Extendable table

Abstract

An extendable table includes at least one leg that primarily extends in a vertical direction so as to define a vertical axis and a frame that is supported by the at least one leg. The extendable table also includes a first leaf slidably supported by the frame, a second leaf slidably supported by the frame, and a third leaf supported by the frame and selectively disposed between the first leaf and the second leaf. The extendable table also includes a lift assembly that includes a lifting arm that contacts the third leaf and a roller assembly that includes a guide plate that selectively receives the lifting arm of the lift assembly. The lift assembly and the roller assembly cooperate to move the third leaf between an undeployed position and a deployed position based upon movement of at least one of the first leaf and the second leaf.

1 . An extendable table, comprising:
 at least one leg that primarily extends in a vertical direction so as to define a vertical axis;   a frame that is supported by the at least one leg;   a first leaf slidably supported by the frame;   a second leaf slidably supported by the frame;   a third leaf supported by the frame and selectively disposed between the first leaf and the second leaf;   a lift assembly that includes a lifting arm that contacts the third leaf; and   a roller assembly that includes a guide plate that selectively receives the lifting arm of the lift assembly, wherein the lift assembly and the roller assembly cooperate to move the third leaf between an undeployed position and a deployed position based upon movement of at least one of the first leaf and the second leaf.   
     
     
         2 . The extendable table of  claim 1 , wherein when the third leaf is in the deployed position a top surface of the first leaf, a top surface of the second leaf, and a top surface of the third leaf cooperate to define a tabletop of the table that is coplanar and when the third leaf is in the undeployed position the top surface of the first leaf and the top surface of the second leaf are not coplanar with the top surface of the third leaf. 
     
     
         3 . The extendable table of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting arm is pivotably connected to the frame and the guide plate is rigidly connected to the second leaf. 
     
     
         4 . The extendable table of  claim 1 , wherein the first leaf and the second leaf each slide with respect to the frame to define a sliding axis and the guide plate primarily extends along the sliding axis. 
     
     
         5 . The extendable table of  claim 4 , wherein the second leaf defines a second leaf length along the sliding axis and the guide plate defines a guide plate length along the sliding axis, and wherein the guide plate length is less than the second leaf length. 
     
     
         6 . The extendable table of  claim 5 , wherein the second leaf length is more than two times the guide plate length. 
     
     
         7 . The extendable table of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting arm includes a guide pin that extends from a first end of the lifting arm and a support pin that extends from a second end of the lifting arm, and wherein the first end and the second end define opposite terminal ends of the lifting arm. 
     
     
         8 . The extendable table of  claim 7 , wherein the lifting arm defines a bore that is disposed between the guide pin of the lifting arm and the support pin of the lifting arm to rotatably connect the lifting arm to the frame, wherein a linear distance between the first end and the bore defines a first end length and a linear distance between the second end and the bore defines a second end length, and wherein the second end length is greater than the first end length. 
     
     
         9 . The extendable table of  claim 8 , wherein the second end length is at least twice as much as the first end length. 
     
     
         10 . The extendable table of  claim 7 , further comprising a spring connected to the first end of the lifting arm so as to bias the second end of the lifting arm toward the third leaf. 
     
     
         11 . The extendable table of  claim 1 , wherein the guide plate defines a track that selectively receives a guide pin of the lifting arm and a support pin of the lifting arm moves the third leaf between the deployed position and the undeployed position based upon a position of the guide pin of the lifting arm within the track of the guide plate. 
     
     
         12 . The extendable table of  claim 11 , wherein the track includes a deployed portion, an undeployed portion, and a transition portion that each selectively receive the guide pin of the lifting arm, wherein the third leaf is in the deployed position when the guide pin of the lifting arm is disposed in the deployed portion of the track of the guide plate, and wherein the third leaf is in the undeployed position when the guide pin of the lifting arm is disposed in the undeployed portion of the track of the guide plate. 
     
     
         13 . The extendable table of  claim 12 , wherein the deployed portion and the undeployed portion of the track each primarily extend in a direction that is generally parallel to the other, and wherein the transition portion extends between the deployed portion and the undeployed portion so as to fluidly connect the deployed portion and the undeployed portion together. 
     
     
         14 . The extendable table of  claim 13 , further including a gate that selectively separates the deployed portion of the track into a first deployed portion and a second deployed portion. 
     
     
         15 . The extendable table of  claim 12 , wherein the undeployed portion includes a port that defines a sole entry location and a sole exit location for the guide pin of the lifting arm into the track and out of the track. 
     
     
         16 . The extendable table of  claim 1 , wherein the guide plate defines a track that selectively receives a guide pin of the lifting arm, the track including a deployed portion that defines a deployed portion length, an undeployed portion that defines an undeployed portion length, and a transition portion that defines a transition portion length, the guide pin of the lifting arm moving through the undeployed portion length, the transition portion length, and the undeployed portion length when the third leaf moves between the undeployed position and the deployed position, and wherein the undeployed portion length is greater than the deployed portion length. 
     
     
         17 . The extendable table of  claim 16 , wherein the transition portion length is less than the undeployed portion length and a sum of the transition portion length and the deployed portion length is less than the undeployed portion length. 
     
     
         18 . The extendable table of  claim 16 , wherein the deployed portion defines a deployed portion height that extends in a vertical direction that is less than and generally perpendicular to the deployed portion length, the undeployed portion defines an undeployed portion height that extends in the vertical direction that is less than and generally perpendicular to the undeployed portion length, and the transition portion defines a transition portion height that extends in the vertical direction that is less than and generally perpendicular to the transition portion length, and wherein the deployed portion height, the undeployed portion height, and the transition portion height are equal to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The extendable table of  claim 18 , wherein the guide plate defines a port that is a sole entry location and a sole exit location for the guide pin of the lifting arm into the track and out of the track, wherein the port defines a variable port height, and wherein the variable port height includes a minimum port height and a maximum port height, the minimum port height being equal to the undeployed portion height and the maximum port height being adjacent a perimeter of the guide plate. 
     
     
         20 . An extendable table, comprising:
 a frame defining a generally concealed cavity;   a first leaf supported by the frame and slidable along a first plane;   a third leaf supported by the frame and vertically moveable between a deployed position and an undeployed position, wherein the third leaf is generally coplanar with the first plane when in the deployed position; and   a lift assembly connected to the third leaf, the lift assembly translating sliding movement of the first leaf into vertical movement of the third leaf, so that selective sliding movement of the first leaf causes the third leaf to vertically displace between the deployed position and undeployed position, wherein the lift assembly is located within the cavity of the frame.