Patent Publication Number: US-6981453-B1

Title: Portable massage table

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/477,715, filed Jun. 10, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a portable massage table. 
   Massage practitioners are frequently required to travel to a client&#39;s location. It is impossible to easily transport a conventional massage table, such as those used in the massage practitioner&#39;s office, to the client&#39;s location. 
   Numerous suggestions have been made for portable massage tables that are foldable, small, light weight and easy to fold into a compact package for transport and storage. Among the disadvantages of such foldable tables is that they are not as strong or structurally stable as a conventional massage table, and can collapse during use. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable massage table that which provides improved strength and stability required during use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The portable massage table of the present invention includes a rectangular table top having a pair of table top sections. Each table top section has inner and outer ends and first and second sides. The inner ends of the table top sections abut and are hingedly connected to each other. Each of the table top sections has a perimeter frame rail extending downwardly from the inner and outer ends and from the first and second sides. Each of the table top sections has first and second inner corners at the juncture of the inner end with the first and second sides, respectively. Each of the table top sections has first and second outer corners at the juncture of the outer end with the first and second sides, respectively. 
   A centrally positioned V-shaped truss member includes first and second truss leg members, each truss leg member having inner and outer ends. The first and second truss leg members are joined at their outer ends to form a truss apex. The inner ends of the first and second truss leg members are hingedly secured to the inner end of one of the first and second table top sections. The truss member has an opening passing through the apex thereof and has slots passing through each of the first and second truss leg members adjacent the inner ends thereof. 
   First and second table legs are located adjacent the first and second outer corners of the first table top section, respectively. The first and second table legs are pivotally connected to the adjacent perimeter frame rail. 
   Third and fourth table legs are located adjacent the first and second outer corners of the second table top section, respectively. The first and second table legs are pivotally connected to the adjacent perimeter frame rail. 
   A first table support cable extends from the first corner of the first table top section, through an opening at the apex of the truss member, and to the diagonally opposite second corner of the second table top section. 
   A second table support cable extends from the second corner of the first table top section, through an opening at the apex of the truss member, and to the diagonally opposite first corner of the second table top section. 
   First table leg support cables extend from an attachment point located at a mid-portion of the inner end of the first table top section to each of the first and second table legs where they are attached to the lower half thereof. Similarly, second table leg support cables also extend from an attachment point located at a mid-portion of the inner end of the second table top section to each of the third and fourth table legs where they are attached to the lower half thereof. 
   Second table leg support cables extend from an attachment point located at the first and second corners of the first table top section to an attachment point located at a mid-portion of each of the first and second table legs, respectively. Similarly, first table leg support cables also extend from an attachment point located at the first and second corners of the second table top section to an attachment point located at a mid-portion of each of the third and fourth table legs, respectively. 
   Third table leg support cables extend between attachment points located at the tops of the first and third table legs through a slot in the first leg of the truss member. Similarly, third table leg support cables also extend between attachment points located at the tops of the second and fourth table legs through a slot in the second leg of the truss member. 
   Spring members extend from attachment points located at the first and second corners of the first and second table top sections to attachment points located at the top of each of the adjacently located first, second, third and fourth table legs. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the massage table of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the massage table of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the rigid, V-shaped truss member of the massage table of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a partial side elevation view of a leg member and associated spring member. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Massage table  10  of the present invention includes a pair of table top sections  20  and  20 ′ abutting and hingedly connected at their adjacent inner ends. Table top sections  20  and  20 ′ are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in their operative, fully deployed position with the top surfaces thereof being co-planar. 
   There are four substantially identical table legs  22 ,  122 ,  22 ′ and  122 ′ which are pivotally connected to leg blocks  23 ,  123 ,  23 ′ and  123 ′, respectively, the leg blocks being attached to the perimeter frame rails of table sections  20  and  20 ′ adjacent each of the four outer corners thereof. Legs  22 ,  122 ,  22 ′ and  122 ′ can each be telescoping. 
   First table leg  22  is located adjacent a first outer corner of table top section  20  and second table leg  122  is located adjacent the second outer corner of table top section  20 . Third table leg  22 ′ is located adjacent a first outer corner of table top section  20 ′ and fourth table leg  122 ′ is located adjacent the second outer corner of table top section  20 ′. Table legs  22 ,  122 ,  22 ′ and  122 ′ are shown in their fully deployed position in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   A rigid, V-shaped truss member  30  includes first and second truss legs  31  and  31 ′, each truss leg having an inner and an outer end. The outer ends of first and second truss legs  31  and  31 ′ are connected together to form an apex  32 . Truss member  30  is shown as extending downwardly from table top section  20 , truss legs  31  and  31 ′ being attached thereto by suitable hinge members  33 . However, truss member  30  could extend downwardly from table top section  20 ′. Truss member  30  includes first and second slots  34  and  34 ′ located in each of first and second legs  31  and  31 ′, respectively. An opening  36  passes through apex  32 . 
   A first table support cable  40  extends from the first outer corner of table top section  20  to the diagonally opposite second outer corner of table top section  20 ′. A second table support cable  40 ′ extends from the second outer corner of table top section  20  to the diagonally opposite first outer corner of table top section  20 ′. Both table support cables  40  and  40 ′ pass through opening  36  in truss member  30 . 
   First table leg  22  is attached to the outer end of a first table leg support cable  50  at an attachment point located in the lower half of table leg  22 . The inner end of first table leg support cable  50  is attached to the inner end of table top section  20  at an attachment point located in a mid-portion thereof. First table leg  22  is connected to the outer end of a second table leg support cable  60  at an attachment point located in the mid-portion of table leg  22 . The inner end of second table leg support cable  60  is attached to table top section  20  at a location adjacent its first outer corner. 
   Second table leg  122  is attached to the outer end of a first table leg support cable  150  at an attachment point located in the lower half of table leg  122 . The inner end of first table leg support cable  150  is attached to the inner end of table top section  20  at an attachment point located in a mid-portion thereof. Second table leg  122  is attached to the outer end of a second table leg support cable  160  at an attachment point located in the mid-portion of table leg  122 . The inner end of second table leg support cable  160  is attached to table top section  20  at a location adjacent its second outer corner. 
   Third table leg  22 ′ is attached to the outer end of a first table leg support cable  50 ′ at an attachment point located in the lower half of third table leg  22 ′. The inner end of first table leg support cable  50 ′ is attached to the inner end of table top section  20 ′ at an attachment point located in a mid-portion thereof. Third table leg  22 ′ is attached to the outer end of a second table leg support cable  60 ′ at an attachment point located in the mid-portion of third table leg  22 ′. The inner end of second table leg support cable  60 ′ is attached to table top section  20 ′ at a location adjacent its first outer corner. 
   Fourth table leg  122 ′ is attached to the outer end of a first table leg support cable  150 ′ at an attachment point located in the lower half of fourth table leg  122 ′. The inner end of first table leg support cable  150 ′ is attached to the inner end of table top section  20 ′ at an attachment point located in the mid-portion thereof. Fourth table leg  122 ′ is attached to the outer end of a second table leg support cable  160 ′ at an attachment point located in the mid-portion of fourth table leg  122 ′. The inner end of second table leg support cable  160 ′ is attached to table top section  20 ′ at a location adjacent its second outer corner. 
   A third table leg support cable  70  extends between attachment points located at the tops of first and third table legs  22  and  22 ′, respectively, through first slot  34  located in the first leg  31  of the truss member  30 . Similarly, a third table leg support cable  70 ′ also extends between attachment points located at the tops of the second and fourth table legs  122  and  122 ′, respectively, through a second slot  34 ′ in the second leg  31 ′of the truss member  30 . 
   To assist in maintaining the leg members in their deployed position, spring members  80  can be attached thereto adjacent the tops thereof, as shown in  FIG. 4  relative to table leg  22 . Spring members  80  can be elastic cord members, such as bungee cord. 
   After usage, portable massage table  10  can be collapsed into a compact travel case formed by table top sections  20  and  20 ′ by folding the table legs  22 ,  122 ,  22 ′ and  122 ′ upwardly towards and against the lower surface of the table top sections, and folding the table top sections towards and against each other. A suitable latch member can be used to hold table top sections  20  and  20 ′ together. 
   It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments of this invention without departing from the underlying principles thereof. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.