US 8,156,875 B2Granted

Handle for a portable table

AssigneeLifetime Products, Inc.

InventorsMartin Neunzert, Doug Fuller, Ray Adams

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A table may include a table top that is capable of being folded-in-half. In particular, the table top may include first and second portions that are capable of being moved being moved between a folded position in which the first portion is disposed proximate the second portion and an unfolded position in which the first portion and the second portion are generally aligned in the same plane. The table may also include first and second legs that are movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top. In addition, the table may include a handle that facilitates carrying of the table. The handle may include a gripping portion that is sized and configured to be gripped by a user and the handle may be attached to the table top. The table may further include a handle retention assembly that secures the handle in a fixed position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable table comprising:

a table top comprising:
a first half of the table top;
a first lip extending downwardly from the first half of the table top, the first lip including an inner surface, an outer surface and a lower surface;
a second half of the table top;
and
a second lip extending downwardly from the second half of the table top, the second lip including an inner surface, an outer surface and a lower surface, the first half and the second half of the table top movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, the unfolded position including an upper surface of the first half of the table top generally aligned with an upper surface of the second half of the table top, the folded position including the lower surface of the first lip is disposed at least adjacent and generally parallel to the lower surface of the second lip;
a frame including a first portion connected to the first half of the table top and a second portion connected to the second half of the table top;
a first leg movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the first half of the table top;
a second leg movable between the extended position and the collapsed position relative to the second half of the table top;
a handle connected to the table top, the handle selectively movable between a use position and a storage position, the handle comprising:
a strap constructed from a relatively flexible material, the strap including a first end and a second end, the strap having a thickness that allows the strap to be disposed between the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip when the table top is in the folded position;
a first attachment portion formed from the first end of the strap, the first attachment portion connected to a first portion of the frame;
a second attachment portion formed from the second end of the strap, the second attachment portion connected to a second portion of the frame;
and
a gripping portion disposed between the first end and the second end of the strap, the gripping portion being sized and configured to be grasp by the user when the handle is in the use position;
and
wherein, when the handle is in the storage position, the strap and the gripping portion are spaced apart from the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip;
wherein, when the handle is in the storage position, the handle is not disposed between the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip when the table top is in the folded position;
wherein, when the handle is in the use position and the table top is in the folded position, the strap of the handle is disposed between the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip;
and
wherein, when the handle is in the use position and the table top is in the folded position, the gripping portion of the handle is disposed proximate the outer surface of the first lip and the outer surface of the second lip.

18 more elements

A portable table comprising:

a table top comprising:
a first half of the table top;
a first lip extending downwardly from the first half of the table top, the first lip including an inner surface, an outer surface and a generally planar lower surface, the first lip having a generally constant height measured from a lower surface of the first portion of the table top to the generally planar lower surface;
a second half of the table top;
and
a second lip extending downwardly from the second half of the table top, the second lip including an inner surface, an outer surface and a generally planar lower surface, the second lip having a generally constant height measured from a lower surface of the second portion of the table top to the generally planar lower surface, the first half and the second half of the table top being capable of being moved between a folded position and an unfolded position, the unfolded position including an upper surface of the first half of the table top generally aligned with an upper surface of the second half of the table top, the folded position including the generally planar lower surface of the first lip being disposed at least adjacent and generally parallel to the generally planar lower surface of the second lip;
a first leg movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top;
a second leg movable between the extended position and the collapsed position relative to the table top;
a frame including a first portion connected to the first half of the table top and a second portion connected to the second half of the table top;
and
a handle movable between a storage position and a use position, the handle comprising:
a strap including a first attachment portion connected to the first half of the table top and a second attachment portion connected to the first half of the table top;
and
a gripping portion attached to the strap, the gripping portion being disposed proximate and spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the first lip when the handle is in the storage position, the gripping portion being disposed proximate and spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the first lip and the outer surface of the second lip when the handle is in the use position;
wherein, when the handle is in the use position and the table top is in the folded position, the strap of the handle is disposed between the generally planar lower surface of the first lip and the generally planar lower surface of the second lip;
and
wherein, when the handle is in the storage position, the handle is spaced apart from the generally planar lower surface of the first lip and the generally planar lower surface of the second lip and the strap is not disposed between the generally planar lower surface of the lip and the generally planar lower surface of the second lip.

14 more elements

A table comprising:

a table top constructed from plastic, the table top comprising:
a first portion of the table top;
a first lip extending downwardly from the first portion of the table top, the first lip including a lower surface that is spaced apart from the first portion of the table top, the first lip being integrally formed with the first portion of the table top as part of a unitary, one-piece structure;
a second portion of the table;
a second lip extending downwardly from the second portion of the table top, the second lip including a lower surface that is spaced apart from the second portion of the table top, the second lip being integrally formed with the second portion of the table top as part of a unitary, one-piece structure;
and
wherein the first portion of the table top and the second half of the table top are capable of being moved between a folded position and an unfolded position, the unfolded position including an upper portion of the first portion of the table top generally aligned with an upper portion of the second portion of the table top, the folded position including the lower surface of the first lip disposed at least adjacent the lower surface of the second lip;
a frame comprising:
a first portion connected to the first portion of the table top;
and
a second portion connected to the second portion of the table top;
a first leg movable between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the table top;
a second leg movable between the extended position and the collapsed position relative to the table top;
and
a handle comprising:
an attachment portion connecting the handle to the table;
a gripping portion that is sized and configured to be grasp by the user when the handle is in the use position;
and
a connecting portion disposed between the gripping portion and the attachment portion, the connecting portion having a thickness that allows the connecting portion to be disposed between the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip when the table top is in the folded position;
wherein, when the handle is in a storage position, the connecting portion is spaced apart from and not disposed between the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip, and the gripping portion is disposed at least proximate a lower portion of the first portion of the table top;
and
wherein, when the handle is in a use position and the table top is in the folded position, the connecting portion of the handle is disposed between the lower surface of the first lip and the lower surface of the second lip, and the gripping portion is disposed proximate an outer surface of the first lip and an outer surface of the second lip.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/815,284Filed 14 Jun 2010 · continuation
Priority: 8 Apr 2003
Published: US 2010/0242809 A130 Sep 2010
Granted: 17 Apr 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

A47B 95/02
Fittings for furniture: handles
A47B 3/083
With legs pivoted to top or underframe: with foldable top leaves
A47B 3/087
With foldable top leaves: with struts supporting the legs
A47B 3/0912
The struts being permanently connected to top and leg or underframe and leg: the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another

Family

Application10/408,914Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Apr 2003
Application60/564,393Us provisional application · filed 22 Apr 2004
Application10/843,037Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 May 2004
Application11/112,900Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Apr 2005
US 2010/0242809 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Sep 2010
US 7,735,431 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,096,799 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application11/112,900Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,640,870 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2003/0230219 A1Published application
US 2005/0005826 A1Published application
US 2005/0241552 A1Published application
US 8,156,875 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.