Table support structure

Abstract

A table includes a table top with an underside. A support is rotatably connected to the underside of the table top and is rotatable at least between a stored position lying generally adjacent the underside and an extended position in which the support extends generally away from the underside. A bearing brace is hingedly attached to the support at a joint and includes a first end distal from the joint. A set-up latch is on the underside of the table top, with the first end of the bearing brace being releasably securable in the set-up latch when the support is in the extended position.

1 . A table comprising: 
 a table top with an underside;    a support rotatably connected to the underside of the table top, the support being rotatable at least between a stored position lying generally adjacent the underside and an extended position in which the support extends generally away from the underside;    a bearing brace hingedly attached to the support at a joint, the bearing brace including a first end distal from the joint; and    a set-up latch on the underside of the table top, the first end of the bearing brace being releasably securable in the set-up latch when the support is in the extended position.    
   
   
       2 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring attached to the support to bias the support from the stored position toward the extended position.  
   
   
       3 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring attached at the joint between the bearing brace and the support.  
   
   
       4 . The table of  claim 3 , wherein the support further comprises at least two spaced apart support legs and a cross-brace connecting the two support legs, wherein the bearing brace is rotatably attached to the cross-brace by a hinge, and wherein the spring is provided at the hinge.  
   
   
       5 . The table of  claim 1 , the bearing brace further comprising a pair of legs connected at a vertex to form a V-shape, wherein the vertex is distal from the joint.  
   
   
       6 . The table of  claim 1 , the support further comprising a cross member, the support rotating about the cross member.  
   
   
       7 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the table top further comprises a storage latch on the underside of the table top, wherein the storage latch is positioned and configured to maintain the support in the stored position.  
   
   
       8 . The table of  claim 7 , wherein the storage latch further comprises a housing including an internal receiver, wherein the storage latch is adapted to receive the first end of the bearing brace in the internal receiver when the support is in the stored position.  
   
   
       9 . The table of  claim 8 , wherein the bearing brace further comprises a pair of legs connected at a vertex, the vertex being sized to be disposed in the internal receiver of the latch, the vertex being maintained in the internal receiver by the catch.  
   
   
       10 . The table of  claim 8 , wherein the storage latch further comprises a rotatable lever including a catch, wherein rotation of the lever rotates the catch between a first position in which the catch blocks exit from the interior internal receiver to a second position in which the catch allows exit from the internal receiver.  
   
   
       11 . The table of  claim 7 , further comprising a wear track on the underside of the table top positioned between the set-up latch and the storage latch to contact the first end of the bearing brace as the bearing brace moves between the set-up latch and the storage latch.  
   
   
       12 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the table top further comprises a frame having a first rail and a second rail, the first and second rail each including a receiving hole, the support including a cross member, wherein opposed ends of the cross member are inserted into the receiving holes such that the support is rotatably secured to the frame.  
   
   
       13 . The table of  claim 12 , wherein the first rail is disposed along a front side of the table, and the second rail is disposed along a back side of the table.  
   
   
       14 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart latches carried on the support, the pair of latches including biased extensions.  
   
   
       15 . The table of  claim 14 , the pair of latches positioned to maintain the bearing brace in confronting relationship with the support, wherein the bearing brace can be released by overcoming the force of the bias of the extensions.  
   
   
       16 . The table of  claim 15 , further comprising an upper cross-bar and a lower cross-bar, the bearing brace being rotatably attached to the lower cross-bar, the pair of latches being carried on the upper cross-bar.  
   
   
       17 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the set-up latch further comprises a pair of opposed housings defining a gap therebetween, the pair of opposed housings each including an extension member biased into the gap toward each other.  
   
   
       18 . The table of  claim 17 , wherein the set-up latch defines a receiving area between the housings and under the extension members that is adapted to receive the first end of the bearing brace to maintain the support in the extended position.  
   
   
       19 . A table comprising: 
 a table top with an underside;    a first support rotatably attached to the underside of the table top;    a first bearing brace with a first end and a second end, the second end of the first bearing brace being rotatably attached to the first support;    a first set-up latch connected to the underside of the table top;    a second support rotatably attached to the underside of the table top;    a second bearing brace with a first end and a second end, the second end of the second bearing brace being rotatably attached to the second support;    a second set-up latch connected to the underside of the table top;    wherein both the first support and the second support are independently rotatable between a stored position in which the respective support is adjacent the underside of the table top, and an extended position in which the respective support is rotated away from the underside of the table top; and    wherein in the extended position, the respective first ends of the bearing braces are disposed in the respective set-up latches.    
   
   
       20 . The table of  claim 19 , wherein the first support is substantially a mirror image of the second support.  
   
   
       21 . A banquet table, comprising: 
 a table top with an underside;    a support rotatably attached to the underside of the table top, the support being rotatable through at least a stored position and an extended position;    a bearing brace with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the bearing brace being rotatably connected to support at the second end;    a spring disposed between the support and the bearing brace;    a set-up latch disposed on the underside of the tabletop, the first end of the bearing brace being releasably securable in the set-up latch when the support is in the extended position; and    wherein the spring maintains the first end of the bearing brace against the underside of the table top as the support is rotated between the stored position and the extended position.    
   
   
       22 . The banquet table of  claim 21 , further comprising a storage latch on the underside of the table top adapted to releasably secure the first end of the bearing brace in place when the support is in the stored position.  
   
   
       23 . The banquet table of  claim 22 , further comprising a wear track disposed on the underside of the table top between the storage latch and the set-up latch.  
   
   
       24 . The banquet table of  claim 21 , the support includes a pair of legs connected by a cross brace, the table further comprising a hinge connecting the bearing brace to the cross brace.  
   
   
       25 . The banquet table of  claim 24 , the bearing brace including a pair of legs connected at the first end to form an apex, the pair of legs connected at the second end by a cross bar, wherein the hinge is connected to the cross bar.  
   
   
       26 . A banquet table, comprising: 
 a table top with an underside;    a support rotatably attached to the underside of the table top, the support being rotatable between at least a stored position lying generally adjacent the underside and an extended position in which the support extends generally away from the underside;    a bearing brace including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the bearing brace being rotatably attached to the support at the second end; and    a storage latch on the underside of the table top, the storage latch including a receiver, the first end of the bearing brace releasably secureable in the receiver to maintain the support adjacent the table top in the stored position.    
   
   
       27 . The banquet table of  claim 26 , further including a spring connected to the support, wherein the spring biases the support from the stored position to the extended position.  
   
   
       28 . The banquet table of  claim 27 , the first support including a pair of legs connected by a cross brace, the spring loaded hinge being connected to the cross brace.  
   
   
       29 . The banquet table of  claim 26 , further comprising a set-up latch on the underside of the table top adapted to releasably secure the first end of the bearing brace in place when the support is in the extended position.  
   
   
       30 . The banquet table of  claim 29 , wherein the set-up latch includes a housing and a receiver, the first end of the bearing brace being disposed in the receiver when the support is in the extended position.  
   
   
       31 . The banquet table of  claim 29 , wherein the set-up latch includes a housing with a pair of opposing extensions extending into a gap between the housings and a receiving area beneath the extensions, the first end of the bearing brace being disposed in the receiving area when the table top is in the extended position.