Abstract:
A table having adjustment means is provided, wherein the work surface may be raised or lowered, widened or narrowed, tilted at a desired angle, or so that the shape may be altered. The adjustable table utilizes a series of slots, holes and bolts, allowing the components of the table to slide in various directions, providing multi-dimensional adjustment capabilities by simply loosening the attachment means (preferably bolts and nuts), sliding the components to their desired position, and then tightening the attachment means to fix the components in that position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to tables that are adjustable in multiple directions. More specifically, the present invention includes a table that may be adjusted with respect to its height and width, and which may be adjusted angularly, as desired. Additionally, the present invention includes a method for providing adjustable means for tables and other furniture pieces. 
         [0002]    Heretofore, a variety of adjustable tables and work platforms have been developed and commercialized. Height adjustable tables are well known, and tables having width adjusting means are also commercially available. Various tables have been developed to provide width adjusting means, including dining room style tables that may be separated so that an additional section, or “leaf”, may be affixed within the gap. Other tables include hinged platforms on one or more sides, which may be locked into a horizontal position in order to provide additional work space, and which may be folded into a downward vertical position when not in use. Still other tables or work platforms allow a user to adjust the angle of the work space, such as draftsman&#39;s desks. However, none of the prior art includes a table having slots strategically positioned within the structure, so that the table may be raised and lowered, tilted, widened or narrowed, and further which allow the table to change its shape. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable to provide a table having multiple adjustment means, so that the table could be adapted for various uses and formed into multiple desired configurations. Such an arrangement could be manufactured in varying sizes, so that it could be useful as a work platform as a standard sized table, or as a lap desk that may be positioned over a user&#39;s lap while the user is sitting in a chair or lying on a bed, for instance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention includes a table having adjustment means, so that the work surface may be raised or lowered, widened or narrowed, tilted at a desired angle, or so that the shape may be altered. The multi-dimensional adjustability of the table is based on an angular slot concept. If two flat planar components, such as boards, are positioned one on top of the other in an overlying position, and each component includes a slot (wherein the slots are not running in a parallel direction), and a bolt (or the like) is used to connect the components by passing through the slots, then the position of the components may be moved and adjusted with respect to each other with a high degree of freedom in multiple directions. The adjustable table utilizes a series of slots, holes and attachment means, allowing the components of the table to slide in various directions, providing multi-dimensional adjustment capabilities by simply loosening the attachment means (preferably bolts and nuts), sliding the components to their desired position, and then tightening the attachment means to fix the components in that position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable table in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of one embodiment of an adjustable table in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an adjustable table in a raised position in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adjustable table in a tilted position, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an adjustable table with the sliding platforms in an extended linear position, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an adjustable table with the sliding platforms in an extended, angular position, in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an adjustable table in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    A first embodiment of the adjustable table is shown in  FIG. 1 . The table  2  includes an upper work surface  4 , and a pair of sliding panels  6  positioned horizontally, below and in contact with the upper work surface  4 . The sliding panels  6 , in a preferred embodiment, are each approximately half the size of the upper work surface  4 , so that when they are adjacent one another, they sit neatly beneath the upper work surface  4 . Each sliding panel  6  includes a lateral slot  8  at a front side, and a second lateral slot  8  at a back side. The upper work surface  4  may include four holes  10 , wherein each hole  10  is located adjacent a corner thereof. Attachment means  12 , such as nuts and bolts or other suitable means, are used to attach the upper work surface  4  to the sliding panels  6 . The bolts  12  extend downwardly through the holes  10  in the upper work surface  4  and through the slots  8  on the sliding panels  6 , and the nut is screwed onto the bolt  12  tightly enough to fix the sliding panels  6  to the underside of the upper work surface  4  through frictional engagement. In this manner, the attachment means  12  may be loosened up on either or both sides of the upper work surface  4 , and the sliding panels  6  may slide outwardly to a desired position, effectively widening the table  2  and providing additional work space. 
         [0014]    Each sliding panel  6  also includes a fixed vertical support  14  extending downwardly along the outer sides thereof. The fixed vertical support  14  may be permanently attached in a vertical orientation with respect to the sliding panels  6 , or alternatively, the fixed vertical support  14  may be attached by a hinge, so that it may be locked into a vertical position when in use, and folded into a horizontal position underneath the sliding panels  6  when not in use. Each fixed vertical support  14  includes, in a preferred embodiment, a series of vertical slots  16 . A sliding vertical support  18  is attached to each fixed vertical support  14 . Each sliding vertical support  18  includes, in a preferred embodiment, a series of horizontal slots  20 . Bolts  12 , or other attachment means, extend through the vertical slots of the fixed vertical support, and through the horizontal slots of the sliding vertical support. This arrangement allows the height and angle of the table  2  to be adjusted as desired. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 3-6  show the table  2  in several different configurations.  FIG. 3  shows the table in a raised position. It should be noted that the sliding vertical supports  18  on each side of the table  2  may each move in a horizontal direction, as well as in a vertical direction, which allows for a 360 degree range of freedom.  FIG. 4  shows the table  2  in a tilted position, where the rear portion of the upper work surface  4  is raised to a level above the front portion of the upper work surface  4 . This arrangement is particularly useful for a person who is reading or working, while sitting up in a bed.  FIG. 5  shows the table  2  with the sliding panels  6  in an extended, linear position, thereby effectively increasing the width of the table  2  and providing additional work space.  FIG. 6  shows the table  2  with the sliding panels  6  in an extended, angular position in which the sliding panels form an obtuse angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the upper work surface  4 . 
         [0016]    Another optional embodiment of the adjustable table includes an upper work surface directly attached to a pair of fixed vertical supports, one on each lateral side of the upper work surface. The sliding vertical supports are attached to the fixed vertical supports, as set forth above. In this embodiment, the adjustable table does not include the width adjusting means, but does allow the height and angular tilt of the upper work surface to be adjusted. Similarly, yet another embodiment of the adjustable table includes the upper work surface and the sliding panels as set forth above, which include fixed vertical supports, but does not include the sliding vertical support member. This embodiment allows width adjustments as described above, but is not adjustable with respect to height or angular tilt of the upper work surface. 
         [0017]    It is contemplated that the adjustable table may be made from wood, plastic, or any other suitable material. It is further contemplated that the components of the table may be manufactured using an injection molding process. Alternate embodiments may include slots that are curved or specially designed to enhance adjustability. Although the drawings show the fixed vertical supports  14  and the sliding vertical supports  18  as each having three slots, it should be understood that more or less slots may be used, as desired. Furthermore, although the components are shown having specific shapes, it should be understood that other shapes may be used. For instance, the upper work surface  4  and the sliding panels  6  may be rectangular as shown, or may have a different shape, as desired. The adjustable table may be made into any desired size. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the method of providing a series of non-parallel slots within overlying flat surface components in order to provide multi-dimensional degrees of freedom for purposes of adjustment may be utilized with respect to other types of furniture, 
         [0018]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.