Expandable and collapsible table with nesting leaves

Abstract

There is disclosed an expandable and collapsible table. In an embodiment, the expandable and collapsible table comprises a table frame including a center section having opposite outer edges, and a plurality of lateral supports hinged to the opposite outer edges of the center section of the table frame and at one or more center points along the length of each lateral support. The plurality of lateral supports are configured to allow the center section of the table frame to be expanded and collapsed in unison in substantially the same horizontal plane, to allow the table frame to be easily manipulated. The table legs can be mounted on locking wheels to allow the table to be easily manipulated for expansion and collapse. A plurality of leaves can be nested into one or more stacks to form a table top, or to be stored in a storage space underneath the table top.

1 . An expandable and collapsible table, comprising:
 a table frame including a center section having opposite outer edges; and   a plurality of lateral supports hinged to the opposite outer edges of the center section of the table frame and at one or more center points along the length of each lateral support;   whereby the plurality of lateral supports are configured to allow the center section of the table frame to be expanded and collapsed.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 1 , wherein each lateral support is hinged to the opposite outer edges, and at one or more points along a length of each lateral support, whereby the plurality of lateral supports are expandable and collapsible in unison in substantially the same horizontal plane. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lateral supports are collapsible into a substantially V-shape such that at least one hinged lateral support is collapsible inside another hinged lateral support within the same horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 3 , wherein the table further comprises telescoping ends on either side of the center section of the table frame, each telescoping end including at least one hinged lateral support forming an edge of the table frame and configured to expand the table longitudinally. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table further comprises legs supporting the frame, each leg mounted on a wheel to allow the table frame to be expanded and collapsed. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 5 , wherein the legs are mounted to the telescoping ends such that the legs remain at outer corners of the table frame in any expansion state, thereby maintaining structural stability of the table frame between different expansion states. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 6 , wherein the wheel includes a locking mechanism to prevent the table from moving. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table frame further comprises a top surface including tabs or slots adapted to receive a plurality of table leaves. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 8 , wherein the labs or slots are further adapted to receive edges of a plurality of adjacent leaves. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 9 , wherein the tabs or slots extent above the table frame at substantially the same height such that the plurality of adjacent leaves covering the table frame are substantially flat. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 9 , wherein the tabs or slots include movable locking pins to temporarily lock down one or more leaves thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 8 , wherein the table leaves are shaped and sized to be incrementally larger or incrementally smaller than one another such that the table leaves are nestable within one or more stacks. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the table leaves are nestable within one stack to form a table top when the table is in a completely collapsed state. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 8 , wherein the table frame further comprises a lifting mechanism mounted to one side of the center section of the table frame, the lifting mechanism configured to lift a stack of nested leaves off the top surface of the table. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 14 , wherein the table frame further comprises a storage space underneath the table top to store one or more additional stacks of table leaves. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 8 , wherein alternative table leaves are provided for use when the table is in different expansion states. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 16 , wherein the table leaves are one of steel, aluminum, wood, plastic and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table frame is one of steel, aluminum, wood, plastic and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable and collapsible table of  claim 5 , wherein the table legs are one or more of steel, aluminum, wood, plastic and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         20 . A table frame for an expandable and collapsible table, comprising:
 a center section having opposite outer edges; and   a plurality of lateral supports hinged to the opposite outer edges of the center section and at one or more center points along the length of each lateral support,   whereby the plurality of lateral supports are expandable and collapsible in unison in substantially the same horizontal plane to allow the center section of the table frame to be expanded and collapsed laterally.