GB2375706A

GB2375706A - Table with reversible top

Info

Publication number: GB2375706A
Application number: GB0112398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Daley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-22
Filing date: 2001-05-22
Publication date: 2002-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-22
Also published as: GB2375706B; GB0112398D0

Abstract

A table having a base (11) and a reversible top (12) mounted on the base for rotation about a horizontal axis, the base having at least one side (22) opposing a side (23) on the top (12) substantially parallel to said axis, the two sides (22 and 23) being spaced apart by a gap (b)so that the side (22) on the base (11) lies outside of the arc (C) of rotation of the top (12). In order to mask the gap (b), the upper portion of the base side (22) is provided with a lip (24) which extends towards the top (12) to substantially fill the gap (b), and also lies outside of said arc (C) of rotation.

Description

Table with Reversible Top Field This invention relates to a table having a reversible portion set adjacent a fixed portion, particularly where the reversible portion serves two different functions.

Background of the Invention The invention relates to a table that is required to serve two functions and to this end the table top has one surface for one function and its other surface for the other function. As an example the table in one condition may have polished flat surface which when facing upwards serves as a dining table, and its second surface may present a games table when facing upwards.

A simple method of turning the table top is for the top to be rotatably mounted on a base and in the preferred system utilises an outer table base frame in which an inner table top is rotatably mounted. This leads to a problem in that in cross-section the distance across the diagonals of the table is greater than the horizontal width of the table so that as the table rotates from one condition to the other it may jam against the outer frame.

One method of overcoming this problem is to provide sufficient gap between the rotatable top and frame to

accommodate the rotational movement. However the gap may need to so wide that is would be unacceptable both aesthetically and practically for most applications.

Another solution is to provide matching curved sides to the top and frame, i. e convex sides on the top and concave sides on the frame, which have the same radius of curvature as the radius of rotation of the top. This turns out to be impractical since it is extremely difficult to accurately align and mount the top relative to the frame for unimpeded rotation.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved means for aesthetically fitting a reversible top to a frame.

Statements of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a table having a base and a reversible top rotatably mounted on the base for rotation about a horizontal axis, the base having at least one side opposing a side on the top parallel to said axis, the two sides being spaced apart by a gap so that said base side lies outside of the arc of rotation of the top, the upper portion of the base side having a lip which extends towards the top to substantially fill the gap, said lip also lying outside of said arc of rotation.

The base may have a rectangular frame with two sides

thereof located opposing respective sides on a rectangular top.

Preferably the or each lip is substantially triangular in section having an apex forming an edge which aligns with and is proximate a respective edge on the top, when the top is in at least one of its horizontal conditions.

Preferably the upper surface of the lip is substantially flush with an upper surface of the top when in said one condition. Said lip is preferably flush with either of the two surface of the top when either surface is in the upper condition.

A substantially flat inclined surface extends downwardly from the apex and away from the top at an angle such that said inclined surface lies outside of the arc of rotation of the top.

The lip may be integrally formed with the frame.

For a table having a rotatable top about 1 meter in width and about lOOmm in depth, the necessary gap between a side of the top and a support frame for unimpeded rotation will be about 6mm and the lip can reduce the visible gap between the top edges to between 1-3mm.

One side of the top may be a smooth flat surface, and the other side of the top may be a game board or surface.

Description of Drawings The invention will be described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an end view of a table with a rotatable top, Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the table of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a an enlargement showing detail from Fig. 2.

Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to the drawings there is shown a table base 11 having a rectangular frame 14 mounted on four corner legs 15. A reversible rectangular top 12 is mounted centrally within the rectangular frame 14 on a shaft /bearing assembly 16 located at each end of the frame at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical centrelines H-H and V-V respectively.

The top 12 rotates around the horizontal axis of the two shafts 16 and is held in a horizontal condition by retractable pins, plungers or other suitable fixing devices 17 also located at each end of the frame 14. The pins 17 may be resiliently biased to engage aligned holes within an end face of the top 12.

The top 12 may have one surface 18 which is flat for use as a conventional table top for dining etc. and its other surface 19 may be a games surface, a worksurface, or a sunken games area for example a snooker table, bar billiards table or a table of the type disclosed in GB-A- 2265 092 for miniature croquet.

The upper surface 21 of the outer frame 14 is arranged to be substantially flush with the two surfaces 18,19 of the top 12 when either surface 18 or 19 is in its upwardly directed horizontal condition and is fixed in that condition by the pins 17.

In order that the top 12 can rotate freely then the distance r which is the radius of the circle C i. e the diagonal distance between an upper edge 26 of the side of top 12 and the centre of rotation i. e the horizontal axis of the shafts 16 must be smaller than H, the height of the axis above the ground. Further, in order that the top does not jam within the outer frame 14 during rotation, the inner surface 22 of the sides of the frame 14 parallel to the axis of rotation must lie outside of the circle of rotation C of the table. The distance r is greater than the horizontal width w of the table (that one half of the

actual width of the table) such that r= J (w2 + d2) where d is the depth of the top. and therefor b > r-w

where the b is the gap between the inner surface 22 of the frame 14 and the side 23 of the top.

For a top is one metre in actual width and a total depth of 100mm the required gap is in excess of 3mm, and if the table depth is 200mm the gap required is about 10mm. In practice for a one meter width top a gap b of 5-6mm is necessary which is unacceptable for some end uses.

In order to mask the gap b whilst still allowing for rotation, the upper portion of the inner surface 22 of the frame is provided with a lip 24 which extends inwardly towards the top 12.

Now with reference to Fig. 3, the lip 24 is substantially triangular in shape and is flush with the upper surface 21 of the frame. The apex 25 of the lip 24 is spaced from the adjacent edge 26 of top by a distance G of between 1- 3mm depending upon the overall size of the table and its end use. It can be seen that the gap G is considerably smaller than the gap b. A small gap G is necessary to allow for minor dimensional variations caused by temperature, humidity, loading, aging etc which will occur during the service life of the table.

The underside 27 of the lip 24 must lie outside of the arc

a of rotation of the top edge 26 and may be any shape as long as this parameter is fulfilled. However the underside 27 is

preferably a flat surface which is inclined such that the surface 27 lies outside of the tangent T to the circle C taken at the edge 26. Preferably, the surface 27 is inclined to the vertical by an angle ss, where B is greater than angle a. The angle a is substantially the inclusive angle between tangent T and the vertical side 23 of the top.

This will give a larger clearance than is strictly necessary since the tangent T is diverging from the circle C as the distance towards the horizontal centreline H falls.

Claims

Claims 1. A table having a base and a reversible top mounted on the base for rotation about a horizontal axis, the base having at least one side opposing a side on the top substantially parallel to said axis, the two sides being spaced apart by a gap so that said base side lies outside of the arc of rotation of the top, the upper portion of the base side having a lip which extends towards the top to substantially fill the gap, said lip also lying outside of said arc of rotation.
2. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein lip is substantially triangular in section having an apex forming an edge which aligns with and is proximate to a respective edge on the top, when the top is in at least one of its horizontal conditions.
3. A table as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the upper surface of the lip is substantially flush with an upper surface of the top when in said one condition.
4. A table as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the lip has a substantially flat inclined surface extending downwardly from the apex and away from the top at an angle such that said inclined surface lies outside of the arc of rotation of the top.
5. A table as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein said

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lip is flush with either of the two surface of the top when either surface is in the upper condition.
6. A table as claimed in Claims 1 to 5 wherein said lip is integrally formed with the frame.
7. A table as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the table base has a rectangular frame with two sides arranged opposite respective sides of a rectangular top.
8. A table as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein at least one of the surfaces of the top is a games surface.
9. A table having a reversible top and which is substantially as described herein.