Folding table

• US 7,475,641 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Original Assignee: Lifetime Products (Lifetime)
• Inventors: Jin, Ju-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, JOSE V
• Application Number:
  US10/616,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 108/129, 108/132, 108/171, 108/172, 108/173, 108/174, 108/115, 108/35, 108/36, 108/167, 108/168, 108/169, 297/158.4, 297/17, 297/159.1
• US Class Current: 108/132
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/087 with struts supporting the legs

Abstract

A folding table is disclosed having a two-stage folding mechanism. The folding table includes a table top divided into a first planar portion and a second planar portion. A pair of side rails is connected to each planar portion. A foldable leg and support brace is connected to each planar portion. A hinge assembly is provided disposed between the first planar portion and the second planar portion. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin, a first hinge connector and a second hinge connector rotatably disposed on the hinge pin. The first hinge connector has a cam portion. A locking pin is disposed through a slot in the second hinge connector so that when the locking pin is positioned nearest the hinge axis, the cam portion abuts the locking pin, thus locking the table top. When the locking pin is positioned farthest from the hinge axis, the first hinge connector is able to freely rotate about the hinge axis. A lock actuating mechanism may be used to operate the locking pin and may provide an anchoring or reinforcing mechanism to maintain the locking pin in a locked position.

Claims

1. A folding table that is movable between a working position and a storage position, the folding table comprising:

a table top including a first portion and a second portion;

a first support assembly connected to the first portion of the table top, the first support assembly being sized and configured to support the first portion of the table top above a surface;

a second support assembly connected to the second portion of the table top, the second support assembly being sized and configured to support the second portion of the table top above a surface; and

a hinge assembly connected to the first portion and the second portion of the table top, the hinge assembly being sized and configured to allow the first portion and the second portion of the table top to be moved between the working position and the storage position, the hinge assembly comprising;

a first hinge connector including a body and a connector portion, the body being connected to the first portion of the table top;

a second hinge connector including a body and a connector portion, the body being connected to the second portion of the table top;

a hinge pin disposed through the connector portion of the first hinge connector and through the connector portion of the second hinge connector;

a locking member disposed within an opening in the second hinge connector, the locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; and

a cam portion of the first hinge connector that abuts against the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position to maintain the table top in the working position, the cam portion extending outwardly from the connector portion of the first hinge connector.

2. The folding table as in claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that is sized and configured to move the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions.

3. The folding table as in claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism includes a first end and a second end, the locking mechanism further comprising:

a first opening disposed proximate the first end of the locking mechanism, at least a portion of the hinge pin being disposed within the first opening;

a second opening disposed proximate the first end of the locking mechanism, at least a portion of the locking member being disposed within the second opening; and

a handle disposed proximate the second end of the locking mechanism, the handle being sized and configured to be grasp by a user.

4. The folding table as in claim 1, further comprising a frame connected to the table top, the frame including a first portion connected to the first portion of the table top and a second portion connected to the second portion of the table top, the first hinge connector being connected to the first portion of the frame and the second hinge connector being connected to the second hinge portion of the frame.

5. The folding table as in claim 1, further comprising a first support brace including a first end connected to the hinge assembly and a second end connected to the first support assembly;

and further comprising a second support brace including a first end connected to the hinge assembly and a second end connected to the second support assembly.

6. A folding table that is movable between a working position and a storage position, the folding table comprising:

a table top including a first portion and a second portion;

a hinge assembly including a first portion connected to the first portion of the table top and a second portion connected to the second portion of the table top, the hinge assembly being sized and configured to allow the first portion and the second portion of the table top to be moved between the working position and the storage position;

a hinge pin connecting the first portion of the hinge assembly and the second portion of the hinge assembly;

a locking slot in the second portion of the hinge assembly, the locking slot including a first end disposed towards the hinge pin and a second end disposed away from the hinge pin; and

a locking member disposed in the locking slot in the second portion of the hinge assembly, the locking member being selectively movable between a locked position in which the locking member engages the first portion of the hinge assembly and locks the hinge assembly in a first position and an unlocked position in which the first portion of the hinge assembly can rotate relative to the second portion of the hinge assembly and the hinge assembly is unlocked.

7. The folding table as in claim 6, wherein the first portion of the hinge assembly includes an outwardly extending flange with an engaging portion, the engaging portion engaging the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position.

8. A folding table that is capable of being folded between a first position and a second position, the table comprising:

a table top including a first section and a second section;

a first support assembly connected to the first section of the table top;

a second support assembly connected to the second section of the table top; and

a hinge assembly interconnecting the first section of the table top and the second section of the table top, the hinge assembly being sized and configured to allow the table to be moved between the first position and the second position, the hinge assembly including a locked position and an unlocked position, the hinge assembly comprising;

a first hinge portion connected to the first section of the table top, the first hinge portion including a connector portion with an aperture;

a second hinge portion connected to the second section of the table top, the second hinge portion including a connector portion with an aperture;

a hinge pin extending through the aperture in the connector portion of the first hinge portion and the aperture in the connector portion of the second hinge portion to connect the first hinge portion of the hinge assembly and the second hinge portion of the hinge assembly;

a locking member movable relative to the second hinge portion of the hinge assembly between a locked position and an unlocked position;

an engaging portion the first hinge portion of the hinge assembly, the engaging portion engaging the locking member when the locking member is in the locked position, the engaging portion being spaced apart from the locking member when the locking member is in the unlocked position to allow the table to be moved between the first position and the second position; and

a lock actuating mechanism that moves the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position, the lock actuating mechanism including an aperture and the hinge pin extending through the aperture to connect the lock actuating mechanism to the hinge assembly.

9. The folding table as in claim 8, wherein the lock actuating mechanism is movable between a first position in which the locking member is in the locked position and a second position in which the locking member is in the unlocked position.

10. The folding table as in claim 8, further comprising a displacement slot in the lock actuating mechanism, the locking member being disposed in the displacement slot.

11. The folding table as in claim 10, wherein the lock actuating mechanism includes a first end and a second end, the aperture being disposed at least proximate the first end of the lock actuating mechanism, the lock actuating mechanism further comprising

a handle disposed proximate the second end of the locking mechanism, the handle being sized and configured to be grasp by a user.

12. The folding table as in claim 8, further comprising a frame connected to the table top, the frame including a first portion connected to the first portion of the table top and a second portion connected to the second portion of the table top, the first hinge connector being connected to the first portion of the frame and the second hinge connector being connected to the second hinge portion of the frame.

13. The folding table as in claim 8, further comprising a first support brace including a first end connected to the hinge assembly and a second end connected to the first support assembly;

and further comprising a second support brace including a first end connected to the hinge assembly and a second end connected to the second support assembly.

14. The folding table as in claim 8, further comprising a frame connected to the table top, the frame including a first pair of side rails connected to the first portion of the table top and a second pair of side rails connected to the second portion of the table top;

further comprising a first hinge assembly with a first hinge portion connected to one of the first pair of side rails of the frame and a second hinge portion connected to one of the second pair of side rails of the frame; and

further comprising a second hinge assembly with a first hinge portion connected to the other of the first pair of side rails of the frame and a second hinge portion connected to the other of the second pair of side rails of the frame.

15. The folding table as in claim 14, wherein a single hinge pin connects the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion of the first hinge assembly, and connects the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion of the second hinge assembly.

16. The folding table as in claim 14, further comprising a first support brace including one end connected to the first hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly, and another end connected to the first support assembly;

and further comprising a second support brace including one end connected to the first hinge assembly and the second hinge, and another end connected to the second support assembly.

17. A table comprising:

a table top including a first table top section and a second table top section, the table top being positionable between a folded position and unfolded position;

a table frame connected to the table top and including a first side rail, the first side rail including;

a first elongated rail portion; and

a second elongated rail portion;

a hinge assembly pivotally interconnecting the first rail portion and the second rail portion and being positionable between a first position in which table top is positioned in the folded position and a second position in which the table top is position in the unfolded position, the hinge assembly including;

a first connector including;

a first flange including a first cam portion; and

a second flange including a second cam portion;

a second connector including;

a third flange disposed at least partially between the first and second flanges; and

a fourth flange disposed at least partially between the first and second flanges; and

a pivot pin pivotally connecting the first, second, third, and fourth flanges;

a locking pin movable among a plurality of positions; and

a lever disposed at least partially between the first and second flanges, disposed at least partially between the third and fourth flanges, and pivotally connected to the pivot pin;

the lever being sized and configured to guide the locking pin among a plurality of positions, including a first position in which the locking pin engages the first cam portion and the second cam portion and a second position in which the locking pin is spaced apart from the first cam portion and the second cam portion.

18. A table as recited in claim 17, wherein the lever includes a first aperture, the third flange includes a second aperture, and the fourth flange includes a third aperture and wherein the locking pin is at least partially disposed within each of the first, second, and third apertures.

19. A table as recited in claim 17, wherein the lever includes a first elongated aperture having a pair of opposing rounded ends, the third flange includes a second elongated aperture having a pair of opposing rounded ends, and the fourth flange includes a third elongated aperture having a pair of opposing rounded ends and wherein the locking pin is at least partially disposed within each of the first, second, and third elongated apertures.

20. A table as recited in claim 19, wherein the locking pin is disposed proximate one of the opposing ends of the first elongated aperture when the locking pin is in the first position;

wherein the locking pin is disposed proximate the other opposing end of the first elongated aperture when the locking pin is in the second position;

wherein the locking pin is disposed proximate one of the opposing ends of the second elongated aperture when the locking pin is in the first position; and

wherein the locking pin is disposed proximate the other opposing end of the second elongated aperture when the locking pin is in the second position.

21. A table as recited in claim 17, wherein the lever further comprises an anchoring portion including a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion.

22. A table as recited in claim 21, wherein the first receiving portion comprises a first groove having a generally concave configuration and the second receiving portion comprises a second groove having a generally concave configuration.

23. A table comprising:

a table top including a first table top section and a second table top section, the table top being positionable between a folded position and unfolded position;

a table frame including;

a first rail portion; and

a second rail portion;

a hinge assembly pivotally interconnecting the first rail portion and the second rail portion and being positionable between a first position in which table top is positioned in the folded position and a second position in which the table top is position in the unfolded position, the hinge assembly including;

a first connector; and

a second connector pivotally connected to the first connector;

a locking pin movable among a plurality of positions, including a first position in which the locking pin releasably locks the hinge assembly when the table top is position in the unfolded position; and

a lever including an aperture, the locking pin being disposed within the aperture;

wherein movement of the lever results in movement of the locking pin relative to the aperture; and

wherein an inner surface of the aperture engages the locking pin and moves the locking pin among the plurality of positions when the lever is being moved.

24. A table as recited in claim 23, wherein the lever further comprises an anchoring portion including a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion.

25. A table as recited in claim 24, wherein the first receiving portion comprises a first groove having a generally concave configuration and the second receiving portion comprises a second groove having a generally concave configuration.

26. A table comprising:

a table top including a first table top section and a second table top section, the first table top section and the second table top section being constructed from blow-molded plastic and including an upper surface, a lower surface and a hollow interior portion that are integrally formed during the blow-molding process;

the first table top section and the second table top being positionable between a folded position and unfolded position;

a table frame including;

a first metal rail connected to the first table top section; and

a second metal rail connected to the second table top section;

a hinge assembly pivotally interconnecting the first rail and the second rail of the table frame, the hinge assembly comprising;

a first hinge connector connected to the first rail;

a second hinge connector connected to the second rail;

a hinge pin connecting the first hinge connector and the second hinge connector;

a locking slot in the second hinge connector;

a locking pin movable within the locking slot being a locked position and an unlocked position; and

an engaging member of the first hinge connector that engages the locking pin when the locking pin is in the locked position, the engaging member being spaced apart from the locking pin is in the unlocked position; and

a lever that is movable between a first position and a second position, the lever including an engaging surface that engages the locking pin to move the locking pin between the locked position and the unlocked position.

27. A table as recited in claim 26, further comprising an aperture in the lever, the engaging surface forming at least a portion of an inner surface of the aperture.