FOLDABLE TABLE

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to foldable tables and especially improved stacking properties of foldable tables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foldable tables have long been of interest due to their ability to save space when folded and placed in storage such as in attics or the like. They are further of interest due to their ability to easily be deployed in a time saving manner. Foldable tables should not only be designed with the purpose of being stackable on top of each other but also with the purpose of being placed at the bottom of a stack. This means that a table needs to be designed so that objects, other than foldable tables, may in a safe manner be stacked upon the foldable table without the table being deformed. Earlier foldable tables have certain drawbacks concerning these aspects.

In the patent publication of US 2,119,569 a foldable display bench is disclosed which may be used for displaying newspapers or other merchandise. The display bench exhibits a vertical board hinged to a top board via adjacent positioned cleats or bars. These cleats or bars serve the purpose of distancing the vertical board and the top board so that two foldable legs may be folded towards the vertical board and thereby be placed between the vertical board and the top board when the table is in its folded state. The bench does not however provide a satisfactory solution to a table with the necessary stacking properties needed in order to stack a large number of tables without the table top bending or becoming deformed. This is specially the case when the table is made of a thin material which otherwise would easily bend.

WO 2005/110151 A1 disclose a folding desk having a desk face plate, a left and a right side plate and a front baffle. The folding desk has the drawback that when it is in its folded configuration, the left and right side plates are on the outermost side of the front baffle such that the side plates may become caught on objects during stacking. They may

further easily rotate along their linking point making the foldable desk somewhat difficult to carry.

US patent application US 2005/0274301 A1 disclose a collapsible table consisting of a platform with legs attached at each of the platform's ends. The legs may be folded so that the table presents an overall reduced width which simplifies the transportation of the table. The table has however several drawbacks. Since the legs are folded over each other the table is not designed for stacking table upon table, and specially not for stacking other objects onto the table when the table is in its folded configuration. Further, due to the bar configuration of the table the stability of the table is not optimal.

After at closer examination of the prior art it is evident that there is a need for an improved foldable table which overcomes the aforementioned problems. Especially there is a need for a foldable table which is stable and rigid in its deployed state, thin and readily stackable in its folded state. The table should be stackable not only onto other tables but also stackable with other objects without risking deforming the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned problems and others are solved by a foldable table according to the present invention. More specifically, the invention relates to a foldable table comprising a first and second side board, each comprising a notch which when said table is in its folded state, at least partially encompasses at least one table top mounting element, so that when said table is in its folded state, said table top is substantially parallel with said front board. The invention has several advantages such as, when the table is in the folded state and in e.g. a stack of tables, the side boards distribute the weight of other items stacked onto the table. By distributing the weight over a larger surface area, a larger amount of material may be stacked onto the table. It is further possible to stack single objects, e.g. a heavy vase, onto the table without deforming either the front board or the table top, due to the use of side boards. This feature is especially important when foldable tables are made of relatively thin material. The invention further reduces the play which may exist between side boards, table tops and front boards, when a foldable table is in its folded state. The side board notches may also be used to attach other tables to each other by, e.g. a clip, hence the notches may have a dual functionality, i.e. not only allow a mounting element to protrude through the side boards when the foldable table is in its

folded state but also to attach a plurality of tables to each other when the foldable tables are in their deployed state.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance part and the mounting part are integrated so as to consist of one piece. One advantage of this embodiment is that the manufacturing process may be simplified. It is even possible to reduce the amount of material involved, when using such integrated table top mounting element. According to another embodiment of the present invention it is possible to make the distance part and said mounting part of separate pieces, said pieces being attached to each other. This gives the flexibility to introduce different material if different properties are needed for the mounting part and the distance part.

In another embodiment of the present invention the thickness of said distance part is substantially equal to the thickness of the first and the second side board in order to snugly fit the table top against the side boards and the front board against each other when the table is in its folded state. The first and second side board also comprises a notch to receive at least one tabletop mounting element with its mounting part and said distance part, when said first and second side board are folded towards the front board. The construction allow the side boards to more efficiently take up force affecting the table top or the front board when, e.g. objects are stacked onto the table, when said table is in its folded state. It further allows a large contact surface of the side board against the table tops lower surface without departing from the improved stacking properties. Said notch has an area between 2-50 cm ² , preferably between 5-40 cm ² , most preferably 20-30 cm ² . The notch may also have a substantial rectangular shape in order to easily be utilized as a grip. The first and second side board may each further comprise, a grip for aiding a person to carry the table, said grip is preferably in the form of a carrying hole, and even more preferably, in the form of a rectangular hole. The grip is located with respect to said notch such that both said carrying hole and said notch may be simultaneously employed when carrying said foldable table. This means that the grip and the notch may both be used to carry the table by a user during e.g. transportation of the table in its deployed state.

The inventor has found that stability is enhanced using hinge elements as table top mounting elements. Other conventional elements may be used as long as the foldable function of the table is not hindered. Preferably are 2-8 table top mounting elements used,

more preferably 2-5 table top mounting elements and most preferably 2-4 table top mounting elements. It is not necessary that all mounting elements are hinge elements it may well be that said table top mounting elements are hinge elements while the first and second side board mounting elements are other conventional mounting elements such as leather strips or the like. It is however preferred that the table top mounting elements are hinge elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an additional bracing element is pivotally mounted on said front board, so as to brace the table top against the front board, while the table is in its deployed state. When said table is in its folded state, said bracing element is positioned between said first and second side board. The bracing element is preferable a board similar to the first and second side board. Utilizing a board will further improve the rigidity of the table since a long contact surface is established against the table top. Preferably the additional bracing element is mounted with 1-6 mounting elements, more preferably 1-4 mounting elements and most preferably 2-3 mounting elements.The additional bracing element may also comprise, a notch which when the table is in its folded state, at least partially encompass at least one table top mounting element. The notch allows the bracing element to have a long contact surface against the table top when the foldable table is in its deployed state. This is realized because the length of the bracing element may extend past at least one mounting element, when the foldable table is in its folded state.

In order to improve rigidity of the foldable table and to improve the stacking properties of the foldable table, the inventor has found that it is beneficial if the first and second side boards are pivotally mounted along said front boards first and second transverse edges. This gives a user maximum space for the legs when sitting behind the table, while at the same time the construction do not compromise with the rigidity of the table. The first and second side boards may also be fixed to the lower surface of the table top by fixation means, when said table is in its deployed state. This further improves the rigidity of the table, as well as makes the table very easy to move after deployment since the table is fixed in its deployed state. If the fixation means are located on the lower surface of the table top said the first and second side boards are preferably equipped with fixation means notches to encompass said fixation means when the foldable table is in its folded state. The just mentioned fixation means notches further improve the stacking properties of the foldable table.

Although the first and second side board may in a sense have the same function as table legs, it is recognized that the functionality of a side board differs from that of ordinary table legs. One major difference is that a sideboard may evenly distribute an applied force on a larger area, when e.g. tables are stacked onto each other. This attribute is especially valuable when heavy objects are placed onto stacked tables, in these cases the side board prevent the table top and the front board to bend or even be deformed.

The first and second sideboards, the table top and the front board are preferably made from the same material e.g. natural materials such as wood e.g. laminate boards, plywood, oak boards or birch. Synthetic materials may also be used such as polymeric material e.g. polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene or mixtures thereof. Metallic sheets may be used such as aluminum, steel or similar. The thicknesses of the boards are of course adapted after the choice of material but for natural materials a preferred thickness is within the range of 5-30 mm, preferably 10-25 mm, most preferably 12-22 mm. Selecting the preferred range will secure stability while at the same time not make the foldable table to heavy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is further illustrated by way of example only with the aid of accompanying figures wherein;

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the foldable table in its folded state.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the foldable table during deployment.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the foldable table in its deployed state. Figure 4 shows a back view of the foldable table in its deployed state.

Figure 5a shows a mounting element having an integrated mounting part and distance part.

Figure 5b shows a mounting element having a separate mounting part and distance part.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the foldable table in its deployed state. Figure 7 shows a cross section of fixation means for a side board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of a foldable table 11 according to the present invention in its folded state. The table comprises a table top 12 having a first and a second longitudinal edge 31 , 32, and a first and a second transverse edge 33, 34. The table top 15 is positioned adjacent a first and a second side board 13, 14. A front board 15 is pivotally mounted to the table top 12 in the proximity of the first longitudinal edge 31 and lies substantially parallel with the table top 12 on the side of the first and second side boards 13, 14 opposite to that of the table top 15.

Figure 2 illustrate the foldable table according to the present invention during deployment. During deployment, the table top 12 is folded upwards and away from the first and second side board 13, 14 with the aid of table top mounting elements 21, 22, 23, 24. In this example four table top mounting elements are illustrated but the number of table top mounting elements may be 2-20, preferably 2-10, more preferably 3-8 and most preferably 3-6 table top mounting elements. The front board 15 has a first and a second longitudinal edge 35, 36, and a first and a second transverse edge 37, 38. The first and the second side boards 13, 14 are pivotally mounted in the proximity of the 15 transverse side edges 37, 38 of the front board so as to brace the table top 12 after deployment while at the same time impart rigidity and stability to the table. The first and the second side boards 13, 14 are folded away from each other during deployment. An additional bracing element 40 may be positioned between the first and the second side boards 13, 14 pivotally mounted to the front board 15. Said bracing element 40 may be in the shape of a substantially right-angled triangular board wherein the hypotenuse has a slightly concave form.

The first and the second side boards 13, 14 each comprise a notch 25, 26, the notches are positioned along the edge of the first and the second side boards 13, 14. Said edge of the first and the second side boards 13, 14 are when the foldable table is in its deployed state adjacent to the lower surface 10 of said table top 12. When the first and the second side boards 13, 14 are lying substantially adjacent the front board 15, i.e. when the foldable table 11 is in its folded state, each notch 25, 26 at least partly encompass one of the mounting element 20, 23. Due to this inventive arrangement the first and the second side boards 13, 14 may be positioned substantially aligned with the first longitudinal edge 35 of front board 15. The notches thereby allow the first and second side board 13, 14 to impart additional rigidity to the foldable table 11 when being in the deployed state. The notches 25, 26 further allow at least two mounting elements to at least partly protrude

beyond the first and the second side boards 13, 14, enabling the table top 12 to be substantially parallel with the front board 14 when the foldable table 11 is in its folded state.

In figure 3 the foldable table 11 is illustrated in its deployed state. The table top 12 is braced by the first and the second side boards 13, 14 along the lower surface 10 of the table top 12 against the front board 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and the second side boards 13, 14 are each pivotally mounted to the front board 15 by means of three hinges. The table top 12 is further braced by the additional bracing element 40 pivotally mounted to the front board 15 by means of two hinges, in the illustrated embodiments. The first and the second side board 13, 14 and the additional bracing element 40 may be fixed to the lower surface 10 of the table top 12 by means of a fixation means. The fixation means imparts additional rigidity to the foldable table in its deployed state.

The first and the second side boards 13, 14 each further have a carrying hole 27, 28. Said carrying hole 27, 28 is located with respect to said notch such that both said hole and said notch may be simultaneously employed when carrying said foldable table. The carrying hole allows the table to be moved in a convenient manner when the foldable table is in its deployed state. Each notch 25, 26 may exhibit an area of approximately 40 cm ² . In one embodiment of the invention, the notch and the carrying hole have an approximately equal area.

Figure 4 shows a foldable table 11 according to one embodiment of the invention having two front board notches 41 , 42 along and in the first longitudinal edge 35 of the front board 15. The front board notches 41, 42 enable connection means (not illustrated) to connect at least two foldable tables together. Said connection means may be in the form of a clip or the like. An advantage of this configuration is that no component of the table protrudes beyond the upper surface 9 of the table top 12 after assembling the foldable tables. Two connected tables may therefore present an uninterrupted planar top surface.

A cross section along line B-B of the foldable table 11 is illustrated in figure 5a showing a mounting element 43 having a pivot axis 46 about which said table top 12 can pivot with respect to said front board 15, a mounting part 44 to mount said table top mounting element 20, 23 to said table top 12 and said front board 15 and a distance part 45 to

distance said pivot axis from said front board 15.

In figure 5a a hinge is used as a mounting element 43. The mounting part 44 which in figure 5a is attached to the lower surface 10 of the table top 12 and the front board 15 enables the table top 12 to pivot when the foldable table 11 is deployed. The distance part 45 enables the table top 12 to be substantially parallel with the front board 15 and to lie adjacent the first and the second side board 13, 14 when the foldable table 11 is in its folded state. The distance part 45 and the mounting part 44 of the mounting element 43 may be integrated so as to consist of one piece. The length l _d of the distance part 45 is in the illustrated example approximately equal to the thickness t _Sb (see figure 7) of the first and the second side board 13, 14.

Figure 5b illustrates an alterative mounting element 43 in the format of a hinge cooperating with a distance part 45. The mounting part 44 of the hinge is attached to the lower surface 10 of the table top 12 and to the distance part 45 which in turn is attached to the front board 15 and enables the table top 12 to pivot when the foldable table 11 is deployed. The distance part 45 enables the table top 12 to be substantially parallel with the front board 15 and to lie adjacent the first and the second side boards 13, 14 when the foldable table 11 is in its folded state. Thus in this embodiment the distance part 45 and the mounting part 44 of the mounting element 43 consist of separate pieces attached to each other. The length I _d of the distance part 45 is in the illustrated example approximately equal to the thickness t _Sb (see figure 7) of the first and the second side boards 13, 14. The distance part 45 and the mounting part 44 are attached to each other e.g. by screws, nails or adhesive. Further, the mounting parts may be attached to the table top 15 and the front board 15 by e.g. screws, nails or adhesive.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the foldable table 11 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The foldable table 11 is in figure 6 in its deployed state; the table top 12 lies substantially horizontal while the front board 15 is perpendicular and vertically aligned with respect to the table top 12. The side board 14 comprises a carrying hole 28 and a notch 26 located such that a user may easily insert his hand into the carrying hole while at the same time allowing e.g. his thumb to enter the notch 26, the arrangement gives the user a secure and comfortable grip. The hole 28 and the notch 26 may therefore be simultaneously employed when carrying said foldable table. The side board 14 is perpendicular to both the front board 15 and the table top 12 and is arranged so that it

braces the table top 12 against the front board 15 while at the same time stabilizing the table.

The side board 14 illustrated in figure 6 has a first and a second longitudinal edge 16, 17 and a first and a second transverse edge 18, 19. The side board 14 has a continuous contact surface area for contacting the floor (not shown) all along its second transverse edge 19, while the first transverse edge 18 contacts the lower surface 10 of the table top 12 so that good stability is imparted to the foldable table 11 when it is in its deployed state. The first transverse edge 18 of the side board 14 has two continuous contact surface areas 51 , 52 with the lower surface 10 of the table top 12, the two continuous contacts surface areas 51 , 52 being separated by the notch 26. It is of course well within the boundaries of the present invention that both the first and the second side board of the foldable table 11 have the just mentioned features.

Figure 7 is a cross section along a line of the foldable table 11 which illustrates a principle of fixation means 55 for fixing the first and second side board 13, 14 and/or the additional bracing element 40. More specifically a cross section of a side board 13 and a table top 12 is illustrated. The fixation means 55 are designed so that when the first or the second side board 13, 14 or the bracing element 40 is pivoted towards its deployed state, the fixation means 55 will engage the side boards in a snapping manner. The first or the second side boards 13, 14 or the bracing element 40 is then held in place by said fixation means 55 when the foldable table 11 is in its deployed state. The fixation means 55 is suitable formed from a metal or plastic strip which is sufficiently resilient to allow the side boards 13, 14 to be released from its engaged position by manual pressure. When the fixation means are located on the lower surface of the table top said first and second side boards are preferably equipped with fixation means notches to encompass said fixation means when the foldable table is in its folded state. The just mentioned fixation means notches further improve the stacking properties of the foldable table.

The first and second sideboards 13, 14, the table top 12 and the front board 15 are in the illustrated examples made from the same material, namely a wood laminate board having a thickness of 15 mm. The thickness t _sb of the side boards may of course vary according to the material used.