U.S. patent application number 10/247698 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-03 for sliding table top.
Invention is credited to Oakes, Michael.
Application Number | 20040103829 10/247698 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32392314 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040103829 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oakes, Michael |
June 3, 2004 |
Sliding table top
Abstract
The Sliding Tabletop consists of a tabletop made of wood which
has sliding mechanisms attached to the bottom side. The sliding
mechanism attaches the tabletop to the table frame. The sliding
mechanisms are metal or wooden drawer type slides that attach to
the tabletop and table frame with screws or glue and allow the
tabletop to slide while the frame remains fixed in place. When in
the closed position, the tabletop is centered over the frame. When
slid open, the top extends to the edge of the frame exposing any
storage space within the frame. The sliding mechanisms do not allow
the tabletop to extend past the table frame. This prevents the
possibility of the tabletop sliding all the way off the table frame
and onto the floor. The sliders also support the tabletop when slid
open.
Inventors: |
Oakes, Michael; (Brighton,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael Oakes
53 Isabelle Drive
Narragansett
RI
02882
US
|
Family ID: |
32392314 |
Appl. No.: |
10/247698 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 13/081
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/143 |
International
Class: |
A47B 011/00 |
Claims
1. My claim is the design and concept of the Sliding Tabletop for
home furnishings; more specifically, the tabletop which moves
horizontally and parallel to the top of the table frame via sliding
mechanisms, allowing access to space below the tabletop.
Description
SPECIFICATION
[0001] The Sliding Tabletop is designed to offer access to storage
space underneath a tabletop. The best example is with a coffee
table/chest seen in Drawing (1). When designing a coffee
table/chest with storage space under the tabletop, some problems of
convenience arose. The main problem was coming up with a method of
opening the top. Hinges, which are frequently used with chests,
made access to the storage space difficult when items were on the
tabletop. Therefore, the only way to make for convenient storage
access was to have a tabletop in which stayed level when open. This
removes the need to take all items off the tabletop every time
access is needed. Therefore, the sliding tabletop is fixed to the
frame of the table with sliders allowing only horizontal motion of
the tabletop, parallel to the frame of the furniture. The tabletop
is fixed to the frame via the sliding mechanism so that it never
comes completely off the frame, but slides enough to give adequate
access for storing items in and removing items from the storage
space within the table frame(under the tabletop).
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION--THE SLIDING TABLETOP
[0002] Tables are a part of every household. There are coffee
tables, dinner tables, side tables, nightstands, etc... For the
purpose of describing this invention, the coffee table provides a
great example of a slight design change enhancing usefulness.
[0003] Coffee tables come in many shapes and sizes. In many cases,
coffee tables offer more than a tabletop surface. They offer space
in which to store items such as magazines, videos, compact discs,
video games, etc... This space is generally found under the
tabletop and can be accessed through a lifting top or draws located
on the four side faces of the coffee table. In my personal use of a
coffee table of this type, I frequently pile all types of items on
the tabletop like papers, magazines, beverages, candles, and
various other stray items. This always created a problem with
coffee tables that have tabletops on hinges. With all the items on
the tabletop, accessing storage space would always require the
removal of such items from the tabletop before lifting it/opening
it. This is obviously inconvenient. Coffee tables with draws mean
you have to get up and walk around to access space storage space or
squirm out of the way if the draws are facing the coach because you
would be in the way of the open draws. With these issues in mind, I
came up with the sliding tabletop, which allows easy access to
storage space under the tabletop without the removal of items
resting on the tabletop.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] After living with the inconveniences of most modern coffee
tables, I came up with a simple invention to solve their problems
and enhance their functionality as well as the functionality of
many other types of tables. With the simple attachment of sliding
rails connecting the tabletop to the table frame, easy access to
storage space under the tabletop can be achieved without having to
get up or clear the table surface. The size of the table can vary
as can the storage space. (This is not to be confused with tables
that expand for the addition of leaves through the use of sliders
to extend the table frame).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Drawing (1): This drawing shows a coffee table/chest. FIG.
(1A) shows the tabletop closed while FIG. (1B) shows the tabletop
open. FIG. (1C) simply show a front or view with the top
closed.
[0006] Drawing (2): This drawing also shows a coffee table/chest
but with a multi-dimensional perspective. FIG. (2A) shows the
tabletop slid open with a view into the storage space. FIG. (2B)
shows the same view with the top closed.
[0007] Drawing (3): This drawing shows a traditional type coffee
table with the sliding tabletop. FIG. (3A) shows a side view with
the tabletop closed and FIG. (3B) shows the same view with the
tabletop slid open. FIG. (3C) simply show a front or view with the
top closed.
[0008] Drawing (4): This drawing also shows a traditional type
coffee table with the sliding tabletop but with a multi-dimensional
perspective. FIG. (4A) shows the tabletop closed. FIG. (4B) shows
the tabletop slid open with a view of the small storage space.
[0009] Pictures (1): These pictures show an example of a coffee
table/chest with a sliding tabletop. Pictures (1B), (1C), and (1D)
show are views of the tabletop slid open. Pictures (1A) and (1E)
show the top closed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The Sliding Tabletop is a simple invention where a tabletop
is connected to the table frame with sliders to allow a sliding
motion of the tabletop parallel to the horizontal side members of
the table frame as in FIG. (1B) and FIG. (3B). The sliders may be
connected to the top of the frame or the inside or outside of the
horizontal side frame members. The top half of the slider is
connected to the tabletop and married with the bottom half, which
is connected to the frame. Different sliders may be used depending
on the table specifications. For example, a large table has the
potential to have many items on it and requires a slider able to
handle a reasonable amount of weigh when the tabletop is slid open.
Different sliders also offer a larger opening through which to
access the storage space. Many types of sliders are available to
address these issues, but as the sliders are not the basis of the
claim, there is no point in going through such possible
specifications and options. This invention allows for the access of
storage space below the tabletop surface without the need to remove
items from the tabletop.
[0011] My claim is the design and concept of the Sliding Tabletop
for home furnishings; more specifically, the tabletop which moves
horizontally and parallel to the table frame via sliding
mechanisms, allowing access to space below the tabletop.
* * * * *