Patent Publication Number: US-7210414-B1

Title: Folding table for mounting on handrail

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   I claim the priority of provisional patent application 60/529,808 filed on Dec. 16, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention broadly relates to folding tables. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Folding tables are convenient for supporting things when needed, and compacting for occupying a smaller space when not in use. Some folding tables are designed for attaching to a vertical structure, such as the support rods of a handrail. U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,993 to Vincelli discloses a folding table with a hinged tabletop screwed to a mounting plate positioned on the opposite side of the support rods. The leg is inserted into a sleeve under the tabletop, so that the leg must be detached for folding. The table is not easily removable from the handrail. U.S. Pat. No. 2,483,899 to Grasso and U.S. Pat. No. 2,249,403 to Stollsteimer each show a folding table with a convenient folding diagonal brace, but the table is still permanently attached to the support by bolts. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Objects of the present folding table are: 
   to provide a horizontal supporting surface; 
   to be attachable to the vertical support rods of a handrail; 
   to provide a supporting surface which can be easily compacted with not in use; and 
   to be easily detachable from the handrail. 
   The present folding table is comprised of a platform connected by hinges to C-shaped mounting brackets that partially wrap around the vertical supports of a handrail. Slits extend down from the upper edges of the brackets to mate with slits extending up from the lower edges of locking plates on an opposite side of the vertical supports. One of the mounting bracket is a vertically elongated bracket. A folding diagonal brace is connected between a lower side of the platform and the elongated bracket. The diagonal brace is comprised of an upper brace connected by hinges to the platform, and a lower brace connected by a hinge to the elongated bracket. The upper brace is comprised of a pair of bars with flared upper ends for stability, and parallel lower ends positioned against opposite sides of the lower brace. A lower pin connected between the parallel lower ends of the bars is positioned through a longitudinal slot in the lower brace. An opening in the longitudinal slot allows the lower pin to slide in from the outside. An upper pin connected between the parallel lower ends of the bars is positioned in a coiled slot at an upper end of the lower brace. A notch on a lower edge of the lower brace provides clearance for the upper pin after the diagonal brace is folded. When the platform is fully raised and the diagonal brace is straightened, the lower pin is positioned at a lower end of the longitudinal slot, and the upper pin is positioned at the inner end of the coiled slot. When folding, the lower end of the upper brace and the upper end of the lower brace are pushed inward. The upper pin is guided out of the coiled slot and released from the lower brace. The lower pin is moved up along the longitudinal slot as the upper and lower braces are folded. The platform is pivoted downward during folding. When folded, the upper and lower braces are generally parallel to each other. The lower pin is moved to the upper end of the longitudinal slot, and the upper pin is positioned in the notch on the upper brace. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of the folding table in an raised position. 
       FIG. 2  shows the folding table being folded. 
       FIG. 3  shows the folding table fully folded. 
   

   
     
       
         
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
               10. Table 
               11. Support 
             
             
                 
               12. Hand Rail 
               13. Platform 
             
             
                 
               14. Hinge 
               15. Bracket 
             
             
                 
               16. Bracket 
               17. Bracket 
             
             
                 
               18. Slit 
               19. Arm 
             
             
                 
               20. Plate 
               21. Slit 
             
             
                 
               22. Diagonal Brace 
               23. Upper Brace 
             
             
                 
               24. Hinge 
               25. Lower Brace 
             
             
                 
               26. Hinge 
               27. Bar 
             
             
                 
               28. Lower Pin 
               29. Slot 
             
             
                 
               30. Opening 
               31. Upper Pin 
             
             
                 
               32. Coiled Slot 
               33. Notch 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 : 
   A folding table  10  is arranged for mounting on the vertical supports  11  of a hand rail  12 . A preferred embodiment of table  10  is comprised of a platform  13  connected by hinges  14  to mounting brackets  15 – 17  at a proximal end. Brackets  15 – 17  are comprised of C-shaped clips that wrap around the front and sides of supports  11 . Slits  18  extend down from the upper edges of side arms  19  of brackets  15  and  17 . Locking plates  20  each include slits  21  extending up from a lower edge for mating with slits  18  on side arms  19  to secure brackets  15  and  17  on supports  11 . Second mounting bracket  16  is a vertically elongated bracket. 
   A folding diagonal brace  22  is connected between a lower side of platform  13  and second mounting bracket  16 . Diagonal brace  22  is comprised of an upper brace  23  connected by hinges  24  to platform  13 , and a lower brace  25  connected by a hinge  26  to second mounting bracket  16 . Upper brace  23  is comprised of a pair of bars  27  with upper portions diverged away from each other, and parallel lower portions positioned against opposite sides of lower brace  25 . A lower pin  28  connected between parallel lower portions of bars  27  is positioned through a longitudinal slot  29  in lower brace  25 . An opening  30  in longitudinal slot  29  allows lower pin  28  to slide in. An upper pin  31  connected between parallel lower portions of bars  27  is positioned in a coiled slot  32  at an upper end of lower brace  25 . A notch  33  on a lower edge of lower brace  25  provides clearance for upper pin  31  after diagonal brace  22  is folded. When platform  13  is fully raised and diagonal brace  22  is straightened, lower pin  28  is positioned at a lower end of longitudinal slot  29 . 
     FIG. 2 : 
   Platform  13  is shown during folding in  FIG. 2 . The lower end of upper brace  23  and the upper end of lower brace  25  are pushed inward. Upper pin  31  is guided out of coiled slot  32  and released from lower brace  25 . Lower pin  28  is moved up along longitudinal slot  29  as upper and lower braces  23  and  25  are folded. Platform  13  is pivoted downward during folding. 
     FIG. 3 : 
   Platform  13  is fully folded in  FIG. 3 . When folded, the upper and lower brace are generally parallel to each other. The lower pin is moved to the upper end of the longitudinal slot, and the upper pin is positioned in notch on the upper brace. 
   Although the foregoing description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions, etc. can be used unless specifically indicated otherwise. The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of the elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.