Patent GB-1277206-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to tables and other articles of furniture
Inventor: UTTON KENNETH HUBERT GERALD
IPC: A47B5/00
Filed: 1968-09-10
Abstract: 1277206 Tables etc; chairs GORRILLA ENG & MACHINERY Ltd 10 Sept 1969 [10 Sept 1968] 43053/68 Headings A4H and A4J [Also in Divisions B8 and F4] A round or hexagonal table 1, Fig.2, is suspended at on adjustable height by a cable 6 whose upper end is wound on a motor driven reversible drum 11 mounted in a box 7 fastened to a ceiling. The lower end of cable 6 is fastened to a rod 19 carrying a boss 20, a compression spring 21 surrounding rod 19 and extending between boss 20 and member 23 on table 1. Micro-switches (24, 25) Fig. 5 (not shown) stop the motor to limit downward and upward movement of table 1, the position of the latter micro-switch being adjustable by a screwed sleeve 15 and a screwed tube 14, see Fig. 5 (not shown). The table 1 is supported by three linkages 33 each comprising three members 27, 28, 31 pivotally inter-connected by knuckle joints 29, 30, member 27 being pivoted to tube 14 at 26, see Fig.5 (not shown) and member 31 being pivoted to the table at 32. When the table 1 is lowermost, Fig.2, the linkage members are in end-to-end alignment, and as the table is raised knuckles 29 move outwards and knuckles 30 inwards until in the uppermost position, Fig.1 (not shown), the linkage members are adjacent and parallel. Each member 31 has an extension 30a coupled via a link 35 to the short arm 36 of an L-shaped member which at the junction 37 of its arms 36, 38 is pivoted on the table 1. When the table is lowermost, Fig.2, arms 38 serve as legs, and when it is uppermost, Fig.1 (not shown) arms 38 are horizontal. The table 1 may have a reflective top surface 2 and lighting clusters 39 may be provided at knuckles 29. Three light fittings (40), Fig.5 (not shown), may be provided in box 7, these fittings including remotely motor controllable shutters and/or colour filters (42, 47, 48). The table 1, which is hollow, includes one or three transparent or translucent bowls or light distributing lenses 41. When the table is uppermost, Figs.1 and 5 (not shown) light is directed from these fittings (40) through windows (43, 45) therein into the table 1 and on to the top of the table. In a second form, Fig.8, the table 1 is suspended by cables 54, 53, 54 whose upper ends are wound on sub-drums 52, 51, 52 forming a stepped drum 49 driven by a reversible motor 50. The lower ends of side cables 54 are fastened to a ring (56), Fig.10 (not shown) rigid with the table top; and the lower end of central cable 53 is fastened to a rod 59 carrying a boss 67, three links 61 being pivoted to boss 67 at 62 and each pivotally carrying at 66 the shorter arm 65 of an L-shaped member which at the junction 63 of its arms 65, 64 is pivoted on the table, see Fig.10 (not shown). When the table is uppermost Figs.6 and 10 (not shown), parts 61, 64 are horizontal and within the table. As the table is lowered, central cable 53 unwinds faster than side cables 54, 54 so that boss 67 moves downwardly away from the table and links 61 move downwardly at their inner ends and turn members 64, 65 about pivots 63 so that arms 64 turn downwards into a table-supporting condition, Fig.8. The cables are hidden by a telescopic tube 69. In a third form Figs.11 and 12 (not shown) a square table (70) is supported by a central cable 71 which, when the table is lowermost, Fig.11 (not shown), is surrounded by four linkages each comprising upper and lower links (73, 74) pivotally inter-connected by a knuckle (175), and pivoted respectively to the ceiling box (72) (at 75) and to the table (at 76). As the table is raised, the knuckles (175) move outwardly in the diagonal directions, and in the uppermost condition the links are folded and received in diagonal grooves (77) in the table. In a fourth form, Figs.13-15 (not shown), a rectangular table (78) is supported by two cables (79, 80). When the table is lowermost each cable is contained in a square section tube (86) comprising two portions (87, 88) longitudinally divided into U-section bars (87a, 87b, 88a, 88b). The bars are hinged together by knuckles (91) and hinged respectively to ceiling tubes (85) (at 89) and to the table (at 90). As the table is raised the bars pivot outwardly see Fig.14 (not shown), and in the uppermost position the bars are horizontal and received in recesses in the table (78) and/or the ceiling box (81). The table (78) includes a reflective or transparent inset (92). The linkages may be operated electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically. The table may be supported by a tubular telescopic member or by a lazy tongs arrangement. Means may be provided for locking the support with the table in uppermost, lowermost and intermediate positions. The table is of glass, wood, metal, fibre-glass, plastics, rubber and/or artificial stone. The invention may be applied to a chair. Two furniture articles may be operated together.