Folding furniture article

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding article of furniture. Said folding article of furniture comprises at least two interconnected adjacent surfaces capable of forming a common working surface when in a folded-out state. An edge part of the first adjacent surface is provided with a cylindrical depression. An edge part of the second adjacent surface is provided with a complementary cylindrical protuberance. The cylindrical protuberance is arranged in the depression, forming a hinge joint. The adjacent surfaces have a built-in system for locking the position thereof when pivoted relative to one another, comprising at least one locking element which is movably arranged inside holes that pass through the hinge joint. The technical result is directed toward enhancing the robustness and longevity of the joint.

Description

A folding piece of furniture Field of technology

[0001] This invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising at least two adjacent surfaces connected to each other, capable of forming a common work surface when unfolded. The piece is characterized in that a cylindrical recess is formed in the end portion of the first adjacent surface, and a complementary cylindrical projection is formed in the end portion of the second adjacent surface, wherein the cylindrical projection is located in the recess to form a hinged connection. Such an item may be a folding tabletop, shelf, or other folding furniture. Furthermore, this invention can be used as an element of folding furniture, such as a sofa, bed, wardrobe, and others. The list of applications is not limited to the examples given. State of the art

[0002] Inventions are known from the prior art that perform the function of unfolding surfaces connected by hinges into a single tabletop with elements that fix its position.

[0003] Document TWM316019U describes a table with a folding tabletop. The disadvantages of this system include uneven load distribution across the tabletop surface at the joints between its components.

[0004] The closest analog is the invention described in document WO2024172685A1. The transformable table has a tabletop with a built-in locking mechanism. The disadvantages of this tabletop include uneven load distribution across the surface where its components meet.

[0005] Thus, the objective of the present invention is to create a piece of furniture that addresses the problems of prior art technical solutions related to uneven load distribution on the tabletop at the ends of its component parts at the joints. Unlike the use of hinges, this invention offers the possibility of a more durable, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing connection between two adjacent surfaces. The essence of the invention

[0006] This invention is a folding piece of furniture comprising at least two adjacent surfaces connected to each other, capable of forming a common work surface when unfolded. The piece is characterized in that the end portion of the first adjacent surface comprises a cylindrical recess, while the end portion of the second adjacent surface comprises a complementary cylindrical projection, the cylindrical projection being positioned within the recess to form a hinged joint. Distribution of the load on the joint between the two adjacent surfaces along the entire length of the hinge makes this joint strong and durable.

[0007] In one version, the folding piece of furniture has a built-in position locking system.

[0008] In one embodiment, the folding piece of furniture has a locking system that includes at least one locking element located inside openings that pass through the hinge joint, with the ability to move the locking element inside.

[0009] In one version, the locking system is equipped with an automatic drive.

[0010] In one version, the folding piece of furniture has an automatic drive for rotating the surfaces relative to each other.

[0011] In one embodiment, a folding piece of furniture in which at least part of the automatic drive for rotating surfaces is part of a hinged joint.

[0012] In one embodiment, a folding piece of furniture contains stops that prevent the adjacent surfaces from shifting relative to each other along the hinge axis.

[0013] The present invention provides a folding piece of furniture comprising at least two adjacent surfaces connected to each other, with the ability to form a common work surface when unfolded, characterized in that a cylindrical recess is formed in the end portion of the first adjacent surface, while a complementary cylindrical protrusion is formed in the end portion of the second adjacent surface, wherein the cylindrical protrusion is located in the recess to form a hinged connection.

[0014] The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0015] Fig. 1 - perspective view of a folding piece of furniture in a folded state.

[0016] Fig. 2 - perspective view of a folding piece of furniture in an unfolded state.

[0017] Fig. 3 - perspective view of a folding piece of furniture with an automatic drive.

[0018] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a folded furniture item. This embodiment may be a folding tabletop shown folded, with adjacent surface 1 positioned horizontally and adjacent surface 2 positioned vertically. Adjacent surface 2 faces us with its end and the side that forms part of the overall work surface of the tabletop. Opposite to this, adjacent surface 1 faces us with its end and the back side to which cover 6 is attached, blocking access to the interior of adjacent surface 1. In this embodiment, adjacent surface 1 is connected to adjacent surface 2 along the entire length of the joint by engagement via a hinged joint formed by an embodiment of cylindrical protrusion 3 of adjacent surface 2 and an embodiment of recess 4 in adjacent surface 1. An embodiment of an opening for stopper 20 is provided in the end of the cylindrical protrusion. An embodiment of stopper 21 is shown above surface 1 in its unmounted position.On the rounding of the end part of the adjacent surface 1, variants of the openings for the locking elements 14 are shown. A view of the position locking system is shown in Figure 2. For clarity of the depiction of the position locking system, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the tabletop unfolded with the working surface down. Adjacent surfaces 1 and 2 are located horizontally and, due to the hinged connection, form a single tabletop. Adjacent surface 2 is shown without cover 6 for the convenience of presenting its internal part, in which a variant of the position locking system is located. Locking elements 7 are inserted into openings 14. To control the locking element 7, a rod 8, a rod guide 9, a rod handle 10, a bar 11, links 12, and a guide bar 13 are provided. All elements of the position locking system are located inside the adjacent surface 2 and, when assembled, are hidden under cover 6; only a part of the rod handle 10 is extended beyond the cover, as shown in Figure 3.To illustrate the automatic drive, Figure 3 shows the tabletop in perspective, with the work surface facing down, at the moment it begins to fold. Adjacent surface 1 is shown without cover 6. In this embodiment, automatic drive 16 is capable of rotating gear 17, which, through opening 18 in cylindrical recess 4 of the housing of adjacent surface 1, rotates cylindrical projection 3 due to the engagement of gear 17 with recesses 19 in cylindrical projection 3. Implementation of the invention

[0019] This invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising at least two adjacent surfaces connected to each other, capable of forming a common work surface when unfolded. The piece is characterized in that the end portion of the first adjacent surface comprises a cylindrical recess, while the end portion of the second adjacent surface comprises a complementary cylindrical projection, the cylindrical projection being positioned within the recess to form a hinged connection. This invention can function independently or as part of other pieces of furniture, adding shape-changing capabilities. Furniture with transformable features is essential for modern living, as foldable furniture allows for more efficient use of living space. One embodiment of this foldable piece of furniture will be described as a foldable tabletop.Figure 1 shows the assembled tabletop, with half of its work surface unoccupied by the user and positioned vertically, taking up no room. To prevent the adjacent surfaces from shifting relative to each other along the hinge axis, one option is to install at least one stopper 21 in the center of the end face of cylindrical projection 3 after the adjacent surfaces are joined together. This stopper is secured in a designated opening 20, preventing the hinge portion of adjacent surface 1 from shifting along the hinge axis. If necessary, the user can unfold the tabletop by rotating adjacent surface 2 to a horizontal position, lock this position using the locking system, and use the entire work surface. A variant of the locking system is shown in Figure 2, where the unfolded tabletop is in a locked position.In the fixed table top, the rod 8 is located inside the guide 9 in the extreme position as shown in Figure 2, the links 12 secured to the rod are at an angle close to a right angle with respect to the bar 11, which is located in its closest position to the hinge, and one or more locking elements 7 are located for the most part inside the holes 14. The locking elements 7 pass through all the walls of the hinge joint, blocking its rotation and fixing the horizontal position of the adjacent surface 2. In order to be able to rotate the table top, the user must move the rod 8 by the handle 10 to the opposite position inside the guide 9, which will lead to a change in the position of the links 12 and the bar 11, which will move along the guides 13 in the direction from the hinge to the rod 8, which will lead to a displacement of the locking elements 7 inside the holes 14 and, as a result, will unlock the hinge.Figure 2 shows only one guide 13, as the second is located on the opposite wall of adjacent surface 2 and is hidden behind the exterior in the presented view. The entire locking system is located within the tabletop, avoiding user distraction, taking up no additional space, and is safe for the user. It is also protected from external influences by the tabletop housing. To enable automatic rotation of adjacent surface 2, the folding piece of furniture is equipped with an automatic surface rotation drive. Figure 3 shows a variant of automatic drive 16 with the ability to rotate gear 17, which, through engagement with holes 19 in cylindrical projection 3, can rotate the adjacent surface at an angle specified by the drive.This automatic drive placement option allows all components to be located within the countertop, avoiding distraction, taking up less room, and protecting the drive mechanism from external influences within the countertop housing. Placing all mechanisms within the countertop makes it more appealing to the user.

[0020] Folding furniture can be manufactured from a variety of materials. In particular, the production of the main body of the adjacent surfaces using aluminum profile extrusion allows for a lightweight and thin tabletop, which is especially useful for interiors in various types of transport.

[0021] In addition to being used as a tabletop, the folding piece of furniture can be a shelf; in addition, this invention can be used as an element of folding furniture such as a sofa, bed, wardrobe or other items; the list of applications is not limited to the examples given.

[0022] For the sake of brevity and clarity, the invention's use as a countertop has been described above. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the use of this invention as a whole or its individual components is not limited to the situation described above.

Claims

A folding piece of furniture containing at least two adjacent surfaces connected to each other, with the ability to form a common work surface in the unfolded state, characterized in that a cylindrical recess is formed in the end portion of the first adjacent surface, while a complementary cylindrical projection is formed in the end portion of the second adjacent surface, wherein the cylindrical projection is located in the recess with the formation of a hinged connection, the adjacent surfaces have a built-in system for fixing the position when rotating relative to each other, which contains at least one locking element located inside the holes passing through the hinged connection, with the ability to move inside them. A folding piece of furniture according to claim 1, containing an automatic drive for rotating the surfaces relative to each other. A folding piece of furniture according to paragraphs 1-2, in which at least part of the automatic drive for rotating the surfaces is part of the hinge joint. A folding piece of furniture according to paragraphs 1-3 containing at least one stopper preventing the displacement of adjacent surfaces relative to each other along the hinge axis.

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