US20080149802A1

US20080149802A1 - Multi-function portable table structure

Info

Publication number: US20080149802A1
Application number: US11/613,196
Authority: US
Inventors: Chen-Cheng Chiang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-20
Filing date: 2006-12-20
Publication date: 2008-06-26

Abstract

A multi-function portable table includes two cases, which are jointed to each other by hinges and are releasably fixed to each other by at least one releasable buckle mounted therebetween at one lateral side opposite so as to allow the cases to be expanded in a rotation manner. The cases have opposing surfaces in which cavities are defined. Foldable legs are arranged in the cavities. The cases that are expanded to form a tabletop are supported by the legs that are expanded from inside the cavities of the cases. Further, one of the cases can be converted into an easel, while the other one is provided with storage spaces for articles/objects so as to allow for easy use in outdoor activities.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-function portable table, which is composed of two cases in which storage spaces are formed and receiving rotary legs concealed therein so that the cases can be expanded to form a tabletop and supported by the legs. Further, the tabletop can be converted into an easel and the storage space of the cases allows for storage and organization of objects/articles to thereby provide easy and convenient use.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Outdoor activities are a major leisure for modern urban people. Due to the nature of being outdoors, outdoor activities inevitably cause certain inconveniences. Thus, a variety of articles specifically designed for outdoor activities are available in the market. For example, a lot of different cases or boxes are available for painting tools for outdoor or field sketching. Some of those cases or boxes are of a convertible design that can be converted into a tabletop to ensure convenience for the general consumes doing field sketching.
An easel available in the market is designed to support a piece of paper or canvas on which painting is to be done. Often, no space is available for painting/sketching tools. Although the easel is provided with a tray for tools, such a tray allows for storage of simple and few tools. Thus, it is often that the sketching/painting tools have to be arranged alternatively. This causes inconvenience for the general consumers to carry the painting/sketching tools. Further, the easel cannot be positioned horizontal to serve as a tabletop. This imposes limitation to the use of the conventional devices.
Thus, an improvement is desired for a device of the above discussed kind to meet the requirement of general consumers in doing outdoors activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the preset invention is to overcome the inconveniences of the outdoor activities by providing multi-function portable table structure, which comprise two cases connected to each other in such a way that the cases can be expanded to form a tabletop that can be supported by rotary legs that are concealed inside the cases so as to provide a portable and beautiful table. In addition, the table can be converted into an easel and provides spaces for storage of articles/objects. Thus, the present invention ensures conveniences of outdoor activities.
To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises two cases in which storage spaces are defined. Bottoms of the two cases are positioned next to each other and are connected together by hinges mounted to adjacent edges of the bottoms so as to allow the cases to be expended. Between adjacent edges of opposite lateral sides of the cases are provided with buckles to releasably secure the cases together. Also, a handle is mounted to the cases for easy hand carrying.
The cases have opposing surfaces in which cavities are defined. Foldable legs are received in the cavities. In use, the buckles on the opposite lateral sides of the cases are released to open the cases and to expand the foldable leg to form a table for user by a user. Retractable latches are provided at the connection locations between the legs and the cases to retain the legs in position. Further, one case is provided with a storage space in the form of a drawer for easy storage and organization of articles/objects. The other case has a cover that can be flapped to open and is retained in an inclined angle by a support bar received inside the case. This, together with a holder bar that is removably arranged inside the case and is mountable to an outer surface of the cover to serve as a holder or support, can make the cover work like an easel.
The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be red in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to initial or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-function portable table structure in a closed condition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-function portable table structure in an expanded condition serving as an easel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the multi-function portable table structure in a partially expanded condition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi-function portable table structure in a further partially expanded condition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the multi-function portable table structure in a fully expanded condition and servicing as an easel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the multi-function portable table structure in an expanded condition and serving as a table in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but taken from a different perspective;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the multi-function portable table structure in an expanded condition and serving as an easel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a constituent component of the multi-function portable table structure of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is also a perspective view of a portion of a constituent component of the multi-function portable table stature of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the multi-function portable table structure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-8, a multi-function portable table constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises two cases that are jointed to each other by hinges 13 mounted along opposing edges thereof. The two cases are secured and openably closed together by releasable buckles 12 mounted between opposing edges thereof at opposite lateral sides of the cases. In addition, a handle 11 is provided on one of the cases to hand carrying. The two cases have opposing surfaces in which recessed cavities are defined. Inside the cavities, foldable legs 14 are received. By releasing the side buckles of the cases and rotating the cases about the hinges to expand the cases, the legs received inside the cavities of the cases are allowed to expand and are secured at the expanded condition by retractable latches 15 arranged at location where the legs are connected to the cases so that the cases serve as a table for use by a user.
One of the cases has a cover 10 that is flapped to open and is releasably supported by support bars 20 received in the case and retained in position by wing nuts 41 so as to ensure an inclined angle between the cover and the case. This converts the case into an easel. Inside the case, a holder bar 22 is received. The holder bar 22 can be removed out of the case and mounted to an outer surface of the cover by wing bolts 40 engaging inner-threaded holes 16 defined in the cover to serve as a holder member for a painting canvas stretcher frame. An extendible bar 21 is movably mounted on an inside surface of the cover and the extendible bar 21 can be extended outside the cover to serve as an upright support for the painting canvas stretcher frame. The cover can be secured at a closed condition by releasable buckles 23.
Another case is provided with at least one drawer 30 that is withdrawably received in the cavity of the case to provide a space for storage and organization of objects. Magnets 31 (see FIGS. 9-11) are mounted to both the drawer and the case so that the magnetic force between the drawer and the case helps retaining the drawer in the case. This ensures that the drawer and the objects stored in the drawer are prevented from unexpectedly separating from the case.
To this point, it is apparent that the multi-function portable table structure is comprised of two cases jointed together and foldable legs 14 that are concealed in the cases can be expanded to support the cases that are expanded to form a tabletop for the use by a user.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-function portable table structure comprising first and second cases, which are jointed to each other by hinges mounted along opposing edge and are releasably fixed to each other by at least one buckle mounted between opposing edges of the cases at one lateral side of the cases, the cases having opposing surfaces in which cavities are defined, foldable legs being arranged in the cavities, the cases being expanded to form a tabletop that is supported by the legs that are expanded from inside the cavities of the cases.

2. The multi-function portable table structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first case has a cover that is arranged in a flap-to-open configuration, support bars being arranged inside the first case and selectively servicing to support the cover at an angle with respect to the case so as to form an easel.

3. The multi-function portable table structure as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an extendible bar movably mounted on an inside surface of the cover of the first case, the bar being extendible out of the cover to serve as a support for a painting stretcher frame.

4. The multi-function portable table structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a holder bar removably received in the first case.

5. The multi-function portable table structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second case comprises at least one drawer received in the cavity defined in the second case.

6. The multi-function portable table structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising retractable latches arranged at locations where the legs are connected to the cases to retain the legs in position.