Folding table

• US 6,705,234 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Kumarich, Kurt Miller
• Original Assignee: David Kumarich, Kurt Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Kurt, Kumarich, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/709,032
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 108/34, 108/35, 108/36, 108/38, 108/115, 108/132, 108/130, 108/131, 108/129, 108/169, 162/21, 162/42, 162/54, 163/61, 163/62
• US Class Current: 108/36
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0064 Table leg assembly held in folded position by tension means
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/087 with struts supporting the legs

Abstract

A folding table is provided having a three-sectioned platform. The table includes two pairs of pivotal supporting legs wherein pair member legs are rigidly cross braced and are held by cable braces when the leg pairs are erected. The table also includes two tensionable platform cable members and a pair of platform-to-cable load transfer bars. When the table is fully erected the platform cable members are tensioned by the load transfer bars and maintain the platform in a flat, load-bearing state. The platform'"'"'s three sections are interconnected by hinges that permit in a folded table a pair of opposite end sections to overfold one another and overlie an intervening mid-section. When folded, the table has a compact, easily transported configuration with all movable and loose components being internally stored.

Claims

1. A folding table comprising in combination:

(A) a platform that has a flat configuration and also a folded configuration, said platform being defined by three generally flattened sections arranged in adjacent, successive relationship relative to one another so as to define first and second end sections that each have one side adjacent a different opposed side of a central section;

(B) first hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said first end section to said central section and second hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said second end section to said central section, the interrelationship between said sections and said first and said second hinge means being such that when said platform is in said folded configuration, said first end section is folded back upon said central section in adjacent relationship, and said second end section is folded back upon said central section over said first end section;

(C) two pairs of leg members for supporting said platform when said platform is in said flat configuration, each said pair including

(1) interconnecting rigid cross brace means extending between said leg members of each said pair,

(2) connection means for pivotably connecting upper end portions of each one of said pairs with a different one of each of said first and second end sections, and

(3) cable bracing means extending between each said pair and said so connected one of said end sections for holding said leg means in a platform supporting position when said platform is in said flat configuration;

(D) a pair of elongated cable members including cable end mounting means for supporting said platform in said flat configuration, each said elongated cable member having each opposite end thereof joined to a location on a different one of said first and said second end sections, each said elongated cable member being positioned so as to extend along a different longitudinally extending side region of said platform when said platform is in said flat configuration; and

(E) two platform-to-cable load transfer bars, each bar extending between a different one section and a different one of said elongated cable members for tensioning each said so engaged cable member when said platform is in said flat configuration.

2. The folding table of claim 1 wherein each said load transfer bar is pivotably joined to said section from which it so extends.

3. The folding table of claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second hinge means includes releasable locking means for retaining said platform in said flat configuration.

4. The folding table of claim 1 wherein each one of said load transfer bars is pivotally joined to said position, said position for each said load transfer bar being on a different one of said first and said second end sections.

5. The folding table of claim 4 wherein said position is adjacent the interior side of each respective one of said end sections.

6. The folding table of claim 1 wherein each said section comprises a generally flat panel having a perimeter that includes at least one pair of spaced, opposed sides and a frame structure that extends about said perimeter, said frame structure including an inwardly extending shoulder defined therealong for supporting perimeter portions of said panel when said frame structure and said panel are horizontally extended, said frame structure being comprised of a plurality of interfitting components.

7. The folding table of claim 6 wherein along one of said spaced, opposed sides said interfitting components define in spaced relationship to each other a pair of hinge leaves.

8. A folding table comprising in combination:

(A) a platform that has a flat configuration when said table is unfolded and that has a folded configuration when said table is folded, said platform being defined by three generally flattened sections arranged in adjacent, successive relationship relative to one another so as to define first and second end sections that each have one side adjacent a different opposed side of a central section;

(B) first hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said first end section to said central section;

(C) second hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said second end section to said central section, said second hinge means additionally including means for longitudinally extending said second end section relative to said central section so that, when said platform is in said folded configuration, said first end section is folded back upon said central section in adjacent relationship, and said second end section is folded back upon said central section over said first end section;

(D) two pairs of supporting leg means for said platform when said platform is in said flat configuration, each said pair including;

(1) interconnecting rigid cross brace means extending between said supporting leg means of each said pair,

(2) connection means for pivotably connecting upper end portions of each one of said pairs with a different one of each of said first and second end sections, and

(3) cable bracing means extending from a location adjacent each one of said supporting leg means and such so connected one end section for holding said supporting leg means in a generally upright, platform supporting position when said platform is in said flat configuration;

(E) a pair of elongated cable members for supporting said platform in said flat configuration, each said elongated cable member having each opposite end thereof joined to a location on a different one of said first and said second end sections, each said elongated cable member being positioned so as to extend beneath and adjacent to a different respective opposite longitudinally extending side region of said flat working platform when said platform is in said flat configuration and each said elongated cable member including means for joining said opposite ends to said respective end section locations, each said cable member so having a length that is greater than the distance between said respective locations on each of said end sections when said platform is in said flat configuration; and

(F) two platform-to-cable load transfer bars, each said bar being pivotally joined to a position on at least one of said sections, and each said bar having an outer end positioned and configured for resting engagement with a different one of said cable members when said leg means are in said upright, platform supporting position with said platform being in said flat configuration, thereby tensioning each said so engaged cable member;

whereby, when said platform is in said flat configuration, and a load is placed thereon, the weight of said load is transferred through said load transfer bars to said elongated cable members and said elongated cable members support said load.

9. The folding table of claim 8 wherein each of said means for joining is located adjacent to a different outside end of said respective end section location.

10. The folding table of claim 8 wherein each of said supporting leg means is so held by two said cable bracing means.

11. The folding table of claim 10 wherein, for each of said supporting leg means, each of said cable bracing means has one end thereof fixed to an adjacent interconnecting end portion of said cross brace means, one of said cable bracing means has the opposite end thereof fixed to the associated said end section adjacent to the interior side thereof, and the other of said cable bracing means has the opposite end thereof fixed to said connection means for said supporting leg means.

12. The folding table of claim 8 wherein each of said sections includes a frame means that extends about the perimeter thereof and a panel means that is supported by said frame means.

13. A hinge comprising in combination:

a pair of leaf members, each said leaf member including means for mounting at a different one edge portion of a pair of adjacent sections that are pivotably movable relative to each other about an axis extending along and between said edge portions;

a link member having;

a central region having opposed lateral end portions, spaced parallel opposed side faces, and opposed top and bottom surface portions, said top surface portions having a groove with opposed lateral sides transversely extending thereacross, and said top surface portions having flat downwardly inclined symmetrical portions on each one of the lateral sides thereof, and

a pair of opposed legs, each said leg outwardly extending from a different one of said opposed lateral end portions of said central section, each said leg having spaced, parallel, opposed side walls, top and bottom surface portions, and rounded opposite end portions extending between said top and bottom surface portions, each said leg having a laterally elongated, transversely extending channel defined through said side walls, said top surface portions of each said leg including an initial downward inclination that is contiguous with and extends from said top surface portions of said central region;

each said leaf member further including a central, upwardly extending, thickened platform portion and a medially located mouth opening defined transversely through said leaf member and said platform member, said platform portion having a bore defined therein; and

each said leg member being positioned in a different one of said mouth openings;

and a pair of pintle members, each one of said pintle members extending through a different one of said leg channels and said platform portion bores whereby each said leaf member is translatably and pivotably mounted to a different one of said leg members;

the relationship between said leaf members, said link member and said pintle members being such that;

(a) when said leaf members are in adjacent side by side relationship, said hinge is in its fully closed position, each said pintle member is located at one end of the associated said leg channel adjacent to said central region, and an edge portion of each said leaf member is located in said groove, and

(b) when said leaf members are in maximally spaced separated relationship, said hinge is in its fully open position, each of said pintle members is located at an opposite end of the associated said leg channel remote relative to said central region, and

(c) when said leaf members are being opened from said fully closed position to said fully open position portions, each said leaf member slidably moves over said top surface portions and said rounded opposite end portions of said legs.

14. The hinge of claim 13 wherein said means for mounting each one of said leaf members comprises a cavity defined at each end of each leaf member, each said cavity being configured for receipt of a terminating projection of a frame component.

15. A section for use in a combination of sections that are arranged in adjacent and successive relationship to one another so as to define a platform, said section comprising:

a generally flat panel having a perimeter that includes at least one pair of spaced, opposed sides, and a frame structure extending about said perimeter, said frame structure including an inwardly extending shoulder defined therealong for supporting perimeter adjacent portions of said panel when said frame structure and said panel are horizontally oriented;

said frame structure being comprised of a plurality of interfitting components that are longitudinally adjacent to one another relative to said frame structure;

each said component having a pair of opposite end portions, each said end portion being interfittingly and slidably matingly engaged with the next longitudinally adjacent end portion of another said component, thereby to define respective component interconnection locations;

said components together comprising both a plurality of runner sections each of whose opposite end portions defines a receiving cavity, and also a plurality of base sections each of whose opposite end portions defines a projecting extension for slidable engagement with one of said receiving cavities;

said base sections having exterior configurations which adapt individual ones of said base sections for particular functional purposes at particular locations along said frame structure, said exterior configurations including;

corner members for interconnecting successive runner sections;

joining members for interconnecting successive runner sections, and

connection members for interconnecting successive runner sections and for connecting said frame structure to selected components that are coactive with said section.

16. The section of claim 15 wherein at each of said component interconnection locations adjacent ones of said components are fastened together with fastening means.

17. The section of claim 15 wherein said fastening means comprises an adhesive.

18. The section of claim 15 wherein said components are comprised of plastic.

19. The section of claim 15 wherein said components are comprised of metal.

20. The section of claim 15 wherein said components are comprised of metal and plastic.

21. The section of claim 15 wherein at least one of said connection members includes means for pivotably connecting an adjacent element therewith.

22. The section of claim 15 wherein at least one of said connection members comprises a leaf of a hinge.