Abstract:
A table in accordance with the present disclosure includes a table top and first and second leg units. Each leg unit is mounted for movement relative to the table top from a closed position alongside the table top to an opened position extending away from the table top.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/156,363, filed Feb. 27, 2009, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a table, and particularly to a tabletop support unit. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a center-fold banquet table having a tabletop support unit including movable leg units. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A table in accordance with the present disclosure includes a table top and first and second leg units. Each leg unit is mounted for movement relative to the table top from a closed position alongside the table top to an opened position extending away from the table top. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, the table top is formed to include a cavity having an opening in a bottom surface on the underside of the table top. The table also includes a fastener located substantially in the cavity and configured to couple a stationary portion of the movable first leg unit to the table top. 
         [0005]    Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a bottom view of a table in accordance with the present disclosure showing the underside of a table top, a first leg unit associated with a right-side portion of the table top and stowed in a collapsed storage position, a second leg unit associated with a left-side portion of the table top and stowed in a collapsed storage position, and a hinge unit configured to support the right-side portion for pivotable movement about an axis relative to the left-side portion from the spread-apart use position shown in  FIG. 1  to a folded storage position (not shown); 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the first leg unit showing that the first leg unit includes an H-shaped tabletop support having spaced-apart first and second legs and a cross member interconnecting the first and second legs, a leg-unit anchor adapted to be coupled to the right-side portion of the table top as suggested in  FIGS. 3-5 , and a support-mover linkage coupled to the leg-unit anchor and to the first and second legs of the H-shaped tabletop support; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the table shown in  FIG. 1  showing the first leg unit before it is coupled to the right-side portion of the table top and the second leg unit after it has been coupled to the left-side portion of the table top; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  showing a bolt provided in a cavity formed in the table top and adapted to mate with the leg-unit anchor as suggested in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  showing fastener means for coupling the leg-unit anchor to the table top and showing that the fastener means includes the bolt and a nut coupled to the bolt to retain a base plate included in the leg-unit anchor in a stationary position on the table top; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective assembly view of the table top shown in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5  along with four bolts associated with the leg-unit anchor of the first leg unit; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged perspective view of the fastener mooring shown in  FIG. 6  and showing four fastener-receiver cavities formed in the fastener mooring; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial perspective view of several of the elements shown in  FIG. 6  prior to assembly of those elements to form the table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Table  10  includes a table top  12  having a top surface  13  and a bottom surface  14  on an underside  15  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 . Table  10  also includes a right-side leg unit  16  coupled to tabletop  12  and a left-side leg unit  18  coupled to table top  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  5 . As suggested in  FIG. 5 , table  10  further includes a fastener  20  located in a cavity  22  formed in table top  12  and configured to retain a leg-unit anchor  24  included in the right-side leg unit  16  in a stationary position relative to table top  12 . 
         [0016]    In the illustrated embodiment, table  10  is a center-fold banquet table including a right-side portion  26 , a left-side portion  28 , and a hinge unit  27  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Hinge unit  27  is configured to support right-side portion  26  for pivotable movement about an axis  29  from a spread-apart position shown in  FIG. 1  to a folded storage position (not shown) in which right-side and left-side portions  26 ,  28  are arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to form a compact table that is transported and stored easily. As suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , first leg unit  16  is coupled to right-side portion  26  of table top  12  and second leg unit  18  is coupled to left-side portion  28  of table top  12 . 
         [0017]    As suggested in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in an illustrative embodiment, right-side portion  26  of table top  12  comprises a top  30  formed to include top surface  13 , a support board  32  made, for example, of masonite material or honeycomb corrugate, an endless steel frame  34  defining a perimeter edge of right-side portion  26 , and a bottom  36  formed to include bottom surface  14 . A portion of a fastener mooring  38  is interposed in a space provided between top  30  and support board  32  as suggested, for example, in  FIGS. 4-7 . Left-side portion  28  has a similar construction in an illustrative embodiment. In illustrative embodiments, each of top  30  and bottom  36  are made using a vacuum-forming process. 
         [0018]    As suggested in  FIGS. 4 ,  6 , and  7 , a hole  40  formed in support board  32  is aligned with and cooperates with a hole  42  formed in bottom  36  to define cavity  22  in table top  12 . Fastener  20  is located in cavity  22  and held in place in cavity  22  relative to top  30 , support board  32 , and bottom  36  at least in part by fastener mooring  38  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0019]    Fastener mooring  38  is trapped in a stationary position between top  30  and support board  32  when right-side portion  26  is assembled as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Fastener mooring  38  is formed to include a fastener-receiver aperture  39  located in cavity  22  and arranged to receive a portion of fastener  20  therein as suggested, for example, in  FIG. 5 . In an illustrative embodiment, fastener mooring  38  includes a root plate  38 A and a retainer  38 B arranged to extend into cavity  22  and configured to include a top wall  38 BT formed to include fastener-receiver aperture  39  and an annular side wall  38 BS arranged to extend from root plate  38 A to top wall  38 BT. In an illustrative embodiment, four fastener-receiver apertures  39  are formed in fastener mooring  38  as shown best in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0020]    Each of first and second leg units  16 ,  18  includes an H-shaped table top support  44  having spaced-apart first and second legs  46 ,  48  and a cross member  47  interconnecting first and second legs  46 ,  48 , a leg-unit anchor  24 , and a support-mover linkage  49  coupled to leg-unit anchor  24  and to first and second legs  46 ,  48  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1-3 . As shown best in  FIG. 1 , first leg  46  includes an upper end  46 U mounted for pivotable movement about a pivot axis  50  on a pivot pin  52  coupled to a companion corner bracket  54  included in table top  12  and coupled to bottom  36 . Likewise, second leg  48  includes an upper end  48 U mounted for pivotable movement about pivot axis  50  on a pivot pin  56  coupled to a companion corner bracket  58  included in table top  12  and coupled to bottom  36 . Pivot pins  52 ,  56  support legs  46 ,  48  for pivotable movement about pivot axis  50  between a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and an opened position wherein lower end  46 L of first leg  46  lies away from bottom  36  and lower end  48 L of second leg  48  lies away from bottom  36  to engage a ground surface underlying table top  12  to hold table top  12  in an elevated position above the ground surface. 
         [0021]    As suggested in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , leg-unit anchor  24  of first leg unit  16  is adapted to be coupled in a stationary position to right-side portion  26  of table top  12 . Similarly, leg-anchor unit  24  of second leg unit  18  is adapted to be coupled in a stationary position to left-side portion  28  of table top  12 . 
         [0022]    As suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , leg-unit anchor  24  includes a base plate  60 , a catch  62  arranged to extend into cavity  22  and configured to include a bottom wall  64  formed to include a fastener-receiver aperture  66  and an annular (frustoconical) side wall  68  arranged to extend from base plate  60  to bottom wall  64 . In an illustrative embodiment, four fastener-receiver apertures  66  are formed in leg-unit anchor  24  and are aligned with companion fastener-receiver apertures  39  formed in fastener mooring  38  when leg-unit anchor  24  is mated with table top  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . When so mated, each bottom wall  64  of a catch  62  is arranged to lie in closely confronting relation to a companion top wall  38 BT of a retainer  38 B in cavity  22  formed in table top  12  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0023]    As suggested in  FIG. 5 , in an illustrative embodiment, fastener  20  includes a bolt  70  including a head  72  and a neck  74  coupled to head  72  and a nut  76  arranged to mate with neck  74  of bolt  70 . In an illustrative embodiment, when assembled, substantially all of bolt  70  and nut  76  lie in cavity  22  formed in table top  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Head  72  is trapped in an interior region  138 B formed in retainer  38 B and arranged to lie in a space bounded by top  30 , side wall  38 BS, and top wall  38 BT. Neck  74  of bolt  70  is arranged to extend away from head  72  and through each of fastener-receiver apertures  39 ,  66  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Nut  76  is mated to a free end (e.g., exposed portion)  78  of neck  74  to trap portions of bottom wall  64  of catch  62  of leg-unit anchor  24  and top wall  38 BT of retainer  38 B of fastener mooring  38  between head  72  and nut  76  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Nut  76  and retainer  62  cooperate to define a plate retainer coupled to bolt  70  to retain base plate  60  included in leg-unit anchor  24  in a stationary position on table top  12  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    In illustrative embodiments, nut  76  is secured to exposed portion  78  of neck  74  of bolt  70  using any suitable connection means. In the illustrated embodiment, external threads in neck  74  mate with internal threads in nut  76 . In other embodiments, adhesive, snap-fit, interference, or other suitable connection means could be used. 
         [0025]    As suggested in  FIG. 5 , fastener  20  is located in cavity  22  formed in table top  12 . Such a location minimizes any chance that clothing worn by a user of table  10  will snag on fastener  20 . 
         [0026]    Table  10  includes a table top  12  and a table top elevator  17  including a first leg unit  16  and a second leg unit  18  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Table  10  also includes several fasteners  20  configured to mount each of first and second leg units  16 ,  18  to table top  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0027]    Table top  12  is configured to include a top surface  13  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Table top  12  is formed to include a cavity  22  having an opening in a bottom surface  14  provided on an underside  15  of table top  12  and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to top surface  13 . In illustrative embodiments, a cavity  22  is provided for each fastener  20  used to mount each of first and second leg units  16 ,  18  to table top  12 . 
         [0028]    First leg unit  16  is arranged to lie under the underside  15  of table top  12  as suggested in  FIG. 3 . Table top elevator  17  further includes a fastener mooring  38  coupled to table top  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  5 . In illustrative embodiments, one fastener mooring  38  is used to mount first leg unit  16  to table top  12  and another fastener mooring  38  is used to mount second leg unit  18  to table top  12 . 
         [0029]    Fastener mooring  38  includes a root plate  38 A arranged to lie in a stationary position between top and bottom surfaces  13 ,  4  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Fastener mooring  38  also includes several retainers  38 B wherein each retainer  38 B is associated with one fastener  20  and coupled to root plate  38 A and arranged to extend into a companion cavity  22 . 
         [0030]    First leg unit  16  includes a leg-anchor unit  24  arranged to confront one of the fastener moorings  38  and a table-leg system  44 ,  49  coupled to leg-anchor unit  24  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and configured to support table top  12  in an elevated position above an underlying surface. Leg-anchor unit  16  includes a base plate  60  located on bottom surface  14  of table top  12  and a catch  62  associated with each fastener and coupled to base plate  60  and arranged to extend into a companion cavity  22  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
         [0031]    Fastener includes a bolt  70  having a head  72  and a neck  74  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Neck  74  is coupled to head  72  and arranged to locate head  72  between top surface  13  and neck  74 . Neck  74  extends away from top surface  13  of table top  12  toward the opening formed in bottom surface  14  of table top  12  and through fastener-receiver apertures  39 ,  66  formed in each of retainer  38 B included in fastener mooring  38  and catch  62  included in leg-anchor unit  16  to define an exposed portion  78  of neck  74  located in spaced-apart relation to head  70 . Fastener  20  further includes a nut  76  secured to exposed portion  78  of neck  74  and located substantially in the companion cavity  22  to trap portions of retainer  38 B and catch  62  between head  72  of bolt  70  and nut  76  to fix leg-anchor unit  24  of first leg unit  16  in a stationary position on underside  15  of table top  12 . 
         [0032]    Catch  62  includes a bottom wall  64  positioned to lie between nut  76  and fastener mooring  38  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Bottom wall  64  is formed to include a fastener-receiver aperture  66 . Neck  74  includes a hidden portion  77  arranged to interconnect head  72  and exposed portion  78  and to extend through fastener-receiver aperture  66  of bottom wall  64  of catch  62  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]    Base plate  60  is arranged to lie in a first reference plane RP 1  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Bottom wall  64  of catch  62  is arranged to lie in a second reference plane RP 2  that lies in substantially spaced-apart parallel relation to first reference plane RP 1  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Catch  62  further includes an annular side wall  68  arranged to interconnect an interior edge of base plate  60  and an exterior edge of bottom wall  64  and to surround nut  76  of fastener  20 . 
         [0034]    Retainer  38 B of fastener mooring  38  includes a top wall  38 BT positioned to lie between head  72  and bottom wall  64  of catch  62  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Hidden portion  77  of neck  74  is arranged to extend through a fastener-receiver aperture  39  formed in top wall  38 BT. Nut  76  and fastener  20  cooperate to form means for clamping bottom and top walls  64 ,  38 BT together in fixed relation to one another so that base plate  60  of leg-anchor unit  24  is held in a stationary position on table top  12  as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . 
         [0035]    Root plate  38 A of fastener mooring  38  is arranged to lie in a third reference plane RP 3 . Top wall  38 BT of retainer  38 B is arranged to lie in a fourth reference plane RP 4  that lies in substantially spaced-apart parallel relation to third reference plane RP 3 . Retainer  38 B further includes an annular side wall  38 BS arranged to interconnect an interior edge of root plate  38 A and an exterior edge of top wall  38 BT and to surround head  72  of fastener  20 . 
         [0036]    Annular side wall  68  and bottom wall  64  of catch  62  cooperate to form a basin opening in a direction away from top surface  13  of table top  12 . Nut  76  is sized to lie substantially wholly inside the basin. Exposed portion  78  of neck  74  is sized to lie substantially wholly inside the basin. 
         [0037]    Retainer  38 B of fastener mooring  38  includes a top wall  38 BT positioned to lie between nut  76  and head  72  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Retainer  38 B further includes a side wall  38 BS arranged to interconnect root plate  38 A and top wall  38 BT and to lie between catch  62  and top surface  13  of table top  12 . Side wall  38 BS of retainer  38 B is annular and arranged to surround head  72  of fastener  20 . Side wall  38 BS of retainer  38 B is appended to an inner edge of root plate  38 A and an outer edge of top wall  38 BT. Top wall  38 BT of retainer  38 B is formed to include a fastener-receiver aperture  39 . Neck  74  includes a hidden portion  77  arranged to interconnect head  72  and exposed portion  78  and to extend through fastener-receiver aperture  39  of top wall  38 BT of retainer  38 B. 
         [0038]    Table top  12  further includes a support board  32  interposed between top and bottom surfaces  13 ,  14  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Root plate  38 A of fastener mooring  38  is interposed between top surface  13  and support board  32  as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
         [0039]    Support board  32  includes an annular interior surface arranged to face toward and surround retainer  38 B of fastener mooring  38  and catch  62  of leg-anchor unit  24 . Annular interior surface is arranged to surround exposed portion  78  of neck  74  and nut  76 . Nut  76  is arranged to lie in an annular space provided between the annular interior surface of support board  32  and exposed portion  78  of neck  74 .