RETRACTABLE TABLE

Abstract

A retractable table assembly (5) for an automobile has a housing (6) located between the rear seats (2,3). Two tabletops (17a, 17b) are stowed in the housing and deployed on rotatable arms (12a, 12b). The arms are resiliently biased to the deployment position and when stowed, the tabletops are kept in place by push-push latches. A secondary link (16) between the tabletops and the pivot-point of the arms is provided, which maintains the relative disposition of the tabletop in relation to the housing during deployment. The tabletops can be deployed side-by-side so as to provide an expanded surface for working on.

Claims

1. A retractable table assembly for arrangement centrally between two seats; the retractable table assembly comprising two tabletops each moveable between deployed positions and a retracted position and carried by a respective arm; each tabletop being mounted to its respective arm via a support panel; each support panel being pivotably mounted to the respective arm at its proximal end and connected to the respective tabletop at its distal end, wherein in the deployed positions each support panel extends laterally outwardly towards its respective seat; and wherein the tabletops are arranged such that in a centrally deployed position one tabletop is deployed centrally, between the seats, whereby the deployed tabletop extends from the distal end of the support panel towards, and beyond, its proximal end; in a laterally arranged position, either tabletop, or both tabletops are deployed laterally, whereby the or each deployed tabletop extends from the distal end of its respective support panel in the direction away from its proximal end; and in an expanded surface position, a first one of the tabletops is deployed laterally, extending away from the proximal end of its support panel and the second tabletop is deployed centrally, whereby the second tabletop extends from the distal end of its respective support panel towards and beyond its proximal end and over the proximal end of the other support panel, so as to be adjacent the first tabletop and thereby form an expanded surface.

2. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein in the expanded surface position the gap between one tabletop and the other is less than 5 cm.

3. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each tabletop is rotatably connected to the respective support panel, so as to rotate relative to the respective support panel between the laterally arranged position and the centrally arranged position.

4. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each tabletop is provided with two leaves, with the proximal end of the first leaf connected to the support panel and the second leaf connected to the distal end of the first leaf.

5. A retractable table assembly according to claim 4 wherein the table assembly is capable of being arranged such that in the expanded surface position, the second leaf of the centrally deployed tabletop is supported by the support panel of the laterally deployed tabletop.

6. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each support panel comprises a tilting mechanism so as to adjust the angle between the proximal end connected to a respective arm, and the distal end connected to a respective tabletop.

7. A retractable table assembly, the retractable table assembly comprising a tabletop which is moveable between a deployed position and a retracted position and carried by an arm; wherein the arm is resiliently biased towards the deployed position and held in the retracted position by a push-push latch.

8. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the arm is resiliently biased towards the deployed position and held in the retracted position by a push-push latch.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A retractable table assembly comprising a housing, a tabletop which is moveable between a deployed position and a retracted position, and an arm which carries the tabletop; the arm being pivotally mounted to the housing at a first pivot point and pivotally mounted to the tabletop at a second pivot point, wherein a secondary link is provided between the housing and the tabletop and offset relative to the line between the first and second pivot points in order to maintain the relative disposition of the tabletop in relation to the housing, as the arm is rotated about the first pivot point; the secondary link being provided within the arm.

20. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the arm which carries the tabletop is pivotally mounted to the housing at a first pivot point and pivotally mounted to the tabletop at a second pivot point, wherein a secondary link is provided, preferably within the arm, between the housing and the tabletop and offset relative to the line between the first and second pivot points in order to maintain the relative disposition of the tabletop in relation to the housing, as the arm is rotated about the first pivot point; the secondary link being provided within the arm.

21. A retractable table assembly according to claim 18 wherein the tabletop is attached to the arm via a support panel.

22. A retractable table assembly according to claim 21 wherein the support panel is attached to the second pivot point and the secondary link so as to maintain its relative disposition in relation to the housing as the arm is rotated about the first pivot point.

23. A retractable table assembly according to claim 22 wherein the support panel is rotatable about a longitudinal axis.

24. A retractable table assembly according to claim 18 comprising a housing, wherein the housing extends longitudinally and the first pivot point is provided at the front of the housing, with the arm extending downwardly and rearwardly in the housing, when the tabletop is in the retracted position.

25. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each tabletop is tiltable in the deployed position.

26. A retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each arm is mounted so as to rotate about a lateral axis.

27. An automobile comprising a retractable table assembly according to claim 7.

28. An automobile comprising two rear passenger seats, with the retractable table assembly according to claim 1 located therebetween.

29. (canceled)

30. An automobile comprising a retractable table assembly according to claim 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an automobile comprising the retractable table assembly of the invention in the stowed position;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the retractable table assembly of FIG. 1 with both tabletops in the stowed position;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 with both tabletops in the laterally deployed position;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a side view of one of the tabletops in the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 1-3 and its associated deployment mechanism, in the stowed state.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the tabletop and deployment mechanism of FIG. 4 with the arm in the deployed state;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a rear perspective view of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 1-3 with one tabletop in a centrally deployed position;

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a rear perspective view of the retractable table assembly of FIG. 6 with one tabletop in the unfolded centrally deployed position;

[0048] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 6 and 7 with one tabletop in the unfolded laterally deployed position;

[0049] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 6-8 with the tabletops arranged in the expanded surface position;

[0050] FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view through the upper portion of one arm and the support panel of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 1-9;

[0051] FIG. 11 shows a part-cutaway underneath perspective view of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 1-10; and

[0052] FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the latching mechanism of the retractable table assembly of FIGS. 1-11.

[0053] With reference to FIG. 1, an automobile 1 is provided with two rear seats 2, 3 each arranged to accommodate a passenger (not shown) facing forwards. Between the seats 2, 3, centrally disposed, is an armrest 4, in which the table assembly 5 shown in FIGS. 2 to 12 is provided. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the table assembly 5 may equally be provided in other vehicles, or even outside the vehicular environment.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retractable table assembly 5 comprises a housing 6, which is located between the seats 2,3. The housing 6 has a forward end 7 and a rearward end 8, with lateral sidewalls 9, 10 extending therebetween. An axle 11 having a laterally extending axis extends between the sidewalls 9, 10 towards the front and the top of the housing 6.

[0055] The proximal end of each of a pair of arms 12a, 12b is pivotally mounted for rotation about the axle 11, or first pivot point, so as to move between the stowed position shown in FIG. 4, in which the arm extends rearwardly and downwardly and the deployed position shown in FIG. 5, in which the arm extends upwardly and slightly forwardly.

[0056] The distal end of each arm 12a, 12b is pivotally mounted to a support panel 13a, 13b, via a mount 14a, 14b at a second pivot point.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, each mount 14a, 14b is rotatably connected to its respective arm 12a, 12b by attachment to a shaft 15 which extends through the arm 12a, 12b. Within each arm 12a, 12b, a secondary link 16 is provided. The secondary link 16 is pivotally attached at one end in a fixed position offset relative to the axis of the axle 11 (downwards and rearwards of the axle 11). At the other end, the secondary link is attached to the shaft 15 in an equally offset position relative to its axis. Accordingly, as the arm 12a, 12b rotates, the mount 14a, 14b counter-rotates, such that the disposition of the mount, i.e. its orientation (and the orientation of the items attached thereto and discussed below) relative to the housing 6 remains constant.

[0058] Once the respective arm 12a, 12b is in the deployed position, a latch (not shown) engages the proximal end of the arm 12a, 12b to hold it in the upright, deployed, position. The pivotal attachment between the support panel 13a, 13b and the mount 14a, 14b is arranged such that throughout the deployment of the arm 12a, 12b, the support panel extends substantially vertically, with the proximal end connected to the arm 12a, 12b at the bottom, and the distal end at the top. The axis about which the respective support panel 13a, 13b rotates extends longitudinally, i.e. along the length of the automobile 1. Thus, once the respective arm 12a, 12b has reached its deployed position, the respective support panel 13a, 13b may be pivoted outwards relative to the arm 12a, 12b, to a substantially horizontal laterally outwardly extending position shown in FIG. 6.

[0059] The distal end of each support panel 13a, 13b is connected to a tabletop 17a, 17b via a shaft 21 (FIG. 10) extending to the opposite side of the support panel 13a, 13b to the shaft 15, such that when stowed, the tabletop 17a, 17b is the opposite side of the support panel 13a, 13b from the arm 12a, 12b. In the stowed position, the two tabletops 17a, 17b are centrally disposed, adjacent to one another, the support panels 13a, 13b are laterally disposed outside the tabletops 17a, 17b, and the arms 12a, 12b are disposed laterally outside the support panels 13a, 13b.

[0060] Each tabletop 17a, 17b is formed of two rectangular leaves. A proximal end of the first leaf 18a, 18b of each tabletop 17a, 17b is connected via the shaft 21 to the support panel 13a, 13b, so as to be rotatable about a 180 degree angle relative to the support panel 13a, 13b. The second leaf 19a, 19b of each tabletop 17a, 17b is attached by hinges 20 (FIG. 6) to the distal end of the first leaf 18a, 18b, such that in the stowed position, the leaves are folded up next to each other, but when deployed, the second leaf 19a, 19b can be unfolded to double the size of the surface of the tabletop 17a, 17b.

[0061] Thus, in the folded configuration (shown in FIG. 6), the upper surface of the tabletop 17a, 17b consists of one surface of the second leaf 19a, 19b, but in the unfolded configuration (e.g. FIG. 3), the opposite surface of the second leaf 19a, 19b and the upper surface of the first leaf 18a, 18b make up the upper surface of the tabletop 17a, 17b.

[0062] The tabletops 17a, 17b may be arranged in various deployed positions. The initial deployed position that the tabletops 17a, 17b automatically take up when the support panels 13a, 13b are pivoted outwards and extend laterally outwards towards their respective seat 2, 3 is shown in FIG. 6. Here the leaves of the respective tabletop 17a, 17b are folded and the tabletop 17a, 17b is in a centrally deployed position, with the tabletop 17a, 17b extending centrally from the distal end of the support panel 13a, 13b, towards its proximal end. Both tabletops 17a, 17b may simultaneously adopt this position, so as to provide a small surface to the side of each respective passenger.

[0063] From this position, the second leaf 19a, 19b of a tabletop 17a, 17b may be unfolded, to form a larger surface as shown in FIG. 7. Since the hinges 20 are at the distal end of the first leaf 18a, 18b, which is closer to the centre, unfolding the second leaf 19a, 19b causes the tabletop 17a, 17b to extend beyond the centrepoint of the housing 6 and towards the opposite side, so as to provide a single larger surface between two passengers.

[0064] From the initial position of FIG. 6, each tabletop 17a, 17b, can be rotated about the shaft 21 that connects it to its respective support panel 13a, 13b, to a laterally deployed position in which it extends laterally outwardly, away from the centre and in front of a passenger in a respective seat 2, 3. The tabletop 17a, 17b can be unfolded to adopt a further laterally deployed unfolded position shown in FIG. 8, in which the or each deployed tabletop 17a, 17b extends from the distal end of its respective support panel 13a, 13b in the direction away from its proximal end.

[0065] In addition to these positions, in which the tabletops 17a, 17b act independently, the tabletops 17a, 17b may be opened together and arranged in an expanded surface position, shown in FIG. 9. In this arrangement, one of the tabletops 17a is deployed laterally and unfolded, as discussed above, extending away from the proximal end of its support panel 13a and the other tabletop 17b is deployed centrally and unfolded, whereby it extends from the distal end of its respective support panel 13b towards and beyond its proximal end and over the proximal end of the other support panel 13a, so as to be adjacent the other tabletop 17a and thereby form an expanded surface in front of a passenger and centrally. Obviously, the arrangement can be reversed, with the opposite tabletops 17a, 17b adopting the central unfolded position and lateral unfolded positions respectively.

[0066] In the expanded surface position there is a small gap, in this embodiment of 3.2 cm (i.e. about 3 cm), between the tabletops 17a, 17b. With such a small gap, the tabletops 17a, 17b effectively act as a single large surface to work on, on which work etc. can be spread out rather than split between tables.

[0067] In the expanded surface position shown in FIG. 9, the second leaf 19b of the centrally deployed tabletop 17b is supported by the support panel 13a of the laterally deployed tabletop 17a. This provides additional stability to the arrangement and makes the two tables feel more like a single surface.

[0068] Another feature of the invention can be seen in FIG. 10 which shows one tabletop 17a, and part of its support mechanism (obviously both tabletops 17a, 17b include the same features). The support panel 13a is formed in two partsa first part 22 is connected to the mount 14a, with a second part 23 connected to the tabletop 17a. These two parts 22, 23 are connected by a shaft 24, such that the tabletop 17a may be tiltable when laterally deployed. This allows for a change of angle, which may be useful for example if the tabletop 17a, 17b is used to support a tablet for viewing movies or the like. Stops (not shown) and a button operated latch (not shown) are provided to restrict the allowed angle of tilting and to ensure that tilting only occurs when desired, i.e. when unlatched, and a damper (not shown) is also provided to damp motion and keep the respective tabletop 17a, 17b at the chosen degree of tilt.

[0069] A pair of push buttons 25a, 25b are provided at the rear of the housing, towards the side of a respective tabletop 17a, 17b, with which they are associated. Each push button 25a, 25b is connected to a respective Bowden cable 26a, which runs to the respective latch (not shown) to release the respective arm 12a, 12b from the deployed position, to allow stowage (by reversing the deployment procedure).

[0070] In order to assist deployment, the proximal end of each arm 12a, 12b is connected to resilient biasing member 27a, 27b best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The biasing member 27a, 27b comprises a helical compression spring 28a, 28b carried on a telescopic gas strut 33, which is pivotally attached at one end by a bracket 29a, 29b to the housing 5, forward of the axle 11, and at the opposite end to a swan-neck 30a, 30b which is attached, offset to one side of the respective arm 12a, 12b. Each compression spring 28a, 28b and gas strut 33 thus biases the respective arm 12a, 12b towards the deployed position, urging the arm 12a, 12b to pivot upwardly about the axle 11. The springs 28a, 28b and struts 33 also provide a damping effect.

[0071] In order to keep the tabletops 17a, 17b in the stowed position, despite the action of the resilient biasing members 27a, 27b, a pair of pin and heart-shaped push-push latches 31a, 31b (i.e. a push-to-open, push-to-close latch) are provided in the base of the housing 6, one for each tabletop 17a, 17b. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, each tabletop 17a, 17b, comprises a catch 32, into which the respective latch 31a, 31b engages. Each latch 31a, 31b is sprung and the catch 32 is provided with a heart-shape. This arrangement means that pushing down on the tabletop 17a, 17b forcing it into the housing 6 causes it to engage the latch 31a, 31b when released, which holds it in place against the force of the biasing member 27a, 27b. Pushing the tabletop 17a, 17b downwards again, from the engaged position, causes the latch 31a, 31b to disengage from the catch, such that the resilient biasing member 27a, 27a causes the arm 12a, 12b to rotate to move the tabletop 17a, 17b towards the deployed position.

[0072] Having a resilient bias towards the deployed position eases operation of the tabletops 17a, 17b, since the tabletops 17a, 17b are urged by the bias towards the deployed position and will therefore move automatically to an at least partially deployed position, once the respective latch 31a, 31b is released. This allows a more ergonomic pushing action to effect deployment, rather than an awkward pulling motion.

[0073] The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.