Abstract:
A sectional folding table has a first-tabletop frame (3) with an outside periphery into which a second-tabletop frame (4) and foldable legs (16, 18) of the second-tabletop frame are pivotally foldable. An attachment side (20) of the first-tabletop frame is attachable to a separate structure such as a vehicle compartment (15), to another table or to other desired objects of a desired height as an option to primary legs (26, 27). Legs of both tabletop frames are attached pivotally to a joint side (10) and positioned in juxtaposed relationship for side-by-side pivotal folding. Several embodiments are shown.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to folding tables and in particular to folding tables having a plurality of tops that are foldable within an outside perimeter of a single top section for ease of portability and extension from other structures such as a vehicle, another table, steps, railing, wheel chair or indigent cave for such uses as vehicle-platform extensions, picnics, card playing, festivals, flea-market sales, shows and exhibits. 
     Previously, there have been a wide variety of folding tables attachable to or extendable from a separate structure. None, however, are known to have dual tops that are foldable within confines of a single top in a manner taught by this invention. Examples of different but related foldable and vehicle-attachable tables include a table for a truck bed described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,335 by Russell, issued Feb. 25, 1992. The Russell device is a single-top table that fits in a pickup truck and has legs extendable at portions not held up by a bed of the pickup truck when slid out to where end one is supported by the pickup truck. It also provided ramp access to the pickup truck with the legs folded up and with one end on a ground surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,088, by Chudik, issued Feb. 19, 1991, describes a table extendable from a pickup truck similar to the Russell table but with different types of legs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,934, by Miller, et al., issued Aug. 31, 1993, taught a work-shop table slidable from a pickup truck and having wheels on legs extendible to support and to move the table when off of the pickup truck. A sectional folding table having an end attachable to a separate structure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,471,730, by Doerr, issued May 31, 1949. The Doerr device, however, was limited to having one end supported by a luggage compartment of an automobile. It was limited further to legs, slide ways, hinging means and other components different than taught by this invention. Other known prior-art folding tables attachable to a separate structure are further yet different. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of problems that have existed and that continue to exist in this field, objectives of this invention are to provide a sectional folding table which: 
     Folds within peripheral confines of one tabletop; 
     Has legs of a plurality of tabletops that fold within peripheral confines of one tabletop; 
     Has one end supportable optionally by a separate structure; 
     Is convenient to operate, light, portable and has optional luggage wheels; and 
     Fits within a motor-vehicle trunk or compartment. 
     This invention accomplishes the above and other objectives with a sectional folding table having a first section with an outside periphery into which a second section and foldable legs of the second section are pivotally foldable. One edge of the first section is attachable to a separate structure such as a vehicle compartment, another table or other object of a desired height as an option to legs. Legs of both sections are attached pivotally and positioned in juxtaposed relationship for side-by-side pivotal folding. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are described briefly as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this sectional folding table in working relationship to a vehicle compartment; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of a folded framework without tabletops; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of an unfolded framework without tabletops; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of an unfolded framework with tabletops and cutaway sections in the tabletops to illustrate working relationships of frame components and legs; 
     FIG. 5 is the FIG. 4 illustration with wide first and second tabletops having equal widths; 
     FIG. 6 is a leg with a length-adjustment means; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway top view of an embodiment having primary legs as an option to use inside or outside of other structures to support an attachment side; 
     FIG. 8 is the FIG. 7 illustration with legs in unfolded mode; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment having inside middle legs and optional outside primary legs and having extension legs attached to a third side of a second-tabletop frame; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial cutaway side view of a folded sectional folding table having wheels and optional struts for raising the wheels from horizontal surfaces when the folding table is in a horizontal attitude; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an optional leg-locking means for locking legs in a desired vertical attitude; and 
     FIG. 12 is a cutaway sectional view of an optional axle means for relative rotational positioning of the legs and frames. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is made first to FIGS. 1-2. A sectional folding table has a first tabletop 1 and a second tabletop 2 that are generally rectangular. The first tabletop 1 is attached to a top side of a first-tabletop frame 3 and the second tabletop 2 is attached to a second-tabletop frame 4. The first-tabletop frame 3 and the second-tabletop frame 4 are joined pivotally by means of a first joint end 5 on a first side 6 of the second-tabletop frame 4 and a second joint end 7 on a second side 8 of the second-tabletop frame 4 that are extended perpendicularly from a third side 9 of the second-tabletop frame 4 and attached pivotally to a joint side 10 that is a frame side common to the first-tabletop frame 3 and the second-tabletop frame 4. 
     A first middle leg 11 is attached pivotally to the joint side 10 at a design position relative to a first side 12 of the first-tabletop frame 3 and relative to the first side 6 of the second-tabletop frame 4. A second middle leg 13 is attached pivotally to the joint side 10 at a design position relative to a second side 14 of the first-tabletop frame 3 and relative to the second side 8 of the second-tabletop frame 4. In this embodiment, the first middle leg 11 and the second middle leg 13 are positioned laterally outside of the first-tabletop frame 3 in an unfolded mode. In other embodiments, such as described in relation to FIG. 9, the first middle leg 11 and the second middle leg 13 are positioned laterally inside of the tabletop frames 3 and 4. 
     The first middle leg 11 and the second middle leg 13 are juxtaposed in parallel relationship to the tabletop frames 3 and 4 in a folded mode for being stored or positioned in such places as a vehicle compartment 15. In unfolded mode, the middle legs 11 and 13 are positioned in designed degrees of perpendicularity relative to the tabletop frames 3 and 4. 
     A first extension leg 16 is attached pivotally to the second-tabletop frame 4 at a design position relative to a first extension corner 17 of the second-tabletop frame 4. A second extension leg 18 is attached pivotally to the second-tabletop frame 4 at a design position relative to a second extension corner 19 of the second-tabletop frame 4. In this embodiment, the first extension leg 16 is attached pivotally to the first side 6 of the second-tabletop frame 4 and the second extension leg 18 is attached pivotally to the second side 8 of the second-tabletop frame 4. In an embodiment described in relation to FIG. 9, the extension legs 16 and 18 are attached to the third side 9 of the second-tabletop frame 4. In either embodiment, the extension legs 16 and 18 are parallel to both tabletop frames 3 and 4 in a folded mode and designedly perpendicular to both tabletop frames 3 and 4 in an unfolded mode. 
     One intended use of this sectional folding table is as a tailgate table for a motor vehicle. For this use, an attachment side 20 of the first-tabletop frame 3 is positioned on a structure such as a floor in a vehicle compartment 15. The middle legs 11 and 13 and the extension legs 16 and 18 are then unfolded as depicted in FIG. 1. To facilitate sliding in-and-out of a car or other storage facilities, a first luggage-type wheel 21 is attached rotationally to the first side 12 of the first-tabletop frame 3 proximate the attachment side 20 and a second luggage-type wheel 22 is attached rotationally to the second side 14 proximate the attachment side 20 of the first-tabletop frame 3. To stop the wheels 21 and 22 from causing the table to roll from the back of the vehicle 15, one or more steps or ridges (not shown) can be placed in the rear floor of the vehicle 15. 
     Sides of frames 3 and 4 can be cylindrical, square, rectangular, channelled or other structural-beam form desirable for various use conditions and cost factors. Cylindrical tubing is illustrated as a preferred structural-beam form. Materials also can be selected from a wide variety of options such as aluminum, plastic and iron. The tabletops 1 and 2 can be constructed of various wood, composite, aluminum, plastic and other suitable materials. Thickness of tops can be in accordance with design requirements for the particular materials employed. Whether or not the tabletops 1 and 2 are extended over sides of frames 3 and 4 is a design factor in relation to materials and thickness of materials. Conventional joining methods can be employed for all components. 
     Reference is made now to FIGS. 3-5. The sectional folding table is shown without tabletops 1 and 2 in FIG. 3 to illustrate working relationships of frame and leg components in an unfolded mode. In FIG. 4, corner portions of the first tabletop 1 and the second tabletop 2 are cut away to reveal corner construction in an unfolded mode. In FIG. 5, the first tabletop 1 is extended to outside edges of frame sides 12, 14 and 20 as a design preference for particular applications. Also in FIG. 5, the second tabletop 2 is extended to the same widths as the first tabletop 1 for particular design preferences. On all but the joint side 10, the tabletops 1 and 2 can be extended to and beyond respective edges of the frames 3 and 4. 
     In FIG. 6, an optional length-adjustment means is shown for adjusting lengths of legs 11, 13, 16 and 18. A leg extension 23 is positional and adjustable telescopically inside of a base portion 24 of a leg. Arresting relationship of the leg extension 23 to the base portion 24 can be provided with a variety of fastener means such as a set screw 25 that is screwable through a wall of the base portion 24 against the leg extension 23. 
     Reference is made now to FIGS. 7-8. A first primary leg 26 and a second primary leg 27 are attached pivotally to the first side 12 and to the second side 14 respectively of the first-tabletop frame 3. The primary legs 26 and 27 are alternative to resting the attachment side 20 on a structure such as a vehicle compartment 15. Also for either embodiment, the first extension leg 16 and the second extension leg 18 can be attached pivotally to the third side 9 of the second-tabletop frame 4 at positions proximate the first extension corner 17 and the second extension corner 19, respectively. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, the first middle leg 11 can be attached to the joint side 10 at a position that is inside of the first-tabletop frame 3 laterally. Similarly, the first extension leg 16 and the second extension leg 18 can be attached to the third side 9 of the second-tabletop frame 4 at positions proximate the first extension corner 17 and the second extension corner 19 respectively. Legs on a top side of this illustration are shown in folded mode and legs on a bottom side of the illustration are shown unfolded for brevity now that these components have been depicted in separate drawings above. Note that the legs are shown as being sufficiently short to fit within the respective frames 3 and 4. Also demonstrated graphically is positioning the first side 6 of the second-tabletop frame 4 between the first side 12 of the first-tabletop frame 3 and the first middle leg 11 at one side of the sectional folding table and positioning the second side 8 of the second-tabletop frame 4 between the second side 14 of the first-tabletop frame 3 and the second middle leg 13. This allows folding in juxtaposed relationship of the sides and the legs. 
     Referring to FIG. 10 primarily and to FIGS. 1-9, first and second luggage struts 28 can be attached to bottom surfaces of first and second sides 12 and 14 respectively of the first-tabletop frame 3 at a design distance from the attachment side 20 for raising the luggage-type wheels 21 and 22 from a storage surface when not being moved on the luggage-type wheels 21 and 22. The first and second luggage struts 28 are made long enough to exceed distance from outside peripheries of the luggage-type wheels 21 and 22 to the storage surface. The luggage-type wheels 21 and 22 are employed by merely raising the joint side 10 to where the first and second luggage struts 28 are raised from the storage surface. Third and fourth luggage struts 29 can be positioned similarly on the first-tabletop frame 3 proximate the joint side 10 to provide a horizontal attitude of the sectional folding table in folded mode. 
     Also depicted in FIG. 10 is positioning of the first tabletop 1 and the second tabletop 2 vertically above and below the respective tabletop frames 3 and 4 to which they are attached. This same positioning occurs regardless of width of the tabletops 1 and 2 on all sides except for sides attached to the joint side 10. Sides of tabletops 1 and 2 attached to the joint side 10 can not be extended beyond center of the joint side 10. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, legs of the sectional folding table can be locked into design vertical and horizontal attitudes by a variety of leg-locking means in combination with a variety of axle assemblies. One means is with a lock pin 30 in a part-circle channel 31 in a control sleeve 32 that is an extension of either side of the first-tabletop frame 3 or the second-tabletop frame 4. Rotating on an axle 33 extended from either of such sides, the lock pin 30 can be positioned designedly to maintain a design verticality. A preferred method for maintaining verticality is to design the part-circle channel 31 to allow a leg, such as first middle leg 11, to be slanted at an angle slightly greater than ninety degrees from horizontal relationship to a tabletop 1 or 2. Weight of the table and its contents are caused thereby to maintain all of the legs so slanted in their slanted attitude. Angles greater than ninety degrees for leg verticality and for pin rotation are indicated by double-ended arcuate arrows. 
     Reference is made now to FIG. 12. A preferred axle means for rotation of first and second sides 6 and 8 and for rotation of first and second middle legs 11 and 13 is shown by illustration for the second sides 8 and 14 in relation to middle leg 13. An axle bolt 34 is threaded through an outside nut 35, extended through an axle sleeve 36, threaded through an inside nut 37, and then threaded into a base nut 38 in the joint side 10. The axle bolt 34 may also be smooth by using retaining pins to frame numbers 10 and 14. A variety of other means also can be employed. 
     A new and useful sectional folding table having been described, all such modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, combinations of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims are included in this invention. 
     LIST OF COMPONENTS 
     (For Convenience Of The Examiner) 
     1. first tabletop 
     2. second tabletop 
     3. first-tabletop frame 
     4. second-tabletop frame 
     5. first joint end on first side of second-tabletop frame 
     6. first side of the second-tabletop frame 
     7. second joint end of second side of second-tabletop frame 
     8. second side of second-tabletop frame 
     9. third side of second-tabletop frame 
     10. joint side 
     11. first middle leg 
     12. first side of first-tabletop frame 
     13. second middle leg 
     14. second side of first-tabletop frame 
     15. vehicle compartment 
     16. first extension leg 
     17. first extension corner 
     18. second extension leg 
     19. second extension corner 
     20. attachment side of first-tabletop frame 
     21. first luggage-type wheel 
     22. second luggage-type wheel 
     23. leg extension 
     24. base portion of leg 
     25. set screw 
     26. first primary leg 
     27. second leg 
     28. first and second luggage struts 
     29. third and fourth luggage struts 
     30. lock pin 
     31. part-circle channel 
     32. control sleeve 
     33. axle 
     34. axle bolt 
     35. outside nut 
     36. axle sleeve 
     37. inside nut 
     38. base nut