Folding table with locking member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9351563-B2
Application number	US-201514811768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2015
Priority date	Feb 3, 2010
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A table may include a table top and a leg assembly. The leg assembly may be moved between use and storage positions, and the movement of the leg assembly may move a cross member between a first position in which the cross member resists folding of the table top and a second position in which the cross member facilitates folding and unfolding of the table top. The table top may include first and second sections with portions that overlap and/or interlock when the table top is unfolded. When the table top is in the unfolded position, movement of the leg assembly towards the use position may move the cross member towards the overlapping and/or interlocking portions, which may move the overlapping and/or interlocking portions towards each other. When moved towards each other, the overlapping and/or interlocking portions may be securely connected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A table comprising:
a foldable table top including a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being moveable about an axis of rotation between an unfolded position and a folded position, the first and second sections being generally aligned in the same plane in the unfolded position, the first and second sections being generally disposed adjacent and parallel to each other in the folded position, the axis of rotation being spaced apart from the first section and the second section by a distance when the first section and the second section are in the unfolded position;
a frame including a first portion connected to the first section of the table top and a second portion connected to the second section of the table top, the first and second portions of the frame rotatably connected about the axis of rotation;
one or more hinges rotatably connecting the first and second sections of the table top; and
a locking member movable between a locked position in which the locking member is not aligned with the axis of rotation and an unlocked position in which the locking member is aligned with the axis of rotation, the locking member being spaced apart from the axis of rotation by a distance in the locked position; the locking member preventing the rotating of the first and second portions of the frame about the axis of rotation in the locked position, the locking member allowing the rotation of the first and second portions of the frame about the axis of rotation in the unlocked position;
wherein the locking member locks the first and second portions of the frame in a fixed position to prevent folding of the table top when the locking member is in the locked position; and
wherein the locking member facilitates folding of the table top when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

2. The table as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a first leg movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top; and
a support connecting the first leg and the locking member;
wherein movement of the first leg towards the extended position moves the locking member towards the locked position.

3. The table as in claim 2 , wherein movement of the first leg towards the extended position moves the support into an extended position; and
wherein movement of the support into the extended position moves the locking member towards the locked position.

4. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the frame is connected to the second portion of the frame by a hinge of the one or more hinges; and
wherein the locking member is movable between an opening in the hinge between the unlocked position in which the locking member is aligned with the axis of rotation and the locked position in which the locking member is not aligned with the axis of rotation.

5. The table as in claim 4 , further comprising a connector facilitating movement of the locking member within the opening of the hinge between the locked and the unlocked positions.

6. The table as in claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the frame includes an elongated rail and the second portion of the frame includes an elongated rail, the first portion of the frame connected to the second portion of the frame by a hinge of the one or more hinges, the axis of rotation of the table top aligned with an axis of rotation of the hinge.

7. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a cross member disposed at least proximate a center portion of the table top.

8. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the locking member extends across at least a substantial portion of a width of the table top.

9. A table comprising:
a foldable table top including a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being moveable between an unfolded position and a folded position, the first and second sections being generally aligned in the same plane in the unfolded position, the first and second sections being generally disposed adjacent and parallel to each other in the folded position;
a lower surface of the first section of the table top;
a lower surface of the second section of the table top, the lower surface of the first section of the table top and the lower surface of the second section of the table top being generally aligned and disposed at least adjacent to each other when the table top is in the unfolded position;
a hinge connecting the first section of the table top and the second section of the table top, the hinge providing an axis of rotation for the table top between the folded and the unfolded positions; and
a cross member movable relative to the lower surfaces of the first and second sections between a locked position in which the table top is disposed in a fixed position and an unlocked position in which the table top is movable between the folded and unfolded positions, the cross member being a first distance from the lower surface of the first and second sections of the table top in the locked position, the cross member being a second distance from the lower surface of the first and second sections of the table top in the unlocked position, the first and second distances being different to allow the cross member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

10. The table as in claim 9 , wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

11. The table as in claim 9 , wherein the lower surface of the first section of the table top is generally planar and the lower surface of the second section of the table top is generally planar; and
wherein, when the cross member is disposed in the locked position, an outer surface of the cross member is generally aligned with the generally planar first and second sections of the table top.

12. The table as in claim 11 , wherein, when the cross member is disposed in the locked position, the cross member is spaced apart from the generally planar first and second sections of the table top by a distance.

13. The table as in claim 9 , further comprising a receiving portion disposed proximate the first and second sections of the table top when the table top is in the unfolded position, the cross member at least partially disposed in the receiving portion when the cross member is disposed in the unlocked position, the cross member spaced apart from the receiving portion when the cross member is disposed in the locked position.

14. A method of using a table, the table including a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being moveable about an axis of rotation between an unfolded position in which the first and second sections of the table top are generally aligned in the same plane and an unfolded position in which the first and second sections are generally disposed adjacent and parallel to each other, a frame including a first portion connected to the first section and a second portion connected to the second section, the first portion of the frame rotatably connected to the second portion of the frame connected by a hinge, a locking member movable relative to the hinge, the locking member movable between a locked position in which the locking member is not aligned with the axis of rotation and an unlocked position in which the cross member is aligned with the axis of rotation, the locking member extending across a portion of the table top, a first leg and a second leg, the first and second legs movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top, and a support connected to the first leg and the locking member, the method comprising:
moving the first leg from the collapsed position tow

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Bennett Joel
• Ashby Kent

Classifications

• A47B3/0912

  the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another · CPC title

• A47B3/08

  with legs pivoted to top or underframe · CPC title

• A47B2003/0835

  being superimposed, hinged and foldable · CPC title

• A47B3/0818

  with manually actuated locking means (A47B3/083, A47B3/087 and A47B3/091 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49716

  Converting · CPC title