Table top expander

A table expander is provided. The table expander includes a table top. The table top includes a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer edge. The table expander further includes a plurality of clamps attached to the bottom surface of the table top. The clamps may be oriented near the outer edge of the table top and may be equidistant to one another. The present invention may include two, three or four clamps. The table top may be placed on a table so that the clamps are surrounding the edges of the table. The clamps may be secured to the table, thereby securing the table top to the table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tables and, more particularly, to a table top expander.

Dine in restaurants have seating areas in which tables and chairs are setup for patrons to eat within the restaurants. Popular restaurants may reach maximum capacity during breakfast, lunch or dinner hours. Additionally, an increase of large parties of five or more guests may seek a table in the restaurant during the popular restaurant hours. To cope, the restaurant may replace existing tables with a larger folding table. However, this is time consuming and creates chaos during a busy dining hour. Alternatively, the restaurant may have extendable tables. These are prohibitively expensive and difficult to relocate in a room.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved table top expander.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a table expander comprises: a table top comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer edge; a plurality of clamps attached to the bottom surface of the table top near the outer edge, wherein each of the clamps comprises: a base fixed to the bottom surface of the table top; a pivoting member pivotally attached to the base wherein the pivoting member is operable to pivot away from a center of the table top and pivot towards the center of the table top forming a gap comprising a distance in between the pivoting member and the bottom surface; and a clamping member operable to increase and decrease the distance between the pivoting member and the bottom surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a light weight table top that overlays an existing table. The present invention may be used in restaurants, function halls, conference rooms, schools, residential homes, and the like. Securing a 60″ overlay table top on top of an existing 36″ square table converts a four person table into a six or eight person table.

The present invention may include the following components. The round composite may be the base material for the table top. The laminate may be printed and applied to create the customizable top. The edging creates the finished edge around the table top. The circular puck clamps may be attached in the correct location on the bottom of the table top. Two to three pucks are placed in each location. Holes may be drilled in the pucks to receive the male and female screws and knobs. The top puck may rotate relative to the middle puck, the middle puck is used to improve stability, and the bottom puck is fixed. After the tabletop is installed, the top puck is turned until it is catching the underlying table top and the middle puck is used to tighten the overlay to the table making it more stable. The knob is then turned to tighten the top two pucks to the underlying table, thereby firmly securing the overlay to the underlay.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 10, the present invention includes a table expander. The table expander includes a table top10. The table top10includes a top surface44, a bottom surface48and an outer edge. The table expander further includes a plurality of clamps15attached to the bottom surface48of the table top10. The clamps15may be oriented near the outer edge of the table top10and may be equidistant to one another. The present invention may include two, three or four clamps15. The table top10may be placed on a table42so that the clamps15are surrounding the edges46of the table42. The clamps15may be secured to the table42, thereby securing the table top10to the table42.

The clamps15of the present invention may include a base30fixed to the bottom surface48of the table top10. A pivoting member34is pivotally attached to the base30. The pivoting member34is operable to pivot away from the center of the table top10and pivot towards the center of the table top10. When the pivoting member34is pivoted towards the center of the table top10, a gap is formed between the pivoting member34and the bottom surface48of the table top10. The table42may fit within the gap. A clamping member38,40is operable to increase and decrease the distance between the pivoting member34and bottom surface48, and thereby clamp the pivoting member34to the table42.

In certain embodiments, the base30and the pivoting member34may be disc shaped, allowing for a smooth attachment of the table top10to the table42. In certain embodiments, each clamp15may further include an upper disc24. The upper disc24may fit within a disc recess22formed in the bottom surface48of the table top10. The upper disc24may be fixed to the bottom surface48of the table10and the base30may be fixed to the upper disc24.

The clamping member38,40of the present invention may include a post40and a knob38. The post40may include a threaded end. The pivoting member34, the base30and the upper disc24may include aligning openings. The post40may fit through the aligning openings26. The upper disc24may include a threaded insert28. The threaded end of the post40may secure within the threaded insert28. Therefore, the pivoting member34may pivot about the post40in a loosened position. The pivoting member34may pivot over the table42so that the table42is in between the pivoting member34and the table top10. The knob38may be turned to tighten the pivoting member34against the table42and thereby secure the table top10to the table42.

The table top10of the present invention may include an upper laminate sheet14, a composite material layer12, and a lower laminate sheet18. The upper laminate sheet14may be custom designed to match the table42in which it is being secured to. The composite material includes the disc recesses22to fit the upper discs24within. The lower laminate sheet18includes openings20aligning with the disc recesses22. A t-molding layer16is about a perimeter of the table top10, and provides and aesthetic finish. Larger and smaller sizes of the composite12can be used to fit larger or smaller underlying tables42giving the table tops10the ability to solve the seating capacity for virtually any existing table that needs to accommodate more seating than it was originally designed for. The clamps12may shift positions to accommodate those differing sizes.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. To start, the pivoting members34may align with the base30so that the table top10may be easily placed on the table42. Once the table top10is placed on the table42, the table top10is rotated so that the clamps15are pressed against the edge46of the table42. The knobs38may be rotated to loosen the pivoting members34, allowing the pivoting members34to pivot. The pivoting members34may be pivoted so that the table42is in between the pivoting members34and the bottom surface48of the table top10. The knobs38may be rotated the opposite way to tighten the pivoting members34against the table42, securing the table top10to the table42.