THE FOLDING TABLE

Abstract: A folding table (2) of robust construction having a reinforced picture-frame edge and underside elongate chassis members (24, 26) running along the length thereof, the chassis member (26) pivotally supporting two pairs of legs (6) and opposed track elements (40, 46) associated with each pair of legs. The track elements (40, 46) accommodate followers (50) attached to opposite ends (52, 53) of a connecting element (52) to which are fixedly secured legs (56, 58) of a support frame (54), legs (56, 58) of which pivotally connect the connecting element (52) to the legs (6) so that movement of the followers (50) in said track elements causes movement of the pairs of legs (6) between a first inoperative position and a second operative position. Latching means (70) are provided to lock each pair of legs (6) in one or other of their inoperative and operative positions and damper means (90, 140) are provided on each leg (32, 36) to prevent rapid movement of legs (32, 36) between said positions.

Description: THE FOLDING TABLE This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to a folding table. Such tables are well known for use as card tables, picnic tables and a more robust construction that may be utilised for refectory or canteen tables, which may be folded and stacked away after use. However, even the more robust tables available hitherto, leave a lot to be desired when it comes to their inherent strengths and of late, it has become evident that folding tables must be designed to a very high specification if they are to be fit for their purpose. The present invention seeks to mitigate or obviate the disadvantages of prior arrangements and thus provides an improved folding table comprising a pair of legs pivotally mounted at or towards each end of the table and enabling means associated with each pair of legs for enabling movement of the legs between a first position in which the legs lie adjacent an underside of the table, or substantially so, and a second position in which the legs extend at a right angle, or substantially so, to the underside of the table to support the table in conventional manner characterised in that each enabling means comprises at least one track, a tracking element mounted for movement along said track and means connecting said tracking element with each pair of legs to facilitate movement of the legs between said first and second positions. Conveniently, the track is fixedly mounted on the table. Preferably, the enabling means comprises two tracks located one on each side of the table, one track being a mirror image of the other, and between which extends a connecting rod of said connecting means which connecting rod is adapted to support a tracking element at each end thereof for location in an associated one of said tracks. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the connecting means further comprises a support extending between an associated one of the ends of the connecting rod and an associated one of said pair of legs. Preferably, the supports are each pivotally connected to its associated one of the pair of legs and are connected one to the other to add strength to the table leg structure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the table comprises a latching mechanism for securing the pairs of legs in their first or second positions and a damper mechanism associated with each pair of legs to control movement of the legs between their first and second positions. There now follows, by way of example of the present invention, a specific description of a novel folding table which description is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary inverted end view of a folding table; Figure 2 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of the table; Figure 3 is a fragmentary view taken generally in the direction of the arrow III in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken generally in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a fragmentary exploded view taken generally in the direction of the arrow V in Figure 1 ; Figure 6 is a section view of the parts shown in Figure 5 when assembled together; Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in the direction of the arrow VII in Figure 3; Figure 8 is a section view taken in the direction of arrow VIII in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Figure 6 but showing a modified damper means; and Figure 10 is a view in the direction of arrow X in Figure 9. The folding table 2 provided by the present invention, like prior art arrangements, generally comprises a table top 4 supported by two pairs of legs provided at opposite ends thereof, only one pair of legs is being shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The invention is concerned with the improved and strengthened arrangement provided for moving each pair of legs between an inoperative first position, in which the pairs of legs lie adjacent an underside of the table or substantially so, and an operative second position, in which the pairs of legs extend at a right angle, or substantially so, to the underside of the table to support the table in conventional manner. As the arrangement provided for moving each pair of legs is substantially the same, only the arrangement at one end of the table will now be described in detail. The folding table 2 is intended for use in a more robust environment than the picnic tables, card tables and utility tables presently available. Thus, the table 2 comprises a substantial table top 4 strengthened by a picture-frame configuration of aluminium extrusions 14, 18 and 22 and corner elements 16 and 20, see Figures 1 and 2. On its underside, the table 2 comprises two chassis members 24 and 26 fixedly secured thereto and extending one on each side 29 and 31 respectively, along the table 2, see Figure 1. Each chassis member 24, 26 is provided by an aluminium extrusion of generally "U" shaped configuration, see Figures 5 and 6. The chassis member 24 provides pivotal support at 30 for a first leg 32 and the chassis member 26 provides pivotal support at 34, for a second leg 36 of the pair of legs 6, see Figures 1 , 2 and 3. The chassis member 26 provides support on an inside face 38 for a track element 40 comprising a cam surface 42 adapted to receive in engagement therewith a first tracking element to be described hereinafter. The chassis member 24 likewise provides support on an inside face 44, for a track element 46 which is a mirror image of the element 40 and likewise comprises a cam surface (not shown) adapted to receive in engagement therewith a second tracking element (not shown) to be described hereinafter. The first and second tracking elements, only one of which is shown diagrammatically in Figure 7, are provided by opposite end positions 51 and 53 of a connecting element 52. The connecting element 52 is formed as an elongate extrusion and provides support for an elongate connecting element 128, see Figures 1 , 3, 7 and 8. The element 128 is connected at opposite ends 130 and 132 to respective end portions 60 and 62 of legs 56 and 58 of an inverted "C" frame support member 54, see Figure 1. The two legs 56 and 58 of the member 54 are pivotally connected at 64 and 66 to the legs 32 and 36, an arm 68 of the support member 54 connecting the two legs 56 and 58 to further strengthen the assemblage and add rigidity to the pairs of legs and thus the table 2. The folding table 2 comprises latching means 70 for locking the pair of table legs 6 in either their inoperative first position or their operative second position. The latching means 70, which is mounted within the connecting element 52, see Figure 3, comprises a twin poppet arrangement 72 biased by a spring 74 to cause an oppositely disposed pair of poppets 76, only one of which is shown in Figure 3, to be engaged or disengaged in apertures 78 and 80 provided in the track elements 40 and 46, see Figure 7 in which it is evident that the aperture 80 extends through the elements 40 and 46 and through the respective chassis members 24 and 26. When the pair of legs 6 are in their inoperative first position, the poppets 76 are locked in the apertures 78 and the legs 32 and 36 lie adjacent or substantially adjacent to the underside of the table 2, within the confines of their respective chassis' 24 and 26. Conversely, when the pair of legs are in their operative second position the poppets 76 are located in the apertures 80 and the legs 32 and 36 extend at a right angle, or substantially so, to the underside of the table as aforesaid to support the table in conventional manner. It will be evident that in either position one merely has to operate compression tabs 82 and 84 of the latching means 70 to compress the spring 74 to disengage the poppets 76 and pivot the legs 32 and 36 between their inoperative and operative positions. In order to avoid over rapid movement of the legs 32 and 36 between their inoperative and operative positions, each leg is provided with a damper means 90, however, only that associated with the leg 6 is shown in Figure 5 and 6. The damper means 90 comprises a rubber moulding 92 which is cylindrical in cross-section and has two spigots 94 and 96 moulded thereon. The moulding located as shown in Figures 5 and 6 inside the end of the leg 36 with the spigots 94 and 96 extending through associated apertures 98 and 100 respectively in the leg 36. A spring clip 102 is inserted within the moulding 92 to retain it on situ and to force the spigots outwardly, viewing Figure 6, into engagement with inside walls of the chassis member 26. Thus, the speed of movement of the leg 36 is damped as it is moved between its inoperative first position and its operative second position. At each end thereof, the chassis members 24 and 26 are closed by end supports 104 and 106 respectively, which end supports extend in height, see Figure 4, above the depth of the chassis members 24 and 26. This extra depth to the end supports 104 and 106 provides stacking faces to allow the legs 32 and 36 to be fully accommodated with the "U" shaped chassis 24 and 26 and enable folded tables 2 to be neatly stacked one upon the other with the stacking faces acting as feet on which the tables are located. In a modified arrangement, the folding table 2 is provided with a damper means 140 which comprises an extruded rubber sleeve 142 located on the leg 36 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The remaining legs of the table may be provided with damper means 142 instead of the damper means 90. In use, the rubber sleeve 142 acts between the leg 36 and the inside walls of the chassis members 24 and 26 to avoid over-rapid movement of the legs 32 and 36 when moving between their inoperative and operative positions and vice versa. While the damper means include mouldings of rubber it is to be appreciated that mouldings of any other suitable materials may be utilised, for example the mouldings may alternatively be of a plastics material. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the table of the present invention provides a robust structure both in its folded and erected conditions with the incidence of damage in use being greatly reduced. PARTS LIST Folding Table 54 "C" Frame Member Table Top 56 Leg Legs 58 Leg 60 End of Leg 56 62 End of Leg 58 Table Top 64 Pivot Aluminium Extension 66 Pivot Aluminium Extension 68 Arm of "C" Member Aluminium Extension 70 Latching Means Aluminium Extension 72 Poppets Aluminium Extension 74 Spring Chassis Member 76 Poppets Chassis Member 78 Apertures 80 Apertures Table Side 82 Tab Pivot 84 Tab Table Side 86 First Leg 88 Pivot 90 Damper Second Leg 92 Rubber Moulding Inside Face 94 Spigot Track Element 96 Spigot Cam Surface 98 Aperture Inside Face 100 Aperture Track Element 102 104 Support Cam 106 Support End 128 Connecting Element Connecting Element 130 End End 132 End

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A folding table comprising a pair of legs pivotally mounted at or towards each end of the table and enabling means associated with each pair of legs for enabling movement of the legs between a first position in which the legs lie adjacent an underside of the table, or substantially so, and a second position in which the legs extend at a right angle, or substantially so, to the underside of the table to support the table in conventional manner characterised in that each enabling means comprises at least one track, a tracking element mounted for movement along said track and means connecting said tracking element with each pair of legs to facilitate movement of the legs between said first and second positions. 2. A table according to Claim 1 wherein the track is fixedly mounted on the table. 3. A table according to either one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the enabling means comprises two tracks located one on each side of the table, one track being a mirror image of the other, and between which extends a connecting rod of said connecting means which connecting rod is adapted to support a tracking element at each end thereof for location in an associated one of said tracks. 4. A table according to Claim 3 wherein the connecting means further comprises a support extending between an associate one of the ends of the connecting rod and an associated one of said pair of legs. 5. A table according to Claim 4 wherein the supports are each pivotally connected to its associated one of the pair of legs. 6. A table according to either one of Claims 4 and 5 wherein the supports are connected one to the other to add strength to the table leg structure. 7. A table according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising a latching mechanism for securing the pairs of legs in their first or second positions. 8. A table according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising a damper means associated with each pair of legs to control movement of the legs between their first and second positions.

Inventors: FIELDWICK JOHN EDWARD, MCCAFFREY ANDREW FRANCIS, FIELDWICK, JOHN, EDWARD, MCCAFFREY, ANDREW, FRANCIS
Applicants: FIELDWICK JOHN EDWARD, GOPAK LIMITED, MCCAFFREY ANDREW FRANCIS, FIELDWICK, JOHN, EDWARD, MCCAFFREY, ANDREW, FRANCIS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47B3
IPC codes: A47B3