Table assembly of molded plastics material

A pair of upper and lower tray members are molded of a rigid plastics material, and each tray member includes a peripherally extending rim portion from which depends a peripherally extending skirt portion. The corner portions of the tray members are rounded, and a set of correspondingly curved leg members support the corner portions of the tray members. The leg members are also molded of a plastics material, and each leg member includes a support portion which engages and supports the skirt portion of each tray member. Each leg member also has a set vertically spaced integral flange portions which project inwardly under the tray members, and the flange portions have openings for receiving corresponding bosses projecting downwardly from the underneath sides of the tray members. The flange portions are slightly flexible to provide for snap-fitting the leg members onto the tray members to produce a rigid and sturdy table assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Various different table assemblies have been constructed to simplify the 
assembly of separate components such as a set of vertically spaced 
platforms or tray members which are connected by corner support legs. For 
example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,677,470 discloses a rectangular metal table 
having upper and lower shelves or tray members each of which is provided 
with corner angle sockets. The sockets receive a set of corner angle 
support legs which permit the table to be easily assembled and 
disassembled without screws, bolts or other fasteners. 
It has been found desirable to construct the components of a table of a 
molded plastics material in order to minimize the cost and weight of the 
table and to eliminate problems of corrosion. However, problems are 
encountered in obtaining a plastic table assembly which has high strength 
and rigidity in addition to high durability. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to an improved table assembly constructed 
of interfitting components which are each adapted to be efficiently molded 
of a substantially rigid plastics material. In the illustrated embodiment, 
the table assembly includes a set of molded plastic identical tray members 
which are supported in vertically spaced relation by a set of molded 
plastic corner leg members which are also of identical construction. The 
leg members are constructed to interfit and snap-fit onto the tray members 
in a manner which provides for a table having high strength, rigidity and 
durability and which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. 
Other features and advantages of a table constructed in accordance with the 
invention will be apparent from the following description, the 
accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawing, a pair of generally square or rectangular upper 
and lower tray members 10 are interconnected and supported in vertically 
spaced relation by a set of corner leg members 12. Each of the tray 
members 10 and leg members 12 is formed by injection molding a 
thermoplastics material such as an "ABS" material. Each of the tray 
members 10 includes a generally horizontal flat base or bottom wall 
portion 14 which is integrally connected to a peripherally extending rim 
portion 16 by a peripherally extending inclined inner wall portion 17. An 
integrally formed or molded outer wall or skirt portion 18 projects 
downwardly or depends from the rim portion 16 and terminates with a bottom 
edge located substantially level with the upper surface of the supporting 
base wall portion 14. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the corner portions of each tray member 10 
are rounded or curved, and an integrally molded stud or projection 21 
protrudes inwardly from each corner of the skirt portion 18 and into the 
peripherally extending and downwardly open cavity 22 formed by the wall 
portions 16, 17 and 18 of each tray member. Each corner portion of each 
tray member 10 also includes an integrally molded frame-like rectangular 
boss or projection 24 which protrudes downwardly from the bottom or base 
wall portion 14 of the tray member. The outer wall of each projection 24 
extends slightly downwardly from the remaining walls of the projection to 
form an extended lip portion 26. 
As shown in the drawing, each of the leg members 12 includes a curved outer 
wall 32 which conforms to the curvature of the corners of the tray members 
10, and the outer wall 32 integrally connects vertically extending side 
walls or flanges 33 to form a curved channel-like horizontal 
cross-sectional configuration. Each of the leg members 12 also includes an 
upper end or lip portion 34 which conforms to the curvature of the corner 
so that the lip portion 34 engages the inner surface of the corresponding 
corner skirt portion 18, as shown in FIG. 3. The lip portion 34 is offset 
inwardly to form an outer shoulder 36 which receives and supports the 
lower end surface of the corner skirt portion 18, and a hole or opening 37 
is formed within the lip portion 34 for receiving the stud or projection 
21 which is molded as an integral part of the skirt portion 18. 
Each leg member 12 has a generally horizontal and integrally formed upper 
flange portion 42 which projects inwardly adjacent the bottom surface of 
the base wall portion 14 of the upper tray member 10, and the flange 
portion 42 has a rectangular opening 43 for receiving the corresponding 
frame-like projection 24 in close fitting relation. 
The lower part of each leg member 12 includes an outwardly projecting 
curved wall portion 46 which defines a cavity for receiving the 
corresponding corner of the skirt portion 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3. 
The wall portion 46 forms an inner horizontal shoulder 47 which supports 
the bottom edge of the corner skirt portion 18, and an integrally molded 
horizontal flange portion 49 projects inwardly adjacent the top surface of 
the rim portion 16 of the lower tray member 10. 
Each of the leg members 12 is also molded with an integral lower flange 
portion 52 which is substantially identical in configuration to the upper 
flange portion 42. The lower flange portion 52 also has a rectangular 
opening 53 for receiving the corresponding frame-like projection 24 
protruding from the lower surface of the base wall portion 14 of the lower 
tray member 10. Each of the flange portion 42 and 52 is slightly springy 
and may be flexed relative to the vertical wall portion of the leg member 
12 in order to engage and release the corresponding projection 24. 
The assembly of the tray members 10 and the leg members 12 is accomplished 
by preferably placing the upper tray member 10 upside down on a floor or 
other support surface. The lip portion 34 of one of the leg members 12 is 
then inserted into a corner of the cavity 22 and adjacent the inner 
surface of the skirt portion 18 so that the projection 21 extends into the 
adjacent hole 37 to prevent relative vertical movement of the tray and leg 
members. The leg member is then tilted to a vertical position so that the 
upper flange portion 42 receives the corresponding rectangular projection 
24, thereby preventing relative horizontal movement between the leg and 
tray members. 
The bottom tray member 10 is then inverted and a corner portion of the tray 
member is hooked into the cavity formed by the wall portion 46 of the 
inverted upright leg member 12. The flange portion 52 is snap-fitted onto 
the adjacent rectangular projection 24 so that the one leg member is 
rigidly connected or locked to both of the tray members 10. The remaining 
three leg members are successivly inserted and snap-fitted onto the tray 
members 10 while the tray members remain in the inverted positions. After 
all of these leg members are connected, the table assembly is completed 
and is inverted so that it is ready for use. The disassemble the table 
assembly, the above procedure is merely reversed. That is, the lower 
flange portion 52 of each leg member 12 is flexed slightly so that it is 
released from the corresponding projection 24, after which the leg member 
is tilted outwardly and removed from both tray members. 
From the drawing of the above description, it is apparent that a table 
assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, provides 
desirable features and advantages. For example, the connections of the 
curved lip portion 34 and wall portion 46 of each leg member 12 with the 
adjacent curved skirt portions 18 of the upper and lower tray members 10, 
are effective to prevent relative vertical movement between each leg 
member 12 and the tray member 10. Similarly, the connections of the flange 
portions 42 and 52 of each leg member 12 with the corresponding 
projections 24 of the tray members 10, form positive locks which prevent 
relatively horizontal movement and rotation between the leg members 12 and 
the tray members 10. 
These connections of the leg and tray members cooperate with the curved 
channel-like configuration of the leg members to provide for a positive, 
rigid and sturdy table assembly which also has high support strength. 
Furthermore, the construction of the tray members 10 and the leg members 
12 provide for a quick and easy assembly and dissassembly of the table 
unit. In addition, the all plastic construction of the table assembly 
eliminates any problem of corrosion and provides for easy cleaning. 
While the form of table assembly herein described constitutes a preferred 
embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is 
not limited to this precise form of table assembly, and that changes may 
be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the 
invention as defined in the appended claims.