Portable and adjustable table with improved leg assembly

• US 6,019,050 A
• Filed: 09/15/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jouko Y. Ranta
• Original Assignee: Jouko Y. Ranta
• Inventors: Ranta, Jouko Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/153,727
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 100/6, 100/10, 100/3, 100/2, 100/115, 248/454, 248/457, 248/448, 248/477, 248/279.1, 248/277.1
• US Class Current: 108/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0911 the struts being permanently connected to top and leg or underframe and leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/14 with pins coacting with holes

Abstract

An adjustable and portable table 10 with improved foldable leg assembly 20. The leg assembly 20 supports a table surface 12. The leg assembly 20 includes a mounting bar 18, a first angled leg component 40, and a second angled leg component 40. The second leg component 40 is able to rotate relative to at least a portion of the mounting bar 18 so that the second leg component 40 is out of a way of the first leg component 40 when the first and second leg components are being folded to the storage position. The first and second leg components 40 are able to be unfolded to a usable position. The mounting bar 18 further has a first bar portion 24 to which the first leg component 40 is coupled and a second bar portion 26 to which the second leg component 40 is coupled. The second bar portion 26 rotates relative to the first bar portion 24. The first bar portion 24 and the second bar portion 26 are able to be placed in rotational lock and unlock positions. Height adjustment components 64 with a hollow structure 65, an engaging protuberance 66, and a spring component 68 are each coupled to the leg components 40 to allow for height adjustment. The height adjustment components 40 allow for independent height adjustment of the leg components 40 to level a horizontal level plane of the mounting bar 18 when the leg components 40 are placed on even and uneven surfaces. The leg assembly 20 has a base distance width between the leg components 40 which increases as lengths of the leg components 40 increase and decreases as the lengths of the leg components 40 decrease. A table adjustment mechanism 25, which includes at least one adjustment knob, a washer ring, and at least one friction plate having a concave friction surface, allows angular and pitch adjustment of the table surface 12 coupled to the mounting bar 18.

Claims

1. An improved foldable leg assembly for supporting a table surface comprising:

a mounting bar adapted to receive the table surface,

a first leg component foldably coupled to the mounting bar, and

a second leg component foldably coupled to the mounting bar,

wherein the first leg component and the second leg component are foldable to a storage position and unfoldable to an usable position and wherein the second leg component is able to rotate relative to at least one portion of the mounting bar so that the second leg component is out of a way of the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are being folded to the storage position and so that the second leg component is able to rotate back relative to the at least one portion of the mounting bar when the first leg component and the second leg component are being unfolded to the usable position, and

wherein the mounting bar comprises;

a first bar portion to which the first leg component is coupled, and

a second bar portion to which the second leg component is coupled

wherein the second bar portion rotates relative to the first bar portion so that the second leg component is able to rotate relative to the first bar portion such that the second leg component is out of the way of the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are being folded to the storage position and so that the second leg component is able to rotate back relative to the first bar portion when the first leg component and the second leg component are being unfolded to a usable position.

2. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

the first bar portion further comprises a screw located and attached by use of an attaching pin to a general end of the first bar portion, and

the second bar portion further comprises a receiving threaded portion located and attached by use of another attaching pin at a general end of the second bar portion,

wherein the screw rotates within the receiving threaded portion so that the first bar portion rotates relative to the second bar portion.

3. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 further comprises:

a rotational lock component slidingly coupled to the first bar portion and the second bar portion such that the rotational lock component is able to slide to both the first bar portion and the second bar portion to lock the first bar portion and the second bar portion into a rotational lock position and to slide the rotational lock component away from the first bar and to only the second bar to a rotational unlock position.

4. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 3 further comprises:

a spring component embedded at a surface of the second bar portion such that the rotational lock component is always located and is able to slide over the spring component such that the spring component holds the rotational lock component in a spring bias position to the second bar portion.

5. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first leg component and the second leg component are each in a form of a truss shaped structure.

6. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 5 wherein the truss shaped structure further comprises:

a slidably adjustable support leg bar having a lower support leg portion and further having an upper support leg portion wherein the lower support leg portion inserts into the upper support leg portion and the upper support leg portion is slidably coupled over the lower support leg portion,

a base leg bar hingedly coupled to the lower support leg portion of the slidably adjustable support leg bar, and

a cross support leg bar hingedly coupled to both the upper support leg portion and the base leg bar such that the slidably adjustable support leg bar folds into and unfolds from the base leg bar.

7. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 6 wherein:

the slidably adjustable support leg bar further comprises at least one place lock protuberance located on an exterior surface thereat, and

the base leg bar further comprises at least one place lock recess located on an interior surface thereat wherein the at least one place lock protuberance engages the at least one place lock recess when the slidably adjustable support leg bar is folded into and locked into place to the base leg bar.

8. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 further comprises:

height adjustment components each coupled to the first leg component and the second leg component wherein the height adjustment components allow adjustment of height of the first leg component and height of the second leg component.

9. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 8 further comprises:

height adjustment holes located on the lower support leg portions of the first leg component and the second leg component that allow the lower support leg portions to slidably move relative to the upper support leg portions of the first leg component and the second leg component, and

wherein the height adjustment components each further comprises;

a hollow structure placed to surround an end of each of the upper support leg portions,

an engaging protuberance coupled to an interior side of the hollow structure wherein the engaging protuberance engages into one of the adjustment holes when each of the height adjustment components is positioned into a height locked position and the engaging protuberance is disengaged from the one of the adjustment holes when each of the height adjustment components is in a height unlocked position, and

a spring component having one end attached to another interior side of the hollow structure and having another end attached at each of the upper support leg portions wherein the spring component is compressed when pressure is applied on the hollow structure to disengage the engaging protuberance from the one of the adjustment holes and wherein the spring component is returned to a normal spring bias position when the pressure is released on the hollow structure to engage the engaging protuberance to one of the adjustment holes.

10. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 8 wherein the height adjustment components are independent height adjustment components that allow the first leg component and the second leg component to be adjusted independently in height to level a horizontal level plane of the mounting bar when the first leg component and the second leg component are placed on even and uneven surfaces.

11. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 wherein respective top ends of the first leg component and the second leg component are mounted a generally fixed top distance width of the mounting bar apart from each other and mounted outwardly angled relative to the mounting bar so that the first leg component and the second leg component outwardly angle relative to the mounting bar from the respective top ends to respective bottom ends and wherein an adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the first leg component and the second leg component increases as lengths of the first leg component and the second leg component increase and wherein the adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the first leg component and the second leg component decreases as the lengths of the first leg component and the second leg component decrease and wherein the adjustable base distance width is always greater than the fixed top distance width.

12. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 further comprises:

a table adjustment mechanism that allows angular adjustment of the table surface coupled to the mounting bar wherein the table adjustment mechanism comprises at least one adjustment knob rotatingly screwed and coupled to each end of the mounting bar and at least one friction plate having a concave friction surface attached to each end of the mounting bar and a washer ring coupled between the at least one knob and the at least one friction plate wherein frictional force is focused towards an outer perimeter of the friction plate when the at least one knob is being tightened to hold the table surface in place.

13. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 1 further comprises:

the first leg component and the second leg component outwardly and angularly coupled to the mounting bar.

14. An improved leg assembly for a table comprising:

a mounting bar adapted to receive a table surface,

at least two height adjustable legs coupled to the mounting bar wherein respective top ends of the at least two height adjustable legs are mounted a generally fixed top distance width of the mounting bar apart from each other and mounted outwardly angled relative to the mounting bar so that the at least two height adjustable legs outwardly angle relative to the mounting bar from the respective top ends to respective bottom ends and wherein an adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the at least two adjustable legs increases as lengths of the at least two adjustable legs increase and wherein the adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the at least two adjustable legs decreases as the lengths of the at least two adjustable legs decrease and wherein the adjustable base distance width is always greater than the fixed top distance width.

15. A method of folding and unfolding an improved foldable leg assembly that supports a table surface comprising the steps of:

providing the foldable leg assembly with a mounting bar adapted to receive the table surface, a first foldable leg component hingedly coupled to the mounting bar, and a second foldable leg component hingedly coupled to the mounting bar,

collapsing the first leg component and the second leg component each to a folded position,

rotating the second leg component relative to the first leg component so that the second leg component is rotated out of a way of the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are being folded to a storage position,

rotating the second leg component relative to the first leg component so that the first leg component and the second leg component are able to rotate back to an unfolding position when the first leg component and the second leg component are being unfolded to an usable position,

expanding the first leg component and the second leg component each to an unfolded position,

providing a first bar for the mounting bar to which the first leg component is counted,

providing a second bar for the mounting bar to which the second leg component is coupled, and

rotating the first bar relative to the second bar so that the first leg component and the second leg component are rotatable moved between the storage position and the usable position.

16. A method of using an improved leg assembly for a table comprising the steps of:

providing the improved leg assembly with a mounting bar having a table surface attached thereto and at least two height adjustable legs coupled to the mounting bar,

mounting respective top ends of the at least two height adjustable legs a generally fixed ton distance width of the mounting bar apart from each other and mounting the respective top ends relative to the mounting bar so that the at least two height adjustable legs outwardly angle relative to the mounting bar from the respective top ends to respective bottom ends,

increasing lengths of the at least two height adjustable legs to make the table surface higher thereby increasing an adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the at least two adjustable legs,

decreasing lengths of the at least two height adjustable legs to make the table surface lower thereby decreasing the adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the at least two adjustable legs, and

maintaining the adjustable base distance width always greater than the fixed top distance width.

17. A table with an improved foldable leg assembly comprising:

a mounting bar,

a table surface coupled to the mounting bar,

a first leg component coupled to the mounting bar,

a second leg component coupled to the mounting bar such that the second leg component is able to rotate relative to the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are folded to a storage position so that the second leg component is out of a way of the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are being folded to the storage position and are unfolded to an usable position so that the first leg component and the second leg component are able to rotate back to an unfolding position when the first leg component and the second leg component are being unfolded to the usable position,

a first bar portion to which the first leg component is coupled, and

a second bar portion to which the second leg component is coupled wherein the second bar portion rotates relative to the first bar portion so that the second leg component is able to rotate relative to the first bar portion such that the second leg component is out of the way of the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are being folded to the storage position and so that the second leg component is able to rotate back relative to the first bar portion when the first leg component and the second leg component are being unfolded to the usable position.

18. The table according to claim 17 further comprises:

height adjustment holes located on lower leg portions of the first leg component and the second leg component that allow the lower leg portions to slidably move relative to upper leg portions of the first leg component and the second leg component, and

wherein the height adjustment components are each coupled to the first leg component and the second leg component wherein the height adjustment components allow adjustment of height of the first leg component and height of the second leg component and each of the height adjustment components further comprises;

a hollow structure placed to surround an end of each of the upper leg portions,

an engaging protuberance coupled to an interior side of the hollow structure wherein the engaging protuberance engages into one of the adjustment holes when each of the height adjustment component is positioned into a height locked position and the engaging protuberance is disengaged from the one of the adjustment holes when each of the height adjustment component is in a height unlocked position, and

a spring component having one end attached to another interior side of the hollow structure and having another end attached at the one of the upper leg portions wherein the spring component is compressed when pressure is applied on the hollow structure to disengage the engaging protuberance from the one of the adjustment holes and wherein the spring component is returned to a normal spring bias position when the pressure is released on the hollow structure to engage the engaging protuberance to one of the adjustment holes.

19. The table according to claim 18 wherein the height adjustment components are independent height adjustment components that allow the first leg component and the second leg component to be adjusted independently in height to level a horizontal level plane of the mounting bar when the first leg component and the second leg component are placed on even and uneven surfaces.

20. The table according to claim 17 wherein respective top ends of the first leg component and the second leg component are mounted a generally fixed top distance width of the mounting bar apart from each other and mounted outwardly angled relative to the mounting bar so that the first leg component and the second leg component outwardly angle relative to the mounting bar from the respective too ends to respective bottom ends and wherein an adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the first leg component and the second leg component increases as lengths of the first leg component and the second leg component increase and wherein the adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the first leg component and the second leg component decreases as the lengths of the first leg component and the second leg component decrease and wherein the adjustable base distance width is always greater than the fixed ton distance width.

21. The table according to claim 17 further comprises:

a table adjustment mechanism coupled to the mounting bar and the table surface wherein the table adjustment mechanism has at least one adjustment knob rotatingly screwed and coupled to each end of the mounting bar and at least one friction plate having a concave friction plate attached to each end of the mounting bar and a washer ring coupled between the at least one knob and the at least one friction plate wherein frictional force is focused towards an outer perimeter of the friction plate when the at least one knob is being tightened to hold the table surface to the mounting bar.

22. An improved foldable leg assembly for supporting a table surface comprising:

a mounting bar adapted to receive the table surface,

a first leg component foldably coupled to the mounting bar,

a second leg component foldably coupled to the mounting bar, and

height adjustment components each coupled to the first leg component and the second leg component wherein the height adjustment components allow adjustment of height of the first leg component and height of the second leg component,

wherein the first leg component and the second leg component are foldable to a storage position and unfoldable to an usable position and wherein the second leg component is able to rotate relative to at least one portion of the mounting bar so that the second leg component is out of a way of the first leg component when the first leg component and the second leg component are being folded to the storage position and so that the second leg component is able to rotate back relative to the at least one portion of the mounting bar when the first leg component and the second leg component are being unfolded to the usable position, and

wherein respective top ends of the first leg component and the second leg component are mounted a generally fixed top distance width of the mounting bar apart from each other and mounted outwardly angled relative to the mounting bar so that the first leg component and the second leg component outwardly angle relative to the mounting bar from the respective top ends to respective bottom ends and wherein an adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the first leg component and the second leg component increases as lengths of the first leg component and the second leg component increase and wherein the adjustable base distance width between the respective bottom ends of the first leg component and the second leg component decreases as the lengths of the first leg component and the second leg component decrease and wherein the adjustable base distance width is always greater than the fixed top distance width.

23. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 22 wherein the first leg component and the second leg component are each in a form of a truss shaped structure.

24. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 22 wherein the truss shaped structure further comprises:

a slidably adjustable support leg bar having a lower support leg portion and further having an upper support leg portion wherein the lower support leg portion inserts into the upper support leg portion and the upper support leg portion is slidably coupled over the lower support leg portion,

a base leg bar hingedly coupled to the lower support leg portion of the slidably adjustable support leg bar, and

a cross support leg bar hingedly coupled to both the upper support leg portion and the base leg bar such that the slidably adjustable support leg bar folds into and unfolds from the base leg bar.

25. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 23 wherein:

the slidably adjustable support leg bar further comprises at least one place lock protuberance located on an exterior surface thereat, and

the base leg bar further comprises at least one place lock recess located on an interior surface thereat wherein the at least one place lock protuberance engages the at least one place lock recess when the slidably adjustable support leg bar is folded into and locked into place to the base leg bar.

26. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 22 further comprises:

height adjustment holes located on the lower support leg portions of the first leg component and the second leg component that allow the lower support leg portions to slidably move relative to the upper support leg portions of the first leg component and the second leg component, and

wherein the height adjustment components each further comprises;

a hollow structure placed to surround an end of each of the upper support leg portions,

an engaging protuberance coupled to an interior side of the hollow structure wherein the engaging protuberance engages into one of the adjustment holes when each of the height adjustment components is positioned into a height locked position and the engaging protuberance is disengaged from the one of the adjustment holes when each of the height adjustment components is in a height unlocked position, and

a spring component having one end attached to another interior side of the hollow structure and having another end attached at each of the upper support leg portions wherein the spring component is compressed when pressure is applied on the hollow structure to disengage the engaging protuberance from the one of the adjustment holes and wherein the spring component is returned to a normal spring bias position when the pressure is released on the hollow structure to engage the engaging protuberance to one of the adjustment holes.

27. The improved foldable leg assembly according to claim 22 wherein the height adjustment components are independent height adjustment components that allow the first leg component and the second leg component to be adjusted independently in height to level a horizontal level plane of the mounting bar when the first leg component and the second leg component are placed on even and uneven surfaces.