WO2011129748A1

WO2011129748A1 - Protection device for fastening on a board

Info

Publication number: WO2011129748A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/050410
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan BERGKVIST
Original assignee: Babybjorn AB
Current assignee: Babybjorn AB
Priority date: 2010-04-12
Filing date: 2011-04-06
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-12
Also published as: SE1050357A1

Abstract

A table protection device (1) for arrangement on a board, preferably a table top, is described. The table protection de- vice comprises a plate (2) which defines a plane surface (3) for arrangement on one side of the board. The table protection device comprises a guidance member (9, 10) which is arranged fixed in relation to the plate (2) and which defines a bore (11) with a length axis (13, 14), which is essentially parallel to the plane surface (3). The table protection device also comprises a pinching device (24, 25) comprising a turning member (15, 16) which is turnably arranged around the length axis (13, 14) in the bore (11) of the guidance member (9, 10), an arm (17, 18) which extends radially from the turning member (15, 16) and a pinching member (19, 20) arranged in the outer end of the arm (17, 18). The table protection device also comprises a screw (21), which screw (21), is arranged with the screw body (22) extending through the turning member (15, 16) of the pinching device (24, 25), wherein the screw (21) is arranged so that turning of the screw (21) in a first direction makes the turning mem¬ ber (15, 16) and the arm (17, 18) to turn so that the pinching member moves towards the plate.

Description

PROTECTION DEVICE FOR FASTENING ON A BOARD

Technical field The present invention relates to a table protection device for fastening on a board which table protection device comprises a plate arranged to be arranged on one side of the board. Primarily, a table protection device arranged to be arranged on a table top is aimed at.

Description of the prior art

Table protection devices exist in a large number of different designs and are intended to protect a table from scratches caused by plates, glasses and/or knife, fork and spoon, and from spillage of food and/or beverage. A common form of table protection device is a plastic mat which is put on the table and on which plate, knife, fork and spoon and glass are placed.

The amount of food and beverage that is spilled usually amounts only to a fraction of what is held on the plate or in the glass. Children who have not fully developed their motor activity however, have a tendency to spill out everything or a major part of what is held on the plate or in the glass. Table protection devices which are to be used by children are therefore, preferably, designed with an edge so that an amount of liquid corresponding to a plate and/or a glass may be held in the table protection device.

Apart from being provided with an edge it is preferable if the table protection device lies steady on the table. PCT-applica- tion WO 2007/137612 describes a device to train young children to eat. The device comprises a plate which may be arranged on a table, on which table a plate may be arranged. The plate has an edge which is arranged to rest against the edge of a table top .

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a table protection device with a plate which may easily be fastened on a board, primarily a table top.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a table protection device which may easily be fastened to and removed from a table top without damaging the table.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a table protection device which may easily be fastened to and removed from a table without risk for parts to loosen and be lost .

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a table protection device which may be fastened to a table without risk of pinching, which is difficult to loosen for a child and which is essentially plain in a folded state.

At least one of said objects is fulfilled with a device according to claim 1.

Further advantages are provided with the features in the fol- lowing dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention a table protection device for arrangement on a board is provided. The table protection device comprises a plate which defines a plane surface for arrangement on one side of the board. The table protection device is characterized in that it comprises a guidance member which is arranged fixed in relation to the plate and which defines a bore with an opening and a length axis, which is essentially parallel to the plane surface, a pinching device comprising a turning member which is turnably arranged around the length axis in the opening of the bore of the guidance member, an arm which extends radially from the turning member and a pinching member arranged in the outer end of the arm. The table protection device also comprises a screw with a screw body and a head, wherein the screw is arranged so that turning of the screw in a first direction makes the turning member and the arm to turn so that the pinching member moves towards the plate.

The plate may have the form of a mat on which a plate and a glass may be placed. The screw may be arranged with the screw head outside the turning member of the pinching device and with the screw body extending through the turning member of the pinching device. The screw head being arranged outside the turning member of the pinching device means that the screw head is within reach for a user. The screw head may thus be partly enclosed in the turning member.

Preferably the screw body is essentially parallel to the length axis.

By arranging the guidance member with the length axis essentially parallel to the plane surface the device may be made relatively plane. Furthermore, it is possible to avoid that the screws extend perpendicularly in relation to the surface. Screws extending perpendicularly from the plane surface of the plate may be hindering for an eating child. With the device according to the invention the screw movement is transferred around the length axis in an advantageous way to a movement of the pinching member which is perpendicularly to the length axis .

With the table protection device according to the invention a simple and easily handled device which may easily be fastened on a board is provided in a surprising way.

The table protection device may comprise a pressure member arranged in the bore inside the first part of the pinching de- vice, wherein the pressure member is arranged to move essentially only in the direction of the length axis and wherein the turning member and the pressure member are provided with cam surfaces which are arranged so that when the pressure member is moved towards the turning member, the turning member and the arm are turned so that the pinching member moves towards the plate.

There are other ways of providing turning of the turning member, but with a pressure member according to the above trans- fer between the turning of the screw and the turning of the turning member is provided in a simple way. Automatically a gearing between the turning of the screw and the turning of the turning member is provided which gearing is determined among other things by the lead of the screw and the slope of the cam surfaces. Thereby, it is possible to provide a pinching device which closes slowly and thereby prevents the risk for somebody to be pinched when it is closed. Furthermore, such a pinching device may be made so that it is hard to open. The cam surfaces may be arranged on opposite sides of the pressure member and the turning member. The cam surfaces are then thus arranged on gables on the pressure member and the turning member, respectively. It is of course possible to arrange the cam surfaces on the turning member or the envelope surface of the pressure member and to let the other of the turning member and the pressure member to partly enclose said envelope surface.

It is possible to provide a pressure member which is movable axially by letting the screw be threadedly arranged in the pressure member. By turning the screw the pressure member will then move axially. Preferably the device comprises, however, a nut member which is threadedly arranged on the screw in the bore inside the pressure member, which nut member is arranged to be in engagement with the pressure member in dependence of the mutual axial positions of the nut member and the pressure member, wherein the nut member, when it is not in engagement with the pressure member, is arranged to move essentially only axially against and to go in engagement with the pressure member when the screw is turned in the first direction and arranged to rotate in relation to the bore when the screw is turned in the other direction opposite the first direction.

By allowing the nut member to rotate in relation to the bore when it is not in engagement with the pressure member and is turned in the other direction it is avoided that the nut member is moved further away from the pressure member. It is not desirable to let the nut member move further away than out of engagement with the pressure member which may be seen as an end position for the nut member. To get the nut member to rotate for one rotation at direction of the screw and to not ro- tate for the opposite direction of rotation of the screw may^¬ be achieved by providing the nut member with resilient locking lips which engage with rifles in the bore for one direction of rotation. When the turning member is turned too far in the di- rection which opens the pinching member the nut member is moved out from the user and is free coupled. When the nut member has free coupled a clicking sound is let off from the locking lips if the user continues to turn the turning member in the direction that opens the pinching member. Furthermore, this leads to the mechanism being protected from being damaged if the user continues to turn on the turning member despite the fact that the pressure member has reached the end position . The resilient locking lips may have the form of tongues which form an integrated part of the nut member.

The bore may have a bottom in which the screw is turnably arranged. This is preferable in that the screw then gets a stable support in one of its ends. The screw is preferably also fastened axially in the bottom.

The bore may be arranged so that the axial movement of the pressure member is prevented at a distance from the bottom so that the space between the pressure member and the bottom is sufficiently large to allow the nut member to be out of engagement in relation to the pressure member. This is a prerequisite for it to be possible to turn the screw with little effort also when the nut member has reached the bottom. If the nut member not has the possibility to come out of engagement with the pressure member the turning of the screw can not continue when the nut member has reached the bottom. The bore may be provided with rifles which are essentially parallel to the length axis, wherein the pressure member is provided with corresponding rifles arranged in engagement with the rifles of the bore. This is a relatively simple way of preventing rotation of the pressure member in the bore. Alternatively the bore in the section in which the pressure member moves may have a cross section which is not circular and the pressure member may have a corresponding cross section. Even in this way rotation of the pressure member would be pre- vented.

The table protection device may comprise at least two guidance members and at least two pinching devices arranged at a distance from each other. With two or more pinching devices a more stable fastening of the device may be provided in comparison with if the device only comprises one pinching device.

The plate may comprise an edge close to the periphery of the plate. Such an edge prevents that spillage on the plate flows off the plate. The edge may also have one or more guidance members . By having guidance members at the edge of the plate the guidance members increase the outer dimensions of the plate minimally. The plate may comprise a bowl-shaped depression, which is arranged for reception of food. The bowl -shaped depression may also be arranged for reception of a loose plate. In dependence of how much the child spills when it eats it is possible to clean either only the plate or the entire device.

The device may thus comprise a removable plate arranged in the bowl-formed depression. The removable plate may be arranged to be pinched with friction .

In the outer end of the pinching members there might be ar- ranged friction members which are arranged to abut against one side of the board and which is of a material giving high friction against the board. With such friction members a stable fastening of the device on a table top is provided. Short description of the drawings

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings. Fig. 1 shows schematically a table protection device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention seen obliquely from above.

Fig. 2 shows schematically the table protection device in fig. 1 seen obliquely from below.

Fig. 3 shows in larger detail a cross-section of a part of the table protection device in fig. 1 and fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an exploded view over a pressure member, a guidance member and a nut member of the table protection device in fig. 1 and fig. 2.

Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention the same reference numeral will be used for the same or similar features in the different figures. Figures are only schematic and relations between different dimensions in the figures may be other than those shown in the figures.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device is a table protection device 1. Fig. 2 shows schematically the table protection device 1 seen obliquely from below. Fig. 3 shows in larger detail a cross section of a part of the table protection device in fig. 1 and fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an exploded view over a pressure member, a guidance member and a nut member of the table protection device in fig. 1.

The table protection device 1 comprises a plate 2 which defines a plane surface 3 which is intended to be placed on the upper side of a table (not shown) . The table protection device

I comprises a front edge 4, a first side edge 5, a second side edge 6 and a back edge 7. The edges 4-7, prevent food and/or beverage which are spilled on the plate 2 on the table protection device 1 to flow out on the table (not shown) on which the table protection device is placed and/or on the floor on which the table stands. The interfaces between the side edges 5, 6 and the back edge 7 are designed as spouts 8 which facilitate the emptying of the table protection device 1 if liquid has been spilled on it. A first guidance member 9 is arranged at the first side edge 5 and extends from the front edge 4. An essentially similar second guidance member 10 is arranged at the second side edge 6 and extends from the front edge 4. Each one of the guidance members 9, 10, defines a spout 11 with an opening 12. The guidance members 9, 10, each defines a length axis 13, 14, which is essentially parallel to the plane surface 3 and to the side edges 5, 6. A pinching device 24, 25, is arranged in each one of the guidance members

II and comprises a turning member 15, 16, which each is turn- ably arranged around the respective length axes in the bore 11 of the guidance member 9, 10. Each one of the pinching devices 13, 14, comprises an arm 17, 18, which extends radially from the turning member 15, 16, and a pinching member 19, 20, which is arranged in the outer end of the arm 17, 18. The table protection device 1 also comprises screws 21 each having a screw body 22 and a screw head 23. The screws 21 are arranged with the screw bodies extending through the turning member of the pinching device. The screws are arranged so that turning of the screw in a first direction makes the turning member 15, 16 and the corresponding arm 17, 18 to turn so that the pinching member 19, 20, moves against the plate 2.

The table protection device 1 is intended to be placed on a table (not shown) with the front edge 4 and the arms 17, 18, outside the table edge and with the front edge 4 essentially parallel to the table edge. The pinching members 19, 20, extend in under the table (not shown) . By turning the screws the arms 17, 18, may be turned so that the pinching members 19, 20, move towards the plate 2 and pinches the table top (not shown) between the plate 2 and the pinching members 19, 20.

Fig. 3 shows in larger detail a cross section of a guidance member 9, 10 and a pinching device 24, 25, of the table pro- tection device 1 in fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the pinching device 24. The turning member 15 is arranged in the opening 12 of the bore 11 turnable around the length axis 13. In the bottom of the bore 11 there is a small hole 26 through which the body 22 of the screw 21 extends. The body 22 of the screw 21 is locked in the axial direction by means of a locking washer 27 and a shelf 28 in the form of a change in the diameter of the screw body. In the bore 11 inside the turning member 15 there is arranged a pressure member 29 and inside the pressure member there is arranged a nut member 30. In the shown embodiment the nut member 30 comprises a nut member body 39 and a nut 40 which is prevented from rotation in relation to the nut member body 39. The screw body 22 extends through the turning member 15 and the pressure member 29. The nut member 30 is threaded onto the screw body. As is evident from the figure the pressure member 29 is provided with longitudinal rifles 32 and the bore 11 is provided with corresponding longitudinal grooves 31 with which the rifles 32 in the pressure member 29 are in engagement. The grooves 31 in the bore 11 and the rifles 32 in the pressure member 29 prevents rotation of the pressure member which thus can only move along the length axis 13. The grooves 31 in the bore 11 are arranged so that the pressure member is prevented from moving past the position shown in fig. 3. The pressure member 29 is provided with a cam surface 33 facing the turning member 15. The turning member 15 is provided with a corresponding cam surface 34 which is arranged to cooperate with the cam surface 33 on the pressure member 29. The side of the pressure member which is facing the nut member 30 is formed as a case and is

provided with an inner teethed surface 44. In the corresponding way the nut member 30 is provided with an outer teethed surface 35 which is arranged to engage with the inner teethed surface 44 on the pressure member 29. The nut member also com- prises locking lips 36 which are arranged to engage with the grooves 31 in the bore 11 and which only allows the nut member to turn in one direction around the length axis 13. The bore 11 and the nut member 30 are arranged to allow the nut member 30 to be inside the pressure member 29 without the inner teethed surface 44 to be in engagement with the outer teethed surface 35 when the pressure member 29 is situated closest to the bottom of the bore 11. This may for example be achieved by a suitable design of the grooves 31 in the bore 11. As is evi- dent from fig. 4 the screw head is connected to a wheel 37 for facilitating turning of the screw 21. In the outer ends of the pinching devices there is arranged friction members 38 which are arranged to abut the board. The friction members 38 are of a material giving high friction against the table top.

When the screw head 23 and thereby the screw body 22 is screwed in a first direction and the nut member 30 is not in engagement with the pressure member 29 the locking lips 36 will engage the grooves 31 and thereby prevent the nut member 30 from rotating. The nut member 30 will then with help from the threads on the screw body 22 to be moved in the direction towards the screw head 23 until it reaches the pressure member 29, when the nut member 30 will come in engagement with the pressure member 29. When the screw head 23 and thereby the screw body 22 is screwed in the other direction and the nut member 30 is not in engagement with the pressure member 29 the locking lips 36 will allow rotation of the nut member 30 which then not will move with any large force against the bottom of the bore 11. Thus, no large force will be exerted on the locking washer 27.

When the nut member 30 is in engagement with the pressure member 29, the nut member will be prevented from rotating inde- pendent of in which direction the screw head 23 is rotated.

When the screw head 23 then is rotated in the first direction the nut member 30 will be moved along the screw body 22 and press the pressure member 29 against the turning member 15. Thanks to the cam surfaces 33, 34, the turning member 15 and thereby also the arm 17 will be turned so that the pinching member approaches the plate 2. Sufficient turning of the screw head 23 will lead to the pinching member coming into contact with the table top (not shown) and pinches the table protec- tion device 1 against the table top. When the table protection device 1 is to be loosened, the screw head 23 is screwed in the other direction. When the nut member 30 has moved sufficiently close to the bottom of the bore, the nut member 30 will lose engagement with the pressure member 29 and will then be able to rotate thanks to the shape of the locking lips 36.

The described embodiments may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

It is possible to omit the nut member 30 and to let the pressure member 29 be threaded onto the screw body 22.

The device 1 may be provided with catches which only allow turning of the arm within a predetermined angular interval .

The nut member 30 may be made in one piece.

It is possible to provide also the plane surface 3 with friction members similar to the friction members 38.

Claims

1. A table protection device (1) for arrangement on a board, preferably a table top, which device comprises a plate (2) which defines a plane surface (3) for arrangement on one side of the board, characterized in that it comprises a guidance member (9, 10) which is arranged fixed in relation to the plate (2) and which defines a bore (11) with an opening (12) and a length axis (13, 14), which is essentially parallel to the plane surface (3), a pinching device (24, 25) comprising a turning member (15, 16) which is arranged turnable around the length axis (13, 14) in the opening (12) of the bore (11) of the guidance member (9, 10), an arm (17, 18) which extends radially from the turning member (15, 16) and a pinching member (19, 20) arranged in the outer end of the arm (17, 18) , and a screw (21) with a screw body (22) and a screw head (23) , wherein the screw (21) is arranged so that turning of the screw (21) in a first direction makes the turning member (15, 16) and the arm (17, 18) to be turned so that the pinching member moves towards the plate.

2. The table protection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the screw (21) is arranged with the screw head (23) outside the turning member (15, 16) of the pinching device (24, 25) and with the screw body (22) extending through the turning member (15, 16) of the pinching device (24, 25) .

3. The table protection device (1) according to claim 2, comprising a pressure member (29) arranged in the bore (11) in- side the turning member (15, 16) of the pinching device (24, 25) , wherein the screw body (22) extends at least partially through the pressure member (29) , wherein the pressure member (29) is arranged to move essentially only in the direction of the length axis (13, 14) , and wherein the turning member (15, 16) and the pressure member (29) are provided with cam surfaces (33, 34) which are arranged so that the turning member and the arm are turned so that the pinching member (19, 20) moves towards the plate, when the pressure member (29) moves towards the turning member (15, 16) .

4. The table protection device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the cam surfaces (33, 34) are arranged on opposite short sides of the pressure member (29) and the turning member (15, 16) .

5. The table protection device (1) according to claim 3 or 4 , comprising a nut member (30) which is threadedly arranged on the screw body (22) in the bore (11) inside the pressure member (29) , which nut member (30) is arranged to be in engagement with the pressure member (29) in dependence of the mutual axial positions of the nut member (30) and the pressure member (29) , wherein the nut member (30) when it is not in engagement with the pressure member (29) is arranged to move essentially only axially towards and to get into engagement with the pressure member (29) when the screw (21) is turned in the first direction, and arranged to rotate essentially free in relation to the bore (11) when the screw (21) is turned in the other direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The table protection device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the bore (11) has a bottom in which the screw (21) is turnably arranged.

7. The table protection device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the bore (11) is arranged so that the axial movement of the pressure member (29) is prevented at a distance from the bottom so that the space between the pressure member (29) and the bottom is sufficiently large to allow the nut member

(30) to be out of engagement in relation to the pressure member (29) .

8. The table protection device (1) according to any one of claims 3-7, wherein the bore (11) is provided with grooves

(31) which are essentially parallel to the length axis and wherein the pressure member (29) is provided with correspond- ing rifles (32) arranged in engagement with the rifles (32) of the bore (11) .

9. The table protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two guidance members (9, 10) and two pinching devices (24, 25) arranged at a distance from each other.

10. The table protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (2) comprises an edge (4, 7) close to the periphery of the plate (2) .

11. The table protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (2) comprises a bowl- shaped depression (46) , which is arranged for reception of food.

12. The table protection device (1) according to claim 11, comprising a removable plate arranged in the bowl-shaped depression (41) .