Plastic table structure

• US 5,678,491 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• 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: Rothwell, Mark A., Price, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/459,362
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 108/132, 108/129, 108/130, 108/115, 108/901, 108/161, 248/188, 248/6, 248/439
• US Class Current: 108/115
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0912 the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another

Abstract

A plastic table structure includes a top having a planar upper surface portion, a lower plastic portion and a central wooden frame including a composite beam 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 round 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; and

a reinforcing core interposed between said upper and lower portions, the reinforcing core including a composite beam having a structural member and a reinforcing member fastened to the structural member substantially along its longitudinal extent.

2. The table structure of claim 1 wherein said first member has a substantially wooden composition and said second member has a substantially metallic composition.

5. The table structure of claim 1 wherein the composite beam extends diametrally across the round planar top surface.

6. The table structure of claim 1 wherein the composite beam includes a plurality of composite beams disposed in parallel, spaced apart relation, the plurality of composite beams extending substantially across the round planar top surface.

17. The table structure of claim 1, comprising a table construction having leg assemblies with tubular cross members and a lower plastic portion formed to include semi-cylindrical leg-receiving recesses having outer walls, and

a bracket for rotatably coupling the tubular cross members to the lower plastic portion and retaining the tubular cross members in the leg-receiving recesses, the bracket including a semi-cylindrical portion, a pair of substantially L-shaped shoulders extending from the semi-cylindrical portion to engage the outer walls of the leg-receiving recesses, and a curved portion extending from the semi-cylindrical portion to engage the lower plastic portion.

18. The table structure of claim 1 wherein the composite beam structure extends circumferentially around the periphery and said composite beam structure is disposed in a recess of a downwardly extending periphery flange.

3. A table structure, comprising:

an upper portion comprising a round 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; and

a reinforcing core interposed between said upper and lower portions, the reinforcing core including a composite beam wherein said composite beam includes a first member and a second member fastened to the first member, and

wherein the first member includes a wood beam having a top surface and the second member includes a metal strap fastened to the top surface of the beam.

4. The table structure of claim 3 further including a third member fastened to a bottom surface of the beam.

7. A table structure, comprising:

an upper portion comprising a round 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; and

a reinforcing core interposed between said upper and lower portions, the reinforcing core including a composite beam, wherein the composite beam includes first and second steel ribbons and means for maintaining the first and second steel ribbons in parallel, spaced-apart relation.

8. A table structure comprising:

an upper portion comprising a round planar upper surface;

a lower plastic portion having a generally downwardly extending peripheral flange, the peripheral flange of said lower portion being substantially adjacent to the edges of the planar surface of said upper portion; and

a reinforcing core interposed between and enclosed by said upper and lower portions, said lower portion including a network of recesses integrally formed therein for receiving said core;

external support means for supporting the table structure above a floor surface; and

means formed in the lower plastic portion for receiving and securing the external support means to said structure,

wherein said reinforcing core includes a composite beam having a structural member and a reinforcing member fastened to the structural member substantially along its longitudinal extent.

9. The table structure of claim 8 wherein the external support means includes at least one bracket configured to rotatably couple the external support means to the lower plastic portion.

10. The table structure of claim 9 wherein the at least one bracket includes a semi-cylindrical portion, a pair of substantially L-shaped shoulders extending from the semi-cylindrical portion to engage the lower plastic portion, and a curved portion extending from the semi-cylindrical portion to engage the reinforcing core.

11. The table structure of claim 8 wherein the reinforcing core further includes a first pair of parallel rails and a second pair of parallel rails, the first and second pairs of parallel rails being orthogonal to each other and cooperative to form a generally rectangular structure, the first and second pairs of rails extending horizontally, the first pair of rails being vertically oriented and the second pair of rails being horizontally oriented an positioned at the ends of the first pair of rails and fastened to the first pair rails.

12. The table structure of claim 11 wherein the composite beam includes at least one composite beam disposed in parallel relation to the second pair of rails and extending beyond the first pair of rails to the periphery of the round planar upper surface, the at least one composite beam being supported by the first pair of rails.

13. A table structure comprising:

an upper portion comprising a round planar upper surface;

a lower plastic portion having a generally downwardly extending peripheral flange, the peripheral flange of said lower portion being substantially adjacent to the edges of the planar surface of said upper portion; and

a reinforcing core interposed between and enclosed by said upper and lower portions, said lower portion including a network of recesses integrally formed therein for receiving said core;

external support means for supporting the table structure above a floor surface; and

means formed in the lower plastic portion for receiving and securing the external support means to said structure,

wherein said reinforcing core includes a composite beam, said composite beam including a first women member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a second metal member fastened to the top surface of the wooden member.

14. The table structure of claim 13 wherein the composite beam further includes a third metal member fastened to the bottom surface of the wooden member.

15. A plastic table, comprising:

a top having a substantially flat circular body;

a circular 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 women 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 spaced apart and positioned to provide stable support of said table top; and

means for securing said leg assemblies to said circular 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; and

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

said central wooden frame comprising a composite beam having a first wooden member and a second metal member fastened to the first wooden member along at least a portion of its longitudinal extent to enhance the longitudinal rigidity of the first wooden member.

16. The plastic table of claim 15 wherein the central frame further includes a pair of parallel side rails, each said side rail being disposed on its edge with respect to vertical in a recess integrally formed in relief fashion in the plastic base of said table top;

a pair of end cross members extending 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 recess integrally formed in relief fashion in the plastic base of said table top;

said composite beam extending beyond and affixed to said side rails and disposed in a recess integrally formed in relief fashion in the base of said table, said composite beam being disposed in parallel relation to said pair of end cross members.