U.S. patent application number 12/509460 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-27 for folding table.
Invention is credited to Wen-Shan KO.
Application Number | 20110017107 12/509460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43496163 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110017107 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KO; Wen-Shan |
January 27, 2011 |
FOLDING TABLE
Abstract
The present invention provides a folding table, including a main
body with table panel and foot stand as well as a folding
mechanism. The folding mechanism includes a fixed limiting seat,
which is provided with assembly portion and first locating portion.
A moveable limiting seat is provided with a second locating
portion. A moveable control rod is, interconnected with the
moveable limiting seat for simultaneous assembly and positioning.
The folding mechanism allows the moveable control rod to shift
transversely, so that the moveable limiting seat is activated
simultaneously, enabling the second locating portion to move
transversely for positioning together with the first locating
portion, preventing the swinging of the table panel, or removing
the limiting state of the second locating portion of the moveable
limiting seat in reverse transversing. The table panel can move
rotatably.
Inventors: |
KO; Wen-Shan; (Qigu Shiang,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EGBERT LAW OFFICES
412 MAIN STREET, 7TH FLOOR
HOUSTON
TX
77002
US
|
Family ID: |
43496163 |
Appl. No.: |
12/509460 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/64 ;
108/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 3/0818 20130101;
A47B 87/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/64 ;
108/115 |
International
Class: |
A47B 3/00 20060101
A47B003/00; A47B 13/00 20060101 A47B013/00 |
Claims
1. A folding table, comprising: a main body, containing a table
panel with a back surface and foot stand; a pivot joint being
preset on said main body; and a folding means arranged on said main
body, said folding means comprising: a fixed limiting seat,
provided with assembly portion and first locating portion, said
assembly portion being mounted onto said back surface of said table
panel; a moveable limiting seat, provided with a second locating
portion being transversely moveable and mated with said first
locating portion in a limited state; a moveable control rod,
extended transversely along said main body, assembled onto said
pivot joint and connected with said moveable limiting seat for
simultaneous assembly and positioning; and a locator securely
retaining said moveable control rod.
2. The folding table defined in claim 1, wherein the first locating
portion of the fixed limiting seat is of an inverted concave
profile to form two vertical locating walls and locating plates,
the locating plates being protruded from an end of two vertical
locating walls, the second locating portion transversely
penetrating and being transversely assembled onto the locating
plate for a limitation state, the locator being formed by a concave
flange of the first locating portion.
3. The folding table defined in claim 1, wherein interlocked
assembly portions are arranged at four corners on the back surface
of the table panel of the main body, a plurality of main bodies
being assembled and connected.
4. The folding table defined in claim 3, wherein the interlocked
assembly portion has an embedded bulge and an embedded groove
placed at both ends thereof, connecting and separating via the
interlocked assembly portion of different main bodies.
5. The folding table defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot joint
is arranged at a top of said foot stand of the main body, and
provided with a through-hole for the penetration of the moveable
control rod.
6. The folding table defined in claim 1, wherein said moveable
control rod has two handles arranged at both ends thereof for
pushing and pulling.
7. The folding table defined in claim 1, wherein said main body is
fitted with a snapping member, being arranged onto the locating
seat of the back surface of the table panel, and also onto the
locking seat of the foot stand of the main body, a locking end
being formed on one end of the locating seat, the locking end being
locked into the locking seat.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC
[0004] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 1. Field of the Invention
[0006] The present invention relates generally to a folding table,
and more particularly to an innovative table featuring easy
operation and simplified structure.
[0007] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
[0008] Table is a necessity for the general public. Due to the
large space occupied by a table, a folding table structure has been
developed for space-saving purposes.
[0009] Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior
art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved
structure that can significantly improve efficacy.
[0010] Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention
of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on
years of experience in the production, development and design of
related products.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] There is enhanced efficacy of the present invention.
[0012] Based on the unique folding table of the present invention,
a fixed limiting seat is provided with a first locating portion,
which is arranged in collaboration with the moveable limiting seat
with a second locating portion, and connected with the a moveable
control rod for simultaneous assembly and positioning. The moveable
control rod can be shifted to drive the moveable limiting seat, so
that the second locating portion of the moveable limiting seat is
assembled slidably on the first locating portion, enabling the
table panel to be stretched in a flat state. Alternatively, the
limiting state of the first and second locating portions can be
removed. In such state, the user can swing the table panel into a
folding state, and operate it easily and robustly with a simple and
efficient folding structure, thereby improving the structural
stability and easy operation with better applicability.
[0013] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an assembled perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the local assembly step of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged schematic view of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows an assembled sectional view of the folding
mechanism of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of actuation of the moveable
control rod of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the present invention
fitted with a snapping member.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a comparison of the present
invention, wherein the table panel is stretched and folded.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the present invention,
wherein a plurality of main bodies is interconnected.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIGS. 1-4 depict preferred embodiments of a folding table of
the present invention. The embodiments are provided for only
explanatory objectives with respect to the patent claims.
[0023] The folding table comprises a main body 10, containing a
table panel 12 with back surface 11 and foot stand 13. A pivot
joint 14 is preset on the main body 10, and a folding mechanism 20
is also arranged on the main body 10.
[0024] The folding mechanism 20 comprises at least a fixed limiting
seat 21, which is provided with assembly portion 211 and first
locating portion 212. The assembly portion 211 is mounted onto the
back surface 11 of the table panel 12. The folding mechanism 20
also comprises at least a moveable limiting seat 22, which is
provided with a second locating portion 222. The second locating
portion 222 can move transversely, and be mated with the first
locating portion 212 in limited state. There is a moveable control
rod 23, which is extended transversely along the main body 10,
assembled onto the pivot joint 14 and connected with the moveable
limiting seat 22 for simultaneous assembly and positioning. Next, a
locator 24 is used to retain securely the moveable control rod 23,
enabling the folding table to be opened or folded in tune with the
user requirements.
[0025] The first locating portion 212 of the fixed limiting seat 21
is of an inverted concave profile to form two vertical locating
walls 213 and locating plates 215. The locating plates 215 are
protruded from the end of two vertical locating walls 213. The
second locating portion 222 can penetrate transversely like a
groove, so that the second locating portion 222 is transversely
assembled onto the locating plate 215 for a limitation state. The
locator 24 is formed by the concave flange of the first locating
portion 212.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 8, interlocked assembly portions 30 are
arranged at four corners on the back surface 11 of the table panel
12 of the main body 10, so that a plurality of main bodies 10 is
assembled and connected. An embedded bulge 31 and an embedded
groove 32 are placed at both ends of the interlocked assembly
portion 30, allowing for easy connection and separation via the
interlocked assembly portion 30 of different main bodies 10.
[0027] Two handles 231 are arranged at both ends of the moveable
control rod 23 for pushing and pulling purposes. Since the handles
231 are arranged at both ends of the moveable control rod 23, the
user is allowed for control from either end.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 6, the main body 10 is fitted with a
snapping member 40, which is arranged onto the locating seat 41 of
the back surface 11 of the table panel 12, and also onto the
locking seat 42 of the foot stand 13 of the main body 10. A locking
end 411 is formed on one end of the locating seat 41, so that when
the folding table is folded rotatably, the locking end 411 can be
locked into the locking seat 42 for limitation purpose.
[0029] Based upon the above-specified structures, the fixed
limiting seat 21, moveable limiting seat 22 and moveable control
rod 23 of the folding mechanism 20 of the folding table are
incorporated onto the main body 10 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3. Firstly,
the assembly portion 211 of the fixed limiting seat 21 is mounted
onto the back surface 11 of the table panel 12, whilst the concave
locator 24 and a through-hole 141 of the pivot joint 14 are
arranged transversely at interval (shown in FIG. 2(a)). Thus, the
fixed limiting seat 21 and table panel 12 are located securely.
Referring also to FIG. 2(b), the moveable control rod 23 is
penetrated into the through-hole 141 of the pivot joint 14 and
extended into a punch hole 223 on the moveable limiting seat 22,
allowing it to be fastened securely into the punch hole 223 via a
bolt 25. Moreover, the second locating portion 222 of the moveable
limiting seat 22 can be assembled transversely onto the locating
plates 215 of the fixed limiting seat 21 (also referring to FIG.
2(a) and FIG. 4), helping to prevent the swinging of the table
panel 12. In such case, the table panel 12 of the main body 10 is
stretched in a flat state as shown in FIG. 7(a).
[0030] When the folding table is folded, referring to FIG. 5, the
moveable control rod 23 is shifted transversely so that the
moveable limiting seat 22 is activated simultaneously, enabling the
second locating portion 222 to disengage from the locating plate
215 (referring also to FIG. 2(c)). As such, the table panel 12 can
move rotatably. The table panel 12 of the main body 10 can thus be
folded rotatably by taking the pivoted portion 15 of the main body
10 as a pivot, as shown in FIG. 7(b). In such case, as the locating
seat 41 of the snapping member 40 is arranged on the back surface
11 of the table panel 12, when the table panel 12 is folded
rotatably, the locking end 411 of the locating seat 41 is embedded
downwards into the locking seat 42, so that the folding state of
the main body 10 is limited securely. When it is intended to
stretch the table panel 12, the locking state of the snapping
member 40 shall be removed, so that the table panel 12 is stretched
upwards in a swinging state, whilst the moveable control rod 23 is
shifted transversely and reversely. Then, the second locating
portion 222 of the moveable limiting seat 22 is reversely assembled
onto the locating plate 215 of the fixed limiting seat 21, allowing
for easily stretching the table panel 12 for operation.
* * * * *