Folding table assembly

• US 20110017103A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lee Ideas, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lee Ideas, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Freddy T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/06 with legs for supporting the table on the floor tables combined with cabinets A47B83/045
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/02 Tables combined with seats folding or stowable tables with separable parts combined with seats A47B3/063; foldable table and seat units A47B3/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/705 of detachable type

Abstract

A table assembly is provided for removably coupling to a chair or couch or other furniture with an opening from the floor, such as a bed or cabinet, to provide a horizontal table surface. The table assembly is removably coupled to the chair or couch by a spring engaging the bottom surface of the chair or couch or other coupling mechanism for removably coupling the table assembly to the chair or couch. The table assembly includes a base for engaging the floor and a table leaf that can be pivoted from a retracted position to an extended horizontal position. A latching mechanism is provided for retaining the table leaf in the upright extended position.

Claims

1. A folding table assembly comprising:

a base having a vertical dimension with a top end and a bottom floor-engaging end for supporting said base;

a table leaf coupled to said base and being movable between a retracted position lying substantially parallel to said base and an extended horizontal position substantially perpendicular to said base; and

a coupling mechanism for removably coupling said base to a chair or couch and retaining said base in an upright position.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein

said base has a planar dimension defining a height and a width and having a first side facing outwardly and a second side facing inwardly toward the chair or couch.

3. The table of claim 2, wherein

said coupling mechanism comprises a spring having a first end coupled to said base and a second end biased in an upward direction and having a dimension to engage a bottom side of the chair or couch and retain said base in an upright position.

4. The table of claim 3, wherein

said first end of said spring is adjustable vertically with respect to said base.

5. The table of claim 4, wherein

said first end of said spring has a pair of legs removably coupled to said base.

6. The table of claim 2, wherein

said coupling mechanism comprises a first mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a bottom side of said chair or couch, and a second mounting bracket fixed to said base for removably coupling to said first mounting bracket and supporting said base in an upright position.

7. The table of claim 1, wherein

said table leaf has a first end pivotally coupled to said base, and where said base has a mechanism for securing said table leaf in a horizontal position.

8. A retractable table assembly for removably coupling to a furniture support, said assembly comprising:

a table base having a substantially planar configuration with a floor-engaging bottom end, a first side, a second side and a top end;

a table leaf coupled to said base and being movable between a retracted position substantially parallel to and against said first side of said base and an extended position substantially perpendicular to said first side of said base;

a support mechanism for retaining said table leaf in the extended position; and

a coupling mechanism having a first end coupled to said base at said bottom end and a second end removably coupled to a bottom face of the furniture support for retaining said base in an upright position.

9. The table assembly of claim 8, wherein

said table leaf has a first end pivotally coupled to said base.

10. The table assembly of claim 9, wherein

said base has a first inner side and second inner side facing said first inner side, each of said inner sides having a horizontal slot, and a brace extending between said inner sides, and

said first end of said table leaf having outwardly extending hinge pins received in said horizontal slot and being movable between a first end of said slots to pivot to the retracted position, and a second end where said table leaf is captured in the extended position, said slots and said hinge pins defining said latching mechanism.

11. The table assembly of claim 9, wherein

said base has a first inner side and an opposite second inner side, each of said inner sides having a longitudinal slot having a top end and a bottom end, and

said first end of said table leaf having outwardly extending hinge pins received in said slots and being movable between the bottom end when said table leaf is retracted and said top end when said table leaf is in the extended position, said slots and said hinge pins defining said latching mechanism.

12. The table assembly of claim 9, wherein

said table leaf has a first end coupled to said base about a pivot axis, and a folding brace having a first end coupled to a second end of said table leaf, said brace having a second end for coupling with said base to retain said table leaf in the extended position and defining said latching mechanism.

13. The table assembly of claim 8, wherein

said coupling mechanism comprises a spring having a pair of legs coupled to said base and an outer end biased in an upward direction and having a dimension to engage a bottom side of said furniture support to retain said base in an upright position.

14. The table assembly of claim 8, wherein

said coupling mechanism comprises a first mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a bottom side of said chair or couch, and a second mounting bracket fixed to said base and removably coupled to said first mounting bracket and supporting said base in an upright position.

15. A folding table assembly comprising

a furniture support having a downwardly facing bottom surface,

a table base having a substantially planar configuration with a bottom floor engaging end and a top end;

a table leaf pivotally coupled to said base and being movable between a retracted position lying substantially parallel against said base and an extended position substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of said base; and

a coupling mechanism having a first end coupled to a bottom end of said base and a second end coupled to said bottom surface of said furniture support, said coupling mechanism adapted for removably coupling said base to said furniture support.

16. The table assembly of claim 15, wherein

said furniture support is a chair or couch,

and where said table base and table leaf include a latching mechanism to retain said table leaf in the extended position.

17. The table assembly of claim 16, wherein

said coupling mechanism comprises a spring having at least one first arm coupled to said base and at least one second arm extending from said first arm and being biased in an upward direction, said at least one second arm having a dimension to engage the bottom surface of said chair or couch and retain said table base in an upright position.

18. The table assembly of claim 16, wherein

said coupling member includes a first bracket fixed to said bottom surface of said chair or couch and a second bracket fixed to said table base, and being removably coupled to said first bracket.

19. The table assembly of claim 15, wherein

said table leaf is cantilevered with respect to said base when said table leaf is in the extended position.