Massage table with integrated arm sections

Abstract

A massage table ( 10 ) for supporting a person above a surface ( 20 ) during a massage includes a table top assembly ( 12 ), a leg assembly ( 14 ), and a first support assembly ( 46 A). The table top assembly ( 12 ) supports the person. The leg assembly ( 14 ) including a first pair of spaced apart legs ( 40 A) that are pivotable connected to the table top assembly ( 12 ). Each leg ( 38 A) ( 38 B) ( 38 C) ( 38 D) is moveable between an unfolded configuration in which the first pair of legs ( 40 A) support the table top assembly ( 12 ) above the surface ( 20 ) and a folded configuration. The first support assembly ( 46 A) supports the first pair of legs ( 40 A) in the unfolded configuration. The first support assembly ( 46 A) includes a first arm segment ( 48 A) and a pair of spaced apart second arm segments ( 48 B) that cooperate to extend between the table top assembly ( 12 ) and the first pair of legs ( 40 A). In one embodiment, the first arm segment ( 46 A) includes an integrally formed structure that includes a pair of side sections ( 56 A) and a transverse section ( 56 B) that maintains the side sections ( 56 A) apart.

1 . A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage, the massage table comprising: 
 a table top assembly that supports the person;    a leg assembly including a first pair of spaced apart legs that are pivotable connected to the table top assembly, each leg being moveable between an unfolded configuration in which the first pair of legs support the table top assembly above the surface and a folded configuration; and    a first support assembly that supports the first pair of legs in the unfolded configuration, the first support assembly including a first arm segment and a pair of spaced apart second arm segments that cooperate to extend between the table top assembly and the first pair of legs, the first arm segment including an integrally formed structure that includes a pair of side sections and a transverse section that maintains the side sections apart.    
   
   
       2 . The massage table of  claim 1  wherein the first arm segment is generally “U” shaped.  
   
   
       3 . The massage table of  claim 1  wherein each of the side sections of the first arm segment is pivotable attached to the table top assembly, one of the second arm segments is pivotable attached to one of the legs of the first pair of legs and the other of the second arm segments is pivotable attached to the other of the legs of the first pair of legs.  
   
   
       4 . The massage table of  claim 3  wherein the first arm segment is pivotable attached to the second arm segments.  
   
   
       5 . The massage table of  claim 4  wherein the first arm segment maintains the second arm segments apart.  
   
   
       6 . The massage table of  claim 3  wherein the second arm segments are pivotable attached to the first arm segment near the transverse section.  
   
   
       7 . The massage table of  claim 1  wherein the first arm segment is a continuous, formed tube.  
   
   
       8 . The massage table of  claim 1  wherein the leg assembly includes a second pair of spaced apart legs that are pivotable connected to the table top assembly, each leg being moveable between an unfolded configuration in which the second pair of legs support the table top assembly above the surface and a folded configuration; and the massage table further comprises a second support assembly that supports the second pair of legs in the unfolded configuration, the second support assembly including a first arm segment and a pair of spaced apart second arm segments that cooperate to extend between the table top assembly and the second pair of legs, the second arm segment including an integrally formed structure that includes a pair of side sections and a transverse section that maintains the side sections apart.  
   
   
       9 . A massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage, the massage table comprising: 
 a table top assembly that supports the person;    a leg assembly including a first pair of spaced apart legs that are pivotable connected to the table top assembly, and a second pair of spaced apart legs that are pivotable connected to the table top assembly, each leg being moveable between an unfolded configuration in which the legs support the table top assembly above the surface and a folded configuration;    a first support assembly that supports the first pair of legs in the unfolded configuration, the first support assembly including a first arm segment and a pair of spaced apart second arm segments that cooperate to extend between the table top assembly and the first pair of legs, the first arm segment including includes a pair of side sections and a transverse section that maintains the side sections apart, the first arm segment including a continuous, formed tube that defines the side sections and the transverse section; and    a second support assembly that supports the second pair of legs in the unfolded configuration, the second support assembly including a first arm segment and a pair of spaced apart second arm segments that cooperate to extend between the table top assembly and the second pair of legs, the second arm segment including an integrally formed structure that includes a pair of side sections and a transverse section that maintains the side sections apart, the second arm segment including a continuous, formed tube that defines the side sections and the transverse section.    
   
   
       10 . The massage table of  claim 9  wherein (i) for the first support assembly, each of the side sections of the first arm segment is pivotable attached to the table top assembly, one of the second arm segments is pivotable attached to one of the legs of the first pair of legs and the other of the second arm segments is pivotable attached to the other of the legs of the first pair of legs, and (ii) for the second support assembly, each of the side sections of the first arm segment is pivotable attached to the table top assembly, one of the second arm segments is pivotable attached to one of the legs of the second pair of legs and the other of the second arm segments is pivotable attached to the other of the legs of the second pair of legs  
   
   
       11 . The massage table of  claim 10  wherein (i) for the first support assembly, the first arm segment is pivotable attached to the second arm segments, and (ii) for the second support assembly, the first arm segment is pivotable attached to the second arm segments.  
   
   
       12 . The massage table of  claim 11  wherein (i) for the first support assembly, the first arm segment maintains the second arm segments apart, and (ii) for the second support assembly, the first arm segment maintains the second arm segments apart.  
   
   
       13 . The massage table of  claim 12  wherein (i) for the first support assembly, the second arm segments are pivotable attached to the first arm segment near the transverse section, and (ii) for the second support assembly, the second arm segments are pivotable attached to the first arm segment near the transverse section  
   
   
       14 . A method for making a massage table for supporting a person above a surface during a massage, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a table top assembly that supports the person;    connecting a leg assembly including a first pair of spaced apart legs to the table top assembly, each leg being moveable between an unfolded configuration in which the first pair of legs support the table top assembly above the surface and a folded configuration; and    supporting the first pair of legs in the unfolded configuration with a first support assembly, the first support assembly including a first arm segment and a pair of spaced apart second arm segments that cooperate to extend between the table top assembly and the first pair of legs, the first arm segment including an integrally formed structure that includes a pair of side sections and a transverse section that maintains the side sections apart.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of supporting includes the steps of (i) pivotably attaching each of the side sections of the first arm segment to the table top assembly, (ii) pivotably attaching one of the second arm segments to one of the legs of the first pair of legs, and (iii) pivotably attaching the other of the second arm segments to the other of the legs of the first pair of legs.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of supporting includes the step of pivotably attaching the first arm segment to the second arm segments.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of supporting includes the step of pivotably attaching the second arm segments to the first arm near the transverse section.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of supporting includes the step of forming the first arm segment from a continuous tube.