Foldable furniture base

Abstract

A foldable furniture base for a supporting a substantially planar support surface, such a glass or other table top, desk top, bed frame mattress support, table-like structure, or other furniture top is disclosed, in which the foldable furniture base may be folded down into a thin, low-volume configuration for ease in transport and storage. The foldable table base comprises a plurality of panels that are engaged in sequence with hinges or other forms of attachment that allow the panels, when closed, to be superimposed one on top of another, as in an accordion-fold configuration, for example. When positioned for supporting a furniture top, the set of engaged panels may be easily formed into a variety of decorative and useful configurations. Various embodiments of the foldable furniture base comprise panels with a wide variety of characteristics, including a variety of quantities, shapes and sizes.

1 . A foldable furniture base for supporting a substantially planar furniture top, wherein said foldable furniture base is formed of a plurality of panels that are sequentially connected using hinge mechanisms, and wherein said foldable furniture base has a collapsed storage condition in which said panels are folded atop one another.  
   
   
       2 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of panels has a greatest thickness and a longest linear dimension, and wherein a ratio of said greatest thickness to said longest linear dimension is less than 0.03.  
   
   
       3 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 2 , wherein said ratio is less than 0.005.  
   
   
       4 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said panels are made of a metallic material.  
   
   
       5 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 4 , wherein said metallic material is at least one of: aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.  
   
   
       6 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said panels are made of wood.  
   
   
       7 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said panels are made of a plastic material.  
   
   
       8 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said hinge mechanisms are formed integrally with said panels.  
   
   
       9 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said hinge mechanisms are not formed integrally with said panels, and wherein at least one of said hinge mechanisms is attached to two of said panels.  
   
   
       10 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially planar furniture top is a table top.  
   
   
       11 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially planar furniture top is a support for a mattress.  
   
   
       12 . The foldable furniture base of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially planar furniture top is a pedestal top.  
   
   
       13 . A furniture base for supporting a substantially horizontal planar member, said furniture base consisting substantially of multiple panels, wherein each of said panels has a greatest thickness and a longest linear dimension, and wherein a ratio of said greatest thickness to said longest linear dimension is less than 0.03.  
   
   
       14 . The furniture base of  claim 13 , wherein said ratio is less than 0.005.  
   
   
       15 . The furniture base of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said panels is bent to form an arc  
   
   
       16 . The furniture base of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said panels is bent to form at least one angle.  
   
   
       17 . The furniture base of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said panels includes at least one slot that allows said panel to interconnect with another of said panels.  
   
   
       18 . A collection of members for supporting a generally planar furniture top above a floor, comprising: 
 at least two panel members, each having a first edge surface for supporting said planar furniture top and a second edge surface, opposite said first edge surface, for supporting said panel member on said floor; and    an engagement mechanism which allows said two panel members to be connected in two alternative arrangements, said arrangements comprising: 
 a first arrangement in which said panel members are superimposed on one another; and  
 a second arrangement in which said panel members meet one another along a line which runs perpendicular to both said planar furniture top and said floor.  
   
   
   
       19 . The collection of members for supporting a generally planar furniture top above a floor of  claim 18 , wherein said engagement mechanism comprises a hinge that connects said two panel members.  
   
   
       20 . The collection of members for supporting a generally planar furniture top above a floor of  claim 18 , wherein said engagement mechanism allows said panels to be disengaged from one another.