Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Plural related horizontal surfaces – Laterally connected individual units
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2001-12-04
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Plural related horizontal surfaces
Laterally connected individual units
C108S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324997
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to certain further improvements in event tables such as that which is the subject of my U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,722 and, more particularly, to improvements in extensible elements such as the legs of the subject table and the leaves thereof, coupled with a novel means of interconnecting like tables to form a train thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
As chronicled in the above referenced '722 Patent, event tables proliferate, wherever folks assemble regularly. Every hotel, arena, meeting hall and lodge has at least several such tables, which they dutifully assemble and disassemble for each event; push them together or pull them apart as needed, and cover up the seams with table cloths.
The referenced '722 Patent, perhaps the latest innovation to come to the event business in several years, as good as it is, lends itself to further improvement, particularly in areas which reduce the cost of manufacture while increasing efficiency and safety.
To that end, the present invention is directed to adjustable devices which accomplish that end, while permitting much of the hardware to be cast rather than fabricated, resulting in considerable savings in cost.
2. Overview of the Prior Art
As is evident from a cursory review of the art recited in, and with respect to, the aforesaid '722 patent, advances in event tables are few and far between. There seems to be a benign acceptance within the field that the square-to-round table of Sullivan U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,654, at least until the advent of the '722 patent, was about as good as it gets. The appearance of the '722 patent has caused many in the industry to rethink their concepts.
The concept of interlocking tables was essentially a novelty until Baker '722 demonstrated how it could become practical. Others, such as Shettles U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,147, have made an early attempt at locking tables together rather than pushing them together, throwing a table cloth over them and hoping for the best.
Sapp U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,475 suggested, in 1958, that event tables be joined by means of a spring loaded pawl. Neither of these ideas took root.
Since the height of the event table was often dictated by the type of event, others, including Baker '722, directed their attention to the adjustability of the table legs. Ideas ranged from the most rudimentary telescoping legs of the ironing board of Teduschi U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,325, to the seemingly complex system of Terres et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,649. Baker '722, over which the present invention constitutes a distinct improvement, settled for opposed spring loaded pins which were manually manipulated and required enough digital leverage to overcome the spring bias.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the process of commercialization, one sometime learns that there are more efficient or effective ways to accomplish a given result. In the present instance, it has been learned that the apparatus for extending the Baker event table could be distinctly better, even though the methods taught were effective.
Accordingly, it is, generally speaking, the overall objective of the present invention to improve extensibility of the Baker table, both as to the height thereof, and the length.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for interlocking contiguous tables to increase the length thereof. Related to the foregoing is the objective of facilitating the interlocking of event tables so as to increase stability of the resultant chain while increasing efficiency.
A further objective of the present invention is to permit careful adjustment to the legs of the event table so as to more precisely and efficiently effect the appropriate height for any given event and to accomplish this objective with optimum safety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2857223 (1958-10-01), Furey
patent: 3915100 (1975-10-01), Sullivan
patent: 4750432 (1988-06-01), McNamara et al.
patent: 5144888 (1992-09-01), Heine et al.
patent: 5341749 (1994-08-01), Noakes
patent: 5438937 (1995-08-01), Ball et al.
patent: 5560302 (1996-10-01), Diffrient et al.
patent: 5678948 (1997-10-01), White
patent: 6041722 (2000-03-01), Baker
Chen José V.
Haase Dennis B.
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