Patent ID: 6009814
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: A47B

Abstract:
An expandable table, having a central axis, comprising:a tabletop layer comprising a plurality of segments, each having a segment point, a segment position, and segment sides, when the table is in a retracted position the segment points all meet at the central axis and the segment sides all correspond with segment sides from adjacent segments;a guide layer, substantially planar, having a plurality of radial guide slots, each extending radially outward from the central axis, the radial guide slots equal in number to the number of segments;an actuation layer, substantially planar, having a plurality of arcuate actuating slots that are spirally arranged around the central axis and equal in number to the number of segments, each arcuate actuating slot has a corresponding radial guide slot and at all times has a relative position thereto;a plurality of vertical rods, one vertical rod attached to and extending vertically downward from each segment, the vertical rod for each segment extending through one of the guide slots and through one of the actuating slots such that the position of the segment is at all times defined by the relative position of that guide slot and that actuating slot; andwherein the actuation layer and guide layer are capable of contrary rotation about the central axis to vary the relative positions of the actuating slots and guide slots to cause the segments to move toward the center and away from the center and thereby selectively move the segments toward a position where the segment sides do not correspond with segment sides from adjacent segments and wherein leaves may therefore be inserted between said segment sides of adjacent segments to create an even tabletop surface with the segments.