Adjustable height rotatable work table

Abstract

A worktable consists of a pedestal having an upwardly extending tubular member and a cylindrical member telescopically slideable therein. Thumbscrews along the length of the tubular member are tightenable against the surface of the tubular member to lock the upper end thereof is at the desired elevation. A tabletop having a downwardly extending tubular collar is rotatably fitted around the upper end of the cylindrical member. A flexible sleeve fitted between the inner surface of the collar and the outer surface of the tubular member creates resistance to rotation of the tabletop with respect to the pedestal. Finally, an adjustable thumbscrew extending through the collar and against the outer wall of the flexible sleeve enables an operator to vary the resistance to rotation of the top with respect to the pedestal.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vertically adjustable rotatable table, and specifically to a rotatable table where the resistance to rotation is adjustable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Certain industries which involve a degree of artistic creativity, such as florists who create artistically attractive floral arrangements, or bakers who decorate multi-layered cakes, have need for a table suitable for the creation of their artistic efforts. Presently, florists and bakers make use of a pedestal table having a relatively small top and they work circularly around the table as they employ their art to enhance the beauty of a floral arrangement or a cake. An artistic creation may extend three or four feet high and, in the case of a floral arrangement, a florist may be required to stand on a stepladder to decorate the upper end of his or her floral creation. Where one has a recognized artistic skill, his or her artistic creations may be in frequent demand and therefore, an artistic florist or baker has a need for a worktable for carrying out his or her artistic efforts.

[0003] Currently, florists use a pedestal type table with a small top for developing floral arrangements. The pot is placed on the table and the florist works around the table as he develops the sides and top of his or her creation. The height of such artistic creations may vary widely, and therefore there is a need to have a table, the top of which is vertically adjustable. It would also be desirable for the top to be rotatable, but not freely rotatable. The artist must be able to position the table in the desired orientation and then work on his or her workpiece without creating motion in the table which would alter the artistic appearance of the effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a worktable comprising a pedestal having an upper end that is vertically moveable between a lowered or minimum elevation and an raised or maximum elevation. The table has a lock for selectively retaining the upper end of the pedestal in a desired elevation. The table further has a transverse top and means for rotatably retaining the transverse top to the upper end of the pedestal. Finally, the table has means between the upper end of the table and the top for adjustably varying the resistance to rotation of the top with respect to the pedestal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] A better understanding of the present invention will be had after a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0006] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a table in accordance with the present invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the table shown in FIG. 1; and

[0008] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of the attachment of the tabletop to the upper end of the pedestal for the table shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a table 10 in accordance with the present invention consists of a pedestal 12 having a lower base 14 suitable for resting on a floor. The base includes a plurality of legs, 15, 16, 17, 18 each of which has a leveler, 20, 21, 22, 23 respectively so that the base can be stabilized on the floor on which it is resting.

[0010] Extending vertically from the base 14 is a tubular member 24 and telescopically slideable within the tubular member 24 is a vertically extendible cylindrical member 26. A pair of threaded holes 28, 30 extend through the wall of the tubular member 24 into which locking screws 32, 34 are threaded, each having a large diameter finger-tightenable head 36, 38. When tightened, the distal ends of the screws 32, 34 compress against the outer surface of the cylindrical member 26 so as to retain the cylindrical member in the desired vertical orientation with respect tot he tubular member 24.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end of the cylindrical member 26 has an annular shoulder 40 above which is a narrow diameter cylindrical portion 42. Rotatably fitted over the narrow diameter cylindrical portion 42 is a top 44, the underside of which has a downwardly extending mounting portion 46 having a centrally located tubular collar 48. The mounting portion 48 is preferably made of metal and is secured to the lower surface of the top 44 by any suitable means, such as screws, not shown.

[0012] Within the inner opening of the collar 48 is a plastic cylindrical sleeve 50. Extending through the wall collar 48 is a threaded hole 52 into which a third screw 54 having a large diameter thumb-tightenable head 56 is threaded. Tightening the screw 54 against the outer surface of the sleeve 50 increases the friction between the cylindrical portion 42 of the pedestal 12 and thereby increase the resistance to the rotation of the top 44 with respect to the pedestal 12.

[0013] It should be appreciated that the cylindrical member 26 can be vertically moveable to a lowered, or minimum elevation, in which the cylindrical member 26 is withdrawn into the tubular member 24 except for the upper end 42 thereof to which the top 44 is attached. Preferably, when in the lower elevation the lower end of the cylindrical member 26 will abut a bottom plate 58 across the lower end of the tubular member 24. On the other hand, the cylindrical member 26 can also be vertically moved to a maximum elevation at which all the functions of the table are useable, which occurs when the lowermost locking screw 34 engages the lowest end of the cylindrical member 26.

[0014] A florist or baker would use the table 10 by first adjusting the levelers 20, 21, 22, 23 to insure that the base of the table rests evening on the underlying floor. Thereafter, the thumbscrews 32, 34 would be loosened and the upper member 26 vertically moved within the tubular member 24 until the top 44 is at the desired elevation. Thereafter, the screws 32, 34 are tightened against the upper member 26 locking the tabletop 44 at the desired elevation. Then, by rotatably adjusting the screw 54 in the collar 48, the inner surface of the plastic sleeve 50 is adjustably tightened or loosened against the narrow diameter cylindrical portion 42 of the upper member 26 thereby increasing or decreasing the resistance to rotation of the table top 40 about the axis of the upper member 26. The artist can therefore adjust the table so that it is easily rotatable by the artist when rotation is needed, but will not rotate in response to the efforts of the artisan as he applies his skill to the workpiece.

[0015] There has therefore been disclosed a vertically adjustable rotatable table for which the resistance to rotation is adjustable by the operator.

[0016] While the present invention has been respect to a single embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore the intent of the following claims to cover all modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A table comprising

a pedestal,

said pedestal having an upper end,

said upper end vertically moveable between a minimum elevation and a maximum elevation,

means for locking said upper end in a selected elevation between said minimum elevation and said maximum elevation,

a transverse top,

means for rotatably retaining said transverse top to said upper end, and

means between said upper end and said top for adjustably varying resistance to rotation of said top with respect to said upper end.

2. The table in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a vertically extending tubular member on said pedestal and a cylindrical member telescopically slideable within said tubular member.

3. The table in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising a thumbscrew threaded into a hole through the wall of said tubular member for vertically locking said cylindrical member with respect to said tubular member.

4. A table in accordance with claim 3 wherein said top has a downwardly extending cylindrical collar having a cylindrical inner opening fitted around an upper end of said tubular member.

5. The table in accordance with claim 4 and further comprising levelers on a lower surface of said pedestal for positioning said pedestal on the surface of an underlying floor.

6. The table in accordance with claim 5 and further comprising a flexible sleeve within said collar for creating resistance to rotation of said table top with respect to said upper end of said tubular member.

7. A table in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a collar extending downwardly from a lower surface of said table top and a flexible sleeve fitted in an inner surface of said collar for creating resistance to rotation between said top and said upper end of said pedestal.

8. The table in accordance with claim 7 and further comprising a threaded hole in said collar and a screw threaded in said hole for adjustably increasing or decreasing resistance to rotation of said top relative to said pedestal.