Table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9848699-B2
Application number	US-201715591068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	Apr 25, 2011
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A table may be sized and configured to nest with one or more adjacent tables to reduce a height of the table in a nested configuration. The table may include a table top constructed from molded plastic and the table top may include a receiving portion sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of a frame of an adjacent table in the nested configuration. The table may also include a metal frame connected to the table top and the frame may include an engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent table in the nested configuration. If desired, an outer surface of the engaging portion may be visible and exposed in the recess in the lip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A table sized and configured to nest with one or more adjacent tables to reduce a height of the table in a nested configuration, the table comprising:
a table top constructed from molded plastic, the table top comprising:
an upper portion;
a receiving portion disposed in the upper portion of the table top, the receiving portion sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration; and
a lower portion, the upper portion, the receiving portion and the lower portion integrally formed as part of a one-piece structure during a molding process;

a metal engaging portion extending outwardly from the table top, the metal engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration;
a first support structure movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top, the first support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface when the first support structure is in the extended position, the first support structure disposed at least proximate the lower portion of the table top in the collapsed position; and
a second support structure movable between the extended position and the collapsed position relative to the table top, the second support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface when the second support structure is in the extended position, the second support structure disposed at least proximate the lower portion of the table top in the collapsed position;
wherein a height of the table in a nested configuration is reduced by about twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) or more in comparison to a height of the table in an un-nested configuration.

2. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion is sized and configured to contact the receiving portion of the table top when the tables are in a nested configuration.

3. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion and a sidewall of the table top are generally aligned and coplanar.

4. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the table top includes a lip, at least a portion of the engaging portion generally aligned and coplanar with at least a portion of the lip.

5. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the table top includes a lip, at least a portion of the engaging portion disposed in a recess in the lip.

6. The table as in claim 1 , wherein a height of the table in a nested configuration is reduced by about twenty-five percent (25%) or more in comparison to a height of the table in an un-nested configuration.

7. The table as in claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of a side of the table top;
wherein the lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of a corner of the table top; and
wherein the lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of an end of the table top.

8. The table as in claim 1 , further comprising a lip, at least a portion of the lip and at least a portion of the engaging portion sized and configured to be simultaneously disposed in the receiving portion of an adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration.

9. The table as in claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of a lip of the table top.

10. The table as in claim 1 , wherein the table and one or more adjacent tables are substantially identical to facilitate nesting of the tables.

11. A table sized and configured to nest with one or more adjacent tables to reduce a height of the table when the tables are in a nested configuration, the table comprising:
a table top comprising:
an upper portion;
a receiving portion in the upper portion, the receiving portion sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration;
a lower portion; and
a lip extending from the lower portion of the table top, the upper portion, the receiving portion, the lower portion, and the lip integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure;

a metal engaging portion extending outwardly relative to the table top, the metal engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration;
a first support structure movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top, the first support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface when the first support structure is in the extended position, the first support structure disposed at least proximate the lower portion of the table top in the collapsed position; and
a second support structure movable between the extended position and the collapsed position relative to the table top, the second support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface when the second support structure is in the extended position, the second support structure disposed at least proximate the lower portion of the table top in the collapsed position;
wherein the table top and a table top of an adjacent table are at least substantially identical; and
wherein the table top and the engaging portion are sized and configured to allow a height of a table in a nested configuration to be reduced by about twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) or more in comparison to a height of the table in an un-nested configuration.

12. The table as in claim 11 , wherein a lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of the lip of the table top.

13. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the table top and the engaging portion are sized and configured to allow a height of the table in a nested configuration to be reduced by about twenty percent (20%) or more in comparison to a height of the table in an un-nested configuration.

14. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the table top and the engaging portion are sized and configured to allow a height of the table in a nested configuration to be reduced by about twenty-five percent (25%) or more in comparison to a height of the table in an un-nested configuration.

15. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the engaging portion comprises a portion of a frame, the frame comprising:
a first load bearing surface sized and configured to contact a generally planar upper surface of an adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration, the first load bearing surface having a generally planar configuration; and
a second load bearing surface sized and configured to contact a receiving portion of the second adjacent table when the tables are in a nested configuration.

16. The table as in claim 11 , wherein a lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of a side of the table top;
wherein the lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of a corner of the table top; and
wherein the lower surface of the engaging portion is generally aligned and coplanar with a lower surface of an end of the table top.

17. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the engaging portion comprises a portion of a frame.

18. The table as in claim 11 , wherein the receiving portion of the table top has a generally L-shaped configuration with a sidewall and a lower surface

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Peery Wendell
• Winter David C
• Johnson Mitch

Classifications

• A47B87/02 Primary

  stackable {; stackable and linkable (by means of separate corner elements being in common with both the vertical and horizontal parts, e.g. corner bars for panels, nodes for rods A47B47/0016, A47B47/0025)} · CPC title

• A47B3/08

  with legs pivoted to top or underframe · CPC title

• A47B13/083

  Rims for table tops · CPC title

• A47B3/0912 Primary

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

• A47B7/02

  Stackable tables; Nesting tables · CPC title