FURNITURE ELEMENT WITH A ROTATABLE PANEL

Subject of Invention

[001] The subject of the invention is a furniture element with a rotatable panel, e.g. a table or a table with an embedded sinkable refrigerator, the upper panel of which is rotatable and located slightly above the surface of the table top when the refrigerator is in sunk mode.

Technical Problem

[002] The technical problem solved by the present invention is how to conceive such furniture element, e.g. a table or a table with a sinkable refrigerator that will comprise a rotatable panel that can be manually rotated and will significantly prevent leakage of spilt liquids into the gap between the fixed part of the furniture element and the rotatable panel.

Prior Art

[003] Known rotatable panels on furniture elements of this type, e.g. tables are positioned on the table top, whereby the table top is not partly or entirely retracted in the table. Since such rotatable panel is equipped with a bearing on its lower part to provide for easier rotating, it is relatively thick and functions as a stepped elevating element. The users perceive its very noticeable stepped passage between the table surface and the surface of its top. They are therefore attentive when putting objects on the rotatable panel and there is a relatively tiny possibility to put an object, e.g. a glass or a cup so awkwardly that the content would spill over the edge. Even if spillage occurs, cleaning is easy due to the basic table top being without gaps, into which the spilt liquid could flow.

[004] There is a need for such rotating panels on furniture elements, in which the rotatable panel is positioned in a very small clearance from the surface of a furniture

element, whereby it must be impossible for a spilt liquid or particles to get below the rotating panel in order to prevent the bearing of the rotating panel get damaged and to provide for cleanness of the internal part of this assembly if regularly cleaned.

[005] This need becomes of utter importance with tables having an embedded refrigerator for food and drinks, whereby the refrigerator elevates vertically from the table by means of an actuator and remote control. When in the retracted position, its upper panel should only lie slightly above the table top. Such table with an embedded refrigerator is known from the PCT patent application WO2007054132 (Gorenje, d.d.), yet said invention comprises a not rotatable upper panel, in which tightness between the part above of the sinkable refrigerator and the unmovable part of the table top with the refrigerator being entirely retracted is achieved by known sealings. Since there is a need for a rotating panel, the above problem arose, which is solved by the present invention.

Solution to the Technical Problem

[006] The described technical problem is solved by a device of the invention, its basic characteristic lying in that a rotatable panel is provided in a table top or a panel of a sinkable refrigerator or any other device embedded in a furniture element, e.g. table, whereby the panel is elevated for a relatively small distance above the surface of the unmovable part of the panel of a furniture element, e.g. table top, and under its thinner circumferential annular area on the table top there is a fixed ring, positioned in a way that it somewhat protrudes from the upper panel of a furniture element. Thus an obstacle high enough is designed on the table top that prevents liquid or hard particles from getting below the rotating panel and into its bearing assembly. There is a relatively small gap between the rotating part of the table top and the ring, whereby their neighbouring surfaces may be designed as meanders or labyrinths in order to achieve a higher level of mutual tightness.

[007] The invention will now be explained in more detail based on the description of an embodiment and drawings in which

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a table with an embedded sinkable element, e.g. refrigerator and sealing assembly of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a detail of a table with an embedded sinkable element, e.g. refrigerator and sealing assembly of the first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a detail of a table with a embedded sinkable element, e.g. a refrigerator and with a sealing assembly of the second embodiment of the invention.

[008] A furniture element 1, e.g. a table, especially a table with an embedded elevating element 2, e.g. a refrigerator with food and drinks is designed optionally in both the technical and design senses. In an upper panel 3 of the element 1 there is an opening 4, in which the element 2, e.g. a refrigerator, is arranged in an elevating manner. The element 2, e.g. a refrigerator, is covered preferably by a rotatable panel 5 on its upper part. The panel 5 projects into the area of the edge 6 of the opening 4. On the panel 3 in the area close to the edge 6 of the opening 4 there is a flat rotatable ring 7 extending to the external edge of the panel 5. The ring 7 is elevated above the table top 8 of the panel 3 and underneath there is a ring 9 in the panel 3, said ring 9 protruding above the top 8 of the panel 3 thus forming an obstacle for liquids and/or particles that can be present on the top 8 of the panel 3 from getting under the rotatable panel 5 or the ring 7 and into their bearings 10 and 11 as well.

[009] Due to a smaller gap between the upper level 12 of the rotatable panel 5 and the table top 8 of the panel 3, the lower strap 13 of the ring 7 is gradually thinner thus corresponding to the ring 9.

[0010] The bearings 10 and 11 are not subject of the present invention.

[0011] In another embodiment the lower strap 13 of the ring 7 is designed as a meander or labyrinth, and the ring 9 is designed accordingly. The tightness of the contact between the panel 3 and the ring 7 is thus increased without influencing the rotation of the panel 5 and the distance between the level 8 of the panel 3 and the upper level 14 of the panel 5.

[0012] The contact of the panel 5 and the ring 7 is achieved by a gap 15 in the area of a vertical wall 16 in the furniture element near the opening 4 in a way there is no mutual interference when one and the other parts are rotating. When the elevating element 2, e.g. a refrigerator, is entirely retracted, the upper level 14 of the rotatable panel 5 is level with the ring 7.

[0013] It is understandable that a furniture element with an embedded element of the invention can be conceived in various ways especially as far as industrial design is concerned without circumventing the characteristics of the invention defined in the appended claims.