U.S. patent application number 11/855652 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for portable folding table.
This patent application is currently assigned to COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.. Invention is credited to Sergio S. de Oliveira.
Application Number | 20080072802 11/855652 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39223547 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080072802 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de Oliveira; Sergio S. |
March 27, 2008 |
PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE
Abstract
A table includes a table top and four legs. The legs are
configured to be mounted to the table top to elevate the table top
and to be separated from the table top for storage and
transport.
Inventors: |
de Oliveira; Sergio S.;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
39223547 |
Appl. No.: |
11/855652 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60826432 |
Sep 21, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 3/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/12 |
International
Class: |
A47B 85/06 20060101
A47B085/06 |
Claims
1. A portable table comprising a table top including a bottom wall,
a side wall coupled to the bottom wall and arranged to cooperate
with the bottom wall to define an interior storage region, and a
top wall coupled to the side wall to cover a top aperture bounded
by the side wall and arranged to open into the interior storage
region, and a table-top elevation system including leg mounts
coupled to the table top and legs configured to be mated to the leg
mounts to support the table top in an elevated position and to be
separated from the leg mounts to facilitate transport of the table
top, wherein the bottom wall is formed to include storage means for
coupling the legs to the table top following separation of the legs
from the leg mounts to retain the legs in storage-and-transport
positions on the table top so that the legs are coupled to the
table top to form a compact unit that may be transported easily
from one place to another.
2. The portable table of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall includes
a plate coupled to the side wall and formed to include an interior
surface facing into the interior region and the storage means is
coupled to the interior surface of the plate and arranged to lie in
the interior storage region of the table top.
3. The portable table of claim 2, wherein the storage means
includes a U-shaped leg keeper coupled to the interior surface of
the plate and associated with each leg to be stored in the interior
storage region of the table top and each U-shaped leg keeper is
configured to provide channel means for receiving a portion of a
leg therein and retaining the leg in a fixed position in the
interior storage region of the table top.
4. The portable table of claim 2, wherein the storage means
includes four sets of leg keepers, each set of leg keepers includes
a first leg keeper coupled to the interior surface of the plate and
associated with a first end of a companion leg and a second leg
keeper coupled to the interior surface of the plate and arranged to
lie in spaced-apart relation to the first leg keeper and associated
with an opposite second end of the companion leg, and the first and
second leg keepers in each set of leg keepers cooperate to provide
means for gripping a companion leg to retain said companion leg in
a storage-and-transport position in the interior region of the
table top.
5. The portable table of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall includes
a plate coupled to the side wall and formed to include an interior
surface facing into the interior storage region and an exterior
surface facing away from the interior storage region, the bottom
wall also includes a leg receptacle coupled to the plate and
located in an opening formed in the exterior surface, and the leg
receptacle is configured to define the storage means.
6. The portable table of claim 5, wherein the leg receptacle is
arranged to face downwardly toward ground underlying the table top
and contacting free ends of the legs mated with the leg mounts
included in the table top when the legs are coupled to the leg
mounts to elevate the table top above the underlying ground and the
legs are arranged to lie in the leg receptacle and face toward the
underlying ground when the legs are retained in the
storage-and-transport positions.
7. The portable table of claim 6, wherein the leg receptacle is
formed to include four U-shaped channels arranged to lie in
side-by-side relation to one another to cooperate to define the
storage means and each U-shaped channel is configured to receive
and retain one of the legs.
8. The portable table of claim 1, wherein the table-top elevation
system includes four leg mounts, each leg mount is located near a
corner included in the bottom wall of the table top, and the
storage means includes a leg receptacle located in a space between
the four leg mounts and arranged to open downwardly away from the
interior storage region of the table top.
9. The portable table of claim 8, wherein the leg receptacle is
formed to include four U-shaped channels arranged to lie in
side-by-side relation to one another to cooperate to define the
storage means and each U-shaped channel is configured to receive
and retain one of the legs.
10. A portable table comprising a table top and a table-top
elevation system including leg mounts coupled to the table top and
legs configured to be mated to the leg mounts to support the table
top in an elevated position and to be separated from the leg mounts
to facilitate transport of the table top, wherein the table top is
formed to include a leg receptacle and legs separated from the leg
mounts are located in the leg receptacle and coupled to the table
top to form a compact unit that may be transported easily from one
place to another following separation of the legs from the leg
mounts.
11. The portable table of claim 10, wherein the table top includes
a bottom wall carrying the leg mounts and an article-storage chest
lying in spaced-apart relation to the leg mounts to locate the
bottom wall therebetween and wherein the bottom wall is formed to
include the leg receptacle.
12. The portable table of claim 11, wherein the article-storage
chest includes a side wall coupled to the bottom wall and arranged
to cooperate with the bottom wall to define an interior storage
region and wherein the leg receptacle is located in the interior
storage region.
13. The portable table of claim 11, wherein the leg receptacle
comprises a U-shaped leg keeper associated with each leg and each
U-shaped leg keeper is configured to provide channel means for
receiving a portion of a leg therein and retaining a leg in a fixed
position in the interior storage region.
14. The portable table of claim 11, wherein the article-storage
chest includes a side wall coupled to the bottom wall and arranged
to cooperate with the bottom wall to define an interior storage
region and wherein the leg receptacle is formed to include a
leg-receiving opening located outside of the interior storage
region.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/826,432, filed
Sep. 21, 2006, which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to tables, and particularly
to portable tables. More particularly, the present disclosure is
related to a portable table having an interior region for storage
of items.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to the present disclosure, a portable folding
table includes a box, a top wall covering an opening into the box,
and removable legs coupled to a bottom wall of the box. In a first
mode of use, the portable folding table provides an elevated
horizontal work surface for a user to dine, play games, or a
variety of other activities. In a second mode of use, the portable
folding table is configured for transport or storage. In this mode,
the user can store equipment inside the box for transport to
another place, or configure the table for storage by removing the
legs from the exterior of the box and store them in an interior
storage region of the box.
[0004] In illustrative embodiments, the top wall includes a pair of
hinged table surface segments movable between an opened position
revealing the interior storage region and a closed position
covering the box opening. The interior storage region is suitable
for storage of various items and provides a receptacle to store the
removable legs for transport or storage of the table. In other
illustrative embodiments, the bottom wall of the box includes a
downwardly opening leg receptacle configured to store legs that
have been separated from the box.
[0005] Additional features of the present disclosure will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as
presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompany figures in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable folding table in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure
showing a table in a use position, the table having four removable
legs coupled to leg receivers or mounts coupled to a bottom wall of
the table;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable folding table
of FIG. 1 showing the table in an assembly position suggesting that
hinged table-surface segments are opened to reveal an interior
storage region, one of the removable legs is removed from its
associated leg receptacle formed in the interior region for
coupling to one of the leg receivers, and plate and utensil holders
are provided in the interior storage region to secure, for example,
dining or other items which may be carried within the portable
table;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable folding table in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure
showing a table in a use position, the table having four removable
legs coupled to leg receivers coupled to a bottom wall of the
table;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the
portable folding table of FIG. 3 showing a leg receptacle formed in
the bottom wall of the table and suggesting that two table legs are
being moved from the leg receivers to the leg receptacle formed in
the bottom wall to configure the table for transport or storage;
and
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable folding table
of FIG. 4 suggesting that four hinged table-surface segments are
closing to configure the table for transport or storage and showing
the reverse side of the leg receptacle formed in the bottom wall
and extending into an interior region of the table.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] A portable folding table 10 includes a box 12, a left hinged
table surface segment 14, a right hinged table surface segment 16,
and removable legs 18 as shown in FIG. 1. In a first mode of use,
shown in FIG. 1, table 10 is adapted to provide an elevated
horizontal work surface. In this use mode, a user can dine, play
games, or perform a variety of other activities. In a second mode
of use, shown in FIG. 2, table 10 is configured for transport or
storage. In this transport-storage mode, the user can store
equipment inside box 12 for transport to another place, or
configure the table for storage by removing legs 18 and securing
them within box 12.
[0013] Box 12 includes a bottom wall 20 and a side wall 22 having a
lower portion 24 coupled to bottom wall 20 and an upper portion 26
formed to include an opening 28 into an interior region 30 of box
12. Box 12 also includes a bulkhead 32 positioned to lie in and
divide interior region 30 and a rim 34 appended to upper portion 26
as suggested in FIG. 2.
[0014] In an illustrative embodiment, bottom wall 20 includes an
interior surface 36 and an exterior surface 38 as suggested in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Exterior surface 38 is formed to include downwardly
extending leg receivers 40 and four corners 42. A leg receiver 42
is positioned to lie adjacent to each corner 42.
[0015] Each leg receiver 40 is configured to receive at least a
portion of one of legs 18 to provide a friction fit to retain at
least a portion of one of legs 18 therein as shown in FIG. 1. Legs
18 are coupled to leg receivers 40 to establish the use mode for
dining or other suitable activities.
[0016] As suggested in FIG. 2, left hinged table surface segment 14
is coupled to box 12 to pivot relative to box 12 about a horizontal
pivot axis 44. Right hinged table surface segment 16 is coupled to
box 12 to pivot relative to box 12 about a horizontal pivot axis
46. Table surface segments 14, 16 are arranged to substantially
close opening 28 when table surface segments 14, 16 are in a closed
position as suggested in FIG. 1 and to reveal interior storage
region 30 upon pivoting movement toward an opened position as
suggested in FIG. 2. Table surface segments 14, 16 are secured in
place in the closed position by a friction fit between upper
portion 26 of side wall 22 and edges of table surface segments 14
and 16.
[0017] Left hinged table surface segment 14 is formed to include a
rounded indentation 48 formed on an edge 50 opposite of the hinged
edge. Right hinged table surface segment 16 is formed to include a
rounded indentation 52 formed on an edge 54 opposite of the hinged
edge. When surface segments 14 and 16 are in the closed position,
rounded indentations 48 and 52 cooperate to define a
finger-receiving aperture 56. Aperture 56 is configured to receive
a finger of the user to assist the user in moving surface segments
14, 16 to the opened position.
[0018] In some embodiments table surface segments 14, 16 may be
configured having no hinges. In such configurations, table surface
segments 14, 16 may be secured to box 12 by way of a snap fit or
friction fit.
[0019] Interior surface 36 of bottom wall 20 is formed to include a
leg receptacle 58, a utensil keeper 60, and a dish keeper 62 as
shown in FIG. 2. In an illustrative embodiment, leg receptacle 58
includes four pairs of U-shaped leg keepers 64 projecting upwardly
into interior storage region 30, each pair of leg keepers 64 is
configured to receive one of legs 18 to retain one of legs 18 to
establish the transport-storage mode of table 10.
[0020] Utensil keeper 60 is configured to hold eating utensils or
other similar items when table 10 is configured for the
transport-storage position. Likewise, dish keeper 62 is configured
to hold dishes or other similar objects for transport or
storage.
[0021] Table 10 further includes a carrying handle 66 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Carrying handle 66 is coupled to side wall 22 to
assist the user in transporting table 10.
[0022] In a second illustrative embodiment, a portable folding
table 110 includes a box 112, first, second, third, and fourth
hinged table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117, and removable
legs 118 as shown in FIG. 3. In a first mode of use, shown in FIG.
3, table 110 is adapted to provide an elevated horizontal work
surface. In this use mode, a user can dine, play games, or display
a variety of items. In a second mode of use, shown in FIG. 4, table
110 is configured for transport or storage. In this
transport-storage mode, the user can store equipment inside box 112
for transport to another place, or configure the table for storage
by removing legs 118.
[0023] Box 112 includes a bottom wall 120 and a side wall 122
having a lower portion 124 coupled to bottom wall 120 and an upper
portion 126 formed to include an opening 128 into an interior
region 130 of box 112. Box 112 also includes a cross-shaped
bulkhead 132 positioned to lie in and divide interior region 130
and a rim 134 appended to upper portion 126 as suggested in FIG.
5.
[0024] Bottom wall 120 includes an interior surface 136 and an
exterior surface 138. Exterior surface 138 is formed to include a
downwardly extending leg receiver 140 positioned to lie at each
corner 142 of exterior surface 138.
[0025] Each leg receiver 140 is configured to receive at least a
portion of one of the legs 118 to provide a friction fit to retain
at least a portion of one of the legs 118 therein. Legs 118 are
coupled to leg receivers 140 to establish the use mode for dining
or other suitable activities.
[0026] As suggested in FIG. 5, first and second table surface
segments 114, 115 are coupled along a left edge to box 112 to pivot
relative to box 112 about a horizontal pivot axis 144. Third and
fourth hinged table surface segment 116, 117 are coupled to box 12
along a right edge to pivot relative to box 112 about a horizontal
pivot axis 146. Table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 are
arranged to substantially close opening 128 when table surface
segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 are in a closed position as
suggested in FIG. 3 and to reveal interior storage region 130 upon
pivoting movement toward an opened position as suggested in FIG. 4.
Table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 are secured in place
in the closed position by a friction fit between upper portion 126
of side wall 122 and edges of table surface segments 114, 115, 116,
and 117.
[0027] In some embodiments table surface segments 114, 115, 116,
and 117 may be configured having no hinges. In such configurations,
table surface segments 114, 115, 116, and 117 may be secured to box
112 by way of a snap fit or friction fit.
[0028] In an illustrative embodiment, exterior surface 138 is
formed to include an opening exposing a leg receptacle 158 having
four U-shaped channels 164 positioned to lie in a side-by-side
relation to one another as shown in FIG. 4. Each U-shaped channel
164 is configured to receive one of legs 118 to retain legs 118
when table 110 is being configured for transport or storage. As
suggested in FIG. 5, a reverse side of U-shaped channels 164
extends into interior storage region 130.
[0029] Table 110 further includes a carrying handle 166 as shown in
FIGS. 3-5. Carrying handle 166 is coupled to side wall 122 to
assist the user in transporting table 110.
[0030] Portable table 10 comprises a table top 11 including a
bottom wall 20 and a side wall 22 coupled to bottom wall 20 and
arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 20 to define an interior
storage region 30 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. Table top 11 also
includes a top wall 13 coupled to side wall 22 to cover a top
aperture bounded by side wall 22 and arranged to open into interior
storage region 30. Top wall 13 includes segments 14, 16 in the
illustrated embodiment.
[0031] Portable table 10 also comprises a table-top elevation
system 25 including leg mounts 40 and legs 18. Leg mounts 40 are
coupled to an underside of table top 111 as suggested in FIGS. 1-3.
Legs 18 are configured to be mated to leg mounts 40 to support
table top 111 in an elevated position as suggested in FIG. 1 and to
be separated from leg mounts 40 to facilitate transport of table
top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, bottom wall 20
is formed to include storage means 19 for coupling legs 18 to table
top 11 following separation of legs 18 from leg mounts 40 to retain
legs 18 in storage-and-transport positions on table top 11 so that
legs 18 are coupled to table top 11 to form a compact unit that may
be transported easily from one place to another.
[0032] Bottom wall 20 includes a plate 21 coupled to side wall 22
and formed to include an interior surface 36 facing into interior
storage region 30 as shown in FIG. 2. Storage means 19 is coupled
to interior surface 36 of plate 21 and arranged to lie in interior
storage region 30 of table top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2. Storage
means 19 includes a U-shaped leg keeper 64 coupled to interior
surface 36 of plate 21 and associated with each leg 18 to be stored
in interior storage region 30 of table top 11. Each U-shaped leg
keeper 64 is configured to provide channel means 65 for receiving a
portion of a leg 18 therein and retaining the leg 18 in a fixed
position in interior storage region 30 of table top 11 as suggested
in FIG. 2.
[0033] Storage means 19 includes four sets of leg keepers 64 as
suggested in FIG. 2. Each set of leg keepers 64 includes a first
leg keeper 64a coupled to interior surface 36 of plate 21 and
associated with a first end of a companion leg 18 and a second leg
keeper 64b coupled to interior surface 36 of plate 21. Each second
leg keeper 64b is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to a
companion first leg keeper 64a and is associated with an opposite
second end of the companion leg 18. First and second leg keepers
64a, 64b in each set of leg keepers 64 cooperate to provide means
for gripping a companion leg 18 to retain said companion leg 18 in
a storage-and-transport position in interior storage region 30 of
table top 11.
[0034] Table top 11 is formed to include a leg receptacle 19. Legs
18 separated from leg mounts 40 are located in the leg receptacle
19 and coupled to table top 11 as suggested in FIG. 2 to form a
compact unit that may be transported easily from one place to
another following separation of legs 18 from leg mounts 40. Table
top 11 includes a bottom wall 20 carrying leg mounts 40 and an
article-storage chest 23 lying in spaced-apart relation to leg
mounts 40 to locate bottom wall 20 therebetween. Bottom wall 20 is
formed to include leg receptacle 19.
[0035] Article-storage chest 23 includes a side wall 22 coupled to
bottom wall 20 and arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 20 to
define an interior storage region 30 as suggested in FIGS. 1-3. Leg
receptacle 19 is located in interior storage region 30. Leg
receptacle 19 comprises a U-shaped leg keeper 64 associated with
each leg 18. Each U-shaped leg keeper 64 is configured to provide
channel means 65 for receiving a portion of a leg 18 therein and
retaining a leg 18 in a fixed position in interior storage region
30.
[0036] Portable table 110 comprises a table top 111 including a
bottom wall 120 and a side wall 122 coupled to bottom wall 120 and
arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 120 to define an interior
storage region 130 as suggested in FIGS. 3-5. Table top 111 also
includes a top wall 113 coupled to side wall 122 to cover a top
aperture bounded by side wall 122 and arranged to open into
interior storage region 130. Top wall 113 includes segments 114,
115, 116, and 117 in the illustrated embodiment.
[0037] Portable table 110 also comprises a table-top elevation
system 125 including leg mounts 140 and 118. Leg mounts 140 are
coupled to an underside of table top 111 as suggested in FIGS. 3
and 4. Legs 118 are configured to be mated to leg mounts 140 to
support table top 111 in an elevated position as suggested in FIG.
3 and to be separated from leg mounts 140 to facilitate transport
of table top 111 as suggested in FIG. 4. Bottom wall 120 is formed
to include storage means 119 for coupling legs 118 to table top 111
following separation of legs 118 from leg mounts 140 to retain legs
118 in storage-and-transport positions on table top 111 so that
legs 118 are coupled to table top 111 to form a compact unit that
may be transported easily from one place to another.
[0038] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, bottom wall 120
includes a plate 121 coupled to side wall 122. Plate 121 is formed
to include an interior surface 136 facing into interior storage
region 130 and an exterior surface 138 facing away from interior
storage region 130. Bottom wall 120 also includes a leg receptacle
158 coupled to plate 121 and located in an opening 137 formed in
exterior surface 138. Leg receptacle 158 is configured to define
storage means 119.
[0039] Leg receptacle 158 is arranged to face downwardly toward
ground 159 underlying table top 111 and contacting free ends of
legs 118 mated with leg mounts 140 included in table top 111 when
legs 118 are coupled to leg mounts 140 to elevate table top 111
above the underlying ground 139. Legs 118 are arranged to lie in
leg receptacle 158 and face toward the underlying ground 139 when
legs 118 are retained in the storage-and-transport positions. Leg
receptacle 158 is formed to include four U-shaped channels 164
arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another to
cooperate to define storage means 119 and each U-shaped channel 164
is configured to receive and retain one of legs 18.
[0040] Table top 111 includes four leg mounts 140 as shown in FIG.
4. Each leg mount 140 is located near a corner included in bottom
wall 120 of table top 111. Storage means 119 includes a leg
receptacle 158 located in a space between the four leg mounts 140
and arranged to open downwardly away from interior storage region
130 of table top 111.
[0041] Article-storage chest 123 includes a side wall 122 coupled
to bottom wall 120 and arranged to cooperate with bottom wall 120
to define an interior storage region 130 as suggested in FIG. 4.
Leg receptacle is formed to include a leg-receiving opening located
outside of interior storage region 130 as shown in FIG. 4.
* * * * *