Patent Publication Number: US-11033101-B2

Title: Table with tilting surface

Description:
The present invention relates to a table provided with a tilting tabletop and with ground support legs. 
     Nowadays tables are known which comprise a tabletop which is supported by adapted legs for resting on the ground. 
     Some of these tables have, underneath the tabletop, special mechanisms which are adapted to allow the rotation of the tabletop until it is arranged for example on a plane that is substantially vertical with respect to the ground. 
     This makes it possible to save space when the table for example is not used and is therefore for example stored against a wall after having tilted the tabletop. 
     This solution has drawbacks, which include the fact that, since the legs of the table are fixed, storing several identical tables side by side, even with the tabletops tilted, presents an encumbrance that is dictated by the dimensions and arrangement of the legs. 
     The aim of the present application is to solve the above mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks in the cited known art, by providing a table that has a tilting tabletop and which at the same time can be stored alongside other, identical tables with the tabletop tilted, while reducing the space that they take up overall. 
     Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a table that, in addition to the foregoing characteristics, also enables the operator to vary the arrangement of the tabletop while always remaining outside the radius of action, thus reducing the risk of being subjected to impact or collision. 
     Another object is to provide a table with a titling tabletop wherein the position of the tabletop is stable both in the active position and in the inactive position. 
     Another object is to provide a table with a tilting tabletop wherein the foregoing characteristics can be achieved rapidly and safely, while remaining free from possible signs of wear and tear and the beginnings of shearing. 
     Another object is to obtain a table that, in addition to the foregoing characteristics, is also structurally simple, is of low cost, and can be made with the usual conventional plants. 
     This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a table with a tilting tabletop and ground support legs, characterized in that it has means adapted to cause, upon the tilting of said tabletop also the rotation of said legs with respect to the ground. 
    
    
     
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the table according to the invention in the open condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the table; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the table; 
         FIG. 4  is a view from below of the table; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing a detail of the table and without the housing; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial view from below showing a detail of the table and without the housing; 
         FIG. 7  shows the table of the previous figure with a lever rotated and without the housing; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the table with the tabletop partially rotated and without the housing; 
         FIG. 9  is a similar view to that in  FIG. 7  of the table in the condition of the previous figure without the housing; 
         FIG. 10  is a view from below of a detail of the invention without the housing; 
         FIG. 11  is a view from below of the table in the condition of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the table in the condition of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the table in the condition of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 7  of the table in the condition in which the tabletop is fully tilted, and without the housing; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the table in the condition in which the tabletop is fully tilted; 
         FIG. 16  is a view from below of the table in the condition in which the tabletop is fully tilted; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a series of identical tables stored together; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the tables in the previous figure; 
         FIG. 19  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 10  of the invention in the condition in which the tabletop is arranged vertically and without the housing. 
     
    
    
     In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics of other exemplary embodiments. 
     With reference to the figures, the reference numeral  1  generally indicates a table provided with a tilting tabletop  2 , advantageously rectangular in plan view, and with ground support legs. 
     In the particular embodiment shown, two pairs of legs  3   a ,  3   b  are indicated, each one composed of a vertical post  4   a ,  4   b  which is connected at a lower end to a longitudinal member  5   a ,  5   b , the width of which is about equal or otherwise to that of the tabletop  2 , with pairs of wheels  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d  associated in a lower region with the ends. 
     A tubular frame  7  is associated below the tabletop  2  and is composed of two crossmembers  8   a ,  8   b , which are shorter than the tabletop  2  and are connected at the ends by two mutually mirror-symmetrical first box-like plates  9   a ,  9   b , which have a C-shaped cross-section the base  10   a ,  10   b  of which is rectangular and is rendered integral in a lower region with the tabletop  2  and the first wings  11   a ,  11   b  of which are directed toward the ground. 
     Associated below the tabletop  2  are means adapted to cause, upon the tilting of the tabletop  2  to the vertical, also the rotation of the legs  3   a ,  3   b  with respect to their ground support plane. 
     Such means comprise two mutually identical handles  12   a ,  12   b , which are associated rotatably proximate to an end of the first wings  11   a ,  11   b  and are keyed to a shaft  13  which is adapted to transmit the rotary motion imparted to the handles by the user. 
     Between each of the first wings  11   a ,  11   b  there is furthermore, in axial alignment with the shaft  13 , a block  14   a ,  14   b  which rotates integrally with the shaft  13  and which has a first tooth  15   a ,  15   b  which protrudes axially therefrom approximately parallel to the bases  10   a ,  10   b  and in the opposite direction with respect to the handles  12   a ,  12   b.    
     A second plate  16   a ,  16   b  is associated at each one of the bases  10   a ,  10   b , is also C-shaped, is shorter than the first box-like plates  9   a ,  9   b , and extends approximately from a region underneath the first teeth  15   a ,  15   b  in the opposite direction with respect to the handles  12   a ,  12   b.    
     Each second plate  16   a ,  16   b  has a pair of second wings  17  which protrude at the opposite end with respect to the handles  12   a ,  12   b  and between which a rotation pivot  18   a ,  18   b  is arranged. 
     The free ends of the vertical posts  4   a ,  4   b  are rendered integral with the second plates  16   a ,  16   b.    
     The pivots  18   a ,  18   b  also pass through the first wings  11   a ,  11   b  and have an inclination of approximately ten degrees with respect to the plane of arrangement of each one of the second plates  16   a ,  16   b  and therefore of the first plates  9   a ,  9   b , with the smaller inclination directed toward the handles  12   a ,  12   b  so that a rotation of the tabletop  2  is matched by a simultaneous rotation of the second plates  16   a ,  16   b  and therefore of the vertical posts  4   a ,  4   b  and therefore a rotation of the pair of legs  3   a ,  3   b  toward the outside of the table, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11, 12 and 16 . 
     The rotation of the second plates  16   a ,  16   b  is lockable selectively by the presence of a pair of cylinders  30   a ,  30   b  which protrude at right angles from a wall  31  that lies underneath the first teeth  15   a ,  15   b  and is arranged at right angles to the bases  10   a ,  10   b  of the first box-like plates  9   a ,  9   b.    
     The wall  31  is movable axially with respect to the first box-like plates  9   a ,  9   b  following a rotation imparted to the handles  12   a ,  12   b ; the pair of cylinders  30   a ,  30   b  can then be selectively arranged within complementarily shaped seats  32   a ,  32   b  which are provided in a region underneath the free end  21   a ,  21   b  of each one of the second plates  16   a ,  16   b.    
     As illustrated for example in  FIGS. 6 and 10 , when the handles  12   a ,  12   b  are in the inactive position the first teeth  15   a ,  15   b  are arranged above the free ends  21   a ,  21   b  and the pair of cylinders  30   a ,  30   b  are arranged within the seats  32   a ,  32   b  so as to lock the rotation of the second plates  16   a ,  16   b ; rotating the handles  12   a ,  12   b  makes the first teeth  15   a ,  15   b  and the pair of cylinders  30   a ,  30   b  translate until they disengage from the seats  32   a ,  32   b  which are provided in the free ends  21   a ,  21   b  so as to allow the rotation of the second plates  16   a ,  16   b.    
     There are also means which are adapted to prevent the accidental rotation of the tabletop  2  once it is arranged in the vertical position, such means being constituted by a third plate  22 , for tilt prevention, which is laterally and slideably associated with each one of the first wings  11   a ,  11   b  which is directed in the opposite direction with respect to the handles  12   a ,  12   b.    
     Each third plate  22  has a first, fork-shaped end  23  which interacts with a cam  24  which is keyed on the shaft  13  and which, upon a rotation of a handle  12   a ,  12   b , causes the sliding of the third plate  22 , in contrast with an elastically deformable element  25 , toward the second end  26  which is directed in the opposite direction with respect to the first teeth  15   a ,  15   b.    
     Proximate to the second end  26 , a tab  28  protrudes beyond the perimetric edge  27  of one of the adjacent first wings  11   a ,  11   b  beyond the region of pertinence of the pivots  18   a ,  18   b , a second tooth  29  interacting selectively on the tab and protruding from one of the adjacent second wings  17  in the final step in which the leg performs its rotation and the tabletop  2  is arranged so that it is rotated to the vertical. 
     When the tabletop  2  is in the vertical position, the second tooth  29  has ceased interacting with the tab  28  and therefore the tab is pushed, by the elastically deformable element  25 , toward the shaft  13  and strikes against the adjacent second wing  17 , thus blocking the tilting of the tabletop  2 . 
     In order to release the movement of the tabletop  2 , it is sufficient to rotate one of the handles  12   a ,  12   b  again so as to impart an axial movement to the third plate  22  until the second tooth  29  is moved beyond the tab  28 . 
     Thus it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, a table being obtained that has a tilting tabletop which, during tilting, entails the movement of the legs which rotate partially thus making it possible for several identical tables to be stored side by side while reducing the space that they take up overall, thus reducing as far as possible the risk of ruining the surface finish of various components. 
     Effectively, therefore, the invention makes it possible to achieve the simultaneous rotation of legs and tabletop, a feature that makes it possible to achieve a reduced horizontal space occupation and a better vertical stackability when being stored away. 
     Furthermore the table enables the operator, thanks to the handles arranged below and adjacent to the lateral ends of the tabletop, to vary the arrangement of the tabletop while always remaining outside the radius of action, thus reducing the risk of being subjected to impact or collision. 
     Furthermore, since the two handles are mutually connected in rotation, the user can vary the position of the tabletop using only one hand which will act on the desired one of the two handles. 
     The table according to the invention further makes it possible to provide a table the tabletop of which is stable both in the active position (parallel to the ground) and in the inactive position (perpendicular to the ground). 
     The kinetic mechanisms used make it possible to rapidly and safely achieve the tilting and the rotation of the legs, while at the same time remaining free from possible signs of wear and tear and the beginnings of shearing, and it being possible for them to be conveniently enclosed with the housing  33  in order to achieve a twofold function, aesthetic and protective, preventing the operator from inserting their fingers into the mechanisms with the risk of crushing. 
     Finally, the table according to the invention guarantees an optimal operation despite the complexity of movements that it makes it possible to achieve. 
     Naturally the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the device according to the invention may be more relevant according to specific requirements. 
     Thus, the shape of the legs can be the most appropriate on the basis of the specific requirements, since they can be replaced simply and rapidly without removing the tabletop or disassembling the various mechanisms, just as a drawer for magazines and other optional fixtures can be associated with the tabletop. 
     The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics. 
     The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102019000006990 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.