Furniture base and furniture equipped with such a base.

Abstract

The invention relates to a base (3) of a piece of furniture, which comprises a central part (9) which defines a longitudinal axis (X1) and four support parts (10) which are mounted in pivot connection with respect to the central part (9) along four pivot axes (X2). Each support part (10) comprises two parts, each on one side of the pivot axis (X2). The first part comprises a support point (6) on the ground. The four support parts (10) are configured so that the second parts have their second distal ends arranged respectively in correspondence with and above the first distal ends of the first juxtaposed parts of the neighboring support parts. The base (3) comprises four connecting members (25) arranged respectively between the first distal ends and the second juxtaposed distal ends.The connecting member (25) is deformable under stress and capable of returning to its initial state after deformation and in the absence of stress. Abstract figure: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Furniture base and furniture equipped with such a base. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of furniture, in particular tables or seats such as chairs or stools. The invention relates more particularly to a furniture base which comprises a stabilization system allowing it to properly rest on the ground despite differences in level on this ground (unevenness defects, holes, grooves, spacing between tiles or floorboards, paving stones, coping stones, etc.). Thus, the base advantageously makes it possible to compensate for imperfections in the ground to prevent the furniture from being unstable. State of the art

[0002] Bases equipped with a stabilization system are known to those skilled in the art, the patent application and the following patents illustrate some embodiments: EP2515713B1, EP2908694B1, EP3510892A1 and FR2607878B1. Thus, this type of base comprises a central part, which may include a base, which defines a longitudinal axis extending more or less vertically and four support parts which are mounted in pivot connection with respect to the central part, according to four respective pivot axes arranged in a cross between them and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Each support part comprises a first part which extends on one side of the pivot axis of said support part and a second part which extends on the other side of said pivot axis. The first part comprises at its distal end a ground support point and the second part comprises a connection point with a first juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece.This connection point is configured primarily to transmit the pivoting of one support piece to the neighboring support piece, and so on, so that the four support points come into contact with the ground, but also to hold the four support pieces together to prevent their first parts from pivoting downwards when the base is lifted and the four support points leave the ground (except for the embodiment described in EP3510892A1). Thus, successively, the second parts of the four support pieces are respectively connected to the juxtaposed first parts of the four neighboring support pieces.These four connection points between the support pieces and the pivot connection assembly of said support pieces relative to the central piece make it possible to accept a deformation of the quadrilateral formed by the four support points in contact with the ground, thus allowing the four support points to correctly stabilize the base on the ground despite possible defects in its flatness.

[0003] The connecting member arranged between a second part of a support piece and a first juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece, at said connecting point, is designed to absorb the deformation of the quadrilateral formed by the four support points, in order to avoid or, at least, limit the buckling and / or twisting of the support pieces during said deformation. In the case of patent EP2515713B1, according to one embodiment, this connecting member consists of a rivet mounted floating between the second part of a support piece and a first juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece. In patent EP2908694B1, the connecting member is formed of a stud on the second part of a support piece and an oblong hole on the first juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece, the oblong hole receiving the stud.In patent application EP3510892A1, the connecting member consists of a point or linear support of a lower face of the second part of a support piece, on an upper face of a first juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece. In patent FR2607878B1, the connecting member is formed of a ball joint, a rigid pivot axis or an elastically deformable stud in place of the rigid axis, the stud allowing, on the one hand, a pivoting of the second part of a support piece relative to the first juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece, along a pivoting axis defined by said stud, parallel to the pivoting axis of said support piece and, on the other hand, a slight deformation of said stud to slightly translate the second part of the support piece relative to the first juxtaposed part of the neighboring support piece, along a plane perpendicular to said pivoting axis defined by said stud.

[0004] The Applicant observes that these various designs of a base equipped with a stabilization system are not optimal, both from the point of view of absorbing the deformations of the quadrilateral formed between the four support points and from the point of view of the simplicity of assembly of the parts of the base. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to optimize the design of the base to enable it to more easily absorb the deformations of the quadrilateral formed by the four support points on the ground, by preventing or, at least, limiting the buckling and / or twisting of the support parts. Another objective is also to facilitate the assembly of the parts of the base. Another objective is also to limit the floor space occupied by the base, in particular with the aim of allowing users to properly position their legs without being hindered and also to facilitate the storage of chairs under a top, in the case where the base is a table. When the furniture is a table, another objective is also to allow several tables to be stored together while limiting the space taken up.

[0006] The present invention implements a base of furniture, which comprises a central part which defines a longitudinal axis defined more or less vertically and four support parts which are mounted in pivot connection with respect to the central part according to four respective pivot axes arranged in a cross between them and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Each support part comprises a first part which extends on one side of the pivot axis of said support part and a second part which extends on the other side of said pivot axis. The first part comprises at a first distal end a support point on the ground. According to the invention, the four support parts are configured so that the second parts have their second distal ends arranged respectively in correspondence with and above the first distal ends of the first juxtaposed parts of the neighboring support parts.Furthermore, the base comprises four connecting members arranged respectively between the first distal ends and the second juxtaposed distal ends. Each connecting member comprises a first block configured to be fixed to a first distal end by means of first assembly means, a second block configured to be fixed to a second distal end by means of second assembly means, the second block being placed above the first block, the first block and the second block being linked together by a connecting element deformable under stress and capable of returning to its initial state after deformation and in the absence of stress.

[0007] This design promotes the work of the shear connection element when the four support points rest on a ground having unevenness, thus preventing or, at least, reducing the buckling of the support pieces. The central piece can take different forms, for example: a post at a lower end of which the four support pieces are pivotally mounted, said post possibly being able to comprise a base which, in this case, pivotally receives said four support pieces; a square or rectangular frame, each side of the frame pivotally receiving a respective support piece; a circular base on the periphery of which the four pivotally mounted support pieces are uniformly distributed.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, the central part has the shape of a post having in a cross-sectional plane a square section, the lower end of the post receiving on its four faces, in pivot connection along the four pivot axes, the four support pieces. A variant would be possible with a central part comprising a square or rectangular frame which pivotally receives the four support pieces or comprising one or more posts whose end(s) are subject to a base which pivotally receives the four support pieces.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, the four support pieces each have the general shape of an isosceles trapezoid comprising a first branch constituting the first part of the support piece, a second branch constituting the second part of the support piece and a small base which is mounted in pivot connection on the central piece by means of pivot connection means. This design has the advantage of arranging the first branches and the second branches juxtaposed, close to each other extending from the central piece, which reduces the floor space taken up by the furniture, favoring for example the positioning of the legs below the top of a table when the person sits at the table, or even the positioning of a chair under the table top. Variants with other forms of support pieces remain conceivable while remaining within the scope of the present invention.

[0010] Preferably, according to this aforementioned embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, the first branch comprises a first distal part which gradually narrows in height with a downward inclination of its upper face, said first distal part being folded towards the outside of the first branch to shift the first distal end outwards from a rectilinear trajectory of the first branch.Furthermore, the second branch comprises a second distal portion which gradually narrows in height with an upward inclination of its lower face, said second distal portion being bent outwardly of the second branch to offset outwardly the second distal end of a rectilinear trajectory of the second branch, so that a first branch of a support piece and a second juxtaposed branch of a neighboring support piece, the respective distal ends of which are assembled by means of a connecting member, are maintained with a spacing between them. This design advantageously makes it possible to arrange the first branches in proximity to the second juxtaposed branches, more or less parallel to each other, while maintaining a slight spacing between the first branches and the second juxtaposed branches, thus optimizing the reduction of the floor space taken up by the base.This slight spacing makes it possible to define a maximum degree of freedom of the support pieces between them, without any buckling or twisting, the displacements between the support pieces being absorbed by the connecting members, which thus makes it possible to accept a greater deformation of the deformable quadrilateral formed by the four support points on the ground, when said ground has more significant imperfections. The upper faces of the first distal parts and the lower faces of the second distal parts come into contact beyond a displacement tolerance between the support pieces, in order to limit the maximum deformation of the connecting member and not to exceed its deformation capacities, which prevents it from being damaged.An alternative embodiment remains possible without folding the first and second distal parts of the first and second branches, that is to say by keeping the first and second branches straight over their entire length, thus facilitating the . design, in which case only the distal ends will be offset from the straight paths of the branches to still maintain this slight spacing between the first and second branches of the support pieces.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, the first block comprises an upper face and the second block comprises a lower face, said upper and lower faces being in contact with each other. A variant remains however conceivable by maintaining a spacing between the upper face and the lower face, which will however have the effect of allowing a certain mobility between the first part of a support piece and the second juxtaposed part of a neighboring support piece, for example when a thrust towards the ground is exerted on said base when people lean on a tabletop, in the case where said base is that of a table. In the presence of a spacing, this will preferably be minimized, for example less than 5 mm, in order to limit its influence.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, the connecting element is made of a material overmolding the first block and the second block. This connecting element is preferably made of an elastomeric material, for example rubber.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, the first block and the second block each comprise a thread and the first distal end and the second distal end each comprise a through hole allowing the passage of a fixing screw which is screwed onto the thread, for fixing the first distal end to the first block and the second juxtaposed distal end of the neighboring support piece to the second block. This design facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the support pieces of the base, for example for their restoration or the replacement of one of the pieces. Other means of fixing between the first and second distal ends and the connecting members remain conceivable, while remaining within the scope of the invention.For example, the threads could be replaced by threaded rods on the first block and the second block, the fixing of the first distal end and the second distal end being done by means of nuts screwing onto said threaded rods.

[0014] The invention also relates to furniture comprising a base which has one or other of the characteristics mentioned above. According to a first embodiment, this furniture is a table comprising a top, a lower face of which is fixed to the central part of the base. According to a second embodiment, the furniture is a seat, a lower face of which is fixed to the central part of the base. Brief description of the figures

[0015] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the desc- following description based on figures, including:

[0016] [Fig. 1] illustrates a table-type piece of furniture which is placed on a floor which has a lack of flatness;

[0017] [Fig.2] illustrates a preferred embodiment of the base which is the subject of the invention, implemented on the table of [Fig.l] or which can be implemented on other furniture, for example a seat;

[0018] [Fig.3] illustrates another view of the base of [Fig.2];

[0019] [Fig.4] illustrates the pivot connection assembly of the four support pieces on the part central part of the base of the previous figures;

[0020] [Fig.5] illustrates a support piece implemented on the base of the previous figures;

[0021] [Fig.6] illustrates another view of the support piece of [Fig.5];

[0022] [Fig.7] illustrates a first embodiment of the connecting member;

[0023] [Fig.8] illustrates a second embodiment of the connecting member. Detailed description

[0024] In the remainder of the description, terms such as "top", "bottom", "under", "above", "lower", "upper"... which could be used, will be used in consideration of the normal position of the furniture and its base resting on the ground. In the remainder of the description, the same references are used to designate the same characteristics according to the different embodiment variants. Similarly, the same reference may be used to designate the same type of part on the base.

[0025] In [Fig.l], the furniture is a table 1 which comprises a top 2 and a base 3 which is fixed to a lower face 4 of said top 2. For example, the base 3 will comprise a plate 5 (shown schematically in dashed lines in [Fig.3]) which will be fixed by bolting to the lower face 4. The base 3 comprises four support points 6 which rest suitably on a floor 7 having a lack of flatness, thanks to the presence of a stabilization system 8 on said base 3. These four support points 6 thus define a deformable quadrilateral. The plate 5 may be configured to allow the top 2 to tilt into a more or less vertical position, as is already known on certain tables intended for restaurateurs or cafe owners, which will allow the tables 1 to be stored with the tops 2 in a vertical position, by overlapping the bases 3 one inside the other.

[0026] [Fig.2] to [Fig.6] describe a preferred embodiment of the base 3 implemented on the table 1 of [Fig.l]. The base 3 could be implemented on other types of furniture, in particular a seat (not illustrated). The base 3 comprises a central part 9 which is in the form of a post having in a cross-sectional plane a square section. This central part 9 defines a longitudinal axis XI which is vertical when the ground 8 is flat or when the four support points 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d (referenced 6 in [Fig.5] and in [Fig.6]) are defined in a horizontal support plane and more or less vertical when said four support points 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are defined in a plane slightly inclined relative to a horizontal plane. The base 3 comprises four support pieces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d (referenced 10 in [Fig.5] and in [Fig.6]) which each have the shape of an isosceles trapezoid with a first branch 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d (referenced 11 in [Fig.5] and in [Fig.6]), a second branch 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d (referenced 12 in [Fig.5] and in [Fig.6]) and a small base 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d (referenced 13 in [Fig.5] and in [Fig.6]).

[0027] As illustrated in particular in [Fig.5] and [Fig.6] showing a support piece 10, the first branch 11 comprises a first distal part 14 which is narrowed and which comprises an upper face 15 which is inclined downwards, the first distal part 14 ending, at the level of the first distal end 16 of the first branch 11, by a first stud 17, preferably cylindrical, which has a first through hole 18 for the passage of a first fixing screw (not illustrated). This first stud 17 receives at its lower end 17a, by fitting or by screwing into the first through hole 18, an end piece 19 preferably made of plastic or elastomeric material, for example rubber, and coming into contact with the ground 7. This first distal part 14 is folded outwards relative to a rectilinear trajectory of the rest of the first branch 11, as shown in particular in [Fig.6].In a comparable manner, the second branch 12 comprises a second distal portion 20 which is narrowed and which comprises a lower face 21 which is inclined upwards, the second distal portion 20 ending, at the level of the second distal end 22 of the second branch 12, by a second stud 23, preferably cylindrical, which has a second through hole 24 for the passage of a second fixing screw (not illustrated). In [Fig. 5], a connecting member 25 (referenced 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d in [Fig. 2]) is shown fixed to a lower end 23a of the second stud 23, the fixing being done by means of the second fixing screw. This connecting member 25 will also be fixed to an upper end 17b of the first stud 17 of a neighboring support piece 10. Thus, this connecting member 25 can be easily replaced in the event of deterioration, with use.

[0028] With particular reference to [Fig.4] and [Fig.5], the small base 13 comprises an orifice 26 which defines an axis X2 for pivoting the support piece 10 relative to a face 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, at the lower end 9a of the central piece 9, this orifice 26 allowing the passage of a screw 28 and the holding of the support piece 10, fixed to the central piece 9, by means of a nut 29. Two washers 30, 31 are placed respectively tively on the external side and on the internal side of said face 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, the washer 30 on the external side facilitating the pivoting of the support piece 10 relative to the face 27a; 27b, 27c, 27d which receives it, while preventing direct friction between the support piece 10 and the central piece 9. This washer 30 can also be replaced by a needle bearing stop or other roller bearings, for example.

[0029] With particular reference to [Fig. 2] illustrating the base 3, the first distal end 16a of the first branch 11a of the first support piece 10a is assembled with the second distal end 22b of the second branch 12b of the second support piece 10b, the second distal end 22b being placed above the first distal end 16a and connected to it by means of a first connecting member 25a, the first branch 11a and the second branch 12b being juxtaposed, with a slight spacing between them, and more or less parallel.Successively, the first distal end 16b of the first branch 11b of the second support piece 10b is assembled with the second distal end 22c of the second branch 12c of the third support piece 10c, the second distal end 22c being placed above the first distal end 16b and connected to it by means of a second connecting member 25b, the first branch 11b and the second branch 12c being juxtaposed, with a slight spacing between them, and more or less parallel.Successively, the first distal end 16c of the first branch 11e of the third support piece 10c is assembled with the second distal end 22d of the second branch 12d of the fourth support piece 10d, the second distal end 22d being placed above the first distal end 16c and connected to it by means of a third connecting member 25c, the first branch 11e and the second branch 12d being juxtaposed, with a slight spacing between them, and more or less parallel.Successively, the first distal end 16d of the first branch 11d of the fourth support piece 10d is assembled with the second distal end 22a of the second branch 12a of the first support piece 10a, the second distal end 22a being placed above the first distal end 16d and connected to it by means of a fourth connecting member 25d, the first branch 11d and the second branch 12a being juxtaposed, with a slight spacing between them, and more or less parallel.

[0030] With reference to [Fig. 7] and [Fig. 8], illustrating two variants of the connecting member 25, said connecting member 25 comprises a first block 32, a second block 33 and a connecting element 34 which is preferably made of an elastomeric material, for example rubber, providing deformability to the connecting element 34 under stress and a capacity to return to its initial shape when the stress ceases. The connecting element 34 is preferably overmolded onto the first block 32 and onto the second block 33. In [Fig. 7], the upper face 32a of the first block 32 is in contact with the lower face 33a of the second block 33. In [Fig. 8], the upper face 32a of the first block 32 is spaced from the lower face 33a of the second block 33, the material of the connecting element 34 filling said space 35. The first block 32 comprises a thread 36 opening onto the lower face 37 of the connecting member 25, this thread 36 receiving the first fixing screw (not shown) for fixing the first stud 17 to said connecting member 25. Preferably, the first fixing screw will be arranged on the end piece 19 and will pass through the through hole 17 on the stud 17 in order to screw onto the thread 36 of the first block 32. Similarly, the second block 33 comprises a thread 38 opening onto the upper face 39 of the connecting member 25, this thread 38 receiving the second fixing screw (not shown) for fixing the second stud 23 to said connecting member 25.

[0031] When the end pieces 19 of the four support points 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d rest on a ground 7 having a defect in flatness, the four support pieces 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d connected to each other by means of the four connecting members 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d adjust their positions by pivoting respectively around their pivot axes X2a, X2b, X2c, X2d which are cross-shaped and which are perpendicular to the axis XI defining the longitudinal direction of the central piece 9, thus allowing them to keep the four support points 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d properly supported on the ground 7. The connecting element 34 of each connecting member 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d works in shear during this adjustment, thus avoiding the buckling of the first branches 1 la, 11b, 1 le, 1 Id and second branches 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the four support pieces 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd.The spacing left between a first branch 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d and a second branch 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, juxtaposed, furthermore allows movements between these branches without risk of buckling thereof. In the event of excessive movement between a first branch 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d and second branch 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, the upper face 15 of the first distal part 14 and the lower face 21 of the second distal part 20 come into contact with each other, thus preventing excessive deformation, beyond its breaking limit, of the connecting element 34 on the connecting member 25.

[0032] In a variant, the first branches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d and the second branches 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d may have their first distal parts 14 and their second distal parts 20 without any bending, that is to say that said first and second branches will be rectilinear over their entire length, in which case only the first stud 17 at the first distal end 16 will be offset from the rectilinear trajectory of the first branch 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d towards the external side of the first distal part 14 and only the second stud 23 at the second distal end 22 will be offset from the rectilinear trajectory of the second branch 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d towards the external side of the second distal part 20, the connecting member 25 being placed between the two studs 17, 23, which will also maintain a spacing between the first branch 11a, 11b, 11c, lldetla second branch 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d juxtaposed.

[0033] The base 3 can be implemented on various pieces of furniture. In [Fig.l], the furniture is a table 1, in particular a table intended for restaurateurs or cafe owners, but the base 3 could be implemented on a seat, in particular a chair or a stool. The furniture could also be a support to raise an object and prevent it from resting directly on the ground. It would also be possible to replace the end pieces 19 at the four support points 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d with casters (not illustrated). The end piece 19 could also be replaced by a support foot of the screw-on jack type which is commercially available.

[0034] The support pieces 10 and the central piece 9 of the base 3 will preferably be made of a metallic material, for example stainless steel or aluminum, plastic materials or wood can also be considered.

[0035] The base 3 according to the invention will be implemented by furniture manufacturers and may call upon the skills of boilermakers, cabinetmakers or plastics specialists, depending on the materials used, in particular for the support pieces 10 and the central piece 9.

Claims

Claims

1. Base (3) of a piece of furniture, which comprises a central part (9) which defines a longitudinal axis (XI) and four support parts (10) which are mounted in pivot connection with respect to the central part (9) according to four respective pivot axes (X2) arranged in a cross between them and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (XI), each support part (10) comprising a first part which extends on one side of the pivot axis (X2) of said support part (10) and a second part which extends on the other side of said pivot axis (X2), the first part comprising at a first distal end a support point (6) on the ground, characterized in that the four support parts (10) are configured so that the second parts have their second distal ends arranged respectively in correspondence with and above the first distal ends of the first juxtaposed parts of the support parts neighbors,and in that said base (3) comprises four connecting members (25) arranged respectively between the first distal ends and the second juxtaposed distal ends, each connecting member (25) comprising a first block (32) configured to be fixed to a first distal end by means of first assembly means, a second block (33) configured to be fixed to a second distal end by means of second assembly means, the second block (33) being placed above the first block (32), the first block (32) and the second block (33) being linked together by a connecting element (34) deformable under stress and capable of returning to its initial state after deformation and in the absence of stress.,

2. Base (3) according to claim 1, in which the central part (9) has the shape of a post having in a cross-sectional plane a square section, the lower end (9a) of the post receiving on its four faces (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d), in pivot connection along the four pivot axes (X2a, X2b, X2c, X2d), the four support parts (10).

3. Base (3) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the four support pieces (10) each have the general shape of an isosceles trapezoid comprising a first branch (11) constituting the first part of the support piece, a second branch (12) constituting the second part of the support piece and a small base (13) which is mounted in a pivot connection on the central piece (9) by means of pivot connection means.

4. A base (3) according to claim 3, wherein the first branch (11) comprises a first distal portion (14) which gradually narrows in height with a downward inclination of its upper face (15), said first distal portion (14) being bent outwardly of the first branch to offset outwardly the first distal end (16) of a rectilinear path of the first branch (11), and wherein the second branch (12) comprises a second distal portion (20) which gradually narrows in height with an upward inclination of its lower face (21), said second distal portion (20) being bent outwardly of the second branch (12) to offset outwardly the second distal end (22) of a rectilinear path of the second branch (12), so that a first branch (11) of a support piece and a second branch (12) juxtaposed of a neighboring support piece, the distal ends of which (16,22) respective are assembled by means of a connecting member (25), are maintained with a spacing between them.,

5. Base (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the first block (32) comprises an upper face (32a) and the second block (33) comprises a lower face (33a), said upper and lower faces being in contact with each other.

6. Base (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the connecting element (34) is made of a material overmolding the first block (32) and the second block (33).

7. Base (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the first block (32) and the second block (33) each comprise a thread (36, 38) and the first distal end (16) and the second distal end (22) each comprise a through hole (18; 24) allowing the passage of a fixing screw which is screwed onto the thread (36, 38) for fixing the first distal end (16) with the first block (32) and the second distal end (22) juxtaposed with the neighboring support piece with the second block (33).

8. Furniture comprising a base (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Furniture according to claim 8, which is a table (1) comprising a top (2) of which a lower face (4) is fixed to the central part (9) of the base (3).

10. Furniture according to claim 8, which is a seat of which one face in- lower part is fixed to the central part (9) of the base (3).

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