This invention relates to tables which may be folded for storage when not in use. The invention has been particularly developed for tables mounted in or adjacent to a wall, especially ironing boards mounted in this manner. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applicability than ironing boards alone.

Foldable tables are known but previous constructions suffer from various disadvantages such as inadequate support when in the extended position, difficulty in folding or unfolding and high selling price. Some of these factors are aggravated by the complexity of construction of prior art tables. This is due in part to the necessity of providing a table which is at a useful height when extended, but which does not extend too far upward when folded. One way of overcoming this problem is shown in our earlier Australian patent application no. 18523/88, which application also illustrates the complexity of some of the prior art. It is an object of the current invention to provide a wall mounted folding table, which overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Accordingly, there is provided a wall mounted folding table including a working surface pivotally connected at one end to mounting means and movable about the pivotal connection between a closed position in which the working surface lies substantially parallel with a wall in or on which the table is mounted and an open position in which the working surface is supported in use in a substantially

horizontal plane by support means, characterised in that the working surface is formed in an open position of the table by substantially flat surfaces of a first table member and a second table member and of a separation means hingedly connecting the table members, the first table member being pivotally connected to the mounting means adjacent one end of the first table member and being hingedly connected to the separation means adjacent its end opposite its pivotal connection to the mounting means, the separation means also being hingedly connected adjacent one end of the second table member such that the ends of the respective table members adjacent the separation means abut each other when the table is in the open position, the second table member being movable about the hinged connections into a folded position alongside and substantially parallel to the first table member with the separation means acting to keep the adjacent ends of the respective table members apart in this folded position.

The first and second table members may be constructed of wood or plastics materials, although for ironing board applications a relatively fine metal mesh may be used to form the working surface so that when covered with appropriate covering material, a lightweight working surface suitable for ironing is provided. Table members constructed of metal mesh preferably include a surrounding rim and may further include at least one supporting member mounted behind the working surface and strengthening the working surface against forces applied to it. 'Preferably each table member with its surrounding rim is formed from a single

sheet of metal such as steel; the metal sheet has a plurality of holes punched through it and it is folded at its edge portions to form the rim.

In many applications, particularly those as an ironing board, it is desirable to use a covering material to protect or improve the quality of the working surface. Further, it is desirable to be able to leave the covering material on the table when the table is folded away. In these circumstances, it is not possible simply to fold separate parts of the table together about normal hinges as the covering material would prevent the parts lying together in compact form. However, in accordance with the present invention it is proposed to provide a separation means between the first and second table members. The separation means acts to provide a space between the first and second table members when the second table member is moved until it is substantially parallel to the first table member, said space being sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the covering material. Typically the covering material may comprise a layer of padding or foam material, overlaid with cloth. In the case of ironing boards, such cloth is usually heat resistant.

The mounting means may simply comprise a bracket which is fastened to a wall, however it is preferred that the mounting means comprise' a carrying frame which contains the table within the boundaries of the frame. The table in this preferred embodiment is pivotally mounted within the frame whilst the frame itself is fixed to a wall, or preferably set into a wall. The mounting means is constructed such

that the first member may be pivoted until it is in a substantially vertical or closed position, the second member being in a position alongside and substantially parallel to the first member, or pivoted until the first member is in a . substantially horizontal or open position whilst the second member is coplanar with the first table member. Where the mounting means is a carrying frame, it is preferable to arrange the first and second table members so that in the closed position they do not project beyond the carrying frame in. any direction. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the carrying frame comprises a cabinet which has a door and which may be wall mounted.

The table of the present invention also includes a support means which preferably supports the working surface in a substantially horizontal position when the table is extended into the open position. The support means acts to support the weight of the table and acts against downward forces applied during the use of the table, such as the weight of objects placed on the table or pressure transmitted through material being ironed on the table. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support means includes a telescopic rod having a lower member pivotally attachable to a mounting surface and an upper member pivotally attached to the first table member adjacent its end remote from its connection to the mounting means. The mounting surface may be a wall or floor, but in embodiments of the invention incorporating a carrying frame, the mounting surface is preferably part of the carrying frame. The telescopic rod is extended when the table is in the

closed position and is contracted when the table is in the open position. The telescopic rod is so constructed that when the first member is in the horizontal or open position, the telescopic rod is prevented by a limit stop from contracting any further, thus providing a rigid support to the table.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, adjustment means may be provided at the pivotal connection between the first member and the mounting means, or at the pivotal connection at either or both ends of the telescopic rod, or both. For example, adjustment means at the pivotal connection between the first member and the mounting means would allow the height of the table above the floor to be adjusted. Such means may comprise a paired series of stepped apertures in the mounting means into which the ends of an axle connected to the first member may be placed, the height of the lower extent of the aperture into which the axle is placed determining the height of the pivotal connection. Movable retaining means may also be provided to prevent or hinder removal of the axle from an aperture once the axle has been placed within an aperture. Adjustment means at the pivotal connection between the telescopic rod and the first member and/or the mounting surface would allow the angle of the table to be adjusted, and may comprise a collar having an internal thread mounted upon or comprising part of the upper or lower members of the telescopic rod, the collar interacting with a threaded portion of an upper or lower member to alter the length of the telescopic rod in its fully contracted position.

In order that the invention can be clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to the construction of a cabinet containing an ironing board which can be opened out from the cabinet for use and folded away when no longer required. It is to be appreciated however, that the accompanying drawings and disclosed embodiment of the invention are provided only to assist in an understanding of the invention, and are given by way of example only.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the table in its closed or folded position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the table in an intermediate position between the closed and open positions;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the table with the first member in its open position and the second member in an intermediate position between its closed and open positions; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the table in its open position;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the foldable portion of the table with the covering material removed, showing detail of the separation means and abutting ends of the first and second members when the table is in the open position of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar view to that of Figure 5 showing detail of the separation means and abutting ends of the first and second members when the table is in the closed

position of Figures 1 and 2.

In the drawings, the mounting means comprises a cabinet 1, optionally equipped with a door 2. The table 3 comprises a first table member 4 and a second table member 5 which combine with separation means 10 to form working surface 6. The table 3 is pivotally mounted on cabinet 1 by means of an axle (not shown) attached to one end 7 of first table member 4, the ends of the axle being retained in the walls 8 of cabinet 1. The other end 9 of first table member 4 is hingedly connected to separation means 10, which in turn is hingedly connected to one end 11 of second table member 5. Support means 12 is provided, comprising an upper member 13 and a lower member 14. The upper member 13 is pivotally connected to first table member 4 whilst the lower member 14 is pivotally connected to the floor 15 of cabinet 1. Lower member 14 slides within a bore in upper member 13, allowing the support means 12 to contract telescopically until the lower end of upper member 13 is adjacent to and supported by stop means formed by or adjacent to the connection of the support means 12 with floor 15.

In use, the table 3 is moved, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, from the closed or folded position shown in Figure 1, until the first table member 4 is substantially horizontal. To assist in this, a handle 18 is provided adjacent end 9 of first table member 4. The second table member 5 is moved from its closed position alongside and substantially parallel with the first table member 4, (as shown in Figures 2 and 6), until second table member 5 is substantially co-planar with the first table member 4. To allow for the

thickness of covering material 16 shown in Figures 2-4, separation means 10 provides space d between the first member 4 and the second member 5 in the closed position (see Figure 6) . As the table is moved to the open position shown in Figures 4 and 5, the separation means 10 moves until it is substantially co-planar with and forms part of working surface 6.

The respective end edges of the first and second table members 4 and 5 which are adjacent to the separation means 10 move to abut each other when the table is in the open position. The end edges of the respective table members are formed with complementary locating features. The arrangement is preferably as shown in Figures 5 and 6 but the locating features may be formed on the other table member to that illustrated. In Figures 5 and 6, the end edge of the first table member 4 is equipped with a locating feature, comprising a ridge 20; the second table member 5 is equipped with a complementary locating feature consisting of a tapered projection 17. In the embodiment illustrated, the table members 4,5 are formed from panels having upper and lower surrounding rims 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B respectively. The locating features at -the end edges are formed in transversely extending end caps 21,22. Preferably the end caps 21,22 are recessed to provide seats 23,24 where separation means 10 is attached to lie flush with the adjacent surface of the table members and provide a substantially continuous planar working surface 6 in the open position. of Figure 5.

As the table is moved to the open position, the end

edge formed by tapered projection 17 abuts against the end edge of the opposite member, whilst the upper surface of the tapered projection 17 abuts the lower surface of the ridge 20. This acts to maintain the first and second table members (4 and 5) in a co-planar position. This may be further assisted by the handle 18, which abuts against the underside of the second table member 5 when the table is in the open position. The ^' above procedure is reversed to return table 3 to its closed position. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cabinet 1 may also contain electrical supply means controlled by switches 19 and used, for example, to provide an electric iron with power, and/or to provide a light source to assist a person using the table. When this is done, it is desirable to provide an automatic cut-off to ensure that the power is not left on when the table is in the folded position. This may be achieved by providing a cut-off switch (not shown) which is triggered by the handle 18 when the table is returned to the closed position shown in Figure - -