Abstract:
A collapsible table includes a table top formed of a pair of pivotable table top half-sections hinged to one another at their adjacent edges along a center-line of the table and displaceable between an open position where the half-sections are coplanar, and a folded position where the half-sections overlap one another. Each half-section has at an undersurface thereof a transverse support member pivotally articulated thereto with a leg associated with each lateral edge of the transverse support member, and a pair of longitudinal support members pivotally articulated to the undersurface. The support members are displaceable between erect and collapsed positions whereby the transverse support member is prohibited from collapsing as long as at least one of the longitudinal support members is erect.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to a collapsible table having a table top formed by a pair of hinged half-sections, and more particularly the invention is concerned with such a reinforced collapsible table where at the collapsed position the sections are folded together, receiving between them the legs. 
   In connection with the present invention the terms collapsible and foldable are used interchangeably. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
   A dining table intended for use only on special occasions, such as for banquets or picnics, must be stored when not in use. Since a dining table occupies a relatively large space, the need to store the table presents a problem, particularly when there are many tables to be stored and the storage facilities are limited. A preferred form of banquet table is therefore one that is collapsible to form a compact structure that occupies relatively little storage space (and optionally could be carried in a car) and that can be easily carried from one place to another. 
   One type of banquet tables comprises a non-collapsible, rigid and uniform table top, with only the legs being displaceable between an operative state for supporting the table top, and a storage state where the legs are folded against the table top, typically against its bottom surface. Such a table is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,674. 
   A typical collapsible table includes a pair of interhinged half-sections to each of which is hingedly attached a leg assembly. To collapse this table its leg assemblies are first folded in against the half-sections of the tabletop, and the half-sections are then folded together to reduce the table to a compact structure requiring little storage space. To erect the table at its site of use, the half-sections are unfolded to form the tabletop and the leg assemblies are folded out to support this tabletop. A collapsible table in this format is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,872 to Wilmore. 
   A banquet table may be subjected to heavy loads in the course of its use and accordingly, one of the aspects of the present invention resides in a collapsible banquet table having reinforced half-sections made of plastic material. U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,853 discloses a collapsible banquet table having blow molded plastic half-sections reinforced by rigidified sheets. 
   However, blow molding is a relatively difficult and costly procedure, and the need to include rigidified reinforcing sheets adds to the cost of producing the half-sections of the table. Consequently the expenses incurred in manufacturing such a collapsible table are substantial and may militate against their sale and use. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a light weight and inexpensive collapsible table having a reinforced structure rendering the table capable of supporting heavy loads which seek to deform the table and whereby bending forces which seek to bend the table along either the longitudinal or transverse axis are resisted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention there is provided a collapsing table comprising a table top formed of a pair of pivotable table top half-sections hinged to one another at their at their adjacent edges along a center-line of the table and displaceable between an open position where said half-sections are coplanar and a folded position where said half-sections overlap one another; the table characterized in that each section has at an undersurface thereof a transverse support member pivotally articulated thereto with a leg associated with each lateral edge of the transverse support member, and a pair of longitudinal support members pivotally articulated to the undersurface; said support members are displaceable between erect and collapsed positions whereby the transverse support member is prohibited from collapsing as long as at least one of the longitudinal support member is erect. According to a particular embodiment, each lateral end of the transverse support member receives a leg of the table. 
   To improve stability and load-bearing resistance, there may further be provided a central support member pivotally articulated, along the center-line, at undersurfaces of the top half-sections. Said central support member may comprise one or more table legs. 
   In order to obtain a firm table structure at its open position, an edge of each longitudinal support member is engageable with a corresponding lateral edge of the transverse support member at the erect position thereof and optionally, adjoining ends of the longitudinal support members and lateral edges of the central support member are engageable at the erect position thereof. According to an embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal support member extends between the central support member and the transverse support member. 
   Typically, each section is formed at its adjacent edge with a transverse abutment surface, whereby at an open state of the table said abutment surfaces bear against one another. 
   According to various embodiments and modifications of the present invention, the folding table my have one or more of several features, for example:
         The central support member is pivotally articulated, along the center-line, at undersurfaces of the top half-sections. Optionally, both top half-sections are pivotable about a hinge common also for the central support member.   At the erect position, the support members have substantial portions extending flush with the undersurface of the respective top half-sections.   The support members snapingly displace between their collapsed and erect positions.   All or part of the support members are snappingly engaged with one another at their erect position.   The support members are pivotally articulated to the undersurfaces by snap-type hinges. For example, the support members are articulated to the half-sections by first hinge segments integrally formed at the undersurfaces and corresponding second hinge segments integrally formed at the support members.   The half-sections are integrally formed with a peripheral downwardly extending skirt portion.   At least some of the support members are retainable at the erected position by a snap-type support arrangement.   A carrying handle or a carrying portion is fitted to either one or both of the top half-sections. According to one particular embodiment, the handle is retractable from between the half-sections at the folded position thereof.
 
Optionally, a locking arrangement is provided for securing the table at its closed/folded position namely, retaining the half-sections at their folded position, e.g. by a locking latch, by projections formed at one half-section snapingly engageable with corresponding receptacles formed at the opposite half-section, etc.
       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, an embodiment will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is top perspective view of a table according to the present invention, at its open position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the table, at its closed/collapsed position; 
       FIG. 3A  is a bottom perspective view of the table, at its open position; 
       FIG. 3B  is a section along line II—II in  FIG. 3A ; 
       FIG. 3C  is an enlargement of the portion marked III in  FIG. 3A ; 
       FIGS. 4A to 4E  illustrate consecutive steps of collapsing a table according to the present invention, wherein: 
       FIG. 4A  is a bottom perspective view of the table, at a first step of collapsing the table, with a longitudinal support member thereof at an intermediate position; 
       FIG. 4B  is an enlargement of the portion marked IV in  FIG. 4A ; 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates the table with all its longitudinal support members at the folded position; 
       FIG. 4D  illustrates the table with its transverse support members and their associated legs collapsed; and 
       FIG. 4E  illustrates the table at the final collapsing step, with its top surface partially folded. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference is first made to  FIG. 1  illustrating a collapsible table in accordance with the present invention generally designated  10  comprising two pivotable table top half sections  14  and  16  hingedly connected to one another and foldable about a pivot axle  18  (see in  FIGS. 3A and 4A ), extending transversally at a center line  20  of the table  10 . In the open position of  FIG. 1  the half sections  14 , 16  are coplanar. 
   The table  10  is supported by six legs arranged in pairs and designated  22 A and  22 B;  24 A and  24 B;  26 A and  26 B and will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. 
   The table  10  is foldable/collapsible between an open position as illustrated in  FIG. 1  where the table top is supported by the legs, and a closed/folded/collapsed position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Also seen in  FIG. 2  is a latch  30  to retain the half sections  14  and  16  in the closed, overlapping position. 
   In  FIG. 3A  the table  10  is illustrated from its bottom side and as can be seen at each of the half sections  14  and  16 , in the present case made of plastic material, is formed with a peripheral skirt portion  34 , increasing the rigidity and load bearing ability of the table  10 , and further, providing space for accommodating the legs and the support members, in the closed position, as will become apparent hereinafter. 
   It is further noticed in  FIG. 3A  that the ends of legs  22 A and B and  26 A and B are attached to a transversed support member  40  pivotably articulated to an under surface  42  of the half sections  14  and  16  by means of hinge portions  44 . 
   The arrangement is such that the under surface  42  of the half sections  14  and  16  comprises several hinge segments  50  (see  FIG. 3B ) integrally formed therewith and adapted for snap-type engagement with a receptacle hinge cavity  54  integrally formed with the transverse support member  40 . The hinge segments  50  are sized and shaped such that the transverse support members  40  are snappingly displaceable in a toggle type manner between an erect position ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and a collapsed position ( FIG. 4D ) and further such that in the erect position a surface  58  of the support member  40  flushingly bears against a corresponding surface  60  at the under surface  42 . 
   Further noticed in  FIG. 3A  there are provided four longitudinal support members  64 , each extending along a corresponding edge of the respective half section. The longitudinal support members  64  are pivotably articulated to the under surfaces  42  of the half sections  14  and  16 , in the same manner as disclosed hereinabove in connection with the transverse support members  40 , with particular reference to  FIG. 3B . 
   A central support member  68  is mounted on the common pivot axle  18  pivotably attaching the half sections  14  and  16  whereby at the open position of the table  10 , when the two half sections are coplanar, the central support member bears against corresponding portions at the undersurface  42  of the half sections, to thereby provide increased load bearing and stability of the table. Legs  24 A and  24 B extend from the central support member  68 . In accordance with other particular embodiments (not illustrated) the central support member  68  may be omitted entirely or may be designed to have one central leg or no legs at all. 
   As can best be seen in  FIG. 3A , at the open position of the table  10 , all of the support members  40  and  64  stand erect and perpendicular to the undersurface  42 ; the transverse support members  40  and the central support member  68  extend parallel to the pivot axle  18 ; and the longitudinal support members  64  extend at right angles thereto. 
   In this position when all of the support members  40  and  64  are erect, a closed box-like support structure is formed by them and each support member engages at its respective ends corresponding ends of a mating support member by means of a snap-type engagement as will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3C and 4B . The construction of the box/frame like structure gives rise to a table of improved rigidity and load bearing ability in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. 
   The support members  40  and  64  are retained in their erect position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, both by the toggle-type hinge arrangement of the support members to the under surface  42  of the half sections  14  and  16  and by the snap-type engagement between adjoining ends of respective support members. An example of such an engagement arrangement is seen in  FIG. 4B , which is an enlargement of the portion marked IV in  FIG. 4A , where the longitudinal support member  64  comprises four lateral projections  70 A,  70 B,  70 C and  70 D designed for snap-engagement within corresponding receptacles designated  72 A,  72 B,  72 C and  72 D, respectively, formed at a leg support portion  76  receiving leg  26 B of the transverse support member  40 . 
   Thus, displacement of a longitudinal support member from its erect position to its collapsed position requires some force thereby to prevent unintentional displacement thereof. 
     FIG. 3C  is an enlargement of the portion marked III in  FIG. 3A  whereby an end portion of the lateral support member  64  is formed with three projections  82 A,  82 B and  82 C designed for snap-engagement within corresponding receptacles (not seen in this position) formed in leg receptacle  86  supporting leg  24 B of the central support member  68 . 
   This arrangement also requires application of some reasonable force to thereby prevent unintentional collapsing of the longitudinal support members  64 . 
   With further reference made to  FIGS. 4A to 4E , it will now be explained how the table  10  is collapsed/folded from its open position as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3A  to its closed/folded position as in  FIG. 2 . 
   At a first step ( FIG. 4A ) the four longitudinal support members  64  are collapsed by pivotally displacing them inwardly in the direction of arrow  90 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates the table  10  after the four longitudinal support members  64  have been collapsed and lie flush against the under surface  42  of the half sections  14  and  16  ( FIG. 4C ). 
   Only at this point, after the longitudinal support members  64  of each half section  14  and  16  have been collapsed, the transverse support members  40  may be collapsed by turning them inward as indicated by arrows  94  in  FIG. 4C  such that the transverse support members  40  lie over the already folded longitudinal support members  64 . It is noticed that in the position shown in  FIG. 4D  the collapsed transverse support members  40  and their respective legs  22 A,  22 B and  26 A,  26 B do not occupy the entire space formed by the peripheral skirt  34 , thereby allowing sufficient space to accommodate the central support member  68  and the central legs  24 A and  24 B. 
   At a final step the half sections  14  and  16  are pivotally displaced towards one another (arrow  98  in  FIG. 4E ) until obtaining the fully closed position as in  FIG. 2 . 
   Retaining the table  10  in its closed position, may be obtained by closing latch  30  ( FIG. 2 ) or by snap type arrangement as illustrated for example in  FIG. 4E  wherein the skirt portion  34  of the half section  14  comprises two projections  102  fitted for snap engagement within corresponding two receptacles  104  fitted on the skirt  34  of half section  16 . 
   Finally, carrying the table  10  from one place to another may be facilitated by a handle  110  formed at half sections  14  by means of a depression at the skirt portion  34  enabling one to insert his hand between the half section when the table is in its closed position. In accordance with a variation thereof, such a depression may be formed also at the half section  16  and optionally also at the opposed sides thereof. As an alternative, there may be provided a handle  114  ( FIG. 4E ) displaceable between an extracted position as shown, and a retracted position (not shown) merely by folding or sliding it about a suitable hinge or rack. 
   While there has been shown an embodiment with several modifications of the invention, it will be appreciated by a person of the art that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.