US20100288170A1

US20100288170A1 - Dual-axis folding table

Info

Publication number: US20100288170A1
Application number: US12/778,732
Authority: US
Inventors: Kevin P. Humphrey
Original assignee: E Z Sales and Manufacturing Inc
Current assignee: E Z Sales and Manufacturing Inc
Priority date: 2009-05-12
Filing date: 2010-05-12
Publication date: 2010-11-18

Abstract

A dual-axis folding table including four quarter panels that together form a table top when extended into a flat and horizontal position. The four quarter panels include a first panel and a second panel hinged together with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel hinged together with an additional first axis hinge, also along the first folding axis, and the second panel and the third panel further hinged together with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis. Furthermore, the first panel is configured to fold into the second panel about the first axis hinge and the fourth panel is configured to fold into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge to fold the table top in half, and the second panel is configured to fold into the third panel about the second axis hinge to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

Priority is claimed to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/177,600, filed May 12, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention resides in a dual-axis folding table comprising four quarter panels that together form a table top when extended into a flat position. The four quarter panels include a first panel and a second panel hinged together with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel hinged together with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis, and the second panel and the third panel hinged together with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis. Additionally, the first panel is configured to fold into the second panel about the first axis hinge and the fourth panel is configured to fold into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half. The second panel is further configured to fold into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized, self-contained and portable carrying case.
The present invention also resides in a method of folding a dual-axis folding table into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case, which method comprises the steps of obtaining a table top including four quarter panels together forming a table top when extended into a flat position, the table top including a first panel and a second panel being hinged with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel being hinged with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis, and the second panel and the third panel being hinged with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis. The method also includes the step of folding the first panel into the second panel about the first axis hinge, and folding the fourth panel into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half. The method further includes the step of folding the second panel into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows, and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention. It will be readily appreciated that these drawings merely depict representative embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, and that the components of the invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations. Nonetheless, the present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a folding table in a fully open and upright position, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 in a closed carrying-case position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 in a semi-closed position;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 in a half-open position;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table of FIG. 1 in three-quarter open position;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the folding table in a fully open and upside-down position, in accordance with the embodiment of the FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a close-up, perspective view of a table leg and a corresponding corner receptacle, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a close-up, perspective view center locking hub and a corresponding hub pin holes, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 9 illustrates a close-up, perspective view of the joint plate receiving holes located in the supporting frames of the quarter panels, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a close-up, perspective view of a panel-locking joint plate, in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of representative embodiments of the present invention makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, various representative embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. While these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments can be realized and that various changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As such, the following detailed description of the representative embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as it is claimed, but rather is presented for purposes of illustration, to describe the features and characteristics of the present invention, and to sufficiently enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims.
The present invention describes a dual-axis folding table system and a method of assembling the same, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. The folding table can include four quarter panels that together form a table top when extended into a flat and horizontal position. The four quarter panels can include a first panel and a second panel that hinged with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis, a fourth panel and a third panel that hinged with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis, and the second panel and the third panel being hinged with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis. The panels can be further configured so that folding the first panel into the second panel about the first axis hinge and folding the fourth panel into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge operates to fold the table top in half, and folding the second panel into the third panel about the second axis hinge operates to fold the table top into a quarter-sized, self-contained and portable carrying case.
With reference to FIG. 1, illustrated is a perspective view of a dual-axis folding table 10 in a fully open and upright position, in accordance with one representative embodiment of the present invention. As shown in more detail in both FIGS. 1 and 5, the folding table 10 can be comprised of a table top 14 which can be further comprised four top quarter panels 20, identified for convenience in a clockwise fashion as panels A, B, C and D, with each quarter panel having a topside surface 22, a bottom side surface 24, and a supporting frame 26 that extends downwards around the periphery of the panel to form an interior space 28 surrounding the bottom side face of the panel. As will be shown in more detail hereinafter, the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70 can be stored within the interior spaces 28 of the quarter panel frames 26 until they are ready for use.
The quarter panels 20 comprising the table top 14 can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, plastic (such as injection-molded plastic), composites made from fiber-reinforced carbon, as well as more traditional materials including solid wood and wooden laminates. The supporting frame 26 can be made from the same or difference material as the panel 20, and can be formed separately from or integrally with the panel, depending on both the materials and the methods of manufacture used to make the folding table. In a representative embodiment it can be desirable to use lightweight materials to keep the overall weight of the dual-axis folding table 10 between 15 and 20 pounds.
The four quarter panels 20 can be attached together using three hinges, such as piano hinges, etc. Two first axis hinges 32 can attach two groups of quarter panels together into quarter panel sets, such as panel set A-B and panel set D-C, so that the quarter panel sets fold together along a first folding axis 30. Furthermore, both first axis hinges can attach at the bottom side of each panel's respective frame 26 so that the interior sides or spaces 28 of each set come together when folded into the closed position. Thus, the panels and first axis hinges 32 can be configured so that folding the first panel A into the second panel B about a first axis hinge, and folding the fourth panel D into the third panel C also about a first axis hinge, operates to fold the table top 14 into two halves 36 (see FIG. 4).
A third hinge, also known as the second axis hinge 42, can be used to attach the two panels sets together using, for instance, panels B and C, so that two panels (and panel sets) fold together along a second folding axis 40. The second axis hinge can attach at the topside of each panel's respective frame so that the topside faces 22 of the two panels come together when folding about the second axis into the closed position. The second axis hinge can also be positioned within a slight recess or groove formed into the topside edge of the panels, so as to minimize any protruding structures above the upper surface of the assembled table top while keeping the second folding axis aligned with the plane of the upper surface. The second folding axis 40 can be orthogonal or perpendicular to the first folding axis 30, and can be offset in the vertical direction from the first folding axis by the thickness of the support frames 26, in order to allow adjacent panels to fold together flush and parallel into each other. Consequently, the second axis hinge 42 allows the two closed quarter panel halves to fold one more time about the second axis to form a quarter-sized box or carrying case 46 (see FIG. 2).
In one representative embodiment, each quarter panel 20 can have a 0.125 inch thickness combined with an approximately 1.25 inch deep supporting frame 26, so that the four quarter panels folding together side-by-side can result in the folding table having an overall thickness of 5.5 inches or less in the closed, carrying case position 46.
Once completely closed or folded, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the table top 14 can be held in the closed, carrying case position 46 with the two handles 50, which can have a locking device 52 or which can simply Velcro together. It is to be appreciated that other types of hardware fasteners or latching devices can also be used to secure the folding table in the closed, carrying case position. As can also be seen, the topside surfaces 22 of the panels A, D (which were not coupled together with the second axis hinge) can become the outside side surfaces of the folding table 10 in its most closed and compacted position 46.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, each of the four quarter panels 20 can be rectangular or square to form a rectangular or square table top 14. In a representative embodiment, for example, the four quarter panels can each be 18×18 inches, and together forming a square table top 14 that is 36×36 inches square when assembled. It is to be appreciated, however, that other configurations and shapes of the quarter panels and the overall table top are also possible and which can fall within the scope of the present invention, so long as the four quarter panels can be configured to fold about a first and second folding axis. For instance, it is contemplated that each of the four quarter panels can be provided with a shape of a right-angle arc, so that upon assembled they together form a table top having an overall oblong or round shape.
To assemble the folding table from the closed and compacted position 46 (FIG. 2), the table top 14 can first be opened by unlocking the handles 50 or latching device 52 and unfolding the closed sets of panels A-B, D-C about the second folding axis hinge 42 (FIG. 3), so that the interior spaces of all four quarter panels 20 are adjacent each other and the table top has been opened to the folded halves position 36 (FIG. 4). With the handles 50 facing downwards, the two sets of quarter panels A-B, D-C can then be unfolded about the first folding axis hinges 32 using the handles, so that the bottom side faces 24, supporting frame 26, and interior spaces are now facing upwards, and the topside surfaces 22 of the quarter panels 20 facing downward (FIG. 5).
As can be seen in FIG. 5, the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70 stored within the interior sides of the quarter panel frames are now accessible for completing the process of assembling the folding table 10. The legs of the table can be removed from their storage locations and installed into receptacles 62 provided at the outer projecting corners of each quarter panel 20. Moreover, locking hardware, such as joint plates 70, can also be removed from their storage locations and installed into positions around the joints of the table top to brace the quarter panels together prevent rotation about the first and second axes hinges after the table has been assembled for use.
Illustrated in FIG. 6 is perspective view of the dual-axis folding table 10 of FIG. 1 with the table top 14 in a fully open and upside-down position and after assembly of the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70, 80. Each table leg can be extendable in a telescoping fashion, with an interior leg telescoping out from the outer leg. Furthermore, each table leg can also have an adjustable bottom tip which screws out to allow minor adjustments in length to accommodate uneven floors or ground surfaces. As shown in more detail in FIG. 7, in one representative embodiment the top ends 64 of the table legs 60 can also be equipped with an 0-rings 66 to better secure the table legs into the receptacles 62 by providing for a resilient yet flexible compressive fit between the table leg and the receptacle. The table leg can further include a chamfered or protruding hard stop 68 which engages the top edge of the receptacle when the table leg is in the installed position, to further secure the table leg in position. It is to be appreciated that other configurations and methods of attaching the table legs 60 to the open and upside-down table top 14, including table legs with screw threads or pinned attachment mechanisms, etc., are also considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.
In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the locking hardware can include four panel-locking joint plates 70, with each joint plate having multiple pins 74 with o-rings 76. After removal from their storage holders, the pins 74 in the joint plates can be pressed into joint plate receiving holes 72 located in the support frames 26 on both sides of each panel joint 78 so that the joint plates straddle the panel joint and prevent further rotation of any two panels 20 about a joint 78 or hinge 32. It is also to be appreciated that other configurations and methods of securing any two adjacent panels 20 from rotation about a panel joint 78 after assembly, including sliding bars or rotating clips, etc., are also considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.
The locking hardware can further include a center locking hub 80, also having multiple hub pins 84 with o-rings 86, as shown in FIG. 8. Once removed from its storage location, the hub pins 84 of the center locking hub can be pressed into corresponding hub pin receiving holes 82 located at the center of the table 88 around the four-cornered junction 88 of the quarter panels 20. This allows the center locking hub 80 to straddle the center junction 88 and provide additional rigidity to the middle of the table 10 during use. It is also to be appreciated that other configurations and methods of supporting the middle of the table about the center junction to provide additional rigidity to the middle of the table 10 during use, including sliding support bars or a center table leg, etc., are also considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.
After assembly of the table legs 60 and locking hardware 70, 80 to the bottom and sides of the table top 14 is complete, the table legs can be individually adjusted to a desired height and the table turned over for use.
In the representative embodiment described above, with each panel being 18×18 inches in size, an un-extended table leg. 60 enclosed on the diagonal inside the interior space can be up to about 18-22 inches in length, taking into account the table leg receptacles and center hub mounted to the corners of each panel 20. Consequently, each individually-adjustable leg can be extended an additional 18 inches beyond their fixed 18-22 inch length, to elevate the table top as high as 38 to 40 inches. If so desired, two adjacent table legs can be extended less than the other two legs, which can function to orientate the table top 14 at a tilt or incline, as could be used to set a portable drafting table at a job site. Moreover, the individually-adjustable legs can also allow the folding table to be used on an uneven ground surface while supporting the table top in an upright and level or inclined position.
The foregoing detailed description describes the invention with reference to specific representative embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The detailed description and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as illustrative, rather than restrictive, and any such modifications or changes are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as described and set forth herein.
More specifically, while illustrative representative embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but includes any and all embodiments having modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art based on the foregoing detailed description. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the foregoing detailed description or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, any steps recited in any method or process claims, furthermore, may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. The term “preferably” is also non-exclusive where it is intended to mean “preferably, but not limited to.” Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined solely by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the descriptions and examples given above.

Claims

1. A dual-axis folding table, comprising:

four quarter panels together forming a table top when extended into a flat position, including:

a first panel and a second panel hinged together with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis;

a fourth panel and a third panel hinged together with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis; and

the second panel and the third panel hinged together with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis;

the first panel being configured to fold into the second panel about the first axis hinge and the fourth panel being configured to fold into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half; and

the second panel being configured to fold into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.

2. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to one another.

3. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein each of the four quarter panels further comprises a support frame.

4. The foldable table top of claim 3, wherein the first folding axis and the second folding axis are offset one from the other by the thickness of the support frames.

5. The foldable table top of claim 3, wherein a plurality of table legs are stored within the support frames of the quarter panel.

6. The foldable table top of claim 3, wherein a plurality of locking hardware are stored within the support frames of the quarter panel.

7. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein each of the four quarter panels is rectangular to form a rectangular table top.

8. The foldable table top of claim 1, wherein each of the four quarter panels has the shape of a right-angle arc to form a rounded table top.

9. The foldable table top of claim 1, further comprising a central locking hub located at approximately a center of the table top and connecting with each of the four quarter panels to provide rigidity at a center of the dual-axis folding table.

10. A method of folding a dual-axis folding table into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case, comprising:

obtaining a table top including four quarter panels together forming a table top when extended into a flat position, including:

a first panel and a second panel being hinged with a first axis hinge along a first folding axis;

a fourth panel and a third panel being hinged with an additional first axis hinge along the first folding axis; and

the second panel and the third panel being hinged with a second axis hinge along a second folding axis;

folding the first panel into the second panel about the first axis hinge and folding the fourth panel into the third panel about the additional first axis hinge, to fold the table top in half; and

folding the second panel into the third panel about the second axis hinge, to fold the table top into a quarter-sized self-contained carrying case.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing a plurality of table legs from the table top prior to folding the quarter panels.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing a plurality of locking hardware from the table top prior to folding the quarter panels.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting a central locking hub at a center of the table top and locking the hub in place with each of the quarter panels to provide support at the center of the table top.