Table and bench set

Abstract

A collapsible picnic set comprising a table member and at least one bench member, said table member being constituted by a table top having an undersurface with a transverse support member pivotally articulated thereto, two legs associated with each lateral edge of the transverse support member, and a pair of longitudinal support members articulated to the undersurface of the table. The bench member being of similar construction to the table member, having shorter legs and an undersurface smaller than the undersurface of the table top. The longitudinal support members of both the table member and the bench member are displaceable between erect and collapsed positions, and the transverse support member is prevented from collapsing as long as at least one of the longitudinal support members is erect. The least one bench member and the table member are adapted to be attached to each other, when each is in a collapsed position, undersurface mated to undersurface, so as to form one portable picnic unit.

1 . A collapsing table comprising a table top formed of a pair of pivotable table top half-sections hinged to one another at their at their adjacent edges along a center-line of the table and displaceable between an open position where said half-sections are coplanar and a folded position where said half-sections overlap one another; the table characterized in that each section has at an undersurface thereof a transverse support member pivotally articulated thereto with a leg associated with each lateral edge of the transverse support member, and a pair of longitudinal support members pivotally articulated to the undersurface; said support members are displaceable between erect and collapsed positions whereby the transverse support member is prohibited from collapsing as long as at least one of the longitudinal support member is erect.  
   
   
       2 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein a central support member is pivotally articulated, along the center-line, at undersurfaces of the top half-sections.  
   
   
       3 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse support member extends adjacent an end of the half-section.  
   
   
       4 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse support member extends parallel to the center-line of the table.  
   
   
       5 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein each lateral end of the transverse support member receives a leg of the table.  
   
   
       6 . A collapsing table according to  claim 2 , wherein the central support member receives at least one leg of the table.  
   
   
       7 . A collapsing table according to  claim 6 , wherein each lateral end of the central support member receives a leg of the table.  
   
   
       8 . A collapsing table according to  claim 2 , wherein adjoining ends of the longitudinal support members and lateral edges of the central support member are engageable at the erect position thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A collapsing table according to  claim 2 , wherein an edge of each longitudinal support member is engageable with a corresponding lateral edge of the central support member at the erect position thereof.  
   
   
       10 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein an edge of each longitudinal support member is engageable with a corresponding lateral edge of the transverse support member at the erect position thereof.  
   
   
       11 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein each section is formed at its adjacent edge with a transverse abutment surface, whereby at an open state of the table said abutment surfaces bear against one another.  
   
   
       12 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal support members extend essentially the length of the half-section.  
   
   
       13 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal support members is composed of several members linked together.  
   
   
       14 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the center support member is hingedly coupled to a transverse hinge extending at the center-line of the table.  
   
   
       15 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the support members are snappingly engaged with one another at their erect position.  
   
   
       16 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the support members are pivotally articulated to the undersurfaces by snap-type hinges.  
   
   
       17 . A collapsing table according to  claim 16 , wherein the support members are articulated to the half-sections by first hinge segments integrally formed at the undersurfaces and corresponding second hinge segments integrally formed at the support members.  
   
   
       18 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein both top half-sections are pivotable about a hinge common also for the central support member.  
   
   
       19 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein both top half-sections are pivotable about a hinge common also for the central support member.  
   
   
       20 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the table top has a circular shape.  
   
   
       21 . A collapsing table According to  claim 1 , wherein the half-sections are integrally formed with a peripheral downwardly extending skirt portion.  
   
   
       22 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the support members are retainable at the erected position by a snap-type support arrangement.  
   
   
       23 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein at the erect position the support members have substantial portions extending flush with the undersurface of the respective top half-sections.  
   
   
       24 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein the half-sections and the support members are made of plastic material.  
   
   
       25 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein a carrying handle is fitted to either one or both of the top half-sections.  
   
   
       26 . A collapsing table according to  claim 25 , wherein the handle is retractable from between the half-sections at the folded position thereof.  
   
   
       27 . A collapsing table according to  claim 25  wherein the handle is a recess integrally formed at one or both of the top half-sections.  
   
   
       28 . A collapsing table according to  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal support member extends between the central support member and the transverse support member.  
   
   
       29 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein a lock arrangement is provided for securing the half-sections at the folded position.  
   
   
       30 . A collapsing table according to  claim 1 , wherein at the erect position the support members are engaged with one another to form a closed support frame.  
   
   
       31 . A collapsible picnic set comprising a table member and at least one bench member, said table member being constituted by a table top having an undersurface with a transverse support member pivotally articulated thereto, two legs associated with each lateral edge of said transverse support member, and a pair of longitudinal support members articulated to the undersurface of said table member; said bench member being of similar construction to said table member, having shorter legs and an undersurface smaller than the undersurface of said table top; wherein said longitudinal support members of both said table member and said bench member are displaceable between erect and collapsed positions, and whereby said transverse support member is prevented from collapsing as long as at least one of said longitudinal support members is erect; and wherein said at least one bench member and said table member are adapted to be detachably attached to each other, when each is in a collapsed position, undersurface mated to undersurface, so as to form one portable picnic unit.  
   
   
       32 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 31 , wherein in the collapsed position, the undersurface of said at least one bench member is adapted to be mated to the undersurface of said table member.  
   
   
       33 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 31 , wherein the undersurface of said table member and said bench member are formed with a raised rim defining an inner volume.  
   
   
       34 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 33 , wherein in the collapsed position, said transverse support member and said longitudinal support member do not protrude from said volume.  
   
   
       35 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the the table member and the bench member is equipped with a handle adapted to support said picnic unit.  
   
   
       36 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 31 , wherein at the collapsed position the legs of the at least one bench member fit consecutively within the inner volume.  
   
   
       37 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 31 , wherein the longitudinal support members are stored flat against the undersurface of the table top within an inner volume thereof, such that the legs of one support member are nested within the legs of the other support member.  
   
   
       38 . A collapsible picnic set according to  claim 31 , wherein each bench member has a width which is about twice as small as the width of the table member, so that two bench members substantially fully cover the undersurface of the table.  
   
   
       39 . A collapsible picnic set comprising a table member and at least one bench member, said table member being constituted by a table top having an undersurface with a transverse support member pivotally articulated thereto, two legs associated with each lateral edge of said transverse support member, and a pair of longitudinal support members articulated to the undersurface of said table member; said bench member being of similar construction to said table member, having shorter legs and an undersurface smaller than the undersurface of said table top; wherein said longitudinal support members of both said table member and said bench member are displaceable between erect and collapsed positions, and whereby said transverse support member is prevented from collapsing as long as at least one of said longitudinal support members is erect; and wherein said at least one bench member and said table member are adapted to be detachably attached to each other, when each is in a collapsed position, undersurface mated to undersurface, so as to form one portable picnic unit and wherein a footprint of the table member coincides that of the at least one bench member at the attached position.