Rotatable table

Abstract

A table includes a base and a table top for positioning on the base. The table top includes a unitary construction and a substantially flat, uninterrupted upper surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of rollers are rotatably secured to the base and rotatably engage the bottom surface of the table top such that the table top rotates in a horizontal plane about a rotational axis. A mechanism on the base engages the table top and prevents the table top from moving laterally in the horizontal plane with respect to the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a table with a movable top. In particular, the present invention relates to a table with a movable top that rotates in a horizontal plane.

Typically, a table top is stationary or has a limited range of movement. One such limited movement occurs when the table top is elevated from a typical position above the stationary base to increase the height of the table. However, when the table top is elevated, visually unappealing aesthetic issues can arise because the mechanical apparatus that supports the table top may become visible.

Additionally, a table with a non-rotatable top makes it difficult for a person seated at the table to gain access to an item beyond the person's reach. The person may have to ask another guest to pass the item. Alternatively, the seated person may have to rise and walk around the table to gain access the desired item, which may be difficult to do, especially in a crowded situation or where there is little space to maneuver around the table.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a table having a base and a table top having a unitary construction and a substantially flat, uninterrupted upper surface and a bottom surface for positioning on the base. A plurality of rollers are rotatably secured to the base and rotatably engage the bottom surface of the table top such that the table top rotates in a horizontal plane about a rotational axis. A mechanism on the base engages the table top and prevents the table top from moving laterally in the horizontal plane with respect to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the table of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the table of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of horizontal and vertical rollers engaging the table top and the ring of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the horizontal and vertical rollers engaging the ring attached to the table top of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes a table having a rotatable table top as illustrated in FIG. 1 at 10. The table top 12 is rotatably secured to a stationary base 14 and preferably rotates 360° about a rotational axis 42 in a horizontal plane in a direction indicated by arrows 16. However, a table 10 having a table top 12 with limited range of rotational movement about the rotational axis 42 is also within the scope of the present invention. The rotatable table top 12 allows a person seated or standing proximate the table 10 to access items on the table top 12 regardless of the person's position.

The table top 12 has a size sufficient to seat two or more people and preferably has a substantially circular perimeter 15 and a diameter between about 24 inches and about 60 inches. However, a table top 12 of any diameter is within the scope of the present invention. The table top 12 is typically of a unitary construction being constructed from a single piece of material where a top surface 11 is substantially flat and uninterrupted from one edge of the perimeter 15 to another edge. By substantially uninterrupted upper surface is meant that the only surface visible from above is surface 11 and no rollers or other mechanisms that provide the ability to move, rotate or secure the table top are visible from a position above the surface 11. Such a surface provides an aesthetic not known before for heavy table tops. Although a table top 12 with a generally circular perimeter 15 is typical, a table top 12 having a polygonal perimeter is within the scope of the present invention. Preferably, the table top 12 is constructed from a single piece of material such as a natural stone, including granite and marble, as well as a variety of manmade materials.

A rail 18 mounts to a bottom surface 13 of the table top 12 where the rail 18 has a generally circular outer perimeter 19. The rail 18 includes a substantially flat top surface 20 that abuts the substantially flat bottom surface 13 of the table top 12. The rail 18 also includes a substantially flat bottom surface 22 that is substantially parallel to the substantially flat top surface 20.

The rail 18 mounts to the bottom surface 13 of the table top 12 by attaching a plurality of tabs 26 extending from the outer perimeter 19 of the rail 18 to a plurality of mounting brackets 24 that are attached to the table top 12. Each tab 26 includes an aperture (not shown) that aligns with an aperture (not shown) in each mounting brackets 24 such that a rivet 28 is positioned through the aligned aperture (not shown) to pivotally attached the mounting bracket 24 to the tab 26. The rivet 28 allows each mounting bracket 24 to rotate relative to each tab 26 such that a position of the rail 18 can be adjusted on the bottom surface 13 of the table top 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a distal end 30 of each mounting bracket 24 includes a slot 32 which is aligned with a threaded bore 34 in the table top 12. A threaded bolt 36 is positioned through the slot 32 and threadably engages the threaded bore 34 to secure the rail 18 in the selected position on the table top 12. Typically, a metal insert 38, having a threaded bore 39, is positioned into a bore 40 in the table top 12 to provide a secure threadable engagement for the bolt 36. The slot 32 in the distal end 30 of each mounting bracket 24 provides for adjustment of the rail 18 into a selected position on the table top 12 such that the rotational axis 42 of the table top intersects a centerpoint 44 of the rail 18. With the axis 42 aligned with the centerpoint 44, the table top 12, having the generally circular perimeter 15, rotates without having an offset or eccentric motion such that when the table top 12 is rotated, the table top 16 does not move laterally. By lateral is meant linear or non-rotational movement away from the center of point 44 in the horizontal plane.

Typically, four tabs 26 (two of which are shown) are positioned equally about the outer perimeter 19 of the ring 18 and engage four mounting brackets 24 (three of which are shown). When the four mounting brackets 24 are secured to the table top 12 with the bolts 36, the rail 18 is secured in the selected position.

A plurality of reinforcing rods 46 having distal ends 47 secured to an interior surface 17 of the rail 18 extend towards the centerpoint 44 of the rail 18. Preferably, four reinforcing rods 46, having a length that is longer than a radius defined by a distance from the centerpoint 44 to the interior surface 17 of the rail 18, are attached to the interior surface 17 at 90° angles. Proximal ends 48 of the reinforcing rods 46 are joined, preferably with a weld, to form a substantially square interior region 52 defined by portions 50 of the reinforcing rods 46 at the proximal end 48. Each proximal end 48 of the reinforcing rod 46 is attached to the adjacent reinforcing rod 46 in a substantially perpendicular configuration to form the substantially square interior region 52.

A substantially cylindrical extension 54, attached to the bottom surface 13 of the table top 12, is positioned in the substantially square region 52. The cylindrical extension 54 preferably has a through bore 55 having a longitudinal axis that substantially aligns with the rotational axis 42 of the table top 12. The table top 12 includes an aperture 11 that is aligned with the through bore 55 within the cylindrical extension 54 such that an umbrella can be positioned through the aligned through bores 11, 54 to provide shade to a person sitting at the table 10. However, a table top 12 with a continuous top surface is within the scope of the present invention.

The base 14 includes a substantially circular ring 60 and a plurality of vertically mounted rollers 64 attached to the circular ring 60. By roller is meant a device in a form generally of a wheel that rotates about an axis where the roller may rotate with or without the use of a bushing or a bearing. Each of the plurality of rollers 64 are attached to a side surface 63 of the ring 60 by inserting a bolt 66 through a horizontal through bore 68 in the ring 60 and a through bore 65 in the roller 64 and securing the bolt 66 therethrough with a threaded nut 67.

Each bolt 66 provides a horizontal axle upon which each roller 64 rotates in a vertical plane. Each roller 64 engages the substantially flat bottom surface 22 of the ring 18. However, it is within the scope of the present invention for the rollers 64 to engage the bottom surface 13 of the table top 12. As the table top 12 is rotated in the direction of arrows 16, the bottom surface 22 of the ring 18 engages each roller 64 causing each roller 64 to rotate about the bolt 66 which allows the table top 12 to easily rotate about the rotational axis 42. Preferably, the table 10 of the present invention includes four rollers 64 equally spaced is about a perimeter of the ring 60 of the base 14 where a top point of each roller 64 is positioned above a top surface 61 of the ring 60. However, three or more equally spaced rollers 64 are within the scope of the present invention.

The base 14 includes a plurality of reinforcing rods 70 having distal ends attached to an interior surface 59 of the ring 60. The reinforcing rods 70 extend inwardly towards a centerpoint 52 of the ring 60. The plurality of reinforcing rods 70 are offset from one another, and proximal ends 76 are attached to adjacent reinforcing rods 70 to form a substantially square interior region 78 defined by portions 74 of each reinforcing rod 70 at a proximal end 76 thereof.

A plate 80 having a substantially centrally located aperture 82 is secured within the square region 78 defined by the portions 74 at the proximal ends 76 of the reinforcing rods 70, typically by welding. The cylindrical extension 54 is positioned through the aperture 82 such that the engagement of the cylindrical extension 54 with a surface 84 defining the aperture 82 prevents the table top 12 from moving laterally relative to the base 14 thereby retaining the plurality of rollers 64 on the rail 18 which is attached to the bottom surface 13 of the table top 12. Alternatively, the square region 28 defined by the proximal portions 74 of the reinforcing rods 70 on the base 14 can be sized to provide sufficiently small tolerances between the interior surfaces of the proximal portions 74 and the cylindrical extension 54 to prevent the table top 12 from moving laterally with respect to the base 14 and thereby prevent lateral movement of the table top 12 with respect to the base 14.

The base 14 also includes a plurality of legs 88 extending from a bottom surface of the ring 60. The base 14 typically includes four legs 88 equally spaced apart from each other that are typically welded to the bottom surface of the ring 60. However, other mechanisms for retaining the legs to the ring are within the scope of the present invention including a threaded engagement. One skilled in the art will recognize that a base 14 having three or more legs 88 and a base within uninterrupted outer surface are also within the scope of the present invention.

The base 14 also includes a plurality of braces 90 that aid in securing the plurality of the legs 88 to the ring 60. Each of the braces 90 preferably includes ends 92 that are attached to the bottom surface of the ring 60 and a middle portion 94 extending below the end portions 92 in a generally arcuate configuration where the middle portion 94 is attached to the leg 88 below the ring 60. The ends 92 and the middle portion 94 are preferably attached to the ring 60 and the leg 88 respectively with a weld. Each brace 90 provides structural integrity to each leg 88 such that the legs 88 rigidly attach to the ring 60.

An alternative embodiment of the table of the present invention is generally illustrated in FIG. 3 at 110. The table 110 includes a table top 112 that is rotatably secured to a stationary base 114 wherein the table top 112 and the base 114 are similar to the table top 12 and the base 14 of the embodiment 10. The embodiment 110 includes a substantially circular ring 118 having a substantially vertical side wall 119 attached to a bottom surface 113 of the table top 112 such that the vertical side wall 119 and the bottom surface 113 are in a substantially perpendicular configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the substantially circular ring 118 is attached to the table top 112 by attaching a plurality of outwardly extending tabs 120 from a top surface 117 of the vertical side wall 119 to the bottom surface 113 of the table top 112. Each of the tabs 120 includes a plurality of slots 122 which are aligned with a plurality of threaded bores 196 in the bottom surface 113 of the table top 112 such that each bolt 194 is inserted into one of the slots 122 and threadably engages a threaded bore 196 within an insert 197 secured within a bore 195 in the table top 112. The bolts 194 engage the bores 196 to secure the substantially circular ring 118 to the table top 112.

The slots 122 allow the substantially circular ring's position to be adjusted on the bottom surface 113 of the table top 112 such that a center point 124 of the ring 118 is aligned with a rotational axis 111 of the table top 112. With the centerpoint 124 aligned with the rotational axis 111, the table top 112 rotates about the rotational axis 111 without lateral movement. One skilled in the art will recognize that when the center point 124 of the ring 118 is offset from the axis of rotation 111 of the table top 112, the table top 112 will rotate in a substantially eccentric manner which may make rotating the table top 112 difficult when persons are seated in close proximity to the table 110 because the table top 112 will move laterally towards and away from the seated people.

The base 114 includes a substantially circular loop 140 located in a substantially horizontal plane and which is positioned within an interior area of the substantially circular ring 118. The substantially horizontal loop 140 includes a plurality of L-shaped mounting brackets 144 having substantially horizontal portions that are attached to a top surface 142 of the ring 140. Preferably, four L-shaped mounting brackets 144 are preferably evenly spaced apart from each other. However, three or more L-shaped mounting brackets 144 that are evenly spaced apart are within the scope of the present invention.

Each L-shaped bracket 144 includes an aperture 148 in a vertical portion 146 which is aligned with a through bore 152 in a roller 150. A bolt 154 is positioned through the through bore 152 in the vertical portion 146 and the through bore 152 in the roller 150. A nut 156 threadably engages the bolt 154 to secure the roller 150 to the L-shaped mounting bracket 144. The bolt 154 provides a horizontal axis for the roller 150 such that each roller 150 rotates in a vertical plane. A top point of each roller 150 engages the bottom surface 113 of the table top 112 such that the table top 112 more easily rotates about the rotational axis 111. Alternatively, an inwardly extending lip 160 may be attached to the top surface 117 of the vertical side wall 119 to provide a surface that the roller 150 contacts as the table top 112 as the rollers 150 rotate as best illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, a second plurality of mounting brackets 170 are attached to the top surface of the substantially horizontal loop 140 where the second plurality of mounting brackets 170 include substantially horizontal plates 172, typically welded to the loop 140. Each of the horizontal plates 172 includes an aperture 174 and each roller 176 has an aperture 178 that is aligned with a respective aperture 174. A bolt 180 extends through the aligned apertures 174, 178 and is threadably secured with a nut 182. Each bolt 180 provides a vertical axis about which each roller 176 rotates in a horizontal plane thereby engaging an interior side surface 121 of the vertical side wall 119 and preventing the table top 112 from moving laterally with respect to the base 114.

Referring to FIG. 3, the base 114 includes a plurality of legs 184 that are attached to the horizontal loop 140, typically with a weld. Typically, four evenly spaced apart legs 184 are secured to a bottom surface of the horizontal ring 140. However, a base 114 with three or more spaced apart legs attached to the bottom surface of the loop 140 are within the scope of present invention.

Typically, a plurality of braces 188 are attached to the loop 140 and the plurality of legs 184, the braces 188 aid in retaining each leg 184 to the loop 140 and also to provide rigidity to the base 114. Each brace 188 preferably includes ends 190 that are welded to the bottom surface of the horizontal loop 140 and a middle portion 192 welded to the leg 184 a distance from the horizontal loop 140. Additionally, the base 114 can have attachments (not shown) at a bottom end of the legs 184 such as wheels for moving the table or a bottom ring to provide additional support to the base 114.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an inwardly extending lip 115 may extend from a bottom surface 123 of the substantially vertical side wall 119 and retain the table top 112 to the base 114. When the table top 112 is lifted, a bottom point on the vertical rollers 150 engages the inwardly extending lip 115 and retains the table top 112 to the base 114. However, it is within the scope of the present invention for the table top 112 to be removable from the base 114.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

a base;

a table top having a rotational axis and a unitary construction with a substantially uninterrupted upper surface and a bottom surface and wherein the table top positions on the base;

a first plurality of rollers rotatably secured to the base and rotating in a vertical plane for rotatably engaging the bottom surface of the table top such that the table top rotates about the rotational axis; and

a mechanism positioned on the base and below the bottom surface of the table top engaging the table top for preventing the table top from moving laterally in a horizontal plane with respect to the base.

2. The table of claim 1 and further comprising a ring attached to a bottom surface of the table top and wherein the first plurality of rollers engage the ring such that the table top rotates about the rotational axis.

3. The table of claim 2 and wherein the ring is moveably attached to the table top such that a center point of the ring substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the table top.

4. The table of claim 1 and further comprising an extension extending downwardly from the table top when the extension is substantially located on the rotational axis.

5. The table of claim 4 and wherein the mechanism comprises a plate substantially centrally located on the base having an aperture for accepting the extension wherein the cooperation of the extension within the aperture prevents lateral movement of the table top relative to the base.

6. The table of claim 1, wherein the base comprises:

a loop; and

a plurality of legs attached to the loop.

7. The table of claim 6 and wherein the base further comprises a plurality of brackets attached to the loop wherein the first plurality of rollers rotatably attach to the plurality or brackets.

8. The table of claim 3 and further comprising a cylindrical ring attached to a bottom surface of the table top and wherein the cylindrical ring further comprises a substantially vertical interior side wall.

9. The table of claim 8 and wherein the mechanism comprises a second plurality of rollers rotatably secured to the base wherein the second plurality of rollers rotate in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation wherein the second set of rollers engage the substantially vertical interior side wall.

10. A table having a rotating table top, the table comprising:

a base;

a first plurality of rollers attached to the base and positioned to rotate in a vertical plane;

a table top having a substantially uninterrupted upper surface and having an axis of rotation and comprising a substantially circular rail attached thereto for engaging the first plurality of rollers and having an axis of rotation; and

wherein the table top is rotatable 360 degrees in a substantially horizontal plane by engaging the plurality of rollers.

11. The table of claim 10 and wherein the substantially circular rail adjustably positions on the table top such that a center point of the substantially circular rail substantially aligns with the axis of rotation.

12. The table of claim 10 and wherein the rail comprises a substantially flat surface for engaging the plurality of rollers.

13. The table of claim 10 and further comprising a mechanism attached to the base and engaging the table top for preventing lateral movement of the table top.

14. The table of claim 10 and wherein the rail comprises an interior substantially interior vertical side wall.

15. The table of claim 14 and further comprising a second plurality of rollers attached to the base that rotate in a horizontal plane and wherein the second plurality of rollers engage the interior substantial vertical side wall to prevent the table top from laterally moving.

16. The table of claim 10 and further comprising an extension extending downwardly from the table top wherein the extension is substantially located on the rotational axis of the table top.

17. The table of claim 16 and wherein the base comprises a plate having an aperture for accepting the extension wherein the cooperation of the extension within the aperture prevents lateral movement of the table top relative to the base.

18. A rotatable table comprising:

a table top of a unitary construction and having a substantially uninterrupted upper surface and having a rotational axis;

a base for supporting the table top;

a rail attached to a bottom surface of the table top;

a first plurality of rollers rotatably connected to the base and rotatably in a vertical plane for engaging the rail to rotate the top about the rotational axis; and

a second plurality of rollers rotatably attached to the base for rotatable in a horizontal plane and engaging the rail for restraining lateral movement of the table top during rotation.

19. The table of claim 18 and wherein the rail comprises a substantially vertical side wall for engaging the plurality of horizontally rotatable rollers.

20. The table of claim 19 wherein the rail comprises an inwardly extending lip attached to a bottom edge of the vertical wall and wherein the lip engages a bottom point of the first plurality of rollers to retain the table top to the base.