Plastic table structure

• US 5,623,882 A
• Filed: 03/27/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jarden Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alltrista Corporation (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Price, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/410,921
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 108/129, 108/132, 108/901
• US Class Current: 108/129
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0912 the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A plastic table structure includes a top having a planar upper surface portion, a lower plastic portion and a central wooden frame interposed between and enclosed by the top and lower portions. A pair of folding leg assemblies for supporting the table are rotatably carried by the lower plastic portion and pivotable between an open, top-supporting position and a retracted, enclosed position in leg-receiving channels formed in the underside of the lower plastic portions. Each leg assembly includes a pair of upper transverse supports that engage the leg-receiving channels of the lower plastic portion and extend across its entire width to provide a plurality of transverse load-bearing interfaces to enhance the rigidity and load-bearing capability of the plastic table.

Claims

1. A table structure, comprising:

an upper portion comprising a planar top surface,

a lower plastic portion having a first surface portion for engaging the upper portion and a plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions;

a reinforcing core interposed between said upper and lower portions; and

a folding leg assembly including at least one table-engaging portion shaped for rotational engagement, and extending transversely across the lower plastic portion and

at least one leg-receiving surface formed in the plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions of the lower plastic table portion and shaped for rotatably receiving said at least one transversely extending table-engaging portion of said folding leg assembly.

2. The table structure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of leg-receiving surfaces are formed in the plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions of the lower plastic table portion for rotatably receiving said at least one table-engaging portion of the folding leg assembly.

3. The table structure of claim 2 wherein said plurality of leg-receiving surfaces comprises a pair of saddles formed by the plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions in the lower plastic portion adjacent opposing sides of the planar top surface, and the table-engaging portion of the folding leg assembly comprises a tubular portion rotatably received in and extending between said pair of saddles.

4. The table structure of claim 3 wherein said tubular portion is rotatably retained in each of said pair of saddles by each of a pair of retaining straps spanning each saddle.

5. The table structure of claim 4 wherein said plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions form a peripheral flange;

said reinforcing core comprises a pair of wooden beam members received in said peripheral flange;

said pair of saddles are formed by said downwardly-extending recessed portions adjacent opposing sides of said peripheral flange;

a pair of load-transferring metal brackets engage each of the pair of wooden beam members at locations adjacent said pair of saddles and between said upper and lower table portions; and

each of said pair of straps is fastened to said lower plastic table portion, one of said load-transferring metal brackets and one of said wooden beam members by a fastener.

6. The table structure of claim 2 wherein said at least one table-engaging portion comprises a tubular portion that engages and supports said first surface portion of said lower plastic table portion and said planar top surface.

7. The table structure of claim 6 wherein said reinforcing core comprises at least one reinforcing cross member received in at least one of the plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions at a location spaced from the tubular table-engaging and supporting portion of the folding leg assembly.

8. The table structure of claim 1 wherein said folding leg assembly includes a second table-engaging portion, and said plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions forms an additional leg-receiving surface for retaining therein said second table-engaging portion of said folding leg assembly.

9. The table structure of claim 8 wherein said second table-engaging portion comprises a second tubular portion of the folding leg assembly which, in engagement with said additional leg-receiving surface, engages and supports said first surface portion of said lower plastic table portion and said planar top surface between its opposing sides at a location spaced from said first table-engaging portion of said folding leg assembly.

10. The table structure of claim 8 wherein said second table-engaging portion of said folding leg assembly is rotatably engaged by and fastened within said additional leg-receiving surface of said lower plastic table portion.

11. The table structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions form a plurality of leg-receiving surfaces for receiving the folding leg assembly within the lower plastic portion when folded.

12. The table structure of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing core includes portions received in said plurality of downwardly-extending recessed portions.

13. A plastic table, comprising:

a top having a substantially flat rectangular body;

a rectangular plastic base affixed to said top;

a central wooden frame interposed between and enclosed by said top and plastic base, said top, plastic base and wooden frame forming a table top when assembled;

a pair of leg assemblies for supporting said table top above a floor surface, each leg assembly being pivotable between a retracted storage position and an extended operative position, said leg assemblies being longitudinally spaced and positioned to provide stable support of said table top; and

means for securing said leg assemblies to said rectangular plastic base of said table top;

said plastic base comprising a plurality of stiffening ribs and deep and shallow recesses integrally formed therein in relief fashion, said recesses being adapted, in part, to receive and partially enclose said central wooden frame in position to support said top; and

one or more leg-carrying channels integrally formed by the recesses in the underside of said plastic base for receiving therein said leg assemblies, each leg-carrying channel having a semi-circular bottom and an open top; and

bracket means for rotatably securing said pair of leg assemblies to said plastic base and table top.

14. The plastic table as in claim 13 wherein each of said pair of leg assemblies includes a transversely extending member for interfacing the leg-carrying channels formed in the lower plastic table portion for retention therein and for support of the table top across a pair of spaced locations.

15. The plastic table as in claim 14 wherein said central frame includes:

a first side rail extending longitudinally of said table adjacent one long edge thereof and a second side rail also extending longitudinally of said table parallel to said first side rail adjacent the opposing long edge of said table, each said side rail being disposed on its edge with respect to vertical in a deep recess integrally formed in relief fashion in the plastic base of said table top;

a pair of end cross members extending transversely between and affixed to said side rails proximal to the opposing ends of said side rails, each said end cross member being disposed flat with respect to horizontal in a shallow recess integrally formed in relief fashion in the plastic base of said table top;

at least one intermediate cross member extending transversely between and affixed to said side rails, said at least one intermediate cross member being disposed flat with respect to horizontal in a shallow recess integrally formed in relief fashion in the base of said table, said at least one intermediate cross member being disposed between said pair of spaced locations at which the table top is supported by said leg assemblies.

16. The table structure as in claim 15 wherein said table is from five to seven feet length and includes at least one intermediate cross member disposed proximal to the longitudinal center of said table.

17. The table structure as in claim 16 wherein said table is at least eight feet in length and includes first and second intermediate cross members disposed equi-distantly on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said table.