Trunk mounted storage table

• US 5,427,033 A
• Filed: 05/03/1993
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rodney A. Bly
• Original Assignee: Rodney A. Bly
• Inventors: Bly, Rodney A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/054,553
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 108/44, 108/46, 108/47, 108/40, 296/26, 296/37.5, 224/42.03 R, 224/311, 224/46, 224/43
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays

Abstract

A folding table which may be stored in the trunk of a vehicle. The folding table includes main and auxiliary table sections pivotally mounted to each other along first edges thereof. A first brace is mounted to the underside of the main table section proximate the first edge thereof. A second brace is pivotally mounted to the table proximate a second, opposed edge thereof, and also pivotally mounted to the floor of the trunk of the automobile. The folding table moves from a first, storage position, wherein the components lie substantially flat on the floor of the trunk, to an extended position wherein the main table section is supported by the first brace over the rear bumper of the vehicle, the auxiliary and main table sections unfolding to form an extended table surface.

Claims

1. A folding table for storage in the trunk of an automobile comprising:

a flat, main table section having first top and second bottom surfaces and first and second ends;

a first brace pivotally mounted to the second surface of said main table section proximate said first end for supporting said section on a rear bumper of an automobile;

a second brace pivotally mounted to said main table section proximate said second end and including two opposed legs pivotally mounted to a floor of a trunk of said automobile such that said main table section may be moved from a first, folded position wherein said second brace is disposed on said trunk floor, said main table section is disposed within its first surface proximate said trunk floor, and said first brace is disposed on said bottom surface of said table section, to a second, extended position wherein the first end of said main table section is supported over said bumper by said first brace and the second end is supported over said trunk floor by said second brace, the first surface of said main table section being exposed;

an auxiliary table section having first and second surfaces and pivotally mounted proximate an edge thereof to an edge of said main table section proximate said first end such that, in said first folded position, said main table section overlies said auxiliary table section with their respective first surfaces folded together, and in said second position, said auxiliary table section unfolds so that its first surface acts as an extension of the first surface of said main table surface; and

a pair of slide supports slidingly disposed on the second surface of said main table section proximate side edges thereof, such that said slide supports extend to support a portion of said auxiliary table surface when said folding table is in said second position.

2. The folding table of claim 1 wherein said first brace includes a cross piece extending across said main table section and two opposed legs terminating in free ends, said free ends including means for engaging said bumper.

3. The folding table of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second braces further includes means for adjusting the lengths of the respective legs thereof.

4. The folding table of claim 3 wherein said first and second braces are tubular in construction and said means for adjusting includes two telescoping leg sections, one slidingly disposed inside the other, and means for fixing the relative positions of said telescoping leg sections with respect to each other.

5. The folding table of claim 1 further including means for pivotally mounting said second brace to said floor of said trunk.

6. The folding table of claim 5 wherein said means further includes a pair of U-shaped clamps mounted on said trunk floor.

7. The folding table of claim 6 wherein each of the pair of legs of said second brace terminates in a transverse section pivotally engageable in one of said pair of clamps.

8. A folding table for storage in the trunk of an automobile comprising:

a flat, main table section having first top and second bottom surfaces and first and second ends;

a first brace pivotally mounted to the second surface of said main table section proximate said first end for supporting said section on a rear bumper of an automobile;

a second brace pivotally mounted to said main table section proximate said second end and including two opposed legs pivotally mounted to a floor of a trunk of said automobile such that said main table section may be moved from a first, folded position wherein said second brace is disposed on said trunk floor, said main table section is disposed within its first surface proximate said trunk floor, and said first brace is disposed on said bottom surface of said table section, to a second, extended position wherein the first end of said main table section is supported over said bumper by said first brace and the second end is supported over said trunk floor by said second brace, the first surface of said main table section being exposed, wherein said second brace further includes an auxiliary brace having a cross pierce for engagement with the floor of the trunk and a pair of opposed legs extending from said cross pierce and pivotally mounted to respective legs of said second brace so as to support said second brace when said folding table is in said extended position.

9. The folding table of claim 8 wherein at least one of said first, second and auxiliary braces includes means for adjusting the lengths of the respective legs thereof.

10. The folding table of claim 9 wherein said first, second and auxiliary braces are tubular in construction and said means for adjusting includes two telescoping leg sections, one slidingly disposed inside the other, and means for fixing the relative positions of the telescoping leg sections with respect to each other.

11. A folding table for storage in the trunk of an automobile comprising:

a flat, main table section having first top and second bottom surfaces and first and second ends;

a first brace pivotally mounted to the second surface of said main table section proximate said first end for supporting said section on a rear bumper of an automobile;

a second brace pivotally mounted to said main table section proximate said second end and including two opposed legs pivotally mounted to a floor of a trunk of said automobile such that said main table section may be moved from a first, folded position wherein said second brace is disposed on said trunk floor, said main table section is disposed within its first surface proximate said trunk floor, and said first brace is disposed on said bottom surface of said table section, to a second, extended position wherein the first end of said main table section is supported over said bumper by said first brace and the second end is supported over said trunk floor by said second brace, the first surface of said main table section being exposed; and

a pair of releasable storage clamps mounted on one of said main and auxiliary table sections for fixing the relative positions of said main and auxiliary table sections with respect to each other.