COLLAPSIBLE TABLE
A collapsible table is provided. The device includes a tabletop, a support arm hingedly connected to the table top, and a support leg attached to the bottom surface of the table top.
Folding tables are widespread, and are used in a variety of applications. Unfortunately, such tables are frequently difficult for a single user to set up and use in confined spaces, such as on the deck of a boat. In addition, such tables are not easy to clean. The industry would benefit from a folding table that is compact, easy to set up, compatible for use in narrow areas, and easy to clean.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure claims the benefit of provisional application No. 62/912,409. In one embodiment, the present disclosure describes a collapsible table configured for attachment to a support beam, scaffold, a grab bar, or other external support. The collapsible table includes a tabletop having a top surface and a bottom surface; at least one support arm, said support arm having a first end and a second end; a first hinged connection securing said second end of said support arm to said bottom surface of said tabletop; and at least one support leg secured to said bottom surface of said tabletop.
The drawings included with this application illustrate certain aspects of the embodiments described herein. However, the drawings should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of modification or alteration in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the art with the benefit of this disclosure. The collapsible table 10 disclosed herein is particularly suited for use in narrow, confined areas where traditional collapsible tables cannot be used due to their size or difficulty of assembly.
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Although the FIGS. depict mounting assembly 12 as being attached to a horizontal support, it will be evident that mounting assembly 12 can be configured to attach to a variety of external supports of different sizes, cross sections and orientations. Alternatively, mounting assembly 12 can be configured to fit a particular structural component, such as a bar or scaffold of known diameter that may be permanently affixed to any suitable surface using any suitable connecting means.
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Pin 60 may be fully removable from shaft 58 and rod 56 or pin 60 may carried by rod 56 as a spring biased pin. In this embodiment, spring pin 60 carried by rod 56 can be depressed to allow support leg 26 to be adjusted to the desired length. When the desired length is obtained, spring pin 60 can be aligned with any desired hole 59 in shaft 58 such that spring pin 60 extends outward through hole 59 to secure the two components at the desired length. These and other suitable arrangements allow the user to select from a number of desired locations for the second end 30 of support leg 26, depending upon the space in which collapsible table 10 is used. Second end 30 of support leg 26 may be provided with a cap 62 for purposes of reducing wear, increasing friction, and improving the stability of the connection between support leg 26 and the surface upon which it rests.
Tabletop 20 may be hingedly connected to the second end 18 of support arm 14 by any number of means. The various mechanisms and structures for enabling a hinged connection of tabletop 20 and support arm 14 can be customized as desired for a given environment in which collapsible table 10 will be used or installed. For example, in
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The hinged connection provided by mounting assembly 12 provides a first range of motion of at least 90 degrees, preferably about 110 degrees, and, in some embodiments, 180 degrees, thereby allowing tabletop 20 to transition between the vertical and the horizontal positions. Second connecting assembly 64 provides a second range of motion covering at least 90 degrees, preferably 180 degrees, and, in some embodiments, at least 300 degrees. Initially, second connecting assembly 64 will allow tabletop 20 to rotate clockwise sufficiently to permit tabletop 20 to release from bracket 32 and swing clear of any nearby obstacles. More typically, second connecting assembly 64 provides for clockwise rotation of about 30 degrees to 90 degrees, allowing tabletop 20 to transition from a first position generally in line with support arm 14 to a second position generally perpendicular with support arm 14. Second connecting assembly 64 also provides for rotation in the counterclockwise direction allowing tabletop 20 to transition from a first position generally in line with support arm 14, as shown in
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While various aspects, implementations, structures, devices, systems, methods, and techniques for the disclosed collapsible table have been described and/or illustrated herein, such descriptions and illustrations are presented by way of example and are not to be limited to the precise descriptions and illustrations. Accordingly, numerous modifications and variations are possible by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following and later-submitted claims and their equivalents. As such, the foregoing description merely enables and describes the general uses and methods of the present invention. The breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the implementations and illustrations described herein, but should be defined only in accordance with the following and later-submitted claims and their equivalents. Accordingly, the following claims define the true scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A collapsible table comprising:
- a tabletop having an top surface and a bottom surface;
- at least one support arm, said support arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first hinged connection capable of securing said first end of said support arm to an external support;
- a second hinged connection securing said second end of said support arm to said bottom surface of said tabletop; and
- at least one support leg having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said support leg is secured to said bottom surface of said tabletop.
2. The collapsible table of claim 1 further comprising a third hinged connection securing said first end of said support leg to said bottom surface of said tabletop.
3. The collapsible table of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable extension carried by said support leg.
4. The collapsible table of claim 1 further said first hinged connection comprises a tubular sleeve of adjustable diameter, said tubular sleeve further comprising:
- an interior surface;
- an exterior surface; and
- a longitudinal slot disposed through said tubular sleeve, wherein said slot has a first side and a second side.
5. The collapsible table of claim 4 wherein said tubular sleeve comprises:
- a first component having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end; and
- a second component having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said first component is hingedly connected to said first end of said second component.
6. The collapsible table of claim 4 wherein said mounting assembly further comprises:
- a first tab extending outwardly from said first side of said slot disposed through said tubular sleeve, wherein said first tab has a first hole disposed therein; and
- a second tab extending outwardly from said second side of said slot disposed in said tubular sleeve, wherein said second tab has a second hole disposed therein.
7. The collapsible table of claim 4 wherein said mounting assembly further comprises a liner adjacent to said interior surface of said tubular sleeve.
8. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein said support arm has a range of motion of at least 90 degrees about said first hinged connection.
9. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein said support arm has a range of motion from at least 90 degrees to about 180 degrees about said first hinged connection.
10. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein said tabletop has a range of motion of at least 30 degrees about said second hinged connection.
11. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein said tabletop has a range of motion of at least 90 degrees about said second hinged connection.
12. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein said tabletop has a range of motion of at least 300 degrees about said second hinged connection.
13. An apparatus comprising:
- a mounting assembly capable of being hingedly connected to an external support;
- a support arm having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is connected to said mounting assembly, and wherein said support arm extends outwardly from said mounting assembly;
- a tabletop hingedly connected to the second end of said support arm; and
- a support leg having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is hingedly connected to said table at said first end of said support leg.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 8, 2020
Publication Date: Apr 8, 2021
Inventor: Marvin Thomas (Beggs, OK)
Application Number: 17/066,170