Foldaway table behind the backrest of a seat

• US 5,876,092 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: An, Chao-Chyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/985,744
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 297/135, 297/146, 297/163, 297/167, 297/169, 297/173
• US Class Current: 297/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0638 with foldable tables, trays or cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/12 with two parallel pins and one arm
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids

Abstract

A modular foldaway table is disclosed to be installed behind a backrest of a seat. It includes: (a) a pair of spaced table legs, each table leg having a top bent portion and a bottom bent portion; (b) the top bent portion having a spindle aperture and a curved groove spaced from the spindle aperture; (c) a front board having two lateral sides and a spindle and a pin on each of the two lateral sides, wherein the pin is spaced from the spindle, the spindle is pivotedly screwed to the spindle aperture of the top bent portion of the table leg, the pin is movably engaged with the curved groove for limiting the swinging angle of the front board about the spindle; and a rear board pivotedly engaged with the front board via a pair of spaced hinges. The bottom bent portion has an opening with a slit for snap-installation to the seat and a protrusive ankle spaced from the opening for substantially conforming the bottom bent portion of the table leg against the seat.

Claims

1. A modular foldaway table to be installed behind a backrest of a seat of a transportation means, comprising:

a pair of spaced table legs, each table leg having a main portion, a top bent portion angled relative to said main portion, and a bottom bent portion which is approximately perpendicular to said main portion;

said bottom bent portion having an end with an opening with a slit for snap-installation to the seat and a protrusive ankle spaced from said opening for substantially conforming said bottom bent portion of said table leg against said seat;

said top bent portion having a spindle aperture and a curved groove spaced from the spindle aperture;

a front board having two lateral sides and a spindle and a pin on each of said two lateral sides, wherein said pin is spaced from said spindle, said spindle is pivotedly screwed to said spindle aperture of said top bent portion of said table leg, said pin is movably engaged with said curved groove for limiting the swinging angle of said front board about said spindle; and

a rear board pivotedly engaged with the front board via a pair of spaced hinges.

2. A modular foldaway table of claim 1, wherein said front board has a cup opening therein.

3. A modular foldaway table of claim 1, wherein said spindle is pivotedly engaged to said spindle aperture by means of a screw bolt.

4. A modular foldaway table to be installed behind a backrest of a seat in a transportation means, comprising:

a pair of spaced table legs, each said table leg having a main portion, a top bent portion which is angle relative to said main portion, and a bottom bent portion which is approximately perpendicular to said main portion, wherein said bottom bent portion having an end with an opening with a slit for snap-installation to the seat and a protrusive ankle spaced from the opening for substantially conforming said bottom bent portion of said table leg to the seat, and said top bent portion having a spindle aperture and a curved groove spaced from the spindle aperture; and

a front board having two lateral sides and a spindle and a pin on each of said lateral sides, wherein said pin is spaced from the spindle, said spindle is pivotly screwed to said spindle aperture of said front bent portion of said table leg, said pin is moveably engaged with said curved groove for limiting the swinging angle of the front board about the spindle;

further said spindle aperture and said curved groove in said front bent portion are separated by such a distance so as to provide an adequate support for said foldaway table to carry a significant amount of weight thereon.

5. A modular foldaway table of claim 4, wherein said front board has a cup opening therein.

6. A modular foldaway table of claim 4, wherein said spindle is pivotedly engaged to said spindle aperture by means of a screw bolt.