Table with extendable legs

• US 6,474,246 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsu, Hsiu-Ching
• Original Assignee: Hsu, Hsiu-Ching
• Inventors: Hsu, Hsiu-Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/781,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 108/147, 108/144.11, 108/147.19, 248/161, 248/404, 248/422, 248/405, 248/188.4
• US Class Current: 108/147
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/04 with vertical spindle

Abstract

A table with extendable legs includes at least one base and extendable leg having one end secured in the base so the leg can stand upright. A tabletop is mounted horizontally on the other end of the leg. The leg includes an external rod and a sleeve centrally inserted into and secured in the hollow external rod. The sleeve includes an inner thread formed in a free end of the sleeve. A hollow internal rod is movably received in the hollow external rod. A threaded spindle is screwed into inner thread and a first gear is securely attached to the free end of the threaded spindle. A Z-shaped handle includes one end having a second gear securely mounted to engage to the first gear to drive the threaded spindle to control the length of the extendable leg to control the height of the table.

Claims

1. A table with extendable legs comprising:

at least one base;

at least one leg including a first end mounted in a corresponding one of the at least one base to stand upright and a second end, the leg comprising;

a hollow external rod having a closed end mounted in the base and an open end opposite to the base;

a sleeve centrally inserted into and secured in the hollow external rod, the sleeve including an internal thread formed in a free end of the sleeve, the internal thread having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve;

a hollow internal rod movably received in the hollow external rod;

a connector attached to one end of the hollow internal rod opposite to the base;

a threaded spindle having a first end screwed into the sleeve via the internal thread in the sleeve and a second end rotatably mounted in the connector and extending through the connector; and

a first gear securely attached to the second end of the threaded spindle;

a frame including at least one rod mounted on a corresponding one of the connectors;

a handle including one and extending into one of the at least one rod and having a second gear securely mounted on an extension formed on the handle to engage with the first gear to drive the threaded spindle; and

a tabletop mounted on the frame.

2. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg comprises a collar attached to the free end of the external rod-and abutting the external surface of the internal rod, and an annular bushing attached to one end of the internal rod opposite to the connector and abutting an internal surface of the external rod.

3. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base comprises a top portion having a recess defined in the top portion of the base to receive the closed end of the external rod, the recess having a bottom with multiple bores defined through the bottom and the external rod having a bottom formed on the closed end, multiple threaded holes defined in the bottom of the external rod and corresponding to the bores in the recess, a first bolt extending through each bore in the recess and screwed into the corresponding threaded hole in the external rod to secure the external rod in the base.

4. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 3, wherein the external rod has a groove longitudinally defined in the free end of the external rod and the leg comprises a clamp mounted around the free end of the external rod to narrow the groove to securely hold the internal rod in place.

5. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clamp comprises a C-shaped clamp with an ear formed on each end for mounting a quick release lever to operate the clamp.

6. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 5, wherein the external rod comprises multiple slots defined in the free end and the C-shaped clamp comprises multiple latches extending inward to insert into the slots to prevent the clamp from detaching from the free end of the external rod when the clamp is released.

7. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external rod has a groove longitudinally defined in the free end of the external rod and the leg comprises a clamp mounted around the free end of the external rod to narrow the groove to securely hold the internal rod in place.

8. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 7, wherein the clamp comprises a C-shaped clamp with an ear formed on each end for mounting a quick release lever to operate the clamp.

9. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 8, wherein the external rod comprises multiple slots defined in the free end and the C-shaped clamp comprises multiple latches extending inward to insert into the slots to prevent the clamp from detaching from the free end of the external rod when the clamp is released.

10. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base comprises a top portion having a recess defined in the top portion of the base to receive the closed end of the external rod, the recess having a bottom with multiple bores defined through the bottom and the external rod having a bottom formed on the closed end, multiple threaded holes defined in the bottom of the external rod and corresponding to the bores in the recess, a first bolt extending through each bore in the recess and screwed into the corresponding threaded hole in the external rod to secure the external rod in the base.

11. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 10, wherein the external rod has a groove longitudinally defined in the free end of the external rod and the leg comprises a clamp mounted around the free end of the external rod to narrow the groove to securely hold the internal rod in place.

12. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clamp comprises a C-shaped clamp with an ear formed on each end for mounting a quick release lever to operate the clamp.

13. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 12, wherein the external rod comprises multiple slots defined in the free end and the C-shaped clamp comprises multiple latches extending inward to insert into the slots to prevent the clamp from detaching from the free end of the external rod when the clamp is released.

14. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external rod has a groove longitudinally defined in the free end of the external rod and the leg comprises a clamp mounted around the free end of the external rod to narrow the groove to securely hold the internal rod in place.

15. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 14, wherein the clamp comprises a C-shaped clamp with an ear formed on each end for mounting a quick release lever to operate the clamp.

16. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 15, wherein the external rod comprises multiple slots defined in the free end and the C-shaped clamp comprises multiple latches extending inward to insert into the slots to prevent the clamp from detaching from the free end of the external rod when the clamp is released.

17. A table with extendable legs comprising:

two bases;

a horizontal stabilizer having two opposite ends respectively secured in a corresponding one of the two bases;

two legs each including a first end mounted in a corresponding one of the base to stand upright, each of the legs comprising;

a hollow external rod having a closed end mounted in the base and an open end opposite to the base;

a sleeve centrally inserted into and secured in the hollow external rod, the sleeve including an internal thread formed in a free end of the sleeve, the internal thread having a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve;

a hollow internal rod movably received in the hollow external rod;

a connector attached to one end of the hollow internal rod opposite to the base;

a threaded spindle having a first end screwed into the sleeve via the internal thread in the sleeve and a second end rotatably mounted in the connector and extending through the connector; and

a first gear securely attached to the second end of the threaded spindle;

two rods each having an invaded U-shaped cross section respectively mounted on a corresponding one of the connectors;

a tube axially aligned with the first gears and mounted between the two rods with inverted U-shaped cross section, the tube connecting the internal surfaces of the two rods with inverted U-shaped cross section; and

a shaft ratably received in the tube, the shaft including two ends each having a second gear engaged to and driving the first gears of the legs; and

a Z-shaped handle having one end extending into one of the rods with inverted U-shaped cross section and secured on and driving a corresponding one of the second gears.

18. The table with extendable legs as claimed in claim 17, wherein a cutout is defined in each of the two bases to receive opposite ends of the horizontal stabilizer, an end cap is attached to the two opposite ends, at least one threaded hole is defined in each end cap, at least one through hole is defined in the first end of the external rod to align with a corresponding one of the threaded holes in the end cap and at least one hole is defined in the base to align with a corresponding one of the through holes in the external rod, and a second bolt screwed into the threaded hole in the end cap after extending through the hole in the base and the through hole of the external rod to securely mount the horizontal stabilizer in the base.