Abstract:
The present invention provides for a foldable table assembly movable between an open and a closed position. The foldable table assembly comprises a base including a base wall surrounding a hollow interior for containing a folding table, the folding table being movable between a closed folded and an open unfolded position and a screw Jack assembly moving the folding table between the folded position inside the hollow interior of the base and unfolded substantially horizontal position removed from the hollow interior wherein operation of the Jack assembly permits the folding and unfolding of the table. The foldable table assembly has a lifting plate engaged with the Jack having a plurality of lifting arms each arm having a first end attached to the lifting plate and a pair of table top segments hingedly connected between a pair of said lifting arms. The pair of table top segments are connected one to another by means of a flexible hinge to allow the pivot point between the pair of table top segments to be located at the surface of the table top segments. In this way the table top surface in the open unfolded position has a smooth finish with no projections rising above the surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a foldable table and in particular to a jack operated foldable table having a segmented solid table top. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Foldable furniture, particularly tables and chairs are well known in the art. Foldable furniture, particularly foldable tables offer many benefits, especially for apartment dwellers. In the current real estate market with more and more people living in condominiums with small apartments, modular foldable furniture becomes desirable. Foldable tables occupy little space during storage and can accommodate several people in the unfolded operating state. In addition foldable tables in the folded state may also be used as a side table, increasing the usability. 
         [0003]    There are number of collapsible tables and collapsible dining sets described in prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,802 discloses a folding table and a seating apparatus comprising a circular table and eight stools. This assembly, even in a folded state, occupies a large space and does not provide a sufficient solution to space limitations in condominiums. 
         [0004]    There are several “umbrella type” foldable tables as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 786,732; 2,162,298 and 5,425,315. These tables which occupy a small space are disadvantageous in that, when collapsed, the upper table surface folds outward and remains open to air subjected to dust and dirt. This is undesirable due to sanitary concerns. 
         [0005]    Further U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,823 discloses a collapsible table and a seat assembly in which the table top is stored inside the interior of the housing. The described design has a limitation in the size of the table which can be nested inside the interior. Further there some operational limitations: the folding and the unfolding of the table are complicated and physically challenging. Finally this type of assembly is adapted to be used mostly outdoors and is not suitable for the indoor use. 
         [0006]    There were numerous attempts to develop foldable tables with a seat assembly, however most of those tables had various deficiencies. Some expose the table tops to the environment making it a sanitary concern. Others have a complicated mechanical structure while others occupied a lot of storage space. 
         [0007]    Another deficiency of the foldable tables described in the prior art was the folding and unfolding operation. All the tables had to be manually operated and therefore the procedure of folding and unfolding required physical strain and limited the manufacturing of tables to a smaller size. 
         [0008]    It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a foldable table operable by a jack to make the folding and unfolding of the table effortless. 
         [0009]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a foldable table which does not expose its working surface to the environment during the storage in the folded state. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a foldable table with a lid which serves as a lid in the folded state and as a serving surface in the operational state. 
         [0011]    It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a foldable table with a foldable seat assembly operable by a jack. 
         [0012]    Thus the present invention relates to a foldable table which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. The present invention is directed to an improved foldable table which is easy to store and easy to operate, the table is not limited in size and does not expose the table top to the environment during storage. 
         [0013]    Further and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the following summary of the invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention provides for a foldable table assembly movable between an open and a closed position. The foldable table assembly comprises a base including a base wall surrounding a hollow interior for containing a folding table, the folding table being movable between a closed folded and an open unfolded position and a screw Jack assembly moving the folding table between the folded position inside the hollow interior of the base and unfolded substantially horizontal position removed from the hollow interior wherein operation of the Jack assembly permits the folding and unfolding of the table. The foldable table assembly has a lifting plate engaged with the Jack having a plurality of lifting arms, each arm having a first end attached to the lifting plate and a pair of table top segments hingedly connected between a pair of said lifting arms. The pairs of table top segments are connected one to another by means of a flexible hinge to allow the pivot point between the pair of table top segments to be located at the surface of the table top segments. In this way the table top surface in the open unfolded position has a smooth finish with no projections rising above the surface. 
         [0015]    In an aspect of the invention, the screw jack assembly comprises a motor connected to a gear drive which operates a screw rod, one end of the screw rod being contained within the gear drive unit such that the operation of the motor and attached gear drive unit causes the screw rod to rotate to raise and lower the lifting plate and allow the table top assembly to be moved between the closed and open positions. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the invention, the lifting plate is connected to the screw rod by means of a threaded adaptor which contains threads on the interior thereof which are complementary to the threads of the screw rod. 
         [0017]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the lifting plate has a central opening to contain the threaded adaptor which is attached to the lifting plate by rods extending between the exterior surface of the threaded adaptor and the interior surface of the central opening of the lifting plate. 
         [0018]    In a further aspect of the invention, the foldable table assembly is provided with a lid which covers the top of the table top assembly in the closed position and acts as a serving platform when the foldable table assembly is in the open position. 
         [0019]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the lid is provided with a Lazy Susan type assembly to improve the serving capability of the lid when the foldable table assembly is in the open position. 
         [0020]    In a further aspect of the invention, the lid is provided with a lifting rod attached to the lower surface thereof. The lifting rod has an internal diameter to allow the threaded adaptor to fit within it and ride up and down within the lifting rod as the lid is raised and lowered. The lifting rod is provided with grooves along the length thereof to accommodate the rods located in the central opening between the threaded adaptor and inside surface of the lifting plate. 
         [0021]    In a further aspect of the invention, the table top segments have a wood base with a laminate surface attached thereto. The flexible hinge mechanism is provided by a piece of flexible material sandwiched between the wood base and the laminate surface of one side of adjacent table top segments. The opposite side of the adjacent table top segment is provided with a groove in the lower surface to accept one half of a piano-style hinge, the barrel of the piano-style hinge being slid over the lifting arms. 
         [0022]    In an aspect of the invention, the foldable table assembly is provided with 10 lifting arms equally spaced around the lifting plate and the table top is provided with 20 table top segments. 
         [0023]    In a further aspect of the invention, the table base is provided with a circular cross-section and the table top in the open position is circular. 
         [0024]    In a further aspect of the invention, in order to maintain the proper position of the lifting plate as the table top assembly is being raised and lowered, a guide system is provided for the table top assembly. 
         [0025]    In a further aspect of the invention, the guide system comprises guide channels attached to the interior of the table base wall on opposite sides thereof, arms are attached to opposite sides of the lifting plate at one end thereof the opposite end of the arms being provided with wheels which ride within the guide channels to maintain the lifting plate in the central position as it is raised and lowered by the screw jack assembly. 
         [0026]    In a further aspect of the invention, the foldable table assembly is provided with a seat assembly which can be stored within the table base when in the closed position and may be extended to provide a suitable seat at a proper height for a dining table when in the open position. 
         [0027]    In a further aspect of the invention, the foldable table assembly is provided with a pivot arm located between the lifting arm and the lower surface of the lid to allow for simultaneous raising and lowering of the lid as the table top is raised and lowered between the open and the closed position. 
         [0028]    In a further aspect of the invention, the pivot arms are pivotally connected to the lifting arms and the lid to allow for 180° of movement at the pivotal connection between the pivot arm and the lifting arm and 90° of movement between the pivot arm and the lid to allow the lid to raise during the initial movement of the table top assembly when moving from the open to the closed position or vice versa and to be lowered to be either on top of the table top in the open position or to be on top of the table base to seal the table base in the closed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the attached drawings in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferable embodiment of the foldable table of the present invention in the closed position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the foldable table of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the table top of the foldable table of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the segments of the table top illustrating the flexible hinges between the segments; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the section of the table top; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the table top; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view in detail of the table top illustrating the lifting portion and the arm for supporting the segments of the table top; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the interior of the foldable table illustrating the jack with the lifting portion in the open position; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the interior showing the lifting portion in an intermediate position; 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the foldable table showing the table top emerging from the base; 
           [0040]      FIG. 11  is a side view in cross section of the foldable table showing the table top in the open position; 
           [0041]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view in cross section illustrating the table top in the process of being closed in the foldable position; 
           [0042]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view in cross section of the foldable table with the table top in the closed position and the lid in the process of being closed; 
           [0043]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view in cross section of the foldable table in the closed position; 
           [0044]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the foldable table detailing an alternative mechanism for raising and lowering the lid; 
           [0045]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15  in the closed position; 
           [0046]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 15  in the open position; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a foldable table of the present invention in the open position; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the foldable table of  FIG. 18  in an intermediate position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0049]    A first preferred embodiment of a foldable table assembly of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 14  indicated by the numeral  10 . The foldable table assembly  10  has a table base  12  which is a hollow cylinder having a wall  14  and a bottom  16  and an open top  18 . The table base may be manufactured from various types of materials such as wood, plastic, polymers and metal. The foldable table assembly  10  is provided with a lid  20  which covers the interior of the table base in the fully closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As will be explained further below the operation of the folding table assembly  10  of the present invention may be electronically controlled utilizing for example a wireless transmitter  22  which interacts with a receiver  24  located within the table base  12  to operate the jacking mechanism. 
         [0050]    The foldable table assembly  10  is illustrated in the open position in  FIG. 2 . The foldable table assembly  10  has a table top assembly  30  comprised of a plurality of table top segments  32 , a pair of such segments being provided between lifting arms  34  which are connected to a jack unit to raise and lower the table top assembly as will be described hereinbelow. As is shown in  FIG. 2  the lid  20  acts as a serving platform when the foldable table assembly  10  is in the open position. Preferably the lid  20  may be provided with a Lazy Susan type assembly to improve the serving capability of the lid  20  when the foldable table assembly  10  is in the open position. Preferably, the foldable table assembly  10  has ten lifting arms  34  and ten pairs of table top segments  32  or twenty table top segments  32 . 
         [0051]    The table top segments  32  are preferably constructed of wood, metal or plastic, most preferably having a wood base  36  with a laminate surface  38  attached thereto. As illustrated in the figures the table top assembly  30  has the pair of table top segments  32  provided between lifting arms  34  and are attached to one another by a flexible hinge mechanism  40 . Preferably the flexible hinge mechanism is provided by a piece of flexible material  40  such as rubber or flexible plastic sandwiched between the wood base  36  and the laminate surface  38 . The provision of the flexible hinge mechanism allows for the pivot point between the table top segments  32  to be located at the table surface rather than the hinge mechanism. This allows the table top segments to fold properly in the closed position while maintaining the tight connection between the segments  32  when the table top assembly  30  is in the open position. 
         [0052]    The pairs of table top segments  32  joined together by the flexible hinge mechanism are attached to the lifting arms  34  at the outside edges thereof. The table top segments  32  are provided with a groove  42  in the lower surface to accept a piano style hinge  44 . The barrel  46  of the piano style hinge  44  is slid over the lifting arm  34  and the plates  48  of the piano style hinge  44  are attached to the underside of the grooves  42  of the table top segment  32 . In this way the combination of the piano style hinge  44  and the flexible hinges  40  allow the table top segments  32  to fold and unfold in the proper manner as the table top assembly  30  is moved between the closed and open positions as will be described hereinbelow. 
         [0053]    The lifting arms  34  are attached to a lifting plate  50  as illustrated for example in  FIGS. 6 through 9 . The lifting arms  34  are pivotally attached to the lifting plate  50  by means of receptacles  52  which allow the lifting arms  34  to pivot about the connection to the receptacles  52 . This allows the lifting arms  34  and the attached table top segments  32  to easily move between the closed and open positions. In order to aid in the moving of the lifting arms  34  between the open and closed positions it is preferred if a biased lifting mechanism  54  is provided to move the lifting arms  34  into an upward position particularly during the closing of the table top assembly  30 . 
         [0054]    The table top assembly  30  is moved between the open and close position by means of a Jack assembly  56  which is preferably a screw Jack assembly. The screw Jack assembly  56  is controlled by the wireless transmitter  22  and receiver  24  which contains the circuitry to control the operation of a motor  58  of the screw Jack assembly  56 . Motor  58  is connected to a gear drive unit  60  which operates the screw rod  62  of the screw Jack assembly  56 . One end of the screw rod  62  is contained within the gear drive unit  60  such that the operation of the motor  58  and attached gear drive unit  60  causes the screw rod  62  to rotate to allow the table top assembly  30  to be moved between the closed and open positions. The lifting plate  50  is connected to the screw rod  62  by means of a threaded adapter  64  which contains threads on the interior thereof which are complementary to the threads of the screw rod  62 . Lifting plate  50  has a central opening  66  to contain the threaded adapter  64  which is attached to the lifting plate by rods  68  extending between the exterior surface of the threaded adapter  64  and the interior surface of the central opening  66  of the lifting plate  50 . The provision of the central opening  66  allows for the passage of the lifting rod  70  which is attached to the lid  20  to allow the lid  20  to be raised and lowered during the operation of the table top assembly  10 . 
         [0055]    In order to maintain the proper position of the lifting plate  50  as the table top assembly  30  is being raised and lowered between the open and closed positions, a guide system is provided for the foldable table assembly  10 . Guide channels  72  are attached to the interior of the table base wall on opposite sides thereof. Arms  74  are attached to opposite sides of the lifting plate  50  at one end thereof. The opposite end of the arms  74  are provided with wheels  76  which ride within the guide channels  72 . In this way the lifting plate  50  is maintained in the central position as it rides up and down the screw rod  62 . 
         [0056]    As noted above the lid  20  is provided on its underside with the lifting rod  70 . Lifting rod  70  in this embodiment is a hollow tube having an internal diameter to allow the threaded adapter  64  to fit within it and ride up and down within the lifting rod  70  as the lid  20  is raised and lowered. Lifting rod  70  is provided with two grooves  78  along the length thereof to accommodate the rods  68  located in the central opening  66  between the threaded adapter  64  and the inside surface of the lifting plate  50 . In this embodiment, in order to allow the lid  20  to be raised and lowered at the same time as the lifting plate  50  the lower end of the grooves  78  are provided with a side cut opening  80  to engage the connecting rods  68 . The purpose and operation of this will be explained hereinbelow. 
         [0057]    The operation of the embodiment of the foldable table assembly  10  of the invention will now be explained with reference to the figures particularly  FIGS. 10 through 13 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the foldable table top assembly  10  in the intermediate position between the open and closed position. To take the table from the fully closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the fully open position illustrated in  FIG. 2  the Jack assembly  56  is operated by pressing the appropriate button on the wireless transmitter  22 . This activates the motor  58  which drives the gear drive unit  60  causing the screw rod  62  to rotate and move the threaded adapter  64  and attached lifting plate  50  upwardly. As the lifting plate moves upwardly the collapsed table top assembly  30  is raised from within the table base  12 . As the lid  20  is directly connected to the lifting plate  50  by means of the side cut opening  80  at the bottom of the groove  78  being in contact with the connecting rod  68 , the lid  20  rises at the same rate as the collapsed table top assembly  30 . As the table top assembly  30  emerges from the table base  12  the weight of the table top assembly, in particular the table top segments  32 , causes it to fan outwardly and the table top segments  32  begin to pivot about the piano style hinges  44  attached to the lifting arms  34  and the wood base  36  and the flexible hinges  40  connecting the pair of table top segments  32  together. Once the table top assembly  30  is in the fully open position the motor  58  is stopped preferably as a result of a sensor detecting the fully open position of the table top assembly  30 . The side cut opening  80  of the lifting rod  70  is disengaged from the connecting rod  68  to allow the connecting rod  68  to engage with the groove  78 . This allows the lifting rod  70  and attached lid  20  to be lowered to rest against the opened table top assembly  30 . 
         [0058]    To move the foldable table assembly  10  from the open to the closed position the lid  20  is raised by allowing the connecting rod  68  to pass along the groove  78  in the lifting rod  70  until the side cut opening  80  engages the connecting rod  68  and holds the lid  20  in the raised position. Jack assembly  56  is operated by pressing the appropriate button on the wireless transmitter  22 . This activates the motor  58  which drives the gear drive unit  60  causing the screw rod  62  to rotate and move the threaded adapter  64  and attached lifting plate  50  downwardly. As the lifting plate moves downwardly the table top assembly  30  is begun to be pulled into the table base  12 . As the table top assembly begins to be pulled within the base  12 , the lifting arms  34  begin to rotate upwardly about the receptacles  52  and the biased lifting means  54  aids in the upward motion of the lifting arms  34 . The upward motion of the lifting arms  34  causes the table top segments to rotate about the piano style hinge  44  and flexible hinge  42  and begin to move together to the closed position. As the operation is continued the lifting plate  50  and attached table top assembly  30  is drawn within the table base  12  and lowered to the closed position. The lid  20  is then lowered until the foldable table assembly  10  is in the closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0059]    The foldable table assembly  10  of the present invention may be also provided with a seat assembly  82  which can be stored within the table base  12  when in the closed position and may be extended to provide a suitable seat at a proper height for a dining table when in the open position. An example of such a seat assembly is described in applicants earlier U.S. Pat. No. 8,240,755 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0060]    The foldable table assembly  10  of the present invention provides for numerous advantages over prior art designs. The first advantage is the use of the single lifting arms  34  which results in a simpler design for manufacturing of the collapsible table as compared to some of the prior art designs. The use of the screw Jack assembly  56  allows for the maximum length of the table top segments  32  and thus a very usable table top assembly  32  allowing the foldable table assembly to be easily utilized as a dining table. Of particular advantage is the use of the flexible hinges  40  between the pairs of table top segments attached to the lifting arms  34 . The use of the flexible hinges allows the pivot point for the rotation of the pairs of table top segments to be located at the table top surface rather than at the hinge location at a point below the surface as would be the case if typical barrel hinges were utilized. By providing the rotation point at the surface in utilizing the flexible hinge the table top surface in the open position has a smooth finish with no projections rising above the surface as would be the case with more typical hinges. This allows the table top to be easily utilized as a dining surface allowing the dishes and other utensils to be easily moved over the surface without encountering any projections. 
         [0061]    An alternative arrangement for raising and lowering the lid in conjunction with raising and lowering the table top is shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 to 17  generally indicated by the numeral  100 . The embodiment illustrated in these figures shows a lifting mechanism to simultaneously raise and the lower the table top and lid which are not shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the lifting mechanism. The full embodiment of the foldable table will have the table base and table top segments as was shown in the previous embodiment. In addition, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 to 17  only shows two of the lifting arms for the purposes of illustration. The full embodiment would have a plurality of such lifting arms such as the ten as shown in the previous embodiment. 
         [0062]    Similar to the first embodiment the lifting arms  102  are attached to a lifting plate  104  which is in turn connected to the screw rod  106  by means of a threaded adaptor  108  which contains threads on the interior thereof which are complementary to the threads of the screw rod  106 . Similar to the first embodiment the threaded adaptor  108  is contained within a central opening  110  of the lifting plate attached to the lifting plate  104  by rods  112  extending between the exterior surface of the threaded adaptor  108  and the interior surface of the central opening of the lifting plate  104 . The provision of the central opening  110  allows for the passage of the lifting rod  114  which attached to the lid  116  to allow the lid  116  to be raised and lowered during operation of the table top assembly  100 . The lifting rod  114  is a hollow tube having an internal diameter to allow the threaded adaptor  108  to fit within it and ride up and down within the lifting rod  114  as the lid  116  is raised and lowered. The lifting rod  114  is provided with two grooves  118  along the length thereof to accommodate the rods  112  located in the central opening  110  between the threaded adaptor  108  and the inside surface of the lifting plate  104 . 
         [0063]    In order to raise and lower the lid  116  at the same time that the table top assembly is being raised and lowered, pivot arms  120  are provided between the lifting arms  102  and the lid  116 . The pivot arms  120  are pivotally attached near the mid-point of the lifting arms  102  at one end and to a plate  122  provided at the top of the lifting rod  114  to which the lid  116  is to be attached. The pivotable connection between the pivot arms  120  and lifting arms  102  and plate  122  of the lifting rod  114  allow for 180° of movement at the pivotable connection between the pivot arm  120  and the lifting arm  102  and 90° of movement between the pivot arm  120  and the plate  122  at the top of the lifting rod  114 . In the closed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the pivot arm  120  lies approximately parallel to the outer end of the lifting arm  102  and in the open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the pivot arm  120  is located above the inner end of the lifting arm  102  connected to the lifting plate  108 . 
         [0064]    The operation of this embodiment of the foldable table assembly  100  will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 17 .  FIG. 15  illustrates a foldable table assembly  100  in the intermediate position between the open and closed position. To take the table  100  from the fully closed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , to the fully open position, illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the jack assembly (not shown) is operated by activating the motor which drives the gear driving and causing the screw rod  106  to rotate and move the threaded adaptor  108  and attached lifting plate  104  upwardly. As the lifting plate  104  moves upwardly, the collapsed table top assembly which is attached to the lifting arms  102  is raised within the table base. As the lid  116  is connected to the lifting arms  102  by means of the pivot arms  120 , the lid  116  rises up as the collapsed table top assembly is lifted from within the base by the upward movement of the lifting plate  104 . As the table top assembly emerges from the base, the weight of the table top assembly, in particular the table top segments, causes it to fan outwardly and the lifting arms  102  begin to pivot about the connection to the lifting plate  104 . This in turn causes the pivot arms  120  connected between the lifting arms  102  and the lid  116  to pivot, drawing the lid  116  closer to the lifting plate  104 . Once the table top assembly is in the fully open position, the pivot arms  102  have completed their pivoting bringing the lid  116  into the open position, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0065]    To move the foldable table assembly  100  from the open to the closed position, the jack assembly is operated which activates the motor to drive the gear drive unit causing the screw rod  106  to rotate and move the threaded adaptor  108  and attached lifting plate  104  downwardly. As the lifting plate  104  moves downwardly, the table top assembly has begun to be pulled into the table base. As the table top assembly begins to be pulled within the base the lifting arms  102  rotate upwardly about the connection to the lifting plate  104  causing the pivot arms  120  to pivot and raise the lid  116 . As the operation is continued the lifting plate  104  and attached table top assembly is drawn within the table base until the lifting arms  102  have come to the fully closed position as shown in  FIG. 16 . The attached pivot arms  120  allow the lid  116  to be brought to the closed position as well. The provision of the pivot arm  120  attached between the lifting arms  102  and the lid  116  allow the lid  116  to be raised and lowered in conjunction with raising and lowering the table top without requiring addition measures such as manually moving the lid once the table assembly is in the open or closed position. This provides for a much simpler operation of the foldable table assembly. 
         [0066]    While the preferred embodiments illustrated and described above have a generally cylindrical base and a round table top, other shapes may also be provided utilizing the above feature. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the base may  202  be provided as a cube and the table top segments  204  and  206  may be provided to provide a shape other than a round shape such as for example, an octagon or other geometric shape. 
         [0067]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19  utilizes foldable table top connections similar to the other embodiments at the corners of the cube. The segments  204  at the corners are connected together by a rectangular segment  206  which are attached to the foldable segments  204  by means of the flexible connection. The lifting plate  208  is a square shape with features similar to that of the other embodiment utilizing the lifting arm attached to the lifting plate which is driven by a screw jack assembly (details not shown but similar to the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 14 ) and preferably utilizes the lid which is able to be raised and lowered with the table top assembly utilizing the pivot arm arrangement as described for the embodiment of  FIGS. 15 to 17 . 
         [0068]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that variations may be made thereto and all such variations are included within the scope of the present invention.