Wall Mounted Deployable Furniture Piece

Abstract

A table provides a surface that stores flat on a wall when not in use and can be manually deployed at variable lengths, with any the remainder remaining stored on the wall. The surface easily slides down and out from its low profile retracted (vertically stored) position into a deployed (horizontal) configuration to serve as a shelf, a desk, dining/conference/work table, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A deployable furniture piece that is moveable between a fully stowed position and a fully deployed position, comprising:
 a. a plurality of slats, including a leading slat and a trailing slat, interconnected to one another with each extending along a respective axis all of which are parallel to one another;   b. a vertical assistance mechanism that provides an automated force to assist in transitional movement of the table between its fully stowed position wherein said plurality of slats extend in an essentially vertical plane and a fully deployed position wherein a majority of said plurality of slats extend in a essentially horizontal plane; and   c. a brake that is selectively, manually actuable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the table is locked from movement without manual actuation of said brake.   
     
     
         2 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second legs connected to said leading slat and movable between a fully stowed, wherein said first and second legs extend in parallel relation to the plane in which said leading slat extends, and a fully deployed position, wherein said first and second legs extend perpendicularly to the plane in which leading slat extends. 
     
     
         3 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 1 , wherein said vertical assistance mechanism comprises:
 a. a plurality of linked legs, including an upper set of linked legs and a lower set of linked legs, that collectively form a scissor lift;   b. first and second connecting arms extending between said upper set of linked legs and said lower set of linked legs, respectively;   c. a guide attached to one of said plurality of linked legs and having an arcuate slot formed therethrough; and   d. a piston and cylinder arrangement wherein said cylinder is attached at one end to one of said first and second connecting arms and said piston passes through said arcuate slot.   
     
     
         4 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 1 , further comprising a brake assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 4 , wherein said brake assembly comprises a brake attached to said leading slat, said brake being manually movable from a locked position to an unlocked position and upon manual release automatically movable from said unlocked position back to said locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 5 , wherein said brake assembly further comprises:
 a. a cable that passes through said brake;   b. a plurality of pulleys attached to said plurality of slats and around which said cable passes; and   c. first and second tensioning springs to which the ends of said cable attach.   
     
     
         7 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connection assembly interconnecting adjacent ones of said plurality of slats. 
     
     
         8 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 7 , wherein said connection assembly comprises a slat hinge plate and a slip surface, wherein said slip surface is positioned between said adjacent slats and said slat hinge plate. 
     
     
         9 . The deployable furniture piece according to  claim 8 , wherein said slat hinge plate comprises a convex trailing edge and a concave leading edge. 
     
     
         10 . A method for deploying a furniture piece from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the furniture piece comprises a plurality of slats, including a leading slat and a trailing slat, interconnected to one another with each extending along a respective axis all of which are parallel to one another, and a brake attached to the leading slat, wherein the stowed position comprises the plurality of slats being positioned in a vertical plane in supported relation against a wall and the deployed position comprises at least a majority of the plurality of slats being positioned in a horizontal plane, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. applying force to the brake to release the plurality of slats from their stowed position;   b. pulling outwardly on the leading slat to cause at least a majority of the plurality of slats to each transition from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane; and   c. releasing the brake to lock the plurality of slats in position.   
     
     
         11 . A method for deploying a furniture piece from a deployed position to a stowed position, wherein the furniture piece comprises a plurality of slats, including a leading slat and a trailing slat, interconnected to one another with each extending along a respective axis all of which are parallel to one another, a brake attached to the leading slat, and a vertical assistance mechanism that provides an automated force to assist in transitional movement of the table between its fully stowed position and its fully deployed position, wherein the stowed position comprises the plurality of slats being positioned in a vertical plane in supported relation against a wall and the deployed position comprises at least a majority of the plurality of slats being positioned in a horizontal plane, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. applying force to the brake to release it from the plurality of slats and permit movement thereof;   b. pushing inwardly on the leading slat to actuate the vertical assistance mechanism and cause the plurality of slats to each transition from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane; and   c. releasing the brake to lock the plurality of slats in position.