Pivoting furniture

A rotatable galley includes a frame laterally rotatable between a first position and a second position, a pivot coupled to the frame such that the frame is rotatable with respect to the pivot, and a first linear actuator coupled between the frame and the pivot. The first linear actuator can be configured to extend to rotate the frame to the first position and retract to rotate the frame to the second position.

SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, a recreational vehicle includes a floor with a hole and extending along a plane and a galley, which includes a frame and a pivot. The frame is positioned above the floor and is rotatable between a first position and a second position around an axis perpendicular to the plane. The pivot is coupled to the frame, partially positioned above the floor, partially positioned below the floor, and extends through the hole in the floor. The frame is rotatable with respect to the pivot.

In certain embodiments, a rotatable galley includes a frame laterally rotatable between a first position and a second position, a pivot coupled to the frame such that the frame is rotatable with respect to the pivot, and a first linear actuator coupled between the frame and the pivot. The first linear actuator can be configured to extend to rotate the frame to the first position and retract to rotate the frame to the second position.

In certain embodiments, a furniture system includes a furniture assembly, which includes a frame rotatable between the first position and the second position, a central pivot assembly coupled to the frame, and means for rotating the frame between the first position and the second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing pivoting furniture assemblies, such as galleys. The galleys discussed throughout the disclosure are just one example of the types of furniture that can be constructed to pivot. Other types of furniture can utilize aspects of the present disclosure to enable pivoting.

FIG. 1shows a top view of a cabin100of a recreational vehicle. The cabin100includes a kitchen area102, a cab area104, a living room area106, and a bedroom area108.FIG. 2shows a top view of the kitchen area102featuring a table110and a food preparation section112, which includes a stovetop114and a countertop116. The cabin100further includes a floor118that extends throughout the cabin100. The kitchen area102also includes a galley200configured and arranged to rotate between two or more positions.FIG. 2shows the galley200at two different positions. In dotted lines, the galley200is shown in an island position, and, in solid lines, the galley200is rotated approximately 90 degrees from the island position as noted by the arrow inFIG. 2.FIG. 3shows a zoomed-in view of the galley200at the two different positions.

As shown inFIGS. 4A-4B, the galley200includes a body202, a countertop204, a sink206, and a faucet208. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4A, the galley200is positioned with respect to the food preparation section112such that little space exists between the galley200(e.g., the countertop204) and the food preparation section112(e.g., the countertop116). In this position, the galley200and the food preparation section112form an L-shaped configuration.

FIG. 4Bshows the galley200at the island position such that the galley is rotated approximately 90 degrees from the position shown inFIGS. 3 and 4A. In the island position, the galley200is positioned with respect to the food preparation section112such that someone is able to walk between the galley200and the food preparation section112.

FIG. 5shows the galley200further including a first extender210A and a second extender210B positioned on opposite sides of the galley200. The first extender210A and the second extender210B can be rotated from a stored position, like that shown inFIG. 4B, and an extended position, like that shown inFIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 and 7A-7Dshow the galley200without the body202, the countertop204, the sink206, and the faucet208. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7A-7D, the galley200includes a frame212and a pivot214coupled to each other. The frame212is configured and arranged to rotate around the pivot214, which can comprise a hollow tube that is cylindrical shaped. The pivot214provides a conduit for electrical lines and plumbing to extend through, such that the galley200is coupled in electric and fluid communication with respective electric and water systems of the recreational vehicle. In certain embodiments, the electrical lines and the plumbing comprise flexible materials that are long enough such that the galley200can rotate between positions without the electrical lines and the plumbing decoupling from the galley200and/or electric and water systems. In certain embodiments, for waste water, the plumbing includes fittings that permit rotation without compromising seals of the plumbing.

In certain embodiments, the pivot214also is coupled to the floor118of the cabin100to at least partially support the galley200(and the frame212). As such, in certain embodiments, the pivot214does not rotate (e.g., is stationary) with respect to the floor118. In other embodiments, the pivot214is coupled to a frame of the recreational vehicle and extends through a hole in the floor118. The pivot214can include one or more flanges216to provide structure to fasten or weld the pivot214to the floor118and/or the frame of the recreational vehicle. The galley's frame212can include one or more openings218for the pivot214to extend through.

The galley200can include one or more bearing plates220that support the frame212and provide smooth rotation of the frame212with respect to the pivot214. In certain embodiments, the frame212at least partially rests on the one or more bearing plates220, which in turn rests on the pivot214. The one or more bearing plates220can also help couple the frame212to the pivot214and keep the frame212from tipping during rotation of the frame212between positions. For example, one of the bearing plates220can couple the pivot214at an upper portion212A of the frame212, and another of the bearing plates220can couple the pivot214at a lower portion212B of the frame212. This arrangement can assist with mitigating tipping. In certain embodiments, the one or more bearing plates220are positioned between the frame212and the pivot214such that the frame212is indirectly coupled to the pivot214at certain points along the pivot214.

The galley200can include at least one actuator222, which extends and retracts to rotate the frame212(and therefore the galley200) between positions. The actuator222can be extended and retracted via electrical power (e.g., via a solenoid224) in response to a toggle or rocker switch, for example. In certain embodiments, the actuator222includes other mechanisms to extend and retract (e.g., air, hydraulics). The toggle switch can be switched between two positions such that the toggle switch causes the galley200to rotate between the island position and the L-shape position (e.g., approximately 90 degrees from the island position). The toggle switch can be positioned on the galley200or elsewhere in the cabin100.

The actuator222is shown inFIGS. 7A-7Bas being coupled between the frame212and the pivot214and mounted such that the actuator222extends and retracts in a substantially horizontal direction. For example, one end of the actuator222can be directly coupled to the frame212and the other end of the actuator222can be directly coupled to the pivot214. Although the actuator222is shown as being positioned near the bottom of the frame212(e.g., the lower portion212B), the actuator222can be positioned elsewhere between the frame212and the pivot214. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the galley200is positioned in the island position when the actuator222is extended and is positioned in the L-shape position (e.g., approximately 90 degrees from the island position) when the actuator222is retracted—although other actuator positions are within the scope of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the pivot214can include one or more stops fastened or welded to the pivot214. The stops assist with keeping the galley200from rotating beyond the island position and/or the L-shape position. The stops can be positioned such that portions of the frame212would contact the stops if the galley rotates beyond the desired positions.

To keep the frame212(and therefore the galley200) from undesirably rotating between positions, in certain embodiments, the actuator222includes a brake (e.g., built-in brake) that is activated when the actuator222is in an extended position and/or a retracted position. For example, when the actuator222is in its retracted position and the galley is therefore in the L-shape position, the actuator's brake can be used to maintain the position. In certain embodiments, the galley200includes other mechanisms (e.g., manual brakes) that can be used to keep the frame212from undesirably rotating.

Although the embodiments described above contemplate a linear actuator, the galley200could include a rotational actuator that rotates the frame212(and therefore the galley200) between the island position and the L-shape position. The rotational actuator could be positioned concentric with the pivot214and coupled to the pivot214and the frame212to permit rotation of the frame212with respect to the pivot214.

The galley200is supported by the pivot214on one end and by a support assembly225on the other end. The support assembly225includes at least one leg226, an extending support228, an actuator230, a solenoid232, and at least one foot234. When the galley200is in the island position and the L-shape position, the support assembly225is configured to be in a support position. For example, portions of the support assembly225(e.g., at least one foot234) can rest on the floor118of the recreational vehicle and support the frame212. When the galley200is about to or is rotating between positions, the support assembly225is configured to be in a rotation position. For example, the support assembly225can move to a position such that no portions of the support assembly225contact the floor118of the recreational vehicle. More particularly, portions of the support assembly225can retract into the galley200so that there is a gap between the support assembly225(e.g., at least one foot234) and the floor118.

FIGS. 7B-7Cshow the leg226of the support assembly225coupled to and extending from the frame212. The extending support228is coupled to the leg226and is able to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the leg226. In certain embodiments, the extending support228is at least partially positioned within the leg226(e.g., in a telescoping fashion) such that the extending support228can move between positions. The actuator230is coupled to the leg226and the extending support228and helps move the extending support228between the retracted position and an extended position. For example, the actuator230can be a linear actuator that can be extended and retracted via electrical power (e.g., via the solenoid232) in response to the toggle or rocker switch. As shown inFIGS. 7B-7C, the actuator230can be positioned to extend and retract along a axis perpendicular to the floor118of the recreational vehicle.

When the actuator230(and therefore the extending support228) is extended, the at least one foot234contacts the floor118of the recreational vehicle to support the galley200. When the actuator230(and therefore the extending support228) is retracted, there is a gap between the at least one foot234and the floor118to allow the galley200to rotate between positions without damaging (e.g., creating marks, divots) the floor118. In certain embodiments, the actuator230is configured to retract when the toggle switch (or other controlling mechanism) is switched to a different position to cause the galley200to rotate to another position. Once the galley200has reached the new position, the actuator230can extend to provide support for the galley200. In certain embodiments, separate toggle switches are used to control the actuator230of the support assembly225and the actuator222used to rotate the galley200. In some embodiments, activation of the actuator222is predicated on confirmation that the actuator230is in a retracted state. Although the embodiments described above contemplate no contact between the support assembly225and the floor118during rotation of the galley200, the support assembly225could include a device (e.g., a roller, wheel, and the like) that allows the galley200to be rotated without damaging the floor118.

To keep the extending support228from undesirably moving between positions, in certain embodiments, the actuator230includes a brake (e.g., built-in brake) that is activated when the actuator230is in an extended position and/or a retracted position. For example, when the actuator230is in its extended position, the actuator's brake can be used to maintain the position.