Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Folding – Legs pivot perimetrically of surface
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-25
2003-01-21
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3637)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Folding
Legs pivot perimetrically of surface
C108S129000, C108S156000, C248S188100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06508184
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a utility table, and more particularly, to a lightweight folding table having legs attached in self-fixturing fashion.
2. Technical Background
Lightweight folding tables are indispensable for groups or organizations that have limited floor space usable for multiple purposes. For example, foldable utility tables can be placed in a pre-determined configuration to meet the space requirements of a school or community gymnasium, a church multi-purpose room, or a hotel conference meeting room. Afterward, the tables can be neatly stored away and the room used for a different purpose. Thus, lightweight folding tables allow a group or organization to maximize the efficiency and utility of a particular space.
Foldable utility tables can also provide an immediate temporary work space in a garage, tool shed, and the like. The portability and foldability of these utility tables allows a user to conveniently set up, take down, and store the table whenever and wherever the user chooses.
A major drawback with many lightweight folding tables of the prior art is their inherent size and bulkiness. Many such utility tables require two people to collapse and store the table after use. Moreover, some prior art lightweight folding tables are heavy enough to cause injury if dropped or mishandled. These unwieldy tables are usually made from hardwood, particle board, or similarly heavy materials. In an attempt to overcome this bulkiness problem, some prior art portable utility tables are formed of lighter-weight materials. However, many of these utility tables generally lack the sturdiness of the heavier-weight prior art utility tables.
Another disadvantage to many prior art utility tables is the means used for attaching the table legs or two or more support pedestals to the underside of the table. As will be appreciated, prior art table legs are typically attached to the table top using mechanical fasteners, such as threaded screws or bolts, that are drilled into the underside of the table top. This means of attachment may compromise the integrity of the table top, thereby making it weaker at the point of attachment between the table legs and the table top.
Weakening of the table top material is especially problematic if lightweight materials are used to construct the tabletop. If legs are independently attached, as with smaller folding tables such as card tables, the danger of deflection of the table top may be increased because each leg is subject to lateral, or sideways, forces in multiple directions. With smaller tables, members used to attach the legs to the table top must also be compact, and thus may not effectively spread forces against the leg over a large region of the table top. In effect, forces against a leg are concentrated in the small region where the leg and any attachment members are affixed to the table top. As a result, the table top may bend, or the leg may become dislodged from the attachment members.
Many lightweight prior art tables compensate for the weakness of the lightweight table top material by adding a frame of stronger material underneath the table top. Such frames are typically made of metal, and add considerably to the weight of the table, to the extent that the table may no longer reasonably be classified as a lightweight table. Furthermore, additional parts are required to attach the frame to the table top. Tables with separate frames typically have legs that are not independently attached. In effect, the legs are attached to a separate, common member, such as the frame, which is then attached to the table top. Hence, extra steps are required to attach the legs to the table top.
In addition, mechanical fasteners tend to increase the number of parts required for a table. If any significant amount of friction is anticipated between a metal fastener and a plastic part, a bushing, bearing, or similar device must be used to insulate the plastic part from wear. Thus, it is especially desirable to avoid the use of mechanical fasteners between metal and plastic parts.
Prior art methods for attaching legs typically also require several steps to complete the attachment. For example, with many prior art tables, each leg must first be positioned against the underside of the table. Then, the leg must be fixtured, or held in proper alignment with the contact surface on the table top while fasteners are applied.
Fixturing often involves the use of multiple machines, in the case of an automated process, because one machine must hold the leg and the table top together, while another machine completes the fastening process. In the case of human assembly, one person must often keep the leg and table top together while another applies the fastening method. If a single person holds the leg and table top together, he or she must attach the table top and leg together while holding them. Such a process is often difficult to carry out rapidly without making errors. Alternatively, extra implements, such as clamps, clips, temporary mechanical fasteners, and the like may be applied prior to fastening and then removed once fastening has been carried out.
The need to fixture the table and legs adds dramatically to the time required to assemble the table, as well as the amount of equipment and employees needed. Fixturing is especially problematic when mechanical fasteners are used, because mating surfaces, such as bolts, threaded openings, and the like must be precisely aligned. Added steps in the assembly process also increase the chances that a mistake will be made, and the table improperly constructed.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that it would be an advancement in the art to provide a lightweight folding table that is durable enough to withstand the increased wear and tear that portable utility tables are subjected to over long periods of time and sturdy enough to support varying sized loads that will be place on the table, while at the same time being light-weight enough to be easily set up and taken down.
It would be another advancement in the art to provide a lightweight folding table that does not require extra process steps, machinery, or personnel to carry out fixturing of the legs to the table top for attachment. It would be a further advancement in the art to provide a lightweight folding table having a leg or support pedestal attachment mechanism that does not require any mechanical fasteners attached to the table top.
Yet further, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a method and apparatus for attaching legs to a table top that would not require occupation of a great deal of mounting space, and that would permit independent attachment and folding of the legs. The method and apparatus could then be effectively used with smaller tables, such as card tables.
Such a lightweight folding table is disclosed and claimed herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel lightweight folding table having legs that are independently attached to a table top, preferably without the use of a frame or any additional mechanical fasteners. The table top maybe constructed of a lightweight material, such as a plastic, and may be made from an inexpensive and rapid process, such as blow molding. In one presently preferred embodiment, the table top includes a mounting surface and a working surface formed opposite the mounting surface. Preferably, each leg is pivotally mounted on the table top so that the legs may be folded against the table top for storage and transportation of the table. Each leg may fold in a different direction so that no two legs overlap.
Brackets may be provided to attach the legs to the table top. More specifically, each leg may be pivotally attached to a bracket, and each bracket may, in turn, be rigidly affixed to the mounting surface. The brackets are preferably made from a comparatively stiff, strong material, such as a metal. Preferably, the brackets are shaped to distribute lateral stresses against the legs over a comparatively large portion
Strong Curtis L.
Winter Preston
Lifetime Products, Inc.
Wilkens Janet M.
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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