Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02628691 2008-04-08
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to foldable tables and more particularly to a table
having a movable
strut-retainer which facilitates the adjustment of the angle of the table top.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Foldable tables are known having telescopic legs and table tops having means
for
adjustment of its angle or slope. One such table is described in Canadian
patent no. 2,110,875
and U.S. patent no. 5,417,168 both to Douglas Soper. The foldable table
described in these
patents has a table top which is pivotally connected to a pair of legs. The
legs are braced by
means of a strut which extends from the table top to the legs. The strut is
attached to the table top
by means of a pair of retainers each having a number of resilient hooks. The
strut can be attached
to any one of the hooks in one retainer and a corresponding hook in the other
retainer. A change
in the hooks to which the strut is attached results in a change in the angle
of the table top.
The foldable table described above has a number of shortcomings. First,
adjustment of
the angle of the table top is awkward and inconvenient unless the table is
turned upside down.
Before the table can be turned, of course, all the items on the table top must
be removed. As well,
when the table is upside down it is difficult to determine which hooks the
strut should be
attached to in order to achieve the desired angle of the table top. In
practice, the desired angle can
only be determined by trial and error. The strut is attached to a pair of
hooks while it is upside
down, then righted. The angle of the table top is then checked. If the angle
is not the one desired,
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the table must be turned upside down again and the strut attached to another
pair of struts. The
process must be repeated until the desired angle is achieved.
A second shortcoming of the Soper folding table and others like it is that
there are relative-
ly few hooks. Accordingly there is a limited number of angles at which the
table top can be set.
Fine adjustment of the angle of the table top is not possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have invented a foldable table having a movable strut-retainer for adjusting
the angle of
the table top while the table is upright. The angle can be adjusted by
reaching under the table top,
and pushing one end of a key to disengage the strut from the strut-retainer.
The angle of the table
top is then adjusted while the strut is disengaged. When the angle is correct,
the strut is reattached
to the table top by pushing the other end of the key in order to secure the
table top at the correct
angle.
My foldable table has the advantage of ready adjustment of the angle of the
table top
while the table is upright. An added advantage is that there is a relatively
large number of angles
at which the table top can be set. Fine adjustment of the angle of the table
top is therefore possible
Briefly the foldable table of my invention includes a table top; a strut-
retainer movable
relative to the table top; and means for selectively immobilizing the strut-
retainer relative to the
table top. The foldable table also includes a leg assembly pivotal with
respect to the table top; and
a strut extending from the strut-retainer to the leg assembly for immobilizing
the leg assembly
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relative to the table top upon such immobilization of the strut-retainer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foldable table of the invention is described with reference to the
accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper surface of the table top and the
legs of the
foldable table in an upright position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the table top and legs of
the foldable
table;
Figure 3 is another perspective view of the underside of the table top and the
legs;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the legs and the underside of the table top
rotated 180
degrees from the view illustrated in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the strut-
retainer; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the strut-retainer fully assembled.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of
the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the table includes a table top, generally
10, a leg
assembly 12, a pair of foot assemblies 14 and strut 16. The table top is
generally flat while both
the leg and foot assemblies are tubular. The strut is preferably composed of a
solid rod.
With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4, the leg assembly is U-shaped having a
central portion
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12a and a pair of downwardly extending limbs 12b. Each foot assembly is L-
shaped and has a
horizontal portion 14a and a vertical portion 14b. The horizontal portion
contacts a floor or other
horizontal surface for supporting the table in an upright position while the
vertical portion 14b has
an open upper end for receipt of one of the limbs 12b of the leg assembly.
Once received, the
vertical portions are concentric with the limbs and may be rotated relative to
the limbs.
A number of apertures 20 is spaced along the length of the vertical portion of
the foot
assembly for receipt of a conventional spring loaded lock pin (not
illustrated). The lock pin is
mounted to the lower end of each limb 12b and the spring urges the lock pin
diametrically outward
of the limb and into one of the apertures for securing the leg to the foot
assemblies.
The legs of the table are telescopic. To change the effective lengths of the
legs, the lock
pins are squeezed so that they withdraw from the apertures in the foot
assembly. Each foot
assembly is then pulled downward to increase the effective length of the leg.
Alternatively, the foot
assembly is pushed upward to decrease the effective length of the leg. In the
latter case, as the foot
assembly is pushed upward, the leg assembly slides further into the vertical
portion of the foot
assembly. Each foot assembly is then rotated and moved slightly upward or
downward until the
lock pin pops outward and into an aperture. The lock pin will then
interconnect the leg and foot
assemblies at the new length.
When the lock pin is not in an aperture, the foot assemblies can be rotated
relative to the leg
assemblies to facilitate storage of the table.
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With reference to Figures 3 and 4, a pair of spaced apart leg retainers 30 is
mounted to the
underside l0a of the table top. Each retainer consists of a clip having a
curved central area 30a
which extends half-way around the central portion 12a of the leg assembly. The
outer portions 30b
of the retainer are generally horizontal and are bolted, rivetted or otherwise
permanently fastened to
the underside of the table top. The retainer allows the leg assembly to rotate
relative to the table top
but prevents the leg assembly from separating from the table top.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, strut 16 is generally U-shaped and
comprises a central
web 16a and two outer arms 16b. The outer ends of the arms are removably
received in apertures
34 formed in the limbs of the leg assembly while the web of the strut is
attached to a strut-retainer,
generally 36, on the underside of the table top. The strut-retainer can be
moved by the means
described below and as it moves, the angle of the table top changes also as
explained below.
With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the strut-retainer is shown upside down
from its normal
position for use as illustrated in the remaining figures. In the following
description of Figures 5 and
6, the words "up", "down", "above" and "below" refer to the position of the
assembly as depicted
in these figures and not in the remaining figures.
A pair of spaced apart parallel rails 40 is affixed to the underside l0a of
the table top. A
rack 42 too is affixed to the underside of the table top and runs parallel to
the rails and between
them. The rails and rack run parallel to the side edges l Ob of the table top.
The strut-retainer has a base 44 which is located above the rails and rack.
The base has a
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flat central portion 44a and downwardly extending flanges 44b on opposite
sides of the central
portion. The flanges engage with the rails such that the base can slide
horizontally along the rails
but cannot be removed from them.
A slot 46 is formed in the central portion of the base for receipt of a key
48. The key serves
to selectively immobilize the strut-retainer relative to the table top and is
located beneath the table
top such that the strut-retainer can be immobilized or freed for movement
while the table is
unfolded for use and while the table top is in position to support objects
placed thereon.
The key has a pair of legs 50, 52 which extend downwardly and terminate at
lower edges
54. The key also has distal portions 56, 58 having lower edges 60 which run
parallel to the lower
edges of the two legs. When the key is within the slot, the lower edges of the
legs contact the
underside 10a of the table top while the lower edges of the distal portions
contact the central
portion of the base. The key is free to slide laterally from right to left in
the slot and as it slides, it
remains perpendicular to the underside l0a of the table top and the central
portion 44a of the base.
When the key is within the slot, its legs are disposed on opposite sides of
rack 42. The
lower edge of the key between the two legs is stepped up from a lower step 61
adjacent to leg 50 to
an upper step 62 adjacent to leg 52. The lower step 61 is sufficiently high
that it clears the upper
edges 42a of the rack between its teeth but not high enough to clear the upper
edges 42b of the
teeth. The upper step 62 clears the upper edge 42b of the teeth.
When the key slides to a position in which the rack is vertically beneath the
upper step 62,
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the key allows plate 44 to slide along the rails. When however the rack is
vertically beneath step
61, the step is located between two adjacent teeth of the rack and the two
teeth then prevent the
movable plate from sliding along the rails.
A cover 70 fits over the base of the strut-retainer. The cover has slots 72 on
its side walls
for the key so that the key can be manipulated from outside the cover. Slots
74 are also provided
for the web 16a of the strut.
The location of the strut-retainer on the underside of the table top governs
the location of
the web of the strut since the web is attached to the retainer. The location
of the web determines the
slope or angle of the table top. The front wall of the table top tilts
downward as the web of the strut
approaches the front wall 80 of the table top and tilts upward as the web
moves in the opposite
direction.
Adjustment of the angle of the table top is accomplished by means of key 48.
With
reference to Figure 5, when the right end of the key is pushed inward to cause
it to move to the left,
the upper step 62 moves until it is vertically above the rack. The outside
edge of leg 50 prevents it
from moving further. The slidable plate is then free to move along the rails
and as it does the angle
of the table top changes. When the table top is at the correct angle, the left
end of the key is pushed
inward thereby causing its lower step 61 to move vertically over the rack
where it is received
between two teeth. The key then serves to immobilize the table top at the
correct slope or angle.
The shape of the key is such that at the limit of its travel to the left,
distal portion 56
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protrudes outwardly from side wall 70a of the cover while distal portion 58 is
substantially flush
with the other side wall 70b of the cover. At that limit of travel, the
outside edge of leg 50 is in
contact with an end of slot 46. Conversely, when the key is at its other
limit, distal portion 58
protrudes from the side wall 70b of the cover while the outer edge of distal
portion 56 is flush with
side wal170a At this time, the outside edge of leg 52 is in contact with the
other end of slot 46.
In summary, when the key has reached its limit of travel to the left, the rack
is vertically
beneath the upper step 62 and slidable plate can be slide along rails 40
whereas when the key has
reached its limit of travel to the right, the rack is vertically beneath the
lower step 61 and the
slidable plate is immobilized.
The table of the invention when not in use can be folded for storage. To order
to fold the
table, first the lock pins in the leg assembly are squeezed to disengage the
assembly from the foot
assemblies. The feet are then turned 90 degrees so that they are parallel to
the central portion 12a
of the leg assembly. The ends of the strut are then withdrawn from the
apertures in the leg
assembly. The legs can then be folded flat onto the underside of the table
top.
It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the
structure of the table
which is described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the
invention as
defined in the appended claims.
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