GB2074018A - Improvements in or relating to a table - Google Patents

Abstract

A table has a top (1) to which three primary legs (4,5,6) are connected. An assembly of secondary legs (8,9,10) of equal length with the primary legs may be located to support the table top (1) so the table has a six legged configuration (Figure 2) or the table top (1) and primary legs (4,5,6) may be mounted on top of the secondary legs (8,9,10) so that the table has a three legged configuration (Figure 4) with the table top at a greater height from the ground than in the six legged configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a table This invention relates to a table.

According to the broadest aspect of this invention there is provided a table, said table comprising a top, at least three primary legs extending downwardly from said top to support said top and at least three secondary legs, each secondary leg being adapted to be releasably connected with one primary leg to extend the length of said primary leg to enable the table top to be supported at a greater height above the floor then when the secondary legs are not connected to the primary legs.

Preferably each secondary leg is of the same length as each primary leg. Thus, when the secondary legs are not connected to the primary legs the secondary legs may be located between the table top and the floor to assist the primary legs in supporting the table top.

Preferably, in such an embodiment, the secondary legs may be interconnected, for example, by substantially horizontally extending members, the legs lying on the circumference of a common circle, and said horizontally extending members extending radially inwardly to the centre of said circle where said horizontally extending members are interconnected.

In such an embodiment the secondary legs will remain standing in an upright condition whilst the table top and the associated primary legs are lifted from the position in which the table top is partially supported by the secondary legs, to a position in which the secondary legs are connected to the ends of the primary legs to extend said primary iegs.

Preferably each primary leg has a recess formed in the lower most surface thereof and each secondary leg has a protrusion formed on the uppermost surface thereof, the protrusion of each secondary leg being adapted to be inserted into the recess of a primary leg when the secondary and primary legs are connected together. Conveniently the table top is provided with a plurality of recesses each adapted to accommodate a protrusion located at the end of one of said secondary legs.

Advantageously the table may be provided with three primary legs and there may be three secondary legs, the table having a circular top.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the table in accordance with the present invention in one configuration thereof; Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, the top of the table being illustrated as being transparent for purposes of explanation; Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the table of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the table of Figure 1 in an alternative configuration thereof; Figure 5 is an underneath perspective view of the table in the configuration of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is an enlarged view of one component of the table shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 one embodiment of a table in accordance with the present inVention comprises a round disc-shaped top 1. Three cylindrical primary legs 4, 5 6 of equal length are securely connected to the top of the table 1 by any appropriate means. The primary legs 4, 5 5 are equi-angularly spaced relative to and are equi-spaced from the centre of the top of the table 1 and are located substantially adjacent the periphery of the top of the table 1. Each of the three primary legs 4, 56 has a cylindrical recess 7 formed in the bottom surface of the leg, and can be seen most clearly in Figures 3 and 5. Three secondary legs 8, 9, 10 are provided, each of these secondary legs each having a length which is substantially equal to the length of the primary legs 4,5 6.The three secondary legs 8, 9, 10 are, in the configuration of the table illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, alternated with the primary legs, 4, 5, 6. Thus all six legs are equi angulariy spaced from the centre of the top one of the table and all lie on a common circle, and all six legs assist in supporting the table top 1. The secondary legs 8, 9, 10 are each provided with a horizontal radially inwardly extending arm 11, 12, 13, which arms are mutually interconnected at a point 14 which is, in the configuration of the table illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, located immediately beneath the centre of the top 1 of the table.As can be seen as clearly in Figure 6 each secondary leg 8,9, 10 is provided with an upwardiy extending protrusion 15 on the top surface thereof, and the top 1, of the table is provided with cylindrical recesses 16 in the under-surface thereof (see Figure 5) which receive the protrusions 15 when the table is in the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

The table may readily be adjusted to have a second configuration, namely the configuration illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, if the table top 1 is lifted, together with the primary legs 4, 5, 6, and is then rotated by 60 and is then lowered so that the recesses 7 formed in the primary legs 4, 5, 6 are engaged with the protrusions 15 formed on the secondary legs 8,9 10. In this second configuration as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the secondary legs 8,9, 10 form extensions of the primary legs 4, 5, 6, and consequently, in the configuration the table top 1 is located twice as far above the floor as it is in the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

It is to be appreciate that since the secondary legs, 8, 9, 10 are interconnected by the members 11, 12, 13 the secondary legs 8,9, 10 remain in an errect position whilst the table 1 and the associated primary legs 4, 5, 6 are being lifted and rotated.

It will be appreciated that the table described above may be utilised as a relatively low coffee table when in the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and can readily be converted to be a higher table which may, for example, be used as a dining table, when in the configuration illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. It is not necessary to store any parts of the table separately from the table when it is utilised in the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 but it is merely necessary to lift one component of the table, rotate that component and lower it onto the first component to place the table into the second configuration.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a table which has round top and three primary legs securely fixed to the table which cooperate with three secondary legs it is to be appreciated that the invention may equally be applied to a table having a top of any particular shape and having any number of legs firmly attached to the table, provided that, of course, there are at least three primary legs firmly attached to the table. Whilst, in the described embodiment, the secondary legs are interconnected so that the secondary legs may remain standing in an upright position whilst the table 1 and the primary legs 4, 5,6 are lifted and rotated it is to be appreciated that in certain embodiments of the invention the secondary legs may be independent members provided with means to enable the secondary legs to be attached by the table or to the bases of the primary legs.

Whilst, in preferred embodiments of the invention, there will be one secondary leg for association with each primary leg, it is conceivable that where a large number of primary legs are provided a lower number of secondary legs may be provided. However, there must be at least three secondary legs.

Claims (10)

1. Atable, said table comprising a top, at least three primary legs extending downwardly from said top to support said top and at least three secondary legs, each secondary leg being adapted to be releasably connected with one primary leg to extend the length of said primary leg to enable the table top to be supported at a greater height above the floor than when the secondary legs are not connected to the primary legs.

2. Atable according to claim 1 wherein each secondary leg is of the same length as each primary leg.

3. A table according to claim 2 wherein the secondary legs are located between the table top and the floor to assist the primary legs in supporting the table top.

4. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the secondary legs are interconnected.

5. A table according to claim 4 wherein the secondary legs are interconnected by substantially horizontally extending members, the legs lying on the circumference of a common circle, and said horizontally extending members extending radially inwardly to the centre of said circle where said horizontally extending members are interconnected.

6. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each primary leg has a recess formed in the lowermost surface thereof and each secondary leg has a protrusion formed on the uppermost surface thereof, the protrusion of each secondary leg being adapted to be inserted into the recess of a primary leg when the secondary and primary legs are connected together.

7. A table according to claim 6 wherein the table top is provided with a plurality of recesses each adapted to accommodate a protrusion located at the end of one of the said secondary legs.

8. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the table is provided with three primary legs and three secondary legs, the table having a circular top.

9. Atable substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~