Four piece foldable table tennis table

Abstract

The present invention comprises a foldable table tennis table which is capable of being fabricated without the necessity for welding or other expensive labor intensive operations, which can be boxed and shipped to the customer in a compact, minimal profile package and which can be assembled easily and quickly by the customer by hand without the need for tools. More specifically the table top is divided into four separate rectangular parts two of which are each joined along their middle edges to form first and second table top halves, each table half having a center edge, a front edge and opposing side edges. The respective table halves are pivotably supported adjacent their respective center edges by a central support unit so that they can be pivoted between an essentially horizontal playing position and an essentially vertical storage position. The central support unit comprises first and second support members respectively pivotably mounted to the first and second table halves, and first and second bottom members each respectively connected between opposing ends of the respective support members. First and second leg members are respectively pivotably mounted adjacent to the front edges of the first and second table halves, and pivotably mounted connecting members are connected between the central support unit and the leg members to cause the leg member to pivot against the table halves as the table halves are pivoted upwardly to the essentially vertical storage position. Wheels are attached to the bottom members so that the table can be moved when in its vertical storage position.

1 . a foldable table tennis table comprising: 
 a first right and a first left table portion, and a second right and a second left table portion, each table portion having an upper playing surface and a lower mounting surface, a table center edge, a table front edge, a table side edge and a middle edge, said first right and said first left table portions being joined together along their respective middle edges to form first table half of a table tennis table top, said second right and said second left table portions being joined together by fasteners along their respective middle edges to form a second table half of a table tennis table top, said table halves each having a playing surface and a mounting surface;    a first and a second support member, each support member comprising a base portion, each base portion having a first and a second opposing ends, and first and second outwardly extending portions respectively connected to said first and second opposing ends of said base portion and extending approximately perpendicularly to said base portions, said first support member being rotatably attached along its base portion to said mounting surface of said first table half adjacent said table center edges of said joined first left and right table portions, said second support member being rotatably attached along its base portion to said mounting surface of said second table half adjacent said table center edges of said second right and left table portions;    a first and second bottom members, each bottom member comprising a base portion having two opposing ends, and first and second outwardly extending legs respectively connected to opposite opposing ends of said first and second bottom members and extending approximately perpendicularly from said base portions of said bottom members, said first bottom member being connected between said first outwardly extending portions of said first and second support members, and said second bottom member being connected between said second outwardly extending portions of said first and second support members; said connected first and second support members and said first and second bottom members forming a central support unit can rest on a floor and said support units rotatably supporting said table center edges of said first and second table halves so that said table halves can be pivoted from an essentially horizontal playing position to an essentially vertical storage position;    at least one first exterior leg member pivotably attached to said mounting surface of said first table half adjacent the table front edge of said first table half, and at least one second exterior leg member pivotably attached to said mounting surface of said second table half adjacent said table front edge of said second table half, said first and second exterior leg members being pivotable between a position essentially perpendicular to said mounting surface of said table halves to support the first and second table halves in an essentially horizontal playing position, and a position essentially parallel to said mounting surface of said table halves.    
     
     
         2 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first exterior leg member and second exterior leg member are pivotably attached to the respective first and second table halves so that said first and second exterior leg members can be folded against said mounting surface of said first and second table halves respectively.  
     
     
         3 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1  and  2 , wherein said first and second exterior leg members are respectively connected to said central support unit in a manner so that said first and second exterior leg members automatically fold against said lower mounting surfaces of said first and second table halves respectively as said table halves are raised from an essentially horizontal playing position to an essentially vertical storage position.  
     
     
         4 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein wheels are attached to said essentially linear base portions of said first and second curvilinear bottom members, to allow said central support unit and attached first and second table halves to be rolled from place to place when said table halves are in an essentially vertical storage position.  
     
     
         5 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second outwardly extending portions or said first and second support members have apertures formed there through and said first and second outwardly extending legs of said first and second bottom members have apertures formed there through that align with the apertures in said first and second outwardly extending portions, and removable fasteners are inserted through said apertures to attached said support members to said bottom members.  
     
     
         6 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first and second support members are pivotably attached using curved fastening members with apertures at opposite ends thereof, and wing bolts inserted into said apertures and screwed into inserts in the mounting surface of said first and second table halves.  
     
     
         7 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first and second exterior leg members are pivotably attached using curved fastening members with apertures at opposite ends thereof and wing screws inserted into said apertures and screwed into inserts in the mounting surface of said first and second table halves.  
     
     
         8 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fasteners joining said right and left table portions comprise metal straps with openings in each end of said straps, wing screws inserted into said openings and screwed into inserts in the mounting surface of said table halves.  
     
     
         9 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first exterior leg member and second exterior leg member are pivotably attached to the respective first and second table halves using fastening members having a semicircular curved portion that extends over said leg members, said fastening members having openings at each end thereof, and wing screws positioned through said openings and screwed into predrilled inserts in said mounting surface, and where in said curved fastening members have a slot formed there through traversing approximately 90 degrees of said curved portion, and a locking bolt is inserted through said slot and screwed into an aligned opening in said leg member so that said leg member can be pivoted from a position parallel to said mounting surface to a position approximately 90 degrees to said mounting surface, but said leg members cannot be pivoted beyond 90 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . A foldable table tennis table as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said table can be assembled by hand without the use of tools.