US20120085271A1

US20120085271A1 - Stowable Table

Info

Publication number: US20120085271A1
Application number: US13/171,555
Authority: US
Inventors: Arlo Lin; Jan-Nan Chen; Tammy Yen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Pro Iroda Industries Inc
Priority date: 2010-10-07
Filing date: 2011-06-29
Publication date: 2012-04-12
Also published as: TWM400251U

Abstract

A stowable table includes a body, a plurality of supporting rods, and a board. The body includes a top end, a bottom end, and a plurality of connecting assemblies formed in a peripheral edge of the bottom end. Each of the plurality of supporting rods includes a first end and a second end. The board includes a plurality of linking ends formed on a peripheral edge of the board. When the stowable table is in an operative state, the first ends connect with the connecting assemblies. The linking ends are engaged with the supporting rods. The board is mounted between the supporting rods. Each second end of the supporting rods is erect on the ground. When the stowable table is in a stored state, the board is mounted in the bottom end of the body. The supporting rods are received between the body and the board.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a table and, in particular, to a table that is operable between an operative state and a stored state.
2. Description of the Related Art
CN Patent No. 2301903 shows a table that includes a table plate, a plurality of legs and a plurality of connecting assemblies connecting the table plate and the legs. Specifically, the table plate is a sheet including a peripheral edge extended downwardly. The table plate is a hollow plate having an appropriate depth. The table plate includes a top part and a bottom part. The bottom part receives a plurality of ribs for increasing the strength of the table plate. The table plate further includes a plurality of grooves formed between the ribs. The grooves receive the legs, respectively. The ribs include a plurality of first connecting portions, respectively. The bottom part of the table plate includes a plurality of engaging portions. Each engaging portion includes a second connecting portion. Each second connecting portion includes a connecting slot forming a flange. Each flange includes a screw hole. The connecting assembly includes a plurality of engaging members and a plurality of engaging holes in relation to the connecting slots and the screw holes, respectively. The engaging members are embedded into the connecting slots and fixed by a plurality of fasteners, respectively, so that the connecting assemblies are fixed on the second connecting portion, respectively. Each leg includes a sleeved portion. The cross-section of each sleeved portion corresponds to the cross-section of each engaging portion, respectively. Each junction of the sleeved body and each leg include an embedding plate to block the second connecting portion.
The sleeved bodies of the legs are inserted into the engaging portions, respectively. The engaging members of the connecting assembly are embedded into the second connecting portions, respectively. The connecting plate presses the embedding plate exactly, so that the legs are fixed in the engaging portions to assemble a table. When the table is in the stored state, the legs are received in the grooves, respectively. The engaging members are embedded into the first connecting portion, respectively. When the legs endure a lateral force, the legs are deformed easily.
Further, the legs are inserted into the engaging portions, respectively via the connecting assembly and secured by the fasteners to cause the strength of the structure to become weak. The connecting assemblies are damaged easily.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a stowable table includes a body, a plurality of supporting rods, and a board. The body includes a top end, a bottom end, and a plurality of connecting assemblies formed in a peripheral edge of the bottom end. Each of the plurality of supporting rods includes a first end and a second end. The board includes a plurality of linking ends formed on a peripheral edge of the board. When the stowable table is in an operative state, the first ends of the supporting rods connect with the connecting assemblies. The linking ends are engaged with the supporting rods. The board is mounted between the supporting rods. The second ends of the supporting rods are erect on the ground. When the stowable table is in a stored state, the board is mounted in the bottom end of the body. The supporting rods are received between the body and the board.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a table that includes the board mounted between the supporting rods which are erect on the ground to increase the strength of the structure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a table that includes the supporting rods received between the body and the board to increase the practicability of the stowable table.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a table that includes the linking units connecting with the linking ends, respectively, to increase the strength of the structure of the stowable table in the operative state.
It is further another object of the present invention to provide a table that includes the supporting rods received in the receiving space to reduce the volume of the stowable table.
Other objects, advantages, and new features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a stowable table in accordance with the present invention in an operative state.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of the table of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows another exploded, perspective view of the table of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the table of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 6, with a body and a supporting rod in an engaged state.

FIG. 8 shows a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 6, with a body and a supporting rod in a disengaged state.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows a partial, enlarged view of FIG. 6

FIG. 11 shows an exploded, perspective view of the table in accordance with the present invention in a stored state.

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the table in accordance with the present invention in a stored state.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the table in accordance with the present invention in a stored state.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A stowable table 1 according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in the drawings. In the preferred forms shown in FIGS. 1-13, the stowable table 1 includes a body 10 having a top end, a bottom end, a plurality of supporting rods 20, and a board 30. The stowable table 1 is operable between an operative state and a stored state. When the stowable table 1 is in the operative state, the supporting rods 20 are inserted to the bottom end of the body 10, and the board 30 is mounted between the supporting rods 20, with the supporting rods 20 being erect on the ground to increase the strength of the structure. When the stowable table 1 is in the stored state, the board 30 is mounted in the bottom end of the body 10, and the supporting rods 20 are received between the body 10 and the board 30 to increase the practicability of the stowable table 1.
The body 10 includes a plurality of connecting assemblies 11 formed in a peripheral edge of the bottom end. Each connecting assembly 11 includes a receiving hole 111, a through hole 112 and a positioning slot 113. Each through hole 112 and each positioning slot 113 are formed at two opposite side edges of each connecting assembly 11. The through holes 112 connect to and communicate with the receiving holes 111, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the body 10 is generally rectangular in shape, with the connecting assemblies 11 formed in four corners of the bottom end of the body 10.
Each supporting rod 20 includes a first end 201 and a second end 202. The first ends 201 of the supporting rods 20 engage with the connecting assemblies 11, and the second ends 202 of the supporting rods 20 are erect on the ground. Each first end 201 of the supporting rods 20 engages with a sheath 21 connecting to one of the connecting assemblies 11. In the preferred embodiment, the sheaths 21 are riveted to the supporting rods 20, respectively. The sheaths 21 are inserted into the receiving holes 111, respectively. Each sheath 21 includes a resilient arm 211 and a positioning portion 213. Each resilient arm 211 includes a button 212 formed in a distal end therein. The buttons 212 are adapted to engage with the through holes 112, respectively. The positioning portions 213 engage with the positioning slots 113, respectively, to avoid the supporting rods 20 from rotating axially. Each supporting rod 20 further connects a linking unit 22 between the first end 201 and the second end 202. The linking units 22 engage with the linking ends 31, respectively, to increase the strength of the structure of the stowable table 1 in the operative state.
The board 30 includes a plurality of linking ends 31 formed on a peripheral edge of the board 30. The linking ends 31 are engaged with the supporting rods 20. In the preferred embodiment, the board 30 is generally rectangular in shape, with the linking ends 31 formed in four corners of the peripheral edge of the board 30, respectively.
Each linking unit 22 includes a groove 221 extending toward the first end 201 of each supporting rod 20. Each groove 221 includes a buckling block 222 engaging with one of the linking ends 31, and, therefore, the board 30 does not detach from the support rod 20.
When a user wants to detach the body 10 and the supporting rods 20, the user presses the buttons 212 of the sheaths 21 to distort the resilient arms 211, respectively. The buttons 212 are disengaged from the through holes 112. The connecting assemblies 11 move with respect to the supporting rods 20. The user presses the buckling blocks 222 to make each linking end 31 disengage from each groove 221.
The stowable table 1 is operable between an operative state and a stored state. The stowable table 1 in the stored state reduces the volume of the stowable table 1 in an unused condition, to make storage and carrying convenient. In the preferred embodiment, the body 10 further includes a receiving space 12 formed in the bottom end of the body 10. The receiving space 12 engages with a plurality of fasteners 13. Each fastener 13 includes at least a pair of symmetric clipping arms 131. The clipping arms 131 engage with the supporting rod 20. Thus, the supporting rods 20 are arranged for receipt in the receiving space 12.
Furthermore, each connecting assembly 11 includes two hooks 14 extending from an inner side edge of each connecting assembly 11. Each hook 14 includes a curving portion 141 formed in a distal end of the hook 14. The two curving portions 141 extend in opposite directions. The board 30 includes a plurality of received portions 32 adapted to engage with the curving portions 141. The received portions 32 are engaged with the curving portions 141, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the board 30 is reticulated in shape including a plurality of reticular groups. Each reticular group includes a plurality of reticular wires disposed parallelly. The linking ends 31 are formed with the plurality of reticular wires, respectively.
When the supporting rods 20 engage with the fasteners 13 of the body 10, the received portions 32 of the board 30 engage with the hooks 14 of the body 10, respectively, so that the receiving space 12 is closed. The supporting rods 20 are received in the receiving space 12 to reduce the volume of the stowable table 1.
Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A stowable table comprising:

a body including a top end, a bottom end, and a plurality of connecting assemblies formed in a peripheral edge of the bottom end;

a plurality of supporting rods each including a first end and a second end; and

a board including a plurality of linking ends formed on a peripheral edge of the board;

wherein the board is positionable between an operative state and a stored state, with the first ends of the plurality of supporting rods engaging with the plurality of connecting assemblies, the plurality of linking ends engaging with the plurality of supporting rods, the board mounted between the plurality of supporting rods, and the second ends of the supporting rods being erect on ground when the board is in the operative state; and with the board mounted in the bottom end of the body and the plurality of supporting rods received between the body and the board when the board is in the stored state.

2. The stowable table as claimed in claim 1, wherein each first end of the plurality of supporting rods connects to a sheath, with the sheaths connecting to the plurality of connecting assemblies, with each connecting assembly including a receiving hole and a through hole, with the through hole formed at a side edge of each connecting assembly, with the through hole connecting to and communicating with the receiving hole, with the sheaths inserted into the receiving holes, respectively, with each sheath including a resilient arm, with each resilient arm including a button formed in a distal end of each resilient arm, with the buttons engaging with the through holes, respectively.

3. The stowable table as claimed in claim 2, wherein each connecting assembly further includes a positioning slot, with the positioning slot formed at a side edge opposite to the through hole of each connecting assembly, with each sheath including a positioning portion, with the positioning portions engaging with the positioning slots, respectively, to avoid the plurality of supporting rods from rotating axially.

4. The stowable table as claimed in claim 3, wherein each first end of the plurality of supporting rods engages with one of the plurality of connecting assemblies, respectively, with the sheaths being riveted to the plurality of supporting rods.

5. The stowable table as claimed in claim 1, wherein each supporting rod connects a linking unit between the first end and the second end, with the linking units engaging with the plurality of linking ends.

6. The stowable table as claimed in claim 5, wherein each linking unit includes a groove extending toward the first end of each supporting rod, with each groove including a buckling block engaging with one of the plurality of linking ends.

7. The stowable table as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body further includes a receiving space formed in the bottom end of the body, with the receiving space engaging with a plurality of fasteners, with each fastener including at least a pair of symmetric clipping arms, with the pair of clipping arms engaging with one of the plurality of supporting rods.

8. The stowable table as claimed in claim 1, wherein each connecting assembly includes two hooks extending from an inner side edge of each connecting assembly, with each hook including a curving portion formed in a distal end of the hook, with the curving portions of the two hooks extending in opposite directions, with the board including a plurality of received portions each respectively engaging with the curving portions of the two hooks of the plurality of connecting assemblies.

9. The stowable table as claimed in claim 8, wherein the board is reticulated in shape including a plurality of reticular groups, with each reticular group including a plurality of parallel reticular wires, with the plurality of linking ends formed in the plurality of reticular wires, with the plurality of received portions of the board engaging with the body.

10. The stowable table as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body is generally rectangular in shape, with the plurality of connecting assemblies formed in four corners of the bottom end of the body, with the plurality of linking ends formed in four corners of the peripheral edge of the board, with the plurality of supporting rods received between the body and the board with the board in the stowed state.