US20020129746A1

US20020129746A1 - Table with recessed storage area

Info

Publication number: US20020129746A1
Application number: US09/811,265
Authority: US
Inventors: Brian Donnelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: JEFFERY ROBERT T; Del Mar Designs Inc
Priority date: 2001-03-15
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-19

Abstract

A table of the present invention has a substantially rectangular table surface with a rectangular opening at one end providing a recessed storage area. This storage area provides discrete and easily accessible storage of items such as glasses, prescription bottles, drinks, magnifiers, etc. One embodiment of the table is provided with four legs including two legs with wheels and two legs without wheels. The wheels or casters are positioned to allow an elderly or disabled person to easily move the table. The legs without wheels provide stability to the table and allow a person to use the table to push up from a seated position. Other embodiments of the table include additional work surfaces, storage pouches, and other wheeled base configurations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a table, and more particularly, the invention relates to a table with a recessed storage area for use by elderly and disabled persons.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

A growing segment of the population, primarily as a result of the aging process experience some difficulty in sitting and pulling their chair in to a comfortable distance to a table surface. These people may also experience difficulty in rising from a seated position when using traditional types of chairs and tables. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and a growing national consciousness concerning accommodating the needs of the elderly and disabled, there is an ever increasing need for devices to address these needs. The number of people who are considered “elderly” is rapidly expanding as children of the “Baby Boom” era move into their fifties and sixties. In addition, research has shown that the number of people with permanent and temporary disabilities has been continually rising over the past decade.

Conventional tables have many limitations with respect to providing maximum comfort and ease of use for the growing populations of elderly and disabled. In particular, elderly and disabled persons may have difficulty pulling themselves in to a comfortable distance from a table once seated and may have difficulty rising from their chair without the help of a sturdy table surface. In addition, elderly and disabled who spend a large amount of time seated want to have their personal items, such as medications, glasses, and drinks, easily assessable while they are seated.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a table which is designed for ease of use by the elderly and disabled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a table with a recessed storage area designed for use by the elderly and disabled.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a table includes a table surface, at least one support member for supporting the table surface, an opening in the table surface, a recessed storage area extending from the opening in the table surface, and a removable insert within the recessed storage area which can be removed for cleaning.

In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, a table includes a table surface, four table legs supporting the table surface, two of the four table legs having wheels and two of the four table legs without wheels, and a recessed storage area provided in the table surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein: [0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a companion table with a recessed storage area according to the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a computer table according to the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a workstation according to the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a children's table; [0014]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a solo table according to the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the solo table according to the present invention; [0016]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a table with a catilevered surface; [0017]
FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view of a leg height adjustment system; [0018]
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the leg height adjustment system of FIG. 9; and [0019]
FIG. 10 is a side cross sectional view of the leg height adjustment for a leg a with a wheel.[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The table illustrated in FIG. 1 is a companion table which may be used by a single person or by two people sitting across from one another. The table provides a surface for eating, reading, or other projects while also providing storage for personal items. Although the table works well for the elderly and disabled, it can also be used by others and can be provided in smaller sizes for children. [0021]
The companion table [0022] 10 of FIG. 1 has a substantially rectangular table surface 12 with a rectangular opening 14 at one end providing a recessed storage area 30. This storage area 30 provides discrete and easily accessible storage of items such as glasses, prescription bottles, drinks, magnifiers, etc. The table surface 12 and the recessed storage area 30 according to one embodiment of the invention are formed of wood. The companion table 10 is provided with four legs 16, 18 including two legs 16 with wheels 22 and two legs 18 without wheels. The wheels or casters 22 are positioned on the two legs 16 on what is considered a front side of the table 10. A person is intended to sit on a back side of the table 10 away from the wheels 22.
The table [0023] 10 also includes two leg supports 32, side surfaces 34, and back corner pieces 36. A front of the table 10 is provided with a full length front surface (not shown) having a same height as the side surfaces 34. The back of the table 10 is provided with the back corner pieces 36 to provide additional leg room on the back side of the table which easily accommodates a wheelchair. Alternatively, the table 10 may include corner pieces 36 in both the front and back to maintain a maximum clearance for a user to sit on both sides of the table.
In use, a person can sit at the table [0024] 10 and pull the table surface 12 toward them easily by lifting slightly and rolling the table toward them. As the person gets up from their chair, they may lift and roll the table away from the chair to provide easy exit from the chair. In this way, the wheels 22 allow the elderly or disabled user to easily position the table as desired and get into and out of a chair. The two legs 18 without wheels provide improved stability over other wheeled tables allowing the use of the table as a support surface when pushing up from a chair.
The companion table [0025] 10 of FIG. 1 is also preferably provided with an insert 38 which is configured to fit within the recessed storage area 30. The insert 38 is preferably a plastic tray providing easy cleanup of spills and protecting the table. The table 10 is illustrated with a storage pouch 40 hanging from one of the side surfaces 34 of the table. The table 10 is preferably provided with fasteners or hooks 42 on each of the side surfaces 34 of the table to allow the pouch 40 to be positioned as needed to hold personal items and supplies. The storage pouch 40 may be formed of any material, such as canvass, fabric, vinyl, leather, and the like, and preferably has a plurality of compartments. The pouch 40 can be easily removed for cleaning.
According to an alternative embodiment, the table may be provided with an [0026] opening 14 without any bottom or sides and the insert 38 may provide the recessed storage area.
The [0027] recessed storage area 30 and the pouch 40 are discrete and easily accessible storage locations for many items including medications, glasses, drinks, snacks, craft supplies, and other items. The recessed storage area 30 also helps to prevent cups of liquid from spilling and the insert 38 provides easy cleaning in case of spills.
The companion table [0028] 10 according to one preferred embodiment of the invention includes a table surface having a length of about 3 to about 6 feet, and preferably about 3 to about 5 feet. The companion table 10 preferably has a width of about 1½ to about 3 feet, and more preferably about 22 inches to about 3 feet. The recessed storage area 30 has a length between the front and the back of the table of about 8 to about 12 inches and a width of about 4 to about 6 inches. The recessed storage area 30 preferably has a depth of about 3 to about 5 inches.
In one embodiment for use with a wheelchair, under the [0029] table surface 12, there is a clearance of about 29 inches. This is sufficient for the use of most wheelchairs. However, the table is preferably provided with threaded levelers on the bottom of the legs for height adjustment. One example of a height adjustment system is shown in FIGS. 8-10. The height adjustment system uses a series of circular spacers 150 which may be formed of wood, plastic, metal, or the like. The spacers 150 are received on a threaded fastener 152 which is threaded into an insert 154 on the bottom of the leg 18. FIG. 10 illustrates a leg 16 having a wheel 22 attached to the threaded fastener 152. Preferably, the spacers 150 are about ½ inch think allowing for height adjustment of up to 2 inches with four spacers. This height adjustment is particularly useful for users with large wheelchairs.
FIG. 2 illustrates a computer table [0030] 50 according to the present invention. The computer table 50 includes all the features of the companion table 10 discussed above and also includes an adjustable keyboard tray 52 and side table surfaces 54, 55 which may be positioned on one or both sides of the table. The keyboard tray 52 pulls out and can be set at several different heights. In this “senior friendly” computer table 50, the recessed storage area 30 in the table surface 12 can be used to hold computer media. The side surfaces 54, 55 are height adjustable as a combined unit. The surface 54 can support items such as printers. The surface 55 can be adjusted to the same height as the keyboard tray 52 and used for placing a mouse, documents or other items. A space between the surfaces 54, 55 can be used for paper or other storage.
The [0031] side surface 54 is mounted to the table 50 and can be set at different heights. There is a cut out 56 where the side surface 54 meets the table surface 12 which can be used for routing computer cables and power cords.
FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the computer table [0032] 50 with an additional table 60 arranged in an L-shape to form a workstation. The tables 50, 60 are connected by a pie shaped piece 62. Cut outs 64 are provided between the tables 50, 60 and the pie shaped piece 62 for routing computer cables and power cords.
FIG. 4 illustrates a children's activity table [0033] 70 similar in configuration to the companion table 10 shown in FIG. 1. The children's table 70 has shorter legs for use with a children's chair. The recessed storage area 30 in the children's table 70 is great for minimizing spills and for storage and accessing items such as craft supplies, cups, and the like. The table 70 may also be provided with a tray which can be attached to the same fasteners 42 as the pouch 40. The tray may be a simple tray 72′ for holding art supplies or may be a tray 72″ incorporating a dowel for supporting an art paper roll 74.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a solo table [0034] 100 with a tilting top surface 102 and a second stationary top surface 104. As in the embodiments describe above, the table 100 includes a recessed storage area 130 in the stationary top surface 104 with a removable washable insert 138. The solo table 100 also preferably includes a pouch 140.
The solo table [0035] 100 may have many different support structures such as those illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. For example, the table 100 of FIG. 5 includes a support structure 110 with a height adjustment lever 112 and a table tilt lever 114. The height of the table 100 is preferably adjustable from about 20 inches to about 38 inches for use by those in wheelchairs and by children. This adjustable height table works well as a children's drawing table and for use with wheelchairs. Finally, FIG. 6 illustrates a solo table 100′ having a base 110′ which works well with wheelchairs.
FIG. 7 shows another option of a table [0036] 80 with a height adjustable catilevered surface 82 which is useful in giving extra clearance for people in large motorized wheelchairs.
A preferred material for the tables described above is solid wood. However, the unique features of the design may be used on a table having different table top materials and different leg forms. [0037]
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made and equivalents employed, without departing from the present invention. [0038]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A table comprising:

a table surface;

at least one support member for supporting the table surface;

an opening in the table surface;

a recessed storage area extending from the opening in the table surface; and

a removable insert within the recessed storage area which can be removed for cleaning.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein the opening in the table surface is substantially rectangular in shape.

3. The table of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member comprises two table legs having wheels and two table legs without wheels.

4. The table of claim 3, further comprising a removable storage pouch attached to one side of the table surface.

5. The table of claim 1, wherein the table has length of about 3 to about 6 feet and a width of about 1½ to about 3 feet.

6. The table of claim 3, wherein the table has length of about 3 to about 6 feet and a width of about 1½ to about 3 feet.

7. The table of claim 1, wherein the table surface includes a first surface which is tiltable and a second surface which is stationary.

8. The table of claim 7, wherein the recessed storage area is provided in the second surface.

9. A table comprising:

a table surface;

four table legs supporting the table surface, two of the four table legs having wheels and two of the four table legs without wheels; and

a recessed storage area provided in the table surface.

10. The table of claim 9, wherein the table includes a removable storage pouch removably attached to one side of the table surface.

11. The table of claim 9, wherein the table has length of about 3 to about 6 feet and a width of about 1½ to about 3 feet.

12. The table of claim 9, wherein the table surface includes a first surface which is tiltable and a second surface which is stationary.

13. The table of claim 7, wherein the recessed storage area is provided in the second surface.