Abstract:
A table provides a surface that stores flat on a wall when not in use and can be manually deployed at variable lengths, with any the remainder remaining stored on the wall. The surface easily slides down and out from its low profile retracted (vertically stored) position into a deployed (horizontal) configuration to serve as a shelf, a desk, dining/conference/work table, and the like.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application relates and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/162,730, filed May 16, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to furniture, and more specifically to tables or other furniture pieces useful in areas with limited space 
         [0004]    2. Background of Art 
         [0005]    Furniture that is both aesthetically pleasing while appropriately functional for a given use is desirable. A particular need exists for furniture that provides adequate functionality and aesthetics in spaces of small or limited size. For example, a studio apartment typically provides very limited living space, but the occupant may like to have adequate furniture to live not just comfortably, such as a bed, a dining table, chairs, and the like but also optimize for experience and utility of that space, such as dinner parties, office, work, etc. 
         [0006]    One rather old but functionally useful furniture design that has addressed the need of furnishing small spaces is the Murphy bed. The Murphy bed is a sleeping bed that simply moves between a stowed position wherein it extends in a vertical plane typically against a wall and perhaps hidden behind doors that make it appear as a closet, and a deployed positioned where it simply pivots at its base to extend in the normal horizontal plane as with “fixed” beds. 
         [0007]    Other furnishings that have been designed for smaller spaces include, for example, what are known as TV trays; small trays that are foldable between a stowed and collapsed position and a deployed, usable position. The TV trays simply include a pair of legs on each side of the tray that are pivotally movable relative to one another about their midpoints. The tray surface is also pivotally mounted to one of the legs on each side and can be releasingly and securely clipped to the other legs on each side when deployed for use. 
         [0008]    Traditional folding tables and chairs are also functionally useful for small spaces. These tables include the table base and support legs pivotally extendible between collapsed positions and extended positions. When the table is not in use the legs are folded up against the downwardly facing surface of the table and the table stowed for later use. Similarly with the traditional folding chairs, the legs and seat portion simply pivot to permit folding of the chair&#39;s components into a single plane for storage. When use of the chair is desired, one simply unfolds the legs and seat to convert the chair into a functional piece of furniture. 
         [0009]    Couches commonly known as futons are useful at providing a couch that can be converted into a bed by unfolding its various sections and extending the couch cushion into a mattress. Similar to couches with fold away mattresses, this type of furniture is useful for providing extra an sleeping piece in an area otherwise occupied with living room type furnishing. 
         [0010]    While each of the examples provided above of traditional furniture used in spaces of limited size, there are drawbacks associated with each of them that make them less attractive for use by certain individuals who may otherwise have a need for such functionality. For instance, even the TV trays and folding tables and chairs require space to store them, which certain apartments or other small quarters may not provide. And while a Murphy bed is useful in saving space it is a rather heavy piece of furniture that is difficult for some individuals to manipulate. In addition, it is merely movable between a fully stowed or a fully open/deployed position; it does not have the ability to convert between say a king size bed and a twin bed, or a long bed and a short/toddler bed. Thus, it will always take up the maximum amount of space when deployed, which may not always be necessary or desired. 
         [0011]    3. Objects and Advantages 
         [0012]    It is therefore an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a table that may be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
         [0013]    It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a table that can be deployed to various lengths to accommodate various size needs. 
         [0014]    It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a table that may be easily moved between its deployed and stowed positions with minimal strength or effort. 
         [0015]    It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a table that can be customized in appearance 
         [0016]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a table that is movable between stowed and deployed positions. The table essentially comprises a plurality of slats pivotally interconnected to one another and each of which extends in parallel relation to the rest. Each slat is interconnected to the adjacent slat(s) by hinge plates that are positioned along the side edges of each slat. A rail system is mounted to a wall and provides the sliding passageway for the slatted table top to move between its stowed (vertical) position and its deployed (horizontal) position. When in the vertical (retracted) orientation, the table is suspended by a gas spring loaded scissors lift (referred to herein as a “vertical assist mechanism” or “VAM”) such that the weight of the table is balanced. As the table deploys into a horizontal position, the force needed to counter balance the table mass decreases because part of it is now supported by legs that pivot outwardly from the bottom of the table onto the floor. The VAM is designed so that the user experiences a constant force when retracting or deploying the table even though the mass that is being translated is increasing or decreasing respectively. The gas spring is mostly responsible for this and the system is designed to even out any variation of the force output by the spring over its stroke. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a table in its deployed position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a second perspective view thereof. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view thereof with the wall section partially cut away for purposes of viewing the rear of the table assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the table of  FIG. 1  in its stowed position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view thereof. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the table of  FIG. 1  in a partially/initially deployed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view thereof. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a front elevation view thereof. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a portion of a slat assembly in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 12 a -12 c    are side elevation views of a slate, slip surface, and slat hinge plate, respectively. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is an illustrative view of the horizontal brake mechanism in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a schematic view of the horizontal brake mechanism in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 15 a -15 j    are sequential illustrative views illustrating the process associated with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is an elevation view of the vertical assist mechanism associated with an aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a table designated generally by reference numeral  10 . Table  10  is manually movable between a stowed (vertically oriented position (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) to a fully deployed (horizontally oriented) position (see  FIGS. 1-4 ). If a shorter length of table is desired than is provided when fully deployed, deployment of table  10  can cease at any desired length, leaving a portion thereof in its vertically oriented position while the desired length of horizontally oriented table may be deployed and used. 
         [0036]    Table  10  generally comprises a plurality of slats  12  that form the table top. Each slat  12  is interconnected to adjacent slat(s)  12  by hinge plates  14  that extend along the side edges of each slat  12 . A slip surface  16  is positioned between each hinge plate  14  and slat  12  to reduce friction during movement of the slats. A pin  18  passes through and interconnects two slats  12  together and the length of the pin serves as the pivot axis between the two adjacent slats  12 . As most clearly seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12   c , each hinge plate  14  includes a leading edge  20  that is concave, while its trailing edge  22  is correspondingly convex in shape. This convex/concave relationship provides a smooth transition as one slat moves from its vertical to its horizontal position while the adjacent one remains in it vertical orientation. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , when a user is moving the table, a brake mechanism, designated generally by reference numeral  100 , must be disengaged. Brake mechanism  100  comprises a brake  102  attached to the underside of the leading slat, and a series of pulleys  104  around which a cable  106  travels (and cable  106  also passes through brake  102 ) and with the ends of the cable tied off to tensioning springs. Brake  102  pinches cable  106  by magnetic (or spring) biased force when in its neutral state, thereby preventing movement of cable  106  and movement of the table. To disengage brake  102 , a user would pull on the handle  108  of brake  102 , thereby freeing cable  106  from its clutch. The user&#39;s minimum push or pull force exerted on the leading slat  12  then moves the table with the assistance of the VAM to either its stowed or deployed position, respectively. Upon release of handle  108 , cable  106  once again is engaged and movement of the table is prohibited. Thus, releasing handle  108  when any desired length of table is deployed permits a table of desired size to be deployed (e.g., only one or two slats might be deployed to provide a shelf). 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 16 , VAM  200  is illustrated. VAM comprises a plurality of pivotally linked legs  202  to form a scissor lift. The upper and lower extremities of legs  202  are bridged by connecting arms  204  and  206 , respectively. A gas piston  208  has its cylinder attached at one end of connecting arm  206  and its piston is carried in an arcuate slot  210  formed through a guide  212  that is attached to a leg  202 . As a user begins to move the table either towards a deployed position or towards its stowed position, gas piston  206  will provide the majority of the force and support needed to carry the weight of the table, thus minimizing the effort required of the user. The arcuate slot  210  is designed to vary the amount of force contributed by the gas piston to the movement of the table; as more of the table becomes vertically oriented towards its stowed position, the greater the amount of force contributed by the gas piston and conversely when the table nears its fully deployed position, the arcuate slot is oriented such that the gas piston again contributes a significant amount of force to hold the weight of the table as it is moved. Likewise, less force is needed when a portion of the table is deployed and a portion in the vertical plane. When the table is in its fully stowed position, gas spring  206  provides the force to prevent the table from sliding down and away from the wall. 
         [0039]    With respect to  FIGS. 15 a   - 15   j,  the table  10  is shown in its sequential modes of operation from shipping ( 15   a ), to installation on a wall ( 15   b ), initial deployment of a shelf ( 15   c ), with the legs locking outwardly to support the shelf/table ( 15   d ), to deployment ( 15   e ).  FIG. 15 f    begins the process of deployment of table  10  for table use. Retraction is started as shown in  FIG. 15 g   , wherein the legs will retract upwardly into their stored position on the underside of the table ( 15   h ), and finally the shelf (slat  12 ) can be pushed into the vertical plane ( 15   i ). As shown in  FIG. 15 j   , the table&#39;s surface can be decorated with artwork which can be interchangeable via veneers or other suitable coverings. 
         [0040]    Also the legs will work by automatically falling down to parallel to the wall when the leading slat is lifted from the wall. These will lock in place automatically. When the table is pulled out from the wall, these will stay down and stay locked in place. 
         [0041]    As the table is returned to retracted state, the legs can then be free to retract and will do so when the user manually pushes on them so as to fold down the leading slat to its retracted state on the wall.