GB2203638A - Folding table - Google Patents

Abstract

Fold-away ironing board or other table is wall mounted, the table top (10) being carried on a pair of pivoted supporting struts (14, 30), the first strut (14) being pivoted to a lower mounting (24) on the wall and to an outboard position (20) on the top to extend diagonally when the top is in its horizontal position of use and the second strut (30) being shorter and pivoted between an inboard position (34) of the top and a mounting (38) on the wall level with the top 50 that it is horizontal in said position, the top being folded for vertical storage in close proximity to the wall by lifting its inboard end upwards to pivot both struts upwards along the wall. <IMAGE>

Description

FOLDING TABLE This invention relates to fold-away tables, particularly but not exclusively ironing tables, for cantilever mounting on a wall or other vertical supporting structure and has as its object the provision of such tables in a form which is particularly safe and convenient to use and operate, of simple and durable construction, and neat and compact when folded away.

A further and subsidiary object of the invention is the provision of safe, compact and easily stowed ironing facilities for flats, apartments, hotel rooms and/or for use in the home.

According to the invention there is provided a fold-away table assembly for cantilever mounting on a wall or other vertical supporting structure comprising a table top (e.g. an ironing board), a first rigid supporting strut having an upper end pivotally connected about a first transverse axis to an intermediate part of the underside of the top and a lower end pivotally connected about a second transverse axis to a lower region of the supporting structure in use, and a second rigid supporting strut shorter than the first strut and having one end pivotally connected about a third transverse axis to the underside inboard of the first axis and its other end pivotally connected about a fourth transverse axis to a higher region of the supporting structure in use on the general level of the top when in its horizontal position-of use, the spacing of said pivot axes being such that they define a non-parallelogrammic linkage constraining the top for operative movement between said horizontal position and a stowed position at which it lies vertically with the underside in close proximity to said supporting structure and with its inboard end uppermost.

Preferably the second strut extends horizontally with the first, third and fourth axes in a common horizontal plane when the top is in the horizontal position, the inboard end of the latter being in abutment with the second strut and the first strut forming a diagonal between the underside and the supporting structure.

A clip or other releasable securing means may be provided, -e.g. engageable with said inboard end, to prevent displacement of the top when in use.

A storage cabinet or other enclosure may be provided within which the assembly is contained when stowed.

The table assembly may form part of a tbuilt- in" ironing facility e.g. for a hotel or room or the like which would also include an iron, a holder or other stowage for the iron when not in use, and an electrical supply for powering the iron in use.

The facility may further include control means of said electrical supply which may comprise a coin operated or other prepayment meter, and/or a timer operated cut-out switch to ensure that the iron is not left switched on for an excessive period, and/or a safety cut-out switch which will disconnect the power supply to the iron when the table assembly is in its stowed condition and/or possibly when the iron is Teplaced in its stowage position.

An example of the invention and of an ironing facility combined therewith are now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fold-away ironing table assembly in its position of use; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly in said condition, and, Figures 3 and 4 are respective front and side views of an example of a self-contained "built-in" ironing facility.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 the fold- away ironing table assembly comprises a table top in the form of a conventional ironing board 10, in this example including a sheet metal pressing reinforced by longitudinal channel section ribs 12 shown in broken lines in Figure 2. The outboard portion of the board 10 is shown broken away in Figure 1.

The assembly further comprises a first supporting strut 14 in this example an H-shaped tubular formation including a pair of spaced parallel legs 16 linked rigidly by a cross piece 18.

The upper ends of legs 16 are pivoted on a first common transverse axis 20 to an intermediate part of the underside of board 10 by attachment to ribs 12 and the lower ends of the legs are pivotally attached on a second axis 22 to a pair of lower trunnions 24 which will be screwed or otherwise attached to a lower region of a vertical supporting structure such as a wall 26 at a convenient height and location.

A second strut 30 also having a pair of spaced parallel tubular legs 32 is substantially shorter than strut 14 e.g. under half the length of the latter and is also narrower than the spacing between legs 16 so that it will nest within strut 14 when the table assembly is stowed as referred to hereafter.

One end of strut 30 is pivotally connected about a third axis 34 to ribs 12 on the underside of board 10 at a position spaced inboard of first axis 20 while the other end of strut 30 is pivotally connected about a fourth transverse axis 36 to a pair of upper trunnions 38 operatively secured to wall 26 on a level with the underside of board 10 when it is in the horizontal position of use. In this position the inboard transverse edge of board 10 is in close proximity to axis 36 and is in abutment with the upper peripheries of the second strut legs 32 thus resisting downward displacement of said inboard end.

In this position the three axes 20, 34 and 36 lie in a common horizontal plane and the board 10 is rigidly supported by the diagnal strut 14 in cantilever fashion to project horizontally outwardly of wall-26.

Securing means in the form of a hook-shaped springloaded or resilient catch or clip 40 is engaged with the inboard edge portion of board 10 to resist loading on its outboard end which would otherwise tend to tilt it about axis 20.

When the board is not required for use it is stowed by releasing clip 40 and tilting the outboard end downwards while moving it inwardly toward wall 26. The non-parallelogrammic linkage defined by the positioning of the four pivot axes translates the board 10 upwardly and inwardly until it attains the position indicated in broken lines at 10A in Figure 1 at which it lies vertically with the underside in close proximity to wall 26 and with its inboard end uppermost, the struts 14 and 30 folding between the board and the wall. A retaining catch or clip (not shown) may be provided to retain the board securely in the stowed position.

In this way neat safe and easy stowage is provided, the board does not occupy any floor space, and it is permanently attached to the wall or other structure. It is impossible for it to collapse downwardly further than the horizontal position i.e.

the user does not have to remember to position or engage supporting stays to ensure stability as is the case with many folding ironing boards or other table assemblies, wall mounted or otherwise.

Furthermore, the table assembly is secure against misuse or pilferage which is a consideration where ironing facilities or the like are provided in hotels or furnished apartments.

It is to be understood that, while an ironing table has been described, other forms of table tops or work surfaces could be mounted in the same way as board 10 and/or a table top could be provided to be fitted onto the top of board 10 to form a general purpose work surface.

Conveniently the ironing table assembly may form part of an ironing facility e.g. for a hotel room or apartment and one example of such an arrangement is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Here the stowed ironing board is contained in a shallow wall mounted cabinet 42 hidden by a front door or doors 44 and which may also provide storage space e.g. for cleaning materials or the like.

An electric iron 46 is stowed in a metal rack 48 within the cabinet in a position convenient for its use on board 10 when the latter is unfolded and is connected by a flexible power lead 50 to a power plug or other electrical supply 52 within the cabinet. A resilient wire flex controller 54 mounted on the cabinet keeps lead 50 clear of board 10 while the iron is being used.

To avoid the risk of fire or other damage if iron 46 should be left switched on for an excessive period unattended, e.g. should it be accidentally put away without switching off, electrical supply 52 preferably incorporates safety switching arrangements. These may include a timer switch cutting off current to the iron after a preset period, if the iron is in use the switch would have to be set for a successive period and/or an overriding safety cut-out switch which would turn off the supply in response to replacement of iron 46 in rack 48 and/or the stowage of the ironing board assembly. For example displacement of rack 48 under the weight of the iron could actuate a microswitch cutting off the current and similarly a microswitch could be positioned to coact with e.g. stay 14 as it attains the upright stowed position.

A coin in the slot or other prepayment metering device could also be used if it was wished to recoup charges for use of the ironing facility and, depending on the quantity of current supplied for the denomination of coin used, this in itself could serve as a safety cut-out timing feature.

It is contemplated that this type of fold-away ironing board or table may be convenient for use in the home particularly in small kitchens or launderettes where space is limited, in its simplest form no cabinet 42 need be provided and the board will foldup against the wall at some convenient location and could be provided with a flexible fabric dust cover for storage. It is to be understood that the table or board assembly can be mounted in any convenient location i.e., possibly, within an existing cupboard, wardrobe or the like or possibly on the face of a door or the front or side of a built-in item of furniture.

Claims (1)

1. Cl~AIF-,S

   1. A fold away table assembly for cantilever mounting on a wall or other vertical supporting structure comprising a table top, a first rigid supporting strut having an upper end pivotally connected about a first transverse axis to an intermediate palt of the underside of the top and a lower end pivotally connected about a second transverse axis to a lower region of the supporting structure in use and a second rigid suoporting strut shorter tha-n the first strut and havinc one end pivotally connected about a third transverse axis to the underside inboard of the first axis and its other end pivotally connected about a fourth transv-rs a.xl- ts a higher region of the supporting structure in use on th general level of the top when in its horizontal politic of use the spacing of said pivot axes being sucn tat they define 2 non-parallelogrammic linkage constralnini the top for operative movement between said horizontal position and a stowed position at which it lies vertically with the underside in close proximity to saic supporting structure and with its inboard end uppermost.

   2. An assembly as in Claim 1 wherein the second strut extends horizontally with the first third and fourth axes in a common horizontal plane when the top is in the horizontal position the inboard end of the latter being in abutment with the second strut and the first strut forming a diagonal between the underside and the supporting structure with the top so positioned.

   3. An assembly as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein each said strut comprises a pair of spaced parallel legs.

   4. An assembly as in Claim 3 wherein the first strut has its legs linked rigidly by a cross piece so that it is an H-shaped formation.

   5. An assembly as in Claim 3 or 4 wherein the legs of one strut are more narrowly spaced than those of the other struts for nesting relationship at the stowed position.

   . An assembly as in any preceding claim include å clip or other releasable securing means for preventing cisplacement of the top when in use.

   7. An assembly as in any preceding claim wherein the table top is an ironing board.

   0. A fold-away table assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

   9. An ironing facility including a fold-away ironing board assembly as in Claim 7 or E an iron a holder or other stowage for the iron when not in use. and an electrical supply for powering the iron in use, 7. A facility as in Claim S further including control means of said electrical supply operating autom tically to cut off current supply to the iron after a predetermined period and/or after a predetermine quantity of current has been metered.

   11. P facility as in Claim 9 or 10 including a safety cut-out switch connecting the power supply to the iron automatically when the table assembly is in its stowed condition and/or when the iron is replaced in the holder or other iron stowage.

   12. An ironing facility substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.