Device for stabilizing pieces of furniture and piece of furniture with such a device

Abstract

Device for stabilizing pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, benches or the like, in particular those with a statically indeterminate or overdetermined support on a support surface, comprising at least one wedge device (1) with means for captively fastening the wedge device (1) to the piece of furniture, characterized in that the wedge device (1) comprises a furniture fastening part (2), at least one holding cable (3) and at least one chock (4) captively fastened to one end of the holding cable (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for stabilizing pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, benches or the like against tipping and / or wobbling.

[0002] The invention further relates to a piece of furniture with a device captively attached thereto for stabilizing it against tipping and / or wobbling.

[0003] Wobbly tables, chairs, or benches are a common nuisance, especially in the catering industry. The unstable positioning of the piece of furniture is due to the fact that furniture with more than three supports is statically overdetermined. Since furniture such as benches or tables are frequently moved around in restaurants, pubs, or beer gardens, it is not uncommon for them to tip or wobble, which is a nuisance, especially for tables laden with food and drinks. This can often be remedied by placing appropriately folded pieces of paper or beer mats under a chair or table leg.

[0004] The stabilization of furniture using specially designed chocks or furniture wedges is generally known in the state of the art.

[0005] A wedge device for use on the legs of tables or similar pieces of furniture to prevent rocking or wobbling during use is known, for example, from EP 1 407 692 B1. The device consists of a pointed wedge for positioning between the base of the leg and the floor, the wedge part having a strap to secure it to the furniture in use. The strap is L-shaped, the end of which is adjacent to the wedge part and is arranged in use so that it points vertically upwards from the wedge part, and the free end of which has a strap with a series of notches, which allows for variable yet secure attachment to the leg of the piece of furniture.

[0006] The wedge device known from EP 1 407 692 B1 has the disadvantage that it must be fixed to the leg between the base of the leg of the piece of furniture and the floor in such a way that the length of the strap is sufficient to position the wedge under the base of the leg if necessary. Furthermore, the L-shaped strap must be designed so that it can be attached to furniture legs of different dimensions, in particular with different diameters. The strap is made of an elastic plastic and includes various notches, which means that it can be adjusted only to a limited extent. In particular, if the elasticity of the strap decreases due to frequent use or if the strap is too large, the wedge device can easily be lost. If the strap, which is made of an elastic plastic, is overstressed, it can fail.Furthermore, the strap can easily be removed, so theft protection is not guaranteed. This aspect is particularly important in catering establishments. Security against vandalism is also an important consideration.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for stabilizing pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, benches or the like, which does not have the disadvantages described above.

[0008] The object underlying the invention is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0010] The object underlying the invention is further achieved by providing a piece of furniture with the features of claim 12.

[0011] One aspect of the invention relates to a device for stabilizing pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, benches or the like, in particular those with a statically indeterminate or overdetermined support on a support surface, which comprises at least one wedge device with means for captively fastening the wedge device to the piece of furniture and which is characterized in particular in that the wedge device comprises a furniture fastening part, at least one holding cable and at least one chock captively fastened to the end of the holding cable.

[0012] Such a device design has the particular advantage that the furniture fastening part can be firmly connected to the piece of furniture, for example, screwed, glued, or welded. The retaining cable can be of a length that allows the furniture fastening part to be attached anywhere on the piece of furniture and ensures that, for example, if the piece of furniture is designed as a table, the chock can be pushed under each of the table legs as needed. The furniture fastening part can be attached, for example, under a table top, under a chair support, to a table cross, or to a table leg or chair leg.

[0013] The device is particularly suitable for use on or for camping furniture or for use on or for outdoor catering furniture, where quick assembly and disassembly of the furniture are important aspects for the design of the furniture tables.

[0014] The design of the device according to the invention has the particular advantage that it can be permanently attached to the piece of furniture in such a way that it cannot be removed without destruction or without tools.

[0015] The housing can preferably have at least one contact surface which is designed to engage around a furniture leg at least over a partial circumference, wherein the contact surface preferably has ribs or webs which are designed in such a way that engagement around furniture legs with different diameters and / or cross-sections is ensured. In the simplest case, this can be achieved, for example, by providing on at least one side of the housing at least two spaced-apart, preferably molded-on ribs which can accommodate a furniture leg between them. Feedthroughs for receiving a fastening means, for example for receiving a cable tie, can be provided on each of the ribs.

[0016] Preferably, the device is designed such that the furniture fastening part comprises a housing for receiving the retaining cable. The furniture fastening part can be designed, for example, as a plastic housing or a metal housing. According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the furniture fastening part is designed as a housing with a winding mechanism for the retaining cable.

[0017] If the device is intended for installation in a furniture mount, a housing is not required. The furniture mount can assume the functionality of a housing. A winding mechanism can, for example, be arranged on a bearing plate designed as a furniture mounting part.

[0018] The winding mechanism can comprise means for automatically retracting the extended retaining cable. For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that the retaining cable can be extended against the spring force of a return spring, preferably from the housing of the furniture fastening part. In the simplest case, a spiral-shaped return spring can be provided, which is arranged concentrically to a winding axis. In particular, the automatic return mechanism enables quick disassembly of the correspondingly designed piece of furniture. The device is therefore particularly suitable for use on camping furniture.

[0019] In a preferred and expedient variant of the device according to the invention, the winding mechanism can be provided with at least one backstop. The backstop can be designed, for example, as a ratchet lock, such that the retaining cable can be pulled out of the housing of the furniture fastening part by gently pulling against the spring force of the return spring and is secured against unwinding when the tension on the retaining cable is released. The backstop can be released by gently pulling on the retaining cable, allowing the retaining cable to be fully wound up.

[0020] The furniture fastening component is expediently designed as a housing with fastening means for a permanent connection to the piece of furniture. The fastening means can be designed such that they each comprise a tool engagement that is designed to complement a special tool. For this purpose, for example, a specially designed key can be provided as a tool for opening or closing the fastening means. This ensures that the furniture fastening component is protected against theft and / or vandalism.

[0021] The chock can be made of a rubber-elastic material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer. In principle, the chock can be made of any suitable material, for example, wood. Furthermore, the chock can be made of multiple materials / combinations of materials, whereby at least one wedge surface can, in particular, have a coating or surface treatment that provides increased slip resistance and / or roughness compared to the base material of the chock.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding cable is designed as a wire cable, for example, a steel cable. This can, for example, have a length between 60 cm and 3 m.

[0023] A further aspect of the invention relates to a piece of furniture with at least one stabilizing device which is captively attached thereto and which comprises at least one wedge device with a furniture fastening part and at least one chock which is captively and preferably extendably attached to the furniture fastening part.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, a furniture fastening part can comprise a plurality of holding cables and a plurality of chocks each attached to a holding cable.

[0025] In an expedient variant of the piece of furniture according to the invention, the furniture fastening part can be attached to the piece of furniture in a concealed manner. As already mentioned at the beginning, the furniture fastening part can be attached in a concealed manner under a table top, a bench, or a chair surface. Particularly preferably, the furniture fastening part is arranged in a concealed manner and recessed in a recess of the piece of furniture. For this purpose, for example, a recess milled into a table top or a bench can be provided, into which the housing of the furniture fastening part or just the winding mechanism with the retaining cable is inserted. In this case, the furniture fastening part can be designed without a housing. In the simplest case, this can comprise a bearing plate or a similarly equipped abutment for a winding shaft and / or a winding mechanism.This storage plate can be attached to a correspondingly designed recess in the piece of furniture and covered with a cover or end plate.

[0026] The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings using various embodiments.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a piece of furniture in the form of a table on which several wedge devices according to the invention are mounted, Fig. 2 a schematic view of another piece of furniture in the form of a table, with several wedge devices according to the invention, Fig. 3 a beer table set with a wedge device mounted under the table top, Fig. 4 a schematic view of a table with several concealed wedge devices, Fig. 5 a typical round dining table with a wedge device arranged below the table top according to the invention and Fig. 6 a shelf as a piece of furniture with wedge devices attached to it.

[0028] The wedge device 1 according to the invention comprises a furniture fastening part 2, a retaining cable 3, and a chock 4 provided at the end of the retaining cable 3 remote from the furniture fastening part 2. The chock 4, which is designed, for example, as a plastic component, for example made of a rubber-elastic material, is captively attached to the retaining cable 3, which is designed as a wire cable or steel cable. The furniture fastening part 2 comprises a housing 5, within which a winding shaft (not shown) is arranged, onto which the retaining cable 3 is wound. The winding shaft is designed to be rotatable against the restoring force of a spiral spring, so that the retaining cable 3 can be pulled out of the housing 5 against the restoring force of the spring.The wedge device 1 further preferably comprises a ratchet mechanism which is designed to lock the winding shaft in various angular positions so that the retaining cable 3 is secured against snapping back when it has been extended to a desired length.

[0029] The wedge device 1 is, as shown in the Fig. 1 to 6, which illustrate the various mounting configurations for the wedge device 1, mounted at one or more points on the piece of furniture, preferably in a concealed manner, in such a way that the chock 4 attached to the holding cable 3 is extendable so that it can be arranged under a suitable point of support on the installation surface in order to stabilize the piece of furniture.

[0030] The Fig. 1 shows a table 10 as a piece of furniture with a table top 11 and table legs 12. The wedge device 1 is in the table 10 according to Fig. 1 is integrated into the table top 11 and / or into a table leg 12 such that the furniture fastening part 2 is inserted into the table top 11 or the table leg 12.

[0031] The representation according to Fig. Figure 2 shows a typical modular seminar table 20, in which various fastening configurations of the wedge device 1 according to the invention are shown. The illustrations are generally to be understood in such a way that one or more wedge devices 1 can be optionally and captively fastened to the seminar table 20 at any of the locations shown. Of course, all of the wedge devices 1 shown can be attached to the seminar table 20.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a typical beer table 30 to which the wedge device 1 is attached under the table top 31.

[0033] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a dining table 40 with a tabletop 41 comprising a plurality of table legs 42, wherein the tabletop is enclosed by a surrounding skirt 43. The wedge device according to the invention can be concealed by the skirt 43 at various locations below the tabletop 41 and can be captively attached.

[0034] Fig. Figure 5 shows a round conference table 50 with a tabletop 51 arranged on a central base 52 with a footplate 53. The wedge device 1 according to the invention is mounted under the tabletop 51.

[0035] Fig. 6 finally shows a shelf 60 with wedge device 1 mounted below one or more shelves 61. List of reference symbols 1 wedge device 2 Furniture fastening part 3 Holding rope 4 wheel chocks 5 housings 10 tables 11 Table top 12 table legs 20 seminar tables 21 Table top 30 beer tables 31 Table top 40 dining table 41 Table top 42 table legs 43 Apron 50 conference table 51 Table top 52 bases 53 Footplate 60 shelves 61 shelf QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 407 692 B1 [0005, 0006]

Claims

[1] Device for stabilising pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, benches or the like, in particular those with a statically indeterminate or overdetermined support on a support surface, comprising at least one wedge device (1) with means for captively fastening the wedge device (1) to the piece of furniture, characterized by that the wedge device (1) comprises a furniture fastening part (2), at least one holding cable (3) and at least one chock (4) captively fastened to one end of the holding cable (3). [2] Device according to claim 1 characterized by that the furniture fastening part (2) comprises a housing (5) for receiving the retaining cable (3). [3] Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the furniture fastening part (3) is designed with a winding mechanism for the holding cable (3). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized bythat the winding mechanism comprises means for automatically retrieving the extended holding cable (3). [5] Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the retaining cable (3) can be extended against the spring force of a return spring. [6] Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by that the winding mechanism includes a backstop. [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by that the backstop is designed as a ratchet lock. [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the furniture fastening part (2) comprises a housing (3) with fastening means for preferably non-detachable connection to the piece of furniture. [9] Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized bythat the housing has at least one contact surface which is designed to encompass a furniture leg at least over a partial circumference, wherein the contact surface preferably has ribs or webs which are designed in such a way that an engagement of furniture legs with different diameters and / or cross sections is ensured. [10] Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the furniture fastening part (2) includes an anti-theft device. [11] Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the wheel chock (4) consists of a rubber-elastic material, preferably of a thermoplastic elastomer. [12] Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the holding rope (3) is designed as a nylon rope, fabric rope or as a wire rope, in particular as a steel rope. [13] Piece of furniture with at least one device captively attached thereto, having the features of at least one of claims 1 to 12. [14] Piece of furniture according to claim 13, characterized by that the wedge device (1) is arranged concealed thereon. [15] Piece of furniture according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized by that the furniture fastening part (2) is recessed and concealed in a recess of the piece of furniture.

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