Convertible Table

Abstract

A convertible table is disclosed. The convertible table may comprise a tabletop, a plurality of supporting legs, a plurality of leg mounting tracks, and a table converting mechanism.

Description

Claims

1. A convertible table, comprising: a tabletop having an upper surface and a lower surface generally defining a planar surface;a first pair of legs including a first leg and a second leg, each of said first leg and said second leg of said first pair of legs including a first end coupled to said tabletop and a second end depending away from said generally planar surface in an approximately perpendicular direction, each of said second ends being a free end, wherein said first leg is pivotally coupled to said second leg at only a single pivot point, and wherein said first leg and said second leg of said first pair of legs are configured to pivotally move in a plane that is generally perpendicular to said generally planar surface of said tabletop;a second pair of legs including a first leg and a second leg, each of said first leg and said second leg of said second pair of legs including a first end coupled to said tabletop and a second end depending away from said generally planar surface in an approximately perpendicular direction, each of said second ends being a free end, wherein said first leg is pivotally coupled to said second leg at only a single pivot point, and wherein said first leg and said second leg of said second pair of legs are configured to pivotally move in a plane that is generally perpendicular to said generally planar surface of said tabletop;at least one leg mounting track in said lower surface of said tabletop for receiving said first ends of said first legs of said first and second pairs of legs, said at least one leg mounting track further comprising a guide rail and a sliding element connected to said first ends of each of said first legs, respectively, wherein said sliding element is configured to slidably engage said guide rail;a central leg shaft pivotally connecting said first pair of legs to said second pair of legs at each respective said single pivot point;an actuator;an input shaft coupled to said actuator;a driver gearbox coupled to said input shaft; andat least one output shaft coupled to said input shaft via said driver gear box.

2. The convertible table of claim 1, further comprising one or more stretchers configured to couple a second leg of said first pair of legs to a second leg of said second pair of legs.

3. The convertible table of claim 1, further comprising at least one cross bar for connecting said first end of said first leg of said first pair of legs to said first end of said first leg of said second pair of legs.

4. The convertible table of claim 1, further comprising at least one cross bar for connecting said first end of said second leg of said first pair of legs to said first end of said second leg of said second pair of legs.

5. The convertible table of claim 3, wherein said at least one output shaft is coupled to said at least one cross bar.

6. The convertible table of claim 4, wherein said at least one output shaft is coupled to said at least one cross bar.

7. The convertible table of claim 1, further comprising a stop block coupled to said input shaft.

8. The convertible table of claim 1, further comprising at least one bearing block coupled to said input shaft and said at least one output shaft.

9. The convertible table of claim 1, wherein said actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hand crank, a lever, a knob, a selector, and an electrical motor.

10. The convertible table of claim 10, wherein said electrical motor is interfaced with one or more remote devices via one or more communication standards selected from the group of Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or ZigBee.

11. The convertible table of claim 1, further comprising a lock/safety mechanism with a self-braking feature.

12. The convertible table of claim 11, wherein said lock/safety mechanism is a clutch.

13. The convertible table of claim 1, wherein said at least one leg mounting track is a slot integral to said lower surface of said tabletop or a bracket separate from said tabletop.

14. The convertible table of claim 1, wherein said driver gearbox is configured to change the rotation directions of said at least one output shaft from said input shaft.

15. The convertible table of claim 14, wherein said driver gearbox is configured to change the rotation directions of said at least one output shaft from said input shaft in a right angle.

16. The convertible table of claim 1, wherein said driver gearbox is configured to change the rotation speeds of said at least one output shaft from said input shaft.

17. The convertible table of claim 16, wherein said driver gearbox is configured to change the rotation speeds of said at least one output shaft from said input shaft with a 2:1 speed ratio.

18. The convertible table of claim 1, wherein said first end of said first leg of said first pair of legs and said first end of said first leg of said second pair of legs is non-slidingly connected to said table top, and wherein said first end of said second leg of said first pair of legs and said first end of said second leg of said second pair of legs is movably connected to said tabletop.

19. A convertible table, comprising: a tabletop having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface further comprising one or more leg mounting tracks;a first leg and a second leg, said first leg and said second leg in the shape of an “S”, and said first leg pivotally connected to said second leg at a first pivot;a third leg and a fourth leg, said third leg and said fourth leg in the shape of an “S”, and said third leg pivotally connected to said fourth leg at a second pivot;wherein each of said first leg, said second leg, said third leg, and said fourth leg further comprises respective first ends and second ends;wherein said first ends of said first leg, said second leg, said third leg, and said fourth leg are respectively coupled to said tabletop, and said second ends of said first leg, said second leg, said third leg, and said fourth leg are free ends;wherein said first end of said second leg and said first end of said fourth leg are slidably coupled to said tabletop via said one or more leg mounting tracks;a central leg shaft spanning between and pivotally coupling said first pivot and said second pivot, thereby coupling said first leg and said second leg to said third leg and said forth leg;a means for altering the height of said tabletop by controlling the sliding positions of said first ends of said second leg and of said fourth leg within said at least one leg mounting tracks to thereby raise or lower said tabletop.

20. A convertible table comprising: a tabletop defining a generally planar surface;a first pair of legs and a second pair of legs supporting said tabletop;each leg of said first pair of legs and each leg of said second pair of legs further comprising a first end and a second end;each leg of said first pair of legs having a single pivot point therebetween at a first pivot;each leg of said second pair of legs having a single pivot point therebetween at a second pivot;a central leg shaft spanning between and pivotally coupling said first pair of legs to said second pair of legs at said first pivot and said second pivot;a first leg mounting track coupled to said tabletop and configured to receive said first end of said first leg and to receive said first end of said third leg;an actuator;an input shaft removably coupled to said actuator;a driver gearbox coupled to said input shaft; andat least one output shaft coupled to said input shaft via said driver gear box.