U.S. patent application number 10/837450 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-24 for foldable table with longitudinal mid-support arrangement.
Invention is credited to Tsai, Frank.
Application Number | 20050061214 10/837450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46302010 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050061214 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai, Frank |
March 24, 2005 |
Foldable table with longitudinal mid-support arrangement
Abstract
A foldable table includes a tabletop having two longitudinal
side edge portions; two side runners respectively supported at two
sides edge portions of the tabletop; a longitudinal mid-folding
arrangement comprising a mid-runner longitudinally extended between
the two sides runners; and a pair of leg assemblies foldably and
spacedly affixing to the tabletop, wherein the mid-runner is
adapted to facilitate the folding operation of the leg
assemblies.
Inventors: |
Tsai, Frank; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond Y. Chan
Suite 128
108 N. Ynez Ave.
Monterey Park
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
46302010 |
Appl. No.: |
10/837450 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10837450 |
Apr 29, 2004 |
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10671393 |
Sep 24, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 3/087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/132 |
International
Class: |
A47B 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A foldable table, comprising: a tabletop having two longitudinal
side edge portions; two side runners respectively supported at two
sides edge portions of said tabletop; a longitudinal mid-folding
arrangement comprising a mid-runner longitudinally extended between
said two sides runners, wherein said mid-runner is suspendedly and
spacedly supported underneath said tabletop; and a pair of leg
assemblies foldably and spacedly affixing to said tabletop, wherein
each of said leg assemblies comprises a leg frame transversely and
pivotally mounted between said two side runners, and a folding
frame pivotally coupling between said leg frame and said mid-runner
to retain said leg frame in an unfolded position, in such a manner
that in a folded position, said leg frames are pivotally and
inwardly folded to rest under said tabletop, and in said unfolded
position, said leg frames are pivotally and outwardly folded to
perpendicularly stand under said tabletop.
2. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
mid-runner has two ends extended to couple with said two leg frames
of said leg assemblies to enable said leg frames to rotate with
respect to said mid-runner.
3. The foldable table, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said
leg frames comprises a transverse member rotatably extended between
said two side runners and a supporting legs downwardly extended
from said transverse member, wherein said two ends of said
mid-runner are respectively coupling with said transverse members
to retain said mid-runner in position between said two side
runners.
4. The foldable table, as recited in claim 3, further comprising
two attachment units rotatably connecting said transverse members
of said leg frames with said two ends of said mid-runner
respectively, wherein each of said attachment units comprises a
C-shaped frame holder having a guiding slot for said respective
transverse member rotatably passing through and a frame connector
extended from said frame holder to securely attach to said
respective end of said mid-runner.
5. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
folding frames has a leg coupling end pivotally coupling with said
respective leg frame and a table coupling end pivotally and
selectively coupling along said mid-runner such that when said leg
frames are outwardly and pivotally folded, each of said folding
frames limits a pivot movement of said respective leg frame with
respect to said mid-runner so as too retain said respective leg
frame at said unfolded position.
6. The foldable table, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said
folding frames has a leg coupling end pivotally coupling with said
respective leg frame and a table coupling end pivotally and
selectively coupling along said mid-runner such that when said leg
frames are outwardly and pivotally folded, each of said folding
frames limits a pivot movement of said respective leg frame with
respect to said mid-runner so as too retain said respective leg
frame at said unfolded position.
7. The foldable table, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said
folding frames has a leg coupling end pivotally coupling with said
respective leg frame and a table coupling end pivotally and
selectively coupling along said mid-runner such that when said leg
frames are outwardly and pivotally folded, each of said folding
frames limits a pivot movement of said respective leg frame with
respect to said mid-runner so as too retain said respective leg
frame at said unfolded position
8. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
mid-runner is extended between said two side runners in a parallel
manner so as to ensure a symmetric folding operation of said leg
assemblies.
9. The foldable table, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
mid-runner is extended between said two side runners in a parallel
manner so as to ensure a symmetric folding operation of said leg
assemblies.
10. The foldable table, as recited in claim 5, wherein said
mid-runner is extended between said two side runners in a parallel
manner so as to ensure a symmetric folding operation of said leg
assemblies.
11. The foldable table, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
mid-runner is extended between said two side runners in a parallel
manner so as to ensure a symmetric folding operation of said leg
assemblies.
12. The foldable table, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
tabletop, which is constructed to have two side panel, comprises a
pivot hinge formed at a mid-portion of each of said side runners
between said two side panels, wherein said mid-runner has two
longitudinal portion pivotally connected end to end and aligned
with said two pivot hinges in such a manner that said side panel
are adapted to fold in an overlapped manner via said pivot hinges
for reducing a size of said tabletop.
13. The foldable table, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
tabletop, which is constructed to have two side panel, comprises a
pivot hinge formed at a mid-portion of each of said side runners
between said two side panels, wherein said mid-runner has two
longitudinal portion pivotally connected end to end and aligned
with said two pivot hinges in such a manner that said side panel
are adapted to fold in an overlapped manner via said pivot hinges
for reducing a size of said tabletop.
14. The foldable table, as recited in claim 11, wherein said
tabletop, which is constructed to have two side panel, comprises a
pivot hinge formed at a mid-portion of each of said side runners
between said two side panels, wherein said mid-runner has two
longitudinal portion pivotally connected end to end and aligned
with said two pivot hinges in such a manner that said side panel
are adapted to fold in an overlapped manner via said pivot hinges
for reducing a size of said tabletop.
15. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
leg frames comprises a transverse member rotatably extended between
said two side runners and a supporting legs downwardly extended
from said transverse member, wherein said two ends of said
mid-runner are respectively coupling with said transverse members
to retain said mid-runner in position between said two side
runners, in such a manner that said mid-runner is suspendedly and
spacedly supported underneath said tabletop by said two transverse
members.
16. The foldable table, as recited in claim 15, wherein each of
said folding frames has a leg coupling end pivotally coupling with
said respective leg frame and a table coupling end pivotally and
selectively coupling among said mid-runner such that when said leg
frames are outwardly and pivotally folded, each of said folding
frames limits a pivot movement of said respective leg frame with
respect to said mid-runner do as to retain said respective leg
frame at said unfolded position.
17. The foldable table, as recited in claim 15, wherein said
mid-runner is extended between said two side runners in a parallel
manner so as to ensure a symmetric folding operation of said leg
assemblies.
18. The foldable table, as recited in claim 16, wherein said
mid-runner is extended between said two side runners in a parallel
manner so as to ensure a symmetric folding operation of said leg
assemblies.
19. The foldable table, as recited in claim 15, wherein wherein
said tabletop, which is constructed to have two side panel,
comprises a pivot hinge formed at a mid-portion of each of said
side runners between said two side panels, wherein said mid-runner
has two longitudinal portion pivotally connected end to end and
aligned with said two pivot hinges in such a manner that said side
panel are adapted to fold in an overlapped manner via said pivot
hinges for reducing a size of said tabletop.
20. The foldable table, as recited in claim 18, wherein wherein
said tabletop, which is constructed to have two side panel,
comprises a pivot hinge formed at a mid-portion of each of said
side runners between said two side panels, wherein said mid-runner
has two longitudinal portion pivotally connected end to end and
aligned with said two pivot hinges in such a manner that said side
panel are adapted to fold in an overlapped manner via said pivot
hinges for reducing a size of said tabletop.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of a utility
application, Ser. No. 10/671,393, filed Sep. 24, 2003 by the
inventor of this application
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a banquet table, and more
particularly to a foldable table which comprises a longitudinal
mid-support arrangement extended between two side runners for
substantially enhancing the strength of the tabletop and the leg
assembly in a foldably movable manner.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0005] Banquet tables have become very popular since the tables are
economical, cheap and foldable that can be quickly and easily
folded for carriage and storage and unfolded for use. Especially
when some participant-intensive activities take place in
multi-function rooms or designated areas, the banquet tables can be
temporary set up in minutes. After the functions, the banquet
tables can be quickly and neatly folded up for storage.
[0006] A conventional banquet table comprises a tabletop and a pair
of table legs foldably mounted underneath the tabletop. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,061 generally suggests a banquet table
that two table legs are pivotally mounted at two opposed side end
portions of the tabletop. Since the two table legs support the
tabletop at two side end portions thereof, when a downward loading
force F is applied on the tabletop, a mid-portion of the tabletop
may be cracked easily. In order to enhance the rigid structure of
the banquet tabletop, the tabletop must be made of stiffness
materials such as wood or metal. However, the wooden or metal
tabletop will increase the overall weight of the banquet table that
reduces the portability of the banquet table.
[0007] In order to enhance the portability of the banquet table,
the tabletop is made of lightweight materials such as plastic. One
of the common technologies to manufacture the tabletop is known as
the plastic "air-blow" molding technique. Therefore, the overall
weight of the banquet table will be substantially reduced by the
plastic tabletop. However, such banquet table having the plastic
tabletop has several drawbacks.
[0008] The strength of such plastic tabletop is weak that the
mid-portion of the plastic tabletop may be cracked easily due to
the downward loading force F. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,431,092 generally suggest a banquet table generally comprises
a under the top panel 1, a metal made reinforcing arms 3
transversely mounted below a mid-portion of the top panel 1 between
the two supporting arms 2 to substantially increase the strength of
the top panel 1.
[0009] In addition, in order to foldably attach the table leg 4 to
the tabletop, the table leg 4 comprises a standing leg rotatably
mounted between the supporting arms 2 and a folding leg pivotally
mounted between the standing leg and the reinforcing arm 3 such
that the standing leg is capable of pivotally folding under the top
panel 1 of the tabletop. As a result, the reinforcing arm 3 not
only enhances the strength of the top panel 1 but also rigidly
supports the table leg 4 in a foldable manner. In other words, the
plastic tabletop must include the reinforcing arm 3 in order to
dorm the banquet table.
[0010] However, the reinforcing arm 3 restricts the pivotally
attaching position of the folding leg. Since the reinforcing arm 3
is transversely mounted at the middle of the tabletop, the folding
leg must be long enough to pivotally extend form the standing leg
to the reinforcing arm, which may weaken the strength of the
folding leg.
[0011] Furthermore, due to the position of the reinforcing arm 3,
the tabletop cannot be modified to employ with a folding hinge at
the mid-portion thereof for further overlappedly folding the
tabletop in half to substantially reduce the size of the
tabletop.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0012] A man object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, which comprises a mid-runner longitudinally
extended between two side runners, wherein a folding frame of the
leg assembly is adapted to adjustably couple along the mid-runner
to retain the leg assembly in a folded position. In other words, a
length of the folding frame can be substantially shortened to
couple between the standing leg and the mid-runner so as to enhance
the strength of the leg assembly.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, wherein the mid-runner can be simply modified to
incorporate with a folding hinge to overlappedly fold the tabletop
so as to substantially reduce the size thereof.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, which has a rigid, simple, and strong
structure.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, wherein no expensive mechanical structure is
required to be employed in the present invention in order to
achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present
invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution
nit not only for providing a reinforced supporting configuration to
the tabletop but also for enhancing the folding movement of the leg
assembly with respect to the tabletop.
[0016] Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
present invention provides a foldable table, comprising:
[0017] a tabletop having two longitudinal side edge portions;
[0018] two side runners respectively supported at two sides edge
portions of the tabletop;
[0019] a longitudinal mid-folding arrangement comprising a
mid-runner longitudinally extended between the two sides runners,
wherein the mid-runner is suspendedly and spacedly supported
underneath the tabletop; and
[0020] a pair of leg assemblies foldably and spacedly affixing to
the tabletop, wherein each of the leg assemblies comprises a leg
frame transversely and pivotally mounted between the two side
runners, and a folding frame pivotally coupling between the leg
frame and the mid-runner to retain the leg frame in an unfolded
position, in such a manner that in a folded position, the leg
frames are pivotally and inwardly folded to rest under the
tabletop, and in the unfolded position, the leg frames are
pivotally and outwardly folded to perpendicularly stand under the
tabletop.
[0021] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional foldable
table.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a foldable table according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the foldable table
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the foldable
according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates the foldable table incorporating with a
folding hinge according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a foldable table
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated, wherein the foldable table comprises a plastic
tabletop 10 having two longitudinal side edge portions, two side
runners 20 respectively supported at two sides edge portions 11 of
the tabletop 10, and a longitudinal mid-folding arrangement
comprising a mid-runner 30 extended between the two side runners 20
underneath the tabletop 10.
[0028] The foldable table comprises a pair of leg assemblies 40
foldably and spacedly affixing to the tabletop 10, wherein each of
the leg assemblies 40 comprises a leg frame 41 trasnversely and
pivotally mounted between the two side runners 20 and a folding
frame 42 pivotally coupling between the leg frame 41 and the
mid-runner 30 to retain the leg frame 41 in an unfolded position.
In which, in a folded position, the leg frames 41 are pivotally and
inwardly folded to rest under the tabletop 10, and in the unfolded
position, the leg frame 41 are pivotally and outwardly folded to
perpendicularly stand under the tabletop 10 wherein the mid-folding
arrangement is adapted to facilitate the folding and unfolding
operation of the leg frames 41.
[0029] According to the preferred embodiment, the tabletop 10 is a
single layer tabletop preferably made of lightweight but rigid
materials, such as plastic, by plastic molding or FRP. It is worth
mentioning that the tabletop 10 can be a double-layer tabletop that
a top layer is overlappedly formed on a bottom layer to define an
air chamber between the two layers.
[0030] The tabletop 10, having a rectangular shaped, defines a
surrpunding rim 12 downwardly extended from each of the side edge
portions 11 of the tabletop 10 to define a receiving cavity 101
within the surrounding rim 12 at a bottom side of the tabletop 10
such that each of the foldable pivot leg assemblies 40 is adapted
to foldably receive within the receiving cavity 101 of the tabletop
10 at the folded position.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the surrounding rim 12
has an outer sidewall 121 and an inner sidewall 122 to define a
receiving track 123 longitudinally formed under the tabletop 10
along the respective side edge portion 11 thereof wherein the two
side runners 20 are securely mounted within the receiving tracks
123 respectively.
[0032] Each of the side runners 20, which is made of rigid material
such as metal, is an elongated member extended from one side end
portion of the tabletop 10 to another opposed side end portion
thereof at a longitudinal mid-potion of the tabletop 10, so as to
substantially enhances the rigid structure of the tabletop 10.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the mid-runner 30 is
extended between the two side tunners 20 in a parallel manner at a
position underneath the tabletop 10 for facilitating a folding and
unfolding operation of the two leg assemblies 40. In other words,
the leg assemblies are capable of symmetrically folded and unfolded
with respect to the tabletop 10. Moreover, referring to FIG. 3 of
the drawings, the mid-runner 30 is suspendedly and spacedly
supported underneath the tabletop 10 wherein the leg assemblies 40
are operatively coupled with two end portions the mid-runner 30 so
as to move between the folded position and the unfolded position.
It is worth mentioning that the mid-runner 30 merely provides a
guide to the folding and unfolding operation of the leg assemblies
40, and as a result, it does not act as a direct reinforcing
support to the tabletop 10.
[0034] According to the preferred embodiment, each of the leg
frames 41 comprises a transverse member 411 rotatably extended
between two side runners 20 and a supporting leg 412 downwardly
extended from the transverse member 411 in such a manner that each
of the two supporting legs 412 is adapted to pivotally fold between
folded position and the unfolded position. Accordingly, each of the
transverse members 411 has two ends rotatably engaged with the two
side runners 20 respectively wherein the two transverse members 411
are transversely extended along two transverse side edge portions
of the tabletop 10 respectively so as to enhance the strength of
the tabletop 10.
[0035] Each of the folding frame 42 has a leg coupling end 421
pivotally coupling with the respective leg frame 41 and a table
coupling end 422 pivotally and selectively coupling along the
mid-runner 30 such that when the leg frames 41 are outwardly and
pivotally folded, each of the folding frames 42 limits a pivotal
movement of the respective leg frame 41 with respect to the
mid-runner 30 so as to retain the respective leg frame 41 at the
unfolded position.
[0036] Each of the folding frames 42 comprises a folding braces 423
defining the leg coupling end 421 to pivotally connect to the
supporting leg 421 of the leg frame 41 and a folding arm 424 which
is pivotally connected to the folding brace 423 and defines the
table coupling end 422 to pivotally connect to the mid-runner 30
such that when the leg frames 41 are inwardly and pivotally folded
to the folded position, the folding braces 423 are pivotally folded
to overlap with the folding arms 424 respectively. In other words,
the folding braces 423 is pivotally folded with respect to the
folding arm 424 to extend a distance between the leg coupling end
421 of the folding frame 42 and the table coupling end 422 thereof
so as to retain the respective leg frame 41 at the unfolded
position.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the mid-runner 30 has
two end portions 31 extended to respectively couple with the two
leg frames 41 and enables the leg frames 41 to rotate with respect
to the mind-runner 30. Accordingly, the foldable table further
comprises two attachment units 50 rotatably connecting the leg
frames 41 with the two end portions 31 of the mid-runner 30
respectively wherein each of the attachment units 50 comprises a
C-shaped framer holder 51 having a guiding slot 511 for respective
transverse member 411 rotatably passing through and a frame
connector 52 extended from the frame holder 51 to securely attach
to the respective end 31 of the mid-runner 30 via a rivet or a
screw in such a manner that the transverse members 411 of the leg
frames 41 are rotatably connected to the end portions 31 of the
mid-runner 30.
[0038] It is thus apparent that the attachment unit 50 may be
replaced by other connecting arrangements which connect the
respective end portion 31 of the mid-runner 30 with the transverse
member 411 of the respective leg frame 41 such that the transverse
member 411 is allowed to support under the tabletop 10 in a
rotatably movable manner with respect to the mid-runner 30.
[0039] It is worth mentioning that two or more mid-runners 30 can
be employed to parallelly extended between the two side runners 20
wherein the table coupling end 422 of the folding frame 42 is
adapted for pivotally coupling with the two mid-runners 30 to guide
the leg frame 41 to fold between the folded position and the
unfolded position.
[0040] It is worth mentioning that the mid-runner 30 is adapted to
directly and securely mount underneath the tabletop 10 to retain
the position of the mid-runner 30 wherein the end portions 31 of
the mid-runner 30 is extended towards the two leg frames 31 between
the two side runners 20 such that no attachment unit 50 is required
to connect the mid-runner 30 with the leg frames 41.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the foldable table
according to the preferred embodiment can be further modified to
further reduce the overall size thereof by overlappedly folding the
tabletop 10 in half. Accordingly, the tabletop 10, which is
constructed to have two side panels 101, comprises a pivot hinge 60
formed at a mid-portion of each of the side runners 20 between the
two side panels 101, wherein the mid-runner 30 has two longitudinal
portion pivotally connected end to end in such a manner that the
side panels 101 are adapted to fold in an overlapped manner via the
pivot hinge 60 to reduce the size of the tabletop 10. It is worth
mentioning that an additional pivot hinge can be employed to
pivotally connect the longitudinal portions of the mid-runners so
as to enhance the folding movement of the tabletop 10.
[0042] Therefore, the foldable table of the present invention can
be simply modified to incorporate with the pivot hinges 60 without
altering or complicating the original structure of the foldable
table in comparison with the conventional foldable table that the
reinforcing arm is transversely extended at a mid-portion of the
tabletop.
[0043] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0044] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *