Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
FOILDING TABLE WITH EXTENDABLE LEGS
TECHN-1CAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to foldable tables. Ivrore
particularly, this
invention relates to a foldable table with adjustable vertical height that is
sufficiently compact
when collapsed to be hams carried from place to place.
BACKGItOfJND QF THE INVENTION
Foldable tables are~, used for a variety of different purposes. Generally,
foldable tables
are 'used for the ease of convenience of being able to be moved from place to
place. Problems
frequently encountered with foldable tables include lack of strength in
supporting heavy
objects rdnd the inability to collapse down to a size where the table can be
easily moved or
stowed. 7'he charactenisti<;s of strength of support and easy collapsibility
are often competing
1 S qualiti.~s in that stronger, mare durable tables are often heavy and more
difficult to fold to a
collapsed position and transport &orn location to location. Further, foldable
and collapsible
tables are often unstable daze to the fact that they have foldable legs and a
foldable table top
which requires a plurality ~~f hinges au~d other moving pacts which rnay
weaken the overall
structure of the table. Alsc>, many collapsible tables do not fall in a manner
that makes them
easy tv transport. Because foldable tables are often used to support and
display objects, it is
desirable for the height of the table tvp to be adjustable. However, few
foldable tables have
the feature of being able to adjust the vertical height of the table top.
Therefore, what is needed is a foldable table which is easily collapsed to a
compact
size and yet is light enough to be easily transported from one location to
another with the
additional characteristic of being strong enough to support substantial
weight. The foldable
1
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
table should also have the' additional feature of the height of the table top
being adjustable in
the vertical direction.
SLt~IVIARY OF TNVhNTION
A foldable compact table is provided which has superior strength and
durability and
can be collapsed and folded to a carrying made, The foldable table of the
present invention is
comprised of two flat table tap surfaces comprised of rectangular sections of
approximate
equal size pivotally secur~;d together by a hinge extending between the flat
table top surfaces.
The foldable table of the present invention has collapsible leg assemblies
pivotally attached
underneath each end of the table. 'The leg assemblies are comprised of two
vertical support
legs hingedly connected underneath the table and r~nay be moved between an
extended and a
folded or collapsed position. The vertical leg supports have an outer, upper
section hingadly
attached to the underneat~~ section of the table top and an inner support leg
or member located
within the outer, upper section which slides vertically up and down within the
outer, upper
section. The izmer support legs lock to the outer, upper section at
predetermined locations
which allows the height of the table top to be adjust8d. The rectangular cross-
sections of the
inner support member and. outer, upper section help strengthen the overall
structure of the leg
assemblies allawir~g the table to bear mare weight.
A spring-loaded pivoting pin extends outwardly from the upper area of each of
the
inner support legs, 'fhe pin can be pivoted inwardly from the extended or
locked position by
manually pushing the pin inwardly. A series of openings or holes extending
vertically along
the outer, upper sections are designed to receive the pivoting pins thereby
locking the inner
support leg to the outer, upper section. To lock the inner support leg to the
other outer, upper
2
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
section, the spring loaded pin is lined up to the appropriate opening and
released into the
opening to lock the inner support leg to the outer, upper section.
Permanently afflxe:d between the two support legs on each side of the table is
a
horizontally displaced support bar. The horizontal support bar extends between
the vertical
support legs which adds further strength and integrity to the leg assemblies.
'The top surface of the foldable table of the present invention has a frame
section
around the sides or the outer periphery of the table top, ?he frame section
serves both to
protect the side of the table top and also provides a certain aesthetic
quality. On each corner
of the table top are corner ;pieces attached to the frame which are fastened
to the table top to
provide further protection.
The foldable table ~aollapses and folds from an extended position to a
collapsed
carrying mode. When folded to a collapsed carrying mode, the table tops may be
latched
together far transporting the table. A handle is fastened to the outer frame
which allows the
table to be easily moved from one location to another,
Other features and ad antages of the present invention Twill become apparent
from the
following detailed descripnion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings which
illustrate, by way of example, the features of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF T E DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a sid~~ elevational perspective of the folding table in an
e~ttended
position;
FIGURES 2A - 2C'. are side elevational views of the folding table at each of
the three
vertical heights and perspective views of the telescoping legs correlating to
each of the three
heights of the table;
3
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
' a.~~ _~"_ W~ 6~~ ~4' ~L 6 obh ~.i b~r r_s~l
FIGURE 3 is a side view of the folding table in the extended position;
FTGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the folding table in the closed
position;
FIGURES SA - SC illustrates a leg assembly being moved from an extended to a
folded position;
FIGURE 6 shows a an alternate embodiment of the outer, upper section and inner
support leg; and,
FIGC)~Rlr 7 is a side-sectional view of the leg assen~.bly showing the
pivoting pin and
spring mechanism.
DETAIIaF.D f~FSCRfPT'TON OF 'FIaE 17RAWII~GS
Structurally, as shown in Figure 1, the foldable table 2 of the present
invention is
comprised of two flat table top surfaces 4 and 6 which, when in the extended
position, form a
flat table top. Tvp surface< 4 and b are connected by side hinges 6 and 8,
which allow top
surfaces 4 and 6 to fold together to a collapsed position. Top surfaces 4 and
6 are generally
square in shape but can be rectangular or shaped as half circles. Side hinges
6 and 8 are
bolted to frame 10 which extends around the periphery of top surfaces 4 and 6.
The side
hinges b and 8 join the top sm'faces 4 and 6 together by being fastened to the
frame extending
around each side of the top surfaces 4 and 6 by two bolts fastening the hinges
to the frame.
The hinges 6 and 8 are designed so as tv allow the table 2 to pivot about an
axis along the
middle of the table between the two table tops 4 and 6 between a folded and
extended
position.
Frame 10 extends around the outer edges of the table tops 4 and 6 except at
the middle
of the table where the frame discontinues to allow the table Z to be folded.
Frame 10 is
actually comprised of eigho separate pieces 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26;
each piece is
4
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
attached to the outside edF;e of each top surface 4 and 6 and extends slightly
over the edge of
top surfaces 4 and 5. For example, top piece 4, has side pieces 12, 14, 16 and
18 attached to
its side surfaces counting nlockwise. Top piece 6, counting clockwise, has
side pieces 20, 22,
24 and 26 attached to its side surfaces. The side pieces are attached to the
top sections by an
elongated groove 28 forrned within each side piece which receives the edge of
the top pieces
4 and 6 thereby extending the sides of the table top 4 and 6 into the side
pieces and holding
top pieces 4 and 6 in place;.
The side pieces ca~i be divided into two types: outer side pieces, which are
comprised
of side pieces 12, 20, 22, :;4, 16 and 18; aild, interior side pieces 14 and
26. Outer side pieces
12, 20, 22, 24, 16 and 18 tire fastened to table tops 4 and 6 by corner pieces
30, 32, 34 and 36.
Corner pieces 30, 32, 34 ;end 36 act to hold the side pieces of the table tops
4 axrd 6 and
further act as a protective ~wver for the corners of the folded table. Comer
pieces 30, 32, 34
and 36 have elongated cavities for receiving the ends of the side pieces. For
example, corner
piece 30 receives the end of side piece 12 and 18 and holds the pieces 12 and
18 at right
angles to each other. At least four bolts are inserted through the sides of
cornea piece 30
bolting the corner piece 3() to ends of side pieces 12 and 18. For each corner
piece, three of
the belts serve to bolt the ~:orner piece to the side sections while one of
the bolts, which is
elongated in comparison tv other bolts, serves to bolt the corner piece to the
side section and
further acts as an axis for 'the leg assembly to rotate amund. For example,
for corner 34, as
shown in Figure 1, bolts 34A - 34C act to simply fasten the ends of side piece
22 and 24 to
the corner piece 34. However, bolt 34D, which is elongated (not shown) acts to
fasten the
end of side piece 24 to they corner piece 34 and also serves as an axis to
attach outer, upper
piece 50 tv table 2. Each of the bolts closest to side pieces 14 and 26 (for
example bolts 34D
and 36A in Figure 1 ) serve to attach the corresponding outer, upper piece to
table 2.
5
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
Table 2 has two ccdlapsible leg assemblies 35 and 37 at each end underneath
table 2.
Each leg assembly is eom~prised of two outer, upper sections, as shown by
numbers 4$ and 50
on the first end and 52 and 54 on the second end. Located and moveable inside
the outer,
upper sections are the inner support legs 36, 38 and 42, 44. The inner support
legs 36, 38 and
42, 44 act to support the table 2 on the ground surface and can telescope or
move up and
down vertically inside the outer, upper sections 48, 50 and 52, 54 so that the
vertical height of
the table 2 can be adjusted. As shown in Figures 2A - ZC, the inner support
leg slides up and
down within the outer, upper section. Both the outer, upper section and the
inner support legs
are rectangular in shape but could be circular, square or triangular in shape.
However, the
rectangular shaped cross-sections of the outer, upper sections and inner
support. legs provide a
stronger design than other shapes which allow the table to support a
significant amount of
weight when in the extended position.
The outer, upper s<:ction has openings 56A and 5bB (shown with the leg
assemblies
upside down in Figures 2A - 2C) or holes formed in its side surface for
receiving a spring
loaded pivoting pin 5$ (see Figure 7). Spring loaded pivoting pin 58 has a
spring assembly
60 formed inside the inner support leg which remains in an extended phase due
to the
constant tension exerted b,y spring 6U. However, the spring loaded pivoting
pin 58 can be
manually pushed inward, ;igainst the farce of the tension of the spring 6U,
and the inner
support leg released to be moved in the up or down vertical direction inside
the outer, upper
section. To lock the inner support leg to the outer, upper sections, the
pivoting pin 58 is then
lined up with the appropriate opening 56A or 56$ of the outer, upper section
and released to
thereby lock the inner support section to the outer, upper section thereby
locking the leg
assembly in place to prevent movement in the vertical direction thereby
adjusting the height
of the table top. Because the leg assemblies have two inner support legs at
each end of the
6
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
table, each inner support member 36, 38 and 42, 44 has a pivoting pin. Thus,
to adjust the
vertical height of the table: top, the pair of pivoting pins 56 on each side
of the table must be
depressed simultaneously to adjust the table top in the vertical direction.
Therefore, to adjust
the height of the table top., it requires the user to first inwardly press the
pivoting pins 56 on
both inner support legs and slide the inner support sections up or down in
relation to the
outer, upper support members to align the pivoting pin 58 with the appropriate
opening. The
same steps must then be repeated with the inner support sections of the other
leg assembly
When the proper height o:f the table is obtained, the pivoting pin 58 is
released into the
corresponding opening in the side of the outer, upper section to lock the
table in position.
1 U In one embodiment, there are two openings 56A and 56B foamed through the
outer,
upper section. Thus, as shown in Figures 2A - 2C, the height of the table can
be adjusted by
locking the pivoting pin 56 into the appropriate opening. With two openings
56A and 56B,
there are three possible heights to which the table cazi be adjusted. In
Figure 2A, which is the
lowest height of the table 2, pivoting pin 56 is not extended into either
opening and table tap
is at its lowest height from the ground. IIi 1~igure 2B, the inner support
members are moved
so that the pivoting pin S~c lines up with opening 56A which moves the table
top to an
intermediate height. In Figure 2C, the ilmer support members are moved so that
the pivoting
pin 56 is lined up with opening SfiB to move the table top to its highest
adjustment in this
embodiment. In an alternate embddimettt as shown in Figure 6, the outer, upper
section has a
plurality of openings 55A - 56~.
Located between the inner support members 36, 38 and 42, 44 is a horizontal
support
structure 40 and 46. The horizontal support structures a0 and 46 act to
stabilize and
strengthen the support capability of the inner support members 36, 38 and 42,
44. Both
horizontal support structures 40 and 46 are permanently attached to the bottom
of the inner
7
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
support structures 36, 38 and 42, 44 by bolting or other fastening means.
Helow the cross
section of the horizontal support structures 40 and 46 and the inner support
members 36, 38
and 40, 42 are footpads 5~9 for supporting the folding table on the ground
surface.
Allowing the leg assemblies 35 and 37 to fold between an extended position and
a
S collapsed position are mounted hinges 60. Hinges 60 hingedly connect the
outer, upper
sections 48, 50 and 52, 54 to the interior surface of side pieces 12, 20, 24
and 16. Each hinge
60 is comprised of a first and second moveable piece 62 and 64. 'The first
moveable piece 62
is pivotally connected to the second moveable piece 64 with the first moveable
piece 62
connecting the outer, upper section to the second moveable piece 64 and the
second moveable
piece connecting the innc;r surface of the side pieces to the first moveable
piece 62. The
hinge 60 is therefore maSle to bend and collapse where the first moveable
piece 62 and the
second moveable piece 64 join. When the legs are fully extended, hinge 60
forms a generally
straightened hinge from the outer, upper section to the inner surface of the
side piece. When
the table is in a collapsed position with the leg assemblies 35 and 37 folded
against the
underneath of table tops ~4 and 6, the first and second moveable piece 60 and
62 collapse to a
side-by-side position.
The folding table of the present invention is capable of operating in two
distinct
modes, a table mode ~vhe~reby the table is completely extended as shown in
Figures 1 - 3 and
a carrying mode as shown in Figure 4. To collapse and fold to a carrying mode
requires first
inwardly pressing pivoting pins 58 on both leg assemblies to release and
collapse the inner
support members 36, 38 and 42, 44 from the outer, upper sections 48, 50 and
52, 54. The
inner support members 36, 38 and 42, 44 are then slid upwardly into the outer,
upper sections
48, 50 and 52, 54 to a retracted position until the lowor end of the outer,
upper sections 48, 50
and 52, 54 abut the junction of the horizontal support bar 40 and 46 and the
inner support
CA 02283116 1999-09-23
members 36, 38 and 42, 44 as shown in Fig. 2A. The leg assemblies 35 and 37
are then
collapsed inwardly and folded tv abut the underneath surface of the table tops
4 and f> as
shown in Figures SA - SC. The table tops 4 and 6 are then folded together by
collapsing the
table with the table folding along an axis of inner surfaces 14 and 26. When
in the folded
position, the bottom surfaces of the table tops are folded together yr
diametrically opposed.
For opening the table and extending the legs, the steps just described are
performed in the
reverse from Figures 5A - SC.
Along the exterior of side surface 22, a handle 66 is attached in the middle
of the aide
sm-face 22 which is comprised of a rubber lifting strap attached to a rubber
portion fixed to
the surface of side surface 22. On each side of handle 66 are hinge mechanisms
or buckles 6$
and 70. Hinge mechanisms 68 and 70 are comprised of a faxed portion with a
pivoting ring
member 72 and 74. On the exterior of opposite side surface 18 are a pair of
clasps 76 and 78
for receiving pivoting ring members 72 and 74 for securing the two halves of
the table to a
folded position in the carrying mode. The hinge mechanisms 68, 70 and clasps
76,78 for
receiving the pivoting ring, members 72 and 74 of the hinge mechanisms are
positioned to line
up side-by-side when the gable 2 is in the folded position. Thus, when the
table 2 is in the
folded position and the buckles are fastened shut by clasping the ring members
72 and 74 to
clasps 76 and 78, the table: may be easily transported from one place to the
next by simply
lifting the table by manually grasping hurdle 66 and carrying foldable table
2.
While several fornls of the invention have been described, it will be apparent
to thosa
skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made
without
departing from the scope of the invention. As such, it is not intended that
the invention be
limited, except as by the avppended claims.
9
