Table

Abstract

A table comprising at least one plate having an upper surface, a lower surfaces and peripheral side surfaces, all defining an internal region confined thereby. The table further comprises at least two legs joined to the plate, and at least one slender channel formed within die region. The channel has a length extending parallel to the lower and upper surfaces along a majority of one dimension of the plate. The channel is also continuous along a majority of the length. The channel further includes at least one open end located at one of the side surfaces. The table further comprises at least one rigid elongated member carried by the channel and introduced therein via the open end.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to tables, and especially to tables having foldable legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tables having foldable legs typically comprise a plate to which each leg is joined by two kinds of attachment at two locations for different purposes. The first kind of attachment constitutes the primary joining of each leg to the plate, as this is its main objective, and is usually achieved by attaching each leg to a brace, which is coupled to the plate in such a way as to allow it to pivot and thereby allow the leg to fold. This coupling is typically done by providing the plate with rails, which are disposed on opposing sides of the plate's bottom surface and to which the braces are pivotally attached. The second kind of attachment is primarily intended to support and maintain the leg in a steady open position thereby allowing the table to securely stand. The latter attachment is typically achieved by providing each leg with a sliding or pivoting support rod, which is constrained to the plate's bottom surface in a lockable groove or is coupled to a central brace member that is often also attached to the side rails.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,853 discloses a folding banquet table having two bingedly-connected plate sections, to each of which a leg assembly is pivotally coupled Bach leg assembly includes a leg pivotally coupled to the plate, as well as a support strut pivotally coupled to the leg and slidably constrained within a groove element attached to the plate's underside. Each of the plate sections is plastic and includes rigidified top sheets, a leg cradle providing a rotative bearing for the leg assembly, and a pair of side rails, which serve as means by which each leg cradle is attached to its corresponding plate section.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674 discloses a portable folding utility table comprising a plate with side rails attached to opposing sides of the plate on its underside. The table also includes a retention member bridging between the side rails across the plate's center. The table farther comprises a pair of legs, which are pivotally attached to the side rails, and which also include a pivotal support brace coupled to the retention member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention suggests a table comprising at least one plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and peripheral side surfaces defining an internal region confined thereby. The table further comprises at least two legs joined to said plate and at least one slender channel formed within said region, the channel having a length extending parallel to said lower and upper surfaces along a majority of only one dimension of said plate and being continuous along a majority of said length. The channel further includes at least one open end located at one of said side surfaces. The table also comprises at least one rigid elongated member carried by said channel and introduced therein via said open end.

[0006] In the table of the present invention, each of the legs is coupled, directly or indirectly, to at least one said elongated member. Since the legs of the table according to the present invention are preferably foldable, the plate is preferably provided with coupling means to couple the legs to the plate so as to achieve the two kinds of attachment referred to above in the Background of the Invention. The legs are coupled in such a way as to allow them to fold into a closed position against the plate, as well as into an open, functional position whereby they may support the plate and allow the table to stand. The coupling means may operate according to a pivoting, sliding, or otherwise biased mechanism.

[0007] In the preferred embodiment of a table having foldable legs in accordance with the present invention, die two kinds of attachment referred to above are made to, or at least with the help of, elongated members. The elongated members are particularly advantageous for a plate, such as that in the table according to the present invention, having a plurality of hollow regions, such as said channel. This is so because the lack of material in these hollow regions requires that attachment of the legs and other components to the plate to be done solely to the surfaces. Such an attachment is often difficult, weak, and unreliable, especially when the plate is made of plastic materials and the like. In such cases, the elongated member, when inserted within the channel, serves as a dependable site and material to which to attach die legs and other such components through the surfaces of the plate.

[0008] The plate having a plurality of channels and at least one elongated member introduced therein in accordance with the present invention therefore allows for the table having, on the one band, advantages characteristic of mostly hollow tables, such as lighter weight, low cost, and facility to produce in mass quantities, especially when made of plastic materials and the like, while on the other hand, the preferred strength and sturdy attachment advantages of solid tables, especially when the legs and other such attached components are made from metal materials, engineering plastics, and the like.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment, the table of the present invention is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674, which is incorporated herein by reference, including its manner of achieving the first kind of attachment but differs essentially in its second kind of attachment. Namely, the table of the present invention does not require the central retention member of U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674 since the means of supporting and maintaining the leg in a steady open position are attached through the lower surface of the plate to, preferably, two elongated members, which are inserted into two parallel channels that are spaced apart. Such means may be pivotal or sliding, for example, in which case they may be directly attached to the elongated members through the plate's lower surface.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, the site of the second kind of attachment to the elongated members for the two legs may be the same, or, alternatively, the attachment for each leg may be made at a different location, such as at two sites spaced equidistantly away from the plate's center along said dimension.

[0011] The plate may be provided with longitudinal side rails extending, for example, along opposite sides on the lower surface of the plate, just as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674. Such side rails may serve as means for die first kind of attachment through which the legs of the table according to the present invention may be joined to the plate The legs may be coupled to these rails in a manner, which may allow them to fold. These rails are preferably made of a material such as iron, aluminum, and other rigid materials including metals and engineering plastics. The rails may also serve to provide the table with added strength and load capacity. Clearly, the functions of tee side rails may equally be achieved by a rail frame extending along the plate's entire perimeter. In some cases, side rails may not be necessary at all, e.g. when the table requires a low load capacity.

[0012] As a substitute for the side rails, it is possible to provide the plate of the is table according to the present invention with channels, which extend along opposite sides of the plate and into which side elongated members have been introduced. These elongated members may then serve as the location at which the legs may be directly or indirectly attached. Thus, the second kind of attachment may be achieved by using brace members, as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674, but instead of attaching these to external side rails, they may be attached to the side elongated members carried within channels in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] In addition to the preferred embodiment referred to above, the concept of providing a table with channels having elongated members introduced therein in accordance with the present invention allows for a plurality of possible table designs for which the advantages abound. For example, the legs of the table may not be foldable but may simply be immovably and directly attached to one or more elongated members through the plate. The elongated member may serve not only as an attachment site, but also as a means to strengthen the table of the present invention while at the same time minimizing the added weight that typically accompanies the provision of means affording such strength and durability.

[0014] The plate of the table in accordance with the present invention may be of any shape ranging from those that are conventional for tables such as rectangular, square, oval, and circular plates, to non-conventional shapes, such as professional work tables specific to various disciplines and irregularly shaped artistic tables.

[0015] The plate may be made of a variety of materials typically chosen to correspond to the table's intended purpose, and by various production processes suitable for the chosen material and purpose. In general, the plate is preferably made from strong yet lightweight materials such as plastics. A plastic plate, for example, may be manufactured by several methods such as blow and injection molding. In die present invention, however, producing a plastic table by extrusion is preferable.

[0016] The upper and lower surfaces of the plate according to the present invention are preferably flat, but may be slightly corrugated or otherwise shaped so long as they maintain a generally planar and parallel geometry.

[0017] The channel formed within the plate of the table in accordance with the present invention is generally hollow and slender inasmuch as its width is narrow in proportion to its length. The channel may have various possible designs including, for example, a circular or rectangular cross-section. In general, die channel should be so shaped as to receive, through its open end, one rigid elongated member and may therefore have a variety of designs so long as these allow the elongated member to be received and carried therein.

[0018] The slender channel of the table according to the present invention spans a majority of one dimension of the plate, such as the length, width, or diagonal. The slender channel may extend continuously between two opposing side surfaces and may consequently have two open ends, either of which may serve as the site of introduction, and removal if necessary, of the elongated member. The channel may not be completely through going along this dimension but should be continuous along its majority. In other words, the channel may be blocked at one or more locations along its length but must still maintain a span of most of said dimension. Thus, the channel may comprise two or more through going sections.

[0019] The plate of the table in accordance with the present invention may have a plurality of said slender channels. The plate may comprise, for example, but a single slender channel, several such channels at different random locations and spanning various dimensions, or a multitude of adjacent, parallel channels occupying nearly the entire internal region and separated by thin partitions. In a plate having a plurality of channels, a fraction thereof may be unoccupied by an elongated member. Also, more than one elongated member may be inserted into each channel, and the plate may therefore include a plurality of channels, each with an identical or different number and/or design of elongated members.

[0020] The elongated member may be made of any rigid material but is preferably made of a metal such as aluminum or iron, or of engineering plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The elongated member may be solid, such as for enhancing the table's load-bearing strength, or hollow, such as for reducing the table's weight.

[0021] The plate of the table according to the present invention may further be provided with securing means to secure the elongated members in position within the channels. Such securing means are preferably attached at two opposing sides of the table, thereby covering the open ends of the channels after the elongated members have been received therein. Thus, the securing means serve to secure the elongated members, and possibly the side rails, in place, as well as to close the open ends. In this way, the securing means may also render the table safer to use and also more aesthetically pleasing. The securing means may be individualized for each elongated member or channel, or may alternatively serve to secure a plurality of elongated members, such as by extending along the full length of a side surface to cover the open ends of a plurality of channels.

[0022] The table of the present invention may comprise more than one plate, as heretofore defined. For example, in order to provide a table in accordance with the present invention, which is foldable, two or more plates may be pivotally joined. In this way, the concept of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of possible table designs in order to benefit from their various advantages, such as compactness and portability.

[0023] The table of the present invention may further comprise a locking mechanism to reliably fix the legs in the open position but also allow them to be released to the closed position when desired, The table may also comprise grasping means to grasp the legs in the closed position against the plate until their extension is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be Pried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of the table according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the table according to the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a portion of the table according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a table 10 in accordance with the present invention. The table 10 comprises a rectangular plate 12 of length L having a top 14 and a bottom 16, which are planar and extend parallel to each other. The plate 12 farther comprises two opposing long sides 17 and two opposing short sides 18, which along with the top 14 and bottom 16, constitute the boundaries for an interior region within the plate 12.

[0029] The plate 12 includes a plurality of slender and hollow channels 20 extending parallel to one another in the interior region along the length L of the plate 12. Each of the channels 20 has a rectangular cross section, extends from one of the short sides 18 of the plate 12 to the other, and has an open end 22 located at each of the short sides 18.

[0030] The plate 12 further includes two elongated iron rods 30, which have a rectangular cross-section and a size suited to be received within the channels 20. The rods 30 are hollow, and thereby contribute to the strengthening of the plate 12 without adding unnecessary and undesired weight thereto. Each of the rods 30 has been, inserted through one of the open ends 22 and is housed within its corresponding channel 20. The rods 30 extend along the entire length L of the plate 12, and are separated by a single, vacant channel 20.

[0031] Providing the plate 12 with a plurality of channels 20 as shown, is particularly advantageous, even though most of the channels 20 are not occupied by rods 30, since doing so reduces the weight of the table 10. The same effect is achieved by providing the table 10 with hollow (as opposed to solid) rods 30 as shown, which considerably reduce the table's weight without essentially reducing is its strength. The plurality of channels 20 further enables the simple removal or introduction of additional rods 30, depending on the expected application and the corresponding desired strength, weight, and the like.

[0032] The plate 12 also includes two side projections 31, one extending along each of the long sides 17 and projecting away from the bottom 16 of the plate 12. The side projections 31 have side rails 32 in the form of two slender, iron bars juxtaposed thereto. Each of the side projections 31 includes guiding means 31a in the form of protrusions adapted to aid in guiding the side rails 32 into position during their attachment to the plate 12. The guiding means 31a may be closed to form a path resembling one of the channels 20, to guide the bars of the side rails 32 into place, as well as to enable them be carried and housed by the means 31a.

[0033] The table 10 further comprises two foldable legs 40 joined to the bottom 16 of the plate 12. The legs 40 comprise two main struts 42 separated and held at a fixed distance by cross struts 44, all made from iron, The main struts 42 of the legs 40 are joined to pivoting braces 46, which are pivotally attached to the side rails 32, thereby allowing the legs 40 to fold interchangeably from a closed position, in which the legs 40 extend along and against the bottom 16 of the plate 12, to an open position, in which the legs 40 extend substantially normal to the bottom 16 to allow the table 10 to stand. The ability of the legs 40 to fold to a closed position renders the table both more compact and more easily portable when it is not in use.

[0034] The table 10 also includes two pivoting assemblies 50, each comprising a V-strut 52, a support brace 54, and a base member 56. The V-strut 52 is hingedly connected to the main struts 42 of the legs 40, as well as to the support brace 54, which is similarly connected to the base member 56. The pivoting assemblies 50 also allow the legs 40 to fold from the open to the closed positions and vice versa but in addition, they serve to ensure that the legs 40 can be maintained in a stable, open position, particularly when the table 10 is subjected to a considerable load. The pivoting assemblies 50 and other mechanisms enabling table legs to fold are known in the art, all of which may be used in conjunction with the table of the present invention.

[0035] The pivoting assemblies 50, which serve to support and maintain the legs 40 in a steady open position, are attached through the bottom 16 of the plate 12 to the two rods 30.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the base member 56 and its attachment to the rods 30. The base member 56 includes a grasping element 60 for grasping the cross strut 44 of the legs 40 when they are folded in the closed position. The base member is screwed into the rods 30 through the plate 12. Such an attachment ensures that the assemblies 50 and the legs 40 are sturdily coupled to the plate 12. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the sites of the attachment of the assemblies 50 to the rods 30 through the plate 12 (i.e. the locations of the base members 56) are spaced equidistantly away from each other and away from the plate's center along its length L.

[0037] The table 10 also includes securing elements 36 joined to the short sides 18 of the plate 12, which are perpendicular to the rails 32. The securing elements 36 are made of polystyrene and serve to secure the rods 30 within the channels 20 as well as the side rails 32 against the side projections 31. The securing elements 36 include jutting elements 37, which extend away from the bodies of the securing elements and are adapted to be received by some of the channels 20 unoccupied by the rods 30 when the securing elements 36 are pressed up against the short sides 18 of the plate 12. The securing elements 36 are attached to the plate 12 at their two ends by means of screws 38 inserted through holes (not shown) in the elements 36 to engage a screw receiving unit 39 secured within the hollow side rails 32. The securing elements 36 confine the rods within the channels 20 of the plate 12 increasing the safety and performance of the table 10, as well as affording it a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0038] The design of the plate 12 with its channels 20 has been achieved by extruding the plate 12 from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) using a conventional Profile Extrusion manufacturing line.

[0039] It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is only an example of a table in accordance with the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments, which may become obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0040] It should further be understood that in die present description and claims, terms such as attachment, coupling joining, and the like do not necessarily imply direct attachment and that such am attachment may be achieved via one or more intermediating yet connected components.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

at least one plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and peripheral side surfaces, all defining an internal region confined thereby;

at least two legs joined to said plate;

at least one slender channel formed within said region, the channel having a length extending parallel to said lower and upper surfaces alone a majority of one dimension of said plate and being continuous along a majority of said length, the channel further having at least one open end located at one of said side surfaces;

at least one rigid elongated member carried by said channel and introduced therein via said open end.

2. A table according to claim 1, further comprising means adapted to support and maintain said legs in a steady open position.

3. A table according to claim 2, wherein said means are further adapted to allow said legs to be moved between said open position and a closed position.

4. A table according to claim 3, wherein said means are attached to said elongated member through the plate.

5. A table according to claim 4, wherein the attachment for each leg to said member is made at locations spaced away from each other along said dimension.

6. A table according to claim 1, wherein said at least one slender channel extends fully between side surfaces opposing each other.

7. A table according to claim 1, wherein the plate is made from at least one of the following materials: plastic, metal, and wood.

8. A table according to claim 7, wherein the plate is made from plastic and is produced by one of the following processes: extrusion, injection molding, blow molding.

9. A table according to claim 1, wherein said legs are foldable.

10. A table according to claim 9, wherein the legs are pivotal.

11. A table according to claim 1, wherein said legs are made from at least one of the following materials: plastic, metal, and wood.

12. A table according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is made from at least one of the following materials: plastic, metal, and wood.

13. A table according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is hollow.

14. A table according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is solid.

15. A table according to claim 1, further including securing means for securing said elongated member within said channel.

16. A table according to claim 1, wherein the legs are coupled to said elongated member in the plate.

17. A table according to claim 1, flier comprising side rails.

18. A table according to claim 17, wherein the side rails are elongated members introduced within said plate.