U.S. patent application number 16/289865 was filed with the patent office on 2020-09-03 for folding company.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company, Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company, Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company. Invention is credited to Andrew David Frankel, Shi-Ping Zheng, Tian-Xia Zheng.
Application Number | 20200275770 16/289865 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000003972039 |
Filed Date | 2020-09-03 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200275770 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Frankel; Andrew David ; et
al. |
September 3, 2020 |
FOLDING COMPANY
Abstract
A folding table which includes: an upper support part for
supporting the surface fabric and a lower support part for
grounding; an upper support part is inserted into a guide tube of
the lower support part by means of a shaft rod, and a support for
the upper support part is formed at the bottom of the guide tube;
Moreover, the upward extended shaft rod can also be used to insert
a sunshade for expanded outdoor use with easy assembly. The upper
and lower support parts and umbrellas can be folded separately and
collected side by side, which greatly reduces the height and makes
them more compact after folding.
Inventors: |
Frankel; Andrew David;
(Yorba Linda, CA) ; Zheng; Shi-Ping; (Fuzhou,
CN) ; Zheng; Tian-Xia; (Fuzhou, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z Company |
Upland |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Zenithen USA LLC d/b/a Z
Company
|
Family ID: |
1000003972039 |
Appl. No.: |
16/289865 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2200/1063 20130101;
A47B 2003/145 20130101; A47B 2200/0084 20130101; A47B 37/04
20130101; A47B 2200/0035 20130101; A47B 2003/004 20130101; A47B
3/002 20130101; A47B 3/14 20130101; A47B 3/06 20130101; A47B 3/0803
20130101; A47B 2200/0001 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 3/14 20060101
A47B003/14; A47B 3/06 20060101 A47B003/06; A47B 37/04 20060101
A47B037/04; A47B 3/00 20060101 A47B003/00; A47B 3/08 20060101
A47B003/08 |
Claims
1. A guide tube is locked on the lower main plate, going through a
prefabricated hole on the upper auxiliary plate; As the lower
support rod is being opened in place, the guide tube continues to
extend downward through the lower auxiliary plate; the upper
support part is inserted into the guide pipe of the lower support
part by means of a shaft rod to form a docking position with the
lower support part;
2. The folding table according to claim 1 with the following
features: four to six lower supporting rods are radially
distributed on the lower main disc, and the end locks are installed
with grounded plastic parts; four to eight upper supporting rods
are radially distributed on the upper main disc, and the upper
supporting rods stretch open the tabletop fabric.
3. The folding table according to claim 1 with the following
features: a supporting plate is also arranged on the upper
auxiliary disc, and the upper end face of the supporting plate is
higher than the plane of the tightened desktop fabric.
4. The folding table according to claim 1 with the following
features: the shaft rod fixed on the upper auxiliary disc extends
upward, and an umbrella is inserted at the upper end of the shaft
rod, and a manual clamp for fastening is arranged at the insertion
part connecting the umbrella rod and the shaft rod.
5. The folding table according to claim 4 with the following
features: the umbrella is a folding umbrella with an umbrella rod,
a skeleton with plural parts, a driving sleeve and an surface. The
umbrella skeleton is hinged between the top of the umbrella rod and
the driving sleeve. It slides up and down along the umbrella rod by
the driving sleeve to drive the umbrella skeleton to open and
close. A locking sleeve is arranged between the driving sleeve and
the umbrella rod to lock the umbrella skeleton in position.
6. The folding table according to claim 1 with the following
features: the locking sleeve comprises a nut sleeve and a hollow
hand-adjusting bolt, which has a ring groove between the knob and
the thread section; the ring groove can rotate and be positioned on
the upper main disc and the driving sleeve, and can slide up and
down with the main disc or the driving sleeve; and the nut sleeve
is locked on the design position of the shaft rod and the umbrella
rod.
7. The folding table according to claim 4 with the following
features: the manual clamp is locked at the end of the umbrella
rod, and the upper end of the shaft rod is inserted in the manual
clamp; the upper end of the shaft rod is fixed with a core shaft
segment, which is inserted into the umbrella rod with the help of
the core shaft segment, and forms a staggered insertion with the
manual clamp.
8. The folding table according to claim 7 with the following
features: the manual clamp includes sleeve and handle, one end of
sleeve is divided into a pair of shrinkage pages by T-shaped
shrinkage joint; each of which is provided with an axle base, while
the axle base is provided with a symmetrical notch on the far side;
a pair of axle ears corresponding to the axle base are opposite to
each other, and a slope is symmetrically arranged; the handle is
positioned on the axle base through the pin axis, and on the swing
handle, the slope can drive the sleeve shrinkage page to clamp the
shaft rod.
9. The folding table according to claim 5 with the following
features: the umbrella skeleton is a fold-able quadrilateral
structure composed of four sections, including the first rod and
the second rod at the proximal end, and the third and the fourth
rod at the distal end; the first rod is hinged on the umbrella rod
at one end; the second rod is hinged on the driving sleeve at one
end; the first and the second rods are cross-articulated in the
middle, the end of the first rod is articulated with the end of the
third rod, and the third rod is articulated at the third's end; and
the other end of the rods is used to support the umbrella surface,
the end of the second rod is articulated with the end of the fourth
rod, and the other end of the fourth rod is articulated in the
middle of the third rod to support the third rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention is in the field of folding furniture, in
particular the invention is to a folding table, which can realize a
folding collection of upper and lower parts and can be used to
support an umbrella and assemble into an umbrella folding table for
outdoor use.
Technical Background
[0002] Patent No. 201710831683.9 shows a folding table, comprising
an upper support part and a lower support part, in which the upper
support part is inserted into the guide pipe of the lower support
part by means of a shaft rod to form a docking position with the
lower support part. The lower end face of the upper main disc
collides with the upper end face of the lower main disc to form a
bearing support. The supporting device has the characteristics of
strong versatility, wide application and stable support, but it
also has the shortcomings of high locality, the fact that the upper
and lower main plates of the upper and lower support parts must
conflict with each other. Moreover, the flexible desktop supported
by the device has no tension design, and it is easy to collapse
after shelving items on it, which affects the use of the
device.
[0003] For folding tables, the main consideration is to fold
compactly and make it easier to store and carry, especially for
outdoor use. For this reason, the combination of an umbrella and
table is also the industry's most considered option. such as:
[0004] The patent application No. 200720032755.5, shows a solar
multi-functional sunshade for automobile and traveling. It includes
an umbrella frame, the umbrella textile wrapped on the frame and
the frame sliding seat supporting the frame. The sliding seat is
equipped with a central axis, and the lower end of the central axis
is connected with an interface connector, and the lower end of the
interface connector is equipped with a support device. The support
device includes an upper support rod which is connected with a
lower support rod by the interface, and the lower end of the lower
support rod is attached to the base by a hinge. A removable table
is installed on the lower support rod, which includes a table
supported by the movable support, one end of the movable support is
attached to the lower support rod of the umbrella by hinge. The
other end is attached to the sliding sleeve of the support with
positioning device, and the sliding sleeve of the support is
installed on the lower support rod of the umbrella handle. The
design combines the movable table with the sunshade, but the
structure is too messy and the assembly is too complicated.
[0005] Another example is patent application No. 201720769472.2,
which shows a multi-functional sunshade which includes the umbrella
bar, the umbrella frame installed on the bar and the textile
attached on the outer surface of umbrella frame. A connecting seat
is fixed on the bar, and at least two pivotal grooves are installed
on the connecting seat. The bottom of each pivotal groove is
provided with a stopper, and each pivotal groove is matched by a
supporting rod to which a table surface is attached. Structurally,
it fulfills the table function, but the support rod which bears the
table is directly attached to the connecting seat, which appears
flimsy and it is difficult to tighten the table, and also limits
the space of the table surface.
[0006] All the existing technologies have shortcomings in the
design of a folding table or umbrella with table. How to fulfill
the function of folding table, how to assemble and disassemble
conveniently, how to be compact and be able to support the umbrella
at the same time are some of the objectives of the current
research.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An objective of the present invention is to design a folding
table with a flexible connection and with relative rotation by
inserting a guide pipe into the upper and lower support parts
through a shaft rod, and to form a folding table with an umbrella
by inserting an umbrella on the upper support part.
[0008] The technical plan of this invention can be accomplished in
one or more of the following methods:
[0009] A folding table comprising an upper support part and a lower
support part.
[0010] The upper supporting part has an upper main disc, an upper
auxiliary disc, an upper supporting rod, an upper connecting rod
and a shaft rod.
[0011] One end of the upper supporting rods is hinged on the upper
main disc and the other end is used to support the desktop
fabric.
[0012] One end of the corresponding number of upper connecting rods
is hinged on the upper supporting rod and the other end is hinged
on the upper and auxiliary discs.
[0013] The shaft rod is locked on the upper and auxiliary discs and
runs through the upper main disc to form a constraint.
[0014] The upper supporting rod is opened in place, and the shaft
rod extends downward to the upper main disc.
[0015] The lower support part includes a lower main disc, a lower
auxiliary disc, a lower support rod, a lower connecting rod and a
guide pipe.
[0016] The lower ends of multiple support rods are hinged at one
end to the upper main plate, a corresponding number of lower ends
of the connecting rod are hinged on the lower support rod and the
other end is hinged on the lower auxiliary plate.
[0017] The guide tube is locked on the lower main plate, passing
through a prefabricated hole on the upper auxiliary plate.
[0018] As the lower support rod being opened in place, the guide
tube continues to extend downward through the lower auxiliary
plate.
[0019] the upper support part is inserted into the guide pipe of
the lower support part by means of a shaft rod to form a docking
position with the lower support part.
[0020] The invention may have one or more of the following special
features:
[0021] The shaft rod in the upper support part is locked on the
upper and auxiliary discs and passes downward through the reserved
hole of the upper main disc. A locking sleeve is set between the
upper main disc and the shaft rod. With the help of the locking
sleeve, the upper main disc is locked on the design position of the
shaft rod and the desktop fabric can be tightened.
[0022] The guide pipe in the lower support has a closed bottom or a
horizontal pin to support the lower end of the inserted shaft
rod.
[0023] The four to six lower supporting rods are radially
distributed on the lower main disc, with plastic parts installed at
the ground-touching end. The four to eight upper supporting rods
are radially distributed on the upper main disc, and the upper
supporting rods extend the tabletop fabric in a flat shape.
[0024] A supporting plate may be arranged on the upper auxiliary
disc, and the upper end face of the supporting plate is higher than
the plane of the tightened desktop fabric.
[0025] The shaft rod fixed on the upper auxiliary disk extends
upward, and an umbrella is inserted at the upper end of the shaft
rod, and a manual clamp for fastening is arranged at the insertion
part of the umbrella rod and the shaft rod.
[0026] The umbrella is a folding umbrella with an umbrella rod,
plural parachute skeletons, a driving sleeve and an umbrella
surface. The umbrella skeleton is articulated between the top of
the umbrella rod and the driving sleeve, and slides up and down
along the umbrella rod by the driving sleeve to drive the umbrella
skeleton to open and close. A locking sleeve is arranged between
the driving sleeve and the umbrella rod, and the umbrella skeleton
is locked in
[0027] The locking sleeve comprises a nut sleeve and a hollow
hand-adjusting bolt, which has a ring groove between the knob and
the thread section. The ring groove can rotate and be positioned on
the upper main disc and the driving sleeve, and can slide up and
down with the main disc or the driving sleeve. The nut sleeve is
locked on the design position of the shaft rod and the umbrella
rod.
[0028] The manual clamp is locked at the end of the umbrella rod,
and the upper end of the shaft rod is inserted in the manual clamp.
The upper end of the shaft rod is fixed with a core shaft segment,
which is inserted into the umbrella rod with the help of the core
shaft segment, and forms an intersect insertion with the manual
clamp.
[0029] The manual clamp comprises a sleeve and a handle. One end of
the sleeve is divided into a pair of shrinkage pages by a T-shaped
shrinkage joint, and each end of the sleeve is provided with an
axle seat, while a symmetrical step part is arranged on the far
side of the axle seat. The handle is opposite to the axle ear
corresponding to the axle seat, and a slope surface is
symmetrically arranged, and the handle is positioned on the axle
seat through a pin axis, and the slope surface of the handle can
drive the sleeve.
[0030] The upper support part of the invention adopts a shaft rod
inserted in the guide pipe of the lower support part to form a
support and positioning structure, which makes the design height of
the desktop more flexible. Moreover, the upper support part adopts
a locking set positioning, which can maintain the reliable tension
state of the desktop without accidental folding due to external
forces. The upward extended shaft rod can also be used to insert a
parasol, expand outdoor use, and aid in disassembly and assembly.
The upper and lower support parts and umbrellas can be folded
separately and collected side by side, which greatly reduces the
height and makes it more compact after folding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a folding table with an
umbrella.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a partially disassembled view of the supporting
portion of a folding table with an umbrella.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the supporting part of a folding
table with an umbrella in a folded position.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a manual clamp
[0035] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the locking set
[0036] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings. Namely, in the
drawings the following reference numbers refer to the following
part: [0037] 1--Tabletop fabric [0038] 2--Upper supporting part
[0039] 21--Master disk [0040] 22--Upper auxiliary disc [0041]
23--Upper support bar [0042] 24--Upper Connect rod [0043] 25--Shaft
rod [0044] 251--Core shaft segment [0045] 26--Supporting plate
[0046] 3--Lower support part [0047] 31--Lower main disc [0048]
311--through hole [0049] 32--Lower auxiliary disc [0050] 33--Lower
support rod [0051] 331--Ground plastic face [0052] 34--Lower link
[0053] 35--Guide tube [0054] 4--Locking set [0055] 41--Nut sleeve
[0056] 42--Hand-adjusting bolt [0057] 421--Ring groove [0058]
5--Sunshade [0059] 51--Umbrella rod [0060] 52--Umbrella skeleton
[0061] 521--The first rod [0062] 522--The second rod [0063]
523--The third rod [0064] 524--The fourth rod [0065] 53--Driving
sleeve [0066] 54--Umbrella surface [0067] 55--Connecting seat
[0068] 6--Manual clamp [0069] 61--Cylindrical housing [0070]
611--T-shaped shrinkage joint [0071] 612--Shrinkage page [0072]
613--Axis base [0073] 614--Notches [0074] 62--Handle [0075]
621--axle ear [0076] 622--Slope surface [0077] 63--Pin axis
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0078] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a folding table with an
umbrella is shown. The folding table part comprises a desktop
fabric 1, an upper support 2 and a lower support 3.
[0079] The upper support 2 includes an upper main disc 21, the
upper auxiliary disc 22, the upper support rod 23, the upper
connecting rod 24 and the shaft rod 25. One end of the plural upper
support rod 23 is articulated on the upper main disc 21 and the
other end is used to support the desktop fabric 1. Specifically,
four to eight upper support rods 23 are radially distributed on the
upper main disc 21, and the upper support rod 23 is planar to
support the desktop fabric 1. This example has six support rods 23.
It can support a six-sided desktop. The larger the number of
supporting rods, the better the tautness of the desktop. The
corresponding number of upper connecting rods 24 are articulated at
one end on the upper support rod 23 and at the other end on the
upper and auxiliary discs 22.
[0080] The axle bar 25 is locked onto the upper and auxiliary discs
22 and penetrates through the reserved holes of the upper main disc
21 downwardly to form a solid relationship. A locking sleeve 4 is
arranged between the upper main disc 21 and the axle bar 25. With
the help of the locking sleeve 4, the upper main disc 21 is locked
in the design position of the axle bar 25, and the desktop fabric 1
can be tightened. That is to say, the upper main disc 21 slides
upwardly along the shaft bar 25, pushes the upper support bar 23
apart, and extends the upper main disc 21 relatively downward when
the shaft rod 25 is opened.
[0081] The lower support part 3 includes the lower main disc 31,
the lower auxiliary disc 32, the lower support rod 33, the lower
connecting rod 34 and the guide pipe 35. The end of the plural
lower support rod 33 is articulated on the lower main disc 31, and
the corresponding number of lower connecting rods 34 is articulated
on the lower support rod 33 at one end and on the lower auxiliary
disc 32 at the other end; specifically, four to six lower support
rods 33 are radially distributed on the lower main disc 31, and the
end lock is inherently grounded. The plastic part 331 is used to
increase the contact surface with the ground. In this example, the
lower support rod 33 is four in number, which can balance the
support to the desktop and remain stable on the ground.
[0082] The guide pipe 35 is locked in the through hole 311 of the
lower main disc and passes through the reserved hole of the lower
auxiliary disc, that is to say, it keeps the upper end of the guide
pipe 35 connected with the through hole 311 and provides for the
insertion of the shaft rod 25. When the lower support rod 33 is
opened in place, the guide pipe 35 still extends out of the lower
auxiliary disc 32 to form the direction of restraint and folding.
Furthermore, the guide pipe 35 has a closed bottom or a pin
horizontally arranged to support the inserted shaft rod 25 lower
end.
[0083] The upper support part 2 and the lower support part 3 are
separate structures. The upper support part 2 is opened and folded
independently of the lower part. The upper support part 2 is
inserted into the guide tube 35 of the lower support part through
the shaft rod 25 to form a positioning relationship between them.
No additional positioning is needed. The upper support part 2
cannot rotate around the guide tube 35 to increase the usefulness.
At the same time, the design height of the desktop is more
flexible. Only the shaft rod 25 or the lower support part 35 needs
to be changed. The length of the guide pipe 35 is enough.
[0084] In this design, the relative area of the desktop is large,
and a supporting disc 26 is also arranged on the upper and
auxiliary disc 22. The upper end face of the supporting disc 26 is
higher than the plane of the tightened desktop fabric 1 for less
than 3 cm which forms a support beneath the center of the desktop
fabric 1 to prevent any collapse.
[0085] Further, the axle 25 fixed on the upper auxiliary disc 22 is
extended upwardly. An umbrella 5 is inserted at the upper end of
the axle rod, and a manual clamp 6 for fastening is arranged at the
insertion part of the umbrella rod 51 and the axle rod 25. Manual
clamp 6 is locked at the end of umbrella rod 51. The upper end of
shaft rod 25 is inserted in the manual clamp 6. Alternatively, the
manual clamp 6 can be locked at one side of shaft rod. The upper
end of the shaft rod 25 is fixed with a core shaft section 251. The
core shaft section 251 is inserted into the umbrella rod 51 to form
a staggered connection with the manual clamp 6, which reduces the
transverse force of the manual clamp 6 where thereby the connecting
part can withstand greater wind force as shown in FIGS. 2 and
5.
[0086] Referring now to FIG. 4, the manual clamp 6 includes sleeve
61 and handle 62. One end of sleeve 61 is divided into a pair of
shrinkage pages 612 by T-shaped shrinkage joint 611. Each of which
is provided with an axle base 613, while the axle base 613 is
provided with a symmetrical notch 614 on the far side. A pair of
axle ears 621 corresponding to the axle base 613 are opposite to
each other, and a slope 622 is symmetrically arranged. The handle
62 is positioned on the axle base 613 through the pin axis 63.
Swing handle 62, the slope 622 can drive the sleeve shrinkage page
612 to clamp the shaft rod, with the notch 614 serves as the
boundary between locking and release.
[0087] Referring to FIG. 2, the umbrella 5 is a folding umbrella
with an umbrella rod 51, plural skeleton 52, driving sleeve 53 and
umbrella surface 54. The umbrella skeleton 52 is articulated
between the top of umbrella pole 51 and driving sleeve 53, sliding
up and down along the umbrella rod by driving sleeve 53, to drive
the skeleton 52 open and close. A locking sleeve 4 is arranged
between driving sleeve 53 and umbrella rod 51, and the skeleton 52
is locked in the opening position which holds the umbrella open.
The umbrella surface 54 of this design is large. The umbrella rod
51 has an inherent connection seat 55 at the top lock. The plural
parachute skeleton 52 is evenly distributed on the circumference of
the connection seat 55, that is, one end of the first member 521 is
articulated on the connection seat 55.
[0088] Referring now to FIG. 5, the locking sleeve 4 mentioned
above includes a nut sleeve 41 and a hollow hand-adjusting bolt 42,
which is provided with a ring groove 421 between the knob and the
thread section. With the help of the ring groove 421, the locking
sleeve 4 is rotated and positioned on the upper main disc 21 and
the driving sleeve 53, and can follow the upper main disc 21 or the
driving sleeve 53 to slide up and down; while the nut sleeve 41
corresponds to the design position of the shaft 25 and umbrella rod
51. In operation, as long as the upper main disc 21 or drive sleeve
53 is slid in place, the adjusting hand-adjusting bolt 42 can be
screwed into the corresponding nut sleeve 41 to form a reliable
connection. Through an extended connection, the tabletop fabric 1
and umbrella surface 54 can be tightened, and the positioning is
more reliable. In this illustration, the lock set 4 is used in the
upper support 2 and the same can be used in the sunshade.
[0089] The present folding table with umbrella is more suitable for
outdoor use. If there is no need for shelter, the installation
proceeds without the umbrella, and it does not affect the normal
use of folding table. Because sunshade needs a larger area of shade
and the height in use, the folded height of the umbrella is still
the highest among the three parts. According to the design
standard, the height of the supporting design shaft rod 25 should
be equivalent, as shown in FIG. 3. As for the lower support part 3,
the design considers the stability of the ground support and
generally requires a landing with four feet to meet the needs of
the stable support while minimizing the obstruction to ground
movement. Moreover, the desktop supported by the upper support part
2 can not only form ground obstacles by opening the lower support
part 3, but also achieve shade over the desktop which transforms
into useful space. The overall coordination of this three-section
design streamlines disassembly and assembly operation, with the
opening and folding action being simple and consistent. The height
after folding is less than half of the full height, which greatly
improves its utility. It also reduces the space requirement for
collection and transportation.
* * * * *