Abstract:
A collapsible table includes an integrated storage space for folding chairs. The storage space is formed by an open frame base that is not enclosed with side panels or a floor panel. The open frame configuration thus prevents the accumulation of rain water inside the storage area and makes the table better suited for outdoor recreational use. The table includes a center leaf having an opening into which a table umbrella may be inserted to shade users from sun and rain. Rubber bumpers may be placed along one of the sides of the table to allow a user to store the table on that side without fear of damaging the table, providing a user with more choices as far as storage space is concerned. Side leaves are also included and designed to releasably lock in the folded position, facilitating transportation and storage without the threat of the leaves swinging open unexpectedly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to collapsible Lables, specifically to collapsible tables with integrated storage compartments. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Collapsible tables have a wide variety of uses, especially in recreational settings outdoors. Most known designs for collapsible tables concentrate on achieving the smallest possible folded package. 
     Convenience in storage, however, is not always increased by simply making the folded package more compact. For example, although collapsible tables are very often used in conjunction with folding chairs, most known designs for collapsible tables fail to integrate storage space for folding chairs. 
     Furthermore, even those known collapsible tables that include integrated storage space for folding chairs are not well designed for outdoors use. They lack, for example features that take into account the accumulation of rain water in the storage area, or protection for users of the table from the sun or the rain. 
     Additionally, known collapsible tables with integrated storage are often designed to stand only on their legs when in the folded position. Such collapsible tables may either be damaged by being stored, for example, on one of its sides or lack a side leaf lock that will lock the leaves of the table in the lowered position. However, the ability to store a collapsible table on its side would be very desirable, as this adds to the ease with which the table may be stored. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a collapsible table that overcomes known problems in the art. The table of the present invention comprises an integrated storage space for folding chairs. The storage space is not enclosed with side panels or a floor panel. It is in the form of an open frame base and thus prevents the accumulation of rain water inside the storage area and makes the table better suited for outdoor recreational use. The table&#39;s center leaf further includes an opening into which a table umbrella may be inserted, which serves to shade users from sun and rain. 
     The present invention also provides rubber bumpers along one of the sides of the table, which allow a user to store the table on that side without fear of damaging the table. This provides a user with more choices as far as storage space is concerned. 
     The side leaves are also designed to releasably lock in the folded position. Thus, the table may be transported or stored on its side more easily without the threat of the leaves swinging open unexpectedly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a collapsible table in the unfolded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a collapsible table in the folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a collapsible table in the folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a frame base of a collapsible table according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 a  illustrates an enlarged detail view of a side leaf lock of a collapsible table according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of a collapsible table in the folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a close-up view of an adjustable foot according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of a collapsible table with support arms in a folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a side perspective view of a collapsible table with a support arm in an unfolded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a side perspective view of a collapsible table in an unfolded state, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a rear perspective view of a collapsible table in a folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a side perspective view of a collapsible table with one support arm in a folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a close-up perspective view of a stop bar of a collapsible table according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a close-up perspective view of an arm lock of a collapsible table according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present invention will be described, and for purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Furthermore, well known features have been omitted or simplified in order to prevent obscuring the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a collapsible table  100  in an unfolded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a collapsible table  100  in the folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, side leaves  120  may be constructed, for example, from aluminum, and are conventionally hinged to a center leaf  110 . Center leaf  110  may also be constructed, for example, from aluminum. Side leaves  120  are movable between a raised position, depicted in FIG. 1, and a lowered position, depicted in FIG.  2 . In its unfolded state, collapsible table  100  has, for example, side leaves  120  in a raised position, disposed laterally to center leaf  110  and forming a planar table surface with center leaf  110 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an umbrella support opening  210  is provided in center leaf  110  into which a table umbrella may be inserted and supported. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a collapsible table  100  omitting side leaves  120  and support arms  130 , so that frame base  400  may be seen more clearly. In this embodiment, a frame base  400  supports table leaves  110 ,  120 . Frame base  400  serves, for example, two purposes: (i) it provides support for table leaves  110 ,  120 ; and (ii) it provides a storage area for folding chairs  710  as depicted in FIG.  7 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, frame base  400  is comprised of a plurality of horizontal and vertical support members constructed from, for example, aluminum, and arranged in a rectangular box-shaped frame. Referring to FIG. 4, the respective top ends of front vertical supports  410 , rear vertical supports  415 , and side vertical supports  420   a-b  are, for example, connected to center leaf  110  and their respective approximate bottom ends are connected, for example, to lower horizontal supports  430 . In the present embodiment, wheels  140  are pivotally coupled to the rear portion of lower horizontal supports  430 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4,  8 , and  9 , upper horizontal supports  425   a-b  are connected at either end to a pair of side vertical supports  420   a  and  420   b  respectively. In this embodiment, the upper ends of support arms  130  are pivotally connected to the upper horizontal supports  425   a-b  and the lower ends are pivotally connected to the lower horizontal supports  430 . Support arms  130  are constructed, for example, from aluminum and are movable between a folded position depicted in FIGS. 7,  10 , and  11  and an unfolded position depicted in FIGS. 1,  8 , and  9 . 
     In the unfolded position support arms  130  are displaced substantially perpendicular to both upper and lower horizontal supports  425   a-b,    430  and also substantially perpendicular to and directly underneath side leaves  120 . In the unfolded position, support arms  130  hold side leaves in the raised position as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 and 12, in the folded position, support arms  130  are substantially parallel to both upper and lower horizontal supports  425   a-b,    430  and also substantially parallel to side leaves  120 . In the folded position, support arms  130  allow leaves to fall to the lowered position. 
     Support arms  130  are releasably lockable in the unfolded position. Referring to FIGS. 8,  9 , and  13  each support arm  130  includes, for example, an arm lock  1310 . In this embodiment, arm lock  1310  is a depressible spring-loaded button coupled to an upper portion of support arm  130 . Arm lock  1310  fits, for example, into a corresponding opening  1320   a  in a lock bracket  1320 . Lock bracket  1320  is, for example, connected to a bottom center portion of each of the side leaves  120 . In the present embodiment, when a support arm  130  is moved to the unfolded position, arm lock  1310  is brought into contact with the corresponding lock bracket  1320 . This contact causes, for example, arm lock  1310  to be depressed until arm lock  1310  reaches opening  1320   a  in lock bracket  1320 . In this embodiment, spring action pushes arm lock  1310  into opening  1320   a  of lock bracket  1320 , locking the corresponding support arm  130  in the unfolded position. To release a support arm  130  from the unfolded position, the corresponding arm lock  1310  is depressed which allows the support arm  130  to be moved to the folded position. 
     Side leaves are, for example, releasably lockable in the lowered position. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 4 a,  two or more side leaf locks  480  are, for example, connected to side vertical supports  420   a-b.  In the present embodiment, side leaf lock  480  is made, for example, from plastic or some other flexible material, and has a barbed end. As side leaf  120  is moved into the lowered position, side leaf lock  480  flexes and hooks onto the lowest edge of side leaf  120 . 
     A side leaf  120  may only be moved to the lowered position if the corresponding support arm  130  is already in the folded position. Thus, locking a side leaf  120  in the lowered position also locks the corresponding support arm  130  in the folded position. Locking side leaves  120  in the lowered position creates a stable folded package for collapsible table  100 , and is especially helpful, for example, when moving collapsible table  100  or when collapsible table  100  is laid on its rear side as depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a close-up view of an adjustable foot according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, front vertical supports  410  and support arms  130  include, for example, adjustable feet  412 . Each adjustable foot  412  includes, for example, a threaded shaft  412   a  that in the present embodiment is screwed into and out of a corresponding threaded portion inside a front vertical support  410  or a support arm  130 . Screwing an adjustable foot  412  into front vertical support  410  or support arm  130  decreases the height of the front vertical support  410  or support arm  130 . Similarly, unscrewing an adjustable foot  412  out from a front vertical support  410  or a support arm  130  increases the height of the front vertical support  410  or support arm  130 . Thus one may adjustably level collapsible table  100  by screwing or unscrewing the adjustable feet  412 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, bumpers  1210 , in this embodiment, are attached to rear vertical supports  415  and may be made, for example, from rubber. In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one may store collapsible table  100  by resting collapsible table  100  on rear vertical supports  415  as depicted in FIG.  3 . Bumpers  1210  protect rear vertical supports  415  from damage when laying collapsible table  100  on rear vertical supports  415  as depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, bottom cross-members  435 ,  450 ,  440 ,  445  are coupled at either end to side horizontal supports  430  as shown in FIG.  4 . Bottom cross-members  435 ,  450 ,  440 ,  445  are, for example, disposed perpendicularly to side horizontal supports  430  and are also disposed parallel to one another and evenly spaced. Bottom cross-member  435  is, in this embodiment, disposed closest to front vertical supports  410  and bottom cross-member  450  is disposed closest to rear vertical supports  415 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, bottom cross-member  440  has chair guides  440   a  evenly spaced and made, for example, from injection molded plastic. The spaces between adjacent chair guides  440   a  are, for example, wide enough for a folding chair  710  to fit through when laying on its side in the folded position. 
     A stop rail  490 , made for example, from aluminum, is coupled at either end to an upper portion of a rear vertical support  415 . In this exemplary embodiment, stop rail  490  has stop rail chair guides  490   a,  made from injection molded plastic and evenly spaced. As with chair guides  440   a,  the spaces between adjacent guides  490   a  are, for example, wide enough for a folding chair  710  to fit through if on its side in the folded position. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, frame base  400  is used to store folding chairs  710  as depicted in FIGS. 5,  7 ,  8 , and  9 . A folding chair  710  in the folded position is placed, for example, on one side and inserted through the open front end. In this exemplary embodiment, the folding chairs  710  are made to slide along bottom slats  435 ,  440 ,  445 ,  450  and through the open space between bottom slat chair guides  440   a.    
     Referring to FIG. 9, stop bar  490  prevents folding chairs  710  from sliding through the open rear end of collapsible table  100 . Upper legs  710   a  of folding chairs  710  slide onto stop bar  490 , fitting through the space between the stop bar chair guides. Folding chairs  710  are fully inserted in the storage area of collapsible table  100  when the folding chair rung  710   b  comes into contact with the stop bar  490 . Thus, bottom slat chair guides  440   a  and the stop bar chair guides  490   a  work together to limit movement of folding chairs  710  during transport or storage of collapsible table  100 .