U.S. patent number 3,866,866 [Application Number 05/424,760] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-18 for collapsible fitting.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Robert Krause KG Zweiniederlassung Weilheim/Teck. Invention is credited to Karl Kneile.
United States Patent |
3,866,866 |
Kneile |
February 18, 1975 |
COLLAPSIBLE FITTING
Abstract
An articulated framework especially for retractably supporting a
typewriter in a desk, said framework including bracket members for
being fixed to a desk within a recess provided therein for
receiving the typewriter and each bracket member having a pair of
parallel links pivoted thereto with a typewriter support platform
pivotally connected to the other ends of the links for movement in
parallelism with itself between working and retracted positions.
Each bracket member is provided with a connecting flange laterally
offset therefrom which is fixed to the desk and the pairs of links
are interconnected to move in unison. Counterbalancing spring means
are provided to counterbalance the weight of the typewriter and
arresting means are provided for restraining the links while
supporting the platform in extended position.
Inventors: |
Kneile; Karl (Holzmaden/Teck,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Robert Krause KG Zweiniederlassung
Weilheim/Teck (Weilheim/Teck, DT)
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Family
ID: |
5864627 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/424,760 |
Filed: |
December 14, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 16, 1972 [DT] |
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2261733 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/660; 108/138;
248/585; 248/918; 312/24; 312/323 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
88/483 (20170101); A47B 88/497 (20170101); H05K
7/16 (20130101); A47B 46/005 (20130101); A47B
21/04 (20130101); A47B 2021/0328 (20130101); Y10S
248/918 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
46/00 (20060101); A47B 88/04 (20060101); H05K
7/16 (20060101); F16m 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/16,124,23,278,281
;211/97 ;108/138 ;312/24,30,208,272,323 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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86,167 |
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Oct 1920 |
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CH |
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17,842 |
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Jan 1930 |
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AU |
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Primary Examiner: Frazier; Roy D.
Assistant Examiner: Hafer; Robert A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Becker; Walter
Claims
1. A fitting adapted for connection to an article of furniture,
especially for supporting a machine such as a typewriter or the
like therein for movement between extended working and retracted
storage positions on the article of furniture, said fitting
comprising; two laterally spaced parallelogram bar systems each
comprising a bracket member, a connecting flange on each said
bracket member for connection thereof to the article of furniture,
a pair of parallel links pivotally connected at one end to each
bracket member, a support platform pivotally supported on the other
ends of said links and adapted for supporting a machine such as a
typewriter, at least one said connecting flange being offset
relative to the respective bracket member in a direction away from
the other bracket member, arresting means operatively disposed
between at least one bracket member and said links for retaining
said platform in extended working position, said links extending
outwardly from one end of said bracket members when supporting said
platform in working position and extending downwardly from said
bracket members when supporting said platform in storage position,
and means connecting corresponding links of said pairs of links to
cause the links to pivot on said bracket members in
2. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member
and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates
disposed in
3. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member
and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates
disposed in substantial parallelism, each said bracket member and
the pertaining connecting flange being substantially coextensive in
the longitudinal
4. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member
and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates
disposed in substantial parallelism, each said bracket member and
the pertaining connecting flange being substantially coextensive in
the longitudinal direction, said one connecting flange and the
respective bracket member being integral with each other and a
further flange extending therebetween in a plane substantially
perpendicular thereto and forming the connection
5. A fitting according to claim 1 which includes a shield member
mounted on the said one end of at least the bracket member
pertaining to said one
6. A fitting according to claim 1 which includes a bearing member
at the other end of at least one bracket member, and a
counterbalancing spring bearing at one end against said bearing and
at the other end cooperating with said parallel links for
counterbalancing a load supported on said
7. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member
and each said connecting flange are in the form of flat plates and
each connecting flange is offset from the pertaining bracket member
in a direction away from the bracket member, each bracket member
and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially parallel
and coextensive in the longitudinal direction, a lateral web
extending between each bracket member and the respective connecting
flange and connected to the bottom of the bracket member and to the
top of the connecting flange, and stiffening ribs formed in each
said web and the pertaining bracket member and connecting flange at
the junctures thereof for stiffening purposes.
8. A fitting according to claim 7 in which each bracket member has
a tab on the said other end thereof bent over toward the other
bracket member to form a support for the end of a counterbalancing
spring cooperating with said pairs of links to counterbalance a
load on said support platform, each bracket member having a shield
portion bent over in a direction away from the other bracket member
at the said one end of the bracket member, and ribs formed at the
juncture of each tab with the respective bracket
9. A fitting according to claim 1 in which said arresting means
comprises a shaft extending transversely between and supported on
said bracket members and disposed near the pivotal connection of a
respective link of each pair of links with the pertaining bracket
member, and hooks carried by said bar and engageable with the other
link of each pair of links when the links
10. A fitting according to claim 9 in which said hooks are closely
adjacent
11. A fitting according to claim 10 which includes abutment plates
on the sides of said bracket members which face each other and
adjacent the said one ends of said bracket members, each abutment
plate abutting at least one link of the adjacent pair of links when
the support platform is in
12. A fitting according to claim 11 in which each abutment plate
also includes an abutment surface engageable by the adjacent hook
when the hook is in arresting position, and spring means biasing
said hooks toward
13. A fitting according to claim 12 in which said spring means
comprises at least one spring connected between a said hook and the
adjacent abutment
14. A fitting according to claim 1 in which said means connecting
corresponding links of said pair of links comprises a bar extending
in the transverse direction between said bracket members and
fixedly connected at
15. A fitting according to claim 14 in which the ends of said bar
are connected to the said one link of each pair of links in the
region that the link is pivotally connected to the respective
bracket member.
Description
The present invention relates to a collapsible fitting for pivoting
supports out and into furniture, or the like, for instance
cupboards, which fitting is provided with two lateral parallelogram
linkage systems which are arranged on holding means, two guiding
means of which are positively interconnected by a bar within the
region of their linkage areas. Those ends of the bar which face
away from the holding means for the fitting have linked thereto
support holders and also have associated therewith an arresting
device for the pivoted-out position while the fitting holders form
connecting flanges for connection to the furniture, or the like,
and form bearing brackets for the guiding means of the
parallelogram rod systems. The above pivoting supports may, for
instance, have typewriters on a desk, parts of kitchen furniture,
or the like.
It is an object of the present invention so to design a collapsible
fitting of the above mentioned type that in spite of a simple
construction, an easy handling and assembly will be rather simple
so that the moveability of the guiding means will not be affected
even if on the inner sides of the furniture piece, or the like,
adjacent to the outward pivoting side there are provided parts
which protrude relatively far inwardly, such as hinges, locks, or
the like.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear
more clearly from the following specification, in connection with
the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a collapsible fitting
according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial section taken along the line II--II of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 represents a top view of the arrangement according to FIG.
2.
The above outlined object has been realized according to the
present invention by offsetting toward the outside the connecting
flange of at least one fitting holder relative to the pertaining
bearing bracket.
For purposes of obtaining a light construction, the bearing bracket
and the connecting flange are arranged in the form of plane plates
while they are located parallel to each other in two planes.
In order to assure as large a connecting surface as possible, the
bearing bracket and the connecting flange have in the longitudinal
direction of the pivoted out guiding means approximately equal
length.
Expediently, the bearing bracket and the connecting flange merge
with each other by a preferably strip-shaped connecting section
which is located at a right angle to said bearing bracket and
connecting flange, in such a way that a relative high strength will
be assured. The connecting bracket and the connecting flange may,
in a simple manner, form one single piece and preferably are made
of sheet metal.
According to a further development of the invention, the front end
of the fitting holder is provided with a shield which extends up to
the connecting plane of the connecting flange. This shield which is
preferably formed by the front angled-off end of the bearing
bracket so that it will be avoided in a simple manner that the
space between the outside of the bearing bracket and the oppositely
located inner surface of the furniture piece, or the like, is open
or can be seen from the outside. Furthermore, in this way, sharp
edges at the front end of the bearing bracket will be avoided.
Furthermore, at the rear end of the fitting holder, there may be
provided a counterbearing which is located on the inside of the
bearing bracket and is intended for a weight balancing spring
resting against the parallelogram linkage system, said weight
balancing spring being designed as pressure spring. This
counterbearing is, for purposes of a simple construction, formed
preferably by the rear angled-off end of the bearing bracket and
assures a safe support of the weight balancing spring.
For purposes of additionally increasing the strength of the fitting
holder in spite of a light construction, there are provided
strengthening ribs in the form of preferably inclined stiffening
corrugations or the like. These stiffening ribs are arranged in the
inwardly protruding angle between the bearing shield and the
connecting section and/or between the connecting flange and the
connecting section and/or between the bearing bracket and the
counterbearing. According to a still further development of the
invention, the arresting device has two arresting levers which are
located on those inner sides of the bearing bracket which face each
other. These arresting levers are interconnected through an
uninterrupted bearing bar which is located in the pivot axes of
said levers. Those ends of said bearing bar which protrude beyond
the arresting lever are axially displaceable and extend in a
rotatable manner through bores of the bearing brackets. Due to the
design of the fitting holders according to the invention, the
employment of such non-divided and thus structurally simple bearing
bar is possible without affecting the possibilities of the
equalizing of tolerance differences at the spacing of the
connecting surfaces of the furniture pieces, or the like. This is
due to the fact that the ends of the bearing rod may, due to their
bearing brackets being located at their outsides in spaced
relationship to the connecting planes can, more or less far, be
inserted into the bores of said bearing brackets.
Expediently, the bearing bar is located above the pivoted-out
guiding means, preferably in the uppermost front range of the
bearing brackets, while the arresting lever is located on those
inner sides of the guiding means which face each other, so that a
very simple assembly will be assured.
According to another suggestion, in conformity with the invention,
on the inner side of the respective bearing bracket above the upper
one of the pivoted-out guiding means, and in front of the linkage
area of said guiding means there is provided an abutment plate for
said guiding means which, in a simple manner, is formed by a part
which is bent out of the bearing bracket.
The abutment plate may additionally serve for locating the
arresting lever in its rest position when it has an abutment
surface for the pertaining arresting lever located in rest position
and is arranged preferably below the pivot axis of the arresting
lever and behind the respective arresting lever.
If the abutment plate has a preferably hook-shaped counterbearing
for a tension spring connected to the pertaining arresting lever,
the abutment plate may simultaneously also be employed for linkage
connection with the tension spring.
For further simplifying the construction of the fitting according
to the invention, a synchronous movement bar which in pivoted-out
position interconnects the upper guiding means, has its ends
directly connected to said guiding means, preferably by welding. A
favorable arrangement is obtained when said synchronous movement
bar is located adjacent to the pivoted axis, preferably on that
side of said synchronous movement bar which faces away from the
support holders, at the pertaining ends of the guiding means.
Referring now to the drawing in detail, FIG. 1 shows a collapsible
fitting according to the invention which comprises an image
symmetrically to the longitudinal plane of said fitting, fitting
holders 1 which respectively form a bearing bracket and a
connecting flange 3. The bearing bracket 2 and the connecting
flange 3 are connected to each other by means of a strip 4 which is
located at a right angle thereto. The plate-shaped bearing bracket
2 is offset relative to the pertaining connecting flange which is
plane and parallel to said bearing bracket 2 and, more
specifically, is offset in the direction to the oppositely located
fitting 1 by the width of the connecting strip 4. The bearing
bracket 2 is wider than the connecting flange 3 by approximately
twice the width of the connecting flange 3.
The front end 5 of the respective bearing bracket is angled-off
outwardly at a right angle in such a way that the end edge is
located approximately in the plane of the connecting surface of the
connecting flange 3 and forms a sight aperture (Sichtblende). The
connecting flange 3 thus slightly protrudes beyond the front end of
the bearing bracket 2 while this end of the connecting flange 3 has
a receiving bore 6 for a connecting screw, or the like.
Slightly adjacent to the rear end of the bearing bracket 2 on the
inner side thereof and in the immediate vicinity to the lower edge
there is linked a guiding means 7 by means of a pivot bearing bolt
8. This guiding means extends parallel to the bearing bracket 2 and
is located on the inner side thereof while having the form of a
flat bar. A second guiding means 9 is slightly above the bolt 8 and
closely adjacent to the front end of the respective bearing bracket
2 pivotably linked by means of a pivot bearing bolt 10. With the
guiding means 7 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the
holder 1, the guiding means 9 is parallel to said guiding means 7
and is located on the top side thereof. The pivot axes of the
guiding means 7, 9 are located at a right angle to the connecting
flanges 3.
At those ends of the guiding means 7, 9 which face away from the
bolts 8, 10 there is respectively linked thereto a carrier angle
11. The carrier angles 11 engage the inner sides of the guiding
means 7, 9, which inner sides face each other and are linked about
axles parallel to the bolts 8, 9 in such a way that a parallel rod
system is obtained. From the pivoted-out position illustrated in
FIG. 1, the carrier angles 11 to which, for instance, an apparatus
plate may be connected can be pivoted downwardly and backwardly
while the apparatus plate remains continuously in its horizontal
position.
To the rear ends of the guiding members 9 pivoted upwardly, there
is connected a synchronous movement bar 12 which is parallel to the
pivot axis of said guiding means 9 and extends over the width of
the collapsible fitting. The bar 12 has a rectangular cross
section. The bar 12 has its end surface 13 directly connected to
those inner sides of the guiding means 9 which face each other.
This connection may, for instance, be effected by welding. The bar
12 is located in the immediate vicinity of the pertaining pivot
bearing bolt 12 and, more specifically, on that side of bolt 10
which faces away from the carrying angle 11.
On that bottom side of bar 12 which occupies a horizontal position
when the fitting is pivoted out, and adjacent to the bearing
brackets 2 or the inner sides of the guiding means 7 there are
connected two downwardly extending arms 14. Each of these arms has
a counterbearing bolt 15 for a weight balancing spring 16 which is
arranged in a fork. The counterbearing bolts 15 are parallel to the
bolts 8, 10. The rear ends of the bearing brackets 2 are angled off
toward each other at a right angle in a such a way that they form
counterbearings 17 with an eye-shaped bushing 18. The weight
balancing springs 16 which are illustrated in FIG. 1 in a
non-assembled condition respectively comprise a profile guiding rod
19 which is equipped at its front end with a supporting disc 20 and
ahead thereof with a bearing member 21 and has displaceably guided
adjacent to its rear end a bearing disc 22. The disc 22 is
displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction of said guiding
bar 19. Between the disc 22 and the disc 20 there is provided a
helical pressure spring 23 which extends around the bar 19. The
rear end of the bar 19 is passed through a bore in the bushing 18
so that the disc or bearing ring 22 is pivotally located in the
bushing 18. The member 21 is brought into engagement with the bolt
15 so that the springs 23 will resiliently urge the collapsible
fitting toward the pivoted-out position.
On the inwardly protruding angles between the bearing bracket 2 and
the connecting strips 4 on one hand and the connecting flange and
the connecting strip 4 on the other hand, and also between the
bearing bracket 2 and the counter bracket 7 there are respectively
provided reinforcing ribs 24, 25 and 26 in the form of embossed
corrugations or beads which extend at an incline over the inwardly
projecting corner and bring about a considerably strengthening of
the fitting holder 1 bent out of sheet metal.
Above the upper guiding means 9 which is in its pivoted-out
position, there is in each bearing bracket 2 provided a passage
bore 27 for engagement by the ends 29 of a bearing bar 28 which may
be of a cylindrical design and which extends parallel to the pivot
axes of the guiding means 9, 7. Within the region of the inner
sides of the guiding means 7, 8, which inner sides face each other,
there is connected to the bearing bar 28 designed as a continuous
one piece, one arresting lever 30 each which extends downwardly.
This connection may be effected, for instance, by welding. Each
arresting lever 30 is, at its rearwardly pointing edge within the
region of its lower end provided with a recess 31 for the
engagement by an arresting bolt 32. Bolt 32 is provided on the
inner side of the pertaining guiding means 7 which occupies a lower
position when it is in its pivoted-out position. By means of this
arresting lever 30 the parallelogram bar system is safely held in
its pivoted-out position.
Between one of the two levers 30 and the pertaining guiding means 9
which in pivoted-out position is located in its upper position
there is on said guiding means 9 displaceably mounted a pull rod 33
which is approximately parallel to the guiding means 9. The pull
rod 33 is at that end thereof which is located behind the lever 30
provided with a follower bolt 34 in the path of movement of which
the lever 30 is located. The pull rod 33 extends up to the outside
of the pertaining carrier angle 11 and there is pivotally connected
to a pivotally mounted handle 35.
When the handle 35 is pulled forwardly, the levers 30 are taken
along and move into release position in which the arresting bolts
32 are released so that the fitting can be moved into its
pivoted-in position.
On that side of the pivot axle which faces toward the carrier
angles 11, said pivot axle being formed by the bolts 10, there is
provided directly above the guiding means 9 which in pivoted-out
position occupy an upper position, and on each bearing bracket 2,
an inwardly projecting plate 36, the inner longitudinal edge of
which has a plurality of steps. The foremost step surface 37 of the
plate 36 which extends at a right angle to the plane of the bearing
bracket 2 serves as abutment surface for the pertaining arresting
lever 30 so that the latter is precisely located in its arresting
position. The abutment plate 36 is to this end located below the
bearing bar 28. At the rear end, each bearing plate 36 has a
rearwardly extending hook-shaped extension 38 having suspended
therein a helical tension spring 39, the front end of which is
connected to the pertaining lever 30 in such a way that the
arresting levers 30 are by the two tension springs 39 urged toward
the arresting position.
The plates 36 may also be so located that the upper guiding means
9, when in pivoted-out position, abut the bottom sides of said
plates 36 and thus are secured against a further upward
movement.
It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is,
by no means, limited to the specific showing in the drawing, but
also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *