Claims
- 1. An apparatus positionable between a first upright position above a surface and a second collapsible position, said apparatus comprising:a table comprising a table top and at least one pedestal for supporting the table top above said surface, said pedestal configured to be selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position; said table top formed to present a cavity therein; a seating member sized to operate in conjunction with said table, said seating member comprising a seat sized to support at least one user thereon and a seat support member for supporting said scat above a surface; said table top sized to receive therein, within said cavity, said seating member; said seating member adapted to selectively retain said pedestal in said retracted position within said cavity of said table top; and a retaining member adapted to selectively secure said seating member in relation to said table.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pedestal comprises a first support leg and a second support leg, wherein said first support leg pivotally engages said second support leg.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first support leg is adapted to pivot between an engaged position in relation to said table top and a disengaged position.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a fastener that selectively engages said first support leg in relation to said table top.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a support brace secured to said table top and providing a structural abutment for a portion of said first support leg disposed in said engaged position.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second support leg is pivotally attached to said table top.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a bracket attached to said table top, said bracket selectively engaging at least a portion of said second support leg.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least two brackets attached to said table top at a spaced apart distance from each other, said brackets selectively engaging at least a portion of said second support leg.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second pedestal attached to said table at a spaced apart distance from said first pedestal.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said pedestals are adapted to extend proximate opposing ends of said table.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seat support member comprises a first support leg and a second support leg, said first support leg pivotally engaging said second support leg.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said pivotal engagement comprises a pivot pin engageably disposed in relation to said first and second support legs and a slot formed in a section of said second support leg wherein said pivot pin slidably moves along a length of said slot.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first support leg is adapted to pivot between an engaged position in relation to said seat and a disengaged position.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a support brace secured to said seat and providing a structural abutment for a portion of said first support leg disposed in said engaged position.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second support leg is pivotally attached to said bench.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a bracket attached to said seat, said bracket selectively engaging at least a portion of said second support leg.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seat support member renders said seating member freestanding, independently from said table, wherein the seating member is separable, and fully useable independently from the table.
- 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second seating member being independently deployable in relation to said first seating member and said table.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first and second seating members are positionable within said cavity of said table top.
- 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second seating member is adapted to secure the first seating member within said cavity of said table top.
- 21. An apparatus positionable between a first upright position above a surface and a second collapsible position, said apparatus comprising:a table comprising a table top and pedestals for supporting the table top above said surface, said pedestals configured to be selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position; said table top formed to present a cavity therein; a seating member sized to operate in conjunction with said table, said seating member comprising a seat sized to support at least one user thereon and a seat support member for supporting said seat above a surface; said table top sized to receive therein, within said cavity, said seating member; said seating member adapted to selectively retain said pedestals in said retracted position within said cavity of said table top; and wherein said table and said seating member are constructed to render the table independently freestanding in the absence of the seating member and the seating member independently freestanding in the absence of the table, both the table and seating member being independently useable remotely from each other.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a retaining member adapted to selectively secure said seating member in relation to said table when said apparatus is positioned in said collapsible position.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pedestal comprises a first support leg and a second support leg, wherein said first support leg pivotally engages said second support leg.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said first support leg is adapted to pivot between an engaged position in relation to said table top and a disengaged position.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a fastener that selectively engages said first support leg in relation to said table top.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a support brace secured to said table top and providing a structural abutment for a portion of said first support leg disposed in said engaged position.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said second support leg is pivotally attached to said table top.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a bracket attached to said table top, said bracket selectively engaging at least a portion of said second support leg.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising at least two brackets attached to said table top at a spaced apart distance from each other, said brackets selectively engaging at least a portion of said second support leg.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pedestals are adapted to extend proximate opposing ends of said table.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said seat support member comprises a first support leg and a second support leg, said first support leg pivotally engaging said second support leg.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said pivotal engagement comprises a pivot pin engageably disposed in relation to said first and second support legs and a slot formed in a section of said second support leg wherein said pivot pin slidably moves along a length of said slot.
- 33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said first support leg is adapted to pivot between an engaged position in relation to said seat and a disengaged position.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a support brace secured to said seat and providing a structural abutment for a portion of said first support leg disposed in said engaged position.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said second support leg is pivotally attached to said bench.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a bracket attached to said seat, said bracket selectively engaging at least a portion of said second support leg.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said seat support member renders said seating member freestanding, independently from said table, wherein the seating member is separable, and fully useable independently from the table.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a second seating member being independently deployable in relation to said first seating member and said table.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first and second seating members are positionable within said cavity of said table top.
- 40. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second seating member is adapted to secure the first seating member within said cavity of said table top.
RELATED APPLICATION
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/150,448, filed Sep. 9, 1998, and entitled NESTED, INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYABLE BENCH AND TABLE APPARATUS AND METHOD, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (38)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
49-3062 |
Oct 1967 |
JP |
48-9858 |
Feb 1973 |
JP |
50-84303 |
Dec 1973 |
JP |
3025644 |
Dec 1995 |
JP |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
“Portable Table and Chair Set” Informational brochure, Brookstone, Nashua New Hampshire. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/150448 |
Sep 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/584556 |
|
US |