Abstract:
An integral system for stabilizing a table and chair on an uneven surface. The table comprises a table top supported by a first end of a primary shaft, a second end of the primary shaft having a first pair of legs extending therefrom; a secondary shaft positioned within, and movably joined at a first end to, the primary shaft, a second end of the secondary shaft having a second pair of legs extending therefrom; and wherein the secondary shaft may move in a side-to-side manner relative to primary shaft thereby stabilizing the table. Another version utilizes a plate member and shaft combination. Chairs may use similar technology.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/653,383 filed Aug. 14, 2014 and which is incorporated herein for any and all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to table incorporating a self-stabilizing system for preventing a table and chair from rocking. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Table tops, especially those associated with tables used in restaurants and other commercial outlets, are ideally stable such that articles placed on a table top thereof remain steady. Moreover, a table which constantly shifts on an uneven surface is very disruptive for those seated thereabout. Solutions including the placement of folded paper under one leg of the table are simply ineffective. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial to develop a new, automatic system for stabilizing a table top associated with a table on an uneven surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an integral system for stabilizing a table on an uneven surface. In one embodiment, the table comprises a table top supported by a first end of a primary shaft, a second end of said primary shaft having a first pair of legs extending therefrom; a secondary shaft positioned within, and movably joined at a first end to, said primary shaft, a second end of said secondary shaft having a second pair of legs extending therefrom; and wherein said secondary shaft may move in a side-to-side, rocking manner relative to said primary shaft thereby stabilizing said table. 
     In one embodiment, the connection between the secondary shaft and primary shaft may be tightened and loosened which affects the forces required to permit movement of the secondary shaft. In another embodiment, a friction-based stability system maintains the primary shaft and secondary shaft in proper position once the table is stabilized. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a self-stabilizing table according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate various views of a primary shaft and secondary shaft according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top down view of said secondary shaft inserted into said primary shaft according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4E  illustrate side views of the table in use according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a self-stabilizing table according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate various views of a friction-based stability system according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A-7G  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a self-stabilizing table according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8A-8D  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a self-stabilizing table according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a self-stabilizing table according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10A-10D  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a self-stabilizing table according to the embodiments of the present invention′ and 
         FIGS. 11A-11E  illustrate various views of a chair according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a table  100  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The table  100  comprises broadly a table top  110 , primary shaft  120  having two rigid legs  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2  extending therefrom and a secondary shaft  140  having two swing legs  150 - 1 ,  150 - 2  extending therefrom. Pads  160 - 1  through  160 - 4  at the end of each of the rigid legs  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2  and swing legs  150 - 1  and  150 - 2  support the table  100 . As detailed below, knob  170  provides means for tightening and loosening the connection between the secondary shaft  140  and primary shaft  120  influencing the movement of the secondary shaft  140  relative to the primary shaft  120 . While the primary shaft  120  is shown with two rigid legs  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2  extending therefrom and secondary shaft  140  is shown with two swing legs  150 - 1  and  150 - 2  extending therefrom, in other embodiments, more than two legs may extend from one or both shafts  120 ,  140 . Alternatively, a single leg may extend from one or both shafts  120 ,  140  wherein each single leg supports two or more legs. 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  show various views of a primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft  140  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The primary shaft  120  is dimensioned to permit insertion of the secondary shaft  140 . As shown, the primary shaft  120  has a square cross-section while the secondary shaft  140  has a rectangular cross-section. In this manner, the secondary shaft  140  may move from side-to-side about a rotation point at the connection of the primary shaft  120  to the secondary shaft  140 . The range of movement is dictated by the dimensions of the primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft  140 . In one embodiment, the secondary shaft  140  is 1/16″ shorter along its long edge than the sides of the primary shaft  120  creating a relatively close fit between the primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft  140  along the length of the secondary shaft  140 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft  140  may take on any suitable dimensions, shapes and sizes. 
       FIG. 3  shows the top down view of the secondary shaft  140  inserted into the primary shaft  140 . A cutout section  122  of the primary shaft  120  provides space for the legs  150 - 1 ,  150 - 2  extending from the secondary shaft  140 . 
     An opening  121  in the primary shaft  120  and a pair of openings  141 ,  142  in the secondary shaft  140  align for the passage of a connector such a bolt  144  which accepts a nut  145  to movably join the primary shaft  120  to the secondary shaft  140  creating a rotation point for the primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft  140  relative to one another. The optional knob  170  may be used to tighten and loosen the two shafts  120 ,  140  to one another such that rotation is eased or restrained as desired. Other connectors may be used to join the secondary shaft  140  and primary shaft  120  to one another. In another embodiment, a bolt passes completely through the primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft such a nut is attached to the bolt on an exterior surface of the primary shaft  120 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate side views of the table  100  in use according to the embodiments of the present invention. For purposes of reference, a piece of ⅝″ plywood  105  is shown below each of the legs  130 - 1 ,  130 - 2 ,  150 - 1  and  150 - 2  representing a situation where the table  100  is on uneven surface. In each instance, the secondary shaft  140  (and swinging legs  150 - 1 ,  150 - 2 ) moves, shifts or rotates in a side-to-side (and conceivably up and down), rocking manner about the rotation point with the primary shaft  120  thereby stabilizing the attached table  100 . Each of  FIGS. 4A-4D  shows that the secondary shaft  140  has shifted from a home position, as shown in  FIG. 4E , such that one outer edge  143  of the secondary shaft  140  is nearly against an inner surface  124  of the primary shaft  120 . When in the home position, the secondary shaft  140  is generally centered within the primary shaft  120  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4E . 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  show the primary shaft  120  with a platform  123  for attachment of the table top  110  thereto.  FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a table  200  with brackets  205 - 1  through  205 - 4  for attachment of a table top  210  thereto. The brackets  205 - 1  through  205 - 4  are connected to the underside of the table top  210  and upper end of a primary shaft  220 . The primary shaft  220  may also support one or more hangers  230  for receiving purses, umbrellas, shopping bags, laptop cases, etc. 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate various views of a friction system according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the friction-based stability system comprises a rubber member  310  affixed to an inside surface of the primary shaft  120 . The rubber member  310  is positioned near a bottom of primary shaft  120  so as to contact the secondary shaft  140  therein. The rubber member  310  creates friction thereby stabilizing the primary shaft  120  and secondary shaft  140  relative to one another when the table  100  is stabilized. In other words, once the primary shaft  120  has settled relative to the secondary shaft  140  on an uneven surface, the rubber member  310  serves to maintain the primary shaft  120  in place and stable despite low-impact, external activities such as contact by people seated at the table or thereabout. Other materials having high coefficients of friction may be used to create the friction-based stability system  300 . 
       FIGS. 7A-7G  show various views of another embodiment of a table  300  according to the embodiments of the present invention. As best shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C , in this embodiment, the connection point of the primary shaft  310  and secondary shaft  320  is near a table top  330 . Knob  340  controls the connection point. Hooks  350  provide means for hanging articles.  FIGS. 7D-7F  show bottom views of the table  300  with the secondary shaft  320  in a home position (center), shifted right position and shifted left position, respectively, relative to the primary shaft  310 .  FIG. 7G  shows a top down view with the table top  330  removed. Brackets  360 - 1  through  360 - 4  support the table top  330  when it is installed. Bolt  370  joins the primary shaft  310  and secondary shaft  320  and acts as the point of rotation for the secondary shaft  320  as detailed above. 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a table  400  according to the embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 8A  shows a primary shaft  410  and  FIG. 8B  shows a secondary shaft  420 .  FIGS. 8C and 8D  show the table  400  constructed with table top  430 .  FIG. 8D  shows the rocking nature (Arrow A) of the secondary shaft  420  which stabilizes the table  400  when on an uneven surface. Bolt  440  joins the primary shaft  410  and secondary shaft  420  creating the point or rotation. Another bolt  450  acts to maintain the bottom of the primary shaft  410  and secondary shaft  420  to control rotation. 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a table  500  according to the embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, the secondary shaft is replaced with a plate member  510  supporting two legs  515 - 1  and  515 - 2 . The plate member  510  is rotatably joined to primary shaft  520  via nut  525  and bolt  530  about which the plate member  510  may rotate to stabilize the table  500  when on an uneven surface. Arrows A and B show the side-to-side and up and down directions of movement of the plate member  510 . Guide  530  constrains the limits of movement of the plate member  510 . An optional rubber pad  540  frictionally controls the movement of the plate member  510  in conjunction with the guide  530 . 
       FIGS. 10A-10D  illustrate various views of another embodiment of a table  600  according to the embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, the secondary shaft is replaced with a plate member  610  supporting two legs  615 - 1  and  615 - 2 . The plate member  610  is rotatably joined to primary shaft  620  via threaded post  625  and bolt  630  about which the plate member  610  may rotate to stabilize the table  600  when on an uneven surface. Arrow A shows the side-to-side, rocking movement of the plate member  610 .  FIGS. 8C and 8D  show a secure tie bolt  640  and secure tie knob  650  configured to further control movement of the plate member  610 . 
       FIGS. 11A-11E  show various views of a self-stabilizing chair  700  according to the embodiments of the preset invention. The chair  700  generally operates in the manner described above relative to the one or more tables detailed above. A platform and back  705  is attached, via a flange  710 , to primary shaft  715 . Primary shaft  715  includes two legs  720 ,  725 . Leg  720  includes a plastic footer  723  while leg  725  does not. Secondary shaft  730  slides into primary shaft  715  and connects thereto via fasteners extending through openings  717  in primary shaft  715  and corresponding openings  732  in secondary shaft  730  forming a pivot point. Secondary shaft  730  includes two legs  735 ,  740  each having a footer  738 ,  743 , respectively. In this manner, the chair  700  is able to stabilize as described above. A cut-out  745  in primary shaft  715  accommodates legs  735 ,  740  from secondary shaft  730 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention.