Patent Publication Number: US-2004050305-A1

Title: Adjustable folding table

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] This utility model relates to a type of folding table. In particular, it relates to a type of adjustable folding table.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0002] Increasingly high functional requirements are being placed on modern furniture, whether of home or office, in order to make it more practical. This is the reason that foldable furniture has appeared. FIG. 1 shows a folding table that can be used for outdoor activities. Its main components are a table top  1 ′ and a table frame  2 ′, comprising cross-bars  21 ′, longitudinal bars  22 ′, two leg sets  23 ′, and two support rods  24 ′. The cross-bars  21 ′ are fixed to the underside of the table top  1 ′. The longitudinal bars  22 ′ are separately and pivotally attached to the two ends and the center of the two cross-bars  21 ′. The two leg sets  23 ′ are separately fixed to the two ends of the longitudinal bars  22 ′. The support rods  24 ′ are secured, at one end, to the table legs  23 ′. At the other end, they are pivotally attached to the longitudinal bar  22 ′ at the center of the cross-bars  21 ′.  
       [0003] When one wants to carry or store it, one turns the table top  1 ′ face down, and forcefully pulls down the legs  23 ′. Because of the pivotal connections between the table legs  23 ′ and the longitudinal bars  22 ′ and between the support rods  24 ′ and the table legs  23 ′, the legs  23 ′ come to rest on the underside of the table top  1 ′, thereby reducing its volume and performing its folding function.  
       [0004] However, in the folding table with this structure, the area of table top  1 ′ is fixed. It is not possible to adapt it to different numbers of people.  
       [0005] Contents of the Utility Model  
       [0006] The goal of this utility model is to provide a type of folding table with an adjustable table top area.  
       [0007] To reach the above-stated goal, the solution of this utility model is: an adjustable folding table, composed of a table top and a table frame, wherein the table frame comprises two cross-bars, at least two longitudinal bars, two leg sets, and two support rods, and wherein the table top comprises two main table tops fastened and joined together and at least one auxiliary table top. The bottom of each table top is shaped to have sliding channels that correspond to two cross-bars.  
       [0008] Inside the sliding channels of said two main table tops, steel channels are separately fixed to couple and slide with the cross-bars. Between the steel channels and the cross-bars are provided support blocks to prevent rocking of the table top and the cross-bars with respect to each other.  
       [0009] Opposing sides of said two main table tops are shaped to have mutually fastening protruding portions and recessed portions, and two sides of the auxiliary table top are also shaped to have protruding portions and recessed portions that correspond to and couple with the two main table tops.  
       [0010] The underside of the main table tops is provided with protruding portions or recessed portions that fasten to the auxiliary table top, and, corresponding to said protruding portions or recessed portions, the bottom of the auxiliary table top is also shaped to have recessed portions or protruding portions.  
       [0011] The sides of said recessed portions are shaped to have grooves or ridges.  
       [0012] The sides of said protruding portions are shaped to have ridges or grooves.  
       [0013] Because, in using the above-described structure, the two main table tops of this folding table slide relative to the two cross bars of the table frame, when it becomes necessary to increase the area of the table top, one can move the two main table tops relative to the cross-bars towards the two sides, join the auxiliary table tops between the two main table tops, and set them on the cross-bars to form a table top with a larger surface area. When it becomes necessary to reduce the size of the table top, then one need only detach the auxiliary table tops. After this folding table has been folded, the auxiliary table tops can be fastened to the underside of the main table tops, without having to take up excess volume. Thus, it is easy to use and quite practical. 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is an exterior schematic view of a conventional product.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional, exploded view of this utility model.  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a main table top of this utility model.  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional composite view of this utility model.  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a view of a use action of this utility model.  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a first view of this utility model in the use position.  
     [0020]FIG. 7 is a second view of this utility model in the use position.  
     [0021]FIG. 8 is a view of this utility model in the folded position. 
    
    
     SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS  
     [0022] A type of folding table of this utility model, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 . Its main components are a table top  1  and a table frame  2 .  
     [0023] The table top  1  comprises two main table tops  11  and at least one auxiliary table top  12 . (There are two auxiliary table tops in this embodiment.)  
     [0024] The bottoms of the two main table tops  11  are shaped to have sliding channels  111 . Secured to the insides of the sliding channels  11  are steel channels  3 . Opposing sides of the two main table tops  11  are shaped to have mutually-fastening protruding portions  112  and recessed portions  113 . The coupling surfaces of the protruding portions  112  and the recessed portions  113  are provided with ridges  1121  and grooves  1131 . The bottom surface of the main table tops  11  is provided with recessed portions  114  for fastening the auxiliary table tops  12 . The coupling surfaces of the recessed portions  114  are also provided with grooves  1141 .  
     [0025] Two sides of the auxiliary table tops  12  are shaped to have protruding portions  121  and recessed portions  122  corresponding to and coupling with the main table tops  11 , and its coupling surfaces are also provided with ridges  1211  and grooves  1221 . The bottoms of the auxiliary table tops  12  are shaped to have protruding portions  123  corresponding to the aforesaid recessed portions  114  of the main table tops  11 , and their coupling surfaces are also provided with ridges  1231 .  
     [0026] The table frame  2  comprises two cross-bars  21 , four longitudinal bars  22 , two leg sets  23 , and two support rods  24 , wherein:  
     [0027] The cross-bars  21  are mobilely nested together with the steel channels  3 . Between the cross-bars  21  and the steel channels  3 , support blocks  4  are provided to prevent rocking between the cross-bars  21  and the steel channels  3 . The support blocks  4  are fixed to the steel channels  3  and can slide relative to the cross-bars  21 .  
     [0028] The longitudinal bars  22  are separately and pivotally attached to the two ends and centers of the two cross-bars  21 . The two leg sets  23  are separately fixed to the longitudinal bars  22  of the two ends. The support rods  24  are fixed at one end to the legs  23  and at the other end are pivotally attached to the longitudinal bars  22  of the center of the cross-bars  21 .  
     [0029] During assembly, as shown in FIG. 4, after setting the two main table tops  11  on the table frame  2 , all the protruding portions  112  and all the recessed portions  113  of the main table tops  11  separately fasten and couple with each other to form a table.  
     [0030] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the area of the table top  1  needs to be expanded, apply force to pull apart the two main table tops  11 . At this point, because the steel channels  3  under the main table tops  11  are nested together with the cross-bars  21  of the table frame  2 , the table tops  11  can drive the steel channels  3  and support blocks  4  so that they slide relative to the cross-bars  21 . Then fasten the auxiliary table tops  12  between the two main table tops  11 . Couple and fasten with the protruding portions and recessed portions of each table top to assemble a table with a table top  1  that has a larger area.  
     [0031] As shown in FIG. 7, when it is necessary to increase the area of the table top  1 , one can accomplish this goal by adding two or more auxiliary table tops  12 .  
     [0032] As shown in FIG. 8, when the folding table of this utility model is folded, first detach the auxiliary table tops  12  from the two main table tops  11 . After joining the two main table tops  11 , turn them face down and forcefully pull down the table legs  23 . Because of the pivotal relations between the legs  23  and the longitudinal bars  22  and between the support rods  24  and the legs  23 , the legs  23  will come to rest on the underside of the table top  1 . Then, use the protruding portions  123  shaped on the bottom of the two auxiliary tables  12  to fasten them to the recessed portions  114  of the bottom surface of the main table tops  11  and thus achieve a reduction in its folded volume.