Abstract:
A bench/table combination suitable for picnic tables and the like which is easily collapsible and is strong when erected. The folding action allows the table top, legs and benches to be folded to assume a generally vertical position, the table top being made of two halves and hinged about a central axis, a pair of legs attached to each table top half and being pivotally attached to their respective table top half, and bench supports extending between each pair of legs being pivotally attached to the legs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a bench and table combination which is collapsible for easy storage. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Picnic tables with integral benches are well known in the prior art and are often found in places such as country parks and in gardens belonging to public houses. These are typically of solid timber construction and remain outside all year round as they are rather large and pose problems for storage. The wood can deteriorate when left outside. It may become rotten and often looks discoloured and dirty. 
   There are picnic tables and benches available on the market which are collapsible, but these are often made of a plastic material and are not usually as sturdy as the known wooden picnic bench/table combinations. Also known are modular tables and chairs which can be easily stored, but take a long time to put together. 
   The prior art includes a variety of collapsible table and bench combinations, which fold along the length of the table top into a more compact arrangement for storage purposes. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,823,484 of Blumenthal describes a table which is supported by legs positioned close to the outer edges of the table top, and which cross one another and are pivotally secured at their midpoint. The assembly is rather complicated, being pivoted at many other points, in particular a connecting strut between the two seats is pivoted at its midpoint, to each of the seats and each of the table legs and additionally incorporates a sliding mechanism. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,594,572 of Soltesz describes a table top which is similarly supported by legs positioned close to the outer edges of the table top, the seats being supported by a brace pivoted at several points along its length and extending between the midpoint of the table top and the inner edge of the seat. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,257,550 of Gay, U.S. Pat. No. 1,585,954 of Widmark and U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,987 of Sraka et al. all describe an arrangement in which the table legs are angled towards the table top, with their ends meeting along the longitudinal axis of the table. The table top is therefore not supported at its outer edges by the table legs, and a variety of vertical supporting struts are necessary as a result. Gay shows the use of vertical table top supports which are detachably fixed to the outer edges of the table top and extend down and are pivoted to the table legs. Sraka et al. describes the use of table top supports which are interconnected to horizontal braces, both being pivotally and slidably connected to the table top and seats. Widmark describes a table top incorporating a storage box which extends along the longitudinal central portion of the table top. The remainder of the table top extending either side of the box is formed of two leaves which are hinged to swing down to a horizontal position for storage within the box. The benches and table legs similarly are hinged to fold to a horizontal position for storage within the box. 
   All the prior art documents referred to describe collapsible table and bench combinations which are relatively complicated, involving the use of extra supporting struts and braces which may be pivotally or slidably attached to the frame, and as such make the assembly more difficult and time consuming to assemble and collapse. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is accordingly an object of the invention to overcome the problem of storage, and to provide a bench/table combination which is easily collapsible and is strong when erected. According to the invention these and other objects are met by a collapsible bench and table combination comprising:
         a table top made up of two parts hingedly connected together so that the table top can fold in half about a central axis;   a pair of legs attached to each table top half, the legs of each pair being pivotable relative to the respective table top half, about a common axis spaced from and parallel to the axis of pivoting of the two table top halves, between a working position in which the legs can stand on the ground to support the table top and a stowed position in which the legs lie substantially parallel to the respective table top part and,   a bench support extending between each said pair of legs and pivotally attached to the legs of each pair at positions spaced from the table top to pivot about an axis parallel to the axis of pivoting of the legs, each said bench support comprising an outer portion with a bench extending at least between its respective supporting legs and an inner part extending under the table top when the table is erected, the respective inner parts of said bench supports being connectable together when the table is erected, to hold the table in its erect position.       

   It is a further object of the invention to provide a bench/table combination which collapses in such a way that in the collapsed state the bench/table combination takes up a lot less space than in the erected state. The combination of the invention is made up of individual pieces of construction material which are held together by any suitable means such as bolts. These pieces can remain held together when the device of the invention is both stored and erected. This permanent joining means that the bench/table assembly may be erected and collapsed quickly and easily without the use of tools and removes the risk of pieces becoming lost during storage as can often happen. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an erected bench/table combination according to a first embodiment of the present invention: 
       FIG. 2  shows the erected bench/table combination of  FIG. 1 , inverted prior to collapsing: 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  in a semi-collapsed state; 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the assembly after a second stage of collapsing; 
       FIG. 5  shows a side on view of the assembly of the invention in a fully collapsed state; 
       FIG. 6  shows a side on view of a second embodiment of the invention after a first stage of collapsing and 
       FIG. 7  shows a side on view of the erected bench/table combination of  FIG. 6 , with enlarged details shown as  7 A and  7 B; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the fully erected table; and 
       FIGS. 9A to 9C  are views of a preferred type of releasable hinge for folding and securing the table of  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bench table combination  10  is shown in perspective view and fully erected. The bench/table combination  10  comprises a table top made of six wooden slats which are joined together in blocks of three by transverse portions  26  which are arranged in abutting pairs at right angles to the slats. Each transverse portion  26  is connected to another transverse portion on the same block of slats by a connecting strut  30 . The two connecting struts of the bench/table combination are secured to the inside of the innermost slat of each block so that they abut one another longitudinally. The abutting pairs of transverse portions  26  are connected by respective hinges  52  and allow the table top to be folded in half about a longitudinal axis. 
   Attached to each transverse portion  26  is a leg  12  which is pivotable about an axis  22 . The legs are arranged such that the two legs on the same half of the table top run parallel with one another. The legs extend away from the centre of the table at an angle of less than 90 from the table top. The pivoting axes  22  are all parallel to the axes of hinges  52  and those on each half of the table are coaxial and spaced from the longitudinal axis of hinges  52 , in a direction towards an outer edge of the table top. 
   Because the pivots  22  are positioned closer to the outer edges of the table top than to the centre line of the table, forming a quadrilateral or trapezium configuration with the bench supports, a rigid structural support is provided for the table top and benches. 
   Approximately halfway down each leg  12  is another pivot  14  about which a bench  16  can rotate. Each bench comprises two wooden slats  18  which run parallel with the slats of the table top. Attached to the underside of the slats  18  is a bench support  20  comprising a pair of bench support beams  21  which are at right angles to the direction of the wooden slats. The bench support beams  21  are attached to respective table leg to be rotatable about a respective pivot  14 . The bench supports  20  are beneath the transverse portions  26 . The two support beams  21  of each bench  16  are joined together by a respective connecting strut  28  to form the complete bench support. When the bench/table combination is erected, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the two connecting struts  28  are in direct abutting contact with one another and bolted together, giving the bench/table combination its strength and stability. 
   Each bench extends for at least the length of the table top. The table top, benches and lower end of the legs are all parallel with one another when the bench/table combination is erected. 
   Approximately halfway along each leg is a notch  15 . When the bench/table combination is fully erected, the inner slat  16  of each bench engages in one of these notches. This helps to locate the most desirable and firm position for the bench/table combination to be in when erected. These notches also help to increase the stability of the erected structure. 
     FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an inverted semi-collapsed bench/table combination according to the first embodiment of the invention after the first stage of it being collapsed. The legs  12  have been pivoted about pivot points  22  and the benches  16  have been pivoted about points  14 , the connecting struts  28  having been unbolted from one another. 
     FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a partially collapsed bench/table combination according to the first embodiment of the invention. The legs have been rotated by their maximum amount around point  22  so that the outer side of each leg is now flush with the underside of the table. The benches  16  have been rotated to their maximum capabilities about point  14  and are also flush with the underside of the table portions so that the whole assembly lies flat. From this stage, the table top may be folded in half about hinges  52  by bringing together the two pairs of legs at each end of the table. 
     FIG. 5  shows a side on view of the assembly according to either embodiment of the invention in a fully collapsed state. Legs  12   a  and  12   b  are in close proximity to one another, and are shown in the figure to be touching. Legs  12   c  and  12   d  are positioned exactly the same as legs  12   a  and  12   b  but towards the other end of the table portions. The lower end of each leg  13  is angled so as to sit evenly on a surface when fully erected. Towards the centre of each leg is a pivot point  14  about which pivots the bench portions  16  of the assembly. 
   When the bench/table combination is in its fully collapsed state, as shown in  FIG. 5 , it can be stored easily. As the legs are together, the construction is robust and will withstand most forces applied on it during its storage. 
     FIG. 6  shows a side on view of a second embodiment of the invention after a first stage of collapsing the bench/table combination. This embodiment differs from that shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  in that the bench supports  20  are hingedly connected together at their lower edges by hinges  32  so that the assembly cannot lie flat as in  FIG. 4 . The benches and table top halves are parallel to one another and pivot together in a single collapsing movement. The legs  12   a  and  12   b  are moved towards one another, as are legs  12   c  and  12   d , not shown. The legs pivot about axes  22 , as do the table portions. The moving together of the legs also causes the benches to pivot about axes  14 . The benches  16  are moved from their locations in the notches  15  by the force applied in bringing the two pairs of legs together. The connecting struts  30  no longer abut one another, instead the upper end of each strut moves away from that of its opposing strut whilst the lower ends remain in contact due to the bench supports  20  being hingedly attached to one another. 
     FIG. 7  shows in side on view the bench/table combination fully set up and ready for use. Benches  16  extending between each pair of legs are parallel with the table portions  24   a  and  24   b . The connecting strut  28  of the bench  16  now abuts another connecting strut  28  of the opposing bench. The table portions are parallel with the bench portions which in turn are parallel with the lower ends of the legs. This abutting only allows the bench and table portions to pivot a certain amount around the pivot pins. Once the connecting struts are in an abutting configuration, the table and seating portions can pivot no further, thus adding to the rigidity of the structure. Notches  15  are shown to engage with the bench  16 . These notches not only provide a means of strengthening the structure, they also provide a means of knowing how far the benches may be rotated about point  14 . The notches prevent the benches  16  from being rotated too far about point  14 . The top of each leg is flush with the underside of the table. 
   In the first embodiment of the present invention, the bench/table combination is erected from its storage position firstly by moving the legs  12   a  and  12   c  away from  12   b  and  12   d  through a 90° motion about point  25 . The pairs of legs are then brought towards each other by pivoting each leg about an axis  22 . Once the lower ends of the legs are firmly on the ground, the bench  16  can then be rotated about pivots  14  until they are parallel with the floor and the table top. 
   In the second embodiment of the invention, the bench/table combination  10  is set up by firstly moving the lower ends of each pair of legs  12  away from the opposing pair of legs. This motion causes the table portions  24  and bench  16  to pivot about points  22  and  14  respectively. The further the legs are from the opposing pair, the more the table portion and benches will pivot. 
   In both embodiments, the pivoting stops when: the upper end of each leg is flush with the underside of the table portion; the connecting struts  28  of the two benches abut; the connecting struts  30  on the table portions abut and when the bench is engaged in the notches  15  of each leg. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 7  the struts  28  are connected to one another, for example with hinges  32  along their lower edges and releasable bolts  42  along their top edges, to reduce the stress on the abutting faces. Such securing means should be easily operated to be in keeping with the notion of an easy to assemble bench/table combination, without the need of tools. The embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7  uses hinge-type bolts  42  between the tops of bench supports  20  and similar bolts  44  between abutting transverse portions  26  of the table top. 
   The hinges and bolts holding the structure together are shown enlarged parts  7   a  and  7 B of  FIG. 7 , and in detail in  FIGS. 9A-9C . The hinges  32  are, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , permanently secured in place so as to hold the two halves of the table together. The hinge-type bolts  42  and  44  are of essentially the same construction, but with removable hinge pins to allow the two halves of each hinge to separate, as in  FIG. 6 , enabling the table to be folded. 
     FIG. 9A  shows the three components of one of the hinge-type bolts  42 ,  44 , comprising two hinge plates  62  and  63 , each secured to one part of the underside of the table, by means of screws through screw holes such as  64 . Hinge plate  62  has an integrally formed pair of eyes  71  with aligned bores, with a gap between into which fit a similar eye  70  of hinge plate  63  with a bore  72 , so that the bores  71  and  72  are aligned as shown in  FIGS. 9B and 9C . 
   A removable hinge pin  65 , fitted with a port wing  67  at one end and having sprung ball-catches  66  at the opposite end, fits through the aligned bores  71 ,  72 , to hold the hinge together, the sprung ball-catches  66  holding the pin in place. 
   The hinges  32  may be of similar construction to  42  and  44 , but may have permanently installed hinge pins rather than removable ones. 
   When the table of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is erected from the folded state shown in  FIG. 5 , the table top and seat assemblies assume the flat horizontal configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , in which the bores  71 ,  72  of each respective hinge  44  engage and align. A pin  65  can then be inserted through each hinge  42 ,  44  to retain the table in its fully erect position. It will be appreciated that the table is also held in this position by gravity. 
   To impart additional rigidity, diagonal cross-bracing elements such as cabin hooks  60  can be provided to extend between connecting struts  28  of the seat assembly and connecting struts  30  on the underside of the table top. For example, one cabin hook  60  may be pivotally mounted at  61  on a transverse member  28 , to engage a pin or the like  59  projecting laterally from the corresponding transverse member  30 . 
   The bench/table combination may be constructed of any suitable strong material, such as wood. The pivoting means  14  and  22 , on each leg may be made from any suitably strong material, such as steel or strong nylon. This pivoting means may comprise a bolt, such as a coach bolt and a locking nut, such as those made by Nylox™. 
   The bench/table combination can be set up and collapsed by keeping it upright at all times as is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7  or it can be done inverted as is shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . 
   In order for the bench/table construction to remain in a state for use and storage, it can be surface treated with a variety of products to extend its life. 
   Instead of rigid struts  28  extending between the bench support beams  21 , pivoting diagonal struts could be arranged to extend between the abutting ends of each pair of bench supports and intermediate positions along the lengths of the connecting struts  30 . For example, each connecting strut  30  could have one end of one such diagonal strut permanently pivotally attached to it at approximately its mid-point, the diagonal strut being pivotable between a stowed position parallel to the respective connecting strut  30  and a working position in which its free end is secured to a respective bench support.