GB2351655A

GB2351655A - Table for a computer game

Info

Publication number: GB2351655A
Application number: GB0016263A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Donald Franklin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-03
Filing date: 2000-07-03
Publication date: 2001-01-10
Also published as: GB0016263D0

Abstract

A table comprising a working surface 4, a telescopic leg 10, and a foot rest 12. The leg 10 is pivotally connected to the working surface 4 and to the foot rest 12, whereby the three parts can be folded together to form a collapsed unit. The footrest 12 is arranged to receive a foot-operated control unit of a computer game apparatus of which a hand-operated control unit is placed upon the working surface 4.

Description

TCWS2/D24 2351655 APPARATUS According to one aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a table comprising a working surface, and supporting means supporting said working surface above the ground or floor in such a manner that said working surface is angularly adjustable relative to the horizontal about an axis of pivoting and that the length of said supporting means is adjustable, whereby the spacing of said axis from the ground or floor is adjustable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a table comprising a working surface, a foot rest bearing upon the ground or floor. and supporting means for supporting said working surface upon said foot rest and including upper and lower, substantially horizontal, is axes of pivoting which are substantially parallel to each other. In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible and adjustable table for computer game equipment, in a working condition, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the table in a collapsed, non-working condition, 25 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified version of the table, and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the modified version, in a collapsed, ready-to-carry condition. Referring to the drawing, the table includes a flat wooden top 2 with a working surf ace 4. Fixed to the underneath of the top 2 at its distal edge is cushioning 6.

At the proximal edge of the top 2 is a substantially horizontal hinge 8 whereby the top 2 is pivotally connected to an upper end of a longitudinally extensible wooden leg 10 consisting of two parts 10a and 10b which are longitudinally adjustable relative to each other and are releasably detainable in the adjusted condition. The adjustment of the 1 TCWS2/D24 length of the leg 10 is by way of a metal telescopic tube arrangement in which a pin is insertable through a single hole in a tube in one of the parts 10a and 10b and through any one hole of a row of holes formed in a tube in the other of the parts 10a and 10b, this adjustment device not being shown. The lower end of the leg 10 is connected to a proximal edge of a wooden base or foot rest 12 by way of a horizontal hinge 14 parallel to the hinge 8, the base 12 serving to bear upon the ground or floor 16. The base 12 is formed with a rearwardly and upwardly opening recess 18 and the bottom surface of the recess 18 has fixed thereto brackets 20 for receiving a foot-operated control unit of a computer game apparatus (not shown), of which a hand- operated control unit is placed upon the working surface 4. The computer game is apparatus may be a racing car game in which an upper control unit equipped with a steering wheel is placed upon the working surface 4 and a lower control unit equipped with pedals is located in the recess 18. A player of the game sits on a seat with his feet on the pedals and with the top 2 in his lap, with the cushioning 6 on his thighs. The hinges 8 and 14 are relatively stiff, so that the top 2 and the leg 10 tend to remain in angular positions about the horizontal axis of the hinge 8 and the horizontal axis of the hinge 14, respectively, into which they have been adjusted.

Nevertheless, a player can reasonably easily adjust the angle between the top 2 and the leg 10, and the angle between the leg 10 and the base 12. For storing or carrying, the table can be f olded about the hinges 8 and 14 into the condition shown in Figure 2 in which the distal edge of the table 2 is tucked in between the leg 10 and the base 12.

If desired, the table could be mounted in a shell resembling a racing car, in which case the lower support (12) could be the floor of the shell.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the version shown therein differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a number of respects. Firstly, the top 2, which is of plastics, in the collapsed condition of the table, has its distal edge tucked beneath the base 12, which is also of plastics, to where a 2 TCWS2/D24 Slot 22 through the top 2 near its distal edge is engaged by a hook 24 protruding from the underside of the plastics base 12. Secondly, the two parts 10a and 10b of the leg 10, which are of plastics, are of ladder- like form and are settably interconnected by metal telescopic tubes 10c. The tubes loc can be the ratchet parts of a ratchet-and-pawl system or the same system of holes and pin of the f irst version of the table can be employed to set the relative position of the parts 10a and 10b. Thirdly, the top 2, adjacent its proximal edge, is formed with an aperture 26 which, when the table is in its collapsed condition, is aligned with an aperture through the part 10a, so that a user's hand can be passed through both apertures and the user can grasp the table around the hinge 8 to carry the table whilst the top 2 is engaged by the hook 24. Fourthly, the front wall 12a of the base 12 is formed with a through aperture 28, through which electrical cabling can be passed, if desired. Fifthly, the underneath surface of the base 12 and the front surface of the wall 12a have fixed thereto elastomeric feet 30 and 32, respectively, whereby the table rests on the ground or floor 16 in its working condition and its collapsed condition, respectively. Sixthly, the brackets 20 and the cushioning 6 have been omitted.

3 TCWS2/D24

Claims

1. A table comprising a working surface, and supporting means supporting said working surface above the ground or floor in such a manner that said working surface is angularly adjustable relative to the horizontal about an axis of pivoting and that the length of said supporting means is adjustable, whereby the spacing of said axis from the ground or floor is adjustable.

2. A table according to claim 1, and further comprising a base connected to said supporting means.

3. A table according to claim 2, wherein said base is angularly adjustable relative to the supporting means about a second axis of pivoting.

4. A table according to claim 3, wherein said working is surface, said base and said supporting means can be turned relative to each other about the axes of pivoting to bring said table to a collapsed condition in which said working surface extends to between said supporting means and said base.

5. A table according to claim 3, wherein said working surface, said base and said supporting means can be turned relative to each other about the axes of pivoting to bring said table to a collapsed condition in which said base extends to between said supporting means and said working surface.

6. A table according to claim 4 or 5, and further comprising latching means whereby said table is releasably retainable in said collapsed condition.

7. A table according to claim 4, 5 or 6, and further comprising handle means whereby said table is portable in said collapsed condition.

8. A table according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said base is arranged to receive a foot-operated control unit of a computer game apparatus.

9. A table according to claim 8, wherein said working surface is arranged to receive a hand-operated control unit of said computer game apparatus.

4 TCWS2/D24

10. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein said working surface is provided with cushioning at its underneath.

11. A table according to any preceding claim, wherein 5 said supporting means is telescopic.

12. A table comprising a working surface, a foot rest bearing upon the ground or floor, and supporting means for supporting said working surface upon said foot rest and including upper and lower, substantially horizontal, axes of pivoting which are substantially parallel to each other.

13. A table according to claim 12, wherein said working surface, said foot rest and said supporting means can be turned relative to each other about the axes of pivoting to bring said table to a collapsed condition in which said working surface extends to between said supporting means and said foot rest.

14. A table according to claim 12, wherein said working surface, said foot rest and said supporting means can be turned relative to each other about the axes of pivoting to bring said table to a collapsed condition in which said foot rest extends to between said supporting means and said working surface.

15. A table according to claim 13 or 14, and further comprising latching means whereby said table is releasably retainable in said collapsed condition.

16. A table according to claim 13, 14 or 15, and further comprising handle means whereby said table is portable in said collapsed condition.

17. A table according to any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein said foot rest is arranged to receive a foot-operated control unit of a computer game apparatus.

18. A table according to claim 17, wherein said working surface is arranged to receive a hand-operated control unit of said computer game apparatus.

19. A table according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein said working surface is provided with cushioning at its underneath.