Folding table

• US 5,603,267 A
• Filed: 05/16/1996
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: INO-Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: INO-Products Inc.
• Inventors: Soper, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/649,042
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 108/6-115, 108/116, 108/119, 108/124, 108/129, 108/9
• US Class Current: 108/124
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2003/008 the underframe parts being stored in recesses in the underside of the table top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2003/0806 and the table top rotating around a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/00 Folding or stowable tables folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/06 with separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/091 with struts supporting the legs in combination with foldable top leaves A47B3/087
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0918 the struts being permanently connected by pivots to the legs only
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/14 with pins coacting with holes

Abstract

A folding table has a table top with an upper working surface and an underside, the underside having at least one rearwardly located leg retainer and at least one forwardly located strut retainer. A leg assembly has an elongated connecting member and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the connecting member, each leg having a foot member extending from a lower end thereof remote from the connecting member. An angularly movable strut is pivotally secured at the rear to at least one of the legs and is releasably engageable at the front with the strut retainer. The strut is angularly movable between a working position in releasable engagement with the strut retainer to maintain the tabletop in a working position and a retracted position between the legs when released from the strut retainer. The or each leg retainer retains the connecting member in engagement therewith while permitting angular movement of the table top between a working position and a folded position in which the table top is substantially parallel to the legs.

Claims

1. A folding table comprising:

a table top having an upper working surface and an underside, said underside having at least one rearwardly located leg retainer and at least one forwardly located strut retainer,

a leg assembly comprising an elongated connecting member and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the connecting member, each straight leg having a foot member extending from a lower end thereof remote from the connecting member, whereby in use the straight legs are vertical and the foot members extend forwardly therefrom, and

an angularly movable strut pivotally secured at the rear to at least one of the legs and releasably engageable at the front with the strut retainer,

said strut being angularly moveable between a working position in releasable engagement with the strut retainer to maintain the tabletop in a working position and a retracted position between the legs when released from the strut retainer,

each leg retainer retaining the connecting member in engagement therewith while permitting angular movement of the table top between a working position and a folding position in which the table top is substantially parallel to the legs,

said legs each having upper and lower portions in telescoping engagement, the lower leg portions being securable at different longitudinal positions relative to the upper portions to vary the length of the legs,

the lower leg portion being angularly movable relative to the upper leg portions about the longitudinal axes of the legs to enable the lower leg portions to be securable in working positions in which the foot members are parallel to one another and folded positions in which the foot members extend in opposite directions side-by-side one another.

2. A folding table according to claim 1 wherein the underside of the table top has a laterally-spaced pair of said rearwardly located leg retainers.

3. A table according to claim 1 wherein the or each leg retainer retains the connecting member in releasable snapping engagement therewith.

4. A table according to claim 1 wherein the or each leg retainer comprises a closely spaced pair of substantially identical leg retainer members which each retain the connecting member in engagement therewith.

5. A folding table according to claim 1 wherein the underside of the table top has a laterally-spaced pair of said forwardly located strut retainers.

6. A folding table according to claim 1 wherein each strut retainer receives the strut in releasable snapping engagement therewith.

7. A folding table according to claim 1 wherein the or each strut retainer can receive the strut in releasable engagement therewith at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a front to rear direction.

8. A folding table according to claim 1 wherein the or each strut retainer comprises a closely-spaced pair of substantially identical strut retainer members which each receive the strut in a releasable engagement therewith.

9. A folding table according to claim 1 wherein the strut comprises a pair of laterally-spaced side members each pivotally secured at a rear end to a respective leg and a transverse member extending between the front ends of the side members, said transverse member being received by the or each strut retainer in releasable engagement therewith in the working position.