Collapsible bistro table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10111517-B2
Application number	US-201715439039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2017
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A collapsible table includes a tabletop, a first pair of collapsible legs, and a second pair of collapsible legs. The first pair of legs includes a first support bar for connecting a first leg to a second leg adjacent their top end portions, and the first support bar is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the tabletop. The second pair of legs includes a second support bar for connecting a third leg to a fourth leg and a third support bar spaced apart from the second support bar for connecting the third leg to the fourth leg. One or more brackets are disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the tabletop and are positioned and configured to removably secure the second support bar to the bottom surface of the tabletop in a use position and removably secure the third support bar to the bottom surface in a storage position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible table comprising:
a tabletop having a width and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the top surface of the tabletop has a shape that is circular or elliptical;
a first pair of collapsible legs comprising a first leg having a top end portion, a second leg having a top end portion, the first and second legs having a length that is greater than the width of the tabletop;
a second pair of collapsible legs comprising a third leg having a top end portion, a fourth leg having a top end portion, the third and fourth legs having a length that is greater than the width of the tabletop,
wherein the first and second pairs of collapsible legs are operable to move to a use position in which the legs extend from the bottom surface of the tabletop to support the tabletop,
wherein the first and second pairs of collapsible legs are operable to move to a storage position in which at least the top end portions of each of the legs are disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the tabletop;
a first support bar that is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the tabletop and that connects the first leg to the second leg adjacent their top end portions;
a second support bar that connects the third leg to the fourth leg adjacent their top end portions;
a third support bar spaced apart from the second support bar that connects the third leg to the fourth leg; and
a first pair of brackets disposed at a first location adjacent the bottom surface of the tabletop that removably secures the second support bar at the first location in the use position and that removably secures the third support bar at the first location in the storage position.

2. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the tabletop includes:
a first receiving channel positioned and configured to receive the first leg and the third leg below their top end portions in the storage position; and
a second receiving channel positioned and configured to receive the second leg and the fourth leg below their top end portions in the storage position.

3. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein the tabletop is formed from blow-molded plastic.

4. The collapsible table of claim 3 wherein the first pair of brackets is integrally formed from the blow-molded plastic of the tabletop.

5. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein the first pair of brackets receives a first portion of the second or third support bar, and the collapsible table includes a second pair of brackets at the first location that receives a second portion of the second or third support bar.

6. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein the first pair of brackets is configured to prevent any substantial movement of the second and third support bars in the respective use and storage positions.

7. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein the second pair of collapsible legs is pivotally connected to the first pair of collapsible legs.

8. The collapsible table of claim 1 wherein the first support bar is substantially non-removably secured to the bottom surface of the tabletop.

9. A collapsible supporting structure comprising:
a top structure having a width and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
a first pair of collapsible legs comprising a first leg having a top end portion and a second leg having a top end portion, each of the top end portions of the first and second legs being pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the top structure, the first and second legs having a length that is greater than the width of the top structure;
a second pair of collapsible legs comprising a third leg having a top end portion, a fourth leg having a top end portion, the third and fourth legs having a length that is greater than the width of the top structure,
wherein the first and second pairs of collapsible legs are operable to move to a use position in which the legs extend from the bottom surface of the top structure to support the top structure,
wherein the first and second pairs of collapsible legs are operable to move to a storage position in which the legs are disposed flat against the bottom surface of the top structure;
a first support bar that connects the third leg to the fourth leg adjacent their top end portions;
a second support bar spaced apart from the first support bar that connects the third leg to the fourth leg; and
one or more snap-fit brackets disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the top structure that removably secure the first support bar adjacent the bottom surface of the top structure in the use position and that removably secure the second support bar adjacent the bottom surface of the top structure in the storage position, wherein at least one of the one or more snap-fit brackets that secures the first support bar in the use position and at least one of the one or more brackets that secures the second support bar in the storage position are one and the same bracket.

10. The collapsible table of claim 9 wherein the top surface of the top structure has a shape that is one of rectangular, square, oval, elliptical, circular, and irregular.

11. The collapsible supporting structure of claim 9 wherein the top structure is one of a tabletop, a tray, a chair seat, a bench seat, a stool seat, and a step-ladder platform.

12. The collapsible supporting structure of claim 9 wherein the bottom surface of the top structure includes:
a first receiving channel positioned and configured to receive the first leg and the third leg below their top end portions in the storage position; and
a second receiving channel positioned and configured to receive the second leg and the fourth leg below their top end portions in the storage position.

13. The collapsible supporting structure of claim 9 wherein the top structure is formed from blow-molded plastic.

14. The collapsible supporting structure of claim 13 wherein the one or more snap-fit brackets are integrally formed from the blow-molded plastic of the top structure.

15. The collapsible supporting structure of claim 9 wherein the one or more snap-fit brackets include:
a first set of brackets that receives a first portion of the first or second support bar; and
a second set of brackets that receives a second portion of the first or second support bar.

16. The collapsible supporting structure of claim 9 wherein the one or more snap-fit brackets are configured to prevent any substantial movement of the first and second support bars in the respective use and storage positions.

17. A collapsible table comprising:
a tabletop having a width and comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
a first pair of collapsible legs comprising a first leg having a top end portion, a second leg having a top end portion, the first and second legs having a length that is greater than the width of the tabletop;
a second pair of collapsible legs comprising a third leg having a top end portion, a fourth leg having a top end portion, the third and fourth legs having a length that is greater than the width of the tabletop,
wherein the first and second pairs of collapsible legs are operable to move to a use position in which the legs extend from the bottom surface of the tabletop to support the tabletop,
wherein the first and second pairs of collapsible legs are operable to move to a storage position in which the legs are disposed flat against the bottom surface of the tabletop;
a first support bar that is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the tablet

Assignees

• Zhuhai Shichang Metals Ltd
• Zhuhai Shichang Metals Ltd

Inventors

• Lin Wen-Sheng

Classifications

• A47C11/00

  Benches not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A47C4/24

  with cross legs · CPC title

• A47C4/14

  with cross legs · CPC title

• A47B2003/0827

  having means for holding U-shaped legs in storage position, i.e. parallel to the underside of the table top · CPC title

• A47B2003/0821

  the leg holder being mounted to underside of the table top · CPC title