US3736884A - Collapsible table - Google Patents

Abstract

This is a collapsible table tennis structure having a top playing surface and a decorative undersurface. The table consists of a frame positioned adjacent to the outer edge of the undersurface of the table when the table is closed. The frame includes four legs wherein one end of each leg is hinged to the table so as to enable the other end of each leg to swing away from the undersurface of the table when the table is being opened until the legs are so situated as to support the table in the horizontal position. Means are provided for transferring the table from the horizontal to the vertical position when closing the table, and from the vertical to the horizontal position when opening the table. Means coupled to the transferring means are provided for moving the table toward the wall when closing the table, and away from the wall when opening the table. Additional means coupled to the transferring means are provided for supporting the table against the wall, and still further means are provided for holding the table against the wall in the vertical position whereby the table is stored against the wall when not being used.

Description

[ 1 June 5, 1973 United States Patent 1191 Kohner [54] COLLAPSIBLE TABLE [57] ABSTRACT This is a collapsible table tennis structure having a top Inventor: Michael R. Kohner, l2 Rhoda Ter- -Troy Hills, NJ.

race, Parsippany 07054 [22] Filed: Sept. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 179,085

ble the other end of each leg to swing away from the undersurface of the table when the table is being A496 31/00 opened until the legs are so situated as to support the table in the horizontal position. Means are provided /164, 297/147, 163 for transferring the table from the horizontal to the vertical position when closing the table, and from the [58] Field of Search vertical to the horizontal position when opening the table. Means coupled to the transferring means are provided for moving the table toward the wall when closing the table, and away from the wall when open- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 243/2402 ing the table. Additional means coupled to the trans- 273/30 ferring means are provided for supporting the table against the wall, and still further means are provided for holding the table against the wall in the vertical position whereby the table is stored against the wall when not being used.

V. e n k c a H Neubecker....................... Robins mm a.. ".m I wa F 086003 6262 99999 lllll 053 8 l 72 83 2457 2 2 2 3 3 27526 76766 5 3 4 3131 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner.lames T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Garry Moore Attorney-Morris Kirschstein, David B. Kirschstein and Bertram Ottinger et al.

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Of The Invention This invention relates to a collapsible table and more particularly to a collapsible table tennis structure which can be stored against a wall and used for decorative purposes when not being used as a table.

2. Description Of The Prior Art Generally, table tennis structures which are used in ones home must be folded up and placed in a storage area when not being used. If one has no place to store a closed 4 foot by 8 foot table, one would not be able to use such a table in his home. One solution to the storage problem is to use a two section table which can be folded and placed in the vertical position and mounted upon a base having wheels. The folded table now takes up less room than before, but may still present a storage problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide a collapsible table which can be conveniently stored against a wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsible table tennis structure which has a decorative undersurface that can be seen when stored against the wall.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible table tennis structure having a top playing surface and a decorative undersurface comprising a frame positioned adjacent to the outer edge of the undersurface of said table when said table is closed, said frame including four legs, one end of each leg being hinged to said table so as to enable the other end of each leg to swing away from the undersurface of said table when said table is being opened so that said legs will support said table in the horizontal position when said table is opened, means for transferring said table from the horizontal to the vertical position when closing said table and from the vertical to the horizontal position when opening said table, means coupled to said transferring means for moving said table toward a wall when closing said table and away from the wall when opening said table, and means for holding said table against the wall in the vertical position whereby said table is stored against the wall when not being used.

A feature of the invention provides for the table to include a first flat top member providing said top playing-surface, an underframe attached to the underside of said flat top member, said underframe being adjacent said frame, and a flat bottom member providing said undersurface for said table, said frame being positioned adjacent the outer edge of said flat bottom member when said table is closed.

Another feature of the invention provides for the table to further comprise means for holding each of said legs flush against the underside of said flat top member when said table is closed and in position to support said table when said table is opened.

Still another feature of the invention provides for a supporting means to include a spacer fixed to the wall, and the transferring means to include a piano hinge having a first and second plate, said first plate being fastened to said spacer and said second plate being fastened to said moving means.

In a further feature of the invention said underframe is sectioned to form the side walls of a first and second channel, and said flat top and bottom members form the respective top and bottom walls of the respective first and second channels, and said moving means includes a U shaped rail section having a first and second rail leg and a back rail extending therebetween, said back rail being fastened to the second plate of said piano hinge, and said first and second rail legs being placed within the respective first and second channels to allow said table to be moved toward and away from the wall.

In a still further feature of the invention, the table holding means includes a ball catch having a male and female portion, the male portion extending from the top surface of said table and the female portion mounted within the wall, so that when said table is collapsed and placed against the wall in the vertical position, the male portion will be placed within the female portion so as to hold said table against the wall.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible table having a top and undersurface comprising a frame positioned adjacent to the outer edge of the undersurface of said table when said table is closed, said frame including four legs, one end of each leg being hinged to said table so as to enable the other end of each leg to swing away from the undersurface of said table when said table is being opened so that said legs will support said table in the horizontal position when said table is opened, means for transferring said table from the horizontal to the vertical position when closing said table and from the vertical to the horizontal position when opening said table, means coupled to said transferring means for moving said table toward a wall when closing said table and away from the wall when opening said table, and means for holding said table against the wall in the vertical position whereby said table is stored against the wall when not being used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table tennis structure when opened and away from the wall;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial front view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a broken view of the table collapsed and mounted against the wall;

FIG. 7. is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG; 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6; and,

FIG. is another embodiment of the table shown in FIG. 6 when collapsed and placed against the wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, table 10 is shown in the open position and displaced from wall 12. The top member 14 of table 10 can be made of any suitably structured wood, metal or plastic, etc. In this example, member 14 consists of an oblong four-ply plywood board having typical dimensions of 4 feet X 8 feet X '76 inch, the top surface 16 thereof can be a hard board for providing a suitable playing surface for table tennis or any other related activity. When used to play table tennis, net 18 can be attached to hollow columns 20 and 22, which columns are placed over posts, which posts are attached to the table. U"-shaped member 24 is provided with legs 26 and 28, and U"-shaped member 30 is provided with leg 32 and leg 33 (shown in FIG. 6). The ends of the respective legs 26, 28, 30 and 33 are at tached to the table by respective hinges 34, 35 shown in FIG. 6, 36 and 37 also shown in FIG. 6. These legs, of course, support the table in the horizontal position when the table is opened, and when the table is closed, U-shaped members 24 and 30 will fit flush against the underside 17 (shown in FIG. 2) of top member 14 and form part of the frame for the undersurface of the table.

Means for moving the table toward and away from the wall, are provided by a U"-shaped rail section 38 having a first hollow rail leg 40, a second hollow rail leg 42, and a back rail 44 extending between the respective ends of rail legs 40 and 42. Rail legs 40 and 42 have respective slots 46 and 48 formed through the respective side walls thereof, wherein the respective slots 46 and 48 extend between near the end points of respective rail legs 40 and 42. Slotted rails 40 and 42 are so dimensioned as to fit comfortably within respective channels 50 and 52 shown in dotted lines, so that they may easily slide therein. The U-shaped rail section can be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum, steel or even wood or plastic. Dowels 54 and 55 are respectively fixed to the side walls of respective channels 50 and 52, and extend within respective slots 46 and 48 so as to prevent rail legs 40 and 42 from being completely removed from respective channels 50 and 52. Back rail 44 of rail member 38 is attached to one plate ofa piano hinge 56, while a second plate of piano hinge 56 is attached to a spacer 60. Spacer 60 in turn is firmly fixed to wall 12. Spacer 60 can be made of a suitable metal such as steel or aluminum, or can be made of any other structurally satisfactory material, such as wood. Alternatively, the second plate of piano hinge 60 can be directly fastened to the wall.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of table 10 shown in FIG. 1 taken between lines 22. Top board 14 is shown attached to an underframe 62. Underframe 62 actually consists of sections shown in FIG. 6 and is more fully described later on. This underframe can be comprised of any suitable material such as wood, metal or plastic. In this instance, however, a wood underframe 62 is used. The underframe 62 can be fastened to underside 17 of table 14 using a standard wood cement or alternatively using screws or nails, etc. A flat bottom member 64 is then secured, using standard fastening means, to underframe 62. Dowel 54 is shown placed within sections of underframe 62, wherein these sections form the side walls of channel 50 (shown in FIG. 1), while top member 14 and bottom member 64 form the respecitve top and bottom walls of channel 50. Although not shown, channel 52 is constructed as described above with respect to channel 50. Dowels 54 and 55 can be made to slide or screw into their respective side walls, and can be made of a suitable metal, such as steel, aluminum or zinc, or wood, etc. While the dowels serve to prevent the rail legs from being completely withdrawn from their respective channels, these dowels can be made to be removed from their respective side walls. Once these dowels are removed from 1 their respective side walls, rail legs 40 and 42 can be completely removed from their respective channels, and table 10, in effect, can be completely detached from wall 12.

FIG. 3, which is a partial front view of FIG. 1 taken between lines 3-3, and FIG. 4, which is a cross section of FIG. 3 taken between lines 4-4, show the means for holding leg 26 in position to support the table when the table is open. Hinge 34 passes through a hole in and near the end of leg 26, wherein this hinge is fastened to a section of underframe 62. That section of underframe 62 has a hole 66 formed therein for receiving spring loaded pin 68, which pin will provide the means to hold the leg against the underside 17 of top member 14 when the table is closed. As shown in FIG. 4, the spring loaded pin 68 is positioned against the undersurface 70 of bottom member 64, so as to prevent leg 26 from collapsing once the table is opened. When folding the table, the spring loaded pin 68 is pulled sufficiently outward so as to no longer engage the undersurface 70 of bottom member 64, thus allowing leg 26 to be folded. When spring loaded pin 72, shown in FIG. 6 is also pulled sufficiently outward to allow leg 28 to be similarly folded, U-shaped member 24 is free to swing against the underside 17 of top member 14, whereupon spring loaded pins 68 and 72 will push into their respective holes in the adjacent sections of underframe 62 so that U-shaped member 24 will not move away from the underside 17 of top member 14. The fastening action of spring loaded pin 68, when pushed into hole 66 of the adjacent section of underframe 62, is shown in FIG. 8, which figure is a cross section of FIG. 6 taken between lines 8-8. Of course, U"-shaped member 30 and spring loaded pins 74 and 75, shown in FIG. 6, in association with respective legs 32 and 33, function the same as U-shaped member 24 and its associated parts, as described above, when opening and closing the table.

Referring now to FIG. 5, which is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken between lines 55, plate 76 of piano hinge 56 is shown fastened to spacer 60, and plate 78 of piano hinge 46 is shown fastened via a suitable screw arrangement to back rail 44 of U-shaped member 38. Although back rail 44 is hollow in this instance, it also could have a solid cross section. Column 20 is shown to fit over post 79, which post extends through top member 14 and is screwed into a section of underframe 62. The head 80 of post 79 is in the form of a ball, which ball forms the male portion of a ball catch, which ball catch provides the means for holding the table against the wall in the vertical position. Likewise column 22 fits over spring loaded post 82, wherein post 82 also has a ball type head 84.

When the table is being used for playing table tennis, and is ready to be collapsed, columns 20 and 22 are removed along with net 18. The legs are folded as described above and the table is slid toward the wall on rail legs 40 and 42 until back rail 44 ofU-shaped rail section 38 abuts a section of underframe 62. The table at this point, is transferred from the horizontal to the vertical position by piano hinge 56, as shown in FIG. 6. While piano hinge 56 provides the means for transferring the table from the horizontal to the verticaal and from the vertical to the horizontal position, it is possible to use other suitable means, such as two separate hinges, to accomplish the same result. Ball 80, which serves as the male portion of ball catch 86 shown in FIG. 7, fits within the female portion 88 of ball catch 86 so as to hold the table against the wall in the vertical position. Female portion 88 is screwed into a recess 90 in wall 12, which recess provides sufficient clearance to allow ball 80 to enter the recess and fit into the female portion 88 of ball catch 86. Meanwhile, as the table is lifted into the vertical postion, ball head 84 of spring loaded post 82 engages spacer 60, so that post 82 is gradually forced into recess 92 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, wherein recess 92 extends through top member 14 and underframe 6 2 and into bottom member 64.

FIG. 6 shows a portion of bottom member cut away so as to expose sections of underframe 62, wherein the underframe is shown to be comprised of sections 94, 96 and 98. That portion of section 94 which is adjacent section 96 forms the side walls of channel 52, and that portion of section 96 which is adjacent section 98 forms the side walls of channel 50. The undersurface 70 of table can be made decorative, and can be a reflective mirror, painting or any other suitable object. The frame surrounding the undersurface 70 is comprised ofU-shaped members 24 and 30, back rail 44 and section 99 formed between the ends of legs 26 and 32.

FIG. 9, which is a cross sectional view of FIG. 6 taken between lines 9-9, shows the cross section of U- shaped member 30 to be a hollow tubing in this instance, which is typically aluminum, wherein the remainder of the frame has the same cross section as U"-shaped member 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, it may be possible to replace the respective central portions ofU-shaped members 24 and 30 with frame sections 100 and 101 which are permanently fixed on the underside 17 of top member 14, wherein legs 26 and 28 and legs 32 and 33 can swing away from the underside 17 of top member 14 independently from one another. Furthermore, rail legs 40 and 42 can be directly attached to plate 78 of the piano hinge 56, and back rail 44 can be replaced by frame section 102 which is permanently fixed to underside 17 of top member 14.

The above described collapsible tables thus eliminate the storage problem presented by standard table tennis structures providing for easy convertibility of the table to a decorative article, such as a mirror or painting, which can be easily mounted on and stored against a wall.

It should be noted that while the top playing surface 16 of table 10 in this example has been suitably adapted for playing table tennis, it could in other instances be adapted for other purposes. For example, the top surface of the table could be adapted so as to be used for playing cards, billiards, pool, table hockey, etc., and can be made to a smaller size, proportionally reduced to keep the same width to length ratio so that the table can be used as a miniature table tennis surface.

It thus is seen that there is provided a collapsible table which achieves the several objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now described the invention, there is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A collapsible table comprising a. an elongated top member, said top member including i. a flat top element,

ii. a flat bottom element and iii. edge means joining said top element to said bottom element,

iv. said top element being spaced from and parallel to said bottom element,

b. four legs,

i. each leg having one end connected to the top member adjacent a corner thereof,

ii. said connecting means permitting each leg to swing from a closed position lying alongside an adjacent long edge of the top member to an open position in which the other end of the leg extends away from the bottom element of the top member so that when the legs are in open position they are correctly disposed to support the top member from a horizontal surface,

c. hinge means parallel to a long edge of the table for swinging said table from an upright position to a horizontal position,

i. said hinge means including two elements of which one is for attachement to a wall of a room at the height of the top member when the top member is swung to a horizontal position and the legs are in open position,

d. means including a pair of cooperating elongated slide members,

i. one member of each pair being permanently fixed to the other element of the hinge means,

ii. the other member of each pair being permanently fixed to the table below the top element thereof,

iii. said other member of each pair being disposed within the top member between the top element and the bottom element,

iv. all the members of the pairs being perpendicular to the long edge of the table closer to the hinge means,

v. said members of each pair being mutually interengaged solely for captive longitudinal relatively slidable movement with respect to each other,

vi. said pairs of cooperating slide members coupling said hinge means to said top member to permit said top member to be moved toward and away from said wall,

vii. said top member when against said wall being in vertical position having been swung upwardly about the hinge means against the wall and the slide members in such position of the top member being fully contracted,

viii. said top member when away from said wall being in horizontal position with the legs extending away from the table, the top member having been swung downwardly about the hinge means and the slide members in such position of the top member being extended, and

e. means for holding said top member against said wall in said vertical position of the top member whereby said top member is stored against the wall when out of use.

2. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top element includes markings to define a table tennis playing surface.

and closed position.

Claims (4)

1. A collapsible table comprising a. an elongated top member, said top member including i. a flat top element, ii. a flat bottom element and iii. edge means joining said top element to said bottom element, iv. said top element being spaced from and parallel to said bottom element, b. four legs, i. each leg having one end connected to the top member adjacent a corner thereof, ii. said connecting means permitting each leg to swing from a closed position lying alongside an adjacent long edge of the top member to an open position in which the other end of the leg extends away from the bottom element of the top member so that when the legs are in open position they are correctly disposed to support the top member from a horizontal surface, c. hinge means parallel to a long edge of the table for swinging said table from an upright position to a horizontal position, i. said hinge means including two elements of which one is for attachement to a wall of a room at the height of the top member when the top member is swung to a horizontal position and the legs are in open position, d. means including a pair of cooperating elongated slide members, i. one member of each pair being permanently fixed to the other element of the hinge means, ii. the other member of each pair being permanently fixed to the table below the top element thereof, iii. said other member of each pair being disposed within the top member between the top element and the bottom element, iv. all the members of the pairs being perpendicular to the long edge of the table closer to the hinge means, v. said members of each pair being mutually interengaged solely for captive longitudinal relatively slidable movement with respect to each other, vi. said pairs of cooperating slide members coupling said hinge means to said top member to permit said top member to be moved toward and away from said wall, vii. said top member when against said wall being in vertical position having been swung upwardly about the hinge means against the wall and the slide members in such position of the top member being fully contracted, viii. said top member when away from said wall being in horizontal position with the legs extending away from the table, the top member having been swung downwardly about the hinge means and the slide members in such position of the top member being extended, and e. means for holding said top member against said wall in said vertical position of the top member whereby said top member is stored against the wall when out of use.

2. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top element includes markings to define a table tennis playing surface.

3. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1 wherein two elongated elements are provided, each connecting a different pair of legs at a short end of the table, the ends so connected being the other ends of the legs, and the member lying alongside the associated top end when the legs are in closed position whereby when the legs are swung to closed position they define a portion of the border of the top member.

4. A collapsible table as set forth in claim 1 wherein releasable means is included to hold the legs in open and closed position.

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