Folding table and associated folding mechanisms

A support mechanism for supporting a surface and facilitating folding of the surface, the surface comprising a first portion and a second portion, the support mechanism comprising:

• a first apron assembly affixed to a bottom surface of the first portion of the surface, and an opposing second apron assembly affixed to a bottom surface of the second portion of the surface, each apron assembly defining an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, each apron assembly comprising:
• a cross bar disposed along the z-axis and four perpendicular bars disposed along the x-axis, wherein:
• the four perpendicular bars are affixed directly to the cross bar and oriented substantially perpendicular to the cross bar;
• the apron assembly is absent another fixed component directly connecting any two of the four perpendicular bars;
• and
• each of an inner two of the four perpendicular bars comprises an inward-facing leg mount;
• a coupling flange that extends, along the x- and the y-axes, from each end of the cross bar, each coupling flange defining a coupling hole for connecting to the coupling holes defined by the coupling flanges of the opposing apron assembly;
• and
• an elbow flange that extends, along the x- and the y-axes, from the cross bar, the elbow flange defining a mounting hole;
• a first leg assembly that is affixed to each of the leg mounts of the first apron assembly, and a second leg assembly that is affixed to each of the leg mounts of the second apron assembly;
• and
• a first folding arm that is affixed to the mounting hole of the first apron assembly and to the second leg assembly, and a second folding arm that is affixed to the mounting hole of the second apron assembly and to the first leg assembly;
• wherein:
• the distance in each apron assembly along the y-axis between the mounting hole and the coupling holes is less than 40 millimeters;
• the distance in each apron assembly along the y-axis between the coupling holes and the leg mounts is more than 69 millimeters;
• the distance in each apron assembly along the x-axis between the coupling holes and the leg mounts is less than 120 millimeters;
• and
• in operation, application of a first force when the surface is in an unfolded position converts the surface into a folded position, and application of a second force when the surface is in the folded position converts the surface into the unfolded position.

A modular apron assembly defining an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, the apron assembly comprising:

• a cross bar disposed along the z-axis and four perpendicular bars disposed along the x-axis, wherein:
• the four perpendicular bars are affixed directly to the cross bar and oriented substantially perpendicular to the cross bar;
• the apron assembly is absent another fixed component directly connecting any two of the four perpendicular bars;
• and
• each of an inner two of the four perpendicular bars comprises an inward-facing leg mount;
• a coupling flange that extends, along the x- and the y-axes, from each end of the cross bar, each coupling flange defining a coupling hole for connecting to the coupling holes defined by the coupling flanges of an opposing apron assembly;
• and
• an elbow flange that extends, along the x- and the y-axes, from the cross bar, the elbow flange defining a mounting hole;
• wherein:
• the distance along the y-axis between the mounting hole and the coupling holes is less than 40 millimeters;
• the distance along the y-axis between the coupling holes and the leg mounts is more than 69 millimeters;
• the distance along the x-axis between the coupling holes and the leg mounts is less than 120 millimeters;
• the four perpendicular bars are affixed to the cross bar with bolts;
• and
• the apron assembly is absent
• a welded joint.