EP4079191A1

EP4079191A1 - Automatic convertible coffee table

Info

Publication number: EP4079191A1
Application number: EP21382352.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Salvador Jose CLIMENT AROZ; Cherie Lynn CLIMENT
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-04-22
Filing date: 2021-04-22
Publication date: 2022-10-26

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic convertible coffee table (1) comprising a base structure (2), a fixed lower tabletop (3) that is supported on said base structure (2), an articulated mechanism (5) that links a movable upper tabletop (9) to the fixed lower tabletop (3) and causes the extension or retraction movement of said tabletop when pressing an actuation button (12), placing the upper tabletop (9) in a vertically and horizontally separated position from the fixed lower tabletop (3), as well as a folding mechanism (15) which, coordinated with the articulated mechanism (5), ensures that a supplementary leg (6) that is linked to said folding mechanism (15) is supported on the ground and acts as a support for the table when extended.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention relates to a coffee table that can be automatically converted into a dining set consisting of a table and a seat so that it can be used by more than two people.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The table is a piece of furniture generally made up of a horizontal tabletop with a geometry that is square, round, etc. and which is supported by one or more legs.
One of the main functions thereof is to be used as a platform for the consumption of food, distancing said food from the ground. It also provides a work surface for many trades, and can be used for recreational purposes such as a pool table or a game table or as a support for various decorative objects.
In order to improve a space, traditional tables have evolved to become folding tables, increasing the useful surface of the horizontal tabletop with auxiliary tabletops, expanding the main tabletop that the tables have or varying the height of the table, thus improving ergonomics when using it.
As a solution to date, space has gained special importance in small domestic areas. Folding tables enable said living space to be saved in retracted positions when necessary, said folding tables extend increasing the useful surface for use thereof if necessary, and, once they are used, they can be retracted again to conserve the initial space existing in the domestic area where they are located.
For example, in domestic kitchen and/or dining room areas in homes, tables of this type, in the retracted position thereof, guarantee a greater space for the movement of the inhabitants of said home. When they are expanded, for ergonomic reasons, the usable surface of said folding tables is increased for greater comfort, taking advantage of the existing space in the aforementioned domestic areas.
There are different types of tables in which the useful surface can vary, for example, liftable coffee tables, which are coffee tables with a useful surface that can be manually lifted to a certain height; however, they can only support light loads on the extended surface due to the possibility of overturning or the mechanism not holding the load due to the low rigidity thereof.
Tables of this type can propose the conversion of the traditional table into a table with a bench to increase the number of people who can use the table.
Another type of known extendable tables are coffee tables that turn into a dining table, typically called "transformable" coffee tables, being able to expand from a coffee table to a dining table and being similar to a liftable coffee table, but instead of lifting the upper tabletop, the entire structure is lifted.
Over time, enhancements have been implemented, for example, tables connected to a source of electricity, the tabletop or structure of which unfolds due to the action of the electric current on the unfolding mechanism of the table. There are traditional dining tables on the market that are electrically operated; however, they expand longitudinally in a horizontal or vertical direction, not jointly or simultaneously in two directions.
On the one hand, the solution of vertically and longitudinally increasing the useful surface entails a solution that does not support heavy loads on the additional extended surface and is manually performed, which can cause injuries due to blows or bad postures.
On the other hand, the solution of increasing the height is a valid solution to improve ergonomics and comfort, but it does not entail an advantage with respect to increasing the useful surface of a table and the ability to increase the number of diners for the use thereof.
The electric tables that expand do not have a simultaneous advantage in terms of height variation and increase of useful surface, but the operation is focussed on one of the two actions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The automatic convertible coffee table, object of the invention, enables the useful surface thereof to be expanded at the same time as increasing the number of diners who can use it by transforming it into a bench and table set.
The convertible table is transformed by pressing an actuation button, from a retracted position wherein it acts as a table to an extended position wherein it acts as a dining set consisting of an upper tabletop and a bench intended to act as a seat for one or more people.
The convertible coffee table comprises a base structure preferably made of aluminium profiles joined together, a fixed lower tabletop located on the base structure, a movable upper tabletop that is located on top of the lower tabletop in the retracted position, a folding mechanism, to which a supplementary leg is attached, and an articulated mechanism, which connects the movable upper tabletop with the fixed lower tabletop, intended to move the movable upper tabletop.
In the retracted position, the coffee table has the fixed upper tabletop, positioned on top of the lower tabletop and aligned with it, so that the upper tabletop is used as a traditional coffee table surface.
Each one of the aforementioned mechanisms comprises several articulated arms and one or more linear actuators; said actuators perform an extension and retraction movement and transmit said movement to the articulated arms of the folding and articulated mechanisms.
The automatic convertible coffee table is electrically powered by at least one internal rechargeable battery, able to be recharged using a charger.
Moreover, the convertible coffee table comprises a frame that is centred with respect to the fixed lower tabletop, wherein the folding mechanism and the articulated mechanism, as well as the batteries and a control unit that is responsible for transmitting the movement command to the mechanisms so that they extend from a retracted position or vice versa, are housed.
Said frame has the function of acting as a bench for the articulated mechanism and for the folding mechanism.
The control unit is programmed with an algorithm that enables the movements of the mechanisms to be coordinated by sending said movement command to the actuators that form part of the aforementioned mechanisms.
Two actuation buttons are located on the fixed lower tabletop of the automatic convertible coffee table, which when pressed, cause the movement command to be sent to the control unit, and said order will be transmitted to the mechanisms. The actuation buttons in turn comprise lights linked to the control unit, indicating, according to the colour of the light, the charge status of the batteries.
When the actuation button is pressed, the folding mechanism is extended first, the supplementary leg moves in coordination with that mechanism until it is positioned on the ground and subsequently, the articulated mechanism is extended, which will position the movable upper tabletop from a retracted position of the convertible coffee table to a position above the supplementary leg to ensure stability thanks to the fact that the supplementary leg acts as a support to prevent the table from overturning.
In this situation, the fixed lower tabletop is divided into two sections that act as a seat, enabling one or more people to sit in order to use the movable upper tabletop when it is lifted and extended.
The articulated mechanism and the folding mechanism, as they are both located inside the frame, enable enough space to be left on both sides when the convertible coffee table is extended so that two people can join on both sides and sit on the fixed lower tabletop.
To return the movable upper tabletop to the initial position, pressing another actuation button starts the sequence in the opposite order, first retracting the movable upper tabletop, it remaining on top of the fixed lower tabletop; and a few seconds later the supplementary leg is collected.
In the retracted position, the articulated mechanism acts as an upper cover of the frame and the supplementary leg acts as a front cover of the frame.
The operation of the articulated and folding mechanisms connected to the movable upper tabletop and the supplementary leg is controlled by means of contact sensors, which are located inside the frame and arranged at end points of the path of the mechanisms. Said contact sensors are intended to detect the contact of the folding mechanism and of the articulated mechanism in operating conditions of free movement.
When the articulated mechanism and the folding mechanism are fully expanded or retracted, they come into contact with the aforementioned sensors and said sensors send the information that the extension and retraction movement has been completed to the control unit, which sends the stop command to the linear actuators of the articulated and folding mechanisms.
Likewise, the convertible coffee table further comprises current sensors, located inside the frame and which are connected to the control unit and to the actuators of the articulated and folding mechanisms.
Including current sensors confers safety to the table. Said sensors send information about the operating current value of the invention to the control unit.
If the folding mechanism and/or the articulated mechanism experiences any obstruction in its path, a change in the operating current value occurs with respect to the optimal value, causing the current sensors to send a signal to the control unit and the latter to issue an emergency stop command for the actuators of the mechanisms in order to prevent structural alterations to the elements of the invention from occurring.
The operation of the invention enables the number of diners who can use the automatic convertible coffee table to be increased, as well as heavy loads to be supported on the movable upper tabletop when the table is in the extended position thanks to the supplementary leg that acts as a support, in order to prevent the convertible coffee table from overturning and the articulated expansion and retraction mechanism from being structurally damaged.
Moreover, the electrical operation of the automatic convertible coffee table enables the movable upper tabletop to be extended and retracted in an ergonomic way, preventing inappropriate postures of the diners, which can lead to injuries, when expanding or retracting said automatic convertible coffee table is required.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the unfolded automatic convertible coffee table.
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the automatic convertible coffee table.
Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view of the retracted automatic convertible coffee table.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the automatic convertible coffee table is described below with the aid of Figures 1 to 2.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a convertible coffee table (1) comprising a base structure (2) made of structural profiles, a fixed lower tabletop (3) that is positioned on the base structure (2) by means of fastening elements, a frame (4) linked to the fixed lower tabletop (3) or to the base structure (2) and wherein there is an articulated mechanism (5) that protrudes from the inside thereof and connects a movable upper tabletop (9) to the fixed lower tabletop (3).
Additionally, Figure 1 shows actuation buttons (12) that are located on the fixed lower tabletop (3) and are responsible for starting the operation of the convertible coffee table (1).
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the convertible coffee table (1) wherein the inside of the frame (4) is observed in detail, wherein the articulated mechanism (5) and a folding mechanism (15) are located.
On the one hand, the articulated mechanism (5) comprises first articulated arms (10) joined together with the aid of fastening means and first linear actuators (11) that are connected to the first articulated arms (10) which, by means of the extension and retraction movement, transmit the movement to said first articulated arms (10) and connect said first articulated arms (10) to the frame (4).
On the other hand, Figure 2 shows how the folding mechanism (15) additionally comprises second articulated arms (16) that are joined together by means of fastening elements and second actuators (17) which, like those of the articulated mechanism (5), transmit the movement to said second articulated arms (16) by means of the extension and retraction thereof; and connect said first articulated arms (10) to the frame (4).
Likewise, a supplementary leg (6) linked to the folding mechanism (15) is observed, the movement of which is coordinated with the extension and retraction movement of the articulated mechanism (5); and it is intended to act as a support when the fixed upper tabletop (9) is extended, said supplementary leg (6) being located below the fixed upper tabletop (9).
Likewise, Figure 2 further shows how there are one or more batteries (7) inside the frame (4) that are connected to the articulated mechanism (5) and to a control unit (8) that transmit the information of extension-retraction movement to the linear actuators (11) of the articulated mechanism (5) when pressing the actuation buttons (12), which comprise one or more lights (18) intended to indicate the charge status of the batteries (7) and to which said actuation buttons (12) are linked.
On the one hand, Figure 2 shows the location of contact sensors (14) inside the frame (4) and which are also linked to the control unit (8).
Said contact sensors (14) are intended to send information on the correct performance of the extension and retraction movement of said mechanisms (5, 15) to the control unit (8). Once the mechanisms are fully retracted or extended, a signal is sent to the control unit (8) and the latter sends a stop command to the first actuators (11) and second actuators (17).
On the other hand, Figure 2 shows current sensors (16), located inside the frame (4) and connected to the control unit (8) and the first actuators (11) and second actuators (12) of the articulated mechanism (5) and folding mechanism (15), respectively.
The current sensors (19) are intended to measure the operating current value of the convertible coffee table (1), and in the event that this current value is not the optimal operating value, which means that there is an anomaly that obstructs the path of the mechanisms (5, 15), they are intended to send a signal to the control unit (8) to perform an emergency stop of the first and second actuators (11, 17) of the mechanisms (5, 15).
Finally, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the convertible coffee table (1) in the retracted position thereof, wherein the movable upper tabletop (9) is positioned on top of the fixed lower tabletop (3), the articulated mechanism (5) being retracted, acting as an upper cover of the frame (4), and the supplementary leg (6), being collected acting as a front cover of the frame (4).

Claims

A convertible coffee table (1) comprising:
- a base structure (2),

- a lower tabletop (3) fixed to the base structure (2),

- a movable upper tabletop (9), which is movable with respect to the lower tabletop (3) and which is located on top of the lower tabletop (3) in a retracted position, and in a position extended forward and at a higher height with respect to the lower tabletop (9), leaving a space with respect to the lower tabletop (9), enabling the use of the lower tabletop (9) as a seat,

- an articulated extension and retraction mechanism (5) that connects the movable upper tabletop (9) to the lower tabletop (3), intended to move the upper tabletop (9) with respect to the lower tabletop (3),

- a supplementary leg (6) that moves between a retracted position and a forward extended position in which it is located under the upper tabletop (9) when said upper tabletop (9) is in the extended position thereof, and

- a folding mechanism (15) linked to the supplementary leg (6) and which causes the movement of the supplementary leg (6) with respect to the base structure (2).
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 1, comprising a frame (4) that is linked to the lower tabletop (3) or to the base structure (2) and that houses the articulated mechanism (5) and the folding mechanism (15).
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 2, wherein the frame (4) is in a centred position with respect to the fixed lower tabletop (3).
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 3, wherein the fixed lower tabletop (3) consists of two sections that form seats when the upper tabletop is in the extended position.
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 4, wherein the articulated mechanism (5) comprises:
- first articulated arms (10) that are connected to each other by means of attachment means, and

- at least one first linear actuator (11) connected to the articulated arms (10) and that connects said first articulated arms (10) to the frame (4), said first actuator (11) intended to move the first articulated arms (10) by means of extension and retraction movements.
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 5, wherein the folding mechanism (15) comprises:
- second articulated arms (16) connected to each other by means of attachment means, and

- at least one second linear actuator (11) connected to the second articulated arms (16) and that connects said second articulated arms (16) to the frame (4), said second actuator (17) intended to move the second articulated arms (16) by means of extension and retraction movements.
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 8, comprising a control unit (8) linked to the first actuators (11) and second actuators (17) and which is intended to transmit the extension or retraction movement command to said actuators (11, 17).
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 7, wherein the lower tabletop (3) comprises actuation buttons (12) associated with the control unit (8) and which are intended, when one of said actuation buttons (12) is pressed, to send the command to the control unit (8) to perform the extension sequence of the folding mechanism (15) and subsequently of the articulated mechanism (5), and, when another of the aforementioned actuation buttons (12) is pressed, the retraction sequence of the articulated mechanism (5) and subsequently of the folding mechanism (15) starts.
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 8, comprising batteries (7) that are housed in the frame (4), linked to the control unit (8) and to the first actuators (11) and second actuators (17), and which are intended to electrically power said control unit (8) and said actuators (11, 17).
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 9, wherein the actuation buttons (12) have one or more lights (18) intended to indicate the charge status of the batteries (7).
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 10, further comprising contact sensors (14) connected to the control unit (8) and linked to the frame (4) that are arranged at end points of the path of the articulated mechanism (5) and of the folding mechanism (15), arranged in such a way that the mechanisms (5, 15) contact said sensors (14) in operating conditions of free movement and send a signal to the control unit (8) that stops the mechanisms (5, 15) when detecting that the entire path of extension and retraction movement has been performed.
The convertible coffee table (1) of claim 11, further comprising current sensors (19) that are located inside the frame (4), connected to the control unit (8) and linked to the first actuator (11) and to the second actuator (17), said sensors (19) intended to measure the operating current value, and in the event that said current value is not in accordance with the optimal operating current value due to the blocking of any of said mechanisms (5, 15) due to obstruction in the path thereof, they are intended to send an anomaly signal to the control unit (8) that triggers the emergency stop of said actuators (11, 17) of the mechanisms (5, 15).