Folding and tilting table

• US 6,845,723 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hon. Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Ives, Josiah M., Schaefers, Mark, Kottman, Mark A., Barrett, Shawn O., Glenn, Robert J. II, Cesaroni, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/284,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 108/124, 108/127, 108131-134, 108/160, 108/115, 108/50.01, 108/50, 248/188.8, 248/188.6, 248/188, 248/188.1, 248/166, 248/434, 248/439, 248/440
• US Class Current: 108/132
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/00 Folding or stowable tables folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04

Abstract

A folding and tilting table which is versatile, simply constructed and easy to use. The table includes a table top, an elongated support member, two leg assemblies pivotally mounted to ends of the support member, a set of wheels connected to the leg assemblies and an elongated hinge connected to the support member and to the table top. A first pair of latch assemblies restrain the table top to the support member and a second pair of latch assemblies restrain the leg assemblies. Once released, the table top may rotate from an in-use horizontal position to a vertical position for storage. Also once released, the leg assemblies may move from the use mode to storage mode quickly and easily.

Claims

1. A table having folding legs and a tiltable top comprising in combination:

a table top having a length;

a support structure for supporting said table top, said support structure including a support member and a pair of folding leg assemblies;

a hinge connected to said support member and to said table top for allowing said table top to rotate about a horizontal axis from a horizontal position, where said table top is resting on said support member, to a vertical position for table storage, said support member being centrally located relative to said table top and extending parallel to the length of said table top;

each of said pair of leg assemblies is pivotally mounted to said support member and each is pivotal about a horizontal axis perpendicular to said first mentioned horizontal axis between extended and folded positions, where in the extended position, the table is in use mode and in the folded position, the table is in storage mode;

a first latch assembly mounted to a bottom of said table top and movable therewith for restraining said table top in said horizontal position; and

a second latch assembly mounted to said support member for restraining at least one of said pair of leg assemblies in said extended position.

2. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said support member is elongated and extends substantially the length of said table top.

3. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said support member is tubular shaped.

4. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said hinge is elongated.

5. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said hinge extends substantially the length of said support member.

6. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said support member is elongated with opposing end portions; and

each of said pair of leg assemblies is pivotally mounted to a respective end portion of said support member.

7. The table as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

said support member is elongated and extends substantially the length of said table top.

8. The table as claimed in claim 7 wherein:

said hinge is elongated and extends substantially the length of said support member.

9. The table as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said support member is tubular shaped.

10. The table as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

each of said leg assemblies includes a yoke assembly pivotally connected at one end portion to a leg and at an opposite end portion to said second latch assembly, and a brace pivotally connected at one end portion to said leg and at an opposite end portion to said second latch assembly.

11. The table as claimed in claim 10 wherein:

said support member is tubular; and

said opposite end portion of said yoke assembly is received by said support member.

12. A table having folding legs and a tiltable top comprising in combination:

a table top having a length;

a support structure for supporting said table top, said support structure including a support member and a pair of folding leg assemblies;

a hinge connected to said support member and to said table top for allowing said table top to rotate from a horizontal position, where said table top is resting on said support relative to said table top and extending parallel to the length of said table top;

each of said pair of leg assemblies is pivotally mounted to said support member and each is movable between extended and folded positions, where in the extended position, the table is in use mode and in the folded position, the table is in storage mode;

a first latch assembly mounted to a bottom of said table top and movable therewith for restraining said table top in said horizontal position; and

a second latch assembly mounted to said support member for restraining at least one of said pair of leg assemblies in said extended position, said support member is elongated with opposing end portions;

said support member is elongated with opposing end portions;

each of said pair of leg assemblies is pivotally mounted to a respective end portion of said support member;

each of said leg assemblies includes a yoke assembly pivotally connected at one end portion to a leg and at an opposite end portion to said second latch assembly, and a brace pivotally connected at one end to said leg and at an opposite end portion to said second latch assembly;

said support member is tubular;

said opposite end portion of said yoke assembly is received by said support member;

said opposite end portion of said yoke assembly includes oppositely located slots; and

said opposite end portion of said brace includes pins for sliding within said slots.

13. A table having a tilting table top comprising:

a table top;

a centrally located, longitudinally extending support member with opposing end portions;

a pair of leg assemblies, each leg assembly being mounted to an end portion of said support member;

a hinge connected to said support member and to said table top; and

a spring biased latch assembly mounted to said table top for engaging said support member wherein when said latch assembly is engaged with said support member, said table is maintained in a horizontal position, and when said latch assembly is disengaged from said support member, said table top is rotatable from said horizontal position to a vertical position, said table top being pivotal about a first horizontal axis and said pair of leg assemblies being pivotal about second and third horizontal axes, the second and third horizontal axes being perpendicular to the first horizontal axis.

14. The table as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

said latch assembly is mounted within a recess in said table top.

15. The table as claimed in claim 14 wherein:

said support member is tubular shaped and extends substantially along a length of said table top.

16. A table having a tilting table top comprising:

a table top;

a centrally located, longitudinally extending support member with opposing end portions;

a pair of leg assemblies, each leg assembly being mounted to an end portion of said support member;

a hinge connected to said support member and to said table top; and

a spring biased latch assembly mounted to said table top for engaging said support member wherein when said latch assembly is engaged with said support member, said table is maintained in a horizontal position, and when said latch assembly is disengaged from said support member, said table top is rotatable from said horizontal position to a vertical position;

said latch assembly is mounted within a recess in said table top;

said support member is tubular shaped and extends substantially along a length of said table top; and

said latch assembly engages a wall of said tubular shaped support member.

17. The table as claimed in claim 16 wherein:

said pair of leg assemblies are movable between extended and folded positions.

18. The table as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said latch assembly is mounted within a recess in said table top.

19. A folding table comprising:

a table top having first and second end portions;

a support structure for supporting said table top, said support structure including a support member connected to said table top and a pair of folding leg assemblies;

each of said pair of leg assemblies is pivotally mounted to said support member and each is movable between extended and folded positions, wherein the extended position, the table is in-use mode and in the folded position, the table is in storage mode; and

a pair of latch assemblies mounted to said support member, each latch assembly for restraining a leg assembly, said table top being pivotal about a first horizontal axis and said pair of leg assemblies being pivotal about second and third horizontal axes, the second and third horizontal axes being perpendicular to the first horizontal axis.

20. A folding table comprising:

a table top having first and second end portions;

a support structure for supporting said table top, said support structure including a support member connected to said table top and a pair of folding leg assemblies;

each of said pair of leg assemblies is pivotally mounted to said support member and each is movable between extended and folded positions, wherein the extended position, the table is in-use mode and in the folded position, the table is in storage mode; and

a pair of latch assemblies mounted to said support member, each latch assembly for restraining a leg assembly,

each of said leg assemblies includes a yoke assembly pivotally connected at one end portion to a leg and at an opposite end portion to one of said pair of latch assemblies, a brace pivotally connected at one end portion to said leg and at an opposite end portion to said one of said pair of latch assemblies.

21. The folding table as claimed in claim 20 wherein:

said support member is tubular; and

said opposite end portion of said yoke assembly is received by said support member.

22. The folding table as claimed in claim 21 wherein:

said opposite end portion of said yoke assembly includes oppositely located slots; and

said opposite end portion of said brace includes pins for sliding within said slots.

23. A table having folding legs and a tiltable top comprising:

a table top;

support member;

a hinge connected to said support member and to said table top, said table top being pivotal around a first horizontal axis from a horizontal position to a generally vertical position for storage;

a pair of leg assemblies mounted to said support member and spaced from said table top, one of said pair of leg assemblies being pivotal around a second horizontal axis which is generally perpendicular to the first horizontal axis and the other of said pair of leg assemblies being pivotal around a third horizontal axis which is generally perpendicular to the first horizontal axis wherein said leg assemblies are pivotal from an extended in-use position to a folded storage position and said table has two storage options, one option for vertical nesting and second option for horizontal or vertical stacking.

24. The table apparatus of claim 23 including:

two spaced apart latch assemblies mounted to said table top for engaging said support member to maintain said table top in a horizontal non-pivoted position.

25. The table apparatus of claim 24 wherein:

said latch assemblies are each mounted in table top.

26. The table apparatus of claim 25 wherein:

said latch assemblies are each latched to said support member when leg assemblies are folded.

27. The table apparatus of claim 23 including:

a pair of handles mounted to said table top.

28. The table apparatus of claim 27 wherein:

said pair of handles are mounted to a bottom surface of table top.