Table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11730262-B2
Application number	US-201916243993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2019
Priority date	Jan 9, 2019
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A molded plastic structure may comprise a tabletop with an upper surface and a lower surface. A lip may extend downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, and the lip may include an outer surface and an inner surface. An inwardly extending portion may extend inwardly from the inner surface of the lip. A frame may be connected to the table top and the frame may include a side rail of a frame. The side rail may include a receiving portion that receives the inwardly extending portion. The side rail may also include a portion that supports the lower surface of the table top and a portion that supports the lip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blow-molded plastic structure constructed using a blow-molding process, the blow-molded plastic structure comprising:
a tabletop including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a hollow interior portion disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the tabletop;
a lip extending downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an outer surface and an inner surface;
an inwardly extending portion extending inwardly from the inner surface of the lip; and
a side rail including an upper wall, a lower wall, an inner side wall, an outer side wall, and a receiving portion, the receiving portion including a first wall and a second wall, the upper wall, the lower wall, the inner side wall, the outer side wall, and the receiving portion at least partially forming a boundary about an interior volume of the side rail, the receiving portion formed in the upper wall and the outer side wall of the side rail, the receiving portion sized and configured to receive the inwardly extending portion, the first wall of the receiving portion disposed at least proximate a first portion of the inwardly extending portion, the second wall of the receiving portion disposed at least proximate a second portion of the inwardly extending portion;
wherein the upper wall of the side rail supports a lower portion of the tabletop; and
wherein the outer side wall of the side rail supports a distal portion of the lip.

2. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the inwardly extending portion is enclosed by the receiving portion of the side rail.

3. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a fastener extends through the inner side wall and the outer side wall of the side rail and into the inwardly extending portion to connect the side rail to the tabletop.

4. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the first wall of the receiving portion comprises a generally planar surface that is disposed generally parallel to the lower wall of the side rail; and
wherein the second wall of the receiving portion comprises a generally planar surface that is disposed generally parallel to the inner side wall of the side rail.

5. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the tabletop, the lip, and the inwardly extending portion are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure during the blow-molding process.

6. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein a height of the inwardly extending portion is less than a height of the lip; and
wherein a lower surface of the side rail has a generally planar configuration with no outwardly extending projections.

7. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the side rail is disposed in a frame receiving recess in the lower surface of the tabletop;
wherein the receiving portion of the side rail encloses the inwardly extending portion; and
wherein a lower portion of the side rail is generally aligned with a lower portion of the lip.

8. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the side rail has a generally L-shaped configuration with a width of an upper the first portion of the side rail being less than a width of a lower portion of the side rail.

9. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first opening in the inner side wall of the side rail;
a second opening in the outer side wall of the side rail; and
a fastener disposed in the first opening and the second opening, the fastener extending through the first opening and the second opening and connected to the inwardly extending portion.

10. The blow-molded plastic structure of claim 1 , wherein the upper wall of the side rail contacts the lower surface of the tabletop;
wherein the first wall of the receiving portion of the side rail contacts the first portion of the inwardly extending portion;
wherein the second wall of the receiving portion of the side rail contacts the second portion of the inwardly extending portion; and
wherein the outer side wall of the side rail contacts the inner surface of the lip.

11. A molded plastic structure comprising:
a tabletop including an upper surface and a lower surface;
a lip extending downwardly relative to the lower surface of the tabletop, the lip including an outer surface and an inner surface;
an inwardly extending portion extending inwardly from the inner surface of the lip; and
a side rail including an upper wall, a lower wall, an inner side wall, an outer side wall, and a receiving portion, the upper wall, the lower wall, the inner side wall, the outer side wall, and the receiving portion of the side rail having a generally tubular configuration that encloses a volume, the receiving portion formed in the upper wall and the outer side wall of the side rail, the receiving portion sized and configured to receive the inwardly extending portion, a first wall of the receiving portion disposed at least proximate a first portion of the inwardly extending portion, a second wall of the receiving portion disposed at least proximate a second portion of the inwardly extending portion;
wherein a fastener extends through the inner side wall and the outer side wall of the side rail and into the inwardly extending portion to connect the side rail to the tabletop.

12. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the inwardly extending portion is enclosed by the receiving portion of the side rail.

13. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the outer side wall of the side rail supports a portion of the lip.

14. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the inwardly extending portion has a generally planar surface and the second portion of the inwardly extending portion has a generally planar surface.

15. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the tabletop, the lip, and the inwardly extending portion are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure during a molding process.

16. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein a height of the inwardly extending portion is less than a height of the lip; and
wherein a lower surface of the side rail has a generally planar configuration with no outwardly extending projections.

17. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein an upper portion of the side rail is disposed in a frame receiving recess in the lower surface of the tabletop;
wherein the receiving portion of the side rail encloses the inwardly extending portion; and
wherein a lower portion of the side rail is generally aligned with a lower portion of the lip.

18. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the side rail has a generally L-shaped configuration with the first wall of the receiving portion of the side rail contacting at least a portion of the first portion of the inwardly receiving portion and the second wall of the receiving portion of the side rail contacting at least proximate a portion of the second portion of the inwardly extending portion.

19. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first opening in the inner side wall of the side rail;
a second opening in the outer side wall of the side rail; and
a fastener disposed in the first opening and the second opening, the fastener extending through the first opening and the second opening and connected to the inwardly extending portion.

20. The molded plastic structure of claim 11 , wherein the upper wall of the side rail contacts the

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Mitch
• Boydston Kevin

Classifications

• B29C49/42811

  Introducing an auxiliary material not being the content, e.g. foamable material in a hollow wall section · CPC title

• A47B2013/085

  having a mounting web · CPC title

• A47B13/003

  Connecting table tops to underframes (connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42) · CPC title

• A47B3/00

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

• A47B13/083 Primary

  Rims for table tops · CPC title