Folding utility table

Abstract

A foldable and stackable utility table having a blow molded table top and two leg assemblies. The table top includes four corners which are offset downwardly to allow self centering and locking table stacking. The offset includes corner depressions in the upper surface of the table top and complimentary protrusions extending from the underside of the table top to allow nesting. The table includes two side rails attached to the sides of the table top and lateral tubes supported by the side rails for strengthening the table. The leg assemblies are also mounted to the side rails.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The inventor of the present application claims benefit of an earlier filing date of Provisional Application No. 60/359,740, filed Feb. 26, 2002, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

STATEMENT RE FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a utility table, and more particularly, to a portable, foldable utility table with at least two table support crossbar tubes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0004] Folding utility tables are commonly used by many groups, including convention halls, churches, hotels, schools, private individuals and any other group that has a need for temporary and portable table space. A folding table must contain a folding support mechanism that allows the legs to be opened and closed quickly and easily. Portable folding utility tables allow a group or organization to maximize the efficiency and utility of a particular space.

[0005] Numerous types of folding tables are known in the prior art, including portable tables having folding legs that include locking means for holding the legs in an open position. U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674 discloses a portable a folding utility table with a center support assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,623 discloses a foldable picnic table with telescoping pedestals. U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,491 discloses a foldable round table with a plastic table top. U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,675 discloses a folding table leg brace construction. U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,066 discloses a folding table.

[0006] One problem in the folding table art is the difficulty of making a sturdy table that is not too heavy to lift and transport. Many foldable utility tables are made from heavy materials and contain numerous unwieldy braces which make the tables strong yet very difficult to carry. Other foldable tables are light and easy to move, but lack strength. A well-designed folding utility table that is light and easy to carry, yet strong and sturdy when being used would be an advancement in the art.

[0007] Another problem in the folding table art is the difficulty of designing a foldable table to be easily stored and stacked. Some tables sacrifice aesthetics to make a table that can be easily stored in small places. An easily stackable folding table would be an advancement in the art. A table which contained handles to hold while carrying the table would be an advancement in the art. A table that contained these features and also exhibited pleasing aesthetics would be an advancement in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is directed to a novel portable folding utility table having more than one table support crossbar tube. The table includes a table top supported by a double leg assembly understructure. In one presently preferred embodiment, the table top may include a raised lip at the upper outer periphery that prevents spills on the table top from leaking over the edge. In another presently preferred embodiment, the table top may include stacking mechanisms which allow for easy stacking of the utility tables upon one another. In another presently preferred embodiment, the table top may include hand-holds located along the inner perimeter of the table top for easy transport of the table.

[0009] The strong, light, easily stackable and easily transportable folding utility table disclosed here achieves advancements over the prior art by way of its unique design. The underside of the table top contains more than one table support crossbar tube. Tables with multiple cross members possess greater strength than tables containing only one cross member, yet the added cross members do not noticeably increase the weight of the utility table. The table support crossbar tubes come into contact with the underside of the table top by way of trapping depressions and support ramps that are part of the underside of the table top. The depressions and ramps strengthen the table by preventing slippage of the cross members and helping distribute force to the side rails located around the perimeter of the table top. The multiple table support crossbar tubes and the depressions and support ramps increase the strength of the table without appreciably increasing the overall weight of the table.

[0010] Also, the table contains stacking mechanisms that aid in the stacking and storing of the foldable utility table. The stacking mechanisms provide a nesting scheme which prevent the tables from slipping or falling when stacked. When blow-molded plastic is used to make the table top, the stacking mechanisms are easily created and especially effective. The use of blow molded plastic also increases the strength of the table without noticeably increasing its weight. These features found in the unique design of this invention create the advantages over the prior art.

[0011] These and other advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent by examination of the following description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0012] To better understand the invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to the appended drawings. These drawings only provide information concerning typical embodiments of the invention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the foldable utility table of the present invention with the leg assemblies in the open position.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the foldable utility table of the present invention inverted with the leg assemblies in the open position.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the foldable utility table of the present invention inverted with one leg assembly in the open position and one leg assembly in the closed position.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a plan side view of one embodiment of the foldable utility table of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a plan end view of one embodiment of the foldable utility table of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the underside of the table top in the area of the table support crossbar tube.

[0019] FIGS. 7a-7g show different embodiments of the stacking mechanism.

[0020] FIGS. 8-8a are detailed drawings of the side rail with corresponding hand-holds.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the leg-catch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. With particular reference to FIG. 1, a foldable utility table according to the present invention is generally designated at 10.

[0023] The foldable utility table 10 includes a table top 12 supported with a double leg assembly understructure 14. The table top forms a planar upper surface 16. The table top 12 can be made from metal, wood, plastic or other material. The table top 12 preferably has a contemporary and attractive appearance and is preferably blow-molded out of plastic. The table top 12 has an upper outer periphery 18 which extends around the entire table top 12. In a preferred embodiment the upper outer periphery 18 is provided by a raised lip 19 above the surface of the planar upper surface 16 configured such that things spilled on the planar upper surface 16 will not drip off of the table top 12. A raised lip at the upper outer periphery 18 also potentially aids in the stacking of two foldable utility tables 10 in another preferred embodiment. The double leg assembly understructure 14 is made up of various components.

[0024] With reference now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, one component of the double leg assembly understructure 14 is the pivoting leg subassembly 20. The folding utility table 10 contains two pivoting leg subassemblies 20. Each pivoting leg subassembly contains two legs 22 and can be connected by a lower leg cross member 24. Note the different style of the pivoting leg subassemblies 20 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The present invention is not limited to any particular style of leg subassembly 20. The top of the legs are mounted in an upper leg cross member 26.

[0025] The underside of the table top 12 contains a lower outer periphery 28 which extends around the entire table top 12 and is below the upper outer periphery 18.

[0026] In one preferred embodiment the lower outer periphery 28 can contain ridges or grooves which aid in the stacking of two folding utility tables 10. The lower outer periphery 28 is reinforced by side rails 30. The side rails 30 may extend along the sides of the table top 12 that are perpendicular to the upper leg cross member 26, and may extend along the sides of the table top 12 that are parallel to the upper leg cross member 26. The side rails 30 are located in side mounting pockets 31 which are located on the underside of the table top 12 between the upper outer periphery 18 and the lower outer periphery 28. The side mounting pockets 31 are depressions in the underside of the table top 12 which locate the side rails 30. The side mounting pockets 31 also provide mechanical fastener contact points to lock the side rails 30 to the table top 12. The ends of the upper leg cross member 26 are mounted and supported through holes in the side rails 30 located at the upper cross leg member/side rail interface 32.

[0027] With reference now to FIG. 8, the side rails 30 can also can contain hand-holds 33 to assist in transporting the table. The hand-holds 33 can have a variety of designs. One preferred design appears in FIG. 8a.

[0028] Each leg 22 is attached to a ‘Z’ bracket 34. One end of each ‘Z’ bracket 34 is attached to a leg 22 at a pivoting attachment point 36. The other end of the ‘Z’ bracket 34 is attached to a center brace 38 at a second pivoting attachment point 36. Both ‘Z’ brackets 34 attached to one pivoting leg subassembly 20 attach to the same center brace 38. The double leg assembly understructure 14 is held in the open position (when the legs 22 are approximately perpendicular to the table top 12) by way of a sliding lock ring 40 that covers the ‘Z’ brackets 34 and the center brace 38 at the pivot attachment point 36 on the center brace 38. The sliding lock ring 40 prevents the legs 22 from closing (becoming non-perpendicular to the table top 12) during normal use.

[0029] The end of the center brace 38 that is not attached to the ‘Z’ brackets 38 is attached to a table support crossbar tube 42. The ends of the table support crossbar tube 42 are mounted and supported through holes in the side rails 30 located at the table support crossbar tube/side rail interface 44. Each folding utility table 10 contains greater than one table support crossbar tube 42. Each double leg assembly understructure 14 is attached to its own individual table support crossbar tube 42. Each table support crossbar tube 42 is located approximately ⅓ the distance from the end of the longitudinal side rails 30. The exact location of the table support crossbar tube 42 is determined by the total length of the ‘Z’ brackets 34 and the center brackets 38 when the legs 22 are in the open position (being approximately perpendicular to the table top 12). A table support crossbar tube 42 is not located at the center point of the table top 12, nor do both center braces 38 attach to the same table support crossbar tube 42.

[0030] The underside of the table top 12 also contains cross member trapping depressions 46 which entrap the table support crossbar tubes 42. The purpose of the cross member trapping depression 46 is to capture the table support crossbar tube 42 on a minimum of three surfaces and assist in the reduction of bending or flexing of the table support crossbar tubes 42. Because the table support crossbar tubes 42 provide an anchor point for the center brace 38 which in turn allow the pivoting leg subassemblies 20 to be held in the open and locked position, the table support crossbar tubes 42 are subjected to force. The table support crossbar tubes 42 are subjected to additional force when the table top 12 is subjected to top loading forces. The table support crossbar tubes 42 help spread top loading forces to the side rails 30 and assists the table top 12 in spreading concentrated load forces throughout the total planar upper surface 16. The table support crossbar tubes 42 along with the side mounting pockets 31 also cause the side rails 30 to avoid torsional rotation when a load is on the table top.

[0031] The force absorbed by the table support crossbar tubes 42 is dispersed throughout the entire folding utility table 10 via the positive contact between the table support crossbar tubes 42 and the table top 12 at the cross member trapping depressions 46 and via the positive contact between the side rails 30 and the table top at the side mounting pockets 31 at the mechanical fastener contact points. The cross member trapping depressions 46 provide opposing surface contact when force is transferred in the direction of the cross member trapping depressions 46 from the pivoting leg subassemblies 20 to the table support crossbar tube 42. Preferably, the cross member trapping depressions 46 possess minimum clearance between the depression sidewalls and the table support crossbar tube 42 surface to provide maximum surface contact.

[0032] The underside of the table top 12 also contains support ramps 48 which extend outward from the table top 12 underside. The support ramps 48 are located along the cross member trapping depressions 46 and have surface contact with the table support crossbar tubes 42. The support ramps 48 act as a locator device for the table support crossbar tube 42 to be held into place on the underside of the table top 12. In one embodiment, two support ramps 48 are located facing each other on opposite sides of the cross member trapping depressions 46 and provide a snap fit for the table support crossbar tubes 42 into the underside of the table top 12. This embodiment can be seen in FIG. 6. The support ramps 48 also add reinforcement by adding positive resistance between the table top 12 and the table support crossbar tubes 32 when top loading or pullout forces are applied to the folding utility table 10.

[0033] The underside of the table top 12 also contains leg-catches 49 which extend outward from the table top 12 underside. The leg-catches 49 are located so they make contact with the leg 22 when the leg 22 is in the closed position. The leg-catches 49 prevent the leg 22 from inadvertently moving into the open position from the closed position. In one preferred embodiment, depicted in FIG. 9, the leg-catch 49 has a lip on the upper portion which aids in holding the leg 22 in the closed position.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment the folding utility table 10 contains stacking means 50. The stacking means 50 are located on the corners of the table top 12 and can be used alone or in conjunction with the upper outer periphery 18 and the lower outer periphery 28 to aid in the stacking of more than one folding utility table 10. The stacking means 50 act as self-locating and guidance devices when multiple tables are stacked. The stacking means 50 help center one table over the next and assist in the prevention of tables sliding off or tipping over when in a stack of two or more tables.

[0035] FIGS. 7a-7g depict various embodiments of the stacking means 50. Generally the stacking means 50 follow a male/female nesting scheme with one side of the stacking means 50 containing a nesting indention 52 and the other side of the stacking means 50 containing a nesting appendage 54. FIGS. 7a and 7f displays the male/female nesting scheme. In this embodiment, the nesting indentation 52 is located on the upper side of the table top 12, and the nesting appendage 54 is located on the underside of the table top 12. The two nesting features engage each other at the four corners of the table top 12 when two tables are stacked.

[0036] FIGS. 7b and 7g displays how the stacking means 50 can be extended beyond the corners of the table top 12 and extended into the upper outer periphery 18 and the lower outer periphery 28. In this embodiment, the nesting indentation 52 extends around the entire upper outer periphery 18 of the table top 12 in the form of a groove. The nesting appendage 54 extends around the entire lower outer periphery 28 in the form of a ridge. The two nesting features engage each other around the entire perimeter of the table when the tables are stacked.

[0037] FIG. 7c and FIG. 7d show another variation of the stacking means 50 nesting scheme. In this embodiment, the nesting features are in the shape of the letter ‘L’. The two nesting features engage each other in this ‘L’ shape when the tables are stacked. FIG. 7e displays generally how multiple folding utility tables 10 can be stacked using the stacking means 50.

[0038] The stacking means 50 is not limited to having the nesting appendage 54 on the underside of the table top 12. The raised lip 19 present in one preferred embodiment of the invention can exist both to prevent spill leakage and to act as a nesting appendage 54 in a stacking means 50 nesting scheme. The stacking means 50 is not limited to the area inside the edges of the table top 12. The stacking means 50 can protrude beyond the perimeter of the table top 12 as seen in FIG. 1. Or the stacking means 50 can be flush with the perimeter of the table top 12 as seen in FIG. 7a, or be recessed inside the perimeter of the table top 12. The stacking means 50 are not limited to being on the same plane as the planar upper surface 16, and can extend either below the surface as seen in FIG. 1, or above the surface.

[0039] As noted earlier, the table top 12 is preferably blow-molded out of plastic. Blow-molding the table top 12 out of plastic provides several advantages. The material provides strength without a large increase in weight. Also, the upper lip 19, support ramps 48, and stacking means 50 can be an integral and continuous part of the table top 12, which increases the strength and aesthetics of the folding utility table 10. Attaching these parts separately to the table top 12 decreases the strength of the table. Also the cross member trapping depressions 46 and the side mounting pockets 31 are easily created using the blow-molded process.

[0040] While the invention described above constitutes a presently preferred embodiment, the invention can take many other forms and may be modified. Accordingly, it should be understood that the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting.

Claims

1. A foldable and stackable utility table comprising:

a table top; and

a leg assembly mounted to said table top and movable between a folded closed position and an extended open position;

said table top having a generally planar upper surface, an underside, a side wall and four corner portions, each of said corner portions being offset in a consistent manner to allow folded tables to be self locating and centered when stacked, one upon another.

2. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

at said corner portions, said upper surface and said underside are lower elevationally than adjacent portions of said table top.

3. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said table top includes a groove in said upper surface and a projection in said underside.

4. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said upper surface of said table top is depressed at said four corners for forming recesses to receive complimentary protrusions from the underside of an adjacent table top.

5. The table as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said underside of said table top includes a protrusion at each of said four corners for stacking purposes.

6. The table as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said upper surface at said four corners and said protrusions are displaced an equal amount from said upper surface.

7. The table as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said table top includes a groove in said upper surface and a projection in said underside.