Aluminum table with flat upper surface

Abstract

A table with a metal top includes a leg assembly coupled to a table top with a single, continuous and sheet of metal forming substantially an entire uppermost surface of the table top that is flat, continuous and uninterrupted over substantially the entire uppermost surface. The sheet being folded down around a perimeter thereof forming substantially an entire outermost perimeter of the table top that is continuous and uninterrupted around substantially the entire outermost perimeter and extending downward and away from the uppermost surface.

1 . A foldable and portable table with an aluminum and rectangular top, comprising:
 a) a table top comprising:
 i) a single, continuous sheet of aluminum forming substantially an entire uppermost surface of the table top that is flat, continuous and uninterrupted over substantially the entire uppermost surface, and being folded down on opposite sides and opposite ends forming substantially an entire outermost perimeter of the table top that is continuous and uninterrupted around substantially the entire outermost perimeter and extending downward and away from the uppermost surface; 
 ii) the uppermost surface and outermost perimeter of the table top being interrupted only at corner voids cut-out in each corner of the sheet in the uppermost surface and an adjacent side and end at a respective corner; 
 iii) plastic corner pieces disposed in the corner voids in each corner of the sheet, the corner pieces having upper surfaces flush with an upper surface of the sheet and forming the entire uppermost surface of the table top along with the sheet, the corner pieces also having side and end surfaces flush with respective sides and ends of the sheet to form the entire outermost perimeter along with the sheet; 
 iv) opposite side rails affixed to an inner surface of the sheet with double-sided tape, and disposed inside the opposite sides of the sheet, and the opposite side rails coupled to corner pieces at opposite ends of the side rails with fingers of the corner pieces extending into the side rails; 
 v) opposite end rails affixed to the inner surface of the sheet with double-sided tape, and disposed inside the opposite ends of the sheet, and the opposite end rails coupled to corner pieces at opposite ends of the end rails with fingers of the corner pieces extending into the end rails; and 
 vi) at least two spaced-apart channel spars with upper channel lips affixed to the inner surface of the sheet with double-sided tape; and 
   b) at least two leg assemblies coupled to the table top and pivotal between an open position elevating the table top and a closed position against the table top, each leg assembly comprising:
 i) a pivot coupled to the at least two spaced-apart channel spars; 
 ii) at least one leg attached to the pivot; 
 iii) a brace coupled between the at least to spaced-apart channel spars and spaced-apart from the pivot; 
 iv) a linkage coupled between the brace and the at least one leg; and 
 v) a cap disposed in an end of the pivot and having a size extending beyond the pivot in a direction away from the table top to abut to an uppermost surface of an adjacent stacked table. 
   
     
     
         2 . A table in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each leg assembly further comprises:
 a) a pair of arcuate legs with a proximal end attached to the pivot;   b) a foot attached to a distal end of the pair of arcuate legs.   
     
     
         3 . A table in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the pair of arcuate legs is off-center with respect to a longitudinal access of the table. 
     
     
         4 . A table in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the table top further comprises:
 channel segments each located at an end of each pivot between the pivot and the inside surface of the sheet with one of the at least two spaced-apart channel spars disposed at an opposite end of each pivot.   
     
     
         5 . A table in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the pair of arcuate legs each have an opposite curvature between the proximal and distal ends with respect to one another. 
     
     
         6 . A table in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the table top further comprises:
 a pair of channel segments each located at a different opposite end of each pivot with the at least two spaced-apart channel spars disposed between the pair of channel segments.   
     
     
         7 . A table in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter frame is formed by the opposite side rails, the opposite end rails and the corner pieces extending around a perimeter of the table top with the opposite side rails and the opposite end rails attached directly to the sheet at a perimeter of the sheet; wherein an interior frame is formed by the at least two spaced-apart channel spars and the pivot of each of the at least two leg assemblies inside a perimeter of the sheet with the at least two spaced-apart channel spars attached directly to the inner surface of the sheet; and wherein both the perimeter frame and the interior frame are coupled together by the sheet without being directly attached to one another. 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing the table of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) cutting the corner voids out of the single, continuous sheet of aluminum; and   b) folding the opposite sides and the opposite ends of the sheet of aluminum transverse to a rest of the sheet of aluminum.   
     
     
         9 . A foldable and portable table with a metal top, comprising:
 a) a table top comprising:
 i) a single, continuous sheet of metal forming substantially an entire uppermost surface of the table top that is flat, continuous and uninterrupted over substantially the entire uppermost surface, and being folded down on opposite sides and opposite ends forming substantially an entire outermost perimeter of the table top that is continuous and uninterrupted around substantially the entire outermost perimeter and extending downward and away from the uppermost surface; 
 ii) the uppermost surface and outermost perimeter of the table top being interrupted only at corner voids cut-out in each corner of the sheet in the uppermost surface and an adjacent side and end at a respective corner; 
 iii) plastic corner pieces disposed in the corner voids in each corner of the sheet, the corner pieces having upper surfaces flush with an upper surface of the sheet and forming the entire uppermost surface of the table top along with the sheet, the corner pieces also having side and end surfaces flush with respective sides and ends of the sheet to form the entire outermost perimeter along with the sheet; 
 iv) opposite side rails affixed to an inner surface of the sheet and disposed inside the opposite sides of the sheet, and the opposite side rails coupled to corner pieces at opposite ends of the side rails with fingers of the corner pieces extending into the side rails; 
 v) opposite end rails affixed to the inner surface of the sheet and disposed inside the opposite ends of the sheet, and the opposite end rails coupled to corner pieces at opposite ends of the end rails with fingers of the corner pieces extending into the end rails; and 
 vi) at least two spaced-apart channel spars with upper channel lips affixed to the inner surface of the sheet; and 
   b) at least two leg assemblies coupled to the table top and pivotal between an open position elevating the table top and a closed position against the table top,   
     
     
         10 . A table in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the opposite side rails, the opposite end rails, and the upper channel lips of the at least two spaced-apart channel spars are affixed to the inner surface of the sheet with double-sided tape. 
     
     
         11 . A table in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein each leg assembly comprises:
 a) a pivot coupled to the at least two spaced-apart channel spars;   b) at least one leg attached to the pivot;   c) a brace coupled between the at least to spaced-apart channel spars and spaced-apart from the pivot;   d) a linkage coupled between the brace and the at least one leg; and   e) a cap disposed in an end of the pivot and having a size extending beyond the pivot in a direction away from the table top to abut to an uppermost surface of an adjacent stacked table.   
     
     
         12 . A table in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein each leg assembly further comprises:
 a) a pair of arcuate legs with a proximal end attached to the pivot;   b) a foot attached to a distal end of the pair of arcuate legs.   
     
     
         13 . A table in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the pair of arcuate legs is off-center with respect to a longitudinal access of the table. 
     
     
         14 . A table in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the table top further comprises:
 a) channel segments each located at an end of each pivot between the pivot and the inside surface of the sheet with one of the at least two spaced-apart channel spars disposed at an opposite end of each pivot.   
     
     
         15 . A table in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the pair of arcuate legs each have an opposite curvature between the proximal and distal ends with respect to one another. 
     
     
         16 . A table in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the table top further comprises:
 a pair of channel segments each located at a different opposite end of each pivot with the at least two spaced-apart channel spars disposed between the pair of channel segments.   
     
     
         17 . A table in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein a perimeter frame is formed by the opposite side rails, the opposite end rails and the corner pieces extending around a perimeter of the table top with the opposite side rails and the opposite end rails attached directly to the sheet at a perimeter of the sheet; wherein an interior frame is formed by the at least two spaced-apart channel spars and the at least two leg assemblies inside a perimeter of the sheet with the at least two spaced-apart channel spars attached directly to the inner surface of the sheet; and wherein both the perimeter frame and the interior frame are coupled together by the sheet without being directly attached to one another. 
     
     
         18 . A table in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the uppermost surface and outermost perimeter of the table top is formed by:
 a) cutting the corner voids out of the single, continuous sheet of aluminum; and   b) folding the opposite sides and the opposite ends of the sheet of aluminum transverse to a rest of the sheet of aluminum.   
     
     
         19 . A table with a metal top, comprising:
 a) a table top comprising:
 i) a single, continuous sheet of metal forming substantially an entire uppermost surface of the table top that is flat, continuous and uninterrupted over substantially the entire uppermost surface, and being folded down around a perimeter thereof forming substantially an entire outermost perimeter of the table top that is continuous and uninterrupted around substantially the entire outermost perimeter and extending downward and away from the uppermost surface; and 
 ii) a perimeter frame formed by a perimeter rail at least substantially circumscribing the perimeter of the sheet inside the outermost perimeter of the sheet and attached directly to an inner surface of the sheet at the perimeter; and 
   b) at least one leg assembly coupled to the table top.   
     
     
         20 . A table in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the table top further comprises:
 an interior frame formed by at least two spaced-apart channel spars and at least one cross-member coupled to and spanning the at least two spaced-apart channel spars inside the perimeter of the sheet with the at least two spaced-apart channel spars attached directly to the inner surface of the sheet inside of the perimeter of the sheet and the perimeter frame.