Patent Publication Number: US-9883736-B2

Title: Portable deployable table

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/265,846 filed on Dec. 10, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a table. More specifically, the present invention is a portable deployable table that may be easily mounted to and removed from a surface or structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable tables are useful for a variety of applications. For example, caring for an infant, an elderly person, or a sick person is greatly facilitated through the use of a portable table that may be both quickly deployed and removed as necessary. A portable table is particularly useful when the use of a conventional table is unnecessary or impractical. In addition to feeding and eating purposes, a portable table may be utilized for reading, writing, and similar purposes. 
     The present invention is a portable deployable table that may be quickly mounted to and removed from a surface or structure such as a bedframe or a sofa. The present invention is secured in place in order to ensure stability of the present invention when in use. After the present invention has been mounted, the present invention may be adjusted to accommodate the user&#39;s individual space requirements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the present invention with the planar table top folded. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention from  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line B-B of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the present invention in a retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line C-C of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the present invention with an accessory holder. 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the present invention in a deployed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a portable deployable table that may be quickly mounted to and removed from a surface or structure. The present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and comprises a housing  1 , at least one telescopic arm  5 , a table frame  16 , a planar table top  17 , and at least one adjustable mounting brace  20 . 
     The housing  1  is an enclosure that accommodates the at least one telescopic arm  5 , the table frame  16 , and the planar table top  17  when the present invention is not in use. The housing  1  comprises an open end  2 , a closed end  3 , and a mounting surface  4 . The open end  2  is the end of the housing  1  from which the at least one telescopic arm  5 , the table frame  16 , and the planar table top  17  are able to extend. The closed end  3  is the end of the housing  1  onto which the at least one telescopic arm  5  is mounted within the housing  1 . The mounting surface  4  is the portion of the housing  1  that is mounted to a surface or structure when the present invention is in use. 
     The at least one telescopic arm  5  is utilized to extend and retract the table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  as needed. The at least one telescopic arm  5  comprises a fixed end  6  and an extendable end  7 . The fixed end  6  is mounted in place within the housing  1  while the extendable end  7  is able to extend and retract as needed. The fixed end  6  is internally and normally connected to the closed end  3 . As such, the fixed end  6  remains in place within the housing  1  when the present invention is in use, providing stability to the at least one telescopic arm  5 . 
     The table frame  16  provides structural stability to the planar table top  17  when the planar table top  17  is deployed. The planar table top  17  provides a flat table surface when deployed. The table frame  16  is hingedly connected to the extendable end  7 , opposite to the fixed end  6 . The table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  may thus be easily deployed by moving the table frame  16  about the hinged connection between the table frame  16  and the extendable end  7 . The planar table top  17  is connected across the table frame  16 , allowing the table frame  16  to provide structural support and stability to the planar table top  17 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the planar table top  17  comprises a base panel  18  and an extendable panel  19 . The base panel  18  is the main portion of the planar table top  17  while the extendable panel  19  is a secondary portion that is utilized to increase the size of the planar table top  17  as needed. The base panel  18  is hingedly connected to the extendable end  7 . As such, the base panel  18  may be deployed as needed by moving the base panel  18  about the hinged connection between the base panel  18  and the extendable end  7 . The extendable panel  19  is hingedly connected to the base panel  18 , opposite to the extendable end  7 . As a result, the extendable panel  19  may be easily deployed as needed and folded away when not in use. 
     In its preferred embodiment, the present invention further comprises at least one adjustment rod  29 . The at least one adjustment rod  29  allows fore and aft adjustment of the planar table top  17 . The at least one adjustment rod  29  is connected across the base panel  18 , enabling the position of the base panel  18  to be adjusted via the at least one adjustment rod  29 . The at least one adjustment rod  29  is oriented perpendicular to the table frame  16 , providing fore and aft movement of the base panel  18 . The at least one adjustment rod  29  is slidably engaged through the table frame  16 , allowing the at least one adjustment rod  29  to be slid through the table frame  16  in order to adjust the position of the base panel  18 . 
     The present invention may further comprise a support leg  28 . The support leg  28  provides stability for the planar table top  17  when the planar table top  17  is deployed. The support leg  28  is hingedly connected to the extendable panel  19 , allowing the support leg  28  to be deployed when the planar table top  17  is deployed. The support leg  28  may then be easily moved out of the way when the present invention is no longer in use. 
     The at least one adjustable mounting brace  20  is utilized to secure the present invention to a surface or structure. The at least one adjustable mounting brace  20  is externally connected to the mounting surface  4 , enabling the mounting surface  4  to be placed into contact with the surface or structure to which the present invention is secured. 
     In the embodiments of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the at least one telescopic arm  5  comprises a first hydraulic cylinder  8  and a second hydraulic cylinder  9 . The first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  are utilized to extend the table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  from the housing  1 . Additionally, the first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  are utilized to retract the table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  into the housing  1 . The first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  are positioned adjacent to each other on the closed end  3 . As a result, the first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  are able to ensure that the table frame  16  is secured in place on the first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  for stability. The first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  are oriented parallel to each other, enabling the first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  to remain aligned relative to each other as the table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  are extended and retracted. 
     The first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  each comprise a barrel  10  and a piston  11 . The barrel  10  serves as a sleeve for the piston  11  while the piston  11  is able to extend from and retract into the barrel  10 . The barrel  10  is connected to the closed end  3 , fixing the barrel  10  in place within the housing  1  for stability. The piston  11  is slidably engaged into the barrel  10 , allowing the piston  11  to extend from and retract into the barrel  10  as needed. The table frame  16  is hingedly connected to the piston  11 . As such, the table frame  16  and the connected planar table top  17  are able to extend from the housing  1  and be deployed as needed. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the at least one telescopic arm  5  comprises a first extendable tube  12  and a second extendable tube  13 . The first extendable tube  12  and the second extendable tube  13  function similarly to the first hydraulic cylinder  8  and the second hydraulic cylinder  9  and allow the table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  to extend from the housing  1 . The first extendable tube  12  and the second extendable tube  13  are positioned adjacent to each other on the closed end  3  and as such, the first extendable tube  12  and the second extendable tube  13  are able to secure the table frame  16  in place for stability. The first extendable tube  12  and the second extendable tube  13  are oriented parallel to each other, enabling the first extendable tube  12  and the second extendable tube  13  to remain aligned relative to each other. 
     The first extendable tube  12  and the second extendable tube  13  each comprise a base tube  14  and an extendable tube  15 . The base tube  14  is a sleeve for the extendable tube  15  while the extendable tube  15  is able to extend from and retract into the base tube  14 . The base tube  14  is connected to the closed end  3 , fixing the base tube  14  in place within the housing  1  for stability. The extendable tube  15  is slidably engaged into the base tube  14 , enabling the extendable tube  15  to be extended from and retracted into the base tube  14  as needed. The table frame  16  is hingedly connected to the extendable tube  15 . The table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  may thus be extended from the housing  1  and deployed as needed. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the present invention may further comprise a plurality of adjustment holes  24  and at least one fastener  25  for use in fixing the length of the at least one telescopic arm  5  in place after the table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  have reached the desired height. The plurality of adjustment holes  24  traverses through the at least one telescopic arm  5  and to provide openings into which the at least one fastener  25  may be engaged. The at least one fastener  25  is removably engaged into a selected hole from the plurality of adjustment holes  24 , allowing the at least one fastener  25  to fix the length of the at least one telescopic arm  5 . The at least one fastener  25  may be removed from the selected hole in order to adjust the length of the at least one telescopic arm  5 . 
     In the embodiments of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the at least one adjustable mounting brace  20  comprises a U-shaped channel  21 . The U-shaped channel  21  is utilized to mount the present invention to a piece of furniture such as a sofa. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the U-shaped channel  21  is connected across the mounting surface  4 , adjacent to the closed end  3 . The U-shaped channel  21  is thus positioned to engage a sofa&#39;s legs or a similar structure in order to secure the present invention in place without compromising the ability to deploy the planar table top  17 . In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3 , the U-shaped channel  21  is connected across the mounting surface  4 , adjacent to the open end  2 . This embodiment of the present invention may be mounted to a piece of furniture such as a bed frame. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 7-11 , the at least one adjustable mounting brace  20  comprises a first pair of braces  22  and a second pair of braces  23 . The first pair of braces  22  and the second pair of braces  23  are utilized to secure the present invention to a surface or structure. The first pair of braces  22  and the second pair of braces  23  may be adjusted in order to tighten or loosen the present invention against the surface or structure. The first pair of braces  22  and the second pair of braces  23  are positioned adjacent to each other on the mounting surface  4 , allowing the present invention to be securely fastened to the surface or structure. 
     The present invention further comprises a housing lid  26  that is utilized to close the housing  1  when the present invention is not in use. The housing lid  26  is hingedly connected across the housing  1 , adjacent to the open end  2 . The housing lid  26  may thus be opened and closed over the open end  2  as needed. 
     The present invention may further comprise an accessory holder  27  for holding items such as a television remote control as shown in  FIG. 12 . The accessory holder  27  is externally and removably mounted to the housing  1 . The accessory holder  27  is thus able to hold and place accessories in a convenient and reachable position during use of the present invention. 
     The at least one telescopic arm  5 , the table frame  16 , and the planar table top  17  are shown in a deployed configuration in  FIG. 13 . The deployed configuration is the configuration in which the present invention is in use. The extendable end  7 , the table frame  16 , and the planar table top  17  are positioned external to the housing  1 , allowing the planar table top  17  to be utilized as a conventional table surface. The table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  are oriented perpendicular to the at least one telescopic arm  5 . As a result, the planar table top  17  is oriented in the same manner as a conventional table top. The base panel  18  and the extendable panel  19  are coplanar to each other. The extendable panel  19  is thus deployed in order to increase the size of the planar table top  17  along with the base panel  18 . 
     The at least one telescopic arm  5 , the table frame  16 , and the planar table top  17  are shown in a retracted configuration in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 . The retracted configuration is the configuration in which the present invention is not in use. The extendable end  7 , the table frame  16 , and the planar table top  17  are positioned within the housing  1  and are thus concealed from view within the housing  1 . The table frame  16  and the planar table top  17  are oriented parallel to the at least one telescopic arm  5 . The table frame  16  and the attached planar table top  17  are thus folded from the deployed position into a more compact configuration. The extendable panel  19  is layered upon the base panel  18  and as such, the planar table top  17  is in a folded and compact configuration. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.