Banquet table

Abstract

A foldable table includes a table tops and legs mounted for movement relative to the table top.

1 . A foldable table comprising
 a table top,   a first table-top elevator coupled to a first end of the table top, and   a second table-top elevator coupled to an opposite second end of the table top,   wherein the first table-top elevator includes a pivotable first table-top support that is mounted for pivotable movement on an underside of the table top and a first support-retainer linkage that is mounted on the underside of the table top and coupled to the pivotable first table-top support to retain the pivotable first table-top support in an expanded use position in which the first table-top support is oriented to lie at about a right angle to the underside of the table top when the table is unfolded and to control pivoting movement of the pivotable first table-top support relative to the table top between the expanded use position and a collapsed storage position in which the first table-top support is oriented to extend along the underside of the table top when the table is folded, the first support-retainer linkage includes an outer arm mount coupled to the pivotable first table-top support to pivot therewith, a stationary inner arm mount coupled to the underside of the table top, and a movable arm having an outer end pivotably coupled to the outer arm mount and an inner end slidably coupled to the stationary inner arm mount and arranged to slide along a length of the stationary inner arm mount in response to pivoting movement of the pivotable first table-top support relative to the table top.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable table of  claim 1 , wherein the first support-retainer linkage further includes an arm-lock latch associated with the stationary inner arm mount and configured to provide means for automatically and releasably locking the inner end of the movable arm in a fixed position on the stationary inner arm mount in response to operator-controlled pivoting movement of the pivotable first table-top support from the collapsed storage position to the expanded use position during unfolding of the table so that the first table-top support is retained in the expanded use position when the foldable table is unfolded and the table top is supported on the first and second table-top elevators above an underlying floor. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable table of  claim 2 , wherein the arm-lock latch includes a locking pawl mounted for pivotable movement about a pawl-pivot axis, the locking pawl including a first end and an opposite second end, the first end is formed to include a convex pin-receiving cam surface and a concave pin-motion blocker surface located between the convex pin-receiving cam surface and the pawl-pivot axis, and the concave pin-motion blocker surface is arranged to engage a pin included in the inner end of the movable arm to retain the first table-top support in the expanded use position when the table is unfolded. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable table of  claim 3 , wherein the arm-lock latch further includes a pawl-biasing spring coupled to the locking pawl and to the stationary inner arm mount and arranged to pivot the locking pawl to a pin-engaging position in which the concave pin-motion blocker surface engages the pin to block movement of the pin relative to the stationary inner arm mount in response to pivoting movement of the pivotable first table-top support to the expanded use position. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable table of  claim 4 , wherein the first support-retainer linkage further includes a latch-release pedal coupled to the opposite second end of the locking pawl to provide means for receiving a latch-release force applied by a user to cause the locking pawl to pivot about the pawl-pivot axis to disengage the pin and free the movable arm to move relative to the stationary inner arm mount and the pivotable first table-top support so as to allow movement of the pivotable first table-top support from the expanded use position to the collapsed storage position. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable table of  claim 2 , wherein the arm-lock latch includes a locking pawl mounted for pivotable movement on the stationary inner arm mount about a pawl-pivot axis between an arm-retaining position in which the locking pawl engages the inner end of the movable arm when the first table-top support reaches the expanded use position to retain the first table-top support in the expanded use position and an arm-releasing position in which the locking pawl disengages the inner end of the movable arm to free the inner end of the movable arm to slide on the stationary inner arm mount during pivotable movement of the first table-top support relative to the table top toward the collapsed storage position, a pawl-biasing spring coupled to the locking pawl and to the stationary inner arm mount and configured to urge the locking pawl normally to the arm-retaining position, and a latch-release pedal coupled to the locking pawl to provide means for receiving a latch-release force applied by a user to cause the locking pawl to pivot about the pawl-pivot axis to disengage the inner end of the movable arm to allow pivotable movement of the first table-top support from the expanded use position to the collapsed storage position. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable table of  claim 6 , wherein the locking pawl includes a cam surface facing away from the pawl-pivot axis and a motion-blocker surface facing toward the pawl-pivot axis and cooperating with the cam surface to form a tip, the motion-blocker surface is arranged to engage the inner end of the movable arm when the first table-top support occupies the expanded use position to block movement of the first table-top support relative to the table top, and the cam surface is arranged to engage the inner end of the movable arm during movement of the inner end relative to the stationary inner arm mount as the first table-top support is moved by a user from the collapsed storage position to the expanded use position to receive a pivot-inducing force applied by the inner end to cause the locking pawl to pivot about the pawl-pivot axis away from the underside of the table top against a biasing force applied by the pawl-biasing spring and allow the inner end of the movable arm to pass the tip and then engage the motion-blocker surface in response to pivoting movement of the tip of the locking pawl toward the underside of the table top. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable table of  claim 7 , wherein the inner end of the movable arm includes a longitudinally extending sleeve and a pin coupled to the sleeve and arranged to engage the cam surface of the locking pawl during movement of the first table-top support from the collapsed storage position to the expanded use positon and to engage the motion-blocker surface upon movement of the first table-top support to assume the expanded use position. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable table of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve includes first and second sleeve side walls arranged to lie in laterally spaced-apart relation to one another and the pin is arranged to extend through apertures formed in each of the first and second sleeve side walls, and a portion of the pin that is arranged to extend away from each of the first and second sleeve side walls and is positioned to engage in sequence each of the cam surface and the motion-blocker surface of the locking pawl during movement of the first table-top support from the collapsed storage position to the expanded use position. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable table of  claim 8 , wherein the pin includes a first end arranged to slide back and forth in a first longitudinally extending pin-receiving slot formed in the sleeve during movement of the first table-top support between the collapsed storage position and the expanded use position and an opposite second end arranged to slide back and forth in a second longitudinally extending pin-receiving slot during movement of the first table-top support between the collapsed storage position and the expanded use position and wherein the first end of the pin is positioned to engage in sequence each of the cam surface and the motion-blocker surface of the locking pawl during movement of the first table-top support from the collapsed storage position to the expanded use position. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable table of  claim 2 , wherein the inner end of the movable arm of the first support-retainer linkage includes a pin that is engaged automatically by the arm-lock latch to retain the movable arm in an extended position extending away from the stationary inner arm mount when the table is unfolded and the first table-top support is pivoted to the expanded use position. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable table of  claim 11 , wherein a first end of the pin is arranged to slide back and forth in a first pin-receiving slot formed in the stationary inner arm mount during movement of the movable arm between the extended position and a retracted position lying in an arm-receiving channel formed in the stationary inner arm mount in response to pivoting movement of the first table-top support from the expanded use position to the collapsed storage position and wherein the arm-lock latch is arranged to engage the first end of the pin when the first table-top support is pivoted to the expanded use position. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable table of  claim 12 , wherein an opposite second end of the pin is arranged to slide back and forth in a second pin-receiving slot formed in the stationary inner arm mount during movement of the movable arm between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable table of  claim 11 , wherein the inner end of the movable arm includes a longitudinally extending sleeve and the pin is coupled to the longitudinally extending sleeve to move therewith and arranged to extend transversely away from the longitudinally extending sleeve to engage the pin upon arrival of the first table-top support at the expanded use position. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable table of  claim 1 , wherein the first table-top support includes a first leg, a second leg arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first leg, and a cross-member strut arranged to extend between and interconnect the first and second legs, and the outer arm mount is coupled to the cross-member strut to move therewith to support the movable arm for pivotable movement relative to the cross-member strut of the first table-top support during movement of the first table-top support between the expanded use position and the collapsed storage position. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable table of  claim 15 , wherein the first leg, second leg, and cross-member strut cooperate to provide the first table-top support with an H-shape, and the first table-top support further includes a first hinge coupled to the first leg and to the table top to support the first leg for pivotable movement about a first support-pivot axis during pivotable movement of the first table-top support between the expanded use position and the collapsed storage position and a second hinge coupled to the second leg and to the table top to support the second leg for pivotable movement about the first support-pivot axis during pivotable movement of the first table-top support between the expanded use position and the collapsed storage position. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable table of  claim 1 , wherein the second table-top elevator includes a pivotable second table-top support that is mounted for pivotable movement on the underside of the table top and a second support-retainer linkage that is mounted on the underside of the table top and coupled to the pivotable second table-top support to retain the pivotable second table-top support in an expanded use position in which the second table-top support is oriented to lie at about a right angle to the underside of the table top when the table is unfolded and to control pivoting movement of the pivotable second table-top support relative to the table top between the expanded use position and a collapsed storage position in which the second table-top support is oriented to extend along the underside of the table top when the table is folded, the second support-retainer linkage includes a second outer arm mount coupled to the pivotable second table-top support to pivot therewith, a second stationary inner arm mount coupled to the underside of the table top, and a second movable arm having an outer end pivotably coupled to the second outer arm mount and an inner end slidably coupled to the second stationary inner arm mount and arranged to slide along a length of the second stationary inner arm mount in response to pivoting movement of the pivotable second table-top support relative to the table top. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable table of  claim 17 , wherein the second inner arm mount and the inner arm mount of the first table-top support cooperate to form a monolithic center beam on the underside of the table top. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable table of  claim 17 , wherein the second support-retainer linkage further includes a second arm-lock latch associated with the second stationary inner arm mount and configured to provide means for automatically and releasably locking the inner end of the second movable arm in a fixed position on the second stationary inner arm mount in response to operator-controlled pivoting movement of the pivotable second table-top support from the collapsed storage position to the expanded use position during unfolding of the table so that the second table-top support is retained in the expanded use position when the foldable table is unfolded and the table top is supported on the first and second table-top elevators above an underlying floor. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable table of  claim 17 , wherein the inner ends of the movable arm and the second movable arm are arranged to lie in end-to-end relation to one another in arm-receiving channels formed in stationary arm mount and the second stationary arm mount when the table is folded and pivotable first and second table-top supports are pivoted to assume collapsed storage positions on the underside of the table top.