WO2005104902A1

WO2005104902A1 - A mechanism and a table incorporating such a mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2005104902A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001574
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce Mckenzie High
Original assignee: Senator International Limited
Priority date: 2004-04-28
Filing date: 2005-04-25
Publication date: 2005-11-10
Also published as: GB2430874B; GB0621622D0; GB0409409D0; GB2430874A

Abstract

A table comprises a table top (1) mounted on a support frame (2) comprising two upright cylindrical members (3), two feet at their lower ends and a cross member (5). Two mechanisms (10, 11) connect respective upright members (3) to outer ends of the cross member (5) and to respective transverse members (9) which may be rotated between a position supporting the table top (1) and a position permitting the table top (1) to rotate about the cross member (5).

Description

A Mechanism and a table incorporating such a Mechanism The present invention relates to a mechanism and to a table incorporating such a mechanism. Specifically, the table of the invention is a flip top table and the purpose of the mechanism of the invention is to enable the table top to be "flipped" between a first operational position and a second, stowed position in which a plurality of such tables may be nested together thus occupying less space. Flip-top tables are already known, but the mechanisms by which the table top may be moved between operational and stowed positions are complicated, and/or unreliable. It is an object of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages . According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mechanism comprising a first member, a second member rotatably mounted on the first member transversely to the first member, means for connecting the members together such that for a part of relative rotational movement between the members the first member is driven by the second member and means for locking the members together in a relative rotational position of the members. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a table comprising a table top, a support frame supporting the table top, the support frame comprising two spaced supports and each support comprising a first member, a second ^• member /rotatably mounted on the first member transversely to the first member, means for connecting the members together such that for a part of relative rotational movement between the members the first member is driven by the second member and means for locking the members together in a relative rotational position of the members. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first member which is of circular or other suitable cross section, carries a foot at its lower end. At its upper end the first member is formed to receive the means for connecting. These connecting means preferably comprise two ring members which are superposed and centrally apertured. A shaft extends through the ring members and into the first member and the second member. The means for locking the members comprises a spring loaded pin which may be moved between locked and unlocked positions by a push button. The pin extends through an aperture in one of the ring members and a slot in the other so that the two ring members may be rotated relative to each other for a specific angle. Advantageously, this angle is 60° but other suitable angels may be used. A spigot extends from the first member through an aperture in one ring member and a slot in the other ring member. When the spigot abuts the end of the slot further relative rotational movement between the ring members is restrained and the ring member connected to the second member drives the other ring member on missing further rotation. Each upright member carries a foot at its lower end and a castor is disposed at the free ends of each foot. The use of the words upper and lower are not intended to impart any structural limitation. They are intended merely to indicate the positions of the parts of the mechanism to which they refer in normal use. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flip-top table incorporating mechanisms according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table of Figure 1 showing the table top in a partially stowed position, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the table of Figures 1 and 2 showing the table top in a fully stowed position, Figure 4 is an exploded diagrammatic view of a mechanism according to the invention Figures 5 to 9 show plan views of the mechanism in sequential positions as the mechanism moves from a position in which the table is operational and a position in which the table is stowed, and Figures 5a to 9a correspond to Figures 5 to 9 and show a cross-section through the mechanism in those sequential positions. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the flip-top table comprises a table-top 1 mounted on a support frame indicated generally by the reference numeral 2. The support frame 2 comprises two upright cylindrical members 3, two feet 4 at their lower ends and a cross member 5. Each foot 4 has two arms 4a and 4b extending in substantially opposite directions and each arm has a castor 6 at its outer end. The cross member 5 is mounted in bearings 7, 8 which incorporate friction brushes and integral stops and which are secured to the underside of the table top. The table is shown in its operational position in Figure 1, in the fully stowed position in Figure 3 and in a position intermediate these two positions in Figure 2. Two mechanisms, indicated generally by the reference numbers 10 and 11 connect respective upright members 3 to outer ends of the cross member 5 and to respective transverse members 9. Each of these transverse members 9 is rotatable between a position (shown in Figure 1) in which its supports the table top 1 and a position (shown in Figure 2 and 3) in which the table top 1 is permitted to rotate about the cross member 5. When in the first mentioned position, the transverse members 9 coact with stops 12 to ensure that the top 1 is secure and do not rock on the support frame. Referring additionally to Figure 4, each mechanism comprises two superposed ring members 15 and 16. The upright member 3 and the ring members 15 and 16 are formed with central apertures 17,18, 19 which are aligned and through which a shaft 20 extends. The lower ring 16 is additionally formed with a further aperture 21 and a curved slot 22. The upper ring 15 is additionally formed with an aperture 23 and a curved slot 24. A spigot 35 extends from the upright 3 and through aperture 21 and slot 24. A spring loaded push pin 25 extends through aperture 23 and slot 22. A push button 26 is provided to move the push pin 25 in the aperture 23 as will be described in more detail below. The movement of the table top 1 from its horizontal position (shown in Figure 1) to its stowed position shown in Figure 3 and the corresponding movement of the mechanisms will now be described with reference to Figures 5 to 9 and Figures 5a to 9a. With the table top 1 horizontal and the transverse member 9 locked in position, each mechanism is in the position shown in Figure 5 and 5a. In this position, the push pin 25 sits in the radially outer end of aperture 23 and in one end 30 of the slot 22. The pin 25 may be pushed into the unlocked position (Figures 6 and 6a) of aperture 23 (the radially inner end of the aperture) by the push button 26. This unlocks the member 9 allowing the arm to rotate on its corresponding upright member 3. As the member 9 rotates, the push pin 25 travels along the slot 22. The member 9 can travel freely through an angle of 60°. At the end of that rotational movement (see Figures 7 and 7a) the spigot 35 abutts the end of the slot 24 in the upper ring member 15. Further rotation of the member 9 beyond the 60° angle rotates the upright member 3 through the interaction of the ring member 15 and spigot 35 (see Figures 8 and 8a). As the member 9 rotates from 60° to 90° the upright member 3 and the foot 4 on that member rotate through 30°. In that position, the push pin 25 is permitted to return under the action of the spring to the locked position. As the members 9 rotate to this position, the table top may be rotated from the original horizontal position to the substantially vertical position shown in Figure 3. This and the rotation of the upright members 3 and feet 4 facilitate nesting of a plurality of such tables. In order to return the table to the horizontal operational position, the push button 26 is pushed to push the push pin 25 to the unlocked position and the rotation reversed. It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, although a flip-top table has been described, the mechanism could be used for other purposes.

Claims

1. A mechanism comprising a first member, a second member rotatably mounted on the first member transversely to the first member, means for connecting the members together such that for a part of relative rotational movement between the members the first member is driven by the second member and means for locking the members together in a relative rotational position of the members.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , in which the first member carries a foot.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the first member is formed to receive the means for connecting.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, in which the connecting means comprise two superposed centrally apertured ring members.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 4, in which a shaft extends through the ring members and into the first and second members.

6. A mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for locking the members comprises a resiliently loaded pin.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, in which the means for locking comprises a button for moving the resiliently loaded pin between locked and unlocked positions.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 6 or 7, when appendant directly or indirectly to claim 4, in which the resiliently loaded pin extends through an aperture in one of the ring members and a slot in the other ring member so that the two ring members may be rotated relative to each other through a specific angle.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8, in which the angle through which the ring members may be relatively rotated is about 60°.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claims 8 or 9, in which a spigot extends from the first member through an aperture in one ring member and a slot in the other ring member such that, when in operation, the spigot abuts the end of the slot further relative rotational movement between the ring members is restrained and the ring member connected to the second member drives the other ring member.

11. A table comprising a table top, a support frame supporting the table top, the support frame comprising two spaced supports and each support comprising a first member, a second member rotatably mounted on the first member transversely to the first member, means for connecting the members together such that for a part of relative rotational movement between the members the first member is driven by the second member and means for locking the members together in a relative rotational position of the members.

12. A table as claimed in claim 11, in which each first member carries a foot.

13. A table as claimed in claim 11 or 12, in which each first member is formed to receive the means for connecting.

14. A table as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13, in which each connecting means comprise two superposed centrally apertured ring members.

15. A table as claimed in claim 14, in which a shaft extends through the ring members and into the first and second members.

16. A table as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each means for locking the members comprises a resiliently loaded pin.

17. A table as claimed in claim 16, in which each means for locking comprises a button for moving the resiliently loaded pin between locked and unlocked positions.

18. A table as claimed in claim 16 or 17, when appendant directly or indirectly to claim 4, in which each resiliently loaded pin extends through an aperture in one of the related ring members and a slot in the other related ring member so that the two ring members may be rotated relative to each other through a specific angle.

19. A table as claimed in claim 18, in which the angle through which the ring members may be relatively rotated is about 60°.

20. A table as claimed in claims 18 or 19, in which a spigot extends from each first member through an aperture in one related ring member and a slot in the other related ring member such that, when in operation, the spigot abuts the end of the slot further relative rotational movement between the ring members is restrained and the ring member connected to the second member drives the other ring member.