Foldable table

Abstract

The present invention provides for a foldable table assembly movable between an open and a closed position. The foldable table assembly comprises a base including a base wall surrounding a hollow interior for containing a folding table, the folding table being movable between a closed folded and an open unfolded position and a screw Jack assembly moving the folding table between the folded position inside the hollow interior of the base and unfolded substantially horizontal position removed from the hollow interior wherein operation of the Jack assembly permits the folding and unfolding of the table. The foldable table assembly has a lifting plate engaged with the Jack having a plurality of lifting arms each arm having a first end attached to the lifting plate and a pair of table top segments hingedly connected between a pair of said lifting arms. The pair of table top segments are connected one to another by means of a flexible hinge to allow the pivot point between the pair of table top segments to be located at the surface of the table top segments. In this way the table top surface in the open unfolded position has a smooth finish with no projections rising above the surface.

1 . A foldable table assembly movable between an open and a closed position, the foldable table assembly comprising a base including a base wall surrounding a hollow interior for containing a folding table, the folding table being movable between a closed folded and an open unfolded position and a screw Jack assembly moving the folding table between the folded position inside the hollow interior of the base and unfolded substantially horizontal position removed from the hollow interior wherein operation of the Jack assembly permits the folding and unfolding of the table, the foldable table assembly having a lifting plate engaged with the Jack having a plurality of lifting arms each arm having a first end attached to the lifting plate and a pair of table top segments hingedly connected between a pair of said lifting arms, the pair of table top segments being connected one to another by means of a flexible hinge to allow the pivot point between the pairs of table top segments to be located at the surface of the table top segments, wherein the table top surface in the open unfolded position has a smooth finish with no projections rising above the surface. 
     
     
         2 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the foldable table assembly is provided with a lid which covers the top of the table top assembly in the closed position and acts as a serving platform when the foldable table assembly is in the open position. 
     
     
         3 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the screw jack assembly comprises a motor connected to a gear drive which operates a screw rod, one end of the screw rod being contained within the gear drive unit such that the operation of the motor and attached gear drive unit causes the screw rod to rotate to raise and lower the lifting plate and allow the table top assembly to be moved between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         4 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the lifting plate is connected to the screw rod by means of a threaded adaptor which contains threads on the interior thereof which are complementary to the threads of the screw rod. 
     
     
         5 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the lifting plate has a central opening to contain the threaded adaptor which is attached to the lifting plate by rods extending between the exterior surface of the threaded adaptor and the interior surface of the central opening of the lifting plate. 
     
     
         6 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the lid is provided with a Lazy Susan type assembly to improve the serving capability of the lid when the foldable table assembly is in the open position. 
     
     
         7 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the lid is provided with a lifting rod attached to the lower surface thereof, the lifting rod having an internal diameter to allow the threaded adaptor to fit within it and ride up and down within the lifting rod as the lid is raised and lowered, the lifting rod being provided with grooves along the length thereof to accommodate the rods located in the central opening between the threaded adaptor and inside surface of the lifting plate. 
     
     
         8 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the table top segments have a wood base with a laminate surface attached thereto, the flexible hinge mechanism being provided by a piece of flexible material sandwiched between the wood base and the laminate surface of one side of adjacent table top segments, the opposite side of the adjacent table top segment being provided with a groove in the lower surface to accept a ½ of a piano-style hinge the barrel of the piano-style hinge being slid over the lifting arms. 
     
     
         9 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the foldable table assembly is provided with 10 lifting arms equally spaced around the lifting plate and the table top is provided with 20 table top segments. 
     
     
         10 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the table base is provided with a circular cross-section and the table top in the open position is circular. 
     
     
         11 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 2  wherein in order to maintain the proper position of the lifting plate as the table top assembly is being raised and lowered, a guide system is provided for the table top assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the guide system comprises guide channels attached to the interior of the table base wall on opposite sides thereof, arms attached to opposite sides of the lifting plate at one end thereof, the opposite end of the arms being provided with wheels which ride within the guide channels to maintain the lifting plate in the central position as it is raised and lowered by the screw jack assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the foldable table assembly is provided with a seat assembly which can be stored within the table base when in the closed position and may be extended to provide a suitable seat at a proper height for a dining table when in the open position. 
     
     
         14 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the foldable table assembly is provided with a pivot arm located between the lifting arm and the lower surface of the lid to allow for simultaneous raising and lowering of the lid as the table top is raised and lowered between the open and the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . A foldable table top assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the pivot arms are pivotally connected to the lifting arms and the lid to allow for 180° of movement at the pivotal connection between the pivot arm and the lifting arm and 90° of movement between the pivot arm and the lid to allow the lid to raise during the initial movement of the table top assembly when moving from the open to the closed position or vise versa and to be lowered to be either on top of the table top in the open position or to be on top of the table base to seal the table base in the closed position.