Folding Furniture

Abstract

A folding table has a top shelf with a primary bracket pivotably attached to the top shelf and to a base. A top brace extends from the primary bracket and clips to the top shelf while a bottom brace extends from the primary bracket and clips to the base. The folding table collapses into a compact configuration. A folding shelving system has shelves mounted upon two opposing support sides. A typical shelf is pivotally attached to the support sides at one end and clipped at another end. The sides may be rotated to engage or release the shelf from the clip. The shelving system collapses to a compact configuration. A quick assembly cart has two opposing side structures that are secured in a spaced-apart parallel arrangement by removable connecting tubes.

1 . A folding table comprised of: 
 a) a top shelf having a top surface and a bottom surface;    b) a shelf connector attached to the bottom surface of the top shelf;    c) a base;    d) a first primary bracket having a first end pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the top shelf and a second end pivotally attached to the base; and    e) a first primary bracket top brace having a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first end is pivotally attached along the length of the first primary bracket and the second end is retained by the shelf connector; and wherein in the assembled state, the first primary bracket top brace supports the top shelf in a generally horizontal position and wherein in the collapsed state, the folding table has a flat compact configuration suitable for transporting.    
   
   
       2 . The folding table according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) a base connector attached to the base; and    b) a first primary bracket bottom brace having a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, where the first end is pivotally attached along the length of the first primary bracket and the second end is retained by the base connector.    
   
   
       3 . The folding table according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) the top brace includes a segment extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the second end;    b) the bottom brace includes a segment extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the second end; and    c) the shelf connector and the base connector are clips which accept the perpendicular segments of the braces.    
   
   
       4 . The folding table according to  claim 2 , further comprising a first secondary bracket having a first end and a second end, wherein the bracket is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the top shelf and with the base, and wherein the first secondary bracket is spaced from but parallel to the first primary bracket to form a parallelogram comprised of the first primary bracket, the first secondary bracket, a line intersecting with the pivotal connection of the first ends of the brackets with the top shelf and a line intersecting with the pivotal connection of the second ends of the brackets with the base, such that the top shelf and base remain generally parallel to one another when the table is assembled and when the table is collapsed.  
   
   
       5 . The folding table according to  claim 4 , wherein the first primary bracket, first secondary bracket and the top brace are secured to the bottom surface of the top shelf through an intermediate mounting strip.  
   
   
       6 . The folding table according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle on the top shelf.  
   
   
       7 . The folding table according to  claim 6 , wherein the handle is an aperture extending through the top shelf.  
   
   
       8 . The folding table according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wheel mounted to the base, wherein in the collapsed state the at least one wheel has an axle oriented in a direction non-perpendicular to the top shelf such that in the collapsed state the table may be supported by the wheel for transportation.  
   
   
       9 . The folding table according to  claim 8 , wherein the axle of the at last one wheel is oriented in a direction generally parallel to the top shelf.  
   
   
       10 . The folding table according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) a second primary bracket having a first end pivotally attached to the bottom surface of the top shelf and a second end pivotally attached to the base;    b) a second primary bracket top brace having a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first end is pivotally attached along the length of the second primary bracket and the second end is retained by the shelf connector; and    c) a second primary bracket bottom brace having a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis, where the first end is pivotally attached along the length of the second primary bracket and the second end is retained by the base connector; wherein in the assembled state, the first locking element and the second locking elements of the first and second brackets support the top shelf in a generally horizontal position and wherein in the collapsed state, the folding table has a flat compact configuration suitable for transporting.    
   
   
       11 . The folding table according to  claim 10 , further comprising a second secondary bracket spaced from but parallel to the second primary bracket to form a parallelogram comprised of the second primary bracket, the second secondary bracket, a line intersecting with the pivotal connection of the first ends of the brackets with the top shelf and a line intersecting with the pivotal connection of the second ends of the brackets with the base, such that the top shelf and base remain generally parallel to one another when the table is collapsed.  
   
   
       12 . The folding table according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) each top brace includes a segment extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the second end;    b) each bottom brace includes a segment extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at the second end;    c) the shelf connector and the base connector are clips which accept the perpendicular segments of the braces;    d) wherein the perpendicular segments extending from the top braces meet to form a common top cross member and the perpendicular segments extending from the bottom braces meet to form a common bottom cross member.    
   
   
       13 . The folding table according to  claim 1 , wherein the first primary bracket supports one portion of the top shelf and fasteners are attached to another portion of the top shelf adapted to be secured to an adjacent furniture piece for support.  
   
   
       14 . The folding table according to  claim 13 , wherein the top shelf has opposing sides disposed relative to one another at right angles to provide a corner table.  
   
   
       15 . A shelving system comprised of: 
 a) two opposing support sides, wherein each side is comprised of: 
 i) a front support member having a length;  
 ii) a rear support member having a length;  
 iii) a mounting bracket having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the mounting bracket is pivotally connected along the length of the front support member and the second end of the mounting bracket is pivotally connected along the length of the rear support member; and  
 iv) a base, wherein the front support member is pivotally connected to the base at one location and wherein the rear support member is pivotally connected to the base at another location, spaced apart from the first location, wherein the pivotal connections securing the front support member, rear support member, mounting bracket and base together define a parallelogram;  
   b) at least two shelves, wherein each shelf has associated with it a front shelf post attached to the front support member of each opposing support side and a rear shelf post attached to the rear support member of each opposing support side; and    c) wherein each shelf is pivotally secured at one location to one of either the front shelf post or the rear shelf post while each shelf at a spaced-apart location rests upon the other of the front shelf post or the rear shelf post.    
   
   
       16 . The shelving system according to  claim 15 , wherein each shelf is pivotally secured at one location with a clamp to a shelf post and wherein each shelf further comprises a bracket to permit the shelf to rest upon the shelf post but also to restrain motion of the shelf post within the bracket.  
   
   
       17 . The shelving system according to  claim 16 , wherein in the upright position, the two opposing sides are angled with respect to the base such that gravity will urge the opposing sides to rest against a wall and that in such a position the shelf posts are urged against the wall of the bracket to lock each shelf in place.  
   
   
       18 . The shelving system according to  claim 15 , wherein each opposing support side has a top and a bottom and wherein the width a each shelf increases from the top to the bottom of the opposing support sides.  
   
   
       19 . The shelving system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a mounting plate attached to the mounting bracket, wherein the mounting plate is adapted to be secured to a wall when the shelve system is in the upright position.  
   
   
       20 . The shelving system according to  claim 15 , wherein the front support member and the rear support member of the two opposing side supports may be moved relative to one another resulting in the shelve system folding into a compact configuration suitable for transporting.  
   
   
       21 . A quick-assembly cart comprised of: 
 a) two opposing side structures, wherein each side structure is comprised of: 
 i) an upper member;  
 ii) a lower member;  
 iii) frame members therebetween, wherein the frame members are rigidly attached to one another and to the upper member and to the lower member; and  
   b) removable connecting tubes extending between and securing the two opposing side structures in a spaced parallel relationship; wherein at least one connecting tube is an axle through the lower member, wherein wheels are mounted to opposing ends of the axle to secure the axle and to provide a mechanism to roll the cart.    
   
   
       22 . The quick-assembly cart according to  claim 21 , wherein a single connecting tube attaches at one end of the upper member of the opposing side structure and further comprising a shelf mounted between the lower members of the opposing side structure.  
   
   
       23 . The quick-assembly cart according to  claim 21 , wherein a pair of connecting tubes attaches, one at each end of the upper member of the opposing side structures, and wherein the opposing side structures are spaced apart and the connecting members have support runners therebetween shaped and positioned to accommodate hanging files.