Abstract:
An expandable table device for allowing a user to change a baby&#39;s diaper or to care for the baby which is composed of a base, a storage compartment disposed in the base, and an expandable table component disposed in the base. The table component is composed of a plurality of wings that can be stacked atop each other and stored in the storage compartment, or the wings can be expanded from the storage compartment and unstacked so as to create a generally flat surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention features a table having an expandable surface that can expand and collapse into a cabinet. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an expandable table for allowing a user to change and/or care for a baby. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Baby changing tables require that a user stand upright to change his/her baby. Parents or other care takers may be too tired to stand while changing the baby&#39;s diaper. The present invention features an expandable table for allowing a user to change and car for a baby. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the expandable table device of the present invention, wherein the table component is expanded. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the expandable table device of the present invention, wherein the table component is retracted into the base. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the expandable table device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the expandable table device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a first side cross sectional view of the expandable table device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a second side cross sectional view of the expandable table device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the expandable table device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following is a listing of numbers corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:
           100  expandable table device     110  base     111  first side panel     112  second side panel     113  top panel     114  bottom panel     115  front (open)     116  back panel     118  shelf     120  storage compartment for table component     125  track     130  table component     140  wing of table component (e.g., middle wing)     141  first side of wing     142  second side of wing     145  base wing     146  end wing     150  guide     155  guide lip     230  locking tab     240  locking groove     280  additional cabinet       

     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , the present invention features an expandable table device  100  for allowing a user to change and/or care for a baby. The expandable table device  100  comprises a base  110 , similar to a standard cabinet in structure. Cabinets are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The base  110  comprises a first side panel  111 , a second side panel  112 , a top panel  113 , a bottom panel  114 , an open front  115 , and a back panel  116 . In some embodiments, one or more shelves  118  are disposed in the base (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Disposed near the top panel  113  is a storage compartment  120 . The storage compartment  120  houses a table component  130 . The table component  130  is expandable and retractable. For example, a user can pull the table component  130  out of the storage compartment  120  so as to provide a flat surface (e.g., for changing a baby). The table component  130  moves between an expanded position (see  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4 ) and a retracted position (see  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 6 ). 
     The table component  130  comprises a base wing  145  slidably attached to a track  125  disposed inside the storage compartment  120 . The track  125  allows the base wing  145  to slide in and out of the storage compartment  120 . 
     One or more wings  140  (e.g., middle wings) are stackably linked to the base wing  145 . For example, in some embodiments, the table component  130  comprises two wings  140 . In some embodiments, the table component  130  comprises three wings  140 . In some embodiments, the table component  130  comprises four wings  140 . In some embodiments, the table component  130  comprises five wings  140 . In some embodiments, the table component  130  comprises more than five wings  140 . In some embodiments, an end wing  146  is the wing  140  farthest from the base wing  145 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the wings  140  of the table component can stack atop one another. For example, a first wing may be atop the base wing  145 , a second wing atop the first wing, a third wing atop the second wing, a fourth wing atop the third wing, a fifth wing atop the fourth wing, and an end wing  146  atop the fifth wing. The end wing  146  can be pulled outwardly from the remaining wings  140  (e.g., away from the storage compartment  120 ). As the wings  140  are pulled outwardly, they become unstacked and instead connect together to form a generally flat surface (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In some embodiments, the wings  140  each have a first side  141  and a second side  142 . In some embodiments, a locking tab  230  is disposed on the second side  142  of the wing  140 . In some embodiments, a locking groove  240  is disposed on the first side  141  of the wing. The locking groove  240  and locking tab  230  allow the wings  140  of the table component  130  to be secured together when they are expanded into the expanded position. For example, when a first wing is pulled away from a second wing, the locking tab  230  of the first wing interlocks with the locking groove  240  of the second wing (see  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7 ). 
     In some embodiments, the wings  140  of the table component  130  expand outwardly from the base  110  in a curved fashion (see  FIG. 1 ). The curved shape allows a user to place a chair and sit behind the table component, while allowing the user to easily access all parts of the table component. 
     In some embodiments, each wing  140  has a top edge and a bottom edge. In some embodiments, a guide  150  is disposed in the top edge of the wing  140 . The guide  150  allows the wings  140  to slide more easily atop each other or away from each other. For example, in some embodiments, the guide  150  comprises a lip  155 , which allows adjacent wings  140  to slide atop or below that particular wing  140  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     In some embodiments, the expandable table device  100  is used in combination with one or more other cabinets  280  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     In some embodiments, a user can place a baby atop the table component  130 . When he/she is finished changing and/or caring for the baby, he/she can push (e.g., retract) the table component  130  back into the storage compartment  120 . 
     The expandable table device  100  of the present invention may be constructed from a variety of materials. For example, in some embodiments, the expandable table device  100  is constructed from a material comprising metal, wood, plastic, the like, or a combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, the expandable table device  100  further comprises a fold-down leg for added stability. 
     The expandable table device  100  may be constructed in a variety of sizes. In some embodiments, the table component  130  is between about 2 to 4 feet in length as measured from the base wing  145  to the end wing  146 . In some embodiments, the table component  130  is between about 4 to 6 feet in length as measured from the base wing  145  to the end wing  146 . In some embodiments, the table component  130  is more than about 6 feet in length. 
     In some embodiments, the base  110  is between about 1 to 2 feet in width as measured from the first side panel  111  to the second side panel  112 . In some embodiments, the base  110  is between about 2 to 4 feet in width as measured from the first side panel  111  to the second side panel  112 . In some embodiments, the base  110  is more than about 4 feet in width. 
     In some embodiments, the base  110  is between about 2 to 4 feet in height as measured from the top panel  113  to the bottom panel  114 . In some embodiments, the base  110  is between about 4 to 6 feet in height as measured from the top panel  113  to the bottom panel  114 . In some embodiments, the base  110  is more than about 6 feet in height. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the base  110  is about 5 feet in height includes a base  110  that is between 4.5 and 5.5 feet in height. 
     The disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,142; U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,270; U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,680; U.S. Pat. Application No. 2007/0033730; U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,905; U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,726. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.