WO2008039079A1

WO2008039079A1 - Turnable furniture with lock

Info

Publication number: WO2008039079A1
Application number: PCT/NO2007/000340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gøran HÅKONSEN
Original assignee: Haakonsen Goeran
Priority date: 2006-09-28
Filing date: 2007-09-27
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: NO326535B1; NO20064394L

Abstract

Furniture comprising a lock (1) comprising a locking element (1a) and a box-staple (1b) with a wedging legs (16), particularly suited to locking of a movable part (3) operable to be rotated along a longitudinal axis (10), it is mounted on, a stationary part (2) in the form of a frame or outer frame. A relevant example is that the movable part (3) is lockable in two positions with a relative angular difference of 180 degrees by furnishing both ends with a box-staple (1b) each for locking with a respective locking element (1a) in such a way that a rotation of 180 degrees is established when the box-staples and locking elements are switched. This is particularly useful for a bunk bed wherein a bed frame (17) in a 'normal' positions is locked into position with the mattress space facing upwards for use as a bed and which alternatively can be turned 180 degrees so that the underside of the mattress space faces upwards for use as bench or table top.

Description

Turnable furniture with lock

This invention relates to furniture comprising support elements and at least one element that can be turned around a longitudinal an axis, which during turning around said longitudinal axis changes function between for instance table and bed, between table and sofa, or between bed and sofa, said furniture achieves an advantageous stability through the use of a particularly suited lock. A particular advantageous embodiment of the invention is where an element that can be turned around its longitudinal axis is furnished at both ends with two box- staples, one facing each of the ends, and one pivot for instance at the middle of each end. Said element can be attached to a stationary part in a form of a casing or a frame where a transverse beam outside each edge of said element is furnished with two locks. Said element is thereby lockable in two positions with a relative angular difference of 180 degrees. One example of such solution is a bed where the bed frame in a "normal position" is locked in position with the bottom facing down, for use as a bed, where said bottom when required can be turned 180 degrees around so that the mattress ends up hanging (tied into position) on the under side, wherein said underside of the bottom of the bed facing upwards can be fashioned into a table top for use at a table.

The object of the invention is to provide a furniture of such a kind that in a chalet or other places of limited space such as in hotel rooms, cabins, nursing homes or children's rooms, can utilize the area by turning the bed frame around in its frame or similar and use the underside for other activities. In children's room, this becomes a practical alternative to a sleeping sofa, by which the bed is converted into a table during daytime for games, use of personal computer and more. Where a double-decker bunk bed comprises two beds where one of said beds is not in use, this invention can provide a permanent shelf or a table space and optionally be turned-around to provide an extra bed. Other possibilities for turning or displacements can also exploit the combination of multiple locks and box-staples, for instance by enabling a lower bunk to be pulled sideways up into a slanted or vertical position and be locked into wearing positions, thus releasing floor or shelf space on demand.

In accordance with the invention, this is achieved by a furniture as disclosed in claim 1, having the characteristic features as disclosed in the characterizing part of said claim, and a method for providing such a furniture as disclosed in claim 9, having the characteristic features as disclosed in the characterizing part of the claim.

Said invention is made possible using a particular lock having the particular quality of locking the element in towards the edge, thus providing stability against rotation along the longitudinal axis, as well as stability against lurching along the longitudinal axis, qualities that are important when functioning as a bed, particularly where there are motions such as in maritime situations.

The lock itself is somewhat similar to that of a sliding door, and like this has a rotating locking mechanism with a lock element or slider for insertion into a first element, and a box-staple for insertion into a second element. In a typical lock for a sliding door, the locking mechanism is inserted into the sliding door element, that is into the frame of said element, while the box-staple is inserted into the door casing surrounding the sliding door. Said lock comprises a locking element in the form of a catch protruding from the frame of the sliding door element and is operable from the inside using a turning handle. Particularly the sliding door mechanism also comprises a rising/lowering mechanism enabling the door element to be lowered for tight fitting closing along the lower edge when said sliding door is locked, that is when the locking element of said lock is brought into the corresponding opening of the box-staple and forced down, locking into said opening. The locking mechanism of a sliding door is designed to hold the sliding door element close to the surrounding frame, thus preventing openings in the plane of the sliding door, perpendicular to the pivot of the lock and the handle for locking/opening.

The lock of the present invention is based on somewhat similar principles, a notable difference being that the locking prevents motion between a lockable movable or removable part wherein one or more box-staples are inserted, and a stationary part comprising a locking element. Both the box-staple and the locking element are shaped differently than in a sliding door.

By furnishing the lockable movable or removable part with a plurality of box- staples, all fitting the same lock in the stationary part, enables the possibility of locking said two parts to each other in a plurality of positions. Said movable part is thereby operable to be displaced in steps and locked into a plurality of positions into the same locking element, all depending on which box-staple is brought in front of said locking element and brought into engagement.

I order to develop the basic idea into practical, solid and simple constructions the inventors faced the problem that no suitable locks were available, and for this reason, the lock of the invention was developed from the knowledge of for instance sliding door locks. Thus, the invention covers both the principle of locking parts into different positions relative to each other, as well as a newly developed lock for this purpose. The invention will be described in more detail in the following using an exemplary embodiment with references to the attached figures in which: figure 1 shows the locking element of the lock of the invention, figure 2 shows said locking element where the operating handle has been removed, figure 3 shows the box-staple of the lock, figure 4 shows the box-staple in a half way rotated position in the box-staple, figure 5 shows in a cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis of the locking element, a movable part with an inserted box-staple and locked into a stationary part with an inserted locking element, figure 6 shows the lock in a locked position, viewed from the inside of the box-staple, figure 7 shows a typical embodiment of the combination table/bed with bed bottoms/mattress frame on the underside and table top on the upper side, shown in the figure in a half way position, figure 8 shows a similar solution for the lower most of a double-decker bunk bed, figure 9 shows the corresponding figure 8 a bunk bed with turnable bed bottom/table top in an intermediate position, figure 10 shows a section of the transverse beam in for instance a bunk bed with the locking element of the lock of the invention inserted, figure 11 shows a corresponding section of the end of a turnable part such as the shorter side of a bed bottom, for locking to the locking element as shown on figure 10, figure 12 shows the lock of the invention utilized for slanted position of a bench or a plate in a plurality of possible positions enabled by inserting a plurality of box-staples in a fixed element, and figure 13 shows a different variation where to parts of a hinged element is positioned with the parts of said element at a slight angle towards each other, for instance for a bottom of a bed where a slight trough is beside the longitudinal axis for instance for therapeutic reasons.

Descriptions of a typical embodiment of the furniture

Figure 8 shows a furniture in the form of a bunk bed, comprising a first bed bottom at a top, a second lower bed bottom comprising a longitudinal axis around which the bed bottom is operable to rotate about, and at the bottom a stabilizing part 17b. Figure 7 shows a second embodiment where the furniture is in a form of a table/bed, comprising a lower bed bottom and a lowermost stabilizing part. The stabilizing capabilities of the lock makes it possible to use this construction without need for a stabilizing such as the one given by an upper bed bottom as displayed in the first embodiment. In a third embodiment the furniture can be in the form of a bunk bed/sofa, comprising a first bed bottom/back rest at the top, a second lower bed bottom 1, where both are equipped with a longitudinal axis around which the bed bottom is operable to rotate, and at the bottom a stabilizing part 5. In this embodiment, the first bed bottom is arranged so that it is operable to be lowered downwards towards one side and rotatable along the longitudinal axis in such a way that it becomes the backrest of a sofa.

Description of a typical embodiment of the lock

Figure 1 shows one-half of the lock of the invention I₅ that is the locking element Ia. The lock is operable to turn around a rotating axis X using a handle, known as a turning handle 12. The locking part 8 of the lock comprises, as shown in the embodiment, a turning axis 5 onto which a holding block 6 is mounted on. Said holding block is furnished with a planar side plain 7 from which a lock element 4 extends from said locking elements outer part forms a locking head 13 of a larger circumference than an inner part 14, so that this fits into a fork shaped box-staple element of a specific embodiment as described below.

Figure 2 shows the locking part 8 from a different angle, and the turning direction for locking is indicated with the arrow F.

Figure 3 shows the locks 1 box-staple Ib and a box-staple container 9 designed for insertion, a mounting flange 15 with a screw hole, and a box-staple fork 11 comprising two strong outwardly bent legs 16, fitted for engaging the lock element 4 of the lock, as particularly shown in figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows the lock in a halfway turned in position in the box-staple, showing how the outer locking head 13 of the lock element 4 is brought in behind the legs 16 of the box staple fork 11 when the inner part 14 of the lock element 4 is brought in between said legs and at an innermost position wedged tight and prevented both in return motion and sideways motion, where the latter is particularly important for the purpose of holding for instance a bed bottom stabling in position.

Figure 5 shows the locking element Ia in the locked position in the box- staple Ib and how this and the lock is inserted into respective parts, that is a stationary part 2 for the lock and a movable or removable part 3 for the box-staple. Figure 6 shows the same situation as seen from the inside of the box-staple.

Figure 7 shows a typical embodiment of the lock of the invention for two positions of a lockable movable or removable part 3, here in the form of a combination of a bed bottom with inner frame 17 and an element in form a plate 18.

Figure 8 shows a typical use of the lock of the invention, for two positions of a lockable movable or removable part 3, here shown in a form of a combination of a bunk bed with a bed bottom with the inner frame 17 and the element 18. Also shown is a lateral stabilizing element 17a which gives additional rotational stability for the inner frame 17, since these are brought into contact in at least one stable position. An optional stabilizing element 17b keeps the stationary part 2 together.

Figure 9 shows the furniture of the invention in the form of a bunk bed where the inner frame 17 and the element 18 is rotated around the longitudinal axis 10 to a position between two lockable positions. Figure 10 shows a detail of the locking element Ia of the invention, where the locking part 8 with the locking head 13 is shown.

Figure 11 shows a detail of the box-staple Ib of the invention where the fork 11 is shown. Figure 12 shows the furniture of the invention in an embodiment where a plurality of box-staples Ib in the at least one stationary part 2, optionally a plurality of locking elements Ia makes it possible to position the inner frame 17 and the element 18 in a plurality of stable positions.

Figure 13 show the furniture of the invention in an embodiment with a split inner frame 17 and element 18 where a plurality of box-staples Ib in the at least one stationary part 2, optionally a plurality of locking elements Ia, makes it possible to position the inner frame 17 and element 18 in a plurality of stable positions.

Claims

177649-SRG

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1 « Furniture comprising supporting elements and in at least one element (18) operable to be rotated along a longitudinal axis (10), characterized in that it comprises: at least one locking element (Ia), wherein said lock is positioned in a stationary part (2) of said furniture, at least one box-staple (Ib), wherein said box-staple is placed in a movable or removable part (3) attached to said element (18), wherein the at least one locking element (Ia) and the at least one box-staple (Ib) is positioned substantially symmetrically around the longitudinal axis (10) of said element (18) in such a way that said element is stably locked in at least two positions around the longitudinal axis by bringing the lock into the box-staple.

2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said element (18) is locked stably against displacements along the longitudinal axis by positioning a lock (1) comprising: at least one locking element (Ia) comprising a lock head (13), and at least one box-staple (Ib) comprising a box-staple fork (11), wherein when the lock is brought into a locked position the lock head (13) is brought in behind the two legs (16) of the fork and wedged tight into the locked position.

3. Furniture according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a lateral stabilizing element (17a) positioned along one side so that said element (18) rests along said lateral stabilizing element (17a) in at least one of the end positions for turning of said element (18), thus adding further stability against rotation.

4. Furniture according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the furniture comprises a first side in a form of a bunk bed and a second side in a form of a tabletop.

5. Furniture according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the furniture comprises a first side in the form of a bed and a second side in the form of a tabletop.

6. Furniture according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the furniture comprises a first side in the form of a bunk bed and a second side in the form of a sofa.

7. Furniture according to claims 1-6, characterized in that said furniture comprises one or more box-staples (Ib) for each locking element (Ia) and that one or more locking elements (Ia) for each respective box-staple.

8. Lock for a furniture according to claims 1-7, comprising a turnable locking element (Ia) comprising a lock element (4) for insertion into a first part (2) and a box- staple (Ib) for insertion into a second part (3) wherein said locking element is operable to be turned by a turning handle (12) for engaging into the corresponding opening of said box-staple and locking into this, characterized in that when said locking element (Ia) is brought into the box-staple (Ib) these are being held stably together in at least two directions.

9. Method for producing a furniture according to claims 1-7, characterized in that furnishing a bed frame (17) and a stationary part (2) with locking elements (Ia) and box-staples (Ib) for the stable attachment of bed frame (17).