Patent Publication Number: US-2006005747-A1

Title: Table

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/586,341, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 07, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to a table and more particularly to a table having multiple configurations.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Tables are well known and typically include a space on top of the table for working and playing as well as drawers or containers for storing items. This allows someone using the table the option of leaving items on the tabletop for later use or removing those items for storage in the attached drawers or containers or elsewhere.  
      Unfortunately however, several problems exist with current table designs. One of these problems involves the inconvenience of having a limited amount of table space available. In most situations, this limited amount of available table space requires that the table be cleared, either partially or completely, of items each time the table is used and depending on the purpose the table was being used for this may be time a time consuming process. For example, consider a child who is using the table as a play space to hold a train set. When the child is finished playing with the train set, the train set must be disassembled and removed in order for the table to be used for other purposes. Thus, every time the child wants to use the table to hold the train set, or other toy, the set has to be rebuilt which can be inconvenient and time consuming. Another example to consider involves an older child or adult who is using the table as a hobby space or a work space. If that person wants to leave the hobby materials or work materials on the table to continue the hobby or work at a later time, the table could not be used for other purposes.  
      Thus, because the current table designs provide a work/play space that is not configurable or adjustable in size, these current designs do not maximize the utilization of space and are thus space inefficient. One way to address this problem involves using a plurality of tables or larger sized tables to provide a sufficient amount of space to satisfy work/play space needs. However, most homes or businesses do not have a large amount of space to dedicate to multiple or a large or even medium sized table. As such, if a table is present, it was probably selected in large response to the area where the table will be placed as opposed to the amount of work/play space actually desired or needed. Unfortunately, this can affect work/play quality and/or work efficiency.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A table is provided wherein the table includes a main table, the main table including at least one main table support device and at least one secondary table, the at least one secondary table including at least one secondary table support device, wherein the at least one main table support device is associated with the at least one secondary table support device such that the at least one secondary table is configurable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration.  
      A table is provided wherein the table includes a main table, the main table including at least one main table configuration device and at least one secondary table, the at least one secondary table including at least one secondary table configuration device, wherein the at least one main table configuration device is associated with the at least one secondary table configuration device such that the at least one secondary table is configurable between a stowed configuration and an upright configuration.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a table, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the table of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a main table leg of the table of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a secondary table top of the table of  FIG. 1 , with the secondary legs in the stowed configuration;  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a secondary table top of the table of  FIG. 1 , with two of the secondary legs in the un-stowed configuration;  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of a secondary table top of the table of  FIG. 1 , with two of the secondary legs in the un-stowed configuration;  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a secondary table top of the table of  FIG. 1 , with two of the secondary legs in the un-stowed configuration;  
       FIG. 8  is a front view of a secondary leg of the table of  FIG. 1 , in the retracted configuration;  
       FIG. 9  is a front view of a secondary leg of the table of  FIG. 1 , in the partially extended configuration;  
       FIG. 10  is a front view of a secondary leg of the table of  FIG. 1 , in the fully extended configuration;  
       FIG. 11  is a front view of the table of  FIG. 1  in a first configuration;  
       FIG. 12  is a front view of the table of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration;  
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the table of  FIG. 1  in a third configuration;  
       FIG. 14  is a front view of the table of  FIG. 1  in a fourth configuration; and  
       FIG. 15  is a front view of the table of  FIG. 1  in a fifth configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the Figures, a first embodiment of a table  100  is illustrated and described below.  FIGS. 1-3  shows table  100  including a main table top  102  and two secondary table tops.  104 , wherein main table top  102  is non-movably associated with, and supported by, at least two main table legs  106 . Main table legs  106  include a plurality of main table support means  108  and main table top  102  includes a main table top surface  110  and a main table bottom surface  112 , wherein main table top surface  110  and main table bottom surface  112  may be any type of table top suitable to the desired end purpose, including, but not limited to, a chalk board surface, a dry erase surface and a magnet board surface. It is also contemplated that at least one of the main table top  102  and secondary table top  104  may be configured for use as a computing device and/or a digital display device to allow table  100  to be used as an entertainment center. For example, secondary table top  104  may include a processing device, a digital display screen and a keyboard attachment which would allow the secondary table top  104  to be used as a processing/entertainment device. Additionally, main table top  102  includes at least one main table configuration means  114  disposed on an edge of main table top  102 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4-10 , secondary table top  104  is shown and includes secondary table top outer structure  116 , a plurality of secondary table support means  118  and a plurality of secondary legs  120 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , secondary table top outer structure  116  defines at least one leg cavity  122  for removably containing at least one of the plurality of secondary legs  120 , wherein secondary legs  120  are telescoping legs as shown in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . Plurality of secondary legs  120  are associated with secondary table top outer structure  116  such that each of the plurality of secondary legs  120  are configurable between a stowed configuration  124  and an un-stowed configuration  126 . Additionally, because each of the plurality of secondary legs  120  are telescoping legs, secondary legs  120  are configurable between a retracted configuration  128 , a partially extended configuration  130  and a fully extended configuration  132 .  
      When plurality of secondary legs  120  are disposed in the stowed configuration  124  each of the plurality of secondary legs  120  are securingly disposed within leg cavity  122  via any method suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a clip, and a friction fit. Additionally, while the plurality of secondary legs  120  are disposed in the stowed configuration  124  each of the plurality of secondary legs  120  are disposed in the retracted configuration  128 . While being configured between the stowed configuration  124  and the un-stowed configuration  126  at least two of the secondary legs  120  are rotated 90° about an axis y. If desired, one or all of the plurality of secondary legs  120  may be configured between retracted configuration  128 , partially extended configuration  130  and/or fully extended configuration  132 . Secondary table top  104  includes a secondary table top surface  134  and a secondary table bottom surface  136 , wherein secondary table top surface  134  and secondary table bottom surface  136  may be any type of table top suitable to the desired end purpose, including, but not limited to, a chalk board surface, a dry erase surface and a magnet board surface. Additionally, secondary table top  104  includes at least one secondary table configuration means  138  disposed on an edge of secondary table top outer structure  116 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 11-14 , table  100  is shown with secondary table tops  104  in multiple configurations, each of which is described below. Referring to  FIG. 11 , table  100  is shown having an upper secondary table top  140  and a lower secondary table top  142 , both of which are in the un-stowed configuration  126  to opposite sides of table  100 . Upper secondary table top  140  is supported on one side by the interaction between main table support means (not shown) and secondary table support means (not shown) and on the opposing side by two secondary legs  120 , wherein each of the two secondary legs  120  are configured into partially extended configuration  130 . Similarly, lower secondary table top  142  is supported on one side by the interaction between main table support means (not shown) and secondary table support means (not shown) and on the opposing side by two secondary legs  120 , wherein each of the two secondary legs  120  are configured into retracted configuration  128 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 12 , table  100  is shown having two secondary table tops  104 , both of which are in the un-stowed configuration  126  to opposite sides of table  100 . Each of the two secondary table tops  104  is supported on one side by the interaction between main table support means (not shown) and secondary table support means (not shown) and on the opposing side by two secondary legs  120 , wherein each of the two secondary legs  120  are configured into partially extended configuration  130 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 13 , table  100  is shown having two secondary table tops  104 , both of which are in the un-stowed configuration  126  to opposite sides of table  100 . Each of the two secondary table tops  104  is supported on one side by the interaction between main table configuration means  114  and secondary table configuration means  138  and on the opposing side by two secondary legs  120 , wherein each of the two secondary legs  120  are configured into fully extended configuration  132 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 14 , table  100  is shown having a first secondary table top  144  and a second secondary table top  146 , both of which are in the un-stowed configuration  126  to opposite sides of table  100 . First secondary table top  144  is supported on one side by the interaction between main table configuration means  114  and secondary table configuration means  138  and on the opposing side by two secondary legs  120 , wherein each of the two secondary legs  120  are configured into fully extended configuration  132 . Second secondary table top  146  is supported on one side by two secondary legs  120  each of which are shown as being configured into retracted configuration  128  and on the opposing side by the interaction between main table configuration means  114  and secondary table configuration means  138  such that second secondary table top  146  is disposed at an angle β which may be equal to, greater than or less than 90° from a plane parallel to main table top  102 . Second secondary table top  146  is configured into this configuration by associating secondary table configuration means  138  with main table configuration means  114  wherein the association between secondary table configuration means  138  and main table configuration means  114  allows for second secondary table top  146  to be rotated about an axis g.  
      Referring to  FIG. 15 , table  100  is shown having a first secondary table top  144  and a second secondary table top  146 , both of which are in the un-stowed configuration  126  to opposite sides of table  100 . Both first secondary table top  144  and second secondary table top  146  are supported on one side by two secondary legs  120  each of which are configured into retracted configuration  128  and on the opposing side by the interaction between main table configuration means  114  and secondary table configuration means  138  such that both first secondary table top  144  and second secondary table top  146  are disposed at an angle β which may be equal to, greater than or less than 90° from a plane parallel to main table top  102 .  
      Main table support means  108  and secondary table support means  118  may be any device and/or system of devices suitable to the desired end purpose such that secondary table tops  104  are configurably associated with main table top  102 , such as a roller/guide support device, a tongue in groove type of support device and a ball bearing type of support device. Moreover, main table configuration means  114  and secondary table configuration means  138  may be any configuration means suitable to the desired end purpose which allows table  100  to be configured between at least two configurations.  
      Moreover, main table configuration means  114  and secondary table configuration means  138  may be any device and/or system of devices suitable to the desired end purpose such that secondary table tops  104  are configurably associated with main table top  102  to be disposed at an angle β which may be equal to, greater than or less than 90° from a horizontal plane relative to main table top  102 , such as a roller/guide support device, a tongue in groove type of support device and a ball bearing type of support device. Furthermore, although secondary table legs  120  are shown as being telescoping, secondary table legs  120  may be any type of support structure suitable to the desired end purpose, such as collapsible legs and/or folding legs and/or any combination thereof.  
      Table  100  may be constructed, in whole or in part, from any material or combination of materials suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a metallic material, wood, particle board, plastic and/or a composite.  
      It should be appreciated that although table  100  is shown having one main table top  102  and two secondary table tops  104 , table  100  may have any number of main table tops  102  and/or secondary table tops  104 . It should also be appreciated that secondary legs  120  may be manually or automatically unstowable.  
      While the disclosed embodiment has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed herein contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and/or teachings of the appended sections.