Compactable utility table

A centerfold utility table comprising

• a tabletop including separate left and right tabletop sections,
• a collapsible tabletop-support frame configured to support the left and right tabletop sections in upright, side-by-side, spaced-apart relation to one another so that a tabletop-section gap is formed between adjacent end edges of the left and right tabletop sections in a compact-storage mode of the collapsible tabletop-support frame and alternatively to support the left and right tabletop sections to lie in end-to-end relation to one another so that the adjacent end edges of the left and right tabletop sections confront one another to close the tabletop-section gap in an expanded use mode of the collapsible tabletop-support frame,
• the collapsible tabletop-support frame comprises a leftside variable-shape framework including an upright left vertical end unit having a lower portion adapted to engage a floor underlying the centerfold utility table, an opposite upper portion facing away from the floor, and a middle portion located between the lower portion and the opposite upper portion of the upright left vertical end unit, a left tabletop-section base rigidly mounted on the left tabletop section and pivotably coupled at an outer end thereof to the opposite upper portion of the upright left vertical end unit at a left outer base pivot axis, and a left lower shelf section pivotably coupled to the middle portion of the left vertical end unit at a left outer shelf pivot axis,
• the collapsible tabletop-support frame further comprises a rightside variable-shape framework including an upright right vertical end having a lower portion adapted to engage the floor underlying the centerfold utility table, an opposite upper portion, and a middle portion located between the lower portion and opposite upper portion of the right vertical end unit, a right tabletop-section base rigidly mounted on the right tabletop section and pivotably coupled at an outer end thereof to the opposite upper portion of the upright right vertical end unit at a right outer base pivot axis and at an opposite free end to a free end of the left tabletop-section base to establish a horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis, and a right lower shelf section pivotably coupled at an outer end thereof to the middle portion of the upright right vertical end unit at a right outer shelf pivot axis and at an opposite free end to a free end of the left lower shelf section to establish a horizontal lower-shelf pivot axis under the horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis, and
• mode-changer means for simultaneously pivoting the left tabletop-section base relative to the upright left vertical end unit about the left outer base pivot axis and pivoting the left lower shelf section relative to the upright left end unit about the left outer shelf pivot axis and pivoting the right tabletop-section base relative to the left tabletop-section base about the horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis and relative to the upright right vertical end unit about the right outer base pivot axis and pivoting the right lower shelf section relative to the left lower shelf section about the horizontal lower-shelf pivot axis and relative to the upright right vertical end unit about the right outer shelf pivot axis to change the collapsible tabletop-support frame from the compact-storage mode in which the left and right lower shelf sections are supported in a space provided between the left and right tabletop sections in upright side-by-side relation to one another to the expanded-use mode in which the left and right lower shelf sections are supported in end-to-end relation to one another to establish a storage shelf lying below the left and right tabletop sections and extending between the upright left and right vertical end units,
• wherein the mode changer means comprises a vertical guide rod having an upper end pivotably coupled to the left and right tabletop-section bases at the horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis and a lower end pivotably coupled to the left and right lower shelf sections at the horizontal lower-shelf pivot axis and handle means coupled to the collapsible tabletop-support frame for initiating pivotable movement of both of the left and right tabletop-section bases about the horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis when the collapsible tabletop-support frame is in the compact-storage mode to enlarge a dihedral included base angle defined between the left and right tabletop-section bases to move the vertical guide rod downwardly toward the floor underlying the centerfold utility table to initiate pivotable movement of both of the left and right lower shelf sections about the horizontal lower-shelf pivot axis to enlarge a dihedral included shelf angle defined between the left and right lower shelf sections, the handle means including a left mode-changing handgrip coupled to the left tabletop-section base to lie in close proximity to the horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis and a right mode-changing handgrip coupled to the right tabletop-section base to lie in close proximity to the left mode-changing handgrip so that an operator can change the collapsible tabletop-support frame from the compact-storage mode to the expanded use mode by pivoting the left and right mode-changing handgrips away from one another about the horizontal tabletop-section pivot axis.