U.S. patent application number 11/031501 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for dual u-leg table frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to Richfield Tile & Construction Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Kai Mai.
Application Number | 20060150870 11/031501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36651950 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060150870 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mai; Kai |
July 13, 2006 |
Dual U-leg table frame
Abstract
A foldable table includes a tabletop, a leg frame including two
leg sets downwardly extended from the tabletop, and an interlocking
arrangement. Each leg set includes two U-shaped standing legs
coupled with each other to form the respective leg set having a "X"
structure. The interlocking arrangement includes a locking sleeve
having a locking socket provided at one of the leg sets between a
supporting portion and a ground portion, and a detachable locker
which is provided at another the leg set between the supporting
portion and the ground portion and is detachably inserted into the
locking socket of the locker to detachably couple the two leg sets
with each other such that the interlocking arrangement forms a
center axis of the leg frame that the two leg sets are allowed to
adjust a set-up angle therebetween so as to substantially support
the tabletop.
Inventors: |
Mai; Kai; (Hacienda Heights,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RAYMOND Y. CHAN
108 N. YNEZ AVE., SUITE 128
MONTEREY PARK
CA
91754
US
|
Assignee: |
Richfield Tile & Construction
Co., Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36651950 |
Appl. No.: |
11/031501 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/050.12 |
International
Class: |
A47B 37/00 20060101
A47B037/00 |
Claims
1. A foldable table, comprising: a tabletop; a leg frame comprising
two leg sets downwardly extended from said tabletop, each of said
leg sets comprising two U-shaped standing legs each having an upper
supporting portion coupling with a bottom side of said tabletop and
a bottom ground portion, wherein said two standing legs are coupled
with each other to form said respective leg set having a "X"
structure; and an interlocking arrangement, comprising: a locking
sleeve having a locking socket provided at one of said leg sets
between said supporting portion and said ground portion; and a
detachable locker which is provided at another said leg set between
said supporting portion and said ground portion and is detachably
inserted into said locking socket of said locker to detachably
couple said two leg sets with each other such that said
interlocking arrangement forms a center axis of said leg frame that
said two leg sets are allowed to adjust a set-up angle therebetween
so as to substantially support said tabletop.
2. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
detachable locker comprises a locking inserter vertically extended
to slidably insert into said locking socket so as to securely
interlock said two leg sets in a vertically movable manner.
3. The foldable table, as recited in claim 2, wherein said locking
inserter has a non-circular cross section fittingly inserted into
said locking socket having a corresponding non-circular cross
section to lock up said two leg sets at said set-up angle.
4. The foldable table, as recited in claim 2, wherein said locking
inserter has a circular cross section fittingly inserted into said
locking socket having a corresponding circular cross section such
that said leg sets are allowed to pivotally folded about said
interlocking arrangement to selectively adjust said set-up
angle.
5. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein said four
supporting portions and said four ground portions of said standing
legs are outwardly and radially extended with respect to said
interlocking arrangement when said two leg sets are interlocked
with each other via said interlocking arrangement, such that when
said leg sets are folded at said set-up angle, said four supporting
portions form a "X" structure and said four ground portions forms a
"X" structure.
6. The foldable table, as recited in claim 3, wherein said four
supporting portions and said four ground portions of said standing
legs are outwardly and radially extended with respect to said
interlocking arrangement when said two leg sets are interlocked
with each other via said interlocking arrangement such that when
said leg sets are folded at said set-up angle, said four supporting
portions form a "X" structure and said four ground portions forms a
"X" structure.
7. The foldable table, as recited in claim 4, wherein said four
supporting portions and said four ground portions of said standing
legs are outwardly and radially extended with respect to said
interlocking arrangement when said two leg sets are interlocked
with each other via said interlocking arrangement such that when
said leg sets are folded at said set-up angle, said four supporting
portions form a "X" structure and said four ground portions forms a
"X" structure.
8. The foldable table, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
detachable locker has a center through slot coaxially positioned
within said locking socket when said detachable locker is inserted
into said locking socket, wherein said tabletop has a center hole
that when said leg frame is mounted underneath said tabletop, said
center hole of said tabletop is coaxially aligned with said center
through slot of said detachable locker for a shaft of an outdoor
umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
9. The foldable table, as recited in claim 6, wherein said
detachable locker has a center through slot coaxially positioned
within said locking socket when said detachable locker is inserted
into said locking socket, wherein said tabletop has a center hole
that when said leg frame is mounted underneath said tabletop, said
center hole of said tabletop is coaxially aligned with said center
through slot of said detachable locker for a shaft of an outdoor
umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
10. The foldable table, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
detachable locker has a center through slot coaxially positioned
within said locking socket when said detachable locker is inserted
into said locking socket, wherein said tabletop has a center hole
that when said leg frame is mounted underneath said tabletop, said
center hole of said tabletop is coaxially aligned with said center
through slot of said detachable locker for a shaft of an outdoor
umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
11. The foldable table, as recited in claim 2, wherein said four
supporting portions of said standing legs are horizontally
extending to align with said bottom side of said tabletop so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on said tabletop
to said leg frame.
12. The foldable table, as recited in claim 9, wherein said four
supporting portions of said standing legs are horizontally
extending to align with said bottom side of said tabletop so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on said tabletop
to said leg frame.
13. The foldable table, as recited in claim 10, wherein said four
supporting portions of said standing legs are horizontally
extending to align with said bottom side of said tabletop so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on said tabletop
to said leg frame.
14. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
at least two tabletop fasteners spacedly provided on said bottom
side of said tabletop to detachably mount said supporting portions
of said two standing legs of said two leg sets respectively so as
to detachably mount said leg frame underneath said tabletop.
15. The foldable table, as recited in claim 12, further comprising
at least two tabletop fasteners spacedly provided on said bottom
side of said tabletop to detachably mount said supporting portions
of said two standing legs of said two leg sets respectively so as
to detachably mount said leg frame underneath said tabletop.
16. The foldable table, as recited in claim 13, further comprising
at least two tabletop fasteners spacedly provided on said bottom
side of said tabletop to detachably mount said supporting portions
of said two standing legs of said two leg sets respectively so as
to detachably mount said leg frame underneath said tabletop.
17. The foldable table, as recited in claim 1, wherein said four
supporting portions and said four ground portions of said standing
legs are outwardly extended with respect to said interlocking
arrangement at a position offset from a center of thereof when said
two leg sets are interlocked with each other via said interlocking
arrangement such that when said two leg sets are folded to minimize
said set-up angle, said two leg sets are overlapped with each
other.
18. The foldable table, as recited in claim 3, wherein said four
supporting portions and said four ground portions of said standing
legs are outwardly extended with respect to said interlocking
arrangement at a position offset from a center of thereof when said
two leg sets are interlocked with each other via said interlocking
arrangement such that when said two leg sets are folded to minimize
said set-up angle, said two leg sets are overlapped with each
other.
19. The foldable table, as recited in claim 4, wherein said four
supporting portions and said four ground portions of said standing
legs are outwardly extended with respect to said interlocking
arrangement at a position offset from a center of thereof when said
two leg sets are interlocked with each other via said interlocking
arrangement such that when said two leg sets are folded to minimize
said set-up angle, said two leg sets are overlapped with each
other.
20. The foldable table, as recited in claim 17, wherein said
detachable locker has a center through slot coaxially positioned
within said locking socket when said detachable locker is inserted
into said locking socket, wherein said tabletop has a center hole
that when said leg frame is mounted underneath said tabletop, said
center hole of said tabletop is coaxially aligned with said center
through slot of said detachable locker for a shaft of an outdoor
umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
21. The foldable table, as recited in claim 18, wherein said
detachable locker has a center through slot coaxially positioned
within said locking socket when said detachable locker is inserted
into said locking socket, wherein said tabletop has a center hole
that when said leg frame is mounted underneath said tabletop, said
center hole of said tabletop is coaxially aligned with said center
through slot of said detachable locker for a shaft of an outdoor
umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
22. The foldable table, as recited in claim 19, wherein said
detachable locker has a center through slot coaxially positioned
within said locking socket when said detachable locker is inserted
into said locking socket, wherein said tabletop has a center hole
that when said leg frame is mounted underneath said tabletop, said
center hole of said tabletop is coaxially aligned with said center
through slot of said detachable locker for a shaft of an outdoor
umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
23. The foldable table, as recited in claim 20, wherein said four
supporting portions of said standing legs are horizontally
extending to align with said bottom side of said tabletop so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on said tabletop
to said leg frame.
24. The foldable table, as recited in claim 21, wherein said four
supporting portions of said standing legs are horizontally
extending to align with said bottom side of said tabletop so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on said tabletop
to said leg frame.
25. The foldable table, as recited in claim 22, wherein said four
supporting portions of said standing legs are horizontally
extending to align with said bottom side of said tabletop so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on said tabletop
to said leg frame.
26. The foldable table, as recited in claim 23, further comprising
a pivot fastener and a detachable fastener spacedly mounted on said
bottom side of said tabletop, wherein said pivot fastener is
pivotally connecting said supporting portion of said standing leg
of one of said leg sets to said bottom side of said tabletop and
said detachable fastener detachably connecting to said supporting
portion of said standing leg of said another leg set to said bottom
side of said tabletop in a pivotally movable manner, such that when
said two supporting portions of said two leg sets are pivotally
mounted underneath said tabletop, said tabletop is adapted to
pivotally fold to overlap with said leg frame.
27. The foldable table, as recited in claim 24, further comprising
a pivot fastener and a detachable fastener spacedly mounted on said
bottom side of said tabletop, wherein said pivot fastener is
pivotally connecting said supporting portion of said standing leg
of one of said leg sets to said bottom side of said tabletop and
said detachable fastener detachably connecting to said supporting
portion of said standing leg of said another leg set to said bottom
side of said tabletop in a pivotally movable manner, such that when
said two supporting portions of said two leg sets are pivotally
mounted underneath said tabletop, said tabletop is adapted to
pivotally fold to overlap with said leg frame.
28. The foldable table, as recited in claim 25, further comprising
a pivot fastener and a detachable fastener spacedly mounted on said
bottom side of said tabletop, wherein said pivot fastener is
pivotally connecting said supporting portion of said standing leg
of one of said leg sets to said bottom side of said tabletop and
said detachable fastener detachably connecting to said supporting
portion of said standing leg of said another leg set to said bottom
side of said tabletop in a pivotally movable manner, such that when
said two supporting portions of said two leg sets are pivotally
mounted underneath said tabletop, said tabletop is adapted to
pivotally fold to overlap with said leg frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a foldable table, more
particularly, relates to a portable and foldable table leg frame,
which is convenient to assemble for supporting a tabletop in a
stabilized manner and easy to dismantle for a compact storage.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] Foldable tables are used and known for many purposes,
especially in the routine practices. This is due to the fact that
such kinds of table occupy less space and is easily to be carried
or stored.
[0005] Commonly, the foldable table comprises a tabletop and a leg
frame, wherein the tabletop is mounted horizontally on top of the
leg frame, when the leg frame is unfolded. The leg frame is
functioned as a supporting stand having pivotally mounted crossed
legs for supporting the tabletop. Within the art, most leg frames
of foldable table include X-shaped front and rear leg unit
portions, and at least a linking rod interconnecting the front and
rear leg unit portions. In other words, at least two pairs of legs
pivoting in a scissor-like manner, so that the upper end of each
leg unit portions could be used for mounting the tabletop
thereon.
[0006] Or otherwise, the top ends of the upright front and rear leg
unit portions are connected by horizontal braces and the braces are
pivotally connected so that the tabletop connected to the top
braces could be folded between horizontal and vertical
positions.
[0007] In short, most of foldable tables are unexceptionally
depending on the X-shaped leg frame structure to ensure the
folding/unfolding function. Since the leg frames are pivotally
connected together, the leg unit portion and linking rods should be
of substantial thickness to ensure the durability. And the leg
frame must be kept as a whole structure for supporting the
tabletop, not for disassembly and portability in practical
usage.
[0008] Furthermore, it is known in the art to employ bolts, screws
or similar fasteners to connect together a plurality of table leg
members or cross members to form a table leg frame. As a result,
varying numbers and sizes of such bolts or fasteners would be used
in an attempt to provide strength and stability to the leg frame
for supporting the tabletop thereon. If such bolts are tightened
excessively or in an improper sequence, one or more of the leg
members of the leg frame may become uneven with respect to the
others resulting in an unevenness of the tabletop.
[0009] Another popular table leg frame available in the market
comprises an upright central column and a plurality of table legs
pivotally and radially extended from the central column to form a
plurality of footings for supporting the leg frame on a ground.
[0010] However, this kind of leg units has an obvious disadvantage.
For example, in order to the fold the table legs, it is necessary
that the legs move in an outward direction from the central column.
This makes folding of the leg unit difficult when the foldable
table is used in a small space, such as a camper.
[0011] What is more, when foldable tables are used outdoor, a
supplemental parasol or umbrella is necessary. It is desirable to
develop a portable and foldable leg frame for a foldable table to
overcome above mentioned drawbacks of traditional foldable table
frames, and provide a nesting spot for holding an umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0012] A main object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, which is easily assembled and disassembled for
practical use, and automatically stabilized after being
assembled.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, which comprises an interlocking arrangement
provides an insertion engagement between two leg sets to secure the
interlock therebetween so as to substantially support a tabletop on
the leg sets.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, wherein the interlock between the two leg sets are
further ensured when a downward loading force is applied on the
tabletop so as to prevent the two leg sets from being detached
accidentally.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, wherein when the two leg sets are interlocked, the
two leg sets are allowed to selectively adjust a set-up angle
therebetween so as to enhance the practical use of the foldable
table.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, wherein no conventional fastening means, such as
bolts, screws or similar fasteners are required to interconnect the
leg sets to support the tabletop so that the assembling and
manufacturing process could be significantly reduced and labor cost
could be cheaper.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table, which is convenient to be dismantled into simple
parts for carrying and portability.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
table leg frame which is adjustable and universal for supporting
different shapes of tabletops, including round tabletops and
rectangular tabletops, without changing its leg frame
structure.
[0019] Accordingly, to achieve the above mentioned objects, the
present invention provides a foldable table, comprising:
[0020] a tabletop;
[0021] a leg frame comprising two leg sets downwardly extended from
the tabletop, each of the leg sets comprising two U-shaped standing
legs each having an upper supporting portion coupling with a bottom
side of the tabletop and a bottom ground portion, wherein the two
standing legs are coupled with each other to form the respective
leg set having a "X" structure; and
[0022] an interlocking arrangement, comprising:
[0023] a locking sleeve having a locking socket provided at one of
the leg sets between the supporting portion and the ground portion;
and
[0024] a detachable locker which is provided at another the leg set
between the supporting portion and the ground portion and is
detachably inserted into the locking socket of the locker to
detachably couple the two leg sets with each other such that the
interlocking arrangement forms a center axis of the leg frame that
the two leg sets are allowed to adjust a set-up angle therebetween
so as to substantially support the tabletop.
[0025] 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
[0026] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a foldable table
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the foldable table according
to the above first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative mode of the interlocking
arrangement of the foldable table according to the above first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the leg frame of
the foldable table according to the above first preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a foldable table
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention
[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the foldable table according
to the above second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a foldable
furniture according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable furniture comprises
a tabletop 10 and a leg frame for supporting the tabletop 10.
[0033] The leg frame comprises two leg sets 20, 30 extended from
the tabletop 10. Each of the leg sets 20, 30 comprises two U-shaped
standing legs 21, 31 each having an upper supporting portion 211,
311 coupling with a bottom side of the tabletop 10 and a bottom
ground portion 212, 312, wherein the two standing legs 21, 31 are
coupled with each other to form the respective leg set 21, 31
having a "X" structure.
[0034] The foldable furniture further comprises an interlocking
arrangement 40 which comprises a locking sleeve 41 having a locking
socket 411 provided at a mid-portion 213 of one of the leg sets 20
and a detachable locker 42 which is provided at a mid-portion 313
of the other leg set 30 and is detachably inserted into the locking
socket 411 of the locking sleeve 31 to detachably couple the two
leg sets 20, 30 with each other such that the supporting portions
211, 311 and the ground portions 212, 312 of the standing legs 21,
31 are radially extended from the mid-portions 213, 313 of the leg
sets 20, 30 respectively. In other words, the interlocking
arrangement 40 forms a central axis CX of each of the leg sets 20,
30 while the supporting portions 211, 311 and the ground portions
212, 312 of the standing leg 21, 31 are radially extending from the
interlocking arrangement 40 such that the two leg sets 20, 30 are
allowed to adjust a set-up angle A therebetween to substantially
support the tabletop 10.
[0035] Accordingly, when the two leg sets 20, 30 are interlocked
with each other via the interlocking arrangement 40, the four
outwardly and radially extending supporting portions 211, 311 of
the standing legs 21, 31 substantially mounted underneath the
tabletop 10 and the four outwardly and radially extending ground
portions 212, 312 of the standing legs 21, 31 substantially stand
on the ground surface. In other words, the four supporting portions
211, 311 and the four ground portions 212, 312 of the standing legs
21, 31 are outwardly and radially extended with respect to the
center axis CX of the interlocking arrangement 40 when the two leg
sets 20, 30 are interlocked with each other via the interlocking
arrangement 40, such that when the leg sets 20, 30 are folded at
the set-up angle A, the four supporting portions 211, 311 form a
"X" structure and the four ground portions 212, 312 forms a "X"
structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0036] It is worth to mention that the four supporting portions
211, 311 of the standing legs 21, 31 are horizontally extending to
align with the bottom side of the tabletop 10 so as to
substantially distribute the downward loading force on the tabletop
10 to the leg frame.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the locking sleeve 41 is substantially
coupled between the two standing legs 21 of the respective leg set
20 at a position between the supporting portions 211 of the
standing legs 21 and the ground portions 212 thereof to form the
locking socket 411 in a vertically extending manner.
[0038] The detachable locker 42 is substantially coupled between
the two standing legs 31 of the respective leg set 30 at a position
between the supporting portions 311 of the standing legs 31 and the
ground portions 312 thereof wherein the detachable locker 42
comprises a locking inserter 421 vertically extended to slidably
insert into the locking socket 411 of the locking sleeve 41 so as
to detachably couple the two leg sets 20, 30 with each other.
Therefore, the vertically insertion engagement between the
detachable locker 42 and the locking sleeve 41 ensures the
interlock between the two leg sets 20, 30, especially when a
downward loading force is applied on the tabletop 10. In other
words, the downward loading force on tabletop 10 further enhances
the interlock structure of the leg sets 20, 30 to prevent the
accidentally detachment therebetween while the leg sets 20, 30 are
free to adjust the set-up angle A through the interlocking
arrangement 40.
[0039] According to the preferred embodiment, the detachable locker
42 is coaxially inserted into the locking socket 411, wherein the
detachable locker 42 has a center through slot 420 coaxially
positioned within the locking socket 411. In addition, the tabletop
10 has a center hole 11 wherein when the leg frame is mounted
underneath the tabletop 10, the center hole 11 of the tabletop 10
is coaxially aligned with the center through slot 420 of the
detachable locker 42 for a shaft of an outdoor umbrella slidably
inserting thereinto. It is worth to mention that the foldable
furniture of the present invention can be used as an outdoor table
such that the outdoor umbrella can be securely mounted to the
foldable furniture. In other words, the shaft of the outdoor
umbrella inserts into the center through slot 42 of the
interlocking arrangement 40 through the center hole 11 of the
tabletop 10 such that the outdoor umbrella can be securely
supported by the foldable furniture. Furthermore, no additional
weight or base is needed to apply to the bottom portion of the
outdoor umbrella since the shaft of the outdoor umbrella is
retained by the interlocking arrangement 40 to hold the outdoor
umbrella in position.
[0040] According to the preferred embodiment, the locking inserter
421 has a cross section corresponding to the locking socket 411
such that the locking inserter 421 is fittingly inserted into the
locking socket 411 to interlock the two leg sets 20, 30 with each
other.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the locking inserter 421 is constructed
to have a circular cross section to slidably insert into the
locking socket 411 having the corresponding cross section such that
the two leg sets 20, 30 are allowed to rotate about the
interlocking arrangement 40 so as to selectively adjust a set-up
angle A between the two leg sets 20, 30. In other words, when the
two leg sets 20, 30 are interlocked with each other, the two leg
sets 20, 30 are allowed to pivotally folded about the center axis
CX of the interlocking arrangement 40 to selectively adjust the
set-up angle A.
[0042] Alternatively, the locking inserter 421A has a non-circular
cross section or polygonal cross section, such as hexagon
structure, slidably inserted into the locking socket 41 1A having
the corresponding cross section, as shown in FIG. 3, such that the
interlocking arrangement 40A locks up the two leg sets 20, 30 to
prevent an unwanted rotational movement of each of the standing leg
21, 31. Therefore, the user is able to selectively adjust the
set-up angle A by detaching the locking inserter 421A from the
locking socket 41 1A and then re-inserting the locking inserter
421A into the locking socket 41 1A.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the foldable table further comprises at
least two tabletop fasteners 52 spacedly provided on the bottom
side of the tabletop 10 to detachably mount the supporting portions
211, 311 of the standing legs 21, 31 of the two leg sets 20, 30
respectively so as to detachably mount the leg frame underneath the
tabletop. In other words, one of the tabletop fasteners 52 is
detachably fastened with one of the standing legs 21 of the
respective leg set 20 while another tabletop fastener 52 is
detachably fasted with one of the standing leg 31 of another leg
set 30 to substantially retain the leg frame underneath the
tabletop 10.
[0044] According to the preferred embodiment, there are four
tabletop fasteners 52 spacedly mounted to the bottom side of the
tabletop 10 to detachably fasten with the four supporting portions
211, 311 of the standing legs 21, 31 of the leg sets 20, 30
respectively. Each of the tabletop fasteners 52 has a C-shaped
cross section allowing the s supporting portion 211, 311 of the
respective standing leg 21, 31 to detachably receive in the
tabletop fastener 52.
[0045] It is worth to mention that the tabletop 10 can be formed to
have a circular shape wherein the lengths of the supporting
portions 211, 311 of the standing legs 21, 31 are the same and are
shorter than a diameter of the tabletop 10, as shown in FIG. 1.
However, the leg frame can be used for the tabletop 10B having a
rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 4, by simply prolonging the
supporting portions 211B, 311B and the ground portions 212B, 312B
of the standing legs 21B, 31B with respect to the dimension of the
tabletop 10B while the two leg sets 20B, 30B is folded at the
set-up angle A with respect to the interlocking arrangement 40 that
the set-up angle A should be an acute angle for the rectangular
shaped tabletop 10B.
[0046] In order to fold up the foldable table of the present
invention, the user is able to detach the tabletop 10 from the leg
frame such that the user is able to pivotally fold up the leg sets
20, 30 either by minimizing the set-up angle A therebetween at the
center axis CX of the interlocking arrangement 40 or by detaching
leg sets 20, 30 through the interlocking arrangement 40.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, a foldable table
of a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first
embodiment of the present invention, wherein the foldable table
comprises a tabletop 10' and a leg frame for supporting the
tabletop 10.
[0048] The leg frame comprises two leg sets 20', 30' extended from
the tabletop 10'. Each of the leg sets 20', 30' comprises two
U-shaped standing legs 21', 31' each having an upper supporting
portion 211', 311' coupling with a bottom side of the tabletop 10'
and a bottom ground portion 212', 312', wherein the two standing
legs 21', 31' are coupled with each other to form the respective
leg set 21', 31' having a "X" structure.
[0049] The foldable furniture further comprises an interlocking
arrangement 40' which comprises a locking sleeve 41' having a
locking socket 411' provided at a mid-portion 213' of one of the
leg sets 20' and a detachable locker 42' which is provided at a
mid-portion 313' of the other leg set 30' and is detachably
inserted into the locking socket 411' of the locking sleeve 31 to
detachably couple the two leg sets 20', 30' with each other such
that the supporting portions 211', 311' and the ground portions
212', 312' of the standing legs 21', 31' are radially extended from
the mid-portions 213', 313' of the leg sets 20', 30' respectively.
In other words, the interlocking arrangement 40' forms a central
axis CX of each of the leg sets 20', 30' while the supporting
portions 211', 311' and the ground portions 212', 312' of the
standing leg 21', 31' are radially extending from the interlocking
arrangement 40' such that the two leg sets 20', 30' are allowed to
adjust a set-up angle A therebetween to substantially support the
tabletop 10'.
[0050] According to the second embodiment, the four supporting
portions 211', 311' and the four ground portions 212', 312' of the
standing legs 21', 31' are outwardly extended with respect to the
interlocking arrangement 40' at a position offset from a center of
thereof when the two leg sets 20', 30' are interlocked with each
other via the center axis CX of the interlocking arrangement 40'
such that when the two leg sets 20', 30' are folded to minimize the
set-up angle A, the two leg sets 20', 30' are overlapped with each
other, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0051] The detachable locker 42' is coaxially inserted into the
locking socket 411', wherein the detachable locker 42' has a center
through slot 420' coaxially positioned within the locking socket
411'. In addition, the tabletop 10' has a center hole 11' wherein
when the leg frame is mounted underneath the tabletop 10', the
center hole 11' of the tabletop 10' is coaxially aligned with the
center through slot 420' of the detachable locker 42' for a shaft
of an outdoor umbrella slidably inserting thereinto.
[0052] It is worth to mention that the four supporting portions
211', 311' of the standing legs 21', 31' are horizontally extending
to align with the bottom side of the tabletop 10' so as to
substantially distribute a downward loading force on the tabletop
10' to the leg frame.
[0053] According to the preferred embodiment, the locking inserter
421' has a cross section corresponding to the locking socket 411'
such that the locking inserter 421' is fittingly inserted into the
locking socket 411' to interlock the two leg sets 20', 30' with
each other. Accordingly, the locking inserter 421' is constructed
to have a circular cross section to slidably insert into the
locking socket 411' having the corresponding cross section such
that the two leg sets 20', 30' are allowed to rotate about the
interlocking arrangement 40' so as to selectively adjust the set-up
angle A between the two leg sets 20', 30' about the center axis CX
of the interlocking arrangement 40'. Alternatively, the locking
inserter 421' can be formed a non-circular cross section or
polygonal cross section, such as hexagon structure, slidably
inserted into the locking socket 411' having the corresponding
cross section such that the interlocking arrangement 40' locks up
the two leg sets 20', 30' to prevent an unwanted rotational
movement of each of the standing leg 21', 31' . Therefore, the user
is able to selectively adjust the set-up angle A by detaching the
locking inserter 421' from the locking socket 411' and then
re-inserting the locking inserter 421' into the locking socket
411'.
[0054] The foldable table further comprises a pivot fastener 51'
and a detachable fastener 52' spacedly mounted on the bottom side
of said tabletop 10', wherein the pivot fastener 51' is pivotally
connecting the supporting portion 211' of the standing leg 21' of
one of the leg sets 20' to the bottom side of the tabletop 10' and
the detachable fastener 52' detachably connecting to the supporting
portion 311' of the standing leg 31' of the another leg set 30' to
the bottom side of the tabletop 10' in a pivotally movable manner,
such that when the two supporting portions 211', 311' of the two
leg sets 20', 30' are pivotally mounted underneath the tabletop
10', the tabletop 10' is adapted to pivotally fold to overlap with
the leg frame, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0055] The pivot fastener 51' is provided at the bottom side of the
tabletop 10' at a position diagonally aligning with the detachable
fastener 52' such that when the two leg sets 20', 30' are
overlapped with each other, the supporting portion 211' of one of
the standing legs 21' and the supporting portion 311' of another
standing leg 31' are pivotally coupled with the pivot fastener 51'
and the detachable fastener 52' respectively.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, the pivot fastener 51' has a tubular
holder attached to the bottom side of the tabletop 10' wherein the
supporting portion 311' of the respective standing leg 31' slidably
passes through the tubular holder of the pivot fastener 51' so as
to pivotally connect the supporting portion 311' of the respective
standing leg 31' to the tabletop 10'.
[0057] Preferably, there are three tabletop fasteners 52' spacedly
mounted to the bottom side of the tabletop 10' to detachably fasten
with the three supporting portions 211', 311' of the standing legs
21', 31' of the leg sets 20', 30' respectively. Each of the
tabletop fasteners 52' has a C-shaped cross section allowing the
supporting portion 21 1', 311' of the respective standing leg 21',
31' to detachably receive in the tabletop fastener 52'. In other
words, when the supporting portion 221' of the respective standing
leg 21' is detachably connected to the tabletop 10', the supporting
portion 221' of the respective standing leg 21' is adapted to
pivotally fold with respect to the tabletop 10'.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
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