Foldable picnic table with telescoping pedestals and bench supports

• US 6,347,831 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Original Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Inventors: Nye, Stephen F., Merrill, Glenn, Stanford, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/419,963
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 297/135, 297/157.1, 297/158.3, 297/158.4, 297/159.1, 297/173, 297/170, 297/172, 297/118, 108/17, 108/106, 108/179, 108/127, 108/147.21, 108/147.19
• US Class Current: 297/158.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/14 Foldable table and seat units

Abstract

A folding picnic table is positionable between a platform and a picnic table configuration. The foldable picnic table includes a table top and two benches on opposing sides. The table top is pivotally supported by two telescoping support pedestals and the two benches are pivotally supported by two telescoping bench support members. The telescoping supports permit the support pedestals and bench support members to be positioned between an extended and a retracted position. The first and second bench support members are attached to the first and second ends of the benches, respectively and include a substantially horizontal segment disposed between telescoping bench supports pivotally attached to opposing benches. When the foldable picnic table is disposed in the stage or platform configuration, the table top is positioned in the same plane as the opposing benches. Alternatively, when the foldable picnic table is disposed in the picnic table configuration, the table top and the benches are positioned in different planes. To dispose the foldable picnic table in a compact storage position, the table top and the benches must be disposed within the same plane. The table top and benches are positioned in the same plane when the axis of rotation between the support pedestals and the table top, established by their pivotal connection, is collinear with the first and second axes of rotation, established by the telescoping bench supports pivotally connected at the first and second ends of the benches.

Claims

1. A foldable picnic table positionable between a picnic table configuration, a platform configuration, and a storage position, said foldable picnic table comprising:

a table top;

a first and second support pedestal, the support pedestals pivotally attached to the table top, each of the support pedestals including a table support comprising an inner member and an outer member connected in telescopic engagement, the telescoping table supports adapted to be selectively positioned between an extended position and a retracted position;

a first and second bench disposed on opposing sides of the table top;

a first bench support member attached to the first support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a first axis of rotation, the first bench support member including a bench support comprising an inner member and an outer member connected in telescopic engagement, the telescoping bench supports adapted to be selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a second bench support member attached to the second support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a second axis of rotation, the second bench support member comprising a bench support having an inner member and an outer member connected in telescoping engagement, the telescoping bench supports adapted to be selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position;

the platform configuration of the foldable picnic table configured such that the benches are selectively positioned in substantially the same plane as the table top;

the picnic table configuration of the foldable picnic table configured such that the benches are selectively positioned in a different plane than the table top; and

the storage position of said foldable picnic table configured such that with the benches disposed in substantially the same plane as the table top, the axis of rotation between the first support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the first axis of rotation and the axis of rotation between the second support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the second axis of rotation, thereby permitting the bench support members and the support pedestals to be moved between a perpendicular position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are disposed perpendicular to the table top and a folded position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are folded into substantially the same plane as the table top.

2. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, further comprising a locking member adapted to engage the telescoping table support to selectively lock the support pedestal in the extended position.

3. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 2, wherein the locking member comprises a locking cross brace.

4. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 2, wherein the locking member comprises a biased pin.

5. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping table support comprise a retaining aperture having an internal periphery sufficient for passing at least a portion of said locking member therethrough.

6. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, further comprising a locking member adapted to engage the telescoping bench support to selectively lock the bench in the extended position.

7. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 6, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping bench support comprise a retaining aperture having an internal periphery sufficient for passing at least a portion of said locking member therethrough.

8. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 6, wherein the locking member comprises a biased pin.

9. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, further comprising a support brace connecting the table top to each support pedestal, wherein the support brace is foldable and lockable in an extended position.

10. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 9, wherein each support brace is foldable, thereby allowing each support pedestal to pivot toward the table top when disposing the table in the storage position, each support brace having a lockable extended position in which relative movement between the table top and the support pedestal is substantially prevented.

11. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 9, wherein the support brace comprises a diagonal brace.

12. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, wherein the table top comprises a table top frame and a table top counter, the table top counter having a functional surface and a mounting surface.

13. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 12, wherein the functional surface of the table top counter is configured with a raised perimeter to prevent spillage off the functional surface of the table top counter.

14. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 12, wherein the functional surface of the table top counter includes beveled outer edges to better accommodate a user resting an arm against the edge of the table top.

15. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, wherein each bench comprises a bench frame and a bench counter, the bench counter having a sitting surface and a mounting surface.

16. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 15, wherein the sitting surface of the bench counter is flat along its length, the sitting surface of the bench counter having bevelled outer edges.

17. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 15, wherein the sitting surface of the bench counter is concave along its length, the sitting surface of the bench counter having bevelled outer edges.

18. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, wherein each support pedestal comprises two substantially parallel telescoping table supports.

19. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping table support comprise substantially concentric cylinders.

20. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping bench support comprise substantially concentric cylinders.

21. A foldable picnic table positionable between a picnic table configuration, a platform configuration, and a storage position, said foldable picnic table comprising:

a table top;

a first and second support pedestal, the support pedestals pivotally attached to the table top;

a first and second bench disposed on opposing sides of the table top;

a first bench support member attached to the first support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a first axis of rotation, the first bench support member including a bench support comprising an inner member and an outer member connected in telescopic engagement, the telescoping bench supports adapted to be selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a second bench support member attached to the second support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a second axis of rotation, the second bench support member comprising a bench support having an inner member and an outer member connected in telescoping engagement, the telescoping bench supports adapted to be selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position;

the platform configuration of the foldable picnic table configured such that the benches are selectively positionable in substantially the same plane as the table top;

the picnic table configuration of the foldable picnic table configured such that the benches are selectively positionable in a different plane than the table top; and

the storage position of said foldable picnic table configured such that with the benches disposed in substantially the same plane as the table top, the axis of rotation between the first support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the first axis of rotation and the axis of rotation between the second support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the second axis of rotation, thereby permitting the bench support members and the support pedestals to be moved between a perpendicular position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are disposed perpendicular to the table top and a folded position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are folded into substantially the same plane as the table top.

22. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, further comprising a locking member adapted to engage the telescoping table support to selectively lock the support pedestal in the extended position.

23. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 22, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping table support comprise a retaining aperture having an internal periphery sufficient for passing at least a portion of said locking member therethrough.

24. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 22, wherein the locking member comprises a biased pin.

25. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 22, wherein the locking member comprises a locking cross brace.

26. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, further comprising a locking member adapted to engage the telescoping bench support to selectively lock the bench in the extended position.

27. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 26, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping bench support comprise a retaining aperture having an internal periphery sufficient for passing at least a portion of said locking member therethrough.

28. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 26, wherein the locking member comprises a biased pin.

29. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, further comprising a support brace connecting the table top to each support pedestal, wherein the support brace is foldable and lockable in an extended position.

30. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 29, wherein each support brace is foldable, thereby allowing each support pedestal to pivot toward the table top when disposing the table in the storage position, each support brace having a lockable extended position in which relative movement between the table top and the support pedestal is substantially prevented.

31. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 29, wherein the support brace comprises a diagonal brace.

32. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, wherein the table top comprises a table top frame and a table top counter, the table top counter having a functional surface and a mounting surface.

33. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 32, wherein the functional surface of the table top counter is configured with a raised perimeter to prevent spillage off the functional surface of the table top counter.

34. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 33, wherein the functional surface of the table top counter includes beveled outer edges to better accommodate a user resting an arm against the edge of the table top.

35. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, wherein each bench comprises a bench frame and a bench counter, the bench counter having a sitting surface and a mounting surface.

36. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 35, wherein the sitting surface of the bench counter is flat along its length, the sitting surface of the bench counter having bevelled outer edges.

37. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 35, wherein the sitting surface of the bench counter is concave along its length, the sitting surface of the bench counter having bevelled outer edges.

38. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, wherein each support pedestal comprises two substantially parallel telescoping table supports.

39. The foldable picnic table as defined in claim 21, wherein the inner and outer members of the telescoping bench supports comprise substantially concentric cylinders.