U.S. patent application number 11/448919 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for table strcuture.
This patent application is currently assigned to Jie-Yi Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to De-Hong Sun.
Application Number | 20070283853 11/448919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38820569 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070283853 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sun; De-Hong |
December 13, 2007 |
Table strcuture
Abstract
A table structure comprises: a table body having a table plate
and a table post; a transmission mounted inside the table post; a
platform mounted on the table plate, the platform being connected
with the transmission and divided into a plurality of divisions; a
plurality of control boxes located on the table plate, the control
boxes being connected to a control circuit, the control circuit
being connected to the transmission; and a plurality of control
buttons mounted inside the control boxes such that the rotation of
the platform can be controlled to facilitate the eating of dishes
by pressing the control buttons inside the control boxes after the
dishes are placed on the platform.
Inventors: |
Sun; De-Hong; (Zhonghe City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
5205 LEESBURG PIKE, SUITE 1404
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Jie-Yi Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
38820569 |
Appl. No.: |
11/448919 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/20 |
International
Class: |
A47B 85/00 20060101
A47B085/00 |
Claims
1. A table structure comprising: a table body having a table plate
and a table post; a transmission mounted inside said table post; a
platform mounted on said table plate, said platform being connected
with said transmission and divided into a plurality of divisions; a
plurality of control boxes located on said table plate, said
control boxes being connected to a control circuit, said control
circuit being connected to said transmission; and a plurality of
control buttons mounted inside said control boxes such that the
rotation of said platform can be controlled to facilitate the
eating of dishes by pressing said control buttons inside said
control boxes after dishes are placed on said platform.
2. The table structure of claim 1, wherein an easily
distinguishable code is formed on each of said divisions formed on
said platform.
3. The table structure of claim 2, wherein three of said control
buttons are a start button, a pause button and a stop button,
respectively, and the rest are assigned to said divisions,
respectively.
4. The table structure of claim 2, wherein a depressed cavity for
holding a relish tray is formed between two of said divisions
formed on said platform.
5. The table structure of claim 2, wherein a positioning trench is
formed on each of said divisions formed on said platform for
holding a dish plate.
6. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said control boxes are
connected to said control circuit in parallel.
7. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said transmission
further comprises a stepper motor and a gear located on a motor
shaft of said stepper motor.
8. The table structure of claim 7, wherein said platform has a
pivotal connection part for engaging with said gear located on said
motor shaft.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a conveniently usable table
structure that is applicable for various dinning tables of various
restaurants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The Chinese are a hospitable people. Due to the habitual
behavior, the Chinese people always select the large-sized round
table, which stands for perfection and reunion. However, the large
area of the large-sized round table makes the process for eating
dishes difficult. In order to facilitate the eating of dishes, a
turntable is placed on this large-sized round table so as to change
the locations of the dishes by rotating the turntable.
[0003] As shown in FIG. 5, a turntable 10 is mounted on the
conventional table structure, and composed of a stand 11 and a
rotatory plate 12, wherein rolling balls 13 are located between the
stand 11 and the rotatory plate 12 to allow the clockwise or
counterclockwise rotation of the rotatory plate 12. However, the
users must rotate the turntable 10 by themselves so as to pick up
the dishes according to their likes. But, some of the users are
natively uneasy about and shy of spontaneously rotating the
turntable 10. As a result, they are usually sat on the seats
stiffly until the dishes are coincidentally rotated to be in front
of them. Besides, some users may be unable to pick up their
favorite dishes when they are talking to the neighbors.
Consequently, it is apparent that this manually rotatory turntable
is not practical.
[0004] Whereas the foregoing description, the present inventor
makes diligent studies in providing the consumers with a table
structure that is rotatable according to the choice of the
user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a
table structure that is rotatable according to the choice of the
user.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
table structure that is automatically rotatable to facilitate the
eating of dishes.
[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a table
structure comprises: a table body having a table plate and a table
post; a transmission mounted inside the table post; a platform
mounted on the table plate, the platform being connected with the
transmission and divided into a plurality of divisions; a plurality
of control boxes located on the table plate, the control boxes
being connected to a control circuit, the control circuit being
connected to the transmission; and a plurality of control buttons
mounted inside the control boxes such that the rotation of the
platform can be controlled to facilitate the eating of dishes by
pressing the control buttons inside the control boxes after the
dishes are placed on the platform.
[0008] The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present
invention will be readily clarified in the description of the
preferred embodiments and the enclosed drawings of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view showing a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the components of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic views showing the usage of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional table
structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 simultaneously, a table
body 3 of the table structure of the present invention comprises a
table plate 31 and a table post 32. In addition, a platform 34 with
a smaller area than that of the table plate 3 1 is movably,
pivotally coupled with the center of the table plate 3 1. A pivotal
connection part 341 on which a corresponding transmission is
mounted is located on and protrudent from the center bottom of the
platform 34. A plurality of divisions may be defined by forming
respective colors, numerals or English letters on the platform 34
according to requirements. In this preferred embodiment, the
platform 34 is divided into six divisions with respective English
letters A to F designated thereon. In addition, a positioning
trench 342 is formed on each of these six divisions. Several
small-depressed cavities 343 are formed on the platform 34 for
holding relish trays, which are filled with pungent sauce, soybean
sauce, or mustard sauce, wherein each of the small-depressed
cavities 343 is formed between two divisions. A transmission, which
is composed of a stepper motor 321 and a gear 322, is mounted
inside the table post 32 of the table body 3. The gear 322 is
coupled to a motor shaft of the stepper motor 321 and engaged
correspondingly with the pivotal connection part 341 of the
platform 34. Besides, the stepper motor 321 of the transmission is
connected to a control circuit 33.
[0014] In addition, the control circuit 33 is connected to a
plurality of control boxes 35 in parallel, wherein the amount of
the control boxes 35 is depended upon the size of the table plate
31 and the number of people. Several buttons, for example, nine
buttons in this preferred embodiment, are located in each of
control boxes 35, wherein six of these nine buttons are assigned to
six divisions A-F, respectively, and the remaining three buttons
are adopted as function buttons including a start button 351, a
pause button 352 and a stop button 353.
[0015] The dishes can be firmly placed in the respective
positioning trenches 342 on the divisions of the platform 34 after
the guests have taken their respective seats. If a guest Z wants to
taste a dish on the farthest-distance division A, he or she merely
needs to press the corresponding button A for rotating the pivotal
connection part 341 by the motor 321 such that the division A of
the platform 34 can be rotated to be in front of the guest Z for
facilitating the eating of dishes, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
If the guests press several buttons at the same time, the platform
34 will be rotated by the control circuit 33 to present the
corresponding dishes to the front locations of these guests in
sequence. As a result, it can efficiently prevent the guests from
being shy of rotating the platform 34.
[0016] In addition, the rotation of the platform 34 can be
controlled by using the function buttons 351, 352 and 353 of the
control boxes 35. For example, the stepper motor 321 is driven to
rotate the platform 34 slowly, continuously by pressing the start
button 351. If it is uneasy to pick up the dishes or the guest is a
golden ager or an elderly or young tardy person, the platform 34
can be paused for about 10 to 15 seconds by pressing the pause
button 352 to facilitate the guest to pick up the dishes. In
addition, if a waiter or a waitress wants to place the dishes on
the platform 34, the platform 34 can be stopped immovably by
pressing the stop button 353.
[0017] Furthermore, after the start button 351 of one of the
control boxes 35 on the table plate 31 is persistently pressed for
about 3 to 5 seconds, this corresponding seat is defined to be the
important seat. After the stopping of the platform 34 for placing
the dish, the platform 34 can be rotated by the control circuit 33
such that this newly placed dish is rotated to be in front of the
important seat. Accordingly, an elderly person, an important
person, or a worthy person has priority in enjoying this newly
placed dish, thereby complying with the traditional morality of
honoring the aged and the wise and educating the younger persons.
In addition, if the stop button 353 is persistently pressed for
about 3 to 5 seconds, this button is transformed into a service
bell so as to notify the waiter or waitress that the corresponding
services are demanded.
[0018] In accordance with the foregoing description, it is apparent
that the present invention provides the advantages as follows:
[0019] 1. The platform can be rotated according to the demands of
the users by pressing the buttons located inside the control
boxes.
[0020] 2. The shy guests are free of rotating the platform manually
such that the guests and the hosts can enjoy themselves to the
utmost.
[0021] In summary, the present invention indeed achieves the
expected objects by providing the table structure that facilitates
the picking up of the dishes. Accordingly, the present invention
satisfies the requirement for patentability and is therefore
submitted for a patent.
[0022] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set
forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed
embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof
may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended
claims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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