US20110303124A1

US20110303124A1 - Table assembly including an electric illuminating device

Info

Publication number: US20110303124A1
Application number: US12/814,718
Authority: US
Inventors: Chuen-Jong Tseng
Original assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-14
Filing date: 2010-06-14
Publication date: 2011-12-15

Abstract

A table assembly includes a table and an electric illuminating device. The table includes a leg frame and a tabletop supported on top of the leg frame. At least a portion of the tabletop is light-transmissive. The electric illuminating device is mounted to the table, is disposed under the tabletop, and is operable to emit light that passes through the portion of the tabletop.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a table assembly, more particularly to a table assembly that includes an electric illuminating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional table 1 for outdoor use includes a tabletop 11 made of glass and formed with a through hole 111 in a central portion thereof, and a leg frame 12 having four legs and supporting the tabletop 11. The through hole 111 permits extension and positioning of a shaft 31 of a parasol 3.
Accordingly, during daytime, when users sit around the table 1, the parasol 3 can block sunlight for comfort. At nighttime, a lighting device such as a candle or a gas lamp (not shown) may be placed on the tabletop 11 to provide a dim illumination effect.
However, although candles and gas lamps are suitable for providing a romantic and mysterious atmosphere, they are unsuited for use during windy weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a table assembly that includes an electric illuminating device, which is disposed under a tabletop and which emits light passing through the tabletop, so that a romantic atmosphere may be obtained without the use of candles and gas lamps.
According to this invention, there is provided a table assembly that comprises a table and an electric illuminating device. The table includes a leg frame and a tabletop supported on top of the leg frame. At least a portion of the tabletop is light-transmissive. The electric illuminating device is mounted to the table, is disposed under the tabletop, and is operable to emit light that passes through the portion of the tabletop.
By virtue of the light emitted by the electric illuminating device and passing through the tabletop, a romantic atmosphere may be obtained even in a windy environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional table with a parasol;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the first preferred embodiment of a table assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating a tabletop and an electric illuminating device of the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a leg frame and an electric illuminating device of the second preferred embodiment of a table assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the second preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electric illuminating device of the third preferred embodiment of a table assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view showing assembly relationship between a leg frame and the electric illuminating device of the third preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the following disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a table assembly according to the present invention is suitable for outdoor use and for mounting of a parasol (such as that shown in FIG. 1). The table assembly includes a table and an electric illuminating device 6. The table includes a tabletop 2 having a light-transmissive portion, and a leg frame 4 that supports the tabletop 2. In this embodiment, the tabletop 2 is made of tempered glass. The light-transmissive portion of the tabletop 2 is formed with a through hole 21 for extension and positioning of a shaft of the parasol. The electric illuminating device 6 is mounted to the table, is disposed under the tabletop 2, and is operable to emit light that passes through the light-transmissive portion of the tabletop 2.
In this embodiment, the electric illuminating device 6 includes an externally threaded coupling tube 61 that is fixed to an underside of the light-transmissive portion of the tabletop 2 and that surrounds the through hole 21. The electric illuminating device 6 additionally includes a ring-shaped casing 62 that is fastened to the coupling tube 61, four angularly spaced apart light-emitting members 63 that are mounted to the casing and that are operable to emit light toward the light-transmisive portion of the tabletop 2, and a power control unit 64 (see FIG. 6) coupled electrically to the light-emitting members 63 and including a switch 640 (see FIG. 3) that is operable to control activation and deactivation of the light-emitting members 63.
In this embodiment, the casing 62 of the electric illuminating device 6 includes a top wall 621, a bottom wall 622 fastened to the top wall 621, an outer surrounding wall 623 extending integrally and downwardly from an outer rim of the top wall 621 to the bottom wall 622, and an inner ring wall 624 extending integrally and downwardly from an inner circular rim of the top wall 621 to the bottom wall 622. The inner ring wall 624 defines a shaft hole 625 that is coaxial with the through hole 21 of the tabletop 2, and is internally threaded for threaded engagement with the coupling tube 61 in a manner that the top wall 621 is able to abut against the underside of the tabletop 2. The four light-emitting members 63 are retained in the casing 62, and each has a portion exposed from the top wall 621 of the casing 62. Therefore, when viewed from the outside, the light-emitting members 63 appear to be embedded in the top wall 621. In this embodiment, the light-emitting members 63 are light-emitting diodes, and are activated and deactivated through the power control unit 64 for illumination purposes. Since the feature of the present invention does not reside in the control of the light-emitting members 63 through the power control unit 64, which can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, further details of the same will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
When used with a parasol (such as that shown in FIG. 1), the shaft of the parasol is extended through the through hole 21 of the tabletop 2 and the coupling tube 61. During nighttime, the switch 640 is operated to enable the power control unit 64 to activate the light-emitting members 63, thereby emitting light that passes through the light-transmissive portion of the tabletop 2. Accordingly, a romantic atmosphere may be obtained without using candles and gas lamps even in a windy environment.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the second preferred embodiment of a table assembly according to the present invention is shown. The second preferred embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in that the electric illuminating device 6 is spaced apart from the underside of the tabletop 2 and is attached to the leg frame 4. In this embodiment, the leg frame 4 includes a plurality of legs 41 that are angularly spaced apart spaced apart from each other. Each of the legs 41 has a ground contacting segment 413, an intermediate segment 411 extending upwardly from the ground contacting segment 413 and connected to the outer surrounding wall 623 of the casing 62, and a supporting segment 412 extending from the intermediate segment 411 and supporting the tabletop 2 thereon. Preferably, the supporting segment 412 extends horizontally from a top end of the intermediate segment 411 to a periphery of the tabletop 2. Preferably, the supporting segments 412 of the legs 41 extend in radial directions with respect to the through hole 21 (see FIG. 2) of the tabletop 2, and the ground contacting segments 413 of the legs 41 also extend in radial directions with respect to the through hole 21 of the tabletop 2.
In this embodiment, the electric illuminating device 6 further includes four fasteners 65, each extending through the intermediate segment 411 of a respective one of the legs 41 and the outer surrounding wall 623 of the casing 62 for attaching the respective leg 41 to the casing 62. Moreover, unlike the first preferred embodiment, the inner ring wall 624 of the casing 62 has a smooth inner wall surface defining the shaft hole 625. When the second preferred embodiment of this invention is used with a parasol (such as that shown in FIG. 1), the shaft of the parasol is extended through the through hole 21 of the tabletop 2 and the shaft hole 625 of the casing 62.
Like the previous embodiment, this embodiment enables a romantic atmosphere to be obtained without using candles and gas lamps even in a windy environment.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the third preferred embodiment of a table assembly according to the present invention differs from the second preferred embodiment in that the electric illuminating device 6 further includes four abutment members 626 disposed removably between an outer side of the outer surrounding wall 623 of the casing 62 and the intermediate segments 411 of the legs 41, and four guide units that project inwardly from the outer surrounding wall 623 and that correspond respectively to the abutment members 626.
The outer surrounding wall 623 of the casing 62 has a bottom edge and is formed with four pairs of slots that extend upwardly from the bottom edge for engagement with the abutment members 626, respectively. Each of the abutment members 626 includes an abutment block 628 to be placed between the outer side of the outer surrounding wall 623 and the intermediate segment 411 of a corresponding one of the legs 41, and a pair of hook parts 629 that extend from the abutment block 628 and that extend slidably through a corresponding pair of the slots 66 to engage an inner side of the outer surrounding wall 623. Each of the abutment blocks 628 has a concave side 620 abutting against the intermediate segment 411 of the corresponding leg 41. Each stop unit includes a pair of protrusions 627 that are disposed between and that abut against the hook parts 629 of a respective one of the abutment members 626 so as to guide sliding movement of the hook parts 629 along the corresponding pair of slots 66. In this embodiment, each of the fasteners 65 passes through the intermediate segment 411 of the respective leg 41 and the abutment block 628 of a respective abutment member 626, and engages the outer surrounding wall 623 of the casing 62 to attach the electric illuminating device 6 to the legs 41.
Like the previous embodiments, this embodiment also enables a romantic atmosphere to be obtained without using candles and gas lamps even in a windy environment.
It is worthwhile to note that the shapes of the through hole 21 of the tabletop 2 and the outer surrounding wall 623 and the shaft hole 625 of the casing 62 are not limited to the circular shape as disclosed in the aforementioned embodiments. For instance, the outer profile of the casing 62 may be another geometric shape, such as a polygon, an oval, etc. Moreover, the table assembly of this invention may be used without the parasol, in which case, the through hole 21 of the tabletop 2 is not required to be formed.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A table assembly comprising:

a table including a leg frame and a tabletop supported on top of said leg frame, at least a portion of said tabletop being light-transmissive; and

an electric illuminating device mounted to said table, disposed under said tabletop, and operable to emit light that passes through said portion of said tabletop.

2. The table assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric illuminating device includes:

a casing;

at least one light emitting member mounted to said casing and operable to emit light that passes through said portion of said tabletop; and

a power control unit coupled electrically to said at least one light-emitting member and including a switch that is operable to control activation and deactivation of said at least one light emitting member.

3. The table assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portion of said tabletop is formed with a through hole, said casing being formed with a shaft hole that is registered with said through hole, said through hole and said shaft hole being adapted for extension of a shaft therethrough.

4. The table assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electric illuminating device further includes an externally threaded coupling tube that is fixed to an underside of said portion of said tabletop and that is disposed to surround said through hole, said casing having an inner ring wall that defines said shaft hole and that is internally threaded for threaded engagement with said coupling tube.

5. The table assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said leg frame includes a plurality of legs that are angularly spaced apart from each other, said casing of said electric illuminating device being attached to and surrounded by said legs.

6. The table assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said legs has a ground contacting segment, an intermediate segment extending upwardly from said ground contacting segment, and a supporting segment extending from said intermediate segment and supporting said tabletop thereon, said casing of said electric illuminating device being attached to said intermediate segments of said legs.

7. The table assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said portion of said tabletop is formed with a through hole, said casing being formed with a shaft hole that is registered with said through hole, said through hole and said shaft hole being adapted for extension of a shaft therethrough.

8. The table assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said supporting segments of said legs extend in radial directions with respect to said through hole, and said ground contacting segments of said legs extend in radial directions with respect to said through hole.

9. The table assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electric illuminating device further includes a plurality of fasteners, each attaching said casing to a respective one of said legs.

10. The table assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said casing includes an outer surrounding wall, and said electric illuminating device further includes a plurality of abutment members, each of said abutment members being disposed between said outer surrounding wall of said casing and a respective one of said legs, each of said fasteners passing through the respective one of said legs and a respective one of said abutment members and engaging said outer surrounding wall of said casing.

11. The table assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer surrounding wall has a bottom edge and is formed with a plurality of pairs of slots that extend upwardly from said bottom edge, each of said abutment members including an abutment block disposed between said outer surrounding wall of said casing and the respective one of said legs, and a pair of hook parts that extend from said abutment block and that extend through a corresponding pair of said slots to engage said outer surrounding wall.

12. The table assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said casing is formed with a plurality of guide units that project inwardly from said outer surrounding wall, each of said guide units guiding sliding movement of said hook parts of a respective one of said abutment members along the corresponding pair of said slots.