Patent Publication Number: US-7717045-B2

Title: Folding table

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/746,671, filed May 8, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly to a folding table that may be folded flat for convenient storage and portability. 
   2. Background of the Related Art 
   Folding tables are well-known in the art and come in a variety of configurations. The primary advantage of a folding table is its ability to be folded into a compact form and stored when not in use. Folding tables generally have a tabletop and two or more, usually four, depending legs. The legs are hingedly connected to the tabletop and can fold underneath the table to be easily store. However, folding tables, even when collapsed, are often still bulky. It is, therefore, desirable to make a folding table that has the smallest possible dimensions when folded and, as a consequence, new designs that minimize the “folded” dimensions of the folding table are highly desired. Therefore, there is a need for a folding table that has small dimensions when folded. 
   Moreover, Folding tables can be difficult to deploy and stow and can even sometimes injure the person folding the table by pinching his or her fingers within the hinged portions of the table. Therefore, there is a need for a folding table that is easy to use and minimizes the potential chances of injury to the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The folding table of the present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a new unique folding table design that has a width of no thicker than twice the cross-section width of the tabletop and legs when folded. Moreover, the folding table of the present invention transforms from the folded state to the deployed state in one simple movement and is nearly self-erecting. The fact that the folding mechanisms are initiated by one simple movement has the added advantage of making it difficult for an individual to pinch his or her fingers while deploying or stowing the table. 
   In particular, the folding table includes two top panels hingedly connected together to form a table top having a top surface and a bottom surface. The table top has a folding action about the hinged connection of the two top panels. Four leg panels depend from the bottom surface of the table top. Each of the leg panels has a first section and a second section. The first section has a top edge hingedly connected to the bottom surface of the table top and a side edge hingedly connected to the second section. The leg panels are arranged in two pairs of leg panels wherein the second section of each leg panel in the respective pair is hingedly connected to the other thereby creating stiff leg section when deployed. The hinged action of the two interconnected second panels fall in a plane of symmetry with the folding action of the table top whereby the folding table may be collapsed from a deployed state forming a table to a folded state for storage. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the folding table of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of the folding table of  FIG. 1  in its folded state; 
       FIG. 3  is an edge side view of the embodiment of the folding table of  FIG. 1  in its folded state; 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial flow chart of the steps of transforming the folding table from its folded state to its deployed or unfolded state; 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the folding table; 
       FIG. 6  is a close up view of the latch from dashed circle shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a close up view of the latch engaged in locked position; 
       FIG. 8   a  is a front perspective view of the barb; 
       FIG. 8   b  is a rear perspective view of the barb; 
       FIG. 9   a  is a top plan view of the barb; 
       FIG. 9   b  is a bottom plan view of the barb; 
       FIG. 10   a  is a top perspective view of the catch; 
       FIG. 10   b  is a bottom perspective view of the catch; 
       FIG. 11   a  is a top plan view of the catch; 
       FIG. 11   b  is a bottom plan view of the catch; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-section view of the catch through line C-C of  FIG. 10   a;    
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the latch used to keep the folding table in its folded state; 
       FIG. 14  is a side plan view of latch shown in  FIG. 13 ; and 
       FIG. 15  is a front plan view of the latch shown in  FIG. 13 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the folding table of the present invention is shown generally at  10 . In particular, the folding table includes two top panels  12   a ,  12   b , which are hingedly connected together to form a tabletop  12 , and four folding leg members  18 . As will be described in greater detail below, the top panels  12   a ,  12   b , and four folding leg members  18  are configured to allow the folding table  10  to be reconfigured between a folded state ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and a deployed state ( FIG. 1 ). In the deployed state, the four leg members  18  support the tabletop  12  in an upright position, and in the folded state, the four leg members  18  fold discreetly between the two top panels  12   a ,  12   b  for convenient storage and portability of the folding table  10 . 
   The folding table  10  of the present invention is constructed of twelve thin panels, which can be fashioned from a variety of materials, such as plywood, plastic, metal etc. In particular, there are two top panels  12   a ,  12   b , two backing panels  20   a ,  20   b  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ), four side-leg panels  18   a  and four end-leg panels  18   b . The panels  12   a ,  12   b ,  18   a ,  18   b  are connected together by eleven hinges (best seen in  FIG. 5 ) so that the assembly can transform in one smooth motion with all hinges active between a folded state nesting all panel surfaces parallel, and a deployed state with four leg members  18  rigidly supporting an elevated tabletop surface  12 . The folding action of the folding table  10  is best illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   The two top panels  12   a ,  12   b  are connected to and cantilever beyond the two backing panels  20   a ,  20   b , respectively. Each top panel  12   a ,  12   b  and backing panel  20   a ,  20   b  set is connected together by a hinge  22  that lies in a plane of symmetry about which all folding action is symmetrical. To each backing panel  20   a ,  20   b , two side-leg panels  18   a  are connected with hinges  24  along backing panel edges  20   a ,  20   b  that lie at a distance from and at small angles with the hinge  22  connecting the backing panels  20   a ,  20   b . This small angle between the backing panel hinge  24  and backing panel hinge  22  prevents racking of the folding table  10  in its deployed state. 
   To each side-leg panel  18   a , a hinge  26  connects an end-leg panel  18   b  so that when deployed a sufficient angle between the plane of the side-leg panel  18   a  and the plane of the end-leg panel  18   b  results in a stiff and rigid leg member  18 . The two end-leg panels  18   b  are connected together by a hinge  28  that acts in the plane of symmetry established by the backing panel hinge  22 . The shape of the end-leg panel  18   b  is such that when deployed, one edge  30  serves to support the tabletop surface  12 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a barb  32  is fastened to each or two of the end-leg panels  18   b , which as the folding table  10  are deployed, drive into a catch  34 . The catch  34  is captured between the top panel  12   a ,  12   b  and the backing panel  20   a ,  20   b , and serves to lock the folding table  10  in the deployed state. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b ,  9   a , and  9   b , the barb  32  has a base member  36  that is configured and arranged to be secured to the end-leg panel  18   b . A projection  38  extends upwardly from the base  36  and has a pair of opposing raised shoulders  40  near the top end of the projection  38  that extend laterally from the projection  38 . The projection  38  also has an engaging face  42  with a recess  44  formed thereon, which cooperates with the catch  34  to secure the folding table  10  in the deployed state. The barb  32  is preferably molded from plastic, although other materials may be used with equal effectiveness. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b ,  11   a ,  11   b , and  12 , the catch  34  includes two spaced-apart opposing guides  46  that have a raised surfaces  48  thereon augmented by a pair of raised shoulders  50  at one end. Offset ninety degrees from the guides are a stop portion  52  and an opposing a lock portion  54 . Together, the stop portion  52 , guides  46 , and lock portion  54  define a first region  56  configured to receive the projection  38  of the barb  32 . The lock portion  54  has a locking projection  58  extending therefrom that is configured to cooperate with the recess  44  on the engaging face  42  of the projection  38  of the barb  32 . The lock portion  54  is positioned at the side of the guides  46  that includes the raised shoulders  50 . The raised shoulders  50  of the guides  46  and the locking projection  58  of the lock portion  54  define a second region  60  to releasably capture the projection  38  of the barb  32 . 
   The guides  46  cooperate with the barb  32  to releasably lock the barb  32  to the catch  34 . In particular, the projection  38  on the barb  32  fits between the guides  46  such that the raised shoulders  40  on the projection  38  of the barb  32  lock with the raised surfaces  48  on the guides  46 . As the folding table  10  is reconfigured to the deployed state, the projection  38  of the barb  32  slides within the first region  56  of the catch  34 , over the raised shoulders  50  of the guides  46 , and into the second region  60  where the recess  44  on the engaging face  42  of the barb  32  becomes seated on the locking projection  58  of the lock portion  54  of the catch  34 . As can be appreciated, the barb  32  becomes temporarily secured to the catch  34  until the folding table  10  is reconfigured to the folded state as shown in  FIG. 7 . To stow the folding table  10 , the barbs  32  are uncoupled from the catches  34  by following the above sequence in reverse. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 13-15 , to keep the folding table  10  from accidentally deploying while in the folded state, a pair of latches  62  is configured to cooperate with each of the catches  34 , respectively, to releasably secure the folding table  10  in the folded state. In particular, each latch  62  includes a base portion  64  and a projection  66  extending therefrom. The projection  66  has a pair of raised shoulders  68  extending laterally from the top end of each projection  66 . The projections  66  of the latch  62  are configured to insert into the first region  56  of the catch  34 . The raised shoulders  68  on the projection  66  of the latch  62  cooperate with the raised edges  48  on the guides  46  to secure the latch  62  and catch  34  together. The latches  62  release from the catches  34  by applying sufficient outward pressure, such as when deploying the folding table  10 , to overcome the resiliency of the guides  46 . 
   A hook-and-loop type fastener (not shown), strap or the like may also be employed to secure the folding table  10  in its folded state. 
   The folding table  10  can include optional spaced-apart cut-outs  70  in the top panels  12   a ,  12   b  and backing panels  20   a ,  20   b  to provide a handle or to serve as a point to hang the folding table  10  when storing the folding table  10 . 
   Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a folding table that presents a light weight and small form factor that is easily operated, yet is stable and stylish too. 
   It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except as limited by the appended claims.