GB2086718A - Table top - Google Patents

Abstract

A table top comprises a flat surface (1) divided into a plurality of foldable sections (2, 3), attachment means (7) Fig. 1 or (12) Fig. 4 being provided on the underside of the surface for enabling the table top to be secured to a suitable support, e.g. a vice, the table top having depending flanges (4) around the edge which are so arranged that, when the table top is in its folded position, it provides a thin box like structure within which the attachment means (7) are contained. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Table top This invention relates to a table top. In the past there has often been difficulty in providing the necessary table accommodation, where such table accommodation is only temporarily required, either to enable additional table space to be provided as such or for providing such working surfaces as wall paper pasting boards, table tennis tables and the like.

The present invention seeks to provide a table top which, when not in use, can be folded away in a relatively small space but which can be used in association with articles of equipment which may already be present and which will serve to provide the necessary support for the table top to maintain it at a suitable height and to enable the table top surface to be maintained in a steady condition.

In particular it is envisaged that the table top will be used for apparatus having vice like attachments such as that provided by the "Black s Decker Workmate".

According to the invention, a table top comprises a flat surface divided into a plurality of foldable sections, means on the intended underside of the table top for enabling it to be secured to a suitable support and depending flanges around the edges of the table top so arranged, when the table top is in the folded position, as to provide a thin box like structure within which the attachment elements are contained.

Preferably the table is divided in two along a centre line, the two portions being hinged together about the centre line in such a way as to form a box by folding them one against the other. The table top may be provided with a plurality of projections which can be engaged in a vice like element of support, at least one such element being provided on the underside of each half of the table top, the elements being offset longitudinally to their positions on the respective table portions so as to lie longitudinally adjacent each other when the table top is in the folded state.

Where the support member is of sufficient length, the table top will be supported in its open condition by this fact, but, should the support member be of relatively small dimensions, then means may be provided for maintaining the table in its unfolded condition.

Where staggered projections engageable in a vice like grip on the support elements are provided, instead of a single element being provided on each half of the table top a number of individual elements spaced apart by their own distance and staggered in relation to the elements on the other half of the table top may be used, the arrangement being such that the elements-on one half of the table will pass into the recesses between the elements of the other half of the table so as to provide, in the closed condition, a table top element of minimum thickness.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a first form of table top in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the attachment of the table top of Fig. 1 to a support element, shown here diagrammatically only; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the table top of Fig. 1 in the folded condition, and Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig.

1 showing an alternative method of providing the attachment means of the table top, the means in this case providing for maintenance of the table in the extended state.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there will be seen a table top 1 comprising two sheet surface members 2 and 3 which are each surrounded on three sides by a depending edge 4. The fourth side is left without a depending edge and the table top parts only hinged together at their lower (in use) parts, by hinges 6 on adjacent edges 4. As can be seen from Fig. 3. the depending edge 4 of the table and the arrangement of the hinges 6 enabies the table to fold up into a thin box, open only along the hinge side, so that the table top can easily be stowed away. Along the centre line of the table top at right angles to the line along which it is hinged are provided a number of projections 7 having spacings between them at least slightly greater than their length.Furthermore it will be seen that these projections, which are of rectangular form, are staggered with respect to similar projections on the other side of the table so that, when the table top is folded into two, the projections on one side will lie between the projections on the other side and thus encourage the thinness of the box like shape when folded.

A carrying handle 20 and a closure catch 21 may be provided.

This particular type of table top is particularly suited for attachment to the vice like elements such as those provided by the "Black Et Decker Workmate". In this case, the projections 7 will sit between the two jaws 8 and 9 of the upper surfce of the workmate 10, and these projections 7 can be satisfactorily retained by screwing up the jaws which have two independently movable ends and will therefore take up any irregularities. With the tightening of the jaws or other vice portions, the table top 1 will be rigidly secured to the support element and if the support element is of sufficient weight, the stability of the table top 1 can be ensured.

Where the support element is of a type similar to a Black 8 Decker Workmate, in which there are a number of locating elements such as apertures, the underside of the table may be provided with further projections (not shown) which are suitably associated with the apertures provided in the support element to assist in location and/or stability of the table top 1.

Where the vice portion which would be used to grip the projections 7 on the underside of the table top 1 is of relatively short length, a sliding bar 1 2 in runners 1 3 may be provided at the underside of one of the table portions 2 or 3 (Fig. 4). This sliding bar 1 2 will, when the table top is opened out, be movable from one side of the table top across the dividing line of the hinges 6 to the middle so as to maintain the table top 1 in its open position. The support may then be arranged to grip the bar 12 for retention purposes.

Suitably, catch means 14 are provided to prevent the bar from slipping back relative to the table top 1 until folding of the table is required. This return movement will release one end of the table top 1 to swing about its hinges 6.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of the projections provided on the centre line of the table top, it is possible to provide outer projections which can be engaged by the exterior of the vice jaws moving towards their open or "apart" position. In this way a larger spacing of the support beneath the table top is achieved. It must be further appreciated that while the table top has been shown to be in two sections pivoted together, any suitable number of sections may be joined together provided that they can be retained in the open position when the table is assembled.

While the table top has been particularly described for use with the "Black s Decker Workmate", it is to be understood that it is by no means limited to such an application and may be used in connection with any arrangement providing a support and a grip at a suitable position. If desired, abutment means may be provided to enable the table top to be mounted instead or as well as on trestles, so that the position of the trestles are accurately defined. As mentioned, the table top surface can be used for any suitable purposes, such as a garden table, to enable additional seating for dining rooms, as a table tennis table and as a pasting board.

Furthermore, while the hinge side of the box will normally be open in the folded condition, closure flaps may be provided so as to keep out dust when the table top is stored over long periods.

Claims (8)

1. A table top comprising a flat surface divided into a plurality of foldable sections attachment means on the intended underside of the table top for enabling it to be secured to a suitable support and depending flanges around the edges of the table top so arranged when the table top is in its folded position, as to provide a thin box like structure within which the attachment means are contained.

2. A table top as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat surface is divided in two portions along a centre line, the two portions being hinged together about the centre line in such a way as to form a box by folding the portions one against the other.

3. A table top as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intended underside is provided with a plurality of projections engageable in a vice like element of a support, at least one projection being provided under each half of the table top.

4. A table top as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projections are offset longitudinally in their positions on the table top so as to lie longitudinally adjacent when the table top is in the folded position.

5. A table top as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein means are provided for maintaining the table top in its open position.

6. A table top as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein a plurality of projections are provided on each half of the table top in spaced apart relation, the position of the projections being such that when the table top is in its folded position, the projections form interdigitations.

7. A table top as claimed in claim 2, wherein the attachment means comprise a projection in the form of a sliding element guided in guids and slidable between a first position in which it lies entirely beneath one table half and a second position in which it extends between both halves.

8. A table top substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.