Expandable and collapsible tables and related methods

Abstract

A table comprises a base support including a base table leaf having a generally planar base table leaf surface, and at least one main table leaf movably carried by the base support. Each main table leaf is movable between a retracted position and an expanded position in which the respective main table leaf surface is generally coplanar with and in registration with the base table leaf surface. The table further comprises at least one extension table leaf. Each extension table leaf is slidably carried by a respective main table leaf to be slidably movable between a nested position and an extended position. The extension table leaf surface is substantially parallel to the main table leaf surface in both the nested position and the extended position. End supports are pivotally carried by the at least one main table leaf, and are pivotable between a stowed position and a support position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A table, comprising:
 a base support;   the base support including a base table leaf having a generally planar base table leaf surface;   at least one main table leaf movably carried by the base support;   each main table leaf defining a respective generally planar main table leaf surface;   each main table leaf movable between:
 a retracted position; and 
 an expanded position in which the respective main table leaf surface is generally coplanar with and in registration with the base table leaf surface; 
   at least one extension table leaf,   each extension table leaf defining a respective generally planar extension table leaf surface;   each extension table leaf slidably carried by a respective main table leaf;   each extension table leaf being slidably movable between:
 a nested position in which the respective extension table leaf nests in the respective main table leaf; and 
 an extended position wherein the extension table leaf extends beyond the respective main table leaf; 
   the extension table leaf surface of each extension table leaf being substantially parallel to the main table leaf surface of the respective main table leaf in both the nested position and the extended position;   end supports pivotally carried by the at least one main table leaf;   the end supports being pivotable between:
 a stowed position in which the end supports are generally parallel to the main table leaf surface of their respective main table leaf to nest within the respective main table leaf when the extension table leaf is in the nested position; and 
 a support position in which the end supports are generally perpendicular to the main table leaf surface of their respective main table leaf for supporting the table. 
   
     
     
         2 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in the extended position, the extension table leaf surface of each extension table leaf is non-coplanar with the main table leaf surface of the respective main table leaf; and   each extension table leaf is movable relative to the respective main table leaf from the extended position to a working position in which:
 the extension table leaf is in registration with the respective main table leaf; and 
 the extension table leaf surface of the extension table leaf is substantially coplanar with the main table leaf surface of the respective main table leaf; and 
   the extension table leaf is securable in the working position.   
     
     
         3 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each extension table leaf is carried by at least one respective carrier;   each carrier is slidably carried by the respective main table leaf for moving the extension table leaf between the nested position and the extended position; and   each extension table leaf is slidably carried by the respective at least one carrier for moving between the extended position and the working position.   
     
     
         4 . The table of  claim 3 , wherein each extension table leaf is movable from the extended position to the working position by:
 sliding the extension table leaf upwardly and outwardly relative to its respective at least one carrier to place the extension table leaf into an intermediate position in which:
 the extension table leaf is spaced from the main table leaf; and 
 the extension table leaf surface of the extension table leaf is substantially coplanar with the main table leaf surface of the respective main table leaf; and then 
   sliding the respective at least one carrier toward the respective main table leaf to bring the extension table leaf into registration with the main table leaf and thereby bring the extension table leaf into the working position.   
     
     
         5 . The table of  claim 4 , wherein each carrier is lockable to the respective main table leaf to secure the corresponding extension table leaf in the working position. 
     
     
         6 . The table of  claim 5 , wherein each carrier is lockable to the respective main table leaf to secure the corresponding extension table leaf in the nested position. 
     
     
         7 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one main table leaf is pivotingly carried by the base support; and   the main table leaf surface is generally perpendicular to the base table leaf surface when the main table leaf is in the retracted position.   
     
     
         8 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one main table leaf is slidingly carried by the base support; and   the main table leaf surface is generally parallel to the base table leaf surface when the main table leaf is in the retracted position.   
     
     
         9 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the table has two main table leaves and two extension table leaves. 
     
     
         10 . The table of  claim 9 , wherein the main table leaves are opposed to one another on opposite sides of the base support. 
     
     
         11 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the table has one main table leaf and one extension table leaf. 
     
     
         12 . An extendable main table leaf assembly, comprising:
 a main table leaf having a generally planar main table leaf surface;   an extension table leaf defining a generally planar extension table leaf surface;   the extension table leaf slidably carried by the main table leaf;   the extension table leaf being slidably movable between:
 a nested position in which the extension table leaf nests within the main table leaf, and 
 an extended position wherein the extension table leaf extends beyond the main table leaf; 
   the extension table leaf surface being generally parallel to the main table leaf surface in both the nested position and the extended position;   end supports pivotally carried by the at least one main table leaf;   the end supports being pivotable between:
 a stowed position in which the end supports are generally parallel to the main table leaf surface of their respective main table leaf to nest within the respective main table leaf when the extension table leaf is in the nested position; and 
 a support position in which the end supports are generally perpendicular to the main table leaf surface of their respective main table leaf for supporting the table. 
   
     
     
         13 . The extendable main table leaf assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 in the extended position, the extension table leaf surface is non-coplanar with the main table leaf surface; and   the extension table leaf is movable relative to the main table leaf from the extended position to a working position in which:
 the extension table leaf is in registration with the main table leaf; and 
 the extension table leaf surface of the extension table leaf is substantially coplanar with the main table leaf surface of the main table leaf; and 
   the extension table leaf is securable in the working position.   
     
     
         14 . The extendable main table leaf assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the extension table leaf is carried by at least one respective carrier;   each carrier is slidably carried by the main table leaf for moving the extension table leaf between the nested position and the extended position; and   the extension table leaf is slidably carried by the respective at least one carrier for moving between the extended position and the working position.   
     
     
         15 . The extendable main table leaf of  claim 14 , wherein the extension table leaf is movable from the extended position to the working position by:
 sliding the extension table leaf upwardly and outwardly relative to its at least one carrier to place the extension table leaf into an intermediate position in which:
 the extension table leaf is spaced from the main table leaf; and 
 the extension table leaf surface is substantially coplanar with the main table leaf surface; and then 
   sliding the at least one carrier toward the main table leaf to bring the extension table leaf into registration with the main table leaf and thereby bring the extension table leaf into the working position.   
     
     
         16 . The extendable main table leaf of  claim 15 , wherein each carrier is lockable to the main table leaf to secure the extension table leaf in the working position. 
     
     
         17 . The extendable main table leaf of  claim 15 , wherein each carrier is lockable to the main table leaf to secure the extension table leaf in the nested position. 
     
     
         18 . A method for extending a table, comprising:
 moving a main table leaf movably carried by a base support from a retracted position, relative to the base support, to an expanded position in which a main table leaf surface of the main table leaf is generally coplanar with and in registration with a base table leaf surface of a base table leaf carried by the base support;   sliding an extension table leaf from a nested position in which the extension table leaf nests in the main table leaf to an extended position wherein the extension table leaf extends beyond the respective main table leaf;   an extension table leaf surface of the extension table leaf being generally parallel to the main table leaf surface in both the nested position and the extended position;   sliding the extension table leaf upwardly and outwardly relative to the main table leaf to lock the extension table leaf into an intermediate position in which:
 the extension table leaf is spaced from the main table leaf; and 
 the extension table leaf surface of the extension table leaf is substantially coplanar with the main table leaf surface of the respective main table leaf; and then 
   sliding the extension table member toward the respective main table leaf to bring the extension table leaf into registration with the main table leaf; and   pivoting end supports pivotally carried by the at least one main table leaf from a stowed position in which the end supports are generally parallel to the main table leaf surface to a support position in which the end supports are generally perpendicular to the main table leaf surface.