 2 create a play between the two supporting elements 1 and 2, variable according to the movements of rotation of the upper supporting element 1 and lower supporting element 2.
[0027] In the space between the two supporting elements 1 and 2 the cam 3 is positioned, which assumes a clamped position in correspondence with the horizontal position of use of the table, that is, when the first and the second supporting elements 1 and 2 are substantially parallel to each other.
[0028] The cam 3 is shaped like an arc in the direction of opening, it is pivoted on the upper supporting element 1 by means of the second pin 9 and is associated with the lever 4, in order to actuate the manual release thereof. Between the cam 3 and the upper supporting element 1 the spring 5 is mounted, coaxial with the second pin 9, which is able to exert a pressure on the cam 3 by means of its end arms, so as to keep the latter normally in contact with the lower supporting element 2 and hence to guarantee the stability of the positioning reached and the possible recovery of plays between the two supporting elements 1 and 2.
[0029] The inclined plane 8 is made on an upper surface of the lower supporting element 2 and is able to cooperate with a corresponding inclined plane 13 of the cam 3 (fig. 1).
[0030] In this way, under the pressure of the spring 5, the cam 3 has its inclined plane 13 thrust against and resting on the inclined plane 8 of the lower supporting element 2, preventing the upper supporting element 1 from rotating around the first pin 6.
[0031] The cam 3 thus functions also as an abutment when the horizontal position of use of the table is reached, and allows to recover possible plays between the upper supporting element 1 and the lower supporting element 2, guaranteeing the stable positioning and levelling of the top plane.
[0032] The upper supporting element 1 also has one end 7 shaped substantially as a rounded angle, so that when it is made to rotate around the first pin 6 and reaches a position perpendicular to the lower supporting element 2, the end 7 cooperates with a corresponding groove 14 of the lower supporting element 2 (fig. 4), in order to determine the clamping through friction of the two supporting elements 1 and 2 in the vertical storage position of the table reached.
[0034] In order to take the top plane of the table from its horizontal position of use to its vertical storage position, it is sufficient to lift the lever 4 (fig. 2), to overcome the force of the spring 5 and rotate the cam 3 around the second pin 9. In this way, the inclined plane 13 of the cam 3 is released from the inclined plane 8 of the lower supporting element 2, thus allowing the upper supporting element 1 to rotate around the first pin 6.
[0035] When the upper supporting element 1 is in a vertical position with respect to the lower supporting element 2, its end 7 cooperates with the corresponding groove 14 of the lower supporting element 2, thus clamping the vertical positioning thereof with respect to the latter.
[0036] In order to return the top plane of the table from the vertical storage position to the horizontal position of use of the table, the upper supporting element 1 is made to rotate, so as to bring it near the lower supporting element 2. In this way, the cam 3 rotates together with the upper supporting element 1 towards the inclined plane 8 of the lower supporting element 2.
[0037] When the inclined plane 13 of the cam 3 is in proximity with the inclined plane 8 of the lower supporting element 2, thanks to the force exerted by the spring 5, it is clamped trip-wise against the inclined plane 8, thus guaranteeing the stable attachment of the upper supporting element 1 with respect to the lower supporting element 2. This stable coupling determines the solid positioning of the top plane with respect to the supporting legs of the table.
[0038] It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hinging device 30 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
[0039] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of hinging device for a furnishing element, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
1. Hinging device for a folding furnishing element, said device comprising a first supporting
element (1) able to be associated with a first component of said furnishing element
and a second supporting element (2) able to be associated with a second component
of said furnishing element, said first supporting element (1) and said second supporting
element (2) being hinged one with respect to the other, characterized in that it also comprises at least a cam (3) associated with said first supporting element
(1) and able to selectively cooperate with said second supporting element (2) in order
to determine the relative clamping of said first supporting element (1) and said second
supporting element (2) at least in a first position of use of said folding furnishing
element wherein said first supporting element (1) and said second supporting element
(2) are substantially parallel.
2. Device as in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises at least a shaped end (7) made on said first supporting element
(1) and able to cooperate permanently with a corresponding groove (14) made on said
second supporting element (2), in order to keep said first supporting element (1)
and said second supporting element (2) reciprocally clamped at least in a second position
of storage of said folding furnishing element wherein said first supporting element
(1) and said second supporting element (2) are substantially perpendicular therebetween.
3. Device as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said first supporting element (1) comprises at
least a first lateral wall (10) and said second supporting element (2) comprises at
least a second lateral wall (11), and wherein a first pin (6) is provided through
between said first lateral wall (10) and said second lateral wall (11) in order to
hinge together said first supporting element (1) and said second supporting element
(2), characterized in that said cam (3) is pivoted by means of a second pin (9) to said first supporting element
(1) and comprises at least an inclined plane (13) able to cooperate stably with a
corresponding inclined plane (8) made on said second supporting element (2), in order
to keep said first supporting element (1) and said second supporting element (2) clamped
together at least in said first position of use.
4. Device as in claim 3, characterized in that said cam (3) comprises a lever (4) able to determine the selective rotation thereof
around said second pin (9) in order to detach in a desired manner said inclined plane
(13) of said cam (3) from said inclined plane (8) of said second supporting element
(2).
5. Device as in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said second pin (9) is attached to said first lateral wall (10).
6. Device as in any claim from 3 to 5 inclusive, characterized in that it also comprises an elastic element (5) arranged coaxial with said second pin (9)
able to keep said cam (3) normally with its inclined plane (13) against said inclined
plane (8) of said second supporting element (2).
7. Device as in claim 3, characterized in that said cam (3) is substantially shaped like an arc in the direction of opening.
8. Device as in claim 2, characterized in that said shaped end (7) is shaped substantially as a rounded angle.