Foldable and portable table

Abstract

A lightweight, collapsible table is disclosed which includes a main body which has tracks to receive slideable legs and slideable auxiliary members. The table top is hinged to allow an angled useful orientation. The various portions of the table are slideable and/or foldable into the body to provide a very compact, easy to transport assembly when the table is not in use. The body includes hinges which allows the table top to be rotated and a stand to hold the table top in an angled position as desired by a user. Auxiliary members slideably engage the body to allow the user access thereto when the table is in use. The legs are also slideably engaged within the body and include a positive stopping mechanism so that a user may adjust the width (i.e., spacing) of the legs. Additionally, the legs are extendable such that the height of the table may be adjusted by the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foldably collapsible, portable, lightweight work table, the table comprising: 
 a body having a track;    a work surface coupled to the body so as to be positionable at a plurality of different angles relative to said body;    a pair of leg arms slideably engaged in said track so as to be moveable towards or away from one another;    a leg secured to each of said leg arms, said leg arms enabling said legs to be positioned at a plurality of spacings from one another; and    wherein said work surface and said legs can be articulated into positions substantially parallel to said body to form a compact assembly adapted to be easily transported by said user and conveniently stored when not in use.    
     
     
         2 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a lever operably engaged between said work surface and said body to hold said work surface at one of said plurality of angles;    a catch lever operably affixed to said body, and selectively positionable between a first position and a second position, wherein when said catch lever is in said first position said catch lever is substantially planar with said work surface.    
     
     
         3 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein said work surface and said catch lever are hingedly affixed to said body.  
     
     
         4 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein said leg arm comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion is disposed solely in said track and said second portion extends from said track, wherein said leg is hingedly affixed to said second portion.  
     
     
         5 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein said leg arm includes a member to selectively engage said body to hold said leg arm in said track at a predetermined position, wherein said member is biased to engage said body.  
     
     
         6 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning lever operable to engage said work surface at an angle of said plurality of different angles relative to said body.  
     
     
         7 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot having a convoluted profile top assist in stabilizing said body, wherein said leg includes a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is coupled to said leg arm and said foot extends from said second end.  
     
     
         8 . The table of  claim 7 , wherein said second end is disposable between an extended position and a compressed position, such that when said second end is in said extended position said foot is further from said body than when said second is in said compressed position.  
     
     
         9 . A foldably collapsible, portable, lightweight work table, the table comprising: 
 a body having a first track;    a generally planar panel forming a work surface;    a first pivot mechanism for pivotally coupling said planar panel to said body;    a stand lever operably associated with said body for supporting said planar panel at a desired angle relative to said body;    a pair of leg arms slideably engaged in said track so as to be moveable towards and away from one another;    each of said leg arms including members for cooperating with portions of said body to releasably secure each said leg arm at a desired position relative to said body;    a pair of leg assemblies;    a pair of pivot assemblies for pivotally securing each of said leg assemblies to an associated one of said leg arms such that each leg is able to be positioned in a folded orientation relative to said body, and also in an operable position relative to said body so as to support said body and said planar panel above a ground surface;    each said leg assembly including a first member and a second member adjustably positionable relative to its associated said first member to thus enable a height of the planar panel to be adjusted, said leg arms enabling a spacing of said leg assemblies to be adjusted to provide a variable width stance; and    wherein said planar panel and said leg assemblies can be articulated into folded positions substantially parallel to said body to form a compact assembly adapted to be easily transported by said user and conveniently stored when not in use.    
     
     
         10 . The table of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a second track in said body;    an auxiliary work surface selectively slideable within said second track such that said auxiliary work surface may be positioned relative to said body; and    members for cooperating with portions of said body to releasably secure each said leg arm at a desired position relative to said body.    
     
     
         11 . The table of  claim 9 , further comprising a ground engaging member, wherein said ground engaging member extends distally from said second member of said leg, said ground engaging member having a convoluted shape.  
     
     
         12 . The table of  claim 9 , further comprising a catch lever positionable between an a reveled and a concealed position, wherein when said catch lever is in said concealed position said catch lever is substantially planar with said work surface.  
     
     
         13 . The table of  claim 9 , further comprising a large bore porosity, wherein the large bore porosity is adapted to reduce a surface area of the table.  
     
     
         14 . The table of  claim 9 , made from a group of materials comprising: aluminum, plastic, and carbon composite material.  
     
     
         15 . A collapsible and portable table comprising: 
 a body comprising a first surface and a second surface;    a first track and a second track between said first surface and said second surface;    a work surface movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said first position is substantially parallel to said first surface;    a leg arm slideably engaging said first track, wherein said leg arm is slideable between a first position substantially adjacent said body and a second position a distance from said body;    a leg hingedly extending from said leg arm; and    wherein said work surface and said leg can be articulated into folded positions substantially parallel to said body to form a compact assembly adapted to be easily transported by a user and conveniently stored when not in use.    
     
     
         16 . The collapsible and portable table of  claim 15 , further comprising a positioning lever to position said work surface in said second position, wherein said second position is at an angle to said first surface.  
     
     
         17 . The collapsible and portable table of  claim 15 , further comprising catch mechanism, wherein said leg is operably held in a predetermined position along said first track with said catch mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . The collapsible and portable table of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 auxiliary member slideable in said second track; and    a catch mechanism to hold said auxiliary member at a predetermined position in said second track.    
     
     
         19 . The collapsible and portable table of  claim 15 , further comprising a foot affixed to said leg, wherein said foot provides a steady base for said body.  
     
     
         20 . The collapsible and portable table of  claim 15 , wherein said table is formed from a molded plastic.