Patent ID: 8479667

Claim:
A mobile folding table adapted for assisted transition between an open position and a closed position, said table comprising: a first table section pivotally connected to a second table section to permit folding and unfolding the table about a substantially horizontal pivotal axis between an open position and a closed position, wherein said first and second table sections are substantially horizontal in the open position, and wherein said first and second table sections are substantially vertical in the closed position; a high-speed cylinder assembly having a piston member and a cylinder member slidably connected to the piston member for relative movement of each member with respect to the other member between contracted and extended positions; and links connected to the first and second table sections and configured to articulate with the folding and unfolding of the table; the cylinder assembly being operatively connected to the links, the cylinder assembly containing compressed fluid adapted to produce a force tending to move its members apart from each other to extend the cylinder assembly toward the fully extended position, wherein extending the cylinder assembly toward the fully extended position causes the table sections to fold together toward the closed position, and the cylinder assembly producing substantially no damping force to oppose rapid extension of the assembly.