Portable folding table

Abstract

A portable folding table includes a tabletop, support for the tabletop and support pedestals. Braces extend from the support pedestals to the underside of the tabletop. The table further includes a transverse strut extending across the underside of the table top to provide support. The transverse strut is located intermediate the pins that attach the braces to the underside of the tabletop.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A table comprising: 
 a tabletop including an underside and a pair of rib assemblies defining a transverse channel intermediate the rib assemblies;    a transverse strut disposed in said transverse channel, said transverse strut supporting the tabletop;    a pair of pivotal support pedestals moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position; and    a pair of braces extending between said support pedestals and a pair of attachment points;    wherein said transverse strut is positioned intermediate said attachment points.    
     
     
         2 . The table as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of pins connected to said rib assemblies, said pins providing said attachment point for said braces.  
     
     
         3 . The table as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said support pedestals include a pair of legs, said pins intermediate said legs when said support pedestals are in the collapsed position.  
     
     
         4 . The table as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of support tubes disposed within a pair of elongate channels integrally formed in said undersurface, said transverse strut extending between and being connected to said support tubes.  
     
     
         5 . The table as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each said support tube comprises a main body and a pair of tubular members, a portion of said transverse strut being disposed between said main bodies and said undersurface.  
     
     
         6 . The table as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising a pair of tubular supports extending between said tubular members of said support tubes, said tubular supports extending through a support tube included in each of said pedestals, wherein said pedestals pivot about said tubular support.  
     
     
         7 . The table as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said transverse strut further comprises a pair of attachment assemblies including a horizontal plate, wherein said horizontal plate is disposed between said undersurface and said main bodies.  
     
     
         8 . The table as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said pins are distinct from said support tubes.  
     
     
         9 . The table as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of brackets and a plurality of fasteners connecting said pin to said undersurface.  
     
     
         10 . The table as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said rib assemblies include channels for receiving said pins.  
     
     
         11 . The table as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said pins include apertures for receiving fasteners extending through said channels.  
     
     
         12 . The table as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said table top is a one-piece table top manufactured from blow molded plastic.  
     
     
         13 . A table comprising: 
 a tabletop including an underside and a pair of elongate channels integrally formed therein;    a pair of support tubes disposed in said elongate channels including a main body and a pair of tubular members;    a pair of tubular supports extending between each pair of said tubular members; and    a pair of pedestals each including a pedestal support tube and a plurality of legs extending therefrom, wherein one of said tubular supports extends through one of said pedestal support tubes thereby allowing said pedestals to pivot about said tubular supports between an extended and a collapsed position.    
     
     
         14 . The table as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said tubular members include an outer diameter and said pedestal support tubes include an outer diameter sized equivalent to said outer diameters of said tubular members.  
     
     
         15 . The table as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said undersurface includes a pair of rib assemblies defining a transverse channel disposed perpendicular to said elongate channels, said transverse channel receiving a transverse strut supporting said tabletop.  
     
     
         16 . The table as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said transverse strut is connected to said support tubes.  
     
     
         17 . The table as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said transverse strut includes a pair of attachment assemblies located at each end, a portion of said attachment assemblies disposed between said underside and said support tubes.  
     
     
         18 . The table as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a pair of braces extending between said underside and said support pedestals, said braces attached to said underside at attachment points.  
     
     
         19 . The table as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising a pair of pins attached to said underside at said attachment points, each of said pins extending through an aperture located in one of said braces.  
     
     
         20 . The table as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein each of said rib assembles includes channels and said pins are located within said channels.  
     
     
         21 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said table top is a one-piece table top manufactured from blow molded plastic.  
     
     
         22 . A folding table comprising: 
 a tabletop comprising a top surface and an undersurface located opposite said top surface, said undersurface including a pair of elongate channels extending proximate the edges of said tabletop and a transverse channel extending perpendicular to said elongate channels;    a support structure comprising a pair of support tubes disposed in said elongate channels;    a pair of pedestals each including a pedestal support tube and a pair of legs, said pair of pedestals being rotatable between a storage position with said legs proximate said undersurface and an operative position with said legs located distant from said undersurface, each said pedestal rotating about said pedestal support tube;    a pair of support braces each having a first end attached to one of said pedestals and a second end attached to a pin mounted to said undersurface; and    a transverse strut disposed within said transverse channel;    wherein each said pin is located intermediate a different pair of said legs of said pedestals when said pedestals are arranged in said storage position.    
     
     
         23 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said transverse strut includes an attachment assembly at each end, said attachment assembly being disposed between said undersurface and said frame in order to retain said transverse strut within said transverse channel.  
     
     
         24 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said transverse channel is located intermediate said pins attached to said undersurface.  
     
     
         25 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 22 , further including a pair of tubular supports extending between said support tubes, each of said tubular supports being located within one of said pedestal support tubes.  
     
     
         26 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 22 , further including a plurality of fasteners attaching said pins to said undersurface.  
     
     
         27 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 22 , further including a plurality of pin clamps including an ear and a flat plate, one of said pins being disposed within said ear and said flat plate being attached to said undersurface by way of a plurality of fasteners.  
     
     
         28 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said table top is a one-piece table top manufactured from blow molded plastic.  
     
     
         29 . A folding table comprising: 
 a tabletop comprising a top surface and an undersurface located opposite said top surface, a pair of elongate channels disposed in said undersurface and extending proximate the edges of said tabletop;    a support structure comprising a pair of support tubes, rectangular in cross-section, including a main body and a pair of tubular members, attached thereto adjacent to the ends of the support tubes, said support tubes being disposed within said elongate channels;    a pair of pedestals each including a pedestal support tube and a plurality of legs extending therefrom; and    a pair of tubular supports extending between said tubular members of said pair of said support tubes and through said support tube of said pedestal.    
     
     
         30 . The folding table of  claim 29 , wherein the rectangular support tubes have a plurality of apertures located proximate said tubular members, whereby the tubular support which extends through said pedestal support tube and said tubular members, also extends into said rectangular support tubes.  
     
     
         31 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 29 , further comprising a pair of braces and a pair of pins, said braces extending from said pedestals to said pins.  
     
     
         32 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein each said brace is joined to a different one of said pins.  
     
     
         33 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein each said pin is disposed in different said rib assemblies.  
     
     
         34 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said pins remain distinct from said support tubes.  
     
     
         35 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein said support braces include a pair of fastened angled arms joined by a fastener to a first end of a straight arm at a junction, said straight arm being rotatable about said fastener at said junction.  
     
     
         36 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein said straight arms include a second end opposite said first end, said pin attached to said second end.  
     
     
         37 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein said attachment assemblies include a horizontal plate and a vertical plate, said horizontal plate being disposed within said elongate channels between said undersurface and said support tubes.  
     
     
         38 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein said support tubes include a plurality of apertures spaced throughout a pair of opposing side walls, said apertures being of sufficient size to receive a plurality of fasteners that extend through said apertures and into said wall.  
     
     
         39 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein said rib assemblies include a pin receiving channel having tabs for retaining said pin therein.  
     
     
         40 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein said pins include at least one aperture, a fastener extending through said rib assemblies and said at least one aperture thereby affixing said pin to said rib assembly.  
     
     
         41 . The folding table as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said table top is a one-piece table top manufactured from blow molded plastic.