Table with nesting table top

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9763517-B2
Application number	US-201715413140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	Apr 25, 2011
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A table may be sized and configured to nest with another table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The table may include a nesting portion formed in an upper surface and sidewall of the table top. The table may also include a frame with one or more engaging portions sized and configured to be disposed in the nesting portion of an adjacent table when the tables are nested together. In addition, the table top may include a compression edge sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the tables are nested together. The compression edge and engaging portions may be sized and configured to be simultaneously disposed in the nesting portion of the adjacent table when the table is nested with the adjacent table.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A table sized and configured to nest with an adjacent table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration, each table of the plurality of stacked tables having substantially the same size and configuration, the table comprising:
a table top constructed from molded plastic, the table top comprising:
a generally planar upper surface; and
a nesting portion at least partially disposed in the upper surface of the table top; and

a frame connected to the table top, the frame comprising:
a generally planar contact surface sized and configured to contact a generally planar upper surface of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table; and
an engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table.

2. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion extends downwardly relative to the generally planar contact surface; and
wherein the engaging portion is disposed at approximately a right angle relative to the generally planar contact surface.

3. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the nesting portion is disposed in an outer perimeter of upper surface of the table top.

4. The table as in claim 3 , further comprising:
a sidewall of the nesting portion that is disposed generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the table top and generally parallel to an outer surface of the table top; and
a lower surface of the nesting portion that is disposed generally parallel to the upper surface of the table top and generally perpendicular to the outer surface of the table top.

5. The table as in claim 1 , further comprising a lip disposed at least proximate an outer perimeter of the table top, the lip including a lip engaging portion that is sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table.

6. The table as in claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the lip engaging portion and at least a portion of the engaging portion of the frame are sized and configured to be simultaneously disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table.

7. The table as in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the engaging portion of the frame is at least generally aligned and coplanar with an outer edge of the table top.

8. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the generally planar contact surface of the frame has a wall thickness measured between an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein the engaging portion of the frame has a thickness generally equal to or great than twice the wall thickness of the generally planar contact surface.

9. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion of the frame extends outwardly from a body of the frame.

10. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the generally planar contact surface of the frame is disposed immediately adjacent to the engaging portion of the frame; and
wherein the generally planar contact surface and the engaging portion of the frame form part of a contiguous structure.

11. A table sized and configured to nest with an adjacent table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration, each table of the plurality of stacked tables having substantially the same size and configuration, the table comprising:
a table top constructed from molded plastic, the table top comprising:
a generally planar upper surface;
a nesting portion at least partially disposed in the generally planar upper surface of the table top; and
a lip extending downwardly relative to the generally planar upper surface of the table top; and

a frame connected to the table top, the frame comprising:
a generally planar contact surface sized and configured to contact a generally planar upper surface of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table; and
a frame engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table.

12. The table as in claim 11 , further comprising a lip engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table, at least a portion of the lip engaging portion and at least a portion of the frame engaging portion sized and configured to be simultaneously disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table.

13. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the frame engaging portion extends downwardly relative to the generally planar contact surface.

14. The table as in claim 11 , further comprising:
a sidewall of the nesting portion that is disposed generally perpendicular to the generally planar upper surface of the table top; and
a lower surface of the nesting portion that is disposed generally parallel to the generally planar upper surface of the table top.

15. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the table top is constructed from blow-molded plastic and the table top is constructed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure during the blow-molding process.

16. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the generally planar contact surface of the frame has a wall thickness measured between an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein the engaging portion of the frame has a thickness generally equal to twice the wall thickness of the generally planar contact surface of the frame.

17. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the generally planar contact surface of the frame is disposed immediately adjacent to the engaging portion of the frame; and
wherein the generally planar contact surface and the engaging portion of the frame form part of a contiguous structure.

18. The table as in claim 11 , further comprising a lip engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table, the lip engaging portion at least partially formed by a compression edge of a lower portion of the lip.

19. The table as in claim 11 , further comprising a lip engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table, the lip engaging portion comprising a compression edge in a corner of the table top and a compression edge along a side of the table top; and
wherein the frame engaging portion, the compression edge in the corner of the table top and the compression edge along the side of the table top are simultaneously disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the table is nested with an adjacent table.

20. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the molded plastic table top has a wall thickness measured between an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein the lip engaging portion includes a compression edge with a thickness generally equal to twice the wall thickness.

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Peery Wendell
• Winter David C
• Johnson Mitch

Classifications

• A47B2003/0821

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

• A47B13/083

  Rims for table tops · CPC title

• A47B3/0913

  the strut being of two parts slidable relative to one another, e.g. telescopic struts · CPC title

• A47B3/0912

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

• A47B3/0809

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