FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly to a table like structure which may be collapsed so that the legs are coplanar with the top surface of the structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are various types of table like furniture structures which are well know in the prior art. In most instances the table like structures are constructed utilizing a plurality of parts which will include a top and legs which are assembled utilizing fasteners of various types or adhesives. On site assembly of such structures may be quite complex and usually requires tools. The use of these tools as well as well as the various fasteners can represent a test for the mechanically challenged individual. In addition, such prior art table like structures require rather cumbersome packaging and are difficult to ship in that additional space is required which increases the costs thereof.

[0003] In addition to the foregoing, some prior art, ready to assemble furniture relies on slots or grooves to join independent panels together. When such occurs, the slots and grooves reduce the cross section of the panel at exactly the point where load bearing capacity is required. In order to accomplish rigidity of such structures positional restraints such as detents and notches to hold and restrain the panel after assembly is required. These positional restraints do enable easier assembly but are structurally inadequate to bear the infrequent but substantial lateral loads imposed on furniture in the home or office.

[0004] Such prior art structures are usually usable only for a specific purpose, that is for a table or a desk or the like. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many uses for a table like structure, such for example, as a coffee table, a regular height table, a bench or a higher structure for accepting statues, vases or other such objects for display throughout the home or office. [0005] There is thus a need for a table like furniture structure which may be packaged in a flat array thus decreasing the cost of shipment and increasing the number of units which may be shipped in any particular arrangement and which may be assembled without the need of tools and yet is rigid and can withstand substantial loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A table like furniture structure comprising a unitary member which is planar in configuration and includes a top surface and first and second side surfaces interconnected with the top surface. A plurality of grooves displaced from the ends are defined to permit the first and second sides to be bent to an angle with respect to the top surface and a rigid brace extends between the first and second side surface to secure them in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the table like structure in its fully assembled and ready to use position;

[0008] Figure 2 is a top plan view of the table like structure in its pre-assembled position and showing the grooves on the lower surface thereof;

[0009] Figure 3 is a side view of the structure of Figure 2;

[00010] Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken about the lines 4-4 of Figure 2 showing one embodiment of the configuration of the grooves;

[00011] Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken about the lines 5-5 of Figure 2 which illustrates an alternative configuration of the grooves;

[00012] Figure 6 is a cross sectional view showing the brace which extends between legs of the table to hold them in place;

[00013] Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of an insert which is provided at each end of the tube of Figure 6; [00014] Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a steel plate having a threaded rod which is received within the insert as illustrated in Figure 7;

[00015] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram which illustrates the manner in which the structure of the present invention is assembled;

[00016] Figure 10 is a partial perspective view which illustrates the manner in which the grooves function to provide the legs for the table like structure constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

[00017] Figure 1 1 is a cross sectional view of the assembled table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00018] The present invention is directed to a table like furniture structure, the term "table like" is used throughout to mean a structure which has a flat upper surface and downwardly depending legs or sides integral therewith but which may have varying heights and may be used for various purposes. For example, such a structure may be relatively low and function for use as a coffee table or a bench for seating. Alternatively, the structure may be higher and be at the level normally occupied for a desk or kitchen table or the like. In addition, the structure may also be relatively high and would be at the level which would be utilized internally in an office or a home to accept an object which is to be displayed such as a statue, vase, carving or similar such item which one wishes to display. In any event, such a table like structure is formed from a unitary elongated planar member having width and thickness and which is adapted to be bent at positions displaced from the ends thereof to define an upper flat table like surface and first and second downwardly depending legs extending therefrom. The downwardly depending legs are secured in place by a rigid brace extending therebetween to maintain the rigidity of the table like structure during use.

[00019] Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, there is shown in perspective view a table like structure 10 which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The table like structure 10 includes an upper surface 12 and a downwardly depending leg 14 at one end thereof and a downwardly depending leg 16 at the other end thereof. The leg 16 is joined to the upper surface 12 by a hinge like structure illustrated at 18 while the leg 14 is connected to the upper surface 12 by a hinge like structure 20. The hinge like structures 18 and 20 will be described more in detail beiow. Secured between the downwardly depending legs 14 and 16 is a rigid brace 22 which is secured in place by an appropriate fastener which may be secured in place by hand tightening, that is, without the use of tools.

[00020] Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the construction of the elongated planar member which provides the upper surface and the legs of the table like structure 10 is illustrated with the structure in its unassembled configuration. As is shown, the structure 10 is constructed of an elongated unitary planar member 30 which includes as an integral part thereof the leg sections 14 and 16. The leg section 14 defines an orifice or an opening 26 therethrough while the leg section 16 defines an orifice or opening 28 therethrough. The openings 26 and 28 receive the rigid brace 22. Displaced from the ends 15 and 17 of the elongated planar structure 30 are a plurality of grooves 32 and 34 which provide the hinge like structures 18 and 20 of the structure 10. The planar member 30 includes a first layer of flexible material 36 substantially coextensive with and laminated on one surface thereof and a second layer of flexible material 38 substantially coextensive with and laminated on the opposite surface thereof. The laminations 36 and 38 are formed from any thin flexible material which may be laminated to the planar member which is formed preferably of wood and may for example, be plastic material. A preferred embodiment for the flexible material is a composite layer formed of two layers of white vinyl with a black backing with each layer being approximately 0.03 mil in thickness, a third layer of approximately 0.01 mil in thickness of a self adhesive vinyl having a desired color, and a fourth layer of approximately 0.05 mil self adhesive transparent polycarbonate. These layers are processed through rollers and laminated together with a self adhesive backing material. The composite layer of flexible material is then laminated on the two surfaces of the elongated planar member using a contact adhesive with outer layer being the polycarbonate to provide a scratch resistant surface. In any event the laminate is constructed such that it will permit bending of the leg portions 14 and 16 about the grooves 32 and 34 so as to form the legs 14 and 16 of the table like structure, but at the same time will not break or separate from the member 30 as a result of the bending operation.

[00021] Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, the grooves which are formed in the thickness 34 of the member 30 are such that lands 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54 are formed by the grooves 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 and 72. As is illustrated in Figure 4, these grooves 56 through 72 may be rectangular in configuration and extend from the upper surface internally into the thickness of the member 30 but stop short of the opposite surface thereof. Through the formation of these grooves the legs 14 and 16 may be formed by bending the ends of the member 30 toward the surface 36 until the edges of the grooves contact each other at which point the legs will typically be disposed at substantially 90 degrees to the plane of the member 30 when it is in its collapsed or unassembled position.

[00022] it should be understood by those skilled in the art that although the grooves as shown in Figure 4 which are generally rectangular in configuration may be used, the grooves also may be formed as illustrated in Figure 5 so that they are formed substantially as a V shaped notch like structure as shown in 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 and 90. It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that the grooves may also take other geometric configurations besides rectangular and a V shaped notch like groove. The only consideration and restriction is that the grooves are sufficient in number and sufficient space is provided as a result of relieving the thickness of the member 30 by an amount sufficient to permit bending or rotating of the structure, while not breaking the structure, to form the downwardly depending legs 14 and 16 as shown in Figure 1.

[00023] in Figure 6, the rigid brace which extends between the legs 14 and 16 is illustrated. The rigid brace may take the form of a hollow steel tube 92. A cap like member 98 is welded to one end of the tubular member 92. The opposite end of the tube 92 includes a threaded insert 94 disposed therein. A cap like member 98 having a threaded rod 99 is received in the threaded insert 94 of the tube 92 so that the tube 92 will be retained between the legs 14 and 16 and provide rigidity to the structure. The details of the construction of the tube are illustrated in further detail in Figures 7 and 8. As is therein shown, the end 94 of the tube is a fitting having a threaded opening 96 which receives the threads on the rod 1 10 of the end cap 98. The end cap 98 is further illustrated in Figure 8 and includes the rod or extension 100 having threads 102 formed thereon which are received by the threaded opening 96 in the end 94..

[00024] As shown in Figure 9, to assemble the table like structure of the present invention, one would lay the unitary member 30 flat as shown and then bend the ends which form the legs 14 and 16 upwardly as illustrated by the arrows 95 and 93 respectively to positions as shown in the dashed lines at 97 and 99. The steel tube 92 would then be inserted into the openings with the cap secured to one end thereof and when received at the other opening, the cap would then be screwed into place as illustrated.

[00025] Figure 10 illustrates in further detail the manner in which the hinge like structure occurs with the grooves or notches as shown being bent and coming together to include the spacing there between and form the completed structure, it should be noted that the surface 100 is substantially continuous because the outer edges of the lands contact each other to preclude further bending of the top member 30.

[00026] Figure 1 1 illustrates the completed table in cross section and thus as is illustrated provides an upper surface 14 which may be utilized for any of the purposes above described and has the two legs 14 and 16 downwardly depending therefrom at substantial 90 degree angles with the steel tube 92 extending therebetween with the end fittings 98 secured therein to thus provide the completed structure.

[00027] There has thus been disclosed a table like furniture structure which may be packaged in a flat configuration for shipping and which may be assembled without the need of tools and is rigid and can withstand substantial loads.