Collapsible table tennis table

Abstract

A table tennis table includes a table top and a base assembly. The base assembly includes legs that are adjustably spaced so that the base assembly has an adjustable length and an adjustable width. Each leg includes a telescoping pole that extends between a table pad and a floor pad. One or more struts extend from each leg to adjacent legs along the length and the width of the base assembly. The adjustable legs may be used to configure the base assembly between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration which has a greater length and width than the collapsed configuration. When the base assembly is configured in the expanded configuration, the legs of the base assembly may be used to support the table top to create a to playing surface for table tennis.

1 . A table tennis table comprising:
 a table top having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said table top includes:
 a first table section; 
 a second table section connected to said first table section by one or more hinges, wherein said second table section is foldable with respect to said first table section about said one or more hinges; 
   a table tennis net extending substantially perpendicularly from said top surface of said table top;   a base assembly including a plurality of legs adjustably spaced so that said base assembly has an adjustable length and an adjustable width, wherein each leg includes a telescoping pole extending between a table pad and a floor pad and wherein struts extend from each leg along the length and the width of the base assembly to each adjacent leg;   wherein said base assembly is configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and wherein the length and the width of the base assembly is greater in the expanded configuration than in said collapsed configuration;   wherein the length of said legs telescopically adjusts between a longer length in the collapsed configuration to a shorter length in the expanded configuration; and   wherein said table top is supported by said plurality of legs when said base assembly is in the expanded configuration to create a playing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein one end of a first strut is pivotally attached to the table pad of a first leg and a second end of said first strut is pivotally attached to the floor pad of a second leg that is adjacent to said first leg. 
     
     
         3 . The table tennis table of  claim 2 , wherein one end of a second strut is pivotally attached to the floor pad of said first leg and a second end of said second strut is pivotally attached to the table pad of said second leg. 
     
     
         4 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface of said table top is in contact with the table pads of said plurality of legs when said table top is supported by said base assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein said struts are at oblique angles with respect to said plurality of legs when said base assembly is in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an apron, wherein said apron is positioned between said table top and said base assembly; and   wherein said apron hangs from said table top to hide said base assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The table tennis table of  claim 6 , wherein said table top includes a peripheral edge, and wherein said apron hangs from said peripheral edge of said table top. 
     
     
         8 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein said table pad includes a table support surface made from a non-slip material to resist said table top from sliding when said table top is supported by said base assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein said floor pad includes a floor contact surface made from a non-slip material to resist said base assembly from sliding on a support surface in contact with said base assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The table tennis table of  claim 1 , wherein said base assembly includes six legs arranged in two rows, and wherein each row includes three legs. 
     
     
         11 . The table tennis table of  claim 10 , wherein when said base assembly is in said expanded configuration two of said legs support the first table section of the table top, two of said legs support the table top at a seam between said first table section and said second table section and contact both said first table section and said second table section, and two of said legs support the second table section of the table top. 
     
     
         12 . A kit, comprising:
 a table top including a first table section and a second table section connected to said first table section by one or more hinges, wherein said second table section is foldable with respect to said first table section about said one or more hinges;   a table tennis net;   a base assembly, including:
 a first leg including a first pole, wherein a length of the first pole is adjustable; 
 a second leg including a second pole, wherein a length of the second pole is adjustable; 
 a first strut extending between said first leg and said second leg; 
 a second strut extending between said first leg and said second leg, wherein said second strut crosses said first strut so that said first strut and said second strut form an X-shape; and 
   wherein said base assembly is configurable in a collapsed configuration and expandable to be placed in an expanded configuration, and wherein a length and a width of the base assembly is greater in the expanded configuration than in said collapsed configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said base assembly includes:
 a third leg including a third pole extending between a third table pad and a third floor pad, wherein a length of the of the third pole is adjustable;   a third strut extending between said first leg and said third leg; and   a fourth strut extending between said first leg and said third leg, wherein said fourth strut crosses said third strut so that said third strut and said fourth strut form an X-shape.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an apron, wherein said apron is attachable to said table top; and   wherein the apron is supported by the table pads and the table top is positioned on top of said apron to clamp the apron in place, and wherein said apron hangs from said table top to hide said base assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said first pole and said second pole are telescoping poles. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said base assembly includes six legs arranged in two rows and wherein each row includes three legs so that said base assembly has a rectangular shape when arranged in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A table tennis table comprising:
 a table top having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said table top includes:
 a first table section; 
 a second table section connected to said first table section by one or more hinges, wherein said second table section is foldable with respect to said first table section about said one or more hinges at a seam; 
   a base assembly including a plurality of legs adjustably spaced so that said base assembly has an adjustable length and an adjustable width, and wherein said base assembly includes:
 a first leg, a second leg and a third leg, wherein each leg includes a telescoping pole extending between a table pad and a floor pad; 
 wherein said first leg is coupled to said second leg by a first pair of struts connected at a pivot point, and wherein said first pair of struts cross to form an X-shape; 
 wherein said second leg is coupled to said third leg by a pair of second struts connected at a pivot point, and wherein said second pair of struts cross to form an X-shape; 
   wherein said base assembly is configurable in an expanded configuration and collapsible to a collapsed configuration, and wherein the length and the width of the base assembly in said collapsed configuration is less than the length and the width of the base assembly in said expanded configuration; and   wherein when said base assembly is in said expanded configuration, said first leg supports the first table section of the table top, said second leg supports the table top at the seam and contacts both said first table section and said second table section, and said third leg supports the second table section of the table top to form a playing surface.   
     
     
         20 . The table tennis table of  claim 19 ,
 wherein said base assembly includes six legs; and   wherein when said base assembly is in said expanded configuration two of said legs support the first table section of the table top, two of said legs support the table top at the seam and contact both said first table section and said second table section, and two of said legs support the second table section of the table top.   
     
     
         21 . The table tennis table of  claim 19 , wherein the hinges are located on the bottom surface of the table top so that the hinges are not exposed on the playing surface formed by the top surface when the table top is in use. 
     
     
         22 . The table tennis table of  claim 19 ,
 wherein said base assembly includes six legs; and   wherein when said base assembly is in said expanded configuration two of said legs support the first table section of the table top, two of said legs straddle the seam and are in direct contact with both the first table section and the second table section, and two of said legs support the second table section of the table top.