Patent Application
20220330691
The present application claims priority to Chinese Utility Model Application CN 202120807218.3 filed Apr. 20, 2021. The disclosure of the application is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference in its entirety.
The present invention generally relates to tables and, in particular, to foldable tables with minimized thicknesses when folded.
Foldable tables are more and more popular these days. A typical foldable table usually includes a table panel and a foldable frame for supporting the table panel. However, many existing foldable tables are heavy and when folded, are thick and large. As such, they are inconvenient to transport or carry around.
Given the current state of the art, there remains a need for tables that address the abovementioned issues.
The information disclosed in this Background section is provided for an understanding of the general background of the invention and is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this information forms part of the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.
The present disclosure provides foldable tables that are lighter, thinner when folded, and more stable in use.
In various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides a foldable table including first and second panels, first and second mounting assemblies, and first and second leg assemblies. Each respective panel in the first and second panels includes an upper panel surface and a lower panel surface spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a first distance. Each respective panel also includes a ridge monolithically formed with the respective panel at or adjacent to an edge of the respective panel. The ridge extends downward beyond the lower panel surface and includes a lower ridge surface spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a second distance. The second distance is equal to or less than two times the first distance. The first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other at proximal sides of the first and second mounting assemblies, with the first mounting assembly disposed below the lower panel surface of the first panel and coupled with the first panel and the second mounting assembly disposed below the lower panel surface of the second panel and coupled with the second panel. The first leg assembly is pivotally coupled with the first mounting assembly at a distal side of the first mounting assembly, and the second leg assembly is pivotally coupled with the second mounting assembly at a distal side of the second mounting assembly.
In an exemplary embodiment, the lower panel surface is substantially parallel to the upper panel surface.
In some exemplary embodiments, each respective panel further includes a plurality of protrusions monolithically formed with the respective panel across at least a portion of the respective panel to enhance a strength of the respective panel. Each of the plurality of protrusions protrudes downward from the lower panel surface and includes a lower protrusion surface spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a third distance.
In an exemplary embodiment, the third distance is equal to or less than 1.5 times the first distance.
In some exemplary embodiments, the lower protrusion surface of a protrusion in the plurality of protrusions is substantially flat, arched, or dome-shaped.
In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of protrusions is formed across at least a majority portion of the respective panel.
In an exemplary embodiment, protrusions in at least a subset of the plurality of protrusions are arranged substantially uniformly across the portion of the respective panel.
In some exemplary embodiments, each respective panel further includes a plurality of depressions monolithically formed with the respective panel, each recessing from the lower panel surface toward the upper panel surface.
In an exemplary embodiment, depressions in at least a subset of the plurality of depressions are arranged alternately with protrusions in at least a subset of the plurality of protrusions across the at least a portion of the respective panel. The plurality of depressions and the plurality of protrusions collectively enhance the strength of the respective panel.
In some exemplary embodiments, each respective panel further includes a plurality of ribs monolithically formed with the respective panel, each protruding downward from the lower panel surface of the respective panel. Each respective rib in at least a subset of the plurality of ribs connects corresponding adjacent protrusions in the plurality of protrusions.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of ribs includes a lower rib surface or rim spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a fourth distance that is substantially the same as the third distance.
In some exemplary embodiments, the foldable table further includes first and second supporting assembly. The first supporting assembly is coupled with the first leg assembly and first mounting assembly and configured to control rotation of the first leg assembly with respect to the first mounting assembly. The second supporting assembly is coupled with the second leg assembly and second mounting assembly and configured to control rotation of the second leg assembly with respect to the second mounting assembly.
In various exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides a foldable table including first and second panels, first and second mounting assemblies, and first and second leg assemblies. Each respective panel in the first and second panels includes an upper panel surface and a lower panel surface spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a first distance. Each respective panel also includes a plurality of protrusions monolithically formed with the respective panel across at least a portion of the respective panel. Each of the plurality of protrusions protrudes downward from the lower panel surface and includes a lower protrusion surface spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a third distance. The third distance is equal to or less than 1.5 times the first distance. The first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other at proximal sides of the first and second mounting assemblies, with the first mounting assembly disposed below the lower panel surface of the first panel and coupled with the first panel, and the second mounting assembly disposed below the lower panel surface of the second panel and coupled with the second panel. The first leg assembly is pivotally coupled with the first mounting assembly at a distal side of the first mounting assembly, and the second leg assembly is pivotally coupled with the second mounting assembly at a distal side of the second mounting assembly.
In some exemplary embodiments, the lower protrusion surface of a protrusion in the plurality of protrusions is substantially flat, arched, or dome-shaped.
In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of protrusions is formed across at least a majority portion of the respective panel.
In an exemplary embodiment, protrusions in at least a subset of the plurality of protrusions are arranged substantially uniformly across the portion of the respective panel.
In some exemplary embodiments, each respective panel further includes a plurality of depressions monolithically formed with the respective panel, each recessing from the lower panel surface toward the upper panel surface.
In an exemplary embodiment, depressions in at least a subset of the plurality of depressions are arranged alternately with protrusions in at least a subset of the plurality of protrusions across the at least a portion of the respective panel. The plurality of depressions and the plurality of protrusions collectively enhance the strength of the respective panel.
In some exemplary embodiments, each respective panel further includes a plurality of ribs monolithically formed with the respective panel, each protruding downward from the lower panel surface of the respective panel. Each respective rib in at least a subset of the plurality of ribs connects corresponding adjacent protrusions in the plurality of protrusions.
In an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of ribs includes a lower rib surface or rim spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a fourth distance that is substantially the same as the third distance.
The tables of the present disclosure have other features and advantages that will be apparent from, or are set forth in more detail in, the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the Detailed Description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
As will be apparent to those of skill in the art, the components illustrated in the figures described above are combinable in any useful number and combination. The figures are intended to be illustrative in nature and are not limiting.
Reference will now be made in detail to implementation of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following detailed description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present disclosure will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having benefit of this disclosure.
In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will be appreciated that, in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions are made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Many modifications and variations of the exemplary embodiments set forth in this disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The specific exemplary embodiments described herein are offered by way of example only, and the disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of foldable tables. A foldable table of the present disclosure generally includes a first panel, a second panel, a first mounting frame coupled with the first panel and a second mounting frame coupled with the second panel. The first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other at their proximal sides so that the table can be folded in half. The panels and/or other components of the table are configured and sized to reduce the weight of the table, enhance the strength of the table, and/or minimize the thickness of the table when it is folded. As such, the foldable tables of the present disclosure are stable when in use, require less storage space and are easy to carry around.
Referring now to
The first mounting assembly is disposed under the first panel and coupled with the first panel. The second mounting assembly is disposed under the second panel and coupled with the second panel. Moreover, the first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other at their proximal sides, for instance, by one or more couplers such as coupler 21. As used herein, the sides at which first and second mounting assemblies are connected to each other are referred to as their proximal sides, and the sides opposite the proximal sides are referred to as their distal sides. For instance, in
The first leg assembly is pivotally coupled with the first mounting assembly at a distal side of the first mounting assembly, and thus is rotatable with respect to the first mounting assembly between a use position and a storage position. Similarly, the second leg assembly is pivotally coupled with the second mounting assembly at a distal side of the second mounting assembly, and thus is rotatable with respect to the second mounting assembly between a use position and a storage position.
Since the first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other at their proximal sides, for instance, by one or more couplers such as coupler 21, the first and second mounting assemblies can be folded onto each other. As such, the table can be folded in half as illustrated in
In some exemplary embodiments, at least one coupler 21 includes a locking mechanism. When the table is unfolded and in use, the locking mechanism locks and retains the first and second mounting assemblies in the unfolded positions with respect to each other. Examples of locking mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/838,939 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,863,819 B1), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/839,337 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,806,246 B2) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/368,284, the disclosure of each application is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference in its entirety. The locking mechanism prevents accidental folding of the table and thus makes the table safer and more reliable when in use.
In some exemplary embodiments, to enhance the stability of the table, table 1 includes one or more supporting assemblies, each configured to control rotation of a leg assembly, to stabilize a leg assembly when unfolded, or to help support one or more mounting assemblies. For instance, in some exemplary embodiments, table 1 includes first and second supporting assemblies, which can be configured the same as or differently from each other. By way of example,
For instance, in some embodiments, leg assembly 40 includes one or more legs, such as leg 41, and an intermediate member, such as intermediate member 42, coupled with a middle portion of the one or more legs. Supporting assembly 30 includes a first supporting member such as first supporting member 32, a controller such as controller 34, and one or more second supporting members such as second supporting member 33. First supporting member 32 is coupled with intermediate supporting member 42. In an embodiment, first supporting member 32 is fixedly coupled with intermediate member 42. In another embodiment, first supporting member 32 is pivotally coupled with intermediate member 42. Controller 34 is coupled with first supporting member 32 and selectively movable along the first supporting member. In an exemplary embodiment, controller 34 is configured to be a slider or to include a slider similar to those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 16/838,939, 16/838,944 and 16/838,947, the disclosure of each application is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference in its entirety. Second supporting member 33 has a first end portion pivotally coupled with the controller and a second end portion pivotally coupled with the first or second mounting assembly.
In some exemplary embodiments, the supporting assembly is the same as or similar to those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/951,461 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/368,284, the disclosure of each application is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference in its entirety.
The supporting assembly allows the leg assembly to rotate between a use position (e.g., when the leg assembly supports the mounting assembly and panel as illustrated in
Referring to
Panel 10 can be of various sizes and of various shapes including but not limited to rectangles and squares. It can be made of any suitable material, for instance, by blow molding plastics such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), or the like.
In some exemplary embodiments, panel 10 is made by blow-molding of a plastic or the like, creating a generally hollow interior between the upper and lower panel surfaces. However, it should be noted that the upper and lower panel surfaces (or panel walls) can be but do not have to be completely spaced apart from each other. For instance, in some exemplary embodiments, the upper and lower panel surfaces (or panel walls) can be joined with each other at one or more locations. Similarly, the generally hollow interior can be completely hollow or partially hollow with one or more structures formed or disposed within. The generally hollow structure reduces the weight of the panel.
The upper and lower panel surfaces each can be planar or nonplanar. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, each of the upper and lower panel surfaces is substantially planar, and the upper and lower panel surfaces are substantially parallel to each other. In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the upper or lower panel surface is curved.
In some exemplary embodiments, panel 10 also includes a ridge (or lip), such as ridge 12. The ridge can be formed at any suitable position. For instance, the ridge can be formed at or adjacent to an edge of the panel, at or adjacent to the entire perimeter of the panel, or at a position away from an edge of the panel. The ridge can also be straight or curved or composed of straight and curved segments. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the ridge is straight, e.g., a ridge formed at an edge of a rectangular or square panel. In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the ridge is curved, e.g., a ridge formed along a portion of the perimeter of a circular or oblong panel. The height of the ridge, which represents a dimension of the ridge along a vertical direction of the table when the table is in use or a dimension of the ridge along a thickness of the table when the table is folded, is limited within a certain range to minimize the thickness of the table when it is folded.
For instance, in some exemplary embodiments, the ridge extends downward beyond the lower panel surface and includes a lower ridge surface, such as lower ridge surface 121. The lower ridge surface is generally spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a second distance, e.g., second distance “La”. Like the upper and lower surfaces of the panel, the lower ridge surface can be planar or non-planar, and can include other additional or optional features such as indentations, depressions, protrusions or the like. Second distance “La” is equal to or less than 2× first distance “Lb”. In some exemplary embodiments, second distance “La” is equal to or less than 1.9×, 1.8×, 1.7× or 1.6× first distance “Lb”. The second distance is set so that the ridge not only enhances the strength of the panel, but also serves as a structure for coupling with the mounting assembly. The use of the ridge also allows to minimize the thickness of the table when folded and reduce the total weight of the table.
Referring to
For instance, in some exemplary embodiments, panel 10 includes protrusions 13, ribs 14, and/or depressions 111. It should be noted that this is a non-limiting example and strengthening elements are combinable in any useful numbers and manners. For instance, panel 10 can include but do not have to include all three different types of strengthening elements. Panel 10 can also include other additional, optional, or alternative strengthening elements such as channels, trenches or the like. Examples of strengthening elements are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 17/172,990, 17/193,421, and 17/368,469, the disclosure of each application is incorporated herein for all purposes by reference in its entirety.
Moreover, strengthening elements (e.g., depressions, protrusions, or ribs) can have any suitable shapes, sizes or orientations. For instance, a depression can have a regular (e.g., rectangular, square, circular, oblong or the like) or irregular shape. In addition, adjacent depressions can have the same configuration or different configurations. Similarly, a protrusion/rib can have a regular or irregular shape, and adjacent protrusions/ribs can have the same configuration or different configurations
Further, depressions, protrusions, ribs, and/or other strengthening elements can be formed at any suitable positions independent from each other or related to each other. For instance, a protrusion can be formed at a position adjacent to none of the plurality of depressions, or at a position adjacent to 1, 2 or more than 2 depressions. Likewise, a depression can be formed at a position adjacent to none of the plurality of protrusions, or at a position adjacent to 1, 2 or more than 2 protrusions. The depressions, protrusions, ribs, and/or strengthening elements can be arranged uniformly or nonuniformly across the panel.
In some exemplary embodiments, panel 10 includes a plurality of protrusions 13 monolithically formed with the panel across at least a portion of the respective panel to enhance a strength of the panel. The protrusions can be but do not have to be identical or substantially the same as each other. For instance, the protrusions can have the same or different shapes or sizes, or can be arranged in the same or different orientations. By way of example,
In some exemplary embodiments, protrusion 13 protrudes downward from lower panel surface 11 and include a lower protrusion surface, such as lower protrusion surface 131. The lower protrusion surface is spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a third distance, e.g., “Lc”. In some exemplary embodiments, third distance “Lc” is equal to or less than 1.5×, 1.4×, 1.3× or 1.2× first distance “Lb”.
The lower protrusion surface of protrusion 13 can be planar or non-planar. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, the lower protrusion surface is substantially flat. In another exemplary embodiment, the lower protrusion surface is arched or dome-shaped. In still another exemplary embodiment, the lower protrusion surface of at least one protrusion in the plurality of protrusions is planar while the lower protrusion surface of at least one other protrusion in the plurality of protrusions is non-planar.
The plurality of protrusions can be distributed uniformly, generally uniformly, or non-uniformly across at least a portion of the lower panel surface of the panel, in which adjacent depressions are generally spaced apart from each other. In some exemplary embodiments, at least some of the protrusions are arranged in a pattern, which can be regular or irregular. For instance, some or all of the protrusions are arranged to form row(s), column(s), circle(s) or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of protrusions is formed across at least a majority portion (e.g., at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90% or substantially the entirety) of the panel. In some exemplary embodiments, protrusions in at least a subset of the plurality of protrusions are arranged substantially uniformly across the portion of the panel.
In some exemplary embodiments, panel 10 includes a plurality of ribs, such as rib 14, monolithically formed with the panel. Rib 14 can have any suitable shape and size and can be oriented in any suitable orientation. Different ribs can be but do not have to be identical or substantially the same as each other. For instance, different ribs can have the same or different shapes or sizes, or can be arranged in the same or different orientations. By way of example, the plurality of ribs 14 is illustrated to be monolithically formed with the lower panel surface and/or protrusions 13, each protruding downward from the lower panel surface of the panel. In an exemplary embodiment, a rib is a crease, a ridge or the like formed at the second panel wall and/or protrusion. In some exemplary embodiments, a rib in at least a subset of the plurality of ribs extends from one protrusion to another protrusion, and thus connects corresponding adjacent protrusions in the plurality of protrusions. Rib 14 includes a lower rib surface or rim, such as lower rib surface or rim 141. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the lower rib surface or rim is spaced apart from the upper panel surface at a distance that is substantially the same as third distance “Lc”, e.g., the height of the rib is substantially the same as the height of the corresponding protrusion.
In some exemplary embodiments, panel 10 includes a plurality of depressions, such as depressions 111, each recessing from the lower panel surface toward the upper panel surface. Like the protrusions, different depressions can be but do not have to be identical or substantially the same as each other. For instance, different depressions can have the same or different shapes or sizes, or can be arranged in the same or different orientations. Also like the protrusions, depressions 111 can be distributed uniformly, generally uniformly, or non-uniformly across at least a portion of the panel. In addition, depressions 111 can be formed at any suitable positions independent from other strengthening elements (e.g., protrusions 13) or related to other strengthening elements (e.g., protrusions 13). The number of the depressions can the same as or different from the number of protrusions. For instance, in some exemplary embodiments, at least some protrusions (e.g., protrusions in at least a subset of the plurality of protrusions) are arranged alternately with some depressions (e.g., depressions in at least a subset of the plurality of depressions) across at least a portion of the panel. In an exemplary embodiment, all protrusions are arranged alternately with the depressions. By way of example,
In some exemplary embodiments, table 1 includes additional, optional or alternative features. For instance, as a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, table 1 includes a handle, such as handle 22, to facilitate easy carrying as illustrated in
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims. As used in the description of the implementations and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that the terms “top” or “bottom”, “lower” or “upper”, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first member could be termed a second member, and, similarly, a second member could be termed a first member, without changing the meaning of the description, so long as all occurrences of the “first member” are renamed consistently and all occurrences of the “second member” are renamed consistently.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202120807218.3 | Apr 2021 | CN | national |
