GB2373999A

GB2373999A - Folding table

Info

Publication number: GB2373999A
Application number: GB0103498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Rowell
Original assignee: STARLIGHT THERAPY TABLES Ltd
Current assignee: STARLIGHT THERAPY TABLES Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-13
Filing date: 2001-02-13
Publication date: 2002-10-09
Also published as: GB0103498D0

Abstract

A portable folding therapy table is supported by telescopically adjustable legs 11 each having a rigid strut 10 attached near its upper end and a flexible cable 12 attached to its lower end, the strut and cable being connected to the underside of the table near its centre. A further cable 19 may be attached to the top of each leg and to a post 18 extending down beneath the table top. The table top may be in two parts connected by a hinge 5. The struts may comprise arms 14,15 pivoted at 16, with a collar 17 capable of sliding over the hinge. The legs may be in pairs held a fixed distance apart by cross braces. A cavity 9 in the underside of the table stores the support structure when folded.

Description

Support Structure The present invention relates to a support structure for a table, more particularly a support structure for a folding table. In addition, the invention relates to a table having a support structure according to the invention and a method for supporting a table which comprises fitting the support structure.

Within the context of this specification the word"comprises"is taken to mean "includes, among other things". It is not intended to be construed as"consists of only".

Within the context of this specification the term"diagonal bracing"is interpreted to mean bracing which extends at an angle inclined between vertical and horizontal.

Historically, folding tables have provided movable surfaces where flexible use of space is required and have provided portable working surfaces for mobile use.

Examples of flexible use of space include caravans, folding tables for village halls and other flexible use of space while portable working surfaces include tables for painters and decorators to provide a surface for applying paste to wall coverings.

Folding tables have also been used to provide a surface for therapeutic massage and other mobile health and beauty therapies. When massage practitioners carry out travelling therapeutic massage or other relevant work, they require a lightweight,

portable table which provides a rigid, stable and supportive surface on which their subject may lie.

With almost all folding leg structures, the challenge is to provide long-lasting, rigid and stable folding support at minimum weight and optimum economy of cost and time of manufacture.

There are lightweight portable treatment tables known in the art, most of which have rigid diagonal bracing to hold their leg assemblies at right angles to the table top and some of which use flexible cables to supplement or replace their rigid diagonal bracing.

However, it has been found that the known tables have suffered from the problem that gaining adequate stability makes the table heavy and expensive to manufacture.

Lighter weight tables tend to be unstable or prohibitively expensive, both of which limit optimum acceptability in the market.

To cope with these problems, a number of structures for bracing a table have been suggested. For example, a known folding massage table comprises a structure having two table top sections hinged to each other by a table top hinge. Two pairs of end legs support each end of the table and an additional pair of legs between the end legs supports the table adjacent the table top hinge or in a variant of this design, an X

shaped double pair of legs between the end legs supports the table adjacent the table top hinge. Each pair of legs is pivotally mounted to the underside of both table top sections and is capable of being folded into a cavity in the underside. Short rigid diagonal braces of steel are provided adjacent the top of each leg. Each brace comprises two adjacent arms held together by a hinge and extends from each leg to the underside of the table top to stiffen the structure and hold the legs perpendicular to the table top. Each end of the brace is held in place by a fixing. The hinge of each brace is commonly covered by a collar to inhibit flexing at the hinge. Where an Xshaped double pair of legs supports the middle of the table, there are no diagonal braces provided for these legs, though they are pivotally mounted to the underside of both table top sections and are capable of being folded into cavities in the underside.

Although this table is portable and reasonably lightweight it suffers from the problem that in view of the fact that each brace must bear compressive forces in addition to tensile forces, large stresses are placed on the hinge and fixings of each brace causing them to wear out quickly. In addition, it includes the weight of six or eight legs rather than four.

A common disadvantage of support structures comprising only rigid metal diagonal braces is that the braces wear out relatively quickly, since the braces are subject to both compressive and tensile forces as a practitioner works on a client on the table.

Existing rigid metal braces are relatively short (45cm/18"max. length), commonly being hinged in the middle by a rivet or pop-rivet and held in place at each end by

further rivets or pop-rivets. With poor triangulation, no known design of short rigid metal brace on its own can withstand the heavy end-to-end loads of a working massage table.

Alternative known folding tables have been produced which address a number of the problems discussed above. In a first known alternative, a folding table comprises a structure having two table top sections hinged to each other by a table top hinge. A pair of legs support each end of the table. Each pair of legs is pivotally mounted to the underside of a table top section and is capable of being folded into a cavity in the underside. This structure is braced by rigid braces of wood each comprising two adjacent arms held together by a hinge. Each wooden brace extends from adjacent the bottom of each leg to the underside of the table top adjacent the table top hinge. In addition, a pair of posts extend downwardly from adjacent each end of the table top hinge and a pair of flexible cables fixed adjacent each end of the underside of the table top pass through the end of each post. The cables bear tensile forces while the long wooden braces bear compressive as well as some tensile forces.

This design of table, comprising long diagonal bracing of wood or other rigid material, along with supplementary cable bracing in various formats, is rigid and long-lasting. However, a common disadvantage of this type of rigid brace is that, though they tend to be longer and therefore comparatively stronger than the known

shorter rigid metal braces alone, they are bulky, heavy and both time-consuming and expensive to make and fix at both of their ends.

Therefore, a need exists for an effective support structure for a folding table which can provide good support and rigidity, which is light weight, inexpensive to produce and which can be assembled easily and quickly.

The present invention addresses the problems set out above.

Remarkably, it has now been found that a new lightweight support structure can provide superior stability for folding tables. This has been achieved by providing a support structure wherein compressive and tensile forces are born by separate structural elements. This has been achieved by providing a flexible brace below a rigid strut. The flexible brace provides comparable triangulation to the long wooden diagonal braces of the first known alternative cited above, but at a much reduced weight and cost of manufacture. Advantageously, the new support structure does not wear out quickly compared to known tables having only rigid metal diagonal bracing without a flexible brace for bearing tensile forces.

Consequently, in a first aspect the present invention provides a support structure for a folding table which comprises a leg, a rigid strut and a flexible brace wherein the leg has a first end for pivoting attachment to a table top and a second end; the strut

extends from adjacent the first end of the leg for attachment to an underside of the table top or a projection extending therefrom ; and the flexible brace extends from adjacent the second end of the leg for attachment to the underside of the table top or a projection extending therefrom.

Preferably, an embodiment of a support structure according to the invention comprises a flexible brace in the form of a cable or chain.

Preferably, an embodiment of a support structure according to the present invention comprises a folding strut. More preferably the strut has two adjacent arms joined together by a hinge. This provides the advantage that the support structure is foldable. Advantageously, the support structure can be folded into a cavity in the underside of a table top.

Preferably, an embodiment of the strut additionally comprises a collar which is capable of sliding securely over the hinge between the adjacent arms. The collar provides the advantage of stiffening the strut when the table is in a working configuration. Advantageously, the collar can be removed from the hinge by sliding it along one or other of the arms to enable the strut to fold when the table is in a folded configuration.

Preferably, an embodiment of a support structure according to the present invention further comprises a second flexible brace and a post wherein the post has a first end for attachment to the underside of a table top and a second end, and the second flexible brace extends from the first end of the leg or adjacent thereto to the second end of the post or adjacent thereto. In this way, the underside of the table top can be supported by the post and by tension in the second flexible brace, doing away with the need for an additional pair of legs adjacent the table top hinge.

Preferably, an embodiment of a second flexible brace is in the form of a cable or chain.

Preferably, an embodiment of a support structure according to the present invention comprises a plurality of legs, rigid struts, first and second flexible braces. More preferably an embodiment of a support structure comprises four legs, four rigid struts, and four first and second flexible braces. This provides the advantage that a table having a rectangular table top can be supported at each of its comers.

Preferably, an embodiment of a support structure according to the present invention comprises a single post which receives each of the second flexible braces. More preferably, a fixing holds at least two of the second flexible braces to the post. Most preferably, a single fixing holds four of the second flexible braces to the post. This provides the advantage of minimising the number of fixings which need to be

produced and fixed in place. Advantageously, this saves time and cost of assembling the support structure.

Preferably, an embodiment of a support structure according to the present invention comprises legs which are pivotally mounted to the underside of a table top.

Preferably the legs are arranged in assemblies wherein each assembly comprises two legs fixed to each other by at least one cross member. The cross member provides the advantage of lateral stability.

In a second aspect the invention provides a folding table having a support structure according to a first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, an embodiment of a table according to the invention comprises two table top sections which are hinged to each other by a hinge and the table top sections are moveable between a working configuration wherein the sections are coplanar and a folded configuration wherein the sections are substantially parallel. This provides the advantage that the table can be folded for transportation and/or storage.

Preferably, an embodiment of a table according to the invention has table top sections which have a cavity in their undersides which receive the support structure when the table is in a folded configuration.

Preferably, an embodiment of a table according to the invention is a folding treatment table having table top sections having a cushioned upper surface. This provides the advantage of support and comfort for a subject lying on the table top.

Preferably, an embodiment of a table according to the invention has legs of adjustable length. More preferably the legs are telescopic. This provides the advantage of facilitating a comfortable working height for the table.

In a third aspect the invention provides a method for supporting a table which comprises fitting a support structure according to a first aspect of the invention.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set out below with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a treatment table comprising a support structure according to the present invention.

For the purposes of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

As seen in Figure 1 a folding treatment table (1) havmg a support structure (2) according to the invention is provided. The table comprises two table top sections (3) having a cushioned upper surface (4) hinged to one another about a first hinge line (5). The table top sections are moveable between a working configuration wherein the sections are coplanar and a folded configuration wherein the sections are substantially parallel.

A pair of leg assemblies (6) are each pivotally mounted on the underside of a table top section. Each assembly comprises a pair of legs with a cross-member brace or crossmember braces holding the legs firmly parallel at a fixed distance apart. The pivots (7) are so positioned and orientated to allow rotation about an axis parallel to but between the first hinge line (5) and the end (8) of each table top section (3) remote from the first hinge line (5).

The support structure for the folding table can be folded into a cavity (9) in the underside of a table top. It comprises four legs (11), four rigid foldable struts (10) and four first flexible cables (12) wherein the legs (11) have first ends (7) for pivoting attachment to the underside of a table top section (3) and second ends ; the struts (10) extend from adjacent the first ends of the legs (7) to the underside (13) of the table top or projections extending therefrom ; and the cables (12) extend from adjacent the second ends of the legs (11) to the underside of the table top or projections extending therefrom adjacent the hinge line (5) of the table top.

Each strut (10) has two adjacent arms (14, 15) joined together by a hinge (16). In addition, each strut (10) comprises a collar (17) which is capable of sliding securely over the hinge (16) between the adjacent arms (14,15).

A post (18) has a first end attached to the underside of a table top adjacent the hinge line (5) of the table top and a second end which extends downwardly from the underside of the table top.

Four second cables (19) extend from the first end of the leg (11) or adjacent thereto to the second end of the post (18) or adjacent thereto. A single fixing (20) holds each of the second flexible cables (19) to the post.

When in the working configuration, the leg assemblies (6) are rigidly held at right angles to the table top by struts (10) or rigid metal diagonal braces (10). These may be of varying design, but with the function of bracing the leg in both directions, with both tensile and compressive forces. The design of these struts (10) must allow for the leg assemblies to be easily folded into a position parallel to the table top sections (3).

In addition to the struts (10), additional tensile bracing is provided by flexible cable (12), positioned below the struts (10). The cable (10) is preferably of steel, but may be of any other known flexible material of low elasticity. When the leg assemblies (6)

are folded parallel to the table top sections, the cables (12) bend for storage within the table top sections. The leg assemblies (6) each comprise two fixed length legs (11) with cross-members between them. In an alternative embodiment, the legs (11) are of adjustable length, with telescopic height-adjustment.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications are covered by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A support structure for a folding table which comprises a leg, a ngid strut and a flexible brace wherein the leg has a first end for pivoting attachment to a table top and a second end; the strut extends from adjacent the first end of the leg for attachment to an underside of the table top or a projection extending therefrom; and the flexible brace extends from adjacent the second end of the leg for attachment to the underside of the table top or a projection extending therefrom.
2. A support structure according to claim lwhich comprises a folding strut.
3. A support structure according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the strut has two adjacent arms joined together by a hinge.
4. A support structure according to claim 3 wherein the strut additionally comprises a collar which is capable of sliding securely over the hinge between adjacent arms of the strut.
5. A support structure according to any preceding claim which further comprises a second flexible brace and a post wherein the post has a first end for attachment to the underside of a table top and a second end, and the second flexible brace

extends from the first end of the leg or adjacent thereto to the second end of the post or adjacent thereto.
6. A support structure according to the present invention which comprises a plurality of legs, rigid struts, first and second flexible braces.
7. A support structure according to any preceding claim which comprises four legs, four rigid struts, and four first and second flexible braces.
8. A support structure according to any one of claims 5 to 7 which comprises a single post which receives each of the second flexible braces.
9. A support structure according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein a fixing holds at least two of the second flexible braces to the post.
10. A support structure according to any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein a single fixing holds four of the second flexible braces to the post.
11. A support structure according to any preceding claim wherein the legs are pivotally mounted to the underside of a table top.
12. A support structure according to claim 11 wherein the legs are arranged in assemblies wherein each assembly comprises two legs fixed to each other by at least one cross member.
13. A folding table having a support structure according to any preceding claim.
14. A folding table according to claim 13 which comprises two table top sections which are hinged to each other by a hinge and the table top sections are moveable between a working configuration wherein the sections are coplanar and a folded configuration wherein the sections are substantially parallel.
15. A folding table according to claim 13 or 14 having table top sections which have a cavity in their undersides which receive the support structure when the table is in a folded configuration.
16. A folding table according to any one of claims 13 to 15 comprising table top sections having a cushioned upper surface.
17. A folding table according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the legs are of adjustable length.
18. A method for supporting a table which comprises fitting a support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 12 to a table according to any one of claims 13 to 17.

19-A support structure or folding table as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.