LIGHTWEIGHT TABLE STRUCTURE

Abstract

A lightweight table structure includes a frame having a quadrilateral shape, a top panel mounted on a top of the frame, a bottom panel mounted on a bottom of the frame, and a decorative laminate sheet mounted on the top panel by a laminating process. The frame has a hollow interior. The frame includes a front panel, a rear panel, a left panel, and a right panel which are combined together. The frame further includes multiple reinforcing ribs and multiple reinforcing plates mounted between the front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, and the right panel. The reinforcing ribs are spaced and arranged in parallel. The reinforcing plates are spaced and arranged in parallel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a table or table top or table board and, more particularly, to a lightweight table structure.

Description of the Related Art

Wooden boards have different strength according to different processes of production and have diverse uses due to their different features. A table top or table board usually includes a solid wood board (or integrated board), a plywood (or splint), a wood core board, a plastic composite board, and a dense board. The solid wood board includes smaller wood pieces that are cut from logs. The wood pieces are selected, cut, spliced, and glued to form the solid wood board. The plywood includes thin wood slices that are cut from wood. The wood slices are laminated lengthwise and crosswise according to the grain direction, are bonded by adhesive, and are pressed to form the plywood. The wood core board is divided into three layers, with solid wood strips in the middle to form a wooden board by splicing. The upper and lower layers are pressed with thin wood plates glued in the vertical grain direction. The plastic composite board is formed by using small wood chips, adding glue and antifungal agents, which are pressed at a high temperature. The dense board is a sheet plate made of finely divided wood powder or wood fiber mixed with resin and glue and then pressed at a high temperature. However, the conventional table top has a solid structure, thereby increasing the whole weight, and increasing the cost of fabrication.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a table structure that has a lighter weight and reduces the cost of fabrication.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a lightweight table structure comprising a frame, a top panel mounted on a top of the frame, a bottom panel mounted on a bottom of the frame, and a decorative laminate sheet mounted on the top panel by a laminating process. The frame has a hollow interior. The frame includes a front panel, a rear panel, a left panel, and a right panel which are combined together. The frame further includes multiple reinforcing ribs and multiple reinforcing plates mounted between the front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, and the right panel. The reinforcing ribs are spaced and arranged in parallel. The reinforcing ribs extend transversely. The reinforcing plates are spaced and arranged in parallel. The reinforcing plates extend longitudinally.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lightweight table structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the lightweight table structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame of the lightweight table structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lightweight table structure and a locally enlarged view of a insert nut in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a planar view of the lightweight table structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lightweight table structure taken along line B-B as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lightweight table structure taken along line C-C as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the lightweight table structure taken along line E-E as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing usage of the lightweight table structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the frame of a lightweight table structure in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a planar view of the lightweight table structure in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the lightweight table structure taken along line R-R as shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-9, a lightweight table structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame 10 having a quadrilateral shape, a top panel 20 mounted on a top of the frame 10, a bottom panel 30 mounted on a bottom of the frame 10, and a decorative laminate sheet 40 mounted on the top panel 20 by a laminating process.

The frame 10 has a hollow interior to reduce the whole weight of the table structure. The frame 10 includes a front panel 11, a rear panel 12, a left panel 13, and a right panel 14 which are combined together. The frame 10 further includes multiple reinforcing ribs 16 and multiple reinforcing plates 17 mounted between the front panel 11, the rear panel 12, the left panel 13, and the right panel 14. The reinforcing ribs 16 are spaced and arranged in parallel. The reinforcing plates 17 are spaced and arranged in parallel.

The decorative laminate sheet 40 is a thin synthetic surface covering. The decorative laminate sheet 40 is pressed under a heating condition. Preferably, the top panel 20 is pressed with the decorative laminate sheet 40 under a heating condition to form a sheet plate with a density in the range of 0.50-0.88 g/cm³.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front panel 11, the rear panel 12, the left panel 13, the right panel 14, the reinforcing ribs 16, the reinforcing plates 17, the top panel 20, and the bottom panel 30 are made of a medium density fiberboard (MDF).

Alternatively, the front panel 11, the rear panel 12, the left panel 13, the right panel 14, the top panel 20, and the bottom panel 30 are made of a medium density fiberboard (MDF), and the reinforcing ribs 16 and the reinforcing plates 17 are made of a recycled sheet plate.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the left panel 13 and the right panel 14 is provided with multiple fitting (or embedding) grooves 15 allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs 16. The fitting grooves 15 are arranged symmetrically between the left panel 13 and the right panel 14.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the reinforcing plates 17 is provided with multiple fitting (or embedding) grooves 18 allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs 16.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the front panel 11, the rear panel 12, the left panel 13, the right panel 14, and the reinforcing plates 17 has a bottom provided with multiple holes 19 for mounting multiple insert nuts R. The insert nuts R are used to lock a rack or stand 50 (see FIG. 9).

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front panel 11 is provided with a guide bevel and arc angle 111.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing ribs 16 extend transversely, and the reinforcing plates 17 extend longitudinally.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frame 10 includes four reinforcing plates 17 arranged symmetrically between the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, each of the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 is provided with multiple fitting grooves 15 allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs 16. The fitting grooves 15 are arranged symmetrically between the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12. In addition, the four reinforcing plates 17 are arranged symmetrically between the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12. Further, each of the reinforcing plates 17 is provided with multiple fitting grooves 18 allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs 16.

Accordingly, the table structure is primarily made of a medium density fiberboard (MDF). The MDF includes raw material, such as wood fiber or other plant fiber, applied with urea-formaldehyde resin or other synthetic resin. Thus, the MDF is pressed under a heating condition to form a sheet plate with a density in the range of 0.50-0.88 g/cm³.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A lightweight table structure comprising: a frame;a top panel mounted on a top of the frame; anda bottom panel mounted on a bottom of the frame;wherein:the frame has a hollow interior;the frame includes a front panel, a rear panel, a left panel, and a right panel which are combined together;the frame further includes multiple reinforcing ribs mounted between the front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, and the right panel;the reinforcing ribs are spaced and arranged in parallel; andthe reinforcing ribs extend transversely.

2. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: multiple reinforcing plates mounted between the front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, and the right panel;wherein:the reinforcing plates are spaced and arranged in parallel; andthe reinforcing plates extend longitudinally.

3. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, the right panel, the reinforcing ribs, the reinforcing plates, the top panel, and the bottom panel are made of a medium density fiberboard (MDF).

4. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the left panel, the right panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel are made of a medium density fiberboard (MDF); andthe reinforcing ribs and the reinforcing plates are made of a recycled sheet plate.

5. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the left panel and the right panel is provided with multiple fitting grooves allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs; andthe fitting grooves are arranged symmetrically between the left panel and the right panel.

6. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each of the front panel and the rear panel is provided with multiple fitting grooves allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs; andthe fitting grooves are arranged symmetrically between the front panel and the rear panel.

7. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the reinforcing plates is provided with multiple fitting grooves allowing insertion of the reinforcing ribs.

8. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the front panel, the rear panel, the left panel, the right panel, and the reinforcing plates has a bottom provided with multiple holes for mounting multiple insert nuts.

9. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front panel is provided with a guide bevel and arc angle.

10. The lightweight table structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a decorative laminate sheet mounted on the top panel by a laminating process.