Adjustable table

Abstract

An adjustable table has a pair of substantially parallel legs pivotally mounted to a base and extending upwardly to connect pivotally to a table top support to thus enable the table top support to cant between a forward-leaning posture and a rearward-leaning posture. A table top is rotationally mounted to the table top support to enable the table top to rotate relative to the base. The table top can have an upper panel that extends horizontally relative to a lower panel. The table top can also have a tilting mechanism to tilt the upper panel of the table top relative to the lower panel. Telescopic legs can furthermore provide height adjustment. This table can adopt multiple configurations and postures, thus providing an ergonomic, adjustable table for a variety of uses and applications.

1 . An adjustable table comprising:
 a base for stabilizing the table;   a pair of substantially parallel legs pivotally mounted to the base and extending upwardly to connect pivotally to a table top support to thus enable the table top support to cant between a forward-leaning posture and a rearward-leaning posture; and   a table top rotationally mounted to the table top support to enable the table top to rotate relative to the base.   
   
   
       2 . The table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the table top is rotationally mounted to the table top support by a lockable rotational mechanism. 
   
   
       3 . The table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the legs comprise ball joints which are mounted in sockets formed within the base, the sockets having flared necks to constrain canting of the legs between the forward- and rearward-leaning postures. 
   
   
       4 . The table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the table top comprises an upper panel and a lower panel, the lower panel being rotationally mounted to the table top support, the upper panel being slidingly mounted to the lower panel to enable the upper panel to extend relative to the lower panel. 
   
   
       5 . The table as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the table top comprises an upper panel and a lower panel, the lower panel being rotationally mounted to the table top support, the upper panel being slidingly mounted to the lower panel to enable the upper panel to extend relative to the lower panel. 
   
   
       6 . The table as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising a second lockable rotation mechanism for enabling the upper panel to rotate relative to the lower panel when the upper panel has been fully extended relative to the lower panel and further enabling the upper panel to be locked relative to the lower panel in one of a plurality of angular postures. 
   
   
       7 . The table as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a tilting mechanism for tilting the table top between a flat posture and a tilted posture. 
   
   
       8 . The table as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the tilting mechanism comprises a stopper lip that extends to form a lower ledge of the upper panel when the table top is tilted. 
   
   
       9 . The table as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the tilting mechanism tilts and locks an upper panel of the table top relative to a lower panel of the table top about a tilt axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the table top. 
   
   
       10 . The table as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising a tilting mechanism for tilting the table top between a flat posture and a tilted posture. 
   
   
       11 . The table as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a height-adjustment mechanism to enable a user to adjust a height of the table top relative to the base. 
   
   
       12 . The table as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the height-adjustment mechanism comprises telescopic legs to enable the height of the table top to be adjusted relative to the base. 
   
   
       13 . The table as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the height-adjustment mechanism comprises a pin attached to an inner leg for engaging one of a plurality of vertically disposed holes in an outer leg. 
   
   
       14 . The table as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the height-adjustment mechanism comprises a leaf spring for biasing the pin into engagement with one of the plurality of vertically disposed holes. 
   
   
       15 . The table as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the height-adjustment mechanism comprises a cable connected to a lever arm connected to the leaf spring for deforming the leaf spring to disengage the pin from the hole. 
   
   
       16 . The table as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the height-adjustment mechanism comprises a handle disposed beneath the table top and connected to the cable to enable a user to adjust the height of the table top relative to the base by pulling back on the cable to temporarily deform the leaf spring. 
   
   
       17 . The table as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the cable is disposed tautly over a transverse rod disposed between legs of the table to convert a rearward pulling motion on the handle into a vertical, lifting motion on the inner leg to displace the inner leg relative to the outer leg. 
   
   
       18 . The table as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the legs comprise ball joints which are mounted in sockets formed within the base, the sockets having flared necks to constrain canting of the legs between the forward- and rearward-leaning postures. 
   
   
       19 . The table as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the table top support connects to the table top at a position that is offset relative to a center of mass of the table top, thus dividing the table top into a short portion and a long portion, the table top including a counterweight attached to the short portion to counterbalance the long portion. 
   
   
       20 . The table as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the table top support connects to the table top at a position that is offset relative to a center of mass of the table top, thus dividing the table top into a short portion and a long portion, the table top including a counterweight attached to the short portion to counterbalance the long portion.