Patent Publication Number: US-7585033-B2

Title: Multi-functional table

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority of provisional Application Ser. No. 60/644,819 filed Jan. 18, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly to a table that provides an adjustable second surface for use by persons seated next to the table. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   As is well known, end tables are almost universally utilized in conjunction with couches, chairs, and other seating devices. End tables universally comprise an upper support surface which is employed for long term support and display of lamps, photographs and pictures, memorabilia, and similar items. For this reason the upper support surface of an end table rarely provides room for temporarily supporting food items, beverages, books and other reading materials, computers, etc. Even if space is available thereon, the upper support surface of an end table is not a convenient location for temporary support of items to be used by a person seated next to the end table because the upper surface thereof is located to the side of and somewhat rearwardly relative to the person seated adjacent thereto. 
   Currently, items such as TV trays, portable or folding tables, and coffee tables are used as support surfaces by persons sitting on couches, chairs and the like. However, each of these options has problems inherent to its design. Most TV trays rest either directly upon or on top of a person&#39;s lap, limiting mobility of the person using the tray. Portable trays on collapsible stands allow more mobility, but restrict movement of the feet and legs to a limited area and are not conducive for use while in a reclined position. Additionally, portable trays are usually not capable of being placed directly over the user&#39;s lap, thus requiring the user to lean forward for better access to the items on the tray. Moreover, collapsible trays are susceptible to being turned over by other persons, pets, or children. Further, when not in use, TV trays and portable or folding tables must be stored in a cabinet, closet, or the like. 
   The present invention comprises a multi-functional table which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties. In accordance with the broader aspects of the preferred embodiment, a table comprises an adjustable second support surface which may be used by a person seated adjacent to the table for use as a work surface or to support various items. When not in use, the second support surface stores inside the table. When the person seated adjacent to the table needs a second support surface, it is simply pulled outwardly from inside the table and positioned either in front of or above the person&#39;s lap. 
   In accordance with the more specific aspects of the invention, a second support surface is extendable from inside the table and may be adjusted to various horizontal and vertical positions. A person seated next to the table may place items such as a laptop computer, meals, beverages, books, and other various items on the second support surface while it is extended. The person is free to rise, adjust their seating position, or recline without significant movement of the second support surface and without disturbing items placed thereon. The person simply moves the second support surface sufficiently to allow the desired motion, if any movement of the second support surface is required at all. The second support surface is supported by a substantially horizontal arm extending from inside the table. The second support surface does not require any additional support other than the horizontal arm so there are no legs or stands which inhibit movement of the person&#39;s feet or legs, nor is there anything to block movement of pets or small children which may be at or near the person&#39;s feet. 
   The horizontal arm supporting the second support surface may be adjusted to various settings away from the table, enabling a person to adjust the second support surface to accommodate different seating positions and various arm widths of the seating surface. In addition, the adjustability of the horizontal arm allows the arm and support surface to collapse into a more compact unit, requiring less space inside the table for storage, thereby facilitating a smaller size table which may be manufactured at a lesser cost. 
   When not in use, the second support surface is recessed beneath the upper support surface of the table, so there are no storage or space requirements for the second support surface. In addition to being used next to couches or chairs, the present invention may also be used in the design of a night stand or other table designs and configurations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention in use; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2A  is a bottom view further illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an alternate view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in its closed configuration; 
       FIG. 4  is perspective view illustrating yet another view the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the mechanical movements and range of motion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating the range of motion of one component of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  comprising an additional component; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is an alternate view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are a perspective views illustrating yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown a multi-functional table  20  comprising a first embodiment of the invention. Although the illustrations show the invention embodied as an end table, the present invention can also be configured for use as a night stand or other table design or configurations. 
   The table  20  includes an upper support surface and an enclosure situated immediately below the upper support surface. A person seated on a couch  22  removes a second support surface  26  from the enclosure of the table  20  and guides the second support surface  26  until it is placed in the desired position. The second support surface  26  is a substantially planar surface constructed from wood, metals, plastics, and/or other rigid materials known to those skilled in the art and commonly used in furniture manufacture. 
   Referring specifically to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , the table  20  comprises an upper support surface  30 , a front panel  32 , two side panels  34 , a back panel  36 , and a bottom panel  38 , which together define an enclosure situated immediately below the upper support surface  30 . The preferred embodiment shown of the table  20  comprises four legs  40  which provide support for the table  20 . 
   The second support surface  26  is mounted on a horizontal arm  42  by a support plate  44 . The arm  42  extends from beneath the upper support surface  30  of the table  20  where it is rotatably supported on a vertical shaft  46 . The vertical shaft  46  is secured to the one side panel  34  by a bracket  48  and fasteners extending through apertures  50  located on each side of the bracket  48  receiving apertures  51  located near the top of the side panel  34 . The arm  42  and vertical shaft  46  may be fabricated from wood, various metals, or plastics known to those skilled in the art and commonly used in furniture manufacture. 
   To remove the second support surface  26  from beneath the upper support surface  30 , the front panel  32  is folded down. As the second support surface  26  is pulled from under the upper support surface  30 , the arm  42  rotates around the vertical shaft  46  and engages a cam  52  which lifts the arm  42  and guides the arm  42  up onto a shelf  54 . The arm  42  travels up the shelf  54  until it reaches an optional cradle  56  located at the top of the shelf  54 . If used, the cradle secures the arm  42  in place while the second support surface  26  is in use. The cam  52  and the shelf  54  are both adjustable to various heights by means of locking pins  58  and receiving apertures  60  located along the vertical axis of the cam  52  and the end of the shelf  54 . Both the cam  52  and the shelf  54  may be fabricated from wood, various metals, or plastics known to those skilled in the art. 
   The arm  42  is adjustable to various horizontal positions by means of a locking pin  62  which may be placed in one of several apertures  64  located along the horizontal access of the arm  42 . The adjustability of the arm  42  allows the arm  42  to be collapsed into a narrow configuration before recessing the arm back under the upper support surface  30 . Because the arm can be collapsed, the space inside the table  20  to house the arm  42  and second support surface  26  is minimized, requiring less material to construct the table  20 , thus making the table more affordable to manufacture. The adjustability of the arm  42  also enables the table  20  to be used with a wide variety of furniture types having varying arm widths and further allows the second support surface  26  to be used at different distances away from the table  20 . Specifically, the enclosure of the table  20  may be constructed of various depths. For example, the table may be constructed so as to receive the second support surface  26  with a laptop computer positioned thereon. 
   The second support surface  26  may be equipped with accessories. Referring to  FIG. 2A , the second support surface  26  may be equipped with a cup holder  70  and a light  72 . If used, the light  72  is mounted on the under side of the second support surface  26  and is mounted on a flexible neck  74  allowing the light to be adjusted into an infinite variety of positions above the second support surface  26 . The table  20  and second support surface  26  may also be equipped with other accessories to accommodate different needs of a user, including, but not limited to an electrical outlet mounted on the second support surface  26  or below the upper support surface  30  of the table  20 , as well as a shallow drawer that may be mounted below the second support surface  26 . 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a view of the table  20  with the second support surface stored therein. The front panel  32  is folded up to hide the second support  26  from view when not in use. The front panel  32  is equipped with a handle  76  to enable operation of the front panel  32 . 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a view of the table  20  with the second support surface  26  recessed inside the table  20  below the upper support surface  30 .  FIGS. 5A through 5E , inclusive, illustrate the table  20  at all stages of storage and full extension.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the second support surface  26  as stored inside the table  20  with the arm  42  collapsed to the most narrow setting.  FIG. 5B  illustrates the arm  42  meeting the cam  52 . The cam  52  guides the arm onto the shelf  54  as illustrated in  FIG. 5C .  FIG. 5D  illustrates the arm  42  traveling along the shelf  54  towards the top of the shelf  54 .  FIG. 5E  illustrates the arm  42  resting in the optional cradle  56  at the top of the shelf  54 , where the arm  42  can be adjusted horizontally for the second support surface  26  to be used. Referring to  FIG. 5F , there is shown the table  20  with an alternative spiral shelf  80 , which combines the function of the cam  52  and the shelf  54 . The arm  42  rests in a bottom cradle  82  located at the bottom of the shelf  80  when the second support surface  26  is stored beneath the upper support surface  30 . Instead of a cam guiding the arm onto a shelf, the arm  42  travels up along the shelf  81  from the bottom cradle  82  to a top cradle  84 , which support the arm  42  when the second support surface  26  is in use. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown the table  20 , and the vertical range of motion of the arm  42 . The arm  42  is adjusted vertically by adjusting the height of the cam  52  and the shelf  54  by changing the apertures in which the locking pins  58  are placed. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown the table  20  further comprising a drawer  90 . The drawer  90  may be placed adjacent to the shelf  54  such that the drawer is located beneath the second support surface  26  when it is stored beneath the upper support surface  30 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is shown a table  100  comprising a second embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the table  100  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the table  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 7  with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the table  20 , but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation. 
   The table  100  differs from the table  20  shown of  FIGS. 1 through 7  in that the table  100  comprises a horizontal arm  42 ′ mounted on a rod  102  which slides horizontally on two rails  104  between a front panel  32 ′ and a back panel  36 ′. The rod  102  and horizontal rails  104  may be fabricated from wood, various metals, or plastics known to those skilled in the art and commonly used in furniture manufacture. The second support surface  26 ′ stores beneath an upper support surface  30 ′ in a configuration wherein the front of the second support surface  26 ′ rests parallel to the rails  104 . The rod  102  slides along the rails as the second support surface  26 ′ is pulled toward the front of the table  100 . When the rod  102  meets the front end of the rails  104 , the second support surface  26 ′ rotates such that the front of the second support surface  26 ′ becomes perpendicular to the rails  104 . Once the second support surface  26 ′ is rotated, the horizontal arm  42 ′ rotates toward a person seated adjacent to the table  100 . The support plate coupling the second support surface  26 ′ to the arm  42 ′ is hinged to allow the second support surface  26 ′ to adjust to different vertical positions. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  11 A, and  11 B there is shown tables  106  and  118  comprising third and fourth embodiments of the invention, respectively. Here again, many of the component parts of the tables  106  and  118  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the table  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 7  with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the table  20 , but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation. 
   The table  106  in  FIG. 10  is different as the horizontal arm  42 ′ and second support surface  26 ′ are automatically moved out of the enclosure defined by the upper support surface  30 ′, the front panel  32 ′, the two side panels  34 ′, and the back panel  36 ′ by the mechanism  108 . The mechanism  108  comprises a drive motor and gear box  110 , a drive shaft  112 , and a pulley  114  that drives the vertical shaft  46 ′ counter-clockwise to force the horizontal arm  42 ′ and second support surface  26 ′ out of the enclosure until the horizontal arm  42 ′ makes contact with the shelf  54 ′, at which point the mechanism  108  ceases to drive the vertical shaft. At that point an individual can manually move the horizontal arm  42 ′ and second support surface  26 ′ to the desired position. 
   The table  118  in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  is different in that the second support surface  26 ′ can be folded in half along its centerline  120  via hinges  122  so that it requires substantially half the storage space and therefore the table  118  may be built substantially half as large as otherwise possible. 
   Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.