US 8,997,661 B1Granted

Table top extension and method for increasing the table top surface area of an existing table top

AssigneeGRK Manufacturing Company

InventorGary R. Kilday

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Abstract

A table top extension and method for increasing the table top surface area of an existing table. The table top extension includes at least first and second planar panel sections each having a first, inner peripheral edge and a second, outer peripheral edge. The first, inner peripheral edges include interlocking tongue and groove structure such that the first, inner peripheral edges can be locked together to form the table top extension having a combined table top area defined by at least the first and second planar panel sections. The second, outer peripheral edges of the first and second planar panel sections align to form an outer peripheral edge of the table top extension when the first and second panel sections are locked together with the interlocking tongue and groove structure. The table top extension is configured as a planar panel including at least the first and second planar panel sections, and may be placed on the existing table to increase the table top surface area by placement of the outer peripheral edge of the table top extension radially outside of an outer peripheral edge of the existing table, relative to a center point of the table.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A table top extension for increasing the table top surface area of an existing table, comprising:

at least first and second planar panel sections each having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, a first, inner peripheral edge and a second, outer peripheral edge, the first, inner peripheral edges of the panel sections including interlocking tongue and groove structure extending along an entire length of the first, inner peripheral edges such that the first, inner peripheral edges can be locked together to form the table top extension having a combined table top area defined by at least the first and second planar panel sections,
wherein the interlocking tongue and groove structure of adjacent panel sections form a mirror image relative to one another and the second, outer peripheral edges of the first and second planar panel sections align to form an outer peripheral edge of the table top extension, when the first and second panel sections are locked together with the interlocking tongue and groove structure,
wherein the interlocking tongue and groove structure does not extend upwardly beyond the top planar surface of the corresponding panel section and also does not extend downwardly beyond the bottom planar surface of the corresponding panel section, and
wherein the table top extension is configured as a planar panel comprised of at least the first and second planar panel sections, and may be placed on the existing table to increase the table top surface area by placement of the outer peripheral edge of the table top extension radially outside of an outer peripheral edge of the existing table.

1 more element

A method of increasing the table top surface area of an existing table top using a table top extension having a surface area greater than the surface area of the existing table top, comprising:

interlocking at least first and second planar panel sections, each panel section including a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, a first, inner peripheral edge and a second, outer peripheral edge, together by engaging tongue and groove structure extending along an entire length of the first, inner peripheral edge of the first planar panel section with tongue and groove structure extending along an entire length of the first, inner peripheral edge of the second planar panel section to form the table top extension having a combined table top area defined by at least the first and second planar panel sections, wherein the interlocking tongue and groove structure of adjacent panel sections form a mirror image relative to one another when the first and second panel sections are locked together with the interlocking tongue and groove structure,
aligning the second, outer peripheral edge of the first, planar panel section with the second, outer peripheral edge of the second planar panel section to form an outer peripheral edge of the table top extension when the first and second panel sections are locked together with the tongue and groove structures, the tongue and groove structure not extending upwardly beyond the top planar surface of the corresponding panel section and also not extending downwardly beyond the bottom planar surface of the corresponding panel section, such that the table top extension provides a continuous outer peripheral edge and a planar panel designed to be placed on the existing table top, and
placing the table top extension comprised of at least the first and second planar panel sections on the existing table top to increase the table top surface area of the existing table by locating the outer peripheral edge of the table top extension radially outside of an outer peripheral edge of the existing table top.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.