GB2586816A

GB2586816A - A folding table device

Info

Publication number: GB2586816A
Application number: GB1912673.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Griffiths Ben
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-09-04
Filing date: 2019-09-04
Publication date: 2021-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-04
Also published as: GB2586816B; GB201912673D0

Abstract

A folding table having a base 1 with wheels 13 and a handle (15, figure 5) distal to the wheels, legs 2 that move between being close to the base in a first position to a second position in which the base is lifted and supported; and a top 3 that forms a table in the second position. For example the legs may fold out from the base to form a table. The top may be attached via a hinge to the base such that the top can move at an angle to or lie flat on top of the table formed by the base. The top may be formed by two hinged surfaces 30, 31 so that the one surface can be propped up on the base by the other surface for use as an easel, for example. The surfaces of the top may also form a horizontal cover over the base. The legs may extend telescopically, and there may be drawers 11 in the base or between the legs.

Description

A FOLDING TABLE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a folding table device, in particular a device for providing a portable table, more particularly but not exclusively a device for providing an easy to transport portable table.

Background

Increasing numbers of people have increasingly mobile lives in a large number of societies.

In such lives it can often be important to have a work-space or flat and/or elevated 15 surface, which may often be provided by a desk or table.

This can be problematic to achieve in many circumstances.

Prior Art

US 2008 0 000 171 (MCIC4Y et al) discloses a portable workstation includes wheels, a tabletop, a generally planar member and a chassis joining the wheels, the tabletop and the planar member. While joined to the wheels and the tabletop by the chassis, the planar member is movable between a protracted position and a retracted position. A majority of the planar member extends above the tabletop in the protracted position, and a majority of the planar member does not extend above the tabletop in the retracted position.

EP 31 414 (LAVRARD) discloses a wheel-mounted an folding mobile work-shop comprising a parallelepiped cabinet opening on one face, equipped with a hinged door on the opening face and with two wheels, characterized by, on one hand, the fact that said cabinet is divided vertically into two sections, one of which constitutes the slide for a collapsible sliding tool-holding panel and, on the other hand, by the fad that the hinged door is constituted of a frame serving as slide to a board, to be removed at will by means of a pivoting handle enabling to obtain, either a hollow or solid bench when unfolded or a sliding door when folded to have access to all the tools US 9 381 128 (ROZEWICZ et al) discloses a mobile treatment table including a 5 central support. A first support member is pivotally connected with the central support and operable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. A second support member is pivotally connected with the central support and includes a handle integral therewith. The second support member is operable between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. A 10 wheel assembly is operably connected with the second support member and operable between an extended position adjacent a first side of the support member and a retracted position adjacent a second side of the support member.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing 15 devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a folding table device, comprising a base, legs and a top, wherein the base comprises wheels and a handle, the legs are arranged to move from a first position proximate the base to a second position for use supporting and elevating the base, and the top is arranged to provide a table when the legs are in the second position and the base is arranged to provide a handle distal the wheels when the legs are in the first position.

In some embodiments the top comprises a part that displaces with reference the base. For example in some embodiments the top displaces to provide an angled top or easel style work surface.

In some embodiments the top is hinged to the base. For example the base and top may share a basal hinge, which basal hinge may be arranged along an edge of the base and the bottom edge of the top.

It may be envisaged that the base, top and device in general may comprise a 35 substantially rectangular form in plan view.

In this way the basal hinge may be envisaged to located on a long edge of the base, top and device in general.

In some embodiments it may be envisaged that the surface is lit in use. For example in some such embodiments the top comprises a light source. The cover may comprise a light source, which may be comprised by light emitting diodes (LEDs), which light source may be directed towards the base, the surface and/or situated at the top hinge in use.

The top may be moveable from a base position to an angled position, wherein in the base position the top is substantially or wholly parallel or coplanar the base, and in the angled position the top is substantially vertically arranged where the base is substantially horizontally.

In some embodiments the top may comprise a surface and a cover. The cover may be arranged to cover the surface and the surface when the surface and cover are substantially parallel in the base position. The surface may be hinged to the cover.

In some embodiments the surface and cover may share a top hinge. The top hinge 20 may be envisaged to be located along the opposing edge of the top to the basal hinge.

In some embodiments the legs may be arranged to fold out from the base. The legs may be arranged to fold out from the underside of the base.

It may be envisaged that the legs may be arranged to store in the base when in the first position. For example the base may comprise a pivot or pivots for each leg. For example two pivots may be located to either side of the legs. These pivots may be arranged to allow the legs to move through over 90 degrees, so as to permit a splayed leg arrangement for greater stability.

In some embodiments the legs may comprise extendable members, so as to vary leg length. Such members may comprise coaxially telescopic members, for example using a sprung pin and hole interval securement The legs may comprise feet arranged to accommodate different surfaces and grounds such as rubber or silicone feet.

The legs may comprise bracing or a cross-member, so as to prevent irregular 5 opening or compromised usage. It may be envisaged in some embodiments that the cross-members or bracing may provide an easier way to open out the legs in use.

In some embodiments the device may comprise storage, for example comprising drawers and/or slots. Such embodiments for example may comprise one or more drawers that extends from and is retracted into a space between the top and legs. In other embodiments the drawers may extend from and be retracted into a space between leg members.

In still other embodiments the drawers may extend from and be retracted into a 15 space between leg members and cross-members or bracing, wherein the legs in the first position retract into an indentation to either side of the drawers' space.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a device according to the 25 present invention, with drawers extended and legs in the second position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a second isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a second reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in a 35 first position, with handle extended; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 5, with one leg in the second position; Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in a first position; Figure 8 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 shows a side view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 9.

Detailed Description of Fictures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device generally comprising a folding table device 99, comprising a base 1, legs 2 and a top 3, wherein the base 1 comprises wheels 13 and a handle 15, the legs 2 are arranged to move from a first position proximate the base 1 to a second position for use supporting and elevating the base 1, and the top 3 is arranged to provide a table when the legs 2 are in the second position and the base 1 is arranged to provide a handle 15 distal the wheels 13 when the legs 2 are in the first position.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a rectangular base 1, with a top 3 hinged at a basal hinge to the base 1 along a long edge.

The distal long edge provides a closure means 34 for closing the top 3 on the base 1. This closure means may comprise press-studs or magnets.

At one short edge in the first position the wheels 13 extend, and at the distal short 30 edge the handle 15 extends. The handle 15 comprises an extendable telescopic handle that has an orthogonal handgrip, and retracts into the base when not in use. Advantageously this allows the device to function as a normal table.

The legs 2 comprise extended or extendable members 20, and alongside separate U 35 shaped members 23. The extending members 20 extend from the bottom edge of the U-shaped members 23 and all the members are held in place by a plastic U-shaped housing 22. These housings 22 on either leg 2 are arranged to clip together using clips 21, into catches 25 on the opposing housing 22 when the legs 2 are in the first position The legs 2 pivot on the base 1 and in the pictured embodiment are arranged to pivot over 90 degrees from the base 1 so as to provide greater stability. The legs are arranged to pivot 110 degrees.

The housings 22 surround drawers 11, or slots therefor underneath the base 1. 10 These drawers 11 may utilise internal padding or mesh (not shown) so as to hold items in place when the device is being used or more particularly being transported on the wheels 13.

The top 3 comprises a surface 31 and a cover 30 wherein the surface 31 is hinged at 15 a top hinge 33 to the long edge opposing the basal hinge. The surface 31 may thereby be arranged to be angled down to the base 1 using the cover 30 as a support, so as to provide an angled easel-like surface for the user.

The angle of the top 3, or more particularly surface 31 is controlled by plural slots 32 20 in the base 1, into which slots the surface 31 interfits to maintain its position and angle.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a clip or catch means proximate the top hinge to aid in holding items.

The cover 30 is hinged to the base 1 at the basal hinge, along the long edge of the base 1, and comprises a depending lip all around. In this way the top 3 is able to close over and around the base 1, so as to double as a protection for the embodiment in the second position as well as a surface for the embodiment when in the first position.

The leg members 2023, may be formed in powder-coated metal or alloy and the hinges and clips in stainless steel. The base 1, drawers 11, leg housings 22, and top 3 may be formed in thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or 35 polyethylene.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1 A folding table device, comprising a base, legs and a top, wherein the base comprises wheels and a handle, the legs are arranged to move from a first position proximate the base to a second position for use supporting and elevating the base, and the top is arranged to provide a table when the legs are in the second position and the base is arranged to provide a handle distal the wheels when the legs are in the first position.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the top is hinged to the base by a basal hinge.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the top includes a cover and a surface.
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the cover and surface are hinged together at a top hinge.
5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the legs include telescopic members.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the legs are arranged to pivot over 90 degrees with respect to the base.
7. A device according to any preceding claim comprising drawers in the base.