US20160338485A1

US20160338485A1 - Extendable table

Info

Publication number: US20160338485A1
Application number: US14/877,517
Authority: US
Inventors: Chen-Chieh Lin; Ching-Yu Wu
Original assignee: Chuan Ching Wood Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Chuan Ching Wood Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-05-20
Filing date: 2015-10-07
Publication date: 2016-11-24
Also published as: TWM508964U

Abstract

An extendable table includes a table support, a table top which is movable relative to the table support, a table leaf, a guiding unit, and a guided bar. The table leaf is displaceable between a normal position, where the table leaf is disposed under the table top, and an extended position, where the table leaf is substantially coplanar with the table top. When the table top is lifted, the table leaf is permitted to be displaced from the extended position to the normal position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Taiwanese application no. 104207773, filed on May 20, 2015.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a table, more particularly to an extendable table.

BACKGROUND

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional extendable table includes a table support 11, two table top panels 121, and at least one extension panel 122. The table support 11 includes four table legs 113 and two frame bodies 112. The frame bodies 112 are slidably connected to each other by means of a sliding guide mechanism 111. The two table top panels 121 are mounted respectively on the two frame bodies 112, and have inner edges facing each other. In a normal state, the inner edges of the two table top panels 121 adjoin each other. In an extended state, the inner edges of the two table plates 121 are spaced apart from each other to permit the extension table panel 122 to be disposed therebetween and to be supported by the frame bodies 122. When the table is in the normal state, the extension table panel 122 need be stored in another place.
As shown in FIG. 2, another conventional extendable table includes a table support 13, a table top 14, and two table leaves 15. The table support 13 has peripheral frame 131, a middle frame 130, four support bars 133, and four table legs 134. The peripheral frame 131 has left, right, front, and rear segments 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314. The table top 14 is mounted on the peripheral frame 131. The middle frame 130 is disposed between the left and right segments 1311, 1312, and has two opposite ends mounted respectively to the front and rear segments 1313, 1314. The middle frame 130 is formed with two grooves 132. Each of the support bars 133 has a main body 1330 and an enlarged segment 1331. Each of the table leaves 15 is supported by the main bodies 1330 of two of the support bars 133. In a normal state, the table leaves 15 are disposed below the table top 14 with the main bodies 1330 supported in the grooves 132. In an extended state, upper surfaces of the table leaves 15 are coplanar with an upper surface of the table top 14 with the enlarged segments 1331 supported in the grooves 132. However, the displacement of the table leaves 15 is not stable since the support bars 133 supporting the table leaves 15 are merely guided by the grooves 132 of the middle frame 130.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an extendable table having at least one table leaf. The table leaf can be disposed under a table top, and can be extended in a stable manner.
According to the disclosure, an extendable table includes a table support, a table top, a coupling member, a left table leaf, a guiding unit, and a left guided bar. The table support includes a peripheral frame and a mounting seat. The peripheral frame has left and right side segments opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear side segments opposite to each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. The mounting seat has forward and rearward end segments which are opposite to each other in the transverse direction, and which are disposed on the front and rear side segments, respectively. The table top has left and right marginal edges opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, and is disposed on the mounting seat such that the left and right marginal ends overlie the left and right side segments, respectively. The table top has an upper major surface. The coupling member is disposed to couple the table top with the mounting seat, and is configured to permit the table top to be displaceable from a use position, where the table top rests on the mounting seat, to a raised position, where the table top is spaced apart from the mounting seat. The left table leaf has a left upper surface, and is movable in the longitudinal direction between a left normal position, where the left table leaf is disposed under the table top, and a left extended position, where the left upper surface is substantially coplanar with the upper major surface. The guiding unit is mounted to the mounting seat opposite to the table top, and has a first guideway which extends in the longitudinal direction, and which has a first lower position region distal from the left side segment and a first upper position region proximate to the left side segment. The left guided bar includes a left bar body and a left key. The left bar body is mounted to and disposed beneath the left table leaf. The left key is disposed on the left bar body distal from the left table leaf, is engaged in the first guideway, and is slidably displaceable between the first lower position region and the first upper position region. The left bar body is configured such that only when the table top is lifted from the use position to the raised position is the left table leaf permitted to be displaced from the left extended position to the left normal position to thereby displace the left key from the first upper position region to the first lower position region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional extendable table;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of another conventional extendable table;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an extendable table according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the extendable table of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating first and second guideways in the extendable table of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the extendable table of the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the extendable table of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating that left and right table leaves of the extendable table are respectively in the left and right normal positions;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating that a table top is lifted during displacement of the left and right table leaves; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating that left and right table leaves of the extendable table are respectively in the left and right extended positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an extendable table according to an embodiment of this disclosure includes a table support 2, a table top 31, a coupling member 30 (see FIG. 9), a left table leaf 32, a guiding unit 42, and a left guided bar 43.
The table support 2 includes four table legs 5, a peripheral frame 4 supported by the table legs 5, and a mounting seat 411.
The peripheral frame 4 has left and right side segments 401, 402 opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction (X), and front and rear side segments 403, 404 opposite to each other in a direction (Y) transverse to the longitudinal direction (X).
The mounting seat 411 has leftward and rightward end segments 405, 406 opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction (X), and forward and rearward end segments 407, 408 which are opposite to each other in the transverse direction (Y), and which are disposed on and fixed to the front and rear side segments 403, 404, respectively.
The table top 31 has left and right marginal edges 311, 312 opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction (X), and is disposed on the mounting seat 411. The table top 31 has an upper major surface 310. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the left and right marginal ends 311, 312 overlie the left and right side segments 401, 402, respectively.
With reference to FIG. 9, the coupling member 30 is disposed to couple the table top 31 with the mounting seat 411, and is configured to permit the table top 31 to be displaceable from a use position (FIGS. 8 and 9), where the table top 31 rests on the mounting seat 411, to a raised position (FIG. 9), where the table top 31 is spaced apart from the mounting seat 411. In this embodiment, the coupling member 30 includes two recesses 301 and two protuberances 302. The recesses 301 (only shown in FIG. 9) are formed in the mounting seat 411. The protuberances 302 extend downwardly from the table top 31 and are configured to be matingly fitted in and movable relative to the recesses 302, respectively, so as to permit the table top 31 to be displaced between the use position and the raised position.
As shown in FIG. 4, the left table leaf 32 has a left upper surface 320, and is movable in the longitudinal direction (L) between a left normal position (FIGS. 3 and 8), where the left table leaf 32 is disposed under the table top 31, and a left extended position (FIG. 10), where the left upper surface 320 is substantially coplanar with the upper major surface 310. More specifically, the left table leaf 32 adjoins the leftward end segment 405 of the mounting seat 411 when in the left normal position, and can be displaced to adjoin the left marginal edge 311 of the table top 31 when in the left extended position. In this embodiment, the table top 31 and the left table leaf 32 are made of wood.
The guiding unit 42 is mounted to the mounting seat 411 opposite to the table top 31, and has a first guideway 45. As shown in FIG. 5, the first guideway 45 extends in the longitudinal direction (X), and has a first lower position region 451 distal from the left side segment 401 of the peripheral frame 4 and a first upper position region 453 proximate to the left side segment 401.
The left guided bar 43 includes a left bar body 430 made of wood and a left key 431 made from a plastic material. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the left bar body 430 is mounted to and disposed beneath the left table leaf 32. The left key 431 is disposed on the left bar body 430 distal from the left table leaf 32, is engaged in the first guideway 45, and is slidably displaceable between the first lower position region 451 and the first upper position region 453. The left bar body 430 is configured such that only when the table top 31 is lifted from the use position (FIG. 10) to the raised position (FIG. 9) is the left table leaf 32 permitted to be displaced from the left extended position (FIG. 10) to the left normal position (FIG. 8) to thereby displace the left key 431 from the first upper position region 453 to the first lower position region 451. When the left table leaf 32 is in the left extended position or the left normal position, the table top 31 is in the use position (FIGS. 8 and 10).
As best shown in FIG. 7, the first guideway 45 has a T-shaped cross-section, and the left key 431 also has a T-shaped cross-section and includes a key body 4311 and a flange portion 4312 extending radially from the key body 4311. Thus, during displacement of the left key 431 along the first guideway 45, the left key 431 is less likely to be disengaged from the first guideway 45.
With reference to FIG. 8, the first guideway 45 further has a first lowermost position region 452 disposed between the first upper position region 453 and the first lower position region 451 such that when the left key 431 is displaced to the first lowermost position region 452 from the first lower position region 451, the left table leaf 32 is displaced away from the left normal position (FIG. 8) and is lifted against the table top 31 so as to displace the table top 31 to the raised position (FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 10, when the left key 431 is subsequently displaced to the first upper position region 453 from the first lowermost position region 452, the left table leaf 32 is displaced to the left extended position, and the table top 31 returns to the use position due to gravity.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the left table leaf 32 is disposed beneath the table top 31 and is in contact therewith. With further reference to FIG. 5, the first lower position region 451 and the first upper position region 453 define a height difference (b) in an upright direction (Z) transverse to both the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y). The height difference (b) is substantially the same as the thickness of the table top 31. Thus, when the left table leaf 32 is displaced from the left normal position to the left extended position, it can be lifted a distance substantially the same as the height difference (b) so as to permit the left upper surface 320 to be substantially coplanar with the upper major surface 310 of the table top 31.
The left bar body 430 includes a left tail segment 432 disposed to support the left table leaf 32, and a left head segment 433 which is opposite to the left tail segment 432 in the longitudinal direction (X), and on which the left key 431 is disposed. The left head segment 433 has a left cutout portion 434 which defines a left cutout surface 435 facing the table top 31 such that when the left key 431 is displaced from the first lower position region 451 to the first upper position region 453, the left upper surface 320 of the left table leaf 32 is permitted to be lifted to be substantially coplanar with the upper major surface 310 of the table top 31.
Furthermore, the left side segment 401 has a left groove 412 configured to permit passage of the left bar body 430 therethrough during displacement of the left table leaf 32 between the left normal position (FIG. 8) and the left extended position (FIG. 10). The left guided bar 43 further has a left limiting protrusion 481 which is disposed on the left bar body 430 and which is configured to be brought into abutting engagement with the left side segment 401 once the left table leaf 32 is displaced beyond the left extended position, thereby preventing over extension of the left table leaf 32.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the guiding unit 42 includes two guiding members 420 which are mounted to the mounting seat 411, which extend in the longitudinal direction (X), and which are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (Y). Each of the guiding members 420 has inner and outer surfaces 421, 422 opposite to each other in the transverse direction (Y). The guiding unit 42 has two of the first guideways 45 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) which are formed in the inner surfaces 421 of the guiding members 420, respectively. The left guided bar 43 includes two of the left bar bodies 430, which are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (Y), and two of the left keys 431 (only one is shown in FIG. 4), which extend outwardly and respectively from the left bar bodies 430 to be respectively engaged in the first guideways 45.
The extendable table further includes a right table leaf 33 and a right guided bar 44, and the guiding unit 42 further includes two second guideways 46 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) which are formed respectively in the outer surfaces 422 of the guiding members 420, and which extend in the longitudinal direction (X).
As shown in FIG. 5, each of the second guideways 46 has a second lower position region 461 distal from the right side segment 402 of the peripheral frame 4, and a second upper position region 463 proximate to the right side segment 402.
The right table leaf 33 has a right upper surface 330, and is movable in the longitudinal direction (X) between a right normal position (FIG. 8), where the right table leaf 33 is disposed under the table top 31, and a right extended position (FIG. 10), where the right upper surface 330 is substantially coplanar with the upper major surface 310 of the table top 31. More specifically, the right table leaf 33 adjoins the leftward end segment 406 when in the right normal position, and can be displaced to adjoin the right marginal edge 312 when in the right extended position. In this embodiment, the right table leaf 33 is made of wood.
The right guided bar 44 includes two right bar bodies 440 made of wood, and two left keys 441 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) made from a plastic material. The two right bar bodies 440 are mounted to and disposed beneath the right table leaf 33, and are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (Y). The two left keys 441 are disposed respectively on the right bar bodies 440 distal from the right table leaf 33, extend inwardly and respectively from the right bar bodies 440, and are engaged respectively in the second guideways 46. Each of the left keys 441 is slidably displaceable between the second lower position region 461 and the second upper position region 463 of a corresponding one of the second guideways 46. Each of the right bar bodies 440 is configured such that only when the table top 31 is lifted from the use position to the raised position is the right table leaf 33 permitted to be displaced from the right extended position to the right normal position to thereby displace each of the right keys 441 from the second upper position region 463 to the second lower position region 461 of the corresponding one of the second guideways 46.
The configurations of the second guideways 46 and the right keys 441 are respectively similar to the first guideways 45 and the left keys 431. As shown in FIG. 5, in each second guideway 46, the second lower position region 461 and the second upper position region 463 also define a height difference (b) in the upright direction (Z). Each of the second guideways 46 further has a second lowermost position region 462 disposed between the second lower position region 461 and the second upper position region 463 such that when each of the right keys 441 is displaced to the second lowermost position region 462 from the second lower position region 461, the right table leaf 33 is lifted against the table top 31 so as to displace the table top 31 to the raised position (FIG. 9).
Similar to the left bar body 430, as shown in FIG. 4, each right bar body 440 includes a right tail segment 442 disposed to support the right table leaf 33, and a right head segment 443 which is opposite to the right tail segment 442 in the longitudinal direction (X), and on which the corresponding one of the left keys 441 is disposed. The right head segment 443 of each right bar body 440 has a right cutout portion 444 which defines a right cutout surface 445 facing the table top 31 such that when each of the left keys 441 is displaced from the second lower position region 461 to the second upper position region 463, the right upper surface 330 of the right table leaf 33 is permitted to be lifted to be substantially coplanar with the upper major surface 310 of the table top 31.
Furthermore, the right side segment 401 has two right grooves 413 configured to permit passage of the right bar bodies 440 therethrough during displacement of the right table leaf 33 between the right normal position (FIG. 8) and the right extended position (FIG. 10). The right guided bar 44 further has two right limiting protrusions 482 which are disposed respectively on the right bar bodies 440 and which are configured to be brought into abutting engagement with the right side segment 402 once the right table leaf 33 is displaced beyond the right extended position, thereby preventing over extension of the right table leaf 33.
In this embodiment, the table top 31, the left table leaf 32, and the right table leaf 33 are all of a rectangular shape, each having a longitudinal length in the longitudinal direction (X) and a transverse length in the transverse direction (Y). The transverse length of each of the left and right table leaves 32, 33 is substantially the same as that of the table top 31, and the longitudinal length of each of the left and right table leaves 32, 33 is smaller than a half of the longitudinal length of the table top 31.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An extendable table comprising:

a table support including

a peripheral frame having left and right side segments opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and front and rear side segments opposite to each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and

a mounting seat having forward and rearward end segments which are opposite to each other in the transverse direction, and which are disposed on said front and rear side segments, respectively;

a table top which has left and right marginal edges opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, and which is disposed on said mounting seat such that said left and right marginal ends overlie said left and right side segments, respectively, said table top having an upper major surface;

a coupling member disposed to couple said table top with said mounting seat, and configured to permit said table top to be displaceable from a use position, where said table top rests on said mounting seat, to a raised position, where said table top is spaced apart from said mounting seat;

a left table leaf having a left upper surface, and movable in the longitudinal direction between a left normal position, where said left table leaf is disposed under said table top, and a left extended position, where said left upper surface is substantially coplanar with said upper major surface;

a guiding unit mounted to said mounting seat opposite to said table top, and having a first guideway which extends in the longitudinal direction, and which has a first lower position region distal from said left side segment and a first upper position region proximate to said left side segment; and

a left guided bar including a left bar body mounted to and disposed beneath said left table leaf, and a left key which is disposed on said left bar body distal from said left table leaf, which is engaged in said first guideway, and which is slidably displaceable between said first lower position region and said first upper position region, said left bar body being configured such that only when said table top is lifted from the use position to the raised position is said left table leaf permitted to be displaced from the left extended position to the left normal position to thereby displace said left key from said first upper position region to said first lower position region.

2. The extendable table according to claim 1, wherein said left bar body includes a left tail segment disposed to support said left table leaf, and a left head segment which is opposite to said left tail segment in the longitudinal direction, and on which said left key is disposed, said left head segment having a left cutout portion which defines a left cutout surface facing said table top such that when said left key is displaced from said first lower position region to said first upper position region, said left upper surface of said left table leaf is permitted to be lifted to be substantially coplanar with said upper major surface of said table top.

3. The extendable table according to claim 2, wherein said left side segment has a left groove configured to permit passage of said left bar body therethrough during displacement of said left table leaf between the left normal position and the left extended position.

4. The extendable table according to claim 3, wherein said left guided bar further has a left limiting protrusion disposed on said left bar body and configured to be brought into abutting engagement with said left side segment once said left table leaf is displaced beyond the left extended position, thereby preventing over extension of said left table leaf.

5. The extendable table according to claim 1, wherein said first guideway further has a first lowermost position region disposed between said first upper position region and said first lower position region such that said left table leaf is lifted against said table top when said left key is displaced to said first lowermost position region from said first lower position region.

6. The extendable table according to claim 1, wherein said guiding unit includes two guiding members which are mounted to said mounting seat, which is extend in the longitudinal direction, and which are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction, each of said guiding members having inner and outer surfaces opposite to each other in the transverse direction, said guiding unit having two of said first guideways which are formed in said inner surfaces of said guiding members, respectively, said left guided bar including two of said left bar bodies spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction, and two of said left keys, which extend outwardly and respectively from said left bar bodies, and which are respectively engaged in said first guideways.

7. The extendable table according to claim 6, wherein said guiding unit further has two second guideways which are formed respectively in said outer surfaces of said guiding members, and which extend in the longitudinal direction, each of said second guideways having a second lower position region distal from said right side segment and a second upper position region proximate to said right side segment, said extendable table further comprising:

a right table leaf having a right upper surface, and movable in the longitudinal direction between a right normal position, where said right table leaf is disposed under said table top, and a right extended position, where said right upper surface is substantially coplanar with said upper major surface; and

a right guided bar including

two right bar bodies which are mounted to and disposed beneath said right table leaf, and which are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction, and

two left keys which are disposed respectively on said right bar bodies distal from said right table leaf, which extend inwardly and respectively from said right bar bodies, and which are engaged respectively in said second guideways, each of said left keys being slidably displaceable between said second lower position region and said second upper position region of a corresponding one of said second guideways, each of said right bar bodies being configured such that only when said table top is lifted from the use position to the raised position is said right table leaf permitted to be displaced from the right extended position to the right normal position to thereby displace each of said right keys from said second upper position region to said second lower position region of the corresponding one of said second guideways.

8. The extendable table according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member includes a recess formed in said mounting seat, and a protuberance extending downwardly from said table top and configured to be matingly fitted in and movable relative to said recess in said mounting seat so as to permit said table top to be displaced between the use position and the raised position.