Foldable and extendable bench

• US 6,161,486 A
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew P. Boots
• Original Assignee: Andrew P. Boots
• Inventors: Boots, Andrew P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/439,331
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 108/48, 108/47, 108/42, 108/33, 108/65, 108/69, 297/236, 297/120, 297/14, 312/242, 312/245, 312/246, 312/248
• US Class Current: 108/48
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/06 with legs for supporting the table on the floor tables combined with cabinets A47B83/045
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/04 portable
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/14 with provision for adjusting the bench top

Abstract

A foldable and extendable bench for allowing users with limited space to have a full size work bench. The foldable and extendable bench includes includes an elongate wall-mounted support member, a main table member having a back end, a front end, an elongate hinge member securely fastened to the back end and securely fastened to the wall-mounted support member, an elongate flange attached to and extending along the back end of the main table member for horizontally disposing the main table member, a opening extending through the front end into an internal storage compartment of the main table member, a rib-like member securely disposed inside and near the front end of the main table member, a pair of height-adjustable main leg members hingedly attached to a bottom of the main table member and including threaded main leveler members, a extension table member being retractable in and extendable from the opening and having a back end, a front end, a top side, a bottom side, a groove in the bottom side near and along the length of the back side, and a recessed portion in the top side at the back end of the extension table member, and a pair of height adjustable secondary leg members hingedly attached to a bottom side of the extension table member.

Claims

1. An extendable and foldable bench comprising:

a wall-mounted support member having an elongate member, and a pair of depending members securely attached to ends of said elongate member, and being adapted to be securely fastened to a wall structure;

a main table member having a flat top side, a back end, a front end, side ends, a bottom side, an internal storage compartment, a opening extending through said front end into said storage compartment, and an elongate flange securely fastened to said back end and extending the length thereof for coupling to said wall-mounted support member such that said main table member is horizontally disposed from said wall-mounted table member, said main table member being hingedly attached, spring-loaded, and braced to said wall-mounted support member;

a pair of height-adjustable main leg members being hingedly attached and braced to said bottom side of said main table member;

an extension table member having a top side, a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, and being retractable in and extendable from said storage compartment through said opening of said main table member;

a pair of height-adjustable secondary leg members being hingedly attached to said bottom side of said extension table member; and

a brace means having an end securely attached to said wall-mounted support member and having another end securely attached to said bottom side of said main table member near said back end thereof for supporting said main table member in a horizontal position, and also includes a spring means having ends connected to said wall-mounted support member and to said main table member for urging the folding of said main table member.

2. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 1, wherein said main table member includes a handle member securely attached to one of said side ends, and also includes pivotal latching members being securely attached to said front side of said main table member for securing said extension table member inside said storage compartment, said latching members are disposed so as to pivot over said opening of said main table member.

3. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 1, wherein each of said pair of height-adjustable main leg members includes an elongate main member having an end hingedly attached and braced to said bottom side of said main table member, and an elongate extension member having a foot portion at one end and being extendably fastened to said elongate main member, and a threaded leveler member being threaded up through a bottom of said foot portion for adjustably leveling said main table member.

4. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 1, wherein said main table member includes at least one rib-like member securely disposed on a bottom wall of said main table member inside said storage compartment near said opening for lifting said extension table member such that said top sides of both said main table member and said extension table member are essentially flush to one another.

5. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 4, wherein said extension table member includes at least one laterally curved notch extending in said bottom side near said back end.

6. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 5, wherein said extension table member further includes a narrow recessed portion in said top side extending forward from said back side and extending the length of said back side.

7. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 6, wherein said extension table member also includes at least one roller member rotatably disposed in said bottom side at said back end for moving upon said at least one rib-like member to lift said extension table member such that said top side of said extension table member is essentially flush with said top side of said main table member.

8. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 7, wherein said extension table member further includes a handle member securely attached to said front end thereof.

9. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 7, wherein each of said height-adjustable secondary leg members includes an elongate main member having an end hingedly and lockingly attached to a bracket member securely attached to said bottom side of said extension table member, and an elongate extension member having a foot portion at one end and being extendably fastened to said elongate main member, and a threaded leveler member being threaded up through a bottom of said foot portion for adjustably leveling said extension table member.

10. An extendable and foldable bench comprising:

a wall-mounted support member having an elongate member, and a pair of depending members securely attached to ends of said elongate member, and being adapted to be securely fastened to a wall structure;

a main table member having a flat top side, a back end, a front end, side ends, a bottom side, an internal storage compartment, a opening extending through said front end into said storage compartment, and an elongate flange securely fastened to said back end and extending the length thereof for coupling to said wall-mounted support member such that said main table member is horizontally disposed from said wall-mounted table member, said main table member being hingedly attached, spring-loaded, and braced to said wall-mounted support member, said main table member including a handle member securely attached to one of said side ends, and also including pivotal latching members being securely attached to said front side of said main table member for securing said extension table member inside said storage compartment, said latching members being disposed so as to pivot over said opening of said main table member, said main table member also including at least one rib-like member securely disposed on a bottom wall of said main table member inside said storage compartment near said opening for lifting said extension table member such that said top sides of both said main table member and said extension table member are essentially flush to one another;

a pair of height-adjustable main leg members being hingedly attached and braced to said bottom side of said main table member;

each of said pair of height-adjustable main leg members including an elongate main member having an end hingedly attached and braced to said bottom side of said main table member, and an elongate extension member having a foot portion at one end and being extendably fastened to said elongate main member, and a threaded leveler member being threaded up through a bottom of said foot portion for adjustably leveling said main table member;

an extension table member having a top side, a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, and being retractable in and extendable from said storage compartment through said opening of said main table member, said extension table member including a laterally curved notch extending in said bottom side near said back end, said extension table member further including a narrow recessed portion in said top side extending forward from said back side and extending the length of said back side, said extension table member also including at least one roller member rotatably disposed in said bottom side at said back end for moving upon said rib-like member to lift said extension table member such that said top side of said extension table member is essentially flush with said top side of said main table member, said extension table member further including a handle member securely attached to said front end thereof;

a pair of height-adjustable secondary leg member being hingedly attached to said bottom side of said extension table member, each of said height-adjustable secondary leg members including an elongate main member having an end hingedly and lockingly attached to a bracket member securely attached to said bottom side of said extension table member, and an elongate extension member having a foot portion at one end and being extendably fastened to said elongate main member, and a threaded leveler member being threaded up through a bottom of said foot portion for adjustably leveling said extension table member; and

a brace means having an end securely attached to said wall-mounted support member and having another end securely attached to said bottom side of said main table member near said back end thereof for supporting said main table member in a horizontal position, and also including a spring means having ends connected to said wall-mounted support member and to said main table member for urging the folding of said main table member.

11. An extendable and foldable bench comprising:

a wall-mountable support member having an elongate member, and a pair of depending members attached to ends of said elongate member, and being adapted to be fastened to a wall structure;

a main table member having a flat top side, a back end, a front end, side ends, a bottom side, an internal storage compartment, a opening extending through said front end into said storage compartment, and an elongate flange fastened to said back end and extending the length thereof for coupling to said support member such that said main table member is horizontally disposed from said main table member, said main table member being hingedly attached, spring-loaded, and braced to said support member;

a pair of height-adjustable main leg members being hingedly attached and braced to said bottom side of said main table member;

an extension table member having a top side, a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, and being retractable in and extendable from said storage compartment through said opening of said main table member;

a pair of height-adjustable secondary leg members being hingedly attached to said bottom side of said extension table member; and

a brace having an end attached to said support member and having another end securely attached to said bottom side of said main table member near said back end thereof for supporting said main table member in a horizontal position, said brace also including a spring having ends connected to said support member and to said main table member for urging the folding of said main table member.

12. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 11, wherein said main table member includes a handle member securely attached to one of said side ends, and also includes pivotal latching members being securely attached to said front side of said main table member for securing said extension table member inside said storage compartment, said latching members are disposed so as to pivot over said opening of said main table member.

13. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 11, wherein each of said pair of height-adjustable main leg members includes an elongate main member having an end hingedly attached and braced to said bottom side of said main table member, and an elongate extension member having a foot portion at one end and being extendably fastened to said elongate main member, and a threaded leveler member being threaded up through a bottom of said foot portion for adjustably leveling said main table member.

14. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 11, wherein said main table member includes at least one rib-like member securely disposed on a bottom wall of said main table member inside said storage compartment near said opening for lifting said extension table member such that said top sides of both said main table member and said extension table member are essentially flush to one another.

15. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 14, wherein said extension table member includes at least one laterally curved notch extending in said bottom side near said back end.

16. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 15, wherein said extension table member further includes a narrow recessed portion in said top side extending forward from said back side and extending the length of said back side.

17. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 16, wherein said extension table member also includes at least one roller member rotatably disposed in said bottom side at said back end for moving upon said at least one rib-like member to lift said extension table member such that said top side of said extension table member is essentially flush with said top side of said main table member.

18. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 17, wherein said extension table member further includes a handle member securely attached to said front end thereof.

19. An extendable and foldable bench as described in claim 17, wherein each of said height-adjustable secondary leg members includes an elongate main member having an end hingedly and lockingly attached to a bracket member securely attached to said bottom side of said extension table member, and an elongate extension member having a foot portion at one end and being extendably fastened to said elongate main member, and a threaded leveler member being threaded up through a bottom of said foot portion for adjustably leveling said extension table member.