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US 5,921,623 AGranted
Foldable picnic table with telescoping pedestals
AssigneeLifetime Products, Inc.
InventorsStephen F. Nye, Carl Stanford, Glenn Merrill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable picnic table is shown. The foldable picnic table includes a table top supported by two support pedestals pivotally attached to the table top. Each support pedestal is capable of telescoping engagement. The foldable picnic table also includes benches attached to the pedestals by bench support members. The foldable picnic table includes means for locking the table in an extended position. When the support pedestals are retracted, the pedestals and the attached bench supports can pivot inwardly toward the table top such that the entire unit is substantially flat.
Claims22
A foldable picnic table, comprising:
- a table top having a mounting surface;
- a first and second bench;
- a first and second support pedestal, each support pedestal pivotally attached to the table top, each support pedestal including a telescoping support having an outer member and an inner member connected in telescoping engagement, with the inner member and outer member capable of slidable movement relative to each other, thereby permitting the telescoping support to be moved linearly to thereby change the length of the support pedestal between an extended position in which the table top is positioned in a different plane than the benches and a retracted position in which the table top is positioned in substantially the same plane as the benches;
- a diagonal brace connecting each support pedestal to the table top, each diagonal brace having a first bifurcated end connected to a respective one of the outer members of each telescoping support and a second opposing end connected to the mounting surface of the table top;
- a first bench support member attached to the first support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a first axis of rotation;
- a second bench support member attached to the second support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a second axis of rotation;
- the foldable picnic table configured such that with the support pedestals in the retracted position, the axis of rotation between the first support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the first axis of rotation and the axis of rotation between the second support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the second axis of rotation, thereby permitting the bench support members and the support pedestals to be moved between a perpendicular position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are disposed perpendicular to the table top and a folded position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are folded into substantially the same plane as the table top;
- and
- means for locking the support pedestals in the extended position.
6 more elements
A foldable picnic table, comprising:
- a table top comprising a table top frame and a table top counter having a functional surface and a mounting surface;
- a first and second bench, each comprising a bench frame and a bench counter having a sitting surface and a mounting surface;
- a first and second support pedestal, each support pedestal pivotally attached to the table top, each support pedestal comprising two substantially parallel telescoping supports, each telescoping support including an inner member and an outer member connected in telescoping engagement, with the inner member and outer member capable of slidable movement relative to each other, thereby permitting the telescoping support to be moved linearly to thereby change the length of the support pedestal between an extended position in which the table top is positioned in a different plane than the benches and a retracted position in which the table top is positioned in substantially the same plane as the benches;
- a diagonal brace connecting each support pedestal to the table top counter, each diagonal brace having a first bifurcated end connected to a respective one of the outer members of each telescoping support and a second opposing end connected to the mounting surface of the table top counter;
- a first bench support member attached to the first support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a first axis of rotation;
- a second bench support member attached to the second support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a second axis of rotation,
- the foldable picnic table configured such that with the support pedestals in the retracted position, the axis of rotation between the first support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the first axis of rotation and the axis of rotation between the second support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the second axis of rotation, thereby permitting the bench support members and the support pedestals to be moved between a perpendicular position in which the support pedestals and the bench support members are disposed perpendicular to the table top and a folded position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are folded into substantially the same plane as the table top;
- and
- means for locking the support pedestals in the extended position.
6 more elements
A foldable picnic table, comprising:
- a table top comprising a table top frame and a table top counter having a functional surface and a mounting surface;
- a first and second bench, each comprising a bench frame and a bench counter having a sitting surface and a mounting surface;
- a first and second support pedestal, each support pedestal pivotally attached to the table top, each support pedestal comprising two substantially parallel telescoping supports, each telescoping support including an inner member and an outer member connected in telescoping engagement, with the inner member and outer member capable of slidable movement relative to each other, thereby permitting the telescoping support to be moved linearly to thereby change the length of the support pedestal between an extended position in which the table top is positioned in a different plane than the benches and a retracted position in which the table top is positioned in substantially the same plane as the benches;
- a diagonal brace connecting each support pedestal to the table top counter, each diagonal brace having a first bifurcated end connected to a respective one of the outer members of each telescoping support and a second opposing end connected to the mounting surface of the table top counter, wherein the connection of the diagonal brace at its first and second ends is fixed;
- a first bench support member attached to the first support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a first axis of rotation;
- a second bench support member attached to the second support pedestal and pivotally attached to the first bench and to the second bench about a second axis of rotation,
- the foldable picnic table configured such that with the support pedestals in the retracted position, the axis of rotation between the first support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the first axis of rotation and the axis of rotation between the second support pedestal and the table top is collinear with the second axis of rotation, thereby permitting the bench support members and the support pedestals to be moved between a perpendicular position in which the support pedestals and the bench support members are disposed perpendicular to the table top and a folded position in which the support pedestals and bench support members are folded into substantially the same plane as the table top;
- and
- means for locking the support pedestals in the extended position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.