Chairs and seats – With table – desk – or easel – Table behind seat
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-01-09
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
With table, desk, or easel
Table behind seat
C211S099000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170909
ABSTRACT:
The content of Application No. TOKUGANHEI 10-227267 which was filed in Japan on Aug. 11, 1998 and on which the claim to priority for this application is based, is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a table apparatus, and more particularly to a table apparatus that is mounted to a support member so as to enable it to be folded away.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are known example of the installation of a table in a vehicle, the table having an upper surface onto which food or the like is placed and a hole for holding a tapered container, and similar technology is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application H7-112643.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Recently, there has been a desire to have not only a foldable table on the rear of a seat, but also to provide the table with a movable hook for the purpose of supporting, for example, a bag with a gripping hole or loop.
If the above-noted hook is mounted on the upper surface of the table, however, although the hook can be used when the table is in the storage condition, it is not possible to use the hook when the table is being used, and the upper surface area of the table is made narrow to the extent of the space occupied by the movable hook. If the movable hook is mounted to the lower surface of the table, although it is possible to achieve a wide area on the upper surface, it is not possible to use the hook when the table is in the stored condition. Additionally, if the movable hook is mounted to the periphery of the table, because a bag hung on the movable hook is positioned at the periphery of the table, in addition to it providing a nuisance, this arrangement subjects the hinge of the table to a large load.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a table apparatus that improves on the above-noted drawback in the related art, which enables use of the movable hook whether the table is being used or is stored, thereby enabling a large area to be used on the upper surface thereof, and avoiding the problem of having the object hung on the hook be a nuisance and the problem of a large load on the hinge of the table.
To achieve the above-noted object, a table apparatus according to the present invention has a table, in which is formed a hole for the purpose of supporting a container, a first hinge, a movable hook, and a second hinge. The first hinge is fixed to the rear surface of a supporting member, and rotatably supports the table at one end thereof. The table can be freely swung about the first hinge as a turning center between a storage position along the rear surface of the supporting member and a usage position, which is upright with respect to the rear surface of the supporting member. The movable hook has a grasping part. The second hinge is mounted to the lower surface of the table and supports the movable hook so as to permit the movable hook to swing about its supported end. The second hinge is disposed between the hole of the table and the first hinge. When the table is in the storage position, the grasping part of the movable hook is disposed within the hole thereof.
According to the above arrangement, because the movable hook is disposed at the lower surface of the table, when the table is in usage position, the movable hook can be used, and it is possible to achieve a large usable area on the upper surface of the table.
When the table is in the storage position, the grasping part of the movable hook is positioned within the hole of the table and is exposed, so that it is possible to use the movable hook even when the table is in the storage position.
Additionally, because the movable hook is disposed between hole of the table and the first hinge, an object that is hung from the movable hook is in proximity to the supporting member, and does not present a nuisance to the user of the table. Because the distance between the movable hook and the first hinge can be made short, it is possible to reduce the load placed on the first hinge by the object hung on the movable hook to a small load.
REFERENCES:
patent: 342954 (1886-06-01), Ertell
patent: 607683 (1898-07-01), Downer
patent: 687133 (1901-11-01), Denning
patent: 781254 (1905-01-01), Whitney
patent: 1245425 (1917-11-01), Becker
patent: 5092652 (1992-03-01), Macaluso
patent: 5863092 (1999-01-01), Kifer
patent: 0071817 (1983-02-01), None
patent: 316768 (1929-04-01), None
patent: 405278510 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 7-112643 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 325387 (1970-06-01), None
Allred David E.
Cuomo Peter M.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
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