Foldable table with traversing leg

Abstract

A foldable table includes a table top, a table top elevator configured to support the table top above an underlying floor, and a leg motion-control unit. The table top includes a left panel and a right panel pivotably coupled together to change between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The table top elevator includes left legs pivotably coupled to the left panel of the table top and right legs pivotably coupled to the right panel of the table top. The leg motion-control unit configured to control motion of the left and right legs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable table comprising
 a table top having a topside surface and an underside surface opposite the topside surface,   a table top elevator configured to support the table top above an underlying floor, the table top elevator including left legs pivotably coupled to the table top adjacent to a left end of the table top and right legs pivotably coupled to the table top adjacent to a right end of the table top, each of the left legs and right legs configured to pivot relative to the table top about an associated pivot axis from a stowed storage position in which the left and right legs extend along the underside of the table top to an extended use position in which the left and right legs extend from the underside of the table top, and   leg motion-controller means for (i) coordinating motion of the left legs during movement of the left legs from the stowed storage position to the extended use position, (ii) automatically retaining the left legs in the extended use position in response to movement of the left legs to the extended use position without user activation of a lock included in the leg motion-controller so that movement of the left legs from the stowed storage position to the extended use position causes retention of the left legs in the extended use position, and (iii) releasing the left legs to move from the extended use position to the stowed storage position by engaging the lock using only one hand.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable table of  claim 1 , further comprising leg motion-controller means for (i) coordinating motion of the right legs during movement of the right legs from the stoward storage position to the extended use position, (ii) automatically retaining the right legs in the extended use position in response to movement of the right legs to the extended use position without user activation of another lock included in the leg motion-controller so that movement of the right legs from the stowed storage position to the extended use position causes retention of the right legs in the extended use position, and (iii) releasing the right legs to move from the extended use position to the stowed storage position by engaging the associated lock using only one hand. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable table of  claim 2 , wherein the leg motion-controller includes a left leg motion-control assembly configured to coordinate motion of the left legs during movement of the left legs from the stowed storage position to the extend use position and a right leg motion-control assembly configured to coordinate motion of the right legs during movement of the right legs from the stowed storage position to the extend use position, each of the left and right leg motion-control assemblies including a slide fixed to the underside surface of the table top over a channel formed in underside surface of the table top to define a track along the underside surface of the table top, a guide link located in the track for sliding motion along the underside surface of the table top and pivotably coupled to the associated left or right legs so that motion of the left and right legs between the extended use position and the stowed storage position is controlled by the guide link in the track, and the associated lock coupled to the table top and configured to selectively engage the guide link to block movement of the guide link when the associated left or right legs are in the extended use position. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable table of  claim 3 , wherein the guide link has a U-shape including a mid-potion located in the track for sliding motion along the underside of the table top and opposed ends opposite the mid-portion and pivotably coupled to the associated left or right legs. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable table of  claim 3 , wherein the slide includes a first band and a second band spaced apart from the first band that extend over the channel formed in the associated left or right panel of the table top to define the track along the underside of the table top. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable table of  claim 3 , wherein the lock includes a cam latch coupled to the table top to pivot relative to the table top from a normally closed position to an open position in response to movement of the guide link toward a distal end of the track when the associated left or right legs are moved from the stowed storage position to the extended use position and a spring located between the cam latch and the table top and configured to provide a bias force to the cam latch to urge the cam latch toward the normally closed position when the guide link reaches the distal end of the track. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable table of  claim 6 , wherein the cam latch is formed to include a cam surface shaped so that when the guide link is moved toward the distal end of the track into contact with the cam surface the cam latch pivots from the normally closed position to the open position to allow the guide link to pass the cam latch to the distal end of the track and the cam latch pivots back toward the normally closed position to retain the guide link at the distal end of the track. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable table of  claim 7 , wherein the cam latch is shaped to include indentations sized to receive fingers of a user that provide a handle grip configured to assist in receiving an opening force applied to the cam latch by the user when changing the associated left or right legs from the extended use position to the stowed storage position. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable table of  claim 3 , wherein the link lock includes a plate coupled to the table top, a lock pin coupled to the plate and moveable relative to the plate along a pin axis from a normally closed position in which the movement of the guide link is blocked when the associated left or right legs are in the extended use position and an open position in which movement of the guide link is permitted, and a spring located between the lock pin and the plate and configured to provide a bias force to the lock pin to urge the lock pin toward the normally closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable table of  claim 9 , wherein the mid-portion of the guide link is formed to include a pin hole and the lock pin extends into the pin hole when the associated left or right legs are in the extended use position to block movement of the guide link. 
     
     
         11 . A foldable table comprising
 a table top including a left panel, a right panel, and a pivot joint that interconnects the left panel and the right panel to allow movement of the table top from a collapsed position in which the left panel and the right panel are arranged to extend along one another so as to cover an underside of the table top and an expanded position in which the left panel and the right panel are arranged to extend away from one another and exposing the underside of the table top,   a table top elevator configured to support the table top above an underlying floor, the table top elevator including left legs pivotably coupled to the left panel of the table top and right legs pivotably coupled to the right panel of the table top, each of the left legs and right legs configured to pivot relative to the table top about an associated pivot axis from a stowed storage position in which the left and right legs extend along the underside of the table top and an extended use position in which the left and right legs extend from the underside of the table top, and   a leg motion-control unit configured to control motion of the left legs and motion of the right legs from the stowed storage position to the extend use position during use of the foldable table and configured to retain the left and right legs in the extended use position during use of the foldable table, the leg motion-control unit including a left leg motion-control assembly configured to coordinate motion of the left legs during movement of the left legs from the stowed storage position to the extend use position and a right leg motion-control assembly configured to coordinate motion of the right legs during movement of the right legs from the stowed storage position to the extend use position,   wherein each of the left and right leg motion-control assemblies includes a slide fixed to the underside of the table top over a channel formed in the associated left or right panel of the table top to define a track along the underside of the table top, a guide link located in the track for sliding motion along the underside of the table top and pivotably coupled to the associated left or right legs so that motion of the left and right legs between the extended use position and the stowed storage position is controlled by the guide link in the track, and a link lock coupled to the table top and configured to selectively engage the guide link to block movement of the guide link when the associated left or right legs are in the extended use position.   
     
     
         12 . The foldable table of  claim 11 , wherein the guide link has a U-shape including a mid-potion located in the track for sliding motion along the underside of the table top and opposed ends opposite the mid-portion and pivotably coupled to the associated left or right legs. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable table of  claim 12 , wherein the slide includes a first band and a second band spaced apart from the first band that extend over the channel formed in the associated left or right panel of the table top to define the track along the underside of the table top. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable table of  claim 13 , wherein the link lock includes a cam latch coupled to the table top to pivot relative to the table top from a normally closed position to an open position in response to movement of the guide link toward a distal end of the track when the associated left or right legs are moved from the stowed storage position to the extended use position and a spring located between the cam latch and the table top and configured to provide a bias force to the cam latch to urge the cam latch toward the normally closed position when the guide link reaches the distal end of the track. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable table of  claim 14 , wherein the cam latch is formed to include a cam surface shaped so that when the guide link is moved toward the distal end of the track into contact with the cam surface the cam latch pivots from the normally closed position to the open position to allow the guide link to pass the cam latch to the distal end of the track and the cam latch pivots back toward the normally closed position to retain the guide link at the distal end of the track. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable table of  claim 15 , wherein the cam latch is shaped to include indentations sized to receive fingers of a user that provide a handle grip configured to assist in receiving an opening force applied to the cam latch by the user when changing the associated left or right legs from the extended use position to the stowed storage position. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable table of  claim 13 , wherein the link lock includes a plate coupled to the table top, a lock pin coupled to the plate and moveable relative to the plate along a pin axis from a normally closed position in which the movement of the guide link is blocked when the associated left or right legs are in the extended use position and an open position in which movement of the guide link is permitted, and a spring located between the lock pin and the plate and configured to provide a bias force to the lock pin to urge the lock pin toward the normally closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable table of  claim 17 , wherein the mid-portion of the guide link is formed to include a pin hole and the lock pin extends into the pin hole when the associated left or right legs are in the extended use position to block movement of the guide link. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable table of  claim 11 , wherein the link lock includes a cam latch coupled to the table top to pivot relative to the table top from a normally closed position to an open position in response to movement of the guide link toward a distal end of the track when the associated left or right legs are moved from the stowed storage position to the extended use position and a spring located between the cam latch and the table top and configured to provide a bias force to the cam latch to urge the cam latch toward the normally closed position when the guide link reaches the distal end of the track. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable table of  claim 19 , wherein the cam latch is formed to include a cam surface shaped so that when the guide link is moved toward the distal end of the track into contact with the cam surface the cam latch pivots from the normally closed position to the open position to allow the guide link to pass the cam latch to the distal end of the track and the cam latch pivots back toward the normally closed position to retain the guide link at the distal end of the track.