Patent Publication Number: US-6209952-B1

Title: Detachable table and chair assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a table and chair assembly, more particularly to a table and chair assembly which is detachable and can be used in different ways and readily contracted so that space can be saved efficiently. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,600 (Kuo) proposes a combined table and chair assembly providing play and storage areas for the myriad of toys, books and other assorted treasures which children are noted for collecting. Kuo shows a flat table top including 4 identical panels to cover a receiving space in the table with 2 inner folding panels pivotable lie on respective fixed panels to uncover the receiving space. It is found difficult for children to separate the folding panels from the fixed panels with fingers when trying to lift the folding panels for pivoting to cover the receiving space. Children&#39;s fingers may be accidentally snapped by the panels when laying the folding panels on the fixed panels. Also, the fixed panels extend inwardly beyond ends of the receiving space and form odd corners in the receiving space. Moreover, Kuo does not disclose a detachable structure of the table and chair assembly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,339,669 (Rapp) proposes foldable furniture which can be converted into a bed or combination desk and settee, or folded together into the form of a box or cabinet to occupy the least possible space. Rapp shows a desk and a settee being connected together by means of longitudinal dove-tails on outer faces of the settee engaging correspondingly shaped grooves in sides of the desk. However, the longitudinal dove-tailed engagement is frictional in sliding and children have difficulty in moving the settee to extend or contract the furniture. Moreover, the uncovered sliding dove-tails are accessible by children creating a risk of injuring children&#39;s fingers and toes when sliding. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a children table and chair assembly and particularly to a detachable table and chair assembly. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly in which the chair is movably connected to a table and adapted to contract and fit in the table so that space can be saved efficiently when not in use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which is formed with storage compartments in the table and chair. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which has a foldable top pivotable to open and provide access to the storage compartment in the table. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which has a play area on top of the table and adjacent to the chair. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which is safe in structure for children to use. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which can be dismantled for packing. 
     Accordingly, the detachable table and chair assembly of the present invention comprises a table, a bumper panel attached to a vertical end of the table and a chair movably connected to the table with a pair of parallel side bars. The table has spaced apart side panels mounted securely on one end of the side bars, a first bottom piece transversely supported on the side panels to define a first receiving space and a flat table top mounted on top of the side panels to cover the first receiving space. The table top includes a fixed panel adjacent to the chair and secured to the table side panels and a folding panel disposed between the fixed panel and bumper panel and pivotally connected to the fixed panel so as to be pivotable between a first position to close the first receiving space and a second position to access the first receiving space. The chair has spaced apart side panels mounted on the side bars and movable towards and away from the table side panels, spaced apart front and rear panels disposed between the chair side panels to integrally define a second receiving space, a second bottom piece supported on the front and rear panels to close a bottom opening of the second receiving space and a seat panel pivotally mounted on an open top end of the second receiving space so as to be pivotable between a first position to close the second receiving space and a second position to access the second receiving space. 
     Preferably, an inner end of the fixed panel of the table top terminates at an outer end of the first receiving space so as to diminish any odd corner in the first receiving space and, in the second position, the folding panel extends outwardly beyond the fixed panel to provide an extension for children to grasp with fingers in swinging the folding panel. 
     Preferably, conventional ball-bearing tracks are used in the side bars in which the ball-bearing tracks engage chair side panels and side bars so that the chair is slidable towards and away from the table smoothly. 
     Preferably, table side panels and chair side panels are respectively secured to the side bars to form substantially flat side combinations and the transverse panels including the bumper panel, table top, chair front and rear panels, first and second bottom pieces are supported on the side combinations so that the assembly can be dismantled and stacked for packing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a detachable table and chair assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment when in a fully extended position; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another preferred embodiment when in a fully extended position; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional and diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is sectional view of a side bar of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the side bar, taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 5, to illustrate the structural relationship between a conventional ball-bearing track and the side bar of the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic and explosive view of the preferred embodiment excluding parts of table top and bottom piece; and 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic and explosive view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a detachable table and chair assembly according to the present invention is shown to comprise a table  2 , a chair  3  connected to the table  2  with a pair of parallel side bars  10  and a bumper panel  203  secured to a vertical end  21  of the table  2  opposed to the chair  3 . 
     The table  2  has spaced apart side panels  24  with the lower ends secured to a leading end of the side bars  10 . A first bottom piece  205 , preferably made of plywood sheet, is formed between the side panels  24  together with the bumper panel  203  to define a first receiving space  22  in the table  2 . A flat table top  20  is provided on top of the side panels  24  to cover the first receiving space  22 . The table top  20  comprises a fixed panel  202  affixed to a side portion adjacent to the chair  3  and spaced apart so as to provide an opening between the fixed panel  202  and bumper panel  203  communicating with the first receiving space  22  to provide access to the first receiving space  22  through the table top  20 . The table top  20  also comprises a folding panel  204  formed between the fixed panel  202  and bumper panel  203  and pivotally connected to the fixed panel  202  so as to be movable between a first position, wherein it covers the opening to close the first receiving space  22 , and a second position, wherein the opening is uncovered to provide access to the first receiving space  22 . 
     Preferably, a leading or inner end of the fixed panel  202 , which connects the folding panel  204 , terminates at or adjacent to the outer end of the first receiving space  22  so as to diminish any odd corner in the receiving space  22  and allow a full opening of the receiving space  22  when moving the folding panel  204  away from its first position. Also, the fixed and folding panels  202 ,  204  can be the same in width, but are preferably different in length. As shown in FIG. 2, in the second position, the folding panel  204  extends beyond the fixed panel  202  towards the chair  3  to provide a relatively larger play area, which reaches close to the chest of a child sitting in the chair  3  playing. 
     The chair  3  has spaced apart side panels  34  and spaced apart front panel  36  and rear panel  32 , which are transversely disposed between the side panels  34 , all together to define a second receiving space  38 . A seat panel  30  is mounted pivotally on an open top of the second receiving space  38  so as to be movable between a first position, wherein it covers the open top to close the receiving space  38 , and a second position, wherein the open top is uncovered to provide access to the receiving space  38 . A bottom piece  37 , preferably made of plywood sheet, is horizontally disposed at a lower portion of the chair  3  to close a bottom opening of the receiving space  38 . A pair of grooves  361 ,  321  extend horizontally in inner sides of the front and rear panels  36 ,  32  for receiving lateral ends of the second bottom piece  37 . A through hole  320  is formed at a top portion of the rear panel  32  to facilitate sliding movement of the chair  3  relative to the table  2 . 
     The detachable table and chair assembly of the present invention can be positioned against a wall  9  by attaching the bumper panel  203  to the wall  9  so as to skip over a corner projection  91 . Top end of the bumper panel  203  projects upwardly over the table top level so as to hinder articles, such as pens, falling off the leading end of the table top  20 . Referring to FIG. 3, a bumper panel  203 ′ can also be secured to the side panels  24  inset into the leading end  21  so that the leading end  21  can be fully attached to a vertical wall  9 ′. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, inner sides of the table side panels  24  are formed with a pair of grooves  241  each slanting from the top to the front end  21  of one of the side panels  24  to communicate with a groove  2030 , which extends transversely horizontally in an inner side of the bumper panel  203 . A bracket  2020  is attached to the bottom of the fixed panel  202  and cut to form a notch  2021  between the fixed panel  202  and bracket  2020 . The first bottom piece  205  can be supported on the side panels  24  with lateral ends engaging the grooves  241  and a leading end engaging the transverse groove  2030 . Sequentially, the fixed panel  202  can be mounted on top of the side panels  24  by securing the bracket  2020  to the side panels  24  by means of screws whereas a rear end of the bottom piece  205  can be received by the notch  2021 . 
     In order to slide the chair  3  towards and away from the table  2  smoothly to enable children to do so alone, a conventional ball-bearing track is used by the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the conventional ball-bearing track  8  mainly includes a generally U-shaped channel track  81  and a channel  82  telescopically mounted in the channel track  81  with a plurality of small steel balls engaging in between to prevent friction during sliding. The side bar  10  comprises a generally reverse L-shaped wooden bar with a recess for receiving the ball-bearing track  8 . A major side wall of the channel track  81  is formed with screw holes (not shown) for firmly securing the channel track  81  to the wooden bar  10  by means of screws (not shown). A generally U-shaped bracket  83  is provided for engaging the chair side panel  34  with the track  8 . An inner vertical side wall  831  of the bracket  83  is attached to a major side wall of the channel  82  and an outer vertical side wall  832  is attached to an inner side of the chair side panel  34 . A shield piece  84 , preferably made of plywood sheet, extends longitudinally along the bar  10  and projects downwardly from top of the bar  10  into a gap between the inner and outer side walls  831 ,  832  of the bracket  83 . By so doing, the ball-bearing track  8  and inner side wall  831  of the bracket  83  are covered by the shield piece  84  and the outer side wall  832  is covered by the side panel  34 . Also, the side panel  34  is movable beside the side bar  10  through telescopic movement of the ball-bearing track  8 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in order to minimize packing size, the assembly can be dismantled into  2  flat side combinations C 1 , C 2  and assorted panels. Each of the side combinations C 1 , C 2  includes a table side panel  24  and a chair side panel  34  secured to a side bar  10  in a way as previously described. The assorted panels include the bumper panel  203 , front panel  36 , rear panel  32 , seat panel  30 , table top  20  and first and second bottom pieces  205 ,  37 . All the side combinations and panels can be properly stacked to reduce space for packing in a box. Step by step assembly as shown in FIG. 7 is as follows: a) front and rear panels  36 ,  32  are perpendicularly attached to the inner side of the chair side panel  34  of an up-raised side combination C 1  and secured by means of screws, which extend through the chair side panel  34 ; b) the second bottom piece  37  is supported on the front and rear panels by engaging the lateral ends in the grooves  321 ,  361 ; c) the seat panel  30  is pivotally disposed above the bottom piece  37  by means of a pivot pin (not shown) with an end of the seat panel  30  remote from the pin and supported by the front panel  36 ; d) the other side combination C 2  is upraised to receive another pivot pin P and then secured by means of screws, which extend through the chair side panel  34  thereof; e) the bumper panel  203  is attached to the front end  21  of the side panels  24  and then secured by means of screws, which extend through the bumper panel  203  as shown in FIG. 8; f) the first bottom piece  205  is supported on the spaced apart side panels  24  by engaging the lateral ends in the grooves  241  and a leading end in the transverse groove  2030  of the bumper panel  203 ; g) the table top  20  is mounted on top of the side panels  24  by securing the bracket  2020  to the side panels  24  by means of screws, which extend through the side panels  24  so as to receive a rear end of the first bottom piece  205  under the table top. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.