Collapsible table with interlocking legs

Abstract

The present invention is a collapsible table that has the benefit of the interlocking legs supporting each other independently of the top, and of supporting the top itself. The present invention table includes components generally referred to as interlocking legs, but because one set extends to the floor and the other set need not extend to the floor, they are more specifically referred to as table support members and table brace members. In the present invention table, there is a pair of table support members, each table support member having a general frontal view shape of an inverted “U”. There is a substantially horizontal top portion and two substantially vertical leg portions, the top portion having two receiving slots at opposite ends from one another. These two receiving slots face or open upwardly when the table support members are upright for assembly, and these receiving slots have a predetermined height, h, and a predetermined width, w−1. The pair of table support members may have all flat surfaces or have any geometric configurations desired, provided that, in preferred embodiments, they are at least coincidental in the area of the receiving slots with the table brace members (described below) in the same physical areas for snug interlocking. Thus, the vertical leg portions could be curvilinear in part or in whole, round, oval, flat, hexagonal or any other cross-sectional configuration or combination of configurations desired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible table with interlocking legs, comprising: 
 a) a pair of table support members, each table support member having a general frontal view shape of an inverted U, having a substantially horizontal top portion and having two substantially vertical leg portions, said top portion having two receiving slots at opposite ends from one another and w−1;    b) a pair of table brace members, each table brace member having a general frontal view shape of an inverted U, having a substantially horizontal top portion and having two substantially vertical brace portions, each of said portions having receiving slots with a height sufficient to create a remaining height, h, equal to said height, h, of said receiving slots of said pair of table support members, as measured between the receiving slot and the top portion of said table brace members, said pair of table brace members having a thickness, t−1, equal to said width, w−1, of said receiving slots of said pair of table support members, in an area around said receiving slots;    c) a table top adapted to rest atop said top portions of said table support members and said table brace members.    
     
     
         2 . The collapsible table of  claim 1  wherein said tabletop has a rectangular top view footprint.  
     
     
         3 . The collapsible table of  claim 1  wherein said pair of table support members have all flat surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible table of  claim 1  wherein said pair of table support members have vertical leg portions which include at least one curvilinear surface.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible table of  claim 1  wherein said pair of table support members and said pair of table brace members are made of materials selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, metal and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible table of  claim 1  wherein said receiving slots of said pair of table brace members have a predetermined width, w−2, and said pair of table support members have a predetermined thickness, t−2, equal to said pair of table brace members, in an area around said receiving slots.  
     
     
         7 . The collapsible table of  claim 6  wherein said pair of table support members have all flat surfaces.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible table of  claim 6  wherein said pair of table support members have vertical leg portions which include at least one curvilinear surface.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible table of  claim 6  wherein said pair of table support members and said pair of table brace members are made of materials selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, metal and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A collapsible table with interlocking legs, comprising: 
 a) a pair of table support members, each table support member having a general frontal view shape of an inverted U, having a substantially horizontal top portion and having two substantially vertical leg portions, said top portion having two receiving slots at opposite ends from one another and having a predetermined height, h, and a predetermined width, w−-1;    b) a pair of table brace members, each table brace member having a general frontal view shape of an inverted U, having a substantially horizontal top portion and having two substantially vertical brace portions, each of said portions having receiving slots with a height sufficient to create a remaining height, h, equal to said height, h, of said receiving slots of said pair of table support members, as measured between the receiving slot and the top portion of said table brace members, said pair of table brace members having a thickness, t−1, equal to said width, w−1, of said receiving slots of said pair of table support members, in an area around said receiving slots;    c) a table top having at least four outer edges and adapted to rest atop said top portions of said table support members and said table brace members, said tabletop having overhanging vertical members on each of said at least four outer edges; 
 wherein each of said table support members has the same width, being w−3, and said table top has a first inside overhang width of same said width, w−3.  
   
     
     
         11 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein said tabletop has a rectangular top view footprint.  
     
     
         12 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein said overhanging vertical members of said table top extend both upwardly and downwardly and said table top is reversible.  
     
     
         13 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein each of the said table brace members has the same width, being w−4, and said table top has a second inside width of said same width, w−4.  
     
     
         14 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein said pair of table support members have all flat surfaces.  
     
     
         15 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein said pair of table support members have vertical leg portions which include at least one curvilinear surface.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein said pair of table support members and said pair of table brace members are made of materials selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, metal and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The collapsible table of  claim 10  wherein said receiving slots of said pair of table brace members have a predetermined width, w−2, and said pair of table support members have a predetermined thickness, t−2, equal to said pair of table brace members, in an area around said receiving slots.  
     
     
         18 . The collapsible table of  claim 17  wherein said pair of table support members have all flat surfaces.  
     
     
         19 . The collapsible table of  claim 17  wherein said pair of table support members have vertical leg portions which include at least one curvilinear surface.  
     
     
         20 . The collapsible table of  claim 17  wherein said pair of table support members and said pair of table brace members are made of materials selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, metal and combinations thereof.