[0001] The present invention refers to a piece of furniture, easy to assemble and to couple
together with similar ones in selectable row configurations and forming a table or
seat top supported by at least two leg devices and detachably connected therewith,
said table or seat top having elongated shape, as seen in a top plan view, and part-circularly
curved short ends and a subjacent coupling panel protruding beyond the short ends
of the table or seat top with a portion having the shape of a sector of a circle,
at the point of which is arranged a coupling means with a loop for being threaded
onto a coupling bolt sticking up from a leg device together with corresponding loops
of one or more further similar table or seat tops at the same leg device, the angle
of the point of the sector of a circle of the coupling panel is restricting the maximum
possible number of such table or seat tops.
[0002] Collapsible tables and seats are known since long. In many opportunities in social
life it is however often intended that a large number of people are to meet in connection
with some opening or show event and remain standing och walking around in the hall
while chatting with other participants. In such connections also small meals and refreshments
are served in which case the participants will find it difficult to put away their
glasses and/or plates even for the shortest moment while no other places are available
than window-recesses etc. To arrange a plurality of dinner tables or the like is not
found attractive while the tables on one hand are uncomfortable for standing persons
and on the other occupies valuable floor surface and is found to be an obstacle.
[0003] The object of the present invention is to suggest a further variant of a piece of
furniture of the kind initially referred to, particularly a table which is adapted
to have its top located at a higher level suitable for standing persons and which
easily can be assembled and disassembled and coupled together end to end in a selectable
row configuration and to be arranged in such order, such as in zigzag shape, that
the best stability is obtained. The table also is adapted to be easily disassembled,
be of low weight and non-bulky so as to be easily stowed away in some supply space
when not in use. This is achieved according to the invention substantially in that
a filling circular disc with a central nut member is adapted to be finally and rigidly
screwed uppermost onto the central coupling bolt of said leg device.
[0004] By way of example the invention will be further described below with reference to
the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a table top in its
basic shape, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of three circumferencially distributed coupling
means threaded onto the coupling bolt of a leg device and resting on a support disc
carried thereby, Fig. 3 is a side view of a table top resting on two leg devices and
Fig. 4 illustrates two examples of selectable row configurations of the pieces of
furniture according to the invention.
[0005] As is evident from the drawing, a table or seat according to the invention in its
basic shape has a planar table top 1 which is supported by two leg devices 2 which
are detachably connected with the table top 1. According to the invention, the table
top 1 has an elongated shape, usually having opposed parallel and straight longer
sides 3 and two short sides 4 which have inwardly part-circular shape. At the lower
side of said table top 1 is attached a coupling panel 5 usually having the same thickness
and width as the table top 1 and protruding beyond the short side 4 with a portion
6 having the shape of a sector of a circle. Said sector-shaped portion 6 rests on
a coupling member 8. Preferably, the latter also has a shape of a sector of a circle
or a triangle and has at its point a coupling loop 8a, both preferably being made
of stamped metal sheet material of suitable thickness and intended for a purpose which
will be further discussed below.
[0006] Each table top 1 is adapted to be supported at each end by a leg device 2. Although
suitable leg devices may be made in a plurality of various embodiments it has here
been selected a shape in which a central pillar 11 is supported from a foot 12, and
at the uppermost end of said pillar 11 is made a mount in the shape of a horizontal
support plate 13, centrally of which protrudes upwardly a coupling bolt 14, onto which
the coupling means 8 with their loops 8a are rotatably mounted onto an intermediate
support disc 18. For guiding the end of each table top 1 on the leg device 2 is made
at least one aperture 20 in the sector-shaped portion 6 for housing a corresponding
upwardly-directed pin 19 on each of the coupling means 8.
[0007] From the above-stated it is easily understood that each such leg device 2 through
the coupling means 8 can carry the end or short side 4 of one or two further table
tops 1. Limiting this number is only the joint angle of the coupling panel portion
6, the idea being that table tops 1 may be arranged in Y-pattern or at a mutual angle
apart from a location having only one further table top 1 which then may be placed
in alignment with the first top or at some suitable angle to one or the other side
of the longitudinal axis of the first table top 1. Said top or said further table
tops then in their turn are supported at their opposite ends by similar leg devices
2 etc. such that thus a plurality of table tops 1 may be coupled together mutually
in a row or to the configuration or the like as desired, such as is particularly evident
from Fig. 4.
[0008] At each such leg device 2 there will be formed a circular recess or free space between
the inwardly part-circular short sides of the adjoining table tops 1 and for filling
said space a circular disc 15 of corresponding size and having at its bottom surface
a nut member 16 is finally screwed onto the bolt 14 and covering the same. At the
same time the respective table top ends will be rigidly secured onto the subjacent
coupling means 8 an in their turn, they are secured to the intermediate support disc
18.
[0009] In the aforegoing the inventive subject matter only has been described applied to
a table top but there might also be a need of arranging selectable row configurations
of seats in a corresponding manner and the leg devices 2 in such case are made with
much shorter pillars 11 for suitable seat heights but for the rest, the same coupling
means and procedures can be used between the respective seat portions or discs.
[0010] As is evident from the above-mentioned, the table or seat tops 1 are joined together
in pairs under the intermediation of a supporting leg device 2, the coupling loops
8a at the respective table top ends preventing the table tops from being drawn apart
from each other at the joint while the circular filling disc 15 finally screwed thereonto
will be responsible for the stability and the locking of the joint.
[0011] From the above-stated it will also be immediately evident that after a disassembling
operation in opposite order to what has been stated above the piece of furniture will
be put apart to comprise a plurality of table or seat tops 1, a corresponding number
of leg devices 2 minus one and filling discs 15. Said parts then preferably are grouped
together and collected onto wheel-provided supports (not illustrated) which will provide
for a simple and convenient transport to some supply space.
1. A piece of furniture, easy to assemble and to couple together with similar ones in
selectable row configurations and forming a table or seat top (1) supported by at
least two leg devices (2) and detachably connected therewith, said table or seat top
(1) having elongated shape, as seen in a top plan view, and part-circularly curved
short ends (4) and a subjacent coupling panel (5) protruding beyond the short ends
(4) of the table or seat top (1) with a portion (6) having the shape of a sector of
a circle, at the point (7) of which is arranged a coupling means (8) with a loop (8a)
for being threaded onto a coupling bolt (14) sticking up from a leg device (2) together
with corresponding loops (8a) of one or more further similar table or seat tops (1)
at the same leg device (2), the angle of the point of the sector (6) of a circle of
the coupling panel (5) is restricting the maximum possible number of such table or
seat tops (1), characterized in that a filling circular disc (15) with a central nut member (16) is adapted to be
finally and rigidly screwed uppermost onto the central coupling bolt (14) of said
leg device (1).
