Folding table

EP4731471A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-04-29DAIMLER TRUCK AG
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
DAIMLER TRUCK AG
Filing Date
2024-06-18
Publication Date
2026-04-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Commercial vehicle tables often occupy significant installation space due to their manual insertion or permanent mounting, which is inefficient and space-consuming.

Method used

A folding table design for vehicles with an upright leg attached to the driver's cab floor, featuring a vertical guide and hinge mechanism that allows the table top to fold horizontally, eliminating the need for a separate stop and enabling space-saving storage, while being crash-proof and cost-effective.

Benefits of technology

The solution provides a space-saving, crash-proof, and cost-effective folding table that can be easily stored in a non-use position, reducing installation space requirements and minimizing contamination when not in use.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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    Figure EP2024067003_26122024_PF_FP_ABST
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Abstract

The invention relates to a folding table (1) in a vehicle, in particular utility vehicle, with an upright table leg (3) which is fastened to a driver's cab floor (2), is arranged next to a vehicle seat (4) and has a guide (5) along its vertical extent, wherein a tabletop (6) can be moved between a non-use position and a use position and has a hinge (7) which is guided by the guide (5), wherein the tabletop (6) can be folded by means of the hinge (7) into a horizontal position in order to reach the use position when the hinge (7) is located at an upper end of the guide (5), wherein the guide (5) is arranged on a rear side (9) of the table leg (3) facing away from the vehicle seat (4), wherein the guide (5) has an upper stop for the hinge (7), and the tabletop (6) in the use position is folded over an upper end (8) of the table leg (3) towards a front side (10) of the table leg (3) and lies with its lower side (11) against the upper end (8) of the table leg (3).
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Description

[0001] folding table

[0002] The invention relates to a folding table for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Commercial vehicles often have tables that are either manually inserted into the cockpit and / or permanently mounted or attached under a bed, which takes up a lot of installation space.

[0004] DE 10 2018 117 946 A1 describes a table device for a motor vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle. The table device comprises a table top and a moving element, preferably a carriage, to which the table top is hingedly mounted. The table device comprises a vertical guide on which the moving element is movably guided. The table device comprises a servo-assistance device connected to the moving element for reducing a force for moving and / or holding the moving element and the table top attached thereto.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a novel folding table for a vehicle.

[0006] The object is achieved according to the invention by a folding table having the features of claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0008] A folding table in a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle or mobile home, is proposed, comprising an upright table leg which is fastened to a driver's cab floor and is arranged next to a vehicle seat and has a guide along its vertical extent, wherein a table top is displaceable between a non-use position and a use position and has a hinge which is guided by the guide, wherein the table top can be folded into a horizontal position by means of the hinge to reach the use position when the hinge is located at an upper end of the guide.According to the invention, the guide is arranged on a rear side of the table leg facing away from the vehicle seat, wherein the guide has an upper stop for the hinge, and the table top, in the use position, is folded over an upper end of the table leg toward a front side of the table leg and rests with its underside against the upper end of the table leg. In this way, a space-saving folding table is provided which has a table leg on which the table top is supported, whereby no separate stop is required for the table top in the use position. The folding table is crash-proof and particularly cost-effective to manufacture.

[0009] In one embodiment, the guide is designed as a longitudinal groove into which a guide element of the hinge engages. For example, the guide can be designed as a dovetail guide.

[0010] In one embodiment, the tabletop is divided into at least two parts, with a part closest to the table legs being connected to a part farther from the table legs by means of a separate hinge. This creates a comparatively large tabletop that can nevertheless be stored in a space-saving manner when not in use.

[0011] In one embodiment, the table top consists of a rigid material, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or comprises such a material.

[0012] In one embodiment, the table top has a plastic surface which is applied to the rigid metallic material and preferably covers the at least one further hinge between the parts of the table top.

[0013] In one embodiment, the plastic surface is formed by overmolding the rigid material or by a separate plastic part bonded to the rigid material. In one embodiment, the folding table is arranged within a shaft of a container permanently arranged in the commercial vehicle. For example, the container can be formed by a hollow armrest of the vehicle seat or a seating area. In one embodiment, the container has a hinged lid on its top. This prevents or reduces soiling of the folding table when not in use.

[0014] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0015] Showing:

[0016] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a folding table for a vehicle in a non-use position,

[0017] Fig. 2 is another schematic view of the folding table in the non-use position,

[0018] Fig. 3 is another schematic view of the folding table in the non-use position,

[0019] Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the folding table in a position of use,

[0020] Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the folding table in the non-use position,

[0021] Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the folding table in the position of use,

[0022] Fig. 7 is another schematic view of the folding table in the position of use,

[0023] Fig. 8 is another schematic view of the folding table in the position of use,

[0024] Fig. 9 is another schematic view of the folding table in the position of use, and

[0025] Fig. 10 shows a schematic exploded view of the folding table. Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0026] Figures 1 to 3 show schematic views of a folding table 1 for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, with an upright table leg 3 fastened to a driver's cab floor 2, which is arranged next to a vehicle seat 4, for example a driver's seat or passenger seat, and has a guide 5 along its extension in a vertical direction z. The folding table 1 further comprises a table top 6, which is displaceable between a non-use position and a use position. The non-use position is shown in Figures 1 to 3. A hinge 7 is arranged on the table top 6 and is guided by the guide 5.

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic view of the folding table 1 in the use position, wherein the table top 6 is folded into a horizontal position by means of the hinge 7 when the hinge 7 is located at an upper end of the guide 5.

[0028] The guide 5 is arranged on a rear side 9 of the vehicle seat 4 facing away from the

[0029] Table leg 3, wherein the guide 5 has an upper stop for the hinge 7, and the table top 6 in the position of use is folded over an upper end 8 of the table leg 3 shown in Figures 5 and 6 towards a front side 10 of the table leg 3 and rests with its underside 11 directly or indirectly on the upper end 8 of the table leg 3.

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of the folding table 1 in the non-use position. Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of the folding table 1 in the use position. Figures 7 to 9 show further schematic views of the folding table 1 in the use position. Figure 10 is a schematic exploded view of the folding table 1.

[0031] In one embodiment, the guide 5 is designed as a longitudinal groove into which a guide element 12 of the hinge 7 engages. The guide 5 can, for example, be designed as a dovetail guide. In one embodiment, the table top 6 is divided into at least two parts, for example, a part 6.1 near the table leg and a part 6.2 far from the table leg, which are connected by means of another hinge 13.

[0032] In one embodiment, the table top 6 consists of a rigid material, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or comprises such a material. The table top 6 may further comprise a plastic surface applied to the rigid metallic material and preferably covering the at least one further hinge 13 between the parts 6.1, 6.2 of the table top 6.

[0033] In one embodiment, the plastic surface is formed by overmolding the rigid material or by a separate plastic part joined to the rigid material.

[0034] In one embodiment, the folding table 1 is arranged in the non-use position within a shaft of a container 14 fixedly arranged in the commercial vehicle. The container 14 can, for example, be formed by a hollow armrest 15 of the vehicle seat 4 or a seating area, or be part of this hollow armrest 15. In one embodiment, the container 14 has a hinged lid 16 on its upper side.

[0035] To move the folding table 1 into its non-use position, the tabletop 6 is folded upwards around the hinge 7 in the use position so that it no longer rests on the upper end 8 of the table leg 3. If necessary, before, after, or during this process, the part 6.2 far from the table leg must be folded around the additional hinge 13 onto the part 6.1 closest to the table leg. The tabletop 6 is then pushed downwards on the back 9 of the table leg 3, with the hinge 7 being guided downwards along the guide 5 until the folding table 1 has reached its non-use position. If a container 14 is provided, in whose shaft the folding table 1 is arranged in the non-use position, the lid 16, if present, can now be closed. List of Reference Symbols

[0036] 1 folding table cab floor table leg vehicle seat guide table top .1 , 6.2 part

[0037] 7 Hinge

[0038] 8 upper end

[0039] 9 Back

[0040] 10 Front

[0041] 11 Subpage

[0042] 12 Guide element

[0043] 13 additional hinge

[0044] 14 containers

[0045] 15 Armrest

[0046] 16 Cover z vertical direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. A folding table (1) in a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising an upright table leg (3) which is fastened to a driver's cab floor (2), is arranged next to a vehicle seat (4) and has a guide (5) along its vertical extension, wherein a table top (6) is displaceable between a non-use position and a use position and has a hinge (7) guided by the guide (5), wherein the table top (6) can be folded into a horizontal position by means of the hinge (7) to reach the use position when the hinge (7) is located at an upper end of the guide (5), characterized in that the guide (5) is arranged on a rear side (9) of the table leg (3) facing away from the vehicle seat (4), wherein the guide (5) has an upper stop for the hinge (7),and the table top (6) in the position of use is folded over an upper end (8) of the table leg (3) to a front side (10) of the table leg (3) and rests with its underside (11) on the upper end (8) of the table leg (3).

2. Folding table (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide (5) is designed as a longitudinal groove into which a guide element (12) of the hinge (7) engages.

3. Folding table (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide (5) is designed as a dovetail guide.

4. Folding table (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the table top (6) is at least divided into two parts, wherein a part (6.1) close to the table leg is connected to a part (6.2) of the table top (6) remote from the table leg by means of a further hinge (13).

5. Folding table (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the table top (6) consists of a rigid material, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or comprises such a material.

6. Folding table (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the table top (6) has a plastic surface which is applied to the rigid material and preferably covers the at least one further hinge (13) between the parts (6.1, 6.2) of the table top (6).

7. Folding table (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the plastic surface is formed by an overmolding of the rigid material or by a separate plastic part joined to the rigid material.

8. Folding table (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding table (1) is arranged within a shaft of a container (14) fixedly arranged in the vehicle.

9. Folding table (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the container (14) is formed by a hollow armrest (15) of the vehicle seat (4) or a seating area.

10. Folding table (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the container (14) has a foldable lid (16) on its upper side.