Folding table

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding table comprising: a board which is formed by two articulated halves ( 2,2 ′) which can be extended or folded in relation to one another, and a frame which is positioned beneath the board and which supports the table at the desired height off the ground. The two halves ( 2,2 ′) of the board are articulated to one another by means of hinges ( 18 ) which are located at the connecting area between said two halves. The aforementioned frame comprises at least two support assemblies ( 4; 4 ′) which are symmetrical to the imaginary plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the extended board and which passes through the axis along which the two halves are articulated. Moreover, each support assembly comprises: two legs ( 5, 6; 5′, 6 ′), the upper parts (A; A′) of which are articulated to the corresponding half of the board, and uprights ( 7, 8; 7′, 8 ′) having one end (B; B′) which is articulated to a leg and another end (C; C′) which is articulated to the other half of the board at a certain distance from the articulation (D) between the two halves ( 2; 2 ′).

1 . Folding table ( 1 ), which comprises a table top consisting of two halves ( 2 ,  2 ′) that are articulated to one another that can be either extended to form a single plane or folded, and a frame underneath the table top adapted to support the table at the right height from the floor, characterised in that
 the two halves are articulated to one another on hinges ( 18 ) situated in the area where the two halves ( 2 ,  2 ′) of the table top join one another;   and in that   the frame comprises at least two support assemblies ( 4 ; 4 ′) that are symmetrical with regard to the imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the extended table which passes through the axis of the articulation of the two halves of the table top, each support assembly having at least
 two legs ( 5 ,  6 ;  5 ′,  6 ′) joined by articulation at the top (A; A′) to the corresponding half of the table top, and 
 at least one strut ( 7 ,  8 ;  7 ′,  8 ′) connected by articulation by one end (B; B′) to one of the legs and by the other end (C; C′) to the other half of the table top, also by articulation, at a certain distance from the articulation (D) of the two halves ( 2 ;  2 ′), 
   in such a way that, in each support assembly, the leg ( 5 ), the strut ( 7 ), the segment of one half ( 2 ) that is between the articulation (A) and the other articulation (D), and the segment of the other half ( 2 ′) that is between the articulation (C) and the other articulation (D) form an articulated quadrilateral structure, which allows the table to be folded by the opposite ends of the halves ( 2 ,  2 ′).   
   
   
       2 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that in each support assembly the lengths of its elements are such that they substantially verify the BA+AD=BC+CD relationship. 
   
   
       3 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to  claims 1  or  2 , characterised in that the shaft ( 19 ) of the hinges ( 18 ) is situated, in the table's unfolded position, below the level of the plane formed by the two unfolded halves ( 2 ,  2 ′), and on the vertical plane defined by the adjacent edges of the two halves of the table, the two halves ( 2 ,  2 ′) thus being positioned in parallel, in the folded position of the table ( 1 ), for transport or storage. 
   
   
       4 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the two halves are positioned at a distance of less than 110 mm from one another in the table's folded position. 
   
   
       5 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that each support assembly ( 4 ;  4 ′) comprises a strengthening crossbar ( 9 ;  9 ′) that joins at least two of the legs ( 5 ,  6 ;  5 ′,  6 ′) of said assembly. 
   
   
       6 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , characterised in that at least one strut ( 7 ,  8 ;  7 ′,  8 ′) is connected by articulation by one end (B; B′) to the corresponding crossbar ( 9 ;  9 ′) and by the other end (C; C′) to the other half of the table top, also by articulation, at a certain distance from the articulation (D) of the two halves ( 2 ;  2 ′). 
   
   
       7 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the legs ( 5 ,  6 ;  5 ′,  6 ′) comprise corresponding wheels ( 10 ,  11 ;  10 ′,  11 ′) on the end that rests on the floor. 
   
   
       8 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises central support legs ( 12 ,  12 ′) at each end of the articulation (D), which work with the legs ( 5 ,  6 ;  5 ′,  6 ′) to support the table on the floor and receive support from the articulation of the rotating shaft ( 19 ) of the hinges ( 18 ) and the table. 
   
   
       9 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the articulations (C, C′) are integrated into the hinges ( 18 ). 
   
   
       10 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that each central support leg ( 12 ,  12 ′) has a safety system that comprises a bushing ( 14 ,  14 ′) which slides with friction along a vertical bar ( 20 ) of said central leg, each bushing ( 14 ,  14 ′) having another respective bushing ( 23 ,  23 ′) inside the other and at least two support arms ( 15 ,  16 ;  15 ′,  16 ′) that are secured by one end by articulation to the bushing, and secured by the other end, by articulation and so that they may slide, to the underside of a respective half of the table top ( 2 ,  2 ′). 
   
   
       11 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises a vertical net ( 3 ) along the axis of articulation of the two halves of the table top in such a way that both the net and the table have dimensions and a shape that are suitable for playing table tennis or ping-pong. 
   
   
       12 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , characterised in that the vertical posts ( 13 ;  13 ′) that hold up the net ( 3 ) are attached to the tops of the central support legs ( 12 ;  12 ′). 
   
   
       13 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the vertical posts ( 13 ;  13 ′) may be detached from the tops of the central support legs ( 12 ;  12 ′). 
   
   
       14 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of  claims 11  to  13 , characterised in that the vertical posts ( 13 ;  13 ′) are able to regulate the height and separating distance, in order to modify the tension of the net. 
   
   
       15 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of  claims 11  to  14 , characterised in that it comprises two T-shaped connection pieces ( 17 ,  17 ′), with three connection points respectively for the corresponding end of the central hinge assembly ( 18 ), the base of the corresponding vertical post ( 13 ,  13 ′) of the net ( 3 ) and the top of the corresponding central support leg ( 12 ,  12 ′), the shape of said connection pieces being graded from a substantially circular cross-section to a substantially oval cross-section in correspondence with the respective cross-sections of the central support legs and of the central hinge assembly. 
   
   
       16 . Folding table ( 1 ) according to any of  claims 11  to  15 , characterised in that the support arm of each of the wheels ( 10 ,  11 ;  10 ′,  11 ′) swivels at the point where it is joined to each of the respective legs ( 5 ,  6 ;  5 ′,  6 ′) and comprises a mechanism for fixing the angular position of the wheel in at least three fixed positions in relation to the position of play: 0°, 90° and 180°.