GB2284751A

GB2284751A - Foldable table especially for children

Info

Publication number: GB2284751A
Application number: GB9324225A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Edward Perry Clinton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-25
Filing date: 1993-11-25
Publication date: 1995-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-25
Also published as: GB9324225D0; GB2284751B

Abstract

A table, particularly for mounting on a chair for use by an infant, comprises a plastics tray 10 and legs 15, 16 hinged to the underside of the tray and arranged to support the tray when hinged down. Each leg comprises a mounting portion 17 extending along the underside of the tray and retained by a plastics clamping member formed integrally with the tray and permitting rotation of the mounting portion about its axis. <IMAGE>

Description

A Table This invention relates to a table, and more particularly to a table for attaching to a chair.

UK patent application No. 2 157 948 discloses a table of the type for attaching to a chair so that infants can sit on the chair and use the table instead of using a conventional high-chair. A disadvantage of this table is that it is of complicated construction and cumbersome when not in use.

I have now devised a table which alleviates the problems associated with the above-mentioned table.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a table comprising a plastics tray and a plurality of legs hinged to the underside of the tray and arranged to support the tray when hinged down, each leg comprising a mounting portion extending along the underside of the tray and retained by a plastics clamping member formed integrally with the tray and permitting rotation of the mounting portion about its axis.

Thus, the table is of a simple construction, having legs which can be folded up when not in use.

Preferably the plastics clamping member comprises a flap attached to the tray by a flexible plastics web.

Preferably the web is attached to a side edge of the tray.

Preferably the free end of the web is welded to the underside of the tray so as to retain the flap in position over the mounting portion of leg.

Preferably each leg comprises a generally C-shaped member having a crossbar which forms the mounting portion of the leg.

Preferably the crossbar comprises opposite ends of the C-shaped legs which are folded inwardly so that they lie in a common plane.

Preferably the mounting portions of the legs comprise means for limiting their rotational angle so as to restrict the angle to which the legs can be hinged down.

Preferably the means for limiting the angle comprises a keying member inserted between opposite free ends of the Cshaped legs.

Preferably the keying member is substantially semicircular in cross-section, the tray being formed with a projection which engages the keying member to prevent further rotational movement of the crossbar when the legs are unfolded.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

FIGURES la - c are plan, side and front views respectively of a table in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the table of Figure 1, when attached to a chair; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the underside of the table of Figure 1; FIGURES 4a and 4b are sectional views along the line IV-IV of Figure ib, when the table is erect and folded respectively; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the table of Figure 1, when in use.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a table comprising a generally rectangular plastics tray 10 supported by a pair of legs 11. The rear edge 12 of the tray 10 is concave and a raised lip 13 extends around the periphery of the upper surface of the tray.

Each leg 11 is formed from an elongate tubular member folded into a C-shape. The lower portion of the leg 14 extends front-to-rear of the table and in use rests upon the base of a chair 20 to which the table is fitted. Front and rear upright portions 15,16 extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the lower portion 14. The opposite ends of the tube are folded inwardly to form front and rear portions 15,16 of a crossbar. The two portions 15,16 lie on a common axis and are arranged such that their free ends are spaced apart.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the crossbar bar also comprises a plastics keying member 30 extending between the opposite free ends of the C-shaped leg. The keying member 30 is approximately semi-circular in section along its central portion, and its opposite ends are push-fitted and secured into the free ends of the C-shaped leg. The legs 11 are hinged at 21 to opposite side edges of the tray 10, and the crossbar of each leg seats against a curved lower side edge 31 of the tray.

A wall 32 projects from the underside of the tray 10 and is arranged between the opposite free ends of the C-shaped leg so that its upper edge extends approximately along the axis of the crossbar. A plastics flap 33 is integrally formed with the tray 10 and is attached to its side edge by a flexible web 37.

The flap 33 is curved so that it can be folded over to retain the crossbar. A plurality of plastics studs 36 project from the underside of the tray and extend through apertures 34 formed in a flange 35 attached to the flap 33. The heads of the studs 36 are flattened ultrasonically so as to fix the flap 33 in position around the crossbar. The crossbar is able to rotate about its axis between the positions shown in Figures 4a and 4b. When the legs 11 are hinged down the flat surface of the keying member 30 abuts the outer face of the projecting wall 32 of the tray as shown in Figure 4a: this limits the maximum angle to which the leg can be hinged down. When the legs 11 are folded up, they lie flat against the underside of the tray 10 so that it can be stored easily. The legs 11 are mounted so that the rear upper portion 18 of each leg extend longitudinally rearwardly of the rear edge 12 of the tray. A clip-on bracing strut 19 is provided for holding the legs 11 apart when the table is erected.

Referring to Figure 5, the table can be attached to a chair using straps 50,51 which can be secured around the base and back portions or the chair. The rear upright portions 16 of the legs rest against the back portions of the chair, and the rear portions 17 of the crossbars form side rails so that a child sitting on the chair cannot fall sideways. A crotch strap may also be provided to hold the child in the upright position.

Claims

1) A table comprising a plastics tray and a plurality of legs hinged to the underside of the tray and arranged to support the tray when hinged down, each leg comprising a mounting portion extending along the underside of the tray and retained by a plastics clamping member formed integrally with the tray and permitting rotation of the mounting portion about its axis.

2) A table as claimed in claim 1, in which said plastics clamping member comprises a flap connected to the tray by a flexible plastics web.

3) A table as claimed in claim 2, in which a free end of said plastics clamping member is welded to the underside of the tray to retain the flap in position over the mounting portion of the leg.

4) A table as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each leg comprises a generally C-shaped member having a crossbar which forms the mounting portion of the leg.

5) A table as claimed in claim 4, in which the crossbar comprises opposite ends of the C-shaped leg which are folded inwardly to lie in a common line.

6) A table as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for limiting the rotation of each leg.

7) A table as claimed in claim 6 appended to claim 4 or 5, in which said means for limiting the rotation of each leg comprises a keying member inserted between opposite free ends of the C-shaped leg.

8) A table as claimed in claim 7, in which said keying member is substantially semi-circular in cross-section and the tray is formed with a projection which engages the keying member to limit rotation of the leg.

9) A table as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising two said legs mounted along opposite edges of said tray.

10) A table substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.