MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE

Description

International Class: A -1'1 S Description of the invention entitled: "MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNITURE" in the name of L'O DI GIOTTO Srl, of Italian nationality with headquarters in Via Corella 11, 31040 MEDUNA DI LIVENZA (TV). dep. the 2 3 SH, 2004 aln SCOPE OF APPLICATION The present invention refers to a multifunctional piece of furniture comprising a frame at the bottom, internally defining a containment compartment, and a top at the top capable of being selectively brought into an inclined position to perform the function of a lectern, allowing the support of a book, a magazine, a newspaper or other document. The multifunctional piece of furniture according to the invention is particularly suitable for use as a bedside table or as a trolley, but its intended use can also vary in relation to the size in which it is made. STATE OF THE ART There are various pieces of furniture known such as bedside tables or trolleys comprising at least one compartment The agent GIAN CARLCKDAL FORNO (for tgA pdrgTi others) STUDIO|gLP Srl P.le Cavedalis, 6 / 2 - 33100 UDINE containment and an upper support surface. These pieces of furniture can be used in rooms also intended for reading, such as bedrooms, living rooms, waiting rooms or similar, so that the reader can use their upper support surface to place the document to be read. The configuration of such furniture, however, forces the reader to assume an uncomfortable and incorrect posture which can cause discomfort and pain, especially if maintained for a long period. The purpose of this invention is to create a multifunctional piece of furniture, for example to be used as a bedside table, trolley or similar, which can simultaneously perform the function of container and allow the placing of books, magazines or newspapers in a position that allows comfortable reading by the user. The Applicant, in order to solve the drawbacks of the known art, in order to achieve the aforementioned purpose and obtain further advantages, has designed and implemented the present invention. EXHIBITION OF THE FINDING The present invention is essentially expressed and characterized in the main claim. [the others) tP Srl Other innovative features of the invention are expressed in the secondary claims. The multifunctional piece of furniture according to the invention comprises a frame, within which a containment compartment is obtained, and an upper support surface defined by a reclining plane capable of selectively assuming a lowered, substantially horizontal position, and at least one inclined position in which it performs the function of a lectern. In a preferential solution, the reclining plane is able to assume a plurality of positions inclined according to predefined angles and is mounted in an oscillating manner on a sliding, substantially horizontal plane, associated with guiding and sliding means fixed to the frame. In particular, the reclining table is hinged at the front on a raised edge fixed to the sliding table. In one embodiment of the invention, this sliding plane is able to translate frontally with respect to the frame. According to a variant, the sliding plane is able to translate laterally with respect to this frame. In a preferred implementation, the plan reclining chair comprises a main portion and a secondary portion, of smaller extension, hinged to said main portion; the secondary portion is able to be folded backwards with respect to the main portion and to be inserted below into at least one corresponding recess to act as a strut, or support, and to lock the main portion in the inclined position. Advantageously, the sliding plane features a plurality of recesses for inserting the secondary portion, which allow the main portion to be selectively locked in a plurality of inclined positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the main portion is substantially "U" shaped and the secondary portion has a complementary shape to it, so that in its lowered position the reclining plane has a quadrilateral shape. According to a variant, the reclining table is associated with rod means capable of extending above it when it is in the inclined position, so as to allow the support of large reading documents. In a preferred embodiment, the rod means are hinged to the reclining plane and are selectively extractable from their respective concealed housing seats obtained on the reclining plane itself. ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features of the present invention will appear clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, provided by way of example, not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings in which: - Fig. 1 shows a front axonometric view of a multifunctional piece of furniture according to the invention in a first configuration of use; - Fig. 2 shows a rear axonometric view of the multifunctional piece of furniture in Fig. 1; - Fig. 3 shows the multifunctional piece of furniture in Fig. 1 in a second configuration of use; - Fig. 4 shows the rear axonometric view of the multifunctional piece of furniture in Fig. 3; - fig. 5 illustrates the multifunctional piece of furniture fig. 1 in use; a third configuration of fig. 6 illustrates the rear axonometric view of the multifunctional cabinet of fig. 5; - fig. 7 illustrates the multifunctional piece of furniture fig. 1 in a fourth usage configuration; - fig. 8 shows the axonometric view rear of the multifunctional cabinet in fig. 7; - Fig. 9 shows a partially exploded view of a multifunctional furniture according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to the attached figures, the number 10 generally indicates a multifunctional piece of furniture according to the present invention. This multifunctional piece of furniture 10 comprises a box-shaped frame 11 internally defining a storage compartment in which, in this case, two drawers 12 are housed. In the preferential solution illustrated, the The agent box-shaped frame 11 is mounted on four wheels 13 which allow the multifunctional piece of furniture 10 to be moved; advantageously, the front wheels 13 are equipped with respective brakes 17. Above the box frame 11 there are two ball guides 14 on which a sliding plane 15 is mounted which can be translated frontally with respect to the box frame 11 itself, so that it can be moved from a rearward position (figs. 1 and 2) in which it is arranged superimposed on the box frame 11, to a completely forward position (figs. 7 and 8) in which it is arranged as a cantilever with respect to the box frame 11. The sliding surface 15 has a raised edge 16 on the front and, from the rear side towards this raised edge 16, three transverse recesses respectively first 18a, second 18b and third 18c. Advantageously, the ball guides 14 are housed concealed in corresponding grooves 19 obtained on the lower side of the sliding surface 15 (fig. 9). On the sliding plane 15 there is a reclining plane 20 which can rotate with respect to a substantially horizontal axis, so that it can be arranged selectively or in a position The agent lowered, in which it is superimposed on the sliding surface 15 and takes on the function of a horizontal support surface (figs. 1 and 2), or in three different inclined positions (figs. 3+8), according to three different angles defined, as will be explained later, by the three transverse recesses 18a, 18b and 18c, in which it takes on the function of a lectern. In the preferential solution illustrated, the reclining surface 20 comprises a panel, or main portion, 20a, shaped like a "U" and hinged in correspondence with the raised edge 16 of the sliding surface 15, and a tablet, or secondary portion, 20b hinged on said panel 20a, so as to be foldable independently of it. In particular, when the reclining plane 20 is in the lowered position, the tablet 20b is positioned inside the recess defined by the "U" shape of the panel 20a, so as to be coplanar with respect to the latter. When the reclining plane 20 is raised, the tablet 20b is able to be folded backwards and inserted, with the end opposite to the hinge end, inside one of the three transverse recesses 18a, The agent GIAN CARLCkBAL FORNO (by others) 18b, 18c of the sliding plane 15, thus performing the function of a strut to support the panel 20a in an inclined position. The panel 20a can therefore assume a different inclination depending on the specific transverse recess 18a, 18b or 18c in which the tablet 20b is inserted. The panel 20a has, on the side opposite to the hinge to the raised edge 16, two slots 22 inside which two rods 21 are hidden. The two rods 21 are hinged to the panel 20a and are capable of rotating to extend above it, to allow for example the support of large newspapers or magazines. Advantageously, the two rods 21 are designed to be rotated to selectively assume different predefined positions depending on the size of the document placed on the reclining plane 20. The multifunctional piece of furniture 10 according to the invention can therefore assume different configurations of use according to the user's needs. For example, in the configuration illustrated in figs. 1 and 2, with the sliding plane 15 placed in the rear position and the reclining plane 20 The agent GIAN CARLO DM FORNO (for six^rhjéothers) in the lowered position, the multifunctional piece of furniture 10 can be used as a normal storage unit, using the reclining top 20 as an upper support surface. In another configuration (figs. 3 and 4), the multifunctional piece of furniture 10, with the sliding top 15 only partially advanced, the reclining top 20 slightly inclined and the rods 21 only partially extracted, can be used, in addition to being a container, also as a lectern to support a book. In the configuration shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the reclining surface 20 is more inclined and the rods 21 are further extended, the multifunctional piece of furniture 10 can also be used as a lectern for holding large magazines or newspapers. In the configuration illustrated in figs. 7 and 8, the greater advancement of the sliding plane 15, the greater inclination of the reclining plane and the total extraction of the rods 21 allow reading in a more comfortable position, for example even if the user is bedridden. It is clear, however, that modifications can be made to the multifunctional piece of furniture 10 described up to now. GIAN C^LQDM FORNO (parse ÀffimTa / tr / ) ST^ÓIQ SLP Srl P.le Cavedalis, 6 / 2 - 33100 UDINE and / or additions of parts, without thereby departing from the scope of this invention. For example, a greater number of transverse recesses may be provided on the sliding plane 15, so as to increase the tilting possibilities of the panel 20a of the reclining plane 20. Furthermore, a sliding plane 15 can be provided which can move laterally, rather than frontally. Alternatively, in place of the tablet 20b, different means can be provided to support the reclining surface 20. Furthermore, the multifunctional piece of furniture 10 may include doors in place of the drawers 12, or it may have an open frame and therefore define a visible storage compartment. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person skilled in the art will certainly be able to create many other equivalent forms of multifunctional furniture having the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore all falling within the scope of protection defined therein. The agent GIAN GAFTLO DAL FORNO (pprisà&pqrglì others)

Claims

CLAIMS 1 - Multifunctional piece of furniture comprising at least one frame (11), defining a storage compartment within it, and an upper support surface, characterised by the fact that said upper support surface is defined by at least one reclining plane (20) capable of selectively assuming a lowered, substantially horizontal position, and at least one inclined position in which it is capable of performing the function of a lectern. 2 - Multifunctional furniture as in claim 1, characterised in that said reclining surface (20) is capable of assuming a plurality of positions inclined according to predefined angles. 3 - Multifunctional furniture as in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said reclining plane (20) is mounted in an oscillating manner on a sliding plane (15), substantially horizontal, associated with guiding and sliding means (14) fixed to said frame (11). 4 - Multifunctional furniture as in claim 3, characterised in that said sliding surface (15) is capable of moving The agent frontally with respect to said frame (11). 5 - Multifunctional furniture as in claim 3, characterised in that said sliding surface (15) is capable of moving laterally with respect to said frame (11). 6 - Multifunctional furniture as in one or other of claims 3 and above, characterised in that said guiding and sliding means are constituted by ball guides (14). 7 - Multifunctional furniture as in claim 3 or 6, characterised in that said guiding and sliding means (14) are at least partially housed in conjugated seats (19) obtained on the lower side of said sliding surface (15). 8 - Multifunctional furniture as in one or other of claims 3 onwards, characterised in that, in said lowered position, said reclining surface (20) is arranged superimposed on said sliding surface (15). 9 - Multifunctional furniture as in one or other of the previous claims, characterised in that said reclining surface (20) is associated frontally with a raised edge (16). 10 - Multifunctional furniture as in claims 3 and 9, characterised in that said reclining plane (20) is hinged to said raised edge (16) which is fixed to said sliding plane (15). 11 — Multifunctional furniture as in one or other of the preceding claims, characterised in that said reclining surface (20) comprises a main portion (20a) and a secondary portion (20b) hinged to said main portion (20a), said secondary portion (20b) being able to be folded backwards with respect to said main portion (20a) and to be inserted below in at least one corresponding recess (18a, 18b, 18c) to perform the function of a strut, or support, and to block said main portion (20a) in the inclined position. 12 - Multifunctional furniture as in claims 2 and 11, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of recesses (18a, 18b, 18c) in which said secondary portion (20b) is suitable to be inserted to selectively lock said main portion (20a) in a plurality of inclined positions. 13 - Multifunctional furniture as in claims 3 and 11 or 12, characterized by the fact that said recesses (18a, 18b, 18c) are obtained on said sliding plane (15). 14 - Multifunctional furniture as in one or the other of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that said main portion (20a) is substantially "U" shaped and that said secondary portion (20b) has a complementary shape to said main portion (20a). 15 - Multifunctional furniture as in one or other of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises rod means (21) suitable for extending above said reclining surface (20) when the latter is in an inclined position to support large documents. 16 - Multifunctional furniture as in claim 15, characterised in that said rod means are hinged on said reclining surface (20) and are selectively extractable from relative concealed housing seats (22). 17 - Multifunctional furniture as in one or other of the previous claims, characterised in that said frame (11) is mounted on wheels (13). 18 - Multifunctional furniture essentially like The agent^ GIAN CpRLfiTSaopFORNO g(the others) described, with reference to the attached drawings. p. L'O DI GIOTTO Srl ds / gdf 09.22.2004 STUDIO GLP Srl P.le Cavedalis, 6 / 2 - 33100 UDINE