U.S. patent application number 10/989988 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for removable table extension.
Invention is credited to Kevin M. Wolfe.
Application Number | 20060102056 10/989988 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36384815 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060102056 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolfe; Kevin M. |
May 18, 2006 |
Removable table extension
Abstract
A table extension includes an extension top having an extension
underside, an extension top side, and an extension edge
therebetween. A single foldable leg is mounted to the extension
underside of the extension top side. A part of a connecting means
for removably connecting the table extension to a table top and a
part of a latching means for releasably securing the table
extension to a table top are mounted to the extension underside of
the extension top side. The foldable leg may have a foot with a
bottom that is no wider than the rest of the foldable leg and they
may be cylindrical. The male part of the connecting means may
include a male bar assembly having a base attached to the extension
underside at or near the extension edge of the extension top and
spaced apart bars extending away from the base past the extension
edge.
Inventors: |
Wolfe; Kevin M.;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven J. Rosen;Patent Attorney
4729 Cornell Rd.
Cincinnati
OH
45241
US
|
Family ID: |
36384815 |
Appl. No.: |
10/989988 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/065 |
International
Class: |
A47B 1/00 20060101
A47B001/00 |
Claims
1. A table extension comprising: an extension top having an
extension underside, an extension top side, and an extension edge
between the extension underside and the extension top side; a
single foldable leg mounted to the extension underside of the
extension top side; a part of a connecting means for removably
connecting the table extension to a table top mounted to the
extension underside of the extension top side; and a part of a
latching means for releasably securing the table extension to a
table top mounted to the extension underside of the extension top
side.
2. A table extension as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the
foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable
leg.
3. A table extension as claimed in claim 2 wherein the foldable leg
and the foot are cylindrical.
4. A table extension as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the
part of the connecting means having a male bar assembly including a
base attached to the extension underside at or near the extension
edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from
the base past the extension edge.
5. A table extension as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the
foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of the foldable
leg.
6. A table extension as claimed in claim 5 wherein the foldable leg
and the foot are cylindrical.
7. An extended table assembly comprising: a fixed table having a
table top including a table underside, a table top side, and a
table edge between the table underside and the table top side; a
table extension including an extension top having an extension
underside, a extension top side, and an extension edge between the
extension underside and the extension top side; a single foldable
leg mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side; a
connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to
the table top; and a latching means for releasably securing the
table extension to the table top.
8. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 7 further
comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of
the foldable leg.
9. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the
foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
10. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 7 further
comprising: the connecting means having a male bar assembly
including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an
edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from
the base, and the connecting means further including a female bar
assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart
slots positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.
11. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 10 further
comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of
the foldable leg.
12. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the
foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
13. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the
extension and table edges mate along a curved surface.
14. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 13 further
comprising: the connecting means having a male bar assembly
including a base attached to the extension underside at or near an
edge of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from
the base, and the connecting means further including a female bar
assembly attached to the table underside and having spaced apart
slots positioned within which the spaced apart bars are received
therein respectively.
15. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 14 further
comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of
the foldable leg.
16. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the
foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
17. An extended table assembly comprising: a fixed table having a
table top including a table underside, a table top side, and a
table edge between the table underside and the table top side; a
table extension including an extension top having an extension
underside and a extension top side and an extension edge between
the extension underside and the extension top side; a bridge
section disposed between the fixed table and the table extension;
the bridge section including a bridge top having a bridge
underside, a bridge top side, and a bridge edge between the bridge
underside and the bridge top side; a single foldable leg mounted to
the extension underside of the extension top side; a first
connecting means for removably connecting the table extension to
the bridge section; a second connecting means for removably
connecting the bridge section to the table top; a first latching
means for releasably securing the table extension to the bridge
section; and a second latching means for releasably securing the
bridge section to the table top.
18. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 17 further
comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of
the foldable leg.
19. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein the
foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
20. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 17 further
comprising: the first and second connecting means each having a
male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension
underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart
bars extending away from the base, and the first and second
connecting means each further including a female bar assembly
attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots
positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.
21. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 20 further
comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of
the foldable leg.
22. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein the
foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
23. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the
bridge and table edges mate along a curved surface.
24. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 23 further
comprising: the first and second connecting means each having a
male bar assembly including a base attached to the extension
underside at or near an edge of the extension top and spaced apart
bars extending away from the base, and the first and second
connecting means each further including a female bar assembly
attached to the table underside and having spaced apart slots
positioned to receive the spaced apart bars respectively.
25. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 24 further
comprising the foldable leg having a foot no wider than the rest of
the foldable leg.
26. An extended table assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein the
foldable leg and the foot are cylindrical.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to table extensions that attach to
tables such as those found in restaurants and, more particularly,
to table extensions that have legs for support and are removable so
that they can be stored away.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Table extensions are well known devises to extend lengths of
table tops and the eating surfaces of tables. Restaurants often
have to extend table lengths and often use smaller tables to do so
but these take up lots of storage space and are typically less
stable than the main table. There is a great need for a table
extension that is sturdy, stable, and easy to store.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A table extension includes an extension top having an
extension underside, an extension top side, and an extension edge
between the extension underside, the extension top side, and a
single foldable leg mounted to the extension underside of the
extension top side. An exemplary embodiment of the table extension
includes a male part of a connecting means for removably connecting
the table extension to a table top and a first part of a latching
means for releasably securing the table extension to a table top
both of which are mounted to the extension underside of the
extension top side. The foldable leg has a foot with a bottom that
contacts a floor upon which the table extension rests that is no
wider than the rest of the foldable leg. The foldable leg and the
foot are cylindrical. An exemplary embodiment of the male part of
the connecting means includes a male bar assembly having a base
attached to the extension underside at or near the extension edge
of the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the
base past the extension edge.
[0006] An extended table assembly includes the table extension
connected to a fixed table having a table top which includes a
table underside, a table top side, and a table edge between the
table underside and the table top side. The connecting means for
removably connecting the table extension to the table top is
mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side and
the table underside. The latching means for releasably securing the
table extension to the table top is also mounted to the extension
underside of the extension top side and the table underside. The
extension and table edges of the extended table assembly
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 mate along a straight surface,
alternatively, the extension and table edges may mate along a
curved surface if the extension and table edges are curved.
[0007] One embodiment of the extended table assembly includes a
bridge section disposed between the fixed table and the table
extension. The bridge section includes a bridge top having a bridge
underside, a bridge top side, and a bridge edge between the bridge
underside and the bridge top side. The single foldable leg is
mounted to the extension underside of the extension top side. The
extended table assembly further includes a first connecting means
for removably connecting the table extension to the bridge section
and a second connecting means for removably connecting the bridge
section to the table top. A first latching means is provided for
releasably securing the table extension to the bridge section and a
second latching means is provided for releasably securing the
bridge section to the table top. The first and second connecting
means are each illustrated as having a male bar assembly including
a base attached to the extension underside at or near an edge of
the extension top and spaced apart bars extending away from the
base. The first and second connecting means are each illustrated as
including a female bar assembly attached to the table underside and
having spaced apart slots positioned to receive the spaced apart
bars respectively.
[0008] The table extension with a single foldable leg mounted to an
extension underside of the extension top side is an easy way to
store the table extension also saving expensive room in restaurants
in particular. It is extremely stable and easy to install and
uninstall. It greatly facilitates the assembly of an extended table
assembly which includes the table extension connected to a fixed
table top that is sturdy and stable so that the table extension
will not rock, slide, twist, or fall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention
are explained in the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings where:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an underside perspective view illustration of a
removable table extension with the folding leg to be connected to a
table top.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an underside perspective view illustration of the
removable table extension illustrated in FIG. 1 with the folding
leg folded down in a stowable position.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an underside view illustration of the removable
table extension connected to the table top illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an underside perspective view illustration of a
removable table extension with a folding leg for use with a round
table top.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an underside view illustration of the removable
table extension connected to the round table top illustrated in
FIG. 4.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an underside perspective view illustration of the
removable table extension illustrated in FIG. 1 with a bridge
between the extension and the table top.
[0016] FIG. 7 is an underside view illustration of the removable
table extension and bridge connected to the round table top
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an underside view illustration of the removable
table extension and a rectangular bridge connected to the
rectangular table top illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 9 is an top view illustration of the removable table
extension connected to the table top illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 10 is an top view illustration of the removable table
extension connected to the table top illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 11 is an top view illustration of the removable table
extension and bridge connected to the table top illustrated in FIG.
6.
[0021] FIG. 12 is an top view illustration of the removable table
extension and bridge connected to a rectangular table top.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a table extension 10
including an extension top 12 having an extension underside 14, an
extension top side 16, and an extension edge 18 between the
extension underside 14 and the extension top side 16. A single
foldable leg 22 is mounted to the extension underside 14 of the
extension top side 16. The table extension 10 is illustrated in
FIG. 2 with the single foldable leg 22 folded down and in a
position for being stored or stowed away. A male part 17 of a
connecting means 24 for removably connecting the table extension to
a table top 20 and a first part 19 of a latching means 26 for
releasably securing the table extension to a table top 20 are
mounted to the extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16.
An exemplary embodiment of the table extension 10 includes the
foldable leg 22 having a foot 28 with a bottom 29, that contacts a
floor (not shown) upon which the table extension 10 rests, that is
no wider than the rest of the foldable leg. This helps the table
extension 10 be more easily stowed, take up less space when stowed,
and be less obtrusive to people sitting around the table extension.
The foldable leg 22 and the foot 28 are cylindrical.
[0023] The male part 17 of the connecting means 24 includes a male
bar assembly 30 having a base 32 attached to the extension
underside 14 at or near the extension edge 18 of the extension top
12 and spaced apart bars 34 extending away from the base 32 past
the extension edge 18. This feature also contributes to the table
extension 10 being easily stowed and eliminates the need for any
bars to extend outwardly from a table top 20 to which the table
extension 10 is designed to be connected.
[0024] The table extension 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 9 as
part of an exemplary embodiment of an extended table assembly 40.
The extended table assembly 40 includes a fixed table 50 having a
table top 20 which includes a table underside 54, a table top side
56, and a table edge 58 between the table underside 54 and the
table top side 56. The connecting means 24 for removably connecting
the table extension to the table top 20 is mounted to the extension
underside 14 of the extension top side 16 and the table underside
54. The latching means 26 for releasably securing the table
extension to the table top 20 is also mounted to the extension
underside 14 of the extension top side 16 and the table underside
54. The extension and table edges 18 and 58 of the extended table
assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 mate along a straight
surface 68.
[0025] The connecting means 24 is illustrated as a male bar
assembly 30 having a base 32 attached to the extension underside 14
at or near the extension edge 18 of the extension top 12. Spaced
apart bars 34 extend away from the base 32. The connecting means 24
is further illustrated as having a female bar assembly 60 attached
to the table underside 54 and having spaced apart slots 62
positioned to receive the spaced apart bars 34 respectively.
[0026] The latching means 26 includes a latch 120 and a keeper 36.
The latch 120, serving as the first part 19 of the latching means
26, is illustrated as attached to the base 32 of the male part 17
of the connecting means 24 and, thus, is indirectly mounted to the
extension underside 14 of the extension top side 16. The keeper 36
is illustrated as attached to the female bar assembly 60 of the
connecting means 24 and, thus, is indirectly mounted to the table
underside 54 of the table top 20 of the fixed table 50.
[0027] The extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5,
and 10 includes extension and table edges 18 and 58 that mate along
a curved surface 70. The table top 20 and the table underside 54
are illustrated as being circular but may be of any shape with at
least a portion of table edge 58 being curved. The extension top 12
and an extension underside 14 are illustrated as being rectangular
with a circular cut-out section 42 which mates with the circular
table top 20 and table underside 54 along the curved surface 70 of
the extension and table edges 18 and 58.
[0028] The extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7,
and 11 includes a bridge section 80 disposed between the fixed
table 50 and the table extension 10. The bridge section 80 includes
a bridge top 82 having a bridge underside 84, a bridge top side 86,
and a bridge edge 88 between the bridge underside 84 and the bridge
top side 86. The single foldable leg 22 is mounted to the extension
underside 14 of the extension top side 16. The extended table
assembly 40 further includes a first connecting means 24 for
removably connecting the table extension 10 to the bridge section
80 and a second connecting means 90 for removably connecting the
bridge section 80 to the table top 20. A first latching means 26 is
provided for releasably securing the table extension 10 to the
bridge section 80 and a second latching means 92 is provided for
releasably securing the bridge section 80 to the table top 20. The
first and second connecting means 24 and 90 are each illustrated as
having a male bar assembly 30 including a base 32 attached to the
extension underside 14 at or near an edge of the extension top 12
and spaced apart bars 34 extending away from the base 32. The first
and second connecting means 24 and 90 are each illustrated each as
including a female bar assembly 60 attached to the table underside
54 and having spaced apart slots 62 positioned to receive the
spaced apart bars 34 respectively.
[0029] The extended table assembly 40 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and
11 has the bridge and table edges 88 and 58 mate along a curved
surface 70. The table top 20 and the table underside 54 are
illustrated as being circular but may be of any shape with at least
a portion of table edge 58 being curved. The bridge top 82 and the
bridge underside 84 are illustrated as being rectangular with a
circular cut-out section 42 which mates with the circular table top
20 and table underside 54 along the curved surface 70 of the bridge
and table edges 88 and 58. The extension top 12 and an extension
underside 14 are rectangular. In an alternative configuration, the
table top 20, extension top 12, and the bridge top 82 may all be
rectangular as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12.
[0030] The present invention has been described in an illustrative
manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been
used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather
than of limitation. While there have been described herein, what
are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the
present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be
apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and,
it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all
such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0031] Accordingly, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is the invention as defined and differentiated
in the following claims:
* * * * *