Patent Abstract:
A folding table system includes a table and a removable extension, together with a rigidification element slidably mounted within a cavity made in the table such that a portion of the rigidification element can be inserted in a housing made in the removable extension so as to rigidify the assembly formed by the table and the removable extension. The removable character of the removable extension in particular allows the system to be deployed by passing around possible obstacles by an appropriate conformation of at least one edge of the abovementioned assembly.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the French patent application No. 1355784 filed on Jun. 19, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a folding table system, in particular for an aircraft such as an airplane. 
     Designers of aircraft, in particular airplanes, are constantly faced with the challenge of optimizing the use of the space available within the cabins of the aircraft. 
     In particular, certain cabin areas can form transit areas for the passengers during the boarding, deplaning and emergency evacuation phases, but not be required for such transit in the course of the flight. 
     Areas of this type may in particular be found close to certain doors of the aircraft. 
     It can thus be desirable to design a folding table system in such an area, to make use of the corresponding space in the course of the flight. 
     In particular, when a kitchen space is designed in such an area a folding table system can enable an additional working surface to be provided for the crew during the flight. 
     However, areas located near the doors can be obstructed with one or more fixed elements of the aircraft, such as a door hinge system, a unit, a caisson or any other type of element. 
     And such a fixed element forms an obstacle which may hinder the deployment of such a folding table system of a conventional type, consequently limiting the extent of a folding table which can be used in such an area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aim of the invention is notably to provide a simple, economic and efficient solution to this problem. 
     Its aim in particular is to propose a folding table system which can be used in an aircraft, where the extent of the table system is not limited by the presence of fixed elements of the aircraft in proximity. 
     To this end the invention proposes a folding table system including: 
     a bracket, 
     a table including a first end rotationally mounted on the bracket, such that the table can be moved between a storage position in which the table covers a first side of the bracket, and a deployment position in which the table is separated from said first side of the bracket, 
     a removable extension having a first end able to be connected to a second end of the table opposite said first end of the table, such that the removable extension extends the table when the table is in its deployment position, 
     first retention means able alternatively to hold the table in its storage position, and to release the table so as to enable the table to be moved to its deployment position, and 
     at least one rigidification element slidably mounted within a cavity formed within the table, and open in said second end of the table, such that an end portion of said rigidification element can be moved outside the cavity, and be inserted into a housing made in the removable extension, when said first end of the removable extension is connected to said second end of the table. 
     The system notably has the advantage that it occupies a small volume in its storage position, and provides a modular working surface by means of the removable extension, which enables the working surface formed by the table in its deployment position to be extended. The system is thus particularly useful to equip an area of the aircraft cabin used by passengers during boarding and deplaning, but which can be used for other purposes during the cruise phase. 
     In addition, since the extension is removable, i.e., independent of the table, the assembly formed of the table and the removable extension can pass around any obstacles, provided an appropriate conformation is given to at least one edge of this assembly. Indeed, such obstacles would form an obstacle to the deployment of a system of a known type, in which the extension is connected permanently to the table, for example by means of hinges. By allowing the connection between the table and the removable extension to be broken completely the invention enables the dimensional limits imposed by such obstacles on folding table systems of known types to be overcome. 
     Said at least one rigidification element preferably takes the form of a single rigidification panel. 
     The rigidification panel enables optimum rigidity to be given to the assembly formed of the table and the removable extension when the latter is connected to the table. 
     As a variant, said at least one rigidification element can take the form of multiple rigidification struts, without going beyond the scope of the invention. 
     Said first retention means preferentially include said at least one rigidification element and also a holding wall which is carried by said bracket and cooperating with said end portion of said rigidification element so as to hold said table in its storage position. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention said bracket includes a housing which is open on said first side of said bracket, and said housing is configured so that said removable extension can be housed in said housing, notably when said table is in its storage position. 
     The system advantageously includes second retention means able alternatively to hold said removable extension in said housing, and to release said removable extension. 
     In addition, the system preferably includes a notch one portion of which is formed of an edge of said folding table, and another portion of which is formed of an edge of said removable extension, where this latter edge extends from said edge of said folding table when said first end of said removable extension is connected to said second end of said table. 
     The system preferably includes a supporting device connected to said table in such a way that it is movable between a storage position, in which said supporting device is retracted in a housing formed in said table, and a deployed position, in which said supporting device extends outside said housing in order to contribute to holding said table in its deployment position. 
     The invention also relates to an aircraft including at least one folding table system of the type described above. 
     As explained above, said system preferably has a notch a portion of which is formed of an edge of said folding table, and another portion of which is formed of an edge of said removable extension, where this latter edge extends from said edge of said folding table when said first end of said removable extension is connected to said second end of said table. 
     In this case, a fixed element of the aircraft preferably extends at least partly into said notch. 
     Such a fixed element may consist of a door hinge system, or of any other element, such as a unit, a caisson, etc. 
     Furthermore, said removable extension advantageously has a second end, opposite said first end of the removable extension, which is supported on a fixed structure of the aircraft when said table is in its deployment position, and when said first end of said removable extension is connected to said table. 
     By way of example, the fixed structure may be formed of a shelf or of any other element forming a portion of a kitchen unit. 
     Said bracket also preferably extends orthogonally to a floor of said aircraft. 
     In this manner the encumbrance of the system in its storage position can be reduced optimally. 
     Said bracket can be attached to a pre-existing wall in the aircraft, in particular a wall connected to the floor of the aircraft, such as a side wall of a unit. 
     As a variant, the bracket may be incorporated into such a wall. The wall itself then constitute said bracket. 
     Furthermore, said predetermined position of the table in its deployment position is preferably a position in which said table extends horizontally, i.e., parallel to said floor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood, and other details, advantages and characteristics of it will appear, on reading the following description given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the appended illustrations, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded view of a folding table system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are partial schematic views at a larger scale of a removable extension belonging to the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 1   c  is a partial schematic view at a larger scale of a plate forming a part of the table belonging to the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial schematic perspective view of a cabin of an aircraft including the folding table system of  FIG. 1 , where the latter is illustrated in a state of storage; 
         FIGS. 3 to 6  are partial schematic perspective views of the aircraft cabin of  FIG. 2 , illustrating respectively successive steps of a method of deployment of said folding table system; 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the folding table system belonging to the aircraft cabin of  FIG. 2 , but represented isolated, where this figure illustrates a last step of the method of deployment of said folding table system; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial schematic perspective view of the aircraft cabin of  FIG. 2 , illustrating said folding table system in a state of deployment. 
     
    
    
     In all these figures, identical references may designate identical or comparable elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a folding table system  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     This system includes a bracket  12 , a table  14  having a first end  16  rotationally mounted on bracket  12  on a joint pin  18 , a supporting device  20 , a removable extension  22  having a first end  24  able to be connected to a second end  26  of table  14  opposite first end  16  of the latter, and a rigidification panel  28  slidably mounted in a cavity  30  of table  14  emerging outside in the area of second end  26  of table  14 . 
     Table  14  can thus be moved between a storage position in which the table covers a first side  32  of bracket  12  ( FIG. 2 ), and a deployment position in which the table is separate from first side  32  of the bracket ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Table  14  comprises a table panel formed of a first plate  34  ( FIG. 1 ) intended to be positioned on an upper side of the table when the table is in its deployment position, to act as a working surface, and of a second plate  36  opposite. In the storage position first plate  34  is opposite first side  32  of bracket  12 . The two plates  34  and  36  delimit cavity  30  of table  14 . Second plate  36  includes a main portion having a shape roughly identical to first plate  34  and an extension portion which extends beyond first plate  34  in the area of second end  26  of the table, so that the first end of removable extension  22  can rest on this extension portion. The two plates  34  and  36  are connected to one another by their side edges. These plates are preferably formed of a single block. In this case the table is made from a single plate in which a recess is made from an edge of the plate so as to form cavity  30 . 
     Bracket  12  has, overall, the shape of a plate having a second side  38  opposite first side  32 , and intended to be attached to a wall, preferably a vertical wall, as will be shown more clearly in what follows. 
     Bracket  12  includes, near its lower end  40 , a bore  41  to receive joint pin  18 . 
     In addition, bracket  12  includes a holding wall  42  at its upper end  44 . This holding wall  42  is intended to form a stop with regard to an end portion  46  of rigidification panel  28  so as to hold table  14  in its storage position, as will be shown more clearly in what follows. Rigidification panel  28  and holding wall  42  thus form jointly “first retention means,” in the terminology of the invention. 
     Furthermore, bracket  12  includes a recess which has a shape which is roughly conjugate with the shape of removable extension  22 , and thus forming a housing  48  open at least on first side  32  of bracket  12 , in which removable extension  22  can be housed, notably when table  14  is in its storage position. Housing  48  is surrounded by edges of the plate forming bracket  12 . 
     Bracket  12  includes two handles  50  ( FIG. 1 ) positioned either side of housing  48  and slidably mounted in a direction parallel to joint pin  18 . These handles  50  are fitted with respective tongues  52  which can penetrate into corresponding cavities  53  formed in two opposite edges  54  of the removable extension  22  ( FIGS. 1 and 1   b ) so as to hold removable extension  22  within housing  48 . Bracket  12  also includes elastic means (not represented) each of which applies force to handles  50  in the direction of housing  48 . 
     Handles  50  form “second retaining means” in the terminology of the invention. 
     Removable extension  22  consists of an extension panel which has a first face  56  ( FIG. 1 ) intended to be pointing upwards when first end  24  of the removable extension is connected to second end  26  of table  14 , and a second opposite face  58 . 
     Removable extension  22  includes a groove  60  ( FIG. 1   a ) formed in its second face  58  near a second end  62  of the removable extension opposite its first end  24  and intended to receive an element of conjugate shape coupled with a fixed structure of the aircraft such as a kitchen unit to contribute to holding removable extension  22  in position, as will be shown more clearly in what follows. 
     In addition, removable extension  22  includes a recess  64  ( FIG. 1   b ) formed in its second face  58 , and extending as far as first end  24  of the removable extension. This recess  64  forms a housing intended to receive a portion of rigidification panel  28  so as to rigidify the assembly formed of table  14  and removable extension  22 . 
     This rigidification panel  28  includes a handle  66  ( FIG. 1 ) which is, for example, screwed on to a rod (not visible in the figures) traversing a slot  67  formed in second plate  36  of table  14  ( FIG. 1   c ). In addition, handle  66  has two stop pins (not visible in the figures) extending from either side of the abovementioned rod and parallel to it, i.e., orthogonally to second plate  36 . Slot  67  communicates with two slot extensions  68   a ,  68   b  ( FIG. 1   c ), which take, for example, the form of disks or circles centered on slot  67  and separated from one another. These slot extensions  68   a ,  68   b  are intended to receive the abovementioned stop pins when handle  66  is pointing roughly orthogonally relative to slot  67 , so as to prevent the handle sliding unexpectedly along slot  67 . Conversely, when the handle is pointing roughly parallel to slot  67  the stop pins penetrate in slot  67  themselves such that handle  66  can be moved along slot  67  and carry rigidification panel  28  with it. 
     When first end  24  of the removable extension is connected to second end  26  of table  14 , the assembly formed by table  14  and removable extension  22  has a notch or cut-out, a portion of which is formed of an edge  70  of table  14 , and another portion of which is formed of an edge  72  of removable extension  22  extending from abovementioned edge  70  of table  14 , as will be shown more clearly in what follows. 
     Supporting device  20  includes, for example, a first strut  74  connected to second plate  36  of table  14 , a second strut  76  roughly orthogonal to first strut  74  and having a first end connected to a first end of first strut  74 , and a third strut  78  connecting a second end of first strut  74  to a second end of second strut  76  and forming by this manner a support leg for table  14 . In the illustrated example first and third struts  74  and  78  are also connected to one another by two reinforcement struts  80 . 
     Table  14  includes a housing  82  formed in its second plate  36  to receive supporting device  20  in the storage position. This housing is formed of an assembly of grooves arranged such that the housing has a shape which is roughly complementary to the shape of supporting device  20 . 
     Table  14  also includes a handle  84  similar to handles  50 , and associated with elastic means in a comparable manner, so as to hold supporting device  20  in housing  82 . 
       FIGS. 2 to 6  illustrate the interior of a cabin of an aircraft, such as a commercial airplane, and show in particular an area equipped with folding table system  10  described above. 
     Bracket  12  of this system extends orthogonally to a floor  85  of the cabin of the aircraft. In the illustrated example bracket  12  is attached to a vertical wall  86  which constitutes, for example, a side panel of a column of shelves  88  ( FIG. 5 ). This vertical wall is attached to floor  85 . In addition, vertical wall  86  is positioned near a door  90  of the aircraft. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates system  10  in a storage state. Removable extension  22  is housed in housing  48  ( FIG. 1 ) of support  12 , and is masked by table  14  which is folded so as to cover first side  32  of the bracket. 
     Table  14  is itself held in storage position by the portion of end  46  of rigidification panel  28  which protrudes from cavity  30  of the table and cooperates by reciprocal stop with holding wall  42  of bracket  12 . Handle  66  of the rigidification panel is pointing roughly orthogonally with slot  67  such that the stop pins coupled with this handle extend within a first  68   a  of the slot extensions and by this means prevent handle  66  from moving along slot  67 , thus preventing end portion  46  of rigidification panel  28  from being retracted into cavity  30  of table  14 . 
     In addition, supporting device  20  is folded in housing  82  and blocked by handle  84 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a first step of a method of deployment of folding table system  10 . 
     This step relates to the deployment of supporting device  20 , and involves manipulating handle  84  so as to move this handle in the direction opposite supporting device  20  in order to release the latter, followed by the pivoting of supporting device  20 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a subsequent step of the method, in which handle  66  is rotated such that the stop pins extend into slot  67 , and then handle  66  is moved downwards, i.e., towards first end  16  of table  14  such that rigidification panel  28  is retracted fully into cavity  30  and ceases by this means to cooperate by reciprocal stop with holding wall  42  of bracket  12 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a subsequent step of the method, in which table  14  is deployed by pivoting around joint pin  18 , until supporting device  20  comes to a stop against vertical wall  86  on to which bracket  12  is attached. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a subsequent step of the method, in which handles  50  are manipulated simultaneously so as to release removable extension  22 , and then the latter is positioned to extend table  14  such that first end  24  of removable extension  22  is in contact with second end  26  of table  14 , and is in particular placed on the extension portion of second plate  36  of table  14  which extends beyond first plate  34  of the latter, and such that first face  56  of removable extension  22  is pointing upwards. In the illustrated example the extension portion of second plate  36  is engaged in an end portion of recess  64  of removable extension  22 . 
     Second end  62  of removable extension  22  lies on a fixed structure  92  of the aircraft, such as a shelf belonging to a kitchen unit  94 . Groove  60  in second face  58  of extension  22  pointing downwards may receive an element coupled with said shelf  92  (not visible in the figures), so as to stabilize removable extension  22 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a subsequent step of the method, in which handle  66  which is coupled with rigidification panel  28  is moved along slot  67  in the direction of second end of table  14 , so as to introduce a portion of rigidification panel  28  (including said end portion  46 ) in recess  64  of extension  22 , until the stop pins coupled with handle  66  are engaged in the second extension of slot  68   b  so as once again to block handle  66  against any movement along slot  67 . When handle  66  reaches this position rigidification panel  28  preferably occupies roughly the entire recess  64 . 
     Rigidification panel  28  consequently contributes effectively to the rigidification of the assembly formed by table  14  and removable extension  22 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates folding table system  10  in its state of deployment within the aircraft cabin. This figure in particular allows notch or cut-out  96 , formed jointly by edge  70  of folding table  14  and edge  72  of removable extension  22 , to be seen. 
     A fixed element  98  of the aircraft, such as a system for connecting door  90  to the fuselage, occupies a portion of the space delimited by abovementioned notch  96 . 
     Folding table system  10  thus has the advantage that it can pass round such a fixed element  98  without the latter hindering the deployment and storage of the system. 
     This results in optimized use of the space available on board the aircraft. 
     The system can in particular be deployed during the phases of flight at altitude, called the “cruise” phases, and be stored during the phases of landing and takeoff, and on the ground, when the area otherwise occupied by the system in its deployment position is used by the passengers of the aircraft for boarding or deplaning. 
     As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1