Apparatus and method for providing a fold-up wooden table

• US 6,736,076 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meco Corporation (Unaka Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meco Corporation (Unaka Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaltenmark, Eric M., Underwood, Anne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/128,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 108/115, 108/132, 108/131, 108/128, 108/129, 248/188.6
• US Class Current: 108/132
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0917 the struts being permanently connected by pivots to the top or underframe only

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a folding wooden table is disclosed wherein the table retains the attractiveness of traditional wooden tables by having hidden hinges and leg supports, yet which folds flat for storage and requires no tools for assembly and disassembly. The underside of the table top has a side skirt pivotally secured adjacent to each side with at least one hinge so as to enable them to fold inward. End skirts are pivotally secured to the table top at each end with at least one hinge, and a pair of legs are secured to opposite ends of each end skirt to form a pivoting leg assembly. The legs preferably have an “L”-shaped cross-section to hide the support hardware yet provide an attractive exterior. The hinge is offset sufficiently inward from end skirt to allow legs to fold flat against the table top. An “L”-shaped support bracket is secured to each end of the side skirts with an appropriately positioned pivot. The end of the support bracket opposite pivot includes a retention slot to engage a boss on an inside of each leg when rotated into a securing position. A sliding and/or pivoting retention member is then used to lock the support bracket into position to complete the erection of the fold-up table.

Claims

1. A fold-up table, comprising:

a table top having a pair of opposing sides and a pair of opposing ends;

a pair of side skirts hinged to an underside of said table top adjacent said pair of opposing sides;

a pair of leg assemblies hinged to an underside of said table top adjacent said pair of opposing ends, wherein each leg assembly further comprises;

an end skirt;

a pair of legs secured to opposite ends of said end skirt, each leg having a substantially concave cross-section including a boss on an inner portion; and

a second hinge offset sufficiently from said end skirt to allow said legs to fold flat against table top and dimensioned in length to be sufficiently spaced from the sides of the table top to allow the side skirts to fold flat without interfering with the second hinge; and

a plurality of “

L”

-shaped support brackets secured to each end of the side skirts with an appropriately positioned pivot, wherein an end of each support bracket opposite said pivot includes a retention slot to engage said boss on an inner portion of each leg when rotated into a securing position.

2. The fold-up table of claim 1, further comprising a movable retention member positioned to lock the support bracket into position to complete erection of the fold-up table.

3. A method of assembling a collapsed fold-up table of claim 2, comprising:

unfolding the leg assemblies into an erect position;

unfolding the side skirts into an erect position;

rotating the “

L”

-shaped support brackets to engage the bosses with the retention slots; and

moving the retention member into a locking position to complete erection of the fold-up table.