Seating device with a foldable table
A seating device with a foldable table is provided. The seating device comprises a seat assembly mounted on a plurality of legs, a table and a support structure having first and second telescoping arm assemblies fixed in an angular relationship and selectively releasable clamp assemblies associated with the first and second telescoping arm assemblies allowing said telescoping arm assemblies to selectively rotate and move longitudinally. The movement of the table is restricted and released by releasable latches.
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Chairs with a table, such as college seats and baby high chairs, are well known. Chairs with a hinged table are also well known. Chairs with a hinged table typically have an assembly for mounting a table on a chair, the assembly comprising a shaft pivotally secured to the seat at a pivot axle and rotatable about the pivot axle from a horizontal position to a vertical position, the table pivotally secured to the shaft at a pivot pin and rotatable relative to the shaft about the pivot pin to a horizontal working position when the shaft is in the vertical position, and a stop pin for limiting rotational movement of the shaft relative to the table.
While the current table attachments for chairs are effective for their purposes, they do have certain deficiencies. Table attachments have been developed which allow a mounted table to be positioned in numerous orientations. Accordingly, a table attachment that allows a mounted table to be positioned in numerous orientations would be advantageous. However, even other types of table attachments which allow flexibility of use have complex configurations to manufacture and use. Table attachments with simple configurations are preferable for portable folding chairs with a chair-mounted movable table.
Some table attachments do not fold up neatly with the folding chair. They are separate attachments that must be mounted onto the folding chair each time the table attachment is used. It is often difficult or awkward to attach and remove the table from a lightweight folding chair. Thus, because the table attachments do not fold with the folding chair they severely limit the portability of the chair/table attachment combination.
Specific examples in the prior art illustrate these deficiencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,451 to Smith discloses a tray mounted on both arms of a folding chair. The tray may be relatively easily removed and attached to the arms and can be used as a cafeteria tray. However, to fold the chair, the tray must be removed, the chair folded and then the tray reattached onto the arms of the chair to lock the chair in the folded position. This procedure is difficult and inconvenient especially in most picnic or beach settings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,911 issued to Sorenson discloses an example of a more flexible mounting system. However, this reference fails to provide a flexible mounting system of a simple structure. Although this mounting system allows a table to be rotated around four different axes, it comprises four major interconnected arms which are capable of rotating around four different axes. The configuration of the mounting system would be difficult to manufacture in a simple procedure and with low cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,779 issued to Tolbert et al. discloses an example of a more flexible mounting system for folding chairs. However, this reference still fails to provide flexible mounting in a variety of positions. Although this mounting system allows flexible movement of a table with a collapsible chair, it still requires complex assembly procedures for manufacturers. Furthermore, to store the table for the collapsed chair, the mounting system is only capable of folding down underneath the seat. It is incapable of folding down to the side of the seat.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved table support structure for a chair. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a positioning system with a high degree of flexibility and versatility. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a table attachment which may be used with a collapsible chair
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention in one embodiment involves the provision of a seating device with a foldable table comprising a seat assembly mounted on a plurality of legs, a table and a table support structure with releasing latches allowing the table to rotate and to move longitudinally.
The table mounting structure includes a support structure having first and second telescoping arm assemblies fixed in an angular relationship, the first telescoping arm assembly having a first arm and a slide telescopically mounted on a guide of the first arm for relative rotation and longitudinal movement and the second telescoping arm assembly having a second arm and a socket member secured to one of the legs, the socket member cooperatively interengaging with the second arm to provide relative rotation and longitudinal movement therebetween.
The table mounting structure also includes a first selectively releasable clamp assembly associated with the first arm allowing the slide to selectively rotate and move longitudinally and to releasably lock in place and a second selectively releasable clamp assembly associated with the socket member allowing the second arm to selectively rotate and move longitudinally and to releasably lock in place. The chair with the foldable table of the present invention may or may not include armrests. In the case of a chair with armrests, the socket member can be secured to one of the legs. The first and second arms may be connected respectively to the slide and the socket member with a respective clamp assembly having a latching lever. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved table support structure for a chair.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved table structure which may be used with collapsible chairs. The chair of the present invention may also include a collapsible frame for supporting the seat and back portions. Further, the table may include a support for holding objects on the table, such as books, hingedly connected at the proximal edge of the table with a stop hinge to allow the support to be pivoted between a stored position at the proximal edge of the table and an upright in-use position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various Figures designate like or similar parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONBefore describing the present invention, it will be understood that variations of the present invention may be applied in combination with various seating devices with a foldable table, and it is not limited to the specific examples described herein.
A seating device with a foldable table structure is provided.
Referring to
The second arm 36 is movably and pivotally mounted in the receptacle of a socket member 32 which in turn is mounted to a leg 16 as with a mounting bracket 65 and fasteners 66. A stop 67 may be provided to limit axial movement of the arm 36 within the socket member 32. The second arm 36 is retained to the socket member 32 with a second clamp 50 having a latching lever 58. The second clamp 50 includes an first clamp half 52, a seconds clamp half 54, holes 53, 55, a screw 56, a pin 57, and the latching lever 58. Both clamp halves 52, 54 are configured to define a bore 59. The bore 59 is formed to closely fit the outer diameter of the socket member 32. The screw 56 may be inserted through the hole 53 to secure the clamp to the socket member 32. Other means for securing the clamp 50 will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The second clamp 50 connects and secures the second arm 36 to the socket member 32. The latching lever 58 is pivotally mounted on the tension pin 57. The tension pin 57 is inserted through the hole (not shown) in ears 55. When the latching lever 58 is pivoted to the lock position, the latching lever 58 is operated normally to clamp the socket member 32 to the arm 36. The socket member 32 may be provided with one or more slots 63 to facilitate circumferential expansion and contraction of the socket member in response to operation of the clamp mechanism 50. On the other hand, when the lever 58 is pivoted to the unlock position, the surface defining bore 59 has reduced friction against the socket member 32 so that the second arm 36 can rotate 360°, if desired, and move longitudinally relative to the socket member 32. Both clamps 40, 50 can be replaced with other types of clamps having releasable latches. Other types of clamps for pivotally and movably connecting the slide 38 to the first arm 34 and the second arm 36 to the socket member 32 will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The socket member 32 is secured to the leg 16 in the illustrated structure. The socket member 32 functions similar to the slide 38 and is disposed generally vertically while the slide 38 is disposed generally horizontally. The arms 34, 36 are movable relative to their respective slide 38 socket member 32 to effect adjustment of the position of the table 21. The clamps 40, 50 releasably retain the table 21 in a position as desired by the user. While the socket member is shown as being secured to a leg 16, it is to be understood that the arm 36 could be received over a pin or the like instead of within the socket 32 to permit both rotational and longitudinal movement of the arm 36. In that event, the arm 36 could have the slots 63 therein and the clamp 50 mounted to the arm 36 instead of the socket member 32.
As will become apparent in the following description, the simple structure and axes of movement of the present invention allow a level of flexibility and versatility that has never been achieved in table positioning systems.
As seen in
As seen in
The table 21 is mounted on the slide 38. Collars 60 enclose portions of the slide 38 and the table 21 is secured to the slide 38 via the collars 60 with locking bolts 61 and nuts (not shown). The collars 60 are affixed to the slide 38 with a rivet 62. When the slide 38 moves longitudinally or rotates, the table 21 affixed to the slide 38 moves or rotates together.
An optional feature of the present invention is the use of the support for holding objects, such as a plate (not shown) on the table 21. Referring to
FIGS. 7 discloses an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As explained above, the table support structure 130 can be used with a non-foldable chair 10. The chair comprises a seat 113, a backrest 115, four legs 116, a table 21, and a table support structure 30. The table support structure 30 is secured to one of the legs 116. The seat or seat frame can be configured in a variety of shapes. Of course, other means for a seat will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The seat assembly can be also configured in a variety of shapes. For example, the chair 110 may have any suitable number of legs. The table support structure 30 may be described as above.
Various components of the chair 10, e.g., the braces 14, leg 16, armrests 18 and arms 34, 36 are preferably made of tubular members that are preferably metallic. The seat 13 and backrest are preferably made of a fabric that may be woven or knit and can be made of natural or synthetic fibers, e.g., cotton, nylon, polyester or polypropylene.
Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
Claims
1. A seating device with a foldable table comprising:
- a seat assembly including on a plurality of legs;
- a table;
- a support structure having first and second telescoping arm assemblies in an angular relationship, said first telescoping arm assembly having a first arm and a slide telescopically mounted on the first arm for relative rotation and longitudinal movement and said second telescoping arm assembly having a second arm and an arm mounting member secured to the seat assembly, said arm mounting member cooperatively interengaging with the second arm to provide relative rotation and longitudinal movement therebetween, said table being mounted to said slide;
- a first selectively releasable clamp assembly associated with the first arm allowing said slide to selectively rotate and move longitudinally and to lock in place; and
- a second selectively releasable clamp assembly associated with the arm mounting member allowing the second arm to selectively rotate and move longitudinally and to lock in place.
2. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 1 including at least one armrest.
3. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 2, wherein the arm mounting member is secured to one of the legs.
4. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first selectively releasable clamp assembly having a latching lever.
5. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second selectively releasable clamp assembly having a latching lever.
6. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first selectively releasable clamp assembly and the second selectively releasable clamp assembly each including a latching lever with a shoulder each interengageable with a respective shoulder of a clamp body of a respective clamp assembly for releasably retaining a latching lever in a closed position.
7. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 6, wherein the arm mounting member including a socket forming member secured to one of the legs and adapted to receive at least a portion of the second arm within a socket defined by the socket member.
8. A seating device with a foldable table as set forth in claim 1, wherein the table further includes a support for holding objects on the table and being hingedly connected adjacent a proximal edge of said table with a stop hinge to allow said support to be pivoted between a stored position and an upright in-use position.
9. A collapsible chair with a foldable table comprising:
- a chair including a back and a seat assembly mounted on a plurality of legs, said chair being foldable;
- a table;
- a support structure having first and second telescoping arm assemblies in an angular relationship, said first telescoping arm assembly having a first arm and a slide telescopically mounted the first arm for relative rotation and longitudinal movement and said second telescoping arm assembly having a second arm and a socket member secured to a portion of the chair, said socket member cooperatively interengaging with the second arm to provide relative rotation and longitudinal movement therebetween, said table being mounted to said slide;
- a first selectively releasable clamp assembly associated with the first arm allowing said slide to selectively rotate and move longitudinally and to lock in place; and
- a second selectively releasable clamp assembly associated with the socket member allowing the second arm to selectively rotate and move longitudinally and to lock in place.
10. A collapsible chair with a foldable table as set forth in claim 9 including at least one armrest.
11. A collapsible chair with a foldable table as set forth in claim 10, wherein the socket member is secured to one of the legs.
12. A collapsible chair with a foldable table as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first selectively releasable clamp assembly including a latching lever.
13. A collapsible chair with a foldable table as set forth in claim 12, wherein the second selectively releasable clamp assembly including a latching lever.
14. A collapsible chair with a foldable table as set forth in claim 9, wherein the table further includes a support for holding objects on the table hingedly connected adjacent a proximal edge of said table with a stop hinge to allow said support to be pivoted between a stored position on said bottom surface of said table and an upright in-use position.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: Robert Hart (Red Lodge, MT)
Application Number: 11/376,496
International Classification: A47B 83/02 (20060101);