Patent Publication Number: US-6666152-B2

Title: Foldable banquet table

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a banquet table, and more particularly to a foldable banquet table, which comprises a reinforced and lightweight rigid tabletop and a foldable leg frame connected thereto for enhancing the supporting structure and the portability of the foldable banquet table. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Banquet tables have become very popular since the tables are economy, cheap and foldable that can be quickly and easily folded for carriage and storage and unfolded for use. Especially when some participant-intensive activities take place in multi-function rooms or designated areas, the banquet tables can be temporary set up in minutes. After the functions, the banquet tables can be quickly and neatly folded up for storage. 
     A conventional banquet table comprises a tabletop and a pair of table legs foldable mounted underneath the tabletop. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,061 generally suggests a banquet table that two table legs are pivotally mounted at two opposed side end portions of the tabletop. As shown in FIG. 1A, since the two table legs support the tabletop at two side end portions thereof, when a downward force is applied on the tabletop, a mid-portion of the tabletop may be cracked easily. In order to enhance the rigid structure of the banquet table, the tabletop must be made of stiffness material such as wood or metal. However, the wooden or metal tabletop will increase the overall weight of the banquet table that reduces the portability of the banquet table. 
     As shown in FIG. 1B, another U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674, owned by Stanford, discloses a banquet table further comprising a pair of support braces each having a proximal end attached to one of the table leg and a distal end attached to a center of the tabletop in such a manner that when the table legs of the leg frame are perpendicularly unfolded to the tabletop, the support braces are inclinedly supported between the table legs and the tabletop to form a triangular support structure, so as to evenly distribute a weight loaded on the tabletop to the table legs. Since the support braces must be mounted to the center of the bottom surface of the tabletop, the length of the tabletop is limited by the length of the support brace. In other words, each of the support braces must be long enough to extend from the center of the tabletop to the respective table leg. Generally, the total length of the support braces is approximately 80% of the length of the tabletop. Therefore, in order to provide a longer banquet table, longer support braces must be incorporated therewith. Furthermore, since each support brace, having an unseasonable length, is inclinedly extended from the tabletop to the respective table leg, the leg room within the two table legs and the tabletop will be taken. Therefore, the user is unable to fully extend his or her leg within the leg room of the banquet table. So, such banquet table has disadvantage in practical use. 
     Thus, in order to enhance the portability of the banquet table, the tabletop is made of lightweight material such as plastic. One of the common technologies to manufacture the tabletop is known as the plastic “air-blow” molding technique. The tabletop generally comprises a top layer and a bottom layer integrally and overlappedly extended from the top layer to form a one-piece tabletop and define an air chamber between the top and bottom layers. The disadvantage of such hollow plastic tabletop is that each of the top and bottom layers is extremely difficult to have a uniform thickness during the manufacturing process. In other words, each of the top and bottom layers may have a thicker portion and a thinner portion. Once the thickness of each of the top and bottom layers is lesser than a safety thickness while there is no way to observe from exterior, the tabletop will be cracked easily at the thinner portion thereof when the weight is loaded on the tabletop. 
     In order to increase the strength of the tabletop, the leg frame must further comprises a supporting frame connected between the table legs and supported underneath the bottom layer of the tabletop. However, the reinforcing frame cannot strengthen the top layer as well. Thus, the attachments between the table legs, the reinforcing frame, and the bottom layer are relatively weak due to the physical structure of the tabletop. Moreover, it is very difficult for the manufacturer to rigidly fasten the table legs and the reinforcing frame to the thin plastic bottom layer of the tabletop. In other words, even though the plastic tabletop can enhance the portability of the banquet table, it cannot be too long in length. It also fails to provide a rigid support for compensating the original strength to support the weight loaded on the tabletop. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A main object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced and lightweight rigid tabletop of a foldable banquet table to enhance the strength and rigidity of the foldable banquet table. In other words, the tabletop is adapted to rigidly support a weight loaded thereon comparing with a conventional plastic tabletop. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable banquet table, wherein the tabletop is constructed to have a uniform thickness of a top panel and a bottom panel so as to evenly distribute the weight loaded on the tabletop. Moreover, the manufacturing process for making each of the top and bottom panels, having the uniform thickness, is extremely easy and simple that largely reduces the manufacturing cost of the foldable banquet table. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable banquet table, wherein the tabletop further comprises a reinforcing frame built-in between the top and bottom panels to enhance the rigid structure of the top panel of the tabletop for supporting more weight thereon and the bottom panel for firmly and rigidly connecting and supporting the table legs therebelow. Moreover, the reinforcing frame provides a strong and rigid configuration of the tabletop so that a longer tabletop can be made without weakening its structure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable banquet table, wherein a supporting arm is inclinedly connected between the respective table leg frame and reinforcing frame at a side portion of the tabletop, but not the center thereof. Therefore, a longer tabletop can be manufactured without limited by the supporting arm. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable banquet table, wherein the attachment between the tabletop and the table leg frames are pre-set at a predetermined position that the table leg frames are connected to the reinforcing frame but not the bottom panel. Therefore, the weight loaded on the top panel of the tabletop will be evenly distributed to the table leg frames. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable banquet table, wherein the table leg frames are adapted to self-assemble to the tabletop. The tabletop and the table leg frames can be shipped and handled individually and then assembled later on by the importers or the customers in a Do-It-Yourself manner. Therefore, the handling and shipping cost of the foldable banquet table can be further reduced for the manufacturer. The shipping space can be reduced accordingly too. In other words, both the tabletop and the table leg frame are replaceable individually while the conventional banquet table must be thrown away when one of the parts is damaged. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable banquet table which can be quickly and easily folded up for storage and carriage and unfolded for use. 
     Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a foldable banquet table which comprises a tabletop and a pair of table supporting frames adapted to foldably and spacedly affix to the tabletop. 
     The tabletop comprises a top panel, a bottom panel overlappedly connecting with the top panel in an edge to edge manner and defining a receiving cavity between the top and bottom panels, and a reinforcing frame, which is received in the receiving cavity, comprising a pair of reinforcing arms longitudinally supported and extended along two side edge portions of the receiving cavity respectively and at least two transverse supports spacedly connected between the two reinforcing arms. 
     Each of the table supporting frames comprises a leg frame pivotally affixed to the bottom panel of the tabletop and a retaining frame pivotally connected between the leg frame and the respective transverse support to retain the leg frame in an unfolded position, wherein in a folded position, the legs frames are pivotally and inwardly folded toward the bottom panel of the tabletop, and in the unfolded position, the leg frames are pivotally and outwardly folded to perpendicular to the tabletop. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional banquet table. 
     FIG. 1B illustrates another conventional banquet table. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a foldable banquet table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the foldable banquet table according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3B illustrates an alternative attachment between the tabletop and the table supporting frames of the foldable banquet table according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the foldable banquet table in a folded position according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of a table supporting frame of the foldable banquet table according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative mode of a tabletop of the foldable banquet table according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a foldable banquet table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable banquet table comprises a tabletop  10  and a pair of table supporting frames  20  spacedly affixed to the tabletop  10 . 
     The tabletop  10  comprises a plastic made top panel  11 , a plastic made bottom panel  12  which is overlappedly connected with the top panel  11  in an edge to edge manner and defines a receiving cavity  13  between the top and bottom panels  11 ,  12 , and a reinforcing frame  14 , which is received in the receiving cavity  13 , comprising a pair of reinforcing arms  141  longitudinally supported and extended along two side edge portions of the receiving cavity  13  respectively and at least two transverse supports  142  spacedly connected between the two reinforcing arms  141  respectively. 
     Each of the table supporting frames  20  comprises a leg frame  21  pivotally attached to the bottom panel  12  of the tabletop  10  and a retaining frame  22  foldably connected between the leg frame  21  and the respective transverse support  142  to retain the leg frame  21  in an unfolded position, wherein in a folded position, as shown in FIG. 4, the leg frames  21  are pivotally and inwardly folded toward the bottom panel  12  of the tabletop  10 , and in the unfolded position, the leg frames  21  are pivotally and outwardly folded to perpendicular to the tabletop  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the tabletop  10  further has a transverse central portion  101 , two transverse side end portions  102 , and two transverse root portions  103  defined between the central portion  101  and the side end portions  102  respectively. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the top panel  11  of the tabletop  10 , having a rectangular shaped, is made by plastic molding or FRP to have a surrounding rim  111  downwardly extended from an edge of the top panel  11  respectively. The top panel  11  of the tabletop  10  is preferred made of lightweight but rigid material such as plastic. 
     The bottom panel  12  of the tabletop  10 , having a corresponding rectangular shaped, is also made by plastic molding o FRP independently to have an edge portion  121  sealedly attached to inner side of the surrounding rim  111  of the top panel  11  by means of ultrasonic or other common sealing technologies such as thermal sealing, to form the receiving cavity  13  defined between the top panel  11  and the bottom panel  12  to receive the reinforcing frame  14  therein. It is worth to mention that both the top and bottom panels  11 ,  12  are manufactured individually, each of the top and bottom panels  11 ,  12  will have a uniform thickness, so as to ensure the strength of the top and bottom panels  11 ,  12  throughout the entire tabletop  10 . 
     Moreover, when the bottom panel  12  is mounted to the top panel  11 , a storage cavity  120  is defined within a lower portion of the surrounding rim  111  of the top panel  11  and the bottom panel  12  wherein the leg frames  21  of the table supporting frames  20  are arranged to folded inwardly to receive in the storage cavity  120  in the folded position. 
     Accordingly, each of the reinforcing arms  141  is an elongated member extended from one of the side end portion  102  of the tabletop  10  to another side end portion  102  thereof, so as to substantially enhance the rigid structure of the tabletop  10 . 
     The two transverse supports  142  are positioned within the two root portions  103  of the tabletop  10  respectively, wherein each of the transverse supports  142  comprises a pair of support braces  1421  spacedly mounted between the two reinforcing arms  141  and a mounting member  1422  mounted between the two support braces  1421  for pivotally connecting with the respective retaining frame  22  of the table supporting frame  20 . 
     The tabletop  10  further comprises an attachment arrangement  15  for mounting the table supporting frames  20  to the tabletop  10 , wherein the attachment arrangement  15  contains four attachment holes  151  provided on two longitudinal edges of the bottom panel  12  within the side end portions  102  of said tabletop  10  respectively in such a manner that the leg frames  21  of the table supporting frames  20  are adapted to rotatably mount to the reinforcing arms  141  through the attachment holes  151  respectively. 
     Accordingly, each of the reinforcing arms  141  has two leg holes  100  provided on two inner side portions at positions aligning with the attachment holes  151  respectively so as to connect the leg frames  21  through the attachment holes  151 . 
     The attachment arrangement  15  further contains at least two mounting holes  152  provided on the bottom panel  12  within the root portions  103  of the tabletop  10  respectively, wherein the mounting holes  152  are aligned with the mounting member  1422  of the transverse support  142 , so that each of the retaining frames  22  is foldably connected between the respective leg frame  21  and the mounting member  1422  of the transverse support  142  through the respective mounting hole  152 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3A, each of the leg frames  21  comprises two supporting legs  212  each having an upper end portion rotatably mounted to the respective reinforcing arm  141  through the respective attachment hole  151  and a transverse member  211  extended between the two supporting legs  212  in such a manner that the two supporting legs  212  are adapted to rotatably fold between the folded position and the unfolded position. Accordingly, the upper end portion of each supporting leg  212 , having a corresponding size and shape, is arranged to rotatably insert into the respective leg hole  100  through the attachment hole  151  so as to connect the leg frame  21  to the tabletop  10 . 
     Each of the retaining frames  22  comprises a first folding arm  221  pivotally connected to the respective leg frame  21 , a second folding arm  223  pivotally connected to the respective mounting member  1422  of the transverse support  142  through the respective mounting hole  152  on the bottom panel  12 , and a pivot joint  223  pivotally connected the first and second folding arms  221 ,  222  with each other in such a manner that when the leg frame  21  is folded perpendicularly to the tabletop  10 , the first and second folding arms  221 ,  222  are pivotally extended to bias against the supporting legs  212  and the transverse supports  142  at the root portion  103  of the tabletop  10  respectively, so as to retain the leg frame  21  in the unfolded position 
     Each of the retaining frames  22  further comprises a ring-shaped locker  224  slidably mounted to the second folding arm  222  for locking up the pivot joint  223  so as to prevent an unwanted pivotal movement of each of the first and second folding arms  221 ,  222  when the leg frame  21  is in the unfolded position. 
     The attachment arrangement  15  further comprises at least two U-shaped holding members  153  and at least two U-shaped holding clips  154 . Each of the holding members  153  has two ends securely attached to the bottom panel  12  to define a guiding slot between the holding member  153  and the bottom panel  12  for the upper end portion of the supporting leg  212  passing through, so as to guide the folding operation of the supporting leg  212 . Each of the holding clips  154  is mounted on the bottom panel  12  of the tabletop  10  and arranged in such a manner that when the leg frame  21  is folded toward the bottom panel  12 , the supporting leg  212  is engaged with the holding clip  154  so as to hold the leg frame  21  in the folded position, as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Alternatively, the leg frames  21  are adapted to directly attach to the bottom panel  12  by mounting the two holding clips  154  to the upper end portions of the supporting legs  212  on the bottom panel  12 , as shown in FIG.  3 B. In other words, no attachment hole  151  and leg hole  100  is required in order to connect the leg frame  21  to the tabletop  10 , so as to simplify the assembly operation of the foldable banquet table of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative mode of the table supporting frame  20 ′ which is adapted to detachably attach to the tabletop  10  in such a manner that the user is able to assemble the foldable banquet table by himself or herself. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the transverse member  211 ′ is detachably attached between the two supporting legs  222 ′ by means of connecting elements such as screws in such a manner that each supporting leg  222 ′ is adapted to rotatably mount to the respective reinforcing arm  141  by rotatably inserting the upper end portion of the supporting leg  222 ′ into the leg hole  100  on the reinforcing arm  141  through the attachment hole  151  on the bottom panel  12  and attaching the retaining frames  22 ′ to the transverse supports  142  through the mounting holes  152  respectively. Then the transverse member  211 ′ is adapted to mount between two adjacent supporting legs  222 ′. It is worth to mention that since the attachment arrangement  15  is pre-set on the bottom panel  12  of the tabletop  10 , the table supporting frames  20 ′ are adapted to attach to or detach from the tabletop  10 . In other words, the user is able to replace the tabletop  10  and/or the table supporting frame  20 ′ if necessary. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative mode of the tabletop  10 ″ wherein the tabletop  10 ″ is adapted to be prolonged its length without altering the structure of the table supporting frame  20 . As it is mentioned that since the leg frame  21  of the preferred embodiment are attached to the side end portions  102 ″ of the tabletop  10 ″ respectively and the retaining frames  22  are connected to the root portion  103 ″ of the tabletop  10 ″, the tabletop  10 ″ is adapted to increase its length by increasing the length the central portion  101 ″ thereof. In order to strengthen the central portion  101 ″ of the tabletop  10 ″, the reinforcing frame  14 ″ further comprises at least an auxiliary transverse support  143 ″ which is received in the receiving cavity  13 ″ and extended between the reinforcing arms  141 ′ at a position within the central portion  101 ′. Therefore, the tabletop  10 ″ can substantially increase its length without reducing the strength thereof It is worth to mention that when incorporating with the table supporting frames  20 ′ as disclosed in the alternative, the user is able to interchange both tabletop  10 ″ and the table supporting frames  20 ′. In other words, the user is able to select the longer tabletop  10 ″ or the shorter tabletop  10  for the table supporting frame  20 ′ installing thereinto.