GB2156669A

GB2156669A - Table and a support therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2156669A
Application number: GB08408380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Derrick Thame Sunderland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-31
Filing date: 1984-03-31
Publication date: 1985-10-16
Also published as: GB8408380D0; GB2156669B

Abstract

A table 1 has a support 2 therefor, the support 2 having a base 3, a pivot pin which extends upwardly from the base 3 and an arm 7, one end of which is journalled on said pivot pin and the other end of which has the table 1 pivotally mounted thereon by means of bracket member 9. Two or more such supports may be used to support a single table, in which case the supports may be interconnected by a bar or foot extending between the supports. Arm 7 may be journalled on a column extending upwardly from base 3. The table may be a billiards or snooker table. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Table and a support therefor This invention relates to tables and to supports therefor.

There are frequent occasions when it would be convenient to have a table which can readily be moved to a required position or which can be rotated, e.g., so as to present the same side thereof alternately to two different persons sitting on opposite sides of the table. For example, when playing certain board games, play would be facilitated if the board could readily be turned to suit the convenience of players sitting on different sides thereof. Likewise, when playing games such as billiards or snooker, e.g., on a small table in the confines of an average home, it would be convenient if the billiard table or snooker table could be rotated or moved without disturbing the balls to enable sufficient room to be gained to manipulate the cue or even, on very small tables, to enable two players to play whilst seated.Similar considerations apply with certain hobbies or pastimes such as model making or sewing when it would frequently be convenient to have a work surface which can be rotated or moved to suit the convenience of the user.

The present invention has as its object to provide a table and a support therefor which enables the table to be rotated or moved to suit the convenience of a user or users positioned on one or more sides thereof and which can be of simple and robust construction.

The present invention provides a support for a table, the support comprising a base adapted to stand on a horizontal surface, an arm which extends substantially horizontally when the support is in use, one end of said arm being pivotally connected to the base, and means for pivotally mounting the table on the other end of said arm.

The present invention also provides a table and a support therefor, the support comprising a base adapted to stand on a horizontal surface, an arm which extends substantially horizontally when the table is in use, one end of said arm being pivotally connected to the base, and means pivotally mounting the table on the other end of said arm.

The word "table" as used herein is intended to include any means, such as a table top, board or tray, which provides a working surface or a playing surface and is thus intended to be construed in the broadest possible sense.

The said base may be of any suitable form but preferably comprises a plurality of legs which radiate outwards from a central point and which may have feet, e.g., of rubber, plastics or other suitable material which will not mark polished surfaces, at the outer ends thereof. If desired said feet may be adjustable, e.g., as by means of suitable screw adjusters, to enable the base support to be levelled.

A pivot pin may project upwardly from said base support, e.g. from said central point thereof, and said one end of said arm may comprise a sleeve or bearing which receives said pivot pin, whereby the arm is journalled on the base. A lock nut or other suitable means may be provided for retaining the one end of the arm on said pivot pin. Alternatively, a pillar or column may extend upwardly from said base support and said arm may be journalled on the upper end of said pillar or column, thus enabling the table to be supported at a required height above the base support.

The means for pivotally mounting a table on the other end of said arm may comprise a bracket member securable to the underside of the table, e.g. as by screws, bolts or the like, a bracket member on the said other end of the arm and suitable bearing means between said brackets. Said bearing means may comprise ball bearings and such ball bearings may be carried in a bearing housing and run in an annular groove in one of said bracket members. Alternatively, the bearing means could comprise suitable bearing pads or bearing rings, e.g. of PTFE or other suitable selflubricating material. The bracket member securable to the underside of the table may simply be secured centrally of the underside of the table if the table is not too large.For larger tables, the bracket member may comprise extension pieces, e.g., of T-shape, which extend along the underside of the table and are secured at their extremities to the table.

For larger tables two or more supports according to the present invention may be provided. Thus, for example, for a larger rectangular or oval table two supports may be provided which are located one under each end portion of the table. Such supports may stand separately or may be interconnected as by a bar or foot extending therebetween.

The present invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a detail view showing means for pivotally mounting a table on said other end of said arm, Figure 3 is a detail view showing one method of securing the extremities of bracket member extension pieces to the underside of the table, Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a miniature snooker or billiards table for use with a support of the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tray member which forms the base of the billiards or snooker table, Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of a corner pocket and side pocket respectively of the billiards or snooker table, and Figures 8 and 9 show two further embodiments of a table according to the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the table and support therefor illustrated therein comprises a table 1 and a support generally indicated at 2. The support 2 comprises a base 3 having four legs 4 radiating outwards from a central point and provided with feet 5 of rubber, plastics or other suitable material. Extending upwardly from the central point of the base 3 is a pivot pin (not shown) on which is journalled a sleeve 6 provided at one end of an arm 7, the sleeve 6 being retained on the pivot pin by means of a suitable screw cap 8.The table 1 is mounted on the other end of the arm 7 by means of a bracket member 9 having Tshaped extension pieces 10 which extend along the underside of the table 1 and which are secured at their extremities to the underside of the table as by means of suitable screws or bolts or, as shown in Figure 3, by means of socket members 11 secured to the underside of the table which receive spigot members 1 2 secured to the extremities of the extension pieces 10. If desired or necessary the spigot members 1 2 can be secured in the socket members 11 as by means of a grub screw (not shown) or the like.A bracket member 1 3 is carried on said other end of the arm 7 and is pivotally connected to the bracket member 9 by means of a bolt 14 and nut and washer 1 5. Interposed between the bracket members 9 and 1 3 is a housing 1 6 for an annular array of ball bearings 1 7 which are received and run in an annular track 1 8 in the bracket member 9.

According to a further embodiment (not illustrated) a second horizontal arm is pivotally connected at one end to said other end of the arm 7 and the table 1 is pivotally mounted on the other end of said second arm.

Figures 4 to 7 illustrate a billiards or snooker table which can be used with the support 2 of Figure 1. The billiards or snooker table illustrated comprises a pressed plastics tray 1 9 which forms the base of the table and which comprises a central recessed portion 20, a marginal surround 21 and upstanding side walls 22. The marginal surround 21 supports a board 23 to the margins of which are secured rails 24 carrying resilient cushion strips 25, e.g., of rubber. The board 23 and rails 24 are covered with baize 26. A surround 27, e.g., of wood, is provided on each of the rails 24. The rails 24 and surround 27 are secured to the upstanding side walls 22 of the tray 1 9 as by means of suitable screws 28.A corner pocket 29 of moulded plastics material is provided at each of the four corners of the table, each of the corner pockets 29 comprising a ball receiving portion 30 which extends beneath the marginal surround 21 and a trough portion 31 which inclines downwardly from the ball receiving portion 30 so that balls which drop into the receiving portion 30 will roll down into the trough 31 for retrieval. As will be seen from Figure 5, the marginal surround 21 is cut away as shown at 32 at each corner and the board 23 is similarly cut away at the corners to allow the balls to enter the ball receiving portion 30 of the pocket 29. The pocket 29 is secured in place by means of a bracket portion 33 which is secured to the rails 24 by screws 34 which pass through the side walls 22 into the side rails 24.A side pocket 29a may similarly be provided by providing suitable cut-outs in the marginal surround 21 and board 23 centrally of opposed sides of the table. The side pocket 29a is generally similar to the corner pocket 29 and accordingly like parts have been indicated by like reference numerals but with the addition of the suffix "a".

The billiard or snooker table illustrated is intended for use with a support 2 as shown in Figure 1 and accordingly the tray 1 9 has on the underside thereof integral spigot members 12 adapted to be received in socket members 11 carried on the extremities of the T-pieces 10.

The billiards or snooker table of Figures 4 to 7, when mounted on the support 2, is ideally suited for use in the home where space may be restricted since the table can be rotated on its axis or swung towards or away from a player on the arm 7 to facilitate play and to obtain the best position to manipulate the cue. It also enables two or more players to play whilst seated on opposite sides of the table since the table can be rotated or moved towards or away from each player in turn to facilitate him taking his shot.

Figure 8 illustrates a table and support similar to that of Figure 1 except that the arm 7 is journalled on the upper end of a pillar or column 35 which extends upwardly from the base 3. The embodiment of Figure 9 is similar to that of Figure 8 except that two supports 2 are provided the bases 3 of which are interconnected by a bar member 36.

It will readily be understood that the table 1 of Figure 1, 8 or 9 may be a billiards or snooker table as shown in Figures 4 to 7 or may be any board or table providing a playing or working surface. Thus, for example, the table 1 may be simply an ordinary table which can be used for playing board games, card games or the like or which can be used as a bedside or coffee table, or for crafts or hobbies such as sewing, model making or the like. Whatever purpose the table is used for the advantages of being able to rotate the table and/or to swing it towards or away from a person using it will be apparent.

Claims

1. A support for a table, the support comprising a base adapted to stand on a horizontal surface, an arm which extends substantially horizontally when the support is in use, one end of said arm being pivotally connected to the base, and means for pivotally mounting the table on the other end of said arm.

2. A table and a support therefor, the support comprising a base adapted to stand on a horizontal surface, an arm which extends substantially horizontally when the table is in use, one end of said arm being pivotally connected to the base, and means pivotally mounting the table on the other end of said arm.

3. A support or a table and a support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the table comprises a table top, board or tray which provides a working surface or a playing surface.

4. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said base comprises a plurality of legs which radiate outwards from a central point.

5. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 4, wherein said legs have feet thereon.

6. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 5, wherein said feet are of rubber, plastics or other material which will not mark polished surfaces.

7. A support or a table and a support therefor, wherein said feet are adjustable to enable the base support to be levelled.

8. A support or a table and a support therefor, wherein a pivot pin projects upwardly from said base support and said one end of said arm comprises a sleeve or bearing which receives said pivot pin.

9. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 8, wherein means is provided for retaining the one end of the arm on said pivot pin.

10. A support or a table and a support therefor, wherein said retaining means comprises a lock nut.

11. A support or a table and support therefor according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein a pillar or column extends upwardly from said base support and said arm is journalled on the upper end of said pillar or column.

1 2. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 11, wherein said pillar or column is telescopically extensible.

1 3. A support or a table and a support therefor, wherein the means for pivotally mounting a table on the other end of said arm comprises a bracket member secured or securable to the underside of the table, a bracket member on the said other end of the arm and bearing means between said brackets.

1 4. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 13, wherein said bearing means comprises ball bearings carried in a bearing housing and running in an annular groove in one of said bracket members.

1 5. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 13, wherein said bearing means comprises at least one bearing pad or bearing ring.

16. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the bracket member secured or securable to the underside of the table is secured centrally of the underside of the table.

17. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 13, 14 or 1 5, wherein the bracket member secured or securable to the underside of the table comprises extension pieces which extend along the underside of the table and are secured at their extremities to the table.

18. A support or a table and a support therefor, comprising two or more supports according to claim 1 which support a single table.

1 9. A support or a table and a support therefor according to claim 18, wherein said two or more supports are interconnected by a bar or foot extending therebetween.

20. A support or a table and a support therefor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said table is a billards or snooker table.

21. A support or a table and a support therefor, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figures 4 to 7, Figure 8 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.