Patent Application
20160353875
Not Applicable.
Folding tables are commonly used where temporary entertainment or work surfaces are needed. Conventional folding tables generally stand on multiple legs, and the legs rotate 90 degrees for storage. Such conventional designs are suitable when the at least one dimension (e.g., length, width, or diameter) of table top is greater than the length of the legs. For example, in many conventional folding tables, each leg individually folds up along one side of the table top and does not extend beyond the size of the table top surface. The hallmarks of such conventional 90 degree leg rotation designs are simplicity and set-up speed.
High top folding tables, such as folding cocktail tables, present unique design challenges because the folding legs are often longer than any dimension of the table top and, thus, require additional storage space. As the length of the legs increase, stability becomes a concern, forcing designers to look beyond the simple 90 degree leg rotation designs common in conventional folding tables for alternatives that allow fast and easy set-up, compact storage, and stability. It is with these considerations in mind that the present invention was conceived.
The following summary discusses various aspects of the invention described more fully in the detailed description and claimed herein. It is not intended and should not be used to limit the claimed invention to only such aspects or to require the invention to include all such aspects.
A folding table with a two position leg lock is described herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures. Aspects of the folding table include an upper support member, such as a table top or frame, a pair of regular (i.e., non-foldable) legs, and a pair of foldable legs. The regular legs and the foldable legs are configured to cooperatively support the table top in a substantially horizontal orientation in a use configuration. In various embodiments, the folding table includes a pair of notches defined by the lip of the table top. The notches allow the legs to lie substantially flush with the bottom of the lip and provide a generally flat profile while in the storage configuration.
The foldable legs include abase leg portion that is pivotally connected to one of the leg extensions by foldable leg connectors. In operation, the base leg portions and the extensions pivot about the connectors moving from the use configuration where lower ends of the base leg portions point in the opposite direction from the upper ends of the leg extensions to a storage configuration where the lower ends of the base leg portions point in the same direction as the upper ends of the leg extensions.
A lock mechanism allows the foldable legs and the extensions to be selectively fixed in the use configuration or the storage configuration. Aspects of the two position lock mechanism include, by way of example, a lock pin main connector extending from one of the leg extensions. The lock pin is biased to normally extend beyond the outside edge of the leg extension toward the base leg member. An actuator or handle allows an operator to apply a force opposing the bias to retract the lock pin thereby disengaging the lock mechanism.
A use receptacle and a storage receptacle configured to operatively receive the lock pin are defined by the base leg segment. The lock pin and the receptacles lie on the circumference of a circle with a radius, r, and centered on the foldable leg connector. When in the use configuration, the lock pin and the use receptacle are aligned. And, when in the storage configuration, the lock pin and the storage receptacle are aligned. When the lock pin is operatively engaged with one of the receptacles, the relative positions of the base leg segment and the leg extension become fixed. Because they are connected together and the positions of the their upper ends are locked b the attachment to the table top, the regular legs and the foldable legs cannot move relative to one another, the folding table is locked in the current configuration until released.
Further features, aspects, arid advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details and wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views:
A folding table with a two position leg lock is described herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures. Aspects of the folding table include a pair of regular, non-foldable legs and a pair of foldable legs that move between a use configuration and a storage configuration. The foldable legs incorporate a two position lock mechanism that selectively allows the legs to be locked in either the use configuration where the legs cooperatively support the table top or the storage configuration where the legs are positioned parallel to the table top. The table top includes a notched lip t allows the legs to lie substantially flush against the bottom surface of the table top.
In the embodiment depicted in
Each of the regular legs 104 is operatively connected to one of base leg segments 108 of the foldable legs 106 by main connectors 116 aligned on a first common pivot axis. The main connectors 116 are generally located centrally along the regular legs 104. The exact placement of the main connectors 116 varies depending upon the height of the folding table 100 and the spacing between the upper ends 112 of the regular legs 104 and the foldable legs 106. In operation, the regular legs 104 and foldable legs 106 operate as double levers with the main connectors 116 operating as the fulcrums about which the interconnected legs pivot in a scissor-like manner.
Each base leg segment 108 of the foldable legs 106 is operatively connected to one of the leg extensions 110 by foldable leg connectors 118 generally aligned on a second common pivot axis. The foldable leg connectors 118 are generally located proximate to the upper ends 112 of the base leg segments 108 and proximate to the lower ends 114 of the leg extensions 110. In other words, the foldable leg connectors 118 are to vary the overall length of the foldable legs 106 depending upon the relative orientation of the leg extensions 110 to the base leg segments 108. When in the use configuration, the foldable legs 106 are fully extended (i.e., the lower ends 114 of the base leg segments 108 and the leg extensions 110 are oriented in the same direction), and the combined length of the base leg segment 108 from the lower end 114 to the foldable leg connector 118 and the leg extension 110 from the upper end 112 to the connector is substantially equal to the length of the fixed leg 104.
In operation, the base leg segments 108 and the extensions 110 pivot about the connectors 118 moving from the use configuration where lower ends 114 of the base leg segments 108 point in the opposite direction from the upper ends 112 of the leg extensions 110 to a storage configuration where the lower ends 114 of the base leg segments 108 point in the same direction as the upper ends 112 of the leg extensions 110. A lock mechanism 122 allows the foldable legs 106 and the extensions 110 to be selectively fixed in the use configuration or the storage configuration.
In some embodiments, each of the fixed legs 104, the base leg segments 108, and the leg extensions 110 on one side of the folding table 100 move independently from those on the other side of the folding table 100. In other embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, one or more optional cross members 120 connect the regular legs 104, base leg segments 108, and leg extensions 110. When included, the cross members 120 provide structural stability by fixing the positions of the individual regular legs 104, base leg segments 108, and leg extensions 110 relative to each other. More specifically, the cross members 120 maintain the distance between the individual regular legs 104, base leg segments 108, and leg extensions 110 to facilitate folding and unfolding the table 100 by moving the paired regular legs 104, base leg segments 108, and leg extensions 110 together, which reduces binding on the connectors 116, 118. The cross members 120 may also offer ancillary functionality. For example, depending upon position, the cross members 120 may serve as handles for repositioning the legs or carrying the table 100 or footrests. In the illustrated embodiment, two techniques for implementing the cross members 120 are shown. The cross member 120 connecting the leg extensions 110 is illustrated as forming a continuous structure with a U-shape, while the cross members 120 connecting the regular legs 104 and the base leg segments 108, respectively, are separate pieces. The number and positions of the cross members can be varied for reasons such as, but not limited to, aesthetics, structural integrity, and ancillary functionality.
In various embodiments, the folding table 100 includes a pair of notches 124 defined by the lip 126 of the table top 102. The notches 124 allow the legs 104, 106 to lie substantially flush with the bottom of the lip 126 and provide a generally flat profile while in the storage configuration. The lip 126 optionally extends below the attachment points where the legs connect to the table top and provides support to keep the legs and attachment points elevated to reduce the risk of damage (e.g., bending) when the bottom of the folding table rests on a supporting surface. The lip 126 is optionally sized to substantially match or exceed the thickness of the legs 104, 106 to provide a level base when the folding table 100 is in the storage configuration, which facilitates stacking of the folding tables.
In embodiments incorporating a frame 206, the table top 102 is optional. This allows the folding table described herein to be implemented as folding table frame with a table top 102 to be added at a later time. For reference, the term upper support member broadly encompasses a table top, a frame, or combination thereof.
When in the storage configuration, the regular legs 104 and the foldable legs 106 lie in the same plane. However, the points of origin (i.e., the attachment points 202) for the regular legs 104 and the foldable legs 106 are offset. Because the regular legs 104 and the foldable legs 106 are connected at a fixed location (i.e., main connectors 116), it becomes necessary to compensate for the offset between the points of origin in order place the regular legs 104 and the foldable legs 106 into the storage configuration. By folding the foldable legs 106 at the foldable leg connector 118 such that the lower ends 114 of the base leg segments 108 and the leg extensions 110 are oriented in the opposite directions, the effective length of the foldable legs 106 is reduced to compensate for the offset.
In the illustrated embodiment, the legs members 108 have different lengths. The additional length of the longer base leg segment 108 is used to implement the lock mechanism 122. However, it is not necessary for the base leg segments 108 to have different lengths. An example of a suitable lock mechanism 122 is a lock pin main connector extending from one of the leg extensions 110. The lock pin 208 is biased to normally extend beyond the outside edge of the leg extension 110 toward the base leg segment 108. For example, a captured spring may bias the lock pin 208 toward the extended position. An actuator or handle 210, such as the depicted ring, allows an operator to apply a force opposing the bias to retract the lock pin thereby disengaging the lock mechanism 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock pin 208 is captured by the leg extension 110 to minimize the risk of loss. Further, a permanently mounted locking mechanism 122 is nota requirement and a free lock pin may be used. If desired, the free lock pin may be attached by a cable to minimize the risk of loss. Other lock mechanisms, such as, detents and other mechanisms for preventing relative movement of two connected members may be used.
Further, the illustrated embodiment shows the regular legs 104 positioned on the outside of the foldable legs 106 and the leg extensions 110 positioned to the inside of the base leg segments 108. Aspects of the folding table 100 are described herein using the depicted leg arrangement to provide a frame of reference. However, the folding table 100 may be suitably implemented using other leg arrangements and, as such, any directional references, such as inward or outward, inside or outside, and the like should not be read as limiting the folding table 100 to the depicted implementation.
As shown in
The lock pin 208 is offset from the foldable leg connector 118 by a selected distance in the direction of the lower end 114 of the leg extension 110. The use receptacle 304 is offset from the foldable leg connector 118 by a selected distance in the direction of the lower end 114 of the leg extension 110. The storage receptacle 306 is offset from the foldable leg connector 118 by substantially the same distance in the direction of the upper end 112 of the leg extension 110. In other words, the lock pin 208 and the receptacles 304, 306 lie on the circumference of a circle with a radius, r, and centered on the foldable leg connector 118. Thus, when in the use configuration, the lock pin 208 and the use receptacle 304 are aligned, and, when in the use configuration, the lock pin 208 and the storage receptacle 306 are aligned. It will be appreciated that some variation of the distances is permissible within the alignment tolerances of the lock pin 208 and the receptacles 304, 306.
The receptacles 304, 306 are configured to receive the lock pin 208 in operative engagement. When the lock pin 208 is aligned with and inserted into one of the receptacles 304, 306, the position of the connected base leg segment 108 becomes locked relative to the leg extension 110. Locking the foldable leg 106 prevents the regular legs 104 and foldable legs 106 from moving.
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The various features and aspects described in reference to the particular embodiments of the invention described herein are intended to be considered independent and optional. The depiction of any particular embodiment containing a combination of one or more features or aspects is not intended to require all such features or aspects to be incorporated into all embodiments of the invention. The disclosure should be read to encompass intermediate embodiments omitting one or more features or aspects disclosed as a combination in a particular embodiment and alternate embodiments composed of selected features or aspects from one or more disclosed embodiments even though all such combinations or alternative embodiments were not expressly enumerated. By way of example in the present application, any particular embodiment or implementation of the folding table 100 may selectively include or omit independent and optional features, such as and without limitation, the table top 102, the cross members 120, the notches 124, the lip 126, the frame 206, and the tab stops 402.
The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
