Retractable table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10632889-B2
Application number	US-201615754289-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A retractable table assembly (5) for an automobile has a housing (6) located between the rear seats (2,3). Two tabletops (17a, 17b) are stowed in the housing and deployed on rotatable arms (12a, 12b). The arms are resiliently biased to the deployment position and when stowed, the tabletops are kept in place by push-push latches. A secondary link (16) between the tabletops and the pivot-point of the arms is provided, which maintains the relative disposition of the tabletop in relation to the housing during deployment. The tabletops can be deployed side-by-side so as to provide an expanded surface for working on.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retractable table assembly for arrangement centrally between two seats; the retractable table assembly comprising two tabletops each moveable between deployed positions and a retracted position and carried by a respective arm; each tabletop being mounted to its respective arm via a support panel; each support panel being pivotably mounted to the respective arm at its proximial end and connected to the respective tabletop at its distal end, wherein in the deployed positions each support panel extends laterally outwardly towards its respective seat; and wherein the tabletops are arranged such that in a centrally deployed position one tabletop is deployed centrally, between the seats, whereby the deployed tabletop extends from the distal end of the support panel towards, and beyond, its proximal end; in a laterally arranged position, either tabletop, or both tabletops are deployed laterally, whereby the or each deployed tabletop extends from the distal end of its respective support panel in the direction away from its proximal end; and in an expanded surface position, a first one of the tabletops is deployed laterally, extending away from the proximal end of its support panel and the second tabletop is deployed centrally, whereby the second tabletop extends from the distal end of its respective support panel towards and beyond its proximal end and over the proximal end of the other support panel, so as to be adjacent the first tabletop and thereby form an expanded surface.

2. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein in the expanded surface position the gap between one tabletop and the other is less than 5 cm.

3. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each tabletop is rotatably connected to the respective support panel, so as to rotate relative to the respective support panel between the laterally arranged position and the centrally arranged position.

4. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each tabletop is provided with two leaves, with the proximal end of the first leaf connected to the support panel and the second leaf connected to the distal end of the first leaf.

5. The retractable table assembly according to claim 4 wherein the table assembly is capable of being arranged such that in the expanded surface position, the second leaf of the centrally deployed tabletop is supported by the support panel of the laterally deployed tabletop.

6. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each support panel comprises a tilting mechanism so as to adjust the angle between the proximal end connected to a respective arm, and the distal end connected to a respective tabletop.

7. A retractable table assembly, the retractable table assembly comprising a tabletop which is moveable between a deployed position and a retracted position and carried by an arm; wherein the arm is resiliently biased towards the deployed position and held in the retracted position by a push-push latch.

8. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the arm is resiliently biased towards the deployed position and held in the retracted position by a push-push latch.

9. A retractable table assembly comprising a housing, a tabletop which is moveable between a deployed position and a retracted position, and an arm which carries the tabletop; the arm being pivotally mounted to the housing at a first pivot point and pivotally mounted to the tabletop at a second pivot point, wherein a secondary link is provided between the housing and the tabletop and offset relative to a line between the first and second pivot points in order to maintain the relative disposition of the tabletop in relation to the housing, as the arm is rotated about the first pivot point; the secondary link being provided within the arm.

10. The retractable table assembly according to claim 9 wherein the arm which carries the tabletop is pivotally mounted to the housing at a first pivot point and pivotally mounted to the tabletop at a second pivot point, wherein a secondary link is provided, preferably within the arm, between the housing and the tabletop and offset relative to the line between the first and second pivot points in order to maintain the relative disposition of the tabletop in relation to the housing, as the arm is rotated about the first pivot point; the secondary link being provided within the arm.

11. The retractable table assembly according to claim 9 wherein the tabletop is attached to the arm via a support panel.

12. The retractable table assembly according to claim 11 wherein the support panel is attached to the second pivot point and the secondary link so as to maintain its relative disposition in relation to the housing as the arm is rotated about the first pivot point.

13. The retractable table assembly according to claim 12 wherein the support panel is rotatable about a longitudinal axis.

14. The retractable table assembly according to claim 9 comprising a housing, wherein the housing extends longitudinally and the first pivot point is provided at the front of the housing, with the arm extending downwardly and rearwardly in the housing, when the tabletop is in the retracted position.

15. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each tabletop is tiltable in the deployed position.

16. The retractable table assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each arm is mounted so as to rotate about a lateral axis.

17. An automobile comprising the retractable table assembly according to claim 7 .

18. An automobile comprising two rear passenger seats, with the retractable table assembly according to claim 1 located therebetween.

19. An automobile comprising the retractable table assembly according to claim 9 .

Assignees

• Bentley Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Bywaters Lucy
• Mcvety Clive
• Piggin James

Classifications

• B60N3/002 Primary

  of trays · CPC title

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title

• A47B3/00

  Folding or stowable tables (folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04) · CPC title

• B60R7/04

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title