Extendable table with reinforced leaves, especially for use outdoors

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an extendable table comprising a table frame with four table legs, a base plate which defines a table top with an area of ​​size A, and two extension plates which can be folded out by a pivoting movement and which, in the unfolded state, enlarge the area of ​​the table top by a dimension x and extend the base plate in one direction.

[0002] DE 20 2016 100 181 U1 discloses an extendable table in which a base plate rests on a table frame with four table legs. When not extended, the four table legs are located in the corner areas below the base plate. If the surface area of ​​the table top needs to be increased, the table can be extended longitudinally by extending the table frame. This increases the distance between the two table legs located on the extended part of the frame and the other two fixed table legs, so that when the table is extended, the table legs are again located approximately in the corner areas of the extended table top.To enlarge the surface area of ​​the table top when the frame is extended, two pivoting extension panels are provided. When the table is not extended, they are located below the level of the base plate. They can be folded by pivoting around a horizontal axis of rotation running lengthwise along the table, so that they then lie in the plane of the base plate and extend this lengthwise. The two extension panels are roughly the same size and each extend transversely over about half the width of the table top, while both extension panels extend lengthwise over the length by which the table top is extended lengthwise. When unfolded, the two extension panels together form the extended surface of the table top, which adjoins the base plate lengthwise. The two extension panels are connected to each other by hinges where they adjoin.This type of folding extension leaf for extending tables is also called a "butterfly" system. When folded, the two extension leaves are positioned with the underside facing up. One of the extension leaves has a handle tab or similar feature that the user can grasp to unfold the extension leaves in a pivoting motion.

[0003] The extension leaves are usually only connected to the table frame at a few points. This can lead to warping of the leaf material over time. This warping is not only caused by the design but is further exacerbated by temperature and humidity influences. This effect is particularly prevalent when the extending table is intended for outdoor use and is therefore exposed to the elements. US Pat. No. 5,806,437 A discloses a generic extending table corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] Based on the previously described prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an extending table in which the aforementioned distortion of the extension panels is avoided.

[0005] The solution to the above-mentioned problem is provided by an extendable table of the type mentioned at the outset with the features of claim 1.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcement strip is screwed to the extension plate. This allows for comparatively simple production of more stable and warp-resistant extension plates. Typically, the reinforcement strip is screwed to the extension plate at several points using suitable screws that can be screwed into the wood material of the reinforcement strip and the extension plate. If necessary, it is advantageous to drill holes at least in the reinforcement strip to facilitate the screwing process.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcement strip has a material thickness that at least corresponds to the material thickness of the attachment plate. To achieve effective protection of the attachment plates against warping, the reinforcement strip should not be too thin. Experience and tests within the scope of the present invention have shown that it is advantageous if the reinforcement strip at least approximately doubles the original material thickness of the attachment plate.

[0008] A preferred development of the present invention provides that the reinforcing strip has a material thickness of at least approximately 10 mm, preferably a material thickness of at least approximately 15 mm. Of course, the material thickness of the attachment plate itself also plays a role here. For example, it can be a compact plate with a material thickness of approximately 11 mm to approximately 15 mm, for example in the range of approximately 13 mm. The reinforcing strip can then, for example, have a material thickness of 10 mm or more, particularly preferably of 15 mm or more, for example approximately between 15 mm and 20 mm, so that the material thickness of the attachment plate is doubled or more than doubled in the region of the reinforcing strips, which is sufficient for effective stabilization.

[0009] The reinforcement strip preferably has at least one milled recess that accommodates a folding hinge. The folding hinge or several such folding hinges are required to pivotally connect the extension plate to another extension plate. The two extension plates can then be folded out in a pivoting movement about a rotation axis from a quasi-recessed position into the use position, in which they lie in the plane of the base plate and enlarge its surface area—and thus the table top—in one direction by a defined amount. Due to the milled recess, the folding hinge is then recessed or at least partially recessed in the reinforcement strip. According to this advantageous development of the invention, the reinforcement strip is thus used to attach a folding hinge, which, due to the increased material thickness, enables the use of more stable fittings.

[0010] According to a preferred development of the present invention, the extension plate is connected at least at one point to a pivot axis, which in turn is mounted on the table frame. By folding out and pivoting about this pivot axis, the extension plate, or the entirety of the two interconnected extension plates, is pivoted into the use position. This type of construction of an extendable table with two pivotable, fold-out extension plates is known per se from the prior art. The present invention therefore concerns the stabilization of the extension plates with the aid of one or more reinforcing strips, preferably made of HPL, as well as water-free glued wood materials or plywood.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one folding hinge connects the interconnected extension plates in an articulated manner. Typically, there are several such folding hinges, each spaced apart from the other and approximately aligned, preferably along or near an edge, in particular a longitudinal edge, at which the two extension plates are articulated.

[0012] According to the invention, at least two reinforcing strips are attached to a connecting plate. By attaching more than one reinforcing strip, even better stabilization of the connecting plate can be achieved. In particular, it can be reinforced in various areas where warping is particularly likely to occur, without using too much material, thus avoiding an excessive increase in weight due to the reinforcement of the connecting plate.

[0013] According to the invention, two reinforcing strips are mounted on a connecting plate at a distance from each other, preferably in an approximately parallel alignment. According to the invention, one of these reinforcing strips is mounted more centrally under the connecting plate, and the other is mounted more toward the edge, near the edge over which the connecting plate is hingedly connected to another connecting plate. Depending on the size of the respective reinforcing strips, it is of course also possible to mount three or more reinforcing strips, which can then be narrower or shorter.Here, an optimum can be found in terms of the size and number of reinforcement strips, which on the one hand achieves effective reinforcement and improvement of the mechanical properties of the extension plate, but on the other hand does not work with too much additional material in order to avoid an excessive increase in the weight of the extension plate, which would make it difficult to handle and would strain the table frame and the folding hinges.

[0014] According to a preferred development of the invention, at least one reinforcing strip extends in the longitudinal direction of the attachment plate and / or the reinforcing strip extends over more than half the length of the attachment plate, particularly preferably over the majority of the length of the attachment plate. Since the attachment plate is generally rectangular, warping is most likely to occur in the longitudinal direction, which has the larger dimension. It is therefore advisable to also align the reinforcing strips in the longitudinal direction of the attachment plate. The reinforcing strip does not have to extend over the entire length of the attachment plate, but it is advantageous if the reinforcing strip is not too short in relation to the length of the attachment plate, since otherwise the desired effect of mechanical stabilization will not be achieved to a sufficient extent.

[0015] Preferably, only one of the reinforcement strips has one or more cutouts, each of which accommodates a folding hinge. The cutouts are only required when using a reinforcement strip located near the edge around which the extension plate is pivotally connected to another extension plate. If a reinforcement strip is attached to the extension plate along the edge, at least one additional reinforcement strip must be attached at a distance from the first reinforcement strip, further in the central area of ​​the extension plate. Otherwise, too large an area of ​​the extension plate would remain unreinforced, thus inadequately achieving the desired effect of mechanical stabilization.

[0016] The present invention will be described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1an example extending table in the non-extended state; Figure 2 a view of the extending table from Figure 1 with frame extended lengthwise; Figure 3 a perspective view from above of the area of ​​the extended frame in which the non-folded extension panels are located; Figure 4 another perspective view in the longitudinal direction, in which the two attachment plates are in a partially unfolded state; Figure 5 a similar view as in Figure 4 , whereby the two attachment plates are now fully unfolded; Figure 6 a perspective view of the underside of an exemplary attachment plate according to the invention; Figure 7 a plan view of a reinforcing strip according to the invention; Figure 8 a vertical sectional view through the reinforcement bar of Figure 7 ; Figure 9 shows a plan view of a reinforcing strip according to the invention used in the hinge area; Figure 10 a vertical sectional view through the reinforcement bar of Figure 9 ; Figure 11 a bottom view of a reinforced attachment plate; Figure 12 a sectional view of a detail in the area of ​​the attachment plate reinforced by a reinforcing strip of Figure 11 ; Figure 13 an enlarged detailed view of a section of the reinforced attachment plate of Figure 11 in the area of ​​a recess for a folding hinge; Figure 14 a sectional view through the area of ​​the milling of Figure 13 .

[0017] In the following we will first refer to the Figures 1 and 2 Reference is made to and based on this, the type of extending table 10 is described in which the reinforced extension plates according to the invention are used. Figure 1shows a view of the extendable table 10 in the non-extended state. The table 10 has, for example, a rectangular-shaped tabletop 11 and a table frame 12 with four table legs 13, 14, 15, 16, each located approximately in the corner areas of the tabletop 11 on the table frame 12. The rectangular tabletop 11, which determines the size of the table surface in the non-extended basic state, is also referred to herein as the base plate. This base plate 11 has a surface area A, which is increased by a dimension x when the table frame 12 is extended and, after the extension panels are folded out, by the extension panels, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 11. Figure 2shows the extending table 10, in which the table frame 12 was first extended longitudinally before the extension panels were folded out. It can be seen that by extending the table frame 12, the distance between the two table legs 13, 14 at one transverse end section and those 15, 16 of the other transverse end section, which are located on the extended part of the table frame 12, increases, so that the length of the table frame 12 increases in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] In the state that Figure 2 As shown, the two extension plates in the extended area of ​​the table frame 12 are initially still folded in a plane that is slightly lower than the plane of the base plate 11, as can be seen in the view according to Figure 3 The two folded attachment plates initially lie on top of each other, so that in Figure 3looking at the underside of one of the attachment plates 17, on which, as can be seen, there are two reinforcing strips 18, 19 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the attachment plate 17. The two reinforcing strips 18, 19 are arranged at a distance from one another in the transverse direction, with one of the two reinforcing strips 18 reinforcing approximately the central region of the attachment plate 17, while the second reinforcing strip 19 is arranged along a longitudinal edge region of the attachment plate 17, in which the hinges 20 of the folding mechanism are located, which serves for the articulated folding out of the two attachment plates.

[0019] The folding mechanism of the two attachment plates is described below with reference to the Figures 4 and 5 explained in more detail. In Figure 4If you look from the extended transverse side in the longitudinal direction of the extending table, you can see the two extension panels 17, 21, which are hinged together along their central, mutually facing longitudinal edge 22. When unfolded, the two extension panels 17, 21 pivot about a pivot axis 23, which runs horizontally and longitudinally and is arranged at a slight distance from the longitudinal edge 22, which hinges the two extension panels 17, 21 together, wherein the pivot axis 23 is mounted, for example, at both ends in struts 24 of the frame. While in the Figure 4 In the position shown, the partially unfolded two attachment plates 17, 21 form an angle with each other, as can be seen in the Figure 5In the position shown, the two extension plates 17, 21 lie horizontally in their unfolded end position, in which they lie in the plane of the base plate 12 and extend it in the longitudinal direction. The additional table surface x created by the two unfolded extension plates 17, 21 is divided, for example, approximately half into the surfaces of the two extension plates 17 and 21, which lie against one another along their longitudinal edge 22 and can project slightly beyond the table frame 12 on both sides in the transverse direction.

[0020] In Figure 5 You can also see that in the unfolded state the upper side of one attachment plate 17 is on top, while in the folded state, the Figure 3 As shown, the underside of this reinforced attachment plate 17 is on top, so that the two reinforcement strips 18, 19 located there can be seen. To enable the attachment plates 17, 21 to be folded out, the Figure 3visible grip tab 25 is attached to the attachment plate 17 so that the two attachment plates 17, 21 can be pulled up, pivoting around the axis of rotation 23.

[0021] The following is based on the Figures 7 and 8 the structure of one of the two reinforcement strips 18 is explained in more detail. This has, as Figure 7has an approximately rectangular cross-section and a material thickness that preferably corresponds at least approximately to that of the attachment plate 17, so that in the areas in which the reinforcing strip 18 is attached, the material thickness of the attachment plate 17 is at least approximately doubled in order to effectively counteract any possible warping of the attachment plate 17. The fastening of the reinforcing strip 18 to the attachment plate 17 can be effected, for example, by means of screws, for which purpose bores 26 are drilled into the material of the reinforcing strip to accommodate such screws. The reinforcing strips 18, 19, like the attachment plates 17, 21, are made, for example, of HPL, compact board or a laminate material, as well as of waterproof glued wood materials or plywood.

[0022] The Figures 9 and 10show in corresponding views the second reinforcement strip 19, which in principle is very similar to the first reinforcement strip 18 and also has corresponding holes 26 for screw fastening. The second reinforcement strip 19 can have a similar material thickness and similar dimensions as the first reinforcement strip 18 and differs from it only in that it has a straight end edge 27 on one side, since, as can be seen in Figure 6 recognizes that it is applied in the edge area along the longitudinal edge of the attachment plate 17. The opposite end edge of the reinforcement strip 19, however, is provided with an oblique bevel 29, just like both end edges on both sides of the first reinforcement strip 18.

[0023] The following is based on the Figures 11 to 14 the lower attachment plate 17, which is provided with the two reinforcing strips 18, 19, is described in more detail. Figure 11 shows a view of the underside of the attachment plate 17 and one can clearly see the arrangement of the two reinforcing strips 18, 19. The second reinforcing strip 19, which is attached in the edge area along the longitudinal edge of the attachment plate 17, has several spaced-apart millings 28 along its outer longitudinal edge, one of these millings 28 in Figure 13 shown again on an enlarged scale. The cutout 28 has approximately the shape of an upside-down "T," i.e., it is wider in the area near the edge than in the area farther from the edge. This shape is due to the shape of a folding hinge, which is accommodated by this cutout 28, because the attachment plate 17 is articulated to the other attachment plate 21 via folding hinges. Figure 14 shows a section in the area of Figure 13The milled recess 28 shown here shows various holes 30 and a central slot 31, each of which serves to accommodate parts of the folding hinge. The slot 31 is deeper and extends through the reinforcement strip 19 into the material of the attachment plate 17.

[0024] Figure 12 shows once again a vertical section through the attachment plate 17 in the area of ​​a reinforcing strip 19 on an enlarged scale in the area of ​​one of the bores 26 into which a screw (not shown here) can be screwed, which screw can be screwed through the bore 26 in the reinforcing strip 19 into a bore 32 in the attachment plate 17 aligned therewith in order to connect the reinforcing strip 19 to the attachment plate 17. List of reference symbols

[0025] 10Extendable table 11Table top, base plate 12Table frame 13Table leg 14Table leg 15Table leg 16Table leg 17Extension plate 18First reinforcement bar 19Second reinforcement bar 20Hinges 21Extension plate 22Longitudinal edge 23Pivot axis 24Struts 25Grip tab 26Holes 27Straight end edge 28Milled cutouts 29Slanted bevel 30Holes 31Slot 32Hole

Claims

1. An extendable table, particularly for use outdoors, comprising a table frame (12) with four table legs (13, 14, 15, 16) and a base plate (11) that defines a table top with a surface area of the size A, and comprising two leaves (17, 21) that can be folded out by means of a pivoting movement and, in the folded-out state, enlarge the surface area of the table top by a dimension x and extend the base plate (11) in one direction, wherein at least two reinforcement slats (18, 19) are arranged at a distance from one another on the underside of at least one of the leaves (17), characterized in that one reinforcement slat is arranged more centrally and the other reinforcement slat is arranged in the vicinity of the edge, by means of which the leaf (17) is connected to the other leaf (21) in an articulated manner.

2. The extendable table according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement slat (18, 19) is screwed to the leaf (17).

3. The extendable table according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcement slat (18, 19) has a material thickness that corresponds at least to the material thickness of the leaf (17).

4. The extendable table according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reinforcement slat (18, 19) has an approximate material thickness of at least 10 mm, preferably an approximate material thickness of at least 15 mm.

5. The extendable table according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reinforcement slat (18, 19) has at least one milled-out portion (28) that receives a folding hinge.

6. The extendable table according to claim 5, characterized in that the leaf (17, 21) is connected to a pivot shaft (23), which in turn is mounted on the table frame (12), at least at one location.

7. The extendable table according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one folding hinge connects the interconnected leaves (17, 21) to one another in an articulated manner.

8. The extendable table according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one reinforcement slat (18, 19) extends in the longitudinal direction of the leaf (17) and / or the reinforcement slat (18, 19) extends over more than half the length of the leaf (17), particularly over the predominant portion of the length of the leaf (17).

9. The extendable table according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, if two reinforcement slats (18, 19) are provided, only one of the reinforcement slats (19) has one or more milled-out portions (28) that respectively receive a folding hinge.