Patent Publication Number: US-8113130-B2

Title: Folding assembly and foldaway table

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a folding mechanism and folding table of furniture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Folding mechanism of foldable table in the market, such as ZL02259585.6 issued in Aug. 6, 2003 in CNPAT comprises a table top, a leg portion and a supporting portion, the upper portion of legs formed rotatable connection with the table top, the supporting portion comprises a first pivotally connecting with the leg portion, a second pivotal-connection portion for pivotally connecting with the table top and a ring, the first pivotal-connection portion pivotally connected with the second pivotal-connection portion, the table top, the leg portion, the first pivotal-connection portion and the second pivotal-connection portion formed a four-rod folding mechanism, after being unfolded, the folding mechanism is fixed in a unfolded position by the ring which limit the rotation between the first pivotal-connection portion and the second pivotal-connection portion. However, the first pivotal-connection portion and the second pivotal-connection portion of the supporting portion of the folding mechanism can rotate relative to each other, thus the mechanism has a complicated structure, many rods, high cost, unstable when forced and unstable structure; locked by the ring after being unfolded make the locking unstable, accordingly, the table is unstable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding mechanism and folding table which obviate the problem aforementioned that the mechanism has disadvantages such as complicated structure, many rods, high cost, unstable when forced and unstable structure. 
     This object is achieved by providing: A folding mechanism comprising a table top, a leg portion, and a supporting portion, the top of said leg portion formed rotatable connection with said table top, wherein said supporting portion comprising at least a supporting rod and a locking member, said locking member connected to said leg portion, one end of said supporting rod rotatably connected to the lower surface of the tabled top and the other end connected to the locking member, wherein the supporting rod formed a rotatable and slidable connection with the supporting portion so that a folding mechanism is formed by the table top, leg portion and the supporting portion. 
     The position that the supporting rod relative to the locking member can be locked or released by said locking member. 
     Said locking member formed a rotatable connection to said leg portion, the other end of said supporting rod slidably pass through the locking member. 
     Said locking member comprises a sliding sleeve and a locking element, said sliding sleeve formed a rotatable connection with the leg portion, said supporting rod slidably pass through the sliding sleeve, and the position that the supporting rod relative to the locking member can be locked or released by said locking member. 
     Said locking element comprises an elastomer disposed in the supporting rod and a locking hole connecting the inner side and outer side of the sliding sleeve, said elastomer has a block which pass through the supporting rod and insert in the locking hole by the elasticity. 
     Said supporting portion further comprises a connecting portion, one end of said connecting portion pivotally connected to the leg portion and the other end fixedly connected to the locking member. 
     Said locking member comprises a sliding opening and a locking element, said sliding opening fixedly connected to the leg portion, said supporting rod pass through said sliding opening and rotate relatively in the sliding process, and the position that the supporting rod relative to the locking opening can be locked or released by said locking member. 
     This object is achieved by providing: A folding table comprising a table top, a leg portion, and a supporting portion, wherein the top of said leg portion formed rotatable connection with said table top, said supporting portion comprising at least a supporting rod and a locking member, said locking member connected to said leg portion, one end of said supporting rod rotatably connected to the lower surface of the tabled top and the other end connected to the locking member, wherein the supporting rod formed a rotatable and slidable connection to the supporting portion so that a folding mechanism is formed by the table top, leg portion and the supporting portion. 
     The position that the supporting rod relative to the locking member can be locked or released by said locking member. 
     Said locking member formed a rotatable connection to said leg portion, the other end of said supporting rod slidably pass through the locking member. 
     Said locking member comprises a sliding sleeve and a locking element, said sliding sleeve formed a rotatable connection with the leg portion, said supporting rod slidably pass through the sliding sleeve, and the position that the supporting rod relative to the locking member can be locked or released by said locking member. 
     Said locking element comprises an elastomer disposed in the supporting rod and a locking hole connecting the inner side and outer side of the sliding sleeve, said elastomer has a block which pass through the supporting rod and insert in the locking hole by the elasticity. 
     Said supporting portion further comprises a connecting portion, one end of said connecting portion pivotally connected to the leg portion and the other end fixedly connected to the locking member. 
     Said locking member comprises a sliding opening and a locking element, said sliding opening fixedly connected to the leg portion, said supporting rod pass through said sliding opening and rotate relatively in the sliding process, and the position that the supporting rod relative to the locking opening can be locked or released by said locking member. 
     In the present invention one end of said supporting rod rotatably connected to the lower surface of the tabled top and the other end connected to the locking member, wherein the supporting rod formed a rotatable and slidable connection to the supporting portion so that a folding mechanism is formed among the table top, leg portion and the supporting portion. Thus the problem in the background is obviated, and the present invention has the following advantages: simple structure, less rods, lower cost, more stable, rapid folding or unfolding process. The locking member formed rotatable connection to the leg portion, one end of the supporting rod pass through the locking member, thus a swing guiding rod mechanism formed between the table top, leg portion, supporting rod and locking member to fold or unfold. One end of the supporting rod rotatably connected to the lower portion of the table top, and the other end slidably pass through the locking member, the supporting rod and the locking member has a larger sliding distance relative to each other, thus the angle between the supporting rod and leg portion can be designed to a preferred angle for pressing, the moment arm can be designed to a most laborsaving moment arm, the unfolded folding mechanism has a high stable capability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the principle of the structure of the folding table in embodiment 1 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the folding table in an unfolded position in embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the folding table in an unfolded position in embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the folding table in a folding position in embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the folding table in another folding position in embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the folding table in a fully folded position in embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the folding table in a fully folded position in embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial enlarged view of A portion in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial enlarged view of B portion in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the principle of the structure of the folding table in embodiment 2 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the folding table in an unfolded position in embodiment 2 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is another perspective view of the folding table in an unfolded position in embodiment 2 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the folding table in a fully folded position in embodiment 2 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the folding table in a fully folded position in embodiment 2 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a partial enlarged view of C portion in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the principle of the structure of the folding table in embodiment 3 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the folding table in an unfolded position in embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the folding table in a folding position in embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the folding table in another folding position in embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MAIN COMPONENTS 
     
         
         
           
               1  table top,  11  vacuum-molded plastic board,  12  cross beam, 
               13  central pivot,  14  pivot 
               2  leg,  21  fixing rod; 
               3  supporting portion,  31  locking member, supporting rod  32 ,  311  U-shaped sheet,  312  locking element,  3111  central vertical sheet,  3112  side vertical sheet,  3113  sliding opening,  3114  arc surface,  3115  locking hole,  3121  elastomer,  3122  block,  313  sliding sleeve,  33  connecting rod. 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a folding table comprises a table top  1 , four legs  2  and two supporting portion  3 , the top of each leg  2  rotatably connected to the table top  1 , the supporting portion  3  connected between the table top  1  and leg  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 , the table top  1  comprises two vacuum molded boards  11  pivotally connected to each other by a central pivot  13  to let them can be folded in half. A clamping device is equipped for locking the position of the two vacuum-molded boards after being unfolded to let them be remained in a stable unfolded position. The vacuum-molded board comprising a plastic top plate, a plastic bottom plate, honeycombs, and lining, the top plate and the bottom plate fixedly adhered to the top and bottom of the honeycomb respectively, the lining sandwiched between the top plate and bottom plate and covering the honeycomb entirely or partially. The plastic top plate and the plastic bottom plate are all plastic composite plate manufactured by vacuum-molded board or extruded board, the plastic top plate and the plastic bottom plate can be single-layer or multiple-layer, the thickness of the plastic composite board is between 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. The material consisted of the plastic composite board can be ABS, PP or PS etc. the surface of the plastic composite board is composited by a printing layer with various nature colors and texture such as wood grains or marble; or composited a film layer with various nature colors and texture such as wood grains or marble; then remove the film after transferring, and spray thermo curing or UV-curing varnish to reinforce the rigidity and weatherability of the surface. The superposition edges of the vacuum molded plastic bottom plate and plastic top plate connected to each other by welding or gluing, the superposition edges can be set in side or in bottom. The lining is a closed or U-shaped or H-shaped frame made by pipe fittings or profiles or hardware, or made by composite part consisted of pipe fittings or profiles or hardware or injection part, the lining is used for reinforcing the intension of the table top or connecting the other structure to reinforce the connecting intension to the other structure. Reinforce member embedded in the corner of the lining connected to the frame by clamping or screw thread or welding can reinforce the corner and act connecting function. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the plastic bottom plate and the lining of the plastic board cooperated to each other to form cross beam  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the four legs  2 , two legs  2  pivotally connect to the two cross beam  12  of the plastic board  11  via two connecting sheet respectively, and a fixing rod  21  mounted between the two legs  2 . The other two legs  2  pivotally connect to the two cross beam  12  of another plastic board  11  via two connecting sheet respectively, and a fixing rod  21  mounted between the two legs  2  also. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the supporting portion  3  comprises a supporting rod  32  and a locking member  31 . The locking member  31  comprises a fixing portion, a U-shaped sheet  311  and a locking element  312 , the fixing portion fixed with the fixing rod  21 . Referring to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the U-shaped sheet  311  comprises a central vertical sheet  3111  and two side vertical sheet  3112  symmetrically mounted in the two sides of central vertical sheet  3111 , the central vertical sheet  3111  has a sliding opening  3113  which is a little larger than the section area of the supporting rod  32 , the middle of the end of the side vertical sheet  3112  is protruded out to form an arc surface in the inner side of the side vertical sheet  3112  to have automatically locking function, and a locking hoe  3115  disposed in the side vertical sheet  3112 , the locking hole  3115  is between the arc surface  3114  and the central vertical sheet  3111 ; the bottom of central vertical  3111  and the two side vertical sheet  3112  U-shaped sheet  311  are all fixed with fixing portion. The locking element  312  comprises an elastomer  3121  disposed in the supporting rod  32 , each of the two ends of the elastomer has a block  3122 , the block  3122  pass through the supporting rod  32  and insert into the locking hole  3115  to lock the locking member  31  with the supporting rod  32  in the action of elastomer force. Please referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , one end of the supporting rod  32  pivotally connected to the central pivot  13 , the other end pass through the sliding opening  3113  and can rotate relatively in the sliding process, when reach the position it will be locked by the locking element  312 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  the folding and unfolding process will be described with reference to the figure. The folding process is that: referring to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the user press the block  3122  to press the elastomer  3121  and let the block  3122  release from the locking hole  3115 , i.e. release the locking element  312 ; referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , then fold the leg  2  relative to table top  1 , the supporting rod will slide relative to sliding opening  3113 , because the central vertical sheet  3111  is thin (the sliding  3113  has a small depth) and the sliding opening  3113  is a little larger than the section of the supporting rod  32 , so the supporting rod  32  can rotate relative to sliding opening  3113 , thus the leg  2  can rotate relative to table top  1 , and rotate the leg  2  till it abut against the bottom of the table top  1 ; referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , release the clamp element, fold the two vacuum-molded plastic board  11  at last. The unfolding process is that: unfold the two vacuum-molded plastic board  11 , and fix the corresponding position of the two vacuum-molded plastic board  11  via the clamp element, then rotate the two leg  2  relative to the table top  1 , then the supporting rod  32  will slide and rotate relative to the sliding opening  3113 ; when the two block  3122  of the two supporting rod  32  reach the arc surface  3114 , rotate the leg  2  further, the supporting rod  32  slide relative to the sliding opening  3113  and the arc surface  3114  will abut against the block  3122  to press the elastomer  3121 ; at last the block  3122  move to and insert in the locking hole  3115  of the side vertical sheet  3112 , the locking element  31  locked, and the position between the supporting rod  32  and locking element  31  is fixed, set the position between the sliding opening  3113  and the fixing rod  21  to make the bottom end of the supporting rod  32  abut against the top of the fixing rod  21  and the bottom end of the supporting rod  32  abut against the inner side of the sliding opening  3113 , thus the position between the leg  2  and table top  1  is fixed. 
     According to requirement an elastomer can be set in certain position in the supporting  32 , each of the two ends of the elastomer has a block  3122  which pass through the supporting rod  32  by the elasticity force. When the leg  2  abut against the bottom of the table top  1 , the U-shaped sheet  311  slide to the block  3122  and the block  3122  inserted in the locking hole  3115  to lock the locking member  31  with the supporting rod  32 . 
     According to requirement a connecter can be set in the bottom of the table top for clamp the leg  2 . 
     Embodiment 2 
     The difference of this embodiment to embodiment 1 is that: referring to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , the supporting portion  3  comprises a supporting rod  32  and a locking member  31 . The locking member  31  comprises a rotate portion, a sliding sleeve  313  and a locking element  312 , the rotate portion rotatably connected to the fixing rod  21 , the sliding sleeve  313  fixed to the rotate portion. Referring to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , the sliding sleeve  313  has a locking hole  3115  which connected the inner side and the outer side of the sliding sleeve  313 . the locking element  312  comprises an elastomer disposed in the supporting rod  32 , a block disposed on the surface of the elastomer, the block  3122  pass through the supporting rod  32  and insert in the locking hole  3115  by the elasticity force to lock the locking member  31  with supporting rod  32 . The outer portion of the block  3122  which extended out the supporting rod  32  formed a sphere for automatically lock. Referring to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 15 , the first end of the supporting rod  32  pivotally connected to the central pivot  13 , the other end slidably pass through the sliding sleeve  313 , then locked by locking element  312  when reach the unfolded position. 
     Embodiment 3 
     The difference of this embodiment to embodiment 1 is that: referring to  FIG. 16 , two pivots disposed in the bottom of the table top  1 . the first end of the supporting rod  32  pivotally connected to the corresponding pivot  14  and the other end pass through the sliding sleeve  313 , then locked by locking element  312  when reach unfolded position. 
     Embodiment 4 
     The difference of this embodiment to embodiment 2 is that: referring to  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , the supporting portion  3  comprises a supporting rod  32 , a locking member  31  and two connecting rods  33 . the locking member  31  comprises a fixing portion, a sliding sleeve  313  and a locking element  312 , the fixing portion fixedly connected with the sliding sleeve  313 , the fixing portion comprises two holes  314  symmetrically disposed on the two sides of the sliding sleeve  313 . The sliding sleeve  313  has a locking hole  3115  which connected the inner side and the outer side of the sliding sleeve  313 . the locking element  312  comprises a elastomer disposed in the supporting rod  32 , a block disposed on the surface of the elastomer, the block  3122  pass through the supporting rod  32  and insert in the locking hole  3115  by the elasticity force to lock the locking member  31  and supporting rod  32 . the outer portion of the block  3122  which extended out the supporting rod  32  formed a sphere for automatically lock. The first ends of the two connecting rod  33  rotatably connected to the two legs  2  respectively, the two connecting rods  33  formed a V-shape. The first end of the supporting rod  32  pivotally connected to the central pivot  13 , the other end slidably pass through the sliding sleeve  313 , then locked by locking element  312  when reach the unfolded position. 
     Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 
     The folding mechanism and folding table of the present invention has the following advantages: simple-structure, less rods, lower cost, stable in press, stable structure, rapid folding and unfolding, thus has good industrial applicability.