Abstract:
A table or surface which is suspended from a ceiling and fully retractable to be flush with or recessed in the ceiling that can be lowered to serve as the work surface, coffee table or other convenient table. The table is made from lightweight materials and can be raised or lowered using battery power. The circuitry for raising or lowering the table along with the motor and other mechanical elements and the means receiving a user may be located in the table or in a plate attached to the ceiling. When the table is fully raised it is concealed by using decorative means or by recessing it into the ceiling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to small, lightweight tables or other surfaces that can be attached to ceiling via cables, which tables can be retracted and hidden on the ceiling when not in use. The suspended tables of this invention may include all of the power, circuitry and other components necessary for easily retracting the table surface at the user&#39;s convenience. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The prior art to this application consists of large tables that can be suspended from a ceiling in various ways. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,428 shows a large conference room table which can be suspended from a ceiling and retracted when not in use. However, this prior art is directed to large tables that are merely lowered into position and depart from the present invention in numerous ways as described further herein. Other prior art including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,764; 4,635,565; 6,202,361 and 7,228,669 all relate to large, hard-to-install large tables, that are not geared towards the idea of lightweight personal use table of adjustable height of the design of the present invention. 
         [0003]    There are many circumstances where the tables of the prior art cannot be used. For example, these bulky and complex tables do not suffice the need for a convenience table that can descend to any height convenient to the user depending on the user&#39;s activity. For example, an individual watching TV while doing tasks on a personal computer may need a coffee table of a certain height, while an individual eating while watching TV may have another preferred height. Further, individuals in the family may be of different heights, weights, etc., so as the positioning of the table should be customizable for them. Still further, individuals do not want a large bulky table suspended over their couch in a conspicuous manner. A retractable convenience table that is easily attached to a ceiling, lightweight, fast to lower or raise and inexpensive are not shown in the prior art. Another environment where the tables of the prior art would not work is a hospital where a serving tray needs to be supported in front of a patient at an individualized height and should be easily retractable while the patient is not having a meal. Finally, the prior art lacks disclosure of a table that is easily movable by swiveling in a rotational manner as well as being able to move laterally when needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight, retractable table that is battery operated. Further, the tables disclosed herein optionally have all of the electronics, motor and battery in the table itself. Alternatively, these components can be provided in a unit mounted in or recessed in the ceiling. 
         [0005]    The table disclosed herein and the hidden in the ceiling by using a recessed mount or by having decorative features on the bottom of the table that blend into the ceiling when retracted. For example, ceiling medallions are very popular in recent times. The table can be hidden in a ceiling medallion when in the upright position. Instead of a ceiling medallion a picture holder or mirror can be used to hide the table when it is brought up to the ceiling. Finally, the convenience tables of this invention may serve as a light fixture when fully raised to the ceiling. In one embodiment, a table to serve as a single cup holder is appears as a surface mount or recess light when raised. Such mini-table can be used a replacement for existing recess lighting. It can be an insert into existing recess lighting that screws into a socket and optionally has an added rim around the recess to attach to the ceiling  10  for added support. 
         [0006]    The tables of the present invention can be controlled using a remote control or by providing sensitivity to sound (i.e., clapping or voice commands). 
         [0007]    It is preferable that the tables of this invention weigh no more than  10  pounds and could be 5 pounds or less depending on the materials selected for the table, motor and battery. Further, all of the electric mechanical components when placed in the table or a ceiling mounted control unit should be contained in a housing of preferably no more than two inches in height and could be as small as one inch or less given current motor diameters. 
         [0008]    The tables of this invention should become more ubiquitous than the tables of the prior art due to their easy installation, low cost, simple structure and versatility. They can be used at homes for laptop computers, food or drink; at hospitals for serving trays; in small apartments for extra space, and in restaurants to add a place for food items to be placed other than traditional tables. 
         [0009]    Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with this art upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood with reference to the following, detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIGS. 1A-C  are illustrations of the table in the down position; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2A-D  are illustrations of the ceiling medallions or other decorative concealment methods for the tables; and 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A-C  are an illustrative circuit diagram, mechanical structure for the table and one embodiment of a spindle for winding cables; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A-B  are illustrative diagrams showing the mounting of the table; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A-B  are illustrations of the swivel attachment and optional track system for the table or surface of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The table or surface of the present invention can be best understood with reference to the accompanying figures.  FIG. 1  shows various embodiments of the table or surface  30  of the disclosed invention in the down position. The figure shows a ceiling  10  and table or surface  30 . Attaching a table or surface  30  are cables  20 . The cables are shown attached to the table with loop hooks but could be attached with knots or other means. The table  30  may be detachable. Optionally there is a plate  40  for attaching the cables to the ceiling  10 . Such plate  40  also optionally may house components used to retract the table  30  if such a configuration is desired. Attaching the plate  40  or cables  20  to the ceiling  10  can be done with conventional means such as toggle bolts, screws with anchors or any other method that will support the weight of the table  30  and items to be placed on the table  30  in its anticipated used. Of course, if the plate  40  or cable  20  can be attached to a ceiling beam, simple screws can be used. The support means should be able to hold the weight of the table  30  itself and a laptop computer or food tray. 
         [0017]    Table  30  should be made of a lightweight material such as plastic or a thin wood veneer. The table  30  also could be made structurally with lightweight metal mesh which could be covered with plastic or wood veneer and can be various sizes and shapes but preferably it is no larger than needed to put a laptop computer or food tray. It can be as small as a holder for a single cup as in  FIG. 1C  or smaller. It is possible that the table  30  is detachable and only the cables  20  move up and down, which may give more options for concealment on the ceiling  10 . 
         [0018]    The table  30  should be configured so that when it is retracted to the ceiling  10  that it mounts flush on the ceiling  10  as would a ceiling medallion. Optionally, the table  30  can be recessed in the ceiling  10  and have an exterior material that matches the common colors of interior sheetrock ceilings or dropped ceiling. Further, the bottom is preferable paintable. The bottom of the table  30  can have other decorative features such as mirrors, lights or an insert for photographs. When the table  30  is raised fully to the ceiling  10  it should merely be a decorative feature of the room rather than an obvious table. 
         [0019]    The cables  20  can be of any materials sufficient to support the weight of the table  30 . Cables  20  can be made of metal, thread, cord, rope or plastic materials. The cables  20  should be flexible so that they can wind onto one or more spindles as the table is raised or lowered. Certain fishing lines may operate as good cables since they are rated for various weights and are fairly thin and strong. If the battery is housed separately from the motor and other components used to raise and lower the table then a power cord may be included with or incorporated into one of the support cables. 
         [0020]    In the preferred embodiment, the cables  20  are attached to plate  40  which then is secured to the ceiling  10  using conventional means such as toggle bolts. Of course, the cables  20  can be directly connected to the ceiling  10  to remove the need for plate  40 . Further, the components necessary to raise and lower the table  30  and receive signals from the user can be housed in plate  40  or in table  30 , or a combination thereof. Plate  40  and table  30  can be designed to mate together when the table  30  is raised or table  30  may go around plate  40  and have edges to go flush to ceiling  10 . If all of the components are in the plate  40 , the table may weigh less, even less than  1  pound. This would mean that smaller motors and batteries can be used to reduce the size of the plate to under one inch. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows samples of how the table may look from the bottom when it is fully raised to the ceiling  10  and flush with or recessed into the ceiling.  FIG. 2D  shows an optional light on the table bottom. 
         [0022]    The electronic and mechanical components of the invention are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , a battery  50  is used to provide power to raise and lower the table. It is preferred that this battery  50  be a rechargeable battery but consumable batteries or hard wired AC power could be used. RF receiver  60  is used to receive signals from a remote control (not shown) operated by the user. While RF signals are shown in the preferred embodiment any remote control type signal or sound signals could be used to operate the table  30 . A hard wired wall switch also may be used but would raise installation issues. The remote control can be fairly simple having one button to raise the table  30  and one button to lower the table  30 . Further, a single button remote control can be used where the direction of travel for the table  30  automatically changes when it reaches the fully raised or fully lowered position. Switch  70  is used to change the direction of the motor  80 . Switch  70  may be separate from or part of the other components used to raise and lower the table  30 . Motor  80  is preferably a low profile motor that is sufficiently strong to raise and lower the table. The motor  80  may be mounted so that its smallest dimension is vertical. There are many available motors of appropriate speed and torque that are made by companies such as Nidec, NSK, Piezo, Johnson Motors or other suppliers. Various styles of DC brushless motors or brush motors are available that have profiles under one inch and sufficient torque to raise or lower lightweight tables  30  of this invention. Further, such motors can be operated by rechargeable batteries using lithium ion, nickel metal hydride or other chemistries. The rechargeable batteries that can power tools, particularly small screwdrivers, are sufficiently powerful to raise and lower a table of ten pounds. A Skil iXO 4V Max Palm-Sized Screwdriver includes a sufficient battery and strong motor that may be ideal in the tables of this invention. Some of the Skil products include reversible motors and batteries weigh less than one pound with good power and speed. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the device may warn the user when the battery power is low. For example, a beeping noise or flashing light can be used to alert the user to recharge the battery  50 . If the battery is located in the table  30  recharging will be easier. However, if the battery  50  is located in the plate  40  for attaching the unit to the ceiling a power cord can be incorporated with or within one of the cables  20  so that charging can take place with the table  30  in its lowered position. Shown in  FIG. 3B  is an optional system of gears  90  can be used to connect to multiple spindles  100  if the motor is located in the center of the table  30  or the plate  40 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the motor  80  can have a single spindle  100  that is segregated into multiple sections to receive multiple cables  20  if these are necessary. Such spindle  100  may be driven directly from the motor  80  and guides and pulleys can position to cables  20  to the proper position relative to the table  30 . Any systems of gears, spindles and pulleys needed to position the cables and pull them equally is within the spirit of this invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows that the table  30  and plate  40  can be flush mounted to the ceiling  10  or recessed into the ceiling  10  so installation of the table  30  or plate  40  is more complex but may provide a pleasing aesthetic to conceal the table  30 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  shows that the plate  40  can be mounted to a swivel  110  so that the table can be rotated. Swivel  110  can have three or four holes so that it can be directly connected to the ceiling  10 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 5B , this table  30  can be placed in a track  120  so that it can be moved sideways or fore and aft. Preferably the track system  120  is concealed by the table when it is in the raised position. Optionally the track system  120  includes extensions  130  which the swivel  110  can click into so that the track can be extended past where the table  30  would cover when fully retracted to the ceiling. The track system  120  can be attached directly to the ceiling  10  or a separate plate  40 . When the track  120  is attached to the ceiling  10  it is, in effect, a plate  40 . In use, For example, if one person in the bed is viewing a laptop computer they could move the table  30  sideways so that it is positioned in front of the person sitting next to them. If the person is sitting far enough, the swivel  110  would click into the extendable track and pull it out to distance so the weight still could be supported by the track  120 . When the second user is done using the table  30  they would move it sideways towards the first user and the swivel  110  would click out of the extension  130  back to the track system  120 . The tracks  120  can be made of any suitable material but preferably are a rigid and strong metal that can support the weight of the table  30  in its anticipated use. 
         [0026]    Other features that may be added to the table  30  are attachments such as cup holders or cooling fans for a laptop computer that can clicked into place on the table  30  or in the table  30 . Given the lightweight construction of the table  30  and the speed of available motors the table  30  should be able to go from a fully raised position to fully lowered position in a matter of seconds. Preferably this can be done in under five seconds. Optionally, the table  30  can have room lights or decorative lights installed in them so they can perform a dual function. Finally, when in the fully lowered position the table  30  may optionally have legs that support the table in the anticipated position. Such legs may have adjustable heights by having dual tube construction where the thumbnail screw on the outer tube can press against the inner tube to hold the table leg in the preferred height. 
         [0027]    Now that the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The present embodiments are therefor to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.