GB2240265A - Improvements relating to tables - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable collapsible table (10) for use in a car, comprises a front table top portion (12) to be disposed between front seat occupants and a rear table top portion (14) to be disposed at least generally between rear seat occupants, and an intermediate portion (16) of reduced width. The table top portions are relatively movable, between a compact storage configuration and an extended operative configuration, and fold-away adjustable length support legs (18, 20) are provided for the table. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Improvements relating to tables.

Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to tables.

The problems of eating and drinking in cars are well known. Whilst obvious difficulties arise while a car is in motion. due to the car's motion, problems also arise if the car occupants wish to eat or drink in the car while it is stationary, for example when the car is parked at a road-side or at a picnic site or car park. In general the occupants must participate in a precarious exercise of supporting food on their laps while at the same time cups, glosses or the like must be held in their hands or else balanced perilously on the car dashboard. Apart from the general inconvenience of such an arrangement, all too frequently spillage of the food andlor drink occurs, onto the vehicle interior or onto the occupants. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or reduce the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention. there is provided a portable collapsible table for use in a car.

Thus, for most of the time the table may be carried in a collapsed state in the passenger space or luggage space of the car, but when desired may be brought into use to provide a stable and reliable support for food or drink during an in-car picnic or the like.

In most cars, there is a generally narrow gaD between the front seats i.e. between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention. the table comprises a front table top portion, adapted to be disposed, in use, between front seat occupants, and a rear table top portion adapted to be disposed, in use, at least generally between occupants of the rear seats, and preferably a portion of the table intermediate such front and rear table top portions is of reduced width.

In this manner by arranging said intermediate portion so as to extend through the gap between the front seats of the car. front and rear table top portions of widths greater than the width of said gap may be accommodated in the car, and additionally the stability of the table is increased.

Preferably the table comprises front and rear support means, the table preferably being free-standing and said front and rear support means preferably being in the form of legs (which may be of individually adjustable lengths and/or which may be of fold-away design.) Most cars, whether front, rear or all-wheel drive, have well-defined depressions ("footwells") in their floor area, such as one in front of each seat, and advantageously said legs are adapted to stand with their feet in such footwells. to afford increased stability.

Preferably the table top portions are relativelv movable. such as between a compact, storage, configuration, and an extended, operative, configuration.

Such relative movement may be linear and/or angular (eg through about 1800.) In a preferred embodiment, one of the table top portions is provided or is carried by a main body of the table, while the other table top portion is carried on or provides a member which is itself linearly extensible from the main body, preferably being rotatable on said extensible member. Said support means may comprise components mounted on said main body. and components mounted on such extensible member. In the storage configuration the table top portions may at least partially overlap.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable collapsible table comprising a main body providing a first table top portion and an extension member movably mounted on the main body and providing a second table top portion. wherein support means for the table comprises first support member(s) carried by the main body, and second support member(s) carried by the extension member.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable collapsible table comprising a first table top portion and a second table top portion mounted for linear and angular movement relative to the first table top portion.

One embodiment of the invention which is expressly illustrative of all the above aspects of the invention will now be described. by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which: FIGURES 1,2 and 3 are a plan view from above, a side elevational view, and an end elevational view, respectively, of said table embodying the invention, in an extended "for use" configuration thereof; and FIGURES 4,5 and 6 are respectively a plan view from above, a side elevational view, and a plan view from below, of said table in a collapsed, folded, stowage configuration thereof.

Referring to the drawings, a table 10 in accordance with the invention is a portable collapsible table for use in a car. The table 10 may be carried in its collapsed state (Figures 4 to 6) in the passenger space or luggage space of a car, but when desired may be brought into use, such as in the configuration shown in Figures I to 3 to provide a stable and reliable support for food and drink during an in-car picnic or the like.

As may most easily be appreciated from the "in use" configuration shown in Figures I to 3, the table 10 comprises a generally horizontal front table top portion 12, adapted to be disposed, in use, between front seat occupants of the car, and a generally horizontal rear table top portion 14 adapted to be disposed, in use, at least generally between occupants of the rear seats of the car, and further comprises a portion 16, lying intermediate the portions 12 and 14, which is of reduced width compared with the portions 12 and 14.

The table 10, in use, is free-standing in the car, and further comprises front and rear support means in the form of a pair of front legs 18 and a pair of rear legs 20. The legs 18 and 20 are each of individually adjustable lengths and are of telescopic construction, and in use the table 10 is arranged such that the feet of the legs 18 stand in respective front footwells of the car, while the feet of the legs 20 stand in respective rear footwells of the car, thereby affording increased stability.

The table top portions 12 and 14 are relatively movable between a compact storage configuration (Figures 4 to 6) and the extended, operative, configuration (Figures I to 3.) In the embodiment illustrated, the table top portion 12 is carried by a main body 22 of the table, the main body 22 being of a hollow rectangular-cross-section tubular form which at least partially accomodates, in longitudinally linearly extensible manner, an extension member 24 which carries the table top portion 14. The table top portion 14 is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis A relative to the member 24.To achieve the storage configuration the member 24 is inserted fully into the tubular main body 22 and table top portion 14 is rotated through about 1800, about the axis A, from its Figure I position to its Figure 4 position so as to achieve a minimum overall length for storage, in which configuration the table top portions 12 and 14 partially overlap. The legs 18 are mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal transverse axis B, to enable them to be folded to the storage position shown in Figures 5 and 6 when desired, and similarly the legs 20 are mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal transverse axis C, so that they too may be folded to a generally horizontal storage position when desired (Figures 5 & 6.) It will be appreciated that the table 10, in its collapsed state, is conveniently compact for ease of storage.

An important feature of the table 10 is that although the legs 18 are mounted on the main body, the legs 20 are mounted on the extensible member 24, whereby irrespective of the selected length of the table (for the member 24 may be extended to any desired extent, to suit a particular car or other circumstances) maximum stability (particularly with regard to the weight of items placed on table top portion 14) is achieved.

It will be appreciated that whilst the table top portion 12 has been described above as the front table top portion, and whilst the table top portion 14 has been described above as the rear table top portion, where appropriate to suit given circumstances the table may be used the other way round, with the table top portion 14 towards the front, between front seat occupants, and the table top portion 12 at the rear, between rear seat occupants.

Shafts of the axes A, B and C and the sliding movement of the member 24 in the member 22 may be such that there may be sufficent friction to maintain the components concerned in desired positions thereof, but alternatively stop means and/or releaseable clamp means may be incorporated as appropriate. The telescopic legs may be releasably secured at desired lengths by rotating collar-like threaded clamp elements 40, one of which is provided on each leg.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (18)

CLAIMS:

1. A portable collapsible table for use in a car.

2. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 1 comprising a front table top portion, adapted to be disposed, in use, between front seat occupants, and a rear table top portion adapted to be disposed, in use, at least generally between occupants of the rear seats.

3. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 2 wherein a portion of the table intermediate such front and rear table top portions is of reduced width.

4. A portable collapsible table according to any one of the preceding claims comprising front and rear support means.

5. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 4 which is freestanding.

6. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 5 wherein said front and rear support means are in the form of legs.

7. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 6 wherein said legs are of individually adjustable lengths and/or are of fold-away design.

8. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein said legs are adapted to stand with their feet in footwells of the car.

9. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 2, or according to any one of Claims 3 to 8 where directly or indirectly dependent upon Claim 2, wherein the table top portions are relatively movable, such as between a compact, storage, configuration, and an extended, operative, configuration.

10. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 9 wherein such relative movement is linear and/or angular (e.g. through about 1800).

11. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 10 wherein one of the table top portions is provided or is carried by a main body of the table, while the other table top portion is carried on or provides a member which is itself linearly extensible from the main body.

12. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 11 wherein said other table top portion is rotatable on said extensible member.

13. A portable collapsible table according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 where indirectly dependent upon Claim 4 wherein said support means comprises components mounted on said main body, and components mounted on such extensible member.

14. A portable collapsible table according to any one of Claims 11 to 13 wherein, in the storage configuration, said table top portions at least partially overlap.

15. A portable collapsible table comprising a main body providing a first table top portion and an extension member movably mounted on the main body and providing a second table top portion, wherein support means for the table comprises first support member(s) carried by the main body, and second support member(s) carried by the extension member.

16. A portable collapsible table comprising a first table top portion and a second table top portion mounted for linear and angular movement relative to the first table top portions

17. A portable collapsible table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.