US20020139282A1

US20020139282A1 - Folding table

Info

Publication number: US20020139282A1
Application number: US09/824,099
Authority: US
Inventors: Lausan Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-03
Filing date: 2001-04-03
Publication date: 2002-10-03

Abstract

A folding table includes two top panels, two leg supports pivotally engaged with the bottom side of the top panels, and two foldable linkage means pivotally engaged with the top panels and linkage means. The leg supports are pivotally engaged through two first hinge elements. The top panels, leg supports, and linkage means are movable synchronously for extending the table for use or folding the table for storing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a folding table that is capable of extending for use and folding for storing and has high safety, stability and convenience.

Contemporary product design trends have heavily focused on convenience and flexibility. This is especially true for household products, as living space has become smaller for many families because of growing population and scarce land availability. In order to maintain desired living quality at a smaller house space, people want household products have maximum applicability. Hence many household products are designed and made for multiple functionality, easy to store and use, and high flexibility. For instance, there are many types of table on the market, including fixed type, detachable type, assembly type and folding type.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional folding type table which includes a table top A supported by two pivotally engaged legs A 1 and A2. When to fold for storing, press one end of the table top A and push the legs A1 and A2 closing towards each other, the table top A will become normal to the ground to facilitate storing.

Although the foregoing construction is easy to fold the table, it has safety concerns. For instance, during folding process, if users press the table with too much force or kick the table legs incidentally, it could cause injury to people, particularly to children who are playing around. As the folded table top is located at one side of the folded legs, it also result in uneven distribution of the weight of the table and is prone to topple easily. Users have to take great care to use and store.

Hence there are still rooms for improvement for making the folding table safer and more flexible and convenient to use and store for achieving better space utilization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of aforesaid disadvantages, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved folding table that is easier to extend and fold, and has greater safety, stability and convenience.

To attain the foregoing object, the folding table of this invention includes two leg supports located beneath two top panels and a foldable linkage means such that the table may be extended for use or folded for storage conveniently with enhanced safety and stability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be further understood by the following detailed description and drawings, in which: [0008]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional folding table. [0009]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of this invention. [0010]
FIG. 3A is a schematic view of this invention at an extending stage. [0011]
FIG. 3B is a schematic view of this invention at another extending stage. [0012]
FIG. 4A is a schematic view of this invention at a folding stage. [0013]
FIG. 4B is a schematic view of this invention at another folding stage. [0014]
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view of a linkage means of this invention.[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3B, the folding table according to this invention constitutes two [0016] top panels 1 and 1′, two support beams 10 and 10′ located beneath the top panels 1 and 1′, and two leg supports 2 and 2′ pivotally and respectively engaged with the support beams 10 and 10′. The leg supports 2 and 2′ include two first hinge elements 21 and 21′ at one end pivotally engaged with each other and two foot pads 22 and 22′ at another end each has an anti-skid corrugated rib bottom 221 and 221′. The support beams 10 and 10′ further pivotally engage with two sets of foldable linkage means 3 and 3′. At the juncture of the top panels 1 and 1′, there are two mating openings 11 and 11′ for holding a parasol (not shown in the drawings) to enable the table for leisure use.
The linkage means [0017] 3 and 3′ include respectively a first link 31, 31′; a second link 32, 32′; a third link 33, 33′; and a fourth link 34, 34′. The second links 32, 32′ and third links 33, 33′ are bridged respectively and transversely by two stretchers 35 and 35′ so that the two linkage means 3 and 3′ may be moved synchronously. Two adjacent links are pivotally engaged by a second hinge element 36. The pivotal ends of the second links 32, 32′ and third links 33, 33′ form respectively butt ends 321′, 321′, 331, 331′ and slant lugs 322, 322′, 332, 332′ (as shown in FIG. 5). The slant lugs 322, 322′, 332, 332′ are pivotally engaged through another second hinge element 36. The second links 32, 32′ and third links 33, 33′ are pivotally engaged with the leg supports 2 and 2′. Hence the leg supports 2 and 2′ are able to move synchronously with the linkage means 3 and 3′.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, when this invention is under extending, move the [0018] top panels 1 and 1′ outwards, the leg supports 2 and 2′, and linkage means 3 and 3′ will be moved synchronously through the linkage relationship set forth above. When the top panel 1 and 1′ are moved at a horizontal level, the butt ends 321′, 321′, 331, 331′ are pressing against one another to form a usage state.
Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and [0019] 5, when this invention is for folding, move the top panels 1 and 1′ slightly upwards and outwards to separate the butt ends 321, 321′, 331, and 331′, the lugs 322, 322′, 332 and 332′ will press against one another for the top panels 1 and 1′ folding inwards toward each other, and through the linkage relationship of the leg supports 2, 2′ and linkage means 3 and 3′ to become a folded state for storing.
By means of aforesaid construction, the table may be extended for use or folded for storage conveniently with enhanced safety and stability. [0020]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A folding table, comprising:

two top panels;

two leg supports pivotally engaged with the bottom side of the top panels, and pivotally engaged with each other through two first hinge elements; and

two foldable linkage means pivotally engaged with the top panels and leg supports;

wherein the top panels, leg supports and linkage means are movable synchronously for extending the table for use and folding the table for storing.

2. The folding table of claim 1, wherein the linkage means include first links, second links, third links and fourth links, the links being pivotally engaged with each other through a second hinge element.

3. The folding table of claim 2, wherein the second links and third links have respectively a butt end and a slant lug, the lugs being pivotally engaged with one another through another second hinge element.

4. The folding table of claim 1, wherein the top panels have respectively an opening located at the juncture therebetween for holding a parasol.

5. The folding table of claim 1, wherein the linkage means are bridged respectively by means of a transverse stretcher.

6. The folding table of claim 1, wherein the leg supports have respectively a foot pad located at the bottom end thereof.

7. The folding table of claim 6, wherein the foot pad has an anti-skid rib bottom.