Foldable display table

• US 20070157856A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TouchTable AB
• Original Assignee: TouchTable AB
• Inventors: Nordahl, Mats, Skoog, Jonas
• Application Number:
  US11/329,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/70
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/0076 the screen being incorporated in the desk top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0073 liftable above the desk top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0025 Hinge for pivotable, single column table top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/061 the device supports being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 85/06 Tables convertible otherwise into beds A47C17/62; into billiard tables A63D15/04

Abstract

The invention is directed to a foldable table arrangement comprising a foldable table top having a rear side and a substantially flat front side. The table top is supported by at least one base member and at least one foldable table top support member. The foldable table top support member is pivotally secured to the base member and the table top for pivoting the table top relative to the base member, so as to keep the front side of the table top continuously visible in at least one viewing direction during the pivotal movement. The front side of the pivotable table top is provided with at least one durable work surface, which work surface is provided with at least one durable and substantially transparent surface layer. There is at least one display unit visibly arranged behind said durable and substantially transparent surface layer for presenting moving images.

Claims

1. A foldable table arrangement (T1, T2) comprising:

a foldable table top (A100, B100) having a rear side (A110, B110) and a substantially flat front side (A120, B120);

at least one base member (A300, B300);

at least one table top support member (A200, A230, A230′

, B200);

which table top support member (A200, A230, A230′

, B200) is pivotally secured to the base member (A300, B300) and the table top (A100, B100) for pivoting the table top (A100, B100) relative to the base member (A300, B300), so as to keep the front side (A120, B120) of the table top (A100, B100) continuously visible in at least one viewing direction during the pivotal movement,

characterized by;

the front side (A120, B120) of the pivotable table top (A100, B100) being provided with at least one durable work surface;

said work surface being provided with at least one durable and substantially transparent surface layer (A125, B125);

at least one display unit (A130, B130) being visibly arranged behind said durable and substantially transparent surface layer (A125, B125) for presenting moving images.

2. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 1,

characterized by:

said base member (A300, B300) being adapted to be supported by a floor, a wall or a backrest of a seat.

3. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 1,

characterized by:

said display unit (130, B130) being a flat screen or an image projector.

4. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 2,

characterized by:

a blocking device arranged to fixate said pivoting table top (A100, B100) in substantially any pivoting direction within a range from a substantially horizontal direction to a substantially vertical direction.

5. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 1,

characterized by:

said durable and substantially transparent surface layer (A125, B125) being a part of a touch screen device (A140, B140, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) arranged on or above said display unit (A130) so as to receive and detect touches from at least one user of the foldable table arrangement (T1, T2).

6. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 5,

characterized by:

said touch screen (A140, B140) being a capacitive touch screen (900), a SAW touch screen (1000) or an optical touch screen (1100).

7. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 5,

characterized by:

said touch screen device (A140, B140, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) and said display unit (A130, B130) being connected to a processing unit arranged to implement at least one of a keyboard function or a mouse function by means of said touch screen device (A140, B140, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) and said display unit (A130, B130).

8. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 5,

characterized by:

being arranged as a electronic gaming table for playing table games, wherein said touch screen device (A140, B140, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) and said display unit (A130, B130) are connected to a processing unit arranged to implement a table game by means of said touch screen device (A140, B140, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) and said display unit (A130, B130).

9. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 8,

wherein said table game is one of:

a twenty-one game, a red dog game, a baccarat game, a roulette game or a craps game.

10. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 5,

wherein the substantially transparent surface layer (A125, B125) is arranged so as to extend a distance in at least one horizontal direction when the table top (A100, B100) is unfolded, which distance is long enough to receive at least two chairs facing the table top (A100, B100) and being arranged side by side.

11. The table arrangement (T1, T2) in claim 5,

wherein the touch screen device (A140, B140, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) is arranged to detect and distinguish between several overlapping or simultaneous touches.

12. A seat provided with a foldable table arrangement (T2) according to claim 1.

13. The seat in claim 12

characterized by:

said table arrangement (T2) being arranged on the rear side of the backrest of said seat.