Table with Tippable Tabletop

Abstract

A table with a “seamless” tippable tabletop and a method of its use are configured for ease of maneuvering between the deployed and stowed position and compact stacking. A latch assembly may have a first latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the deployed position and a second latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the stowed position. The first latch may utilize a pin selectively engaging a corresponding catch to latch the tabletop in position and a manually operated handle to unlatch the tabletop from position. The second latch may utilize a pin selectively engaging a corresponding catch to latch the tabletop in position and unlatch the tabletop from position under a tilting force tending to move the tabletop from the stowed position to the deployed position. Counterweights may be mounted on or in the bottom surface of the tabletop to control movement of the tippable tabletop.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A table with a tippable top comprising:
 a base;   a tabletop supported by the base and having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, wherein the tabletop is movably coupled to the base so as to be selectively tiltable about a horizontal axis 1) from a first, operative position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and forms an upper surface of the table 2) to a second, stowed position in which the first surface extends at least substantially vertically; and   a latch assembly supported by the second surface of the tabletop and the base, the latch assembly having a first latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the first position and a second latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the second position;   wherein each of the first and second latches has a pin that selectively engages a corresponding catch to latch the tabletop in position and that selectively disengages from the corresponding catch to unlatch the tabletop from position.   
     
     
         2 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the pin of the second latch disengages the associated catch to unlatch the tabletop from its stowed position by applying a tilting force tending to move the tabletop from the second position to the first second position. 
     
     
         3 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein the catch of the second catch comprises a plate having a detent positioned adjacent to an inclined surface of the plate, permitting the pin to roll along the inclined surface, between the pin's engaged and disengaged position. 
     
     
         4 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein the pin of the second latch is moveable longitudinally within a vertically extending slot against a spring biasing the pin in the engaged position. 
     
     
         5 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein the pin of the first latch disengages from the associated catch under actuation of a manually operated handle that is operatively coupled to the pin of the first latch. 
     
     
         6 . The table of  claim 5 , wherein the catch of the first latch is a plate having a detent, and the pin of the first latch is coupled to the handle such that manually manipulation of the handle forces the pin to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position. 
     
     
         7 . The table of  claim 5 , wherein the pin of the first latch is moveable laterally within a horizontally extending slot against a spring biasing the pin to the engaged position, 
     
     
         8 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pins are mounted on the tabletop and the first and second catches are mounted on the base. 
     
     
         9 . The table of  claim 8 , wherein the pins of the first latch and second latch are mounted no more than 0.020 inches from the second surface of the tabletop. 
     
     
         10 . The table of  claim 9 , wherein the pins of the first latch and second latch are mounted no more than 0.005 inches from the second surface of the tabletop, 
     
     
         11 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein the table is dimensioned and configured such that, when the tabletop is latched in the second position thereof, the table can be positioned adjacent a second table of identical construction in a front-to-back relationship with a horizontal spacing of no-more than 7″ therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a counterweight positioned between a center of the tabletop and a bottom end of the tabletop when the tabletop is in the second position thereof and configured to counterbalance gravitational forces imposed on the tabletop when the tabletop tilts from the second position thereof to the first position thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The table of  claim 12 , wherein the counterweight comprises at least one plate mounted on or in the second surface of the tabletop. 
     
     
         14 . A table with a tippable top comprising:
 a base;   a tabletop supported by the base and having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, wherein the tabletop is movably coupled to the base so as to be selectively tiltable about a horizontal axis 1) from a first, operative position in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally and forms an upper surface of the table 2) to a second, stowed position in which the first surface extends at least substantially vertically; and   a latch assembly supported by the second surface of the tabletop and the base, the latch assembly having a first latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the first position and a second latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the second position;   wherein each of the first and second latches has a pin that is provided on the tabletop that that selectively engages a corresponding catch that is provided on the base to latch the tabletop in position and that selectively disengages from the corresponding catch to unlatch the tabletop from position,   wherein the pin of the second latch disengages from the associated catch to unlatch the tabletop from its stowed position by applying a tilting force tending to move the tabletop from the second position to the first second position,   wherein the pin of the first latch is coupled to a manually operated handle, and   wherein the handle is configured such that manually manipulation of the handle forces the pin to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position.   
     
     
         15 . The table of  claim 14 , wherein the first latch includes a plate having a detente and wherein the pin of the first latch is coupled to the handle such that pulling the handle forces the pin to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position. 
     
     
         16 . The table of  claim 14 , wherein the pins of the first position latch and second position latch are mounted no more than 0.020 inches from the second surface of the tabletop. 
     
     
         17 . The table of  claim 14 , further comprising a counterweight positioned between a center of the tabletop and a bottom end of the tabletop when the tabletop is in the second position thereof and configured to counterbalance gravitational forces imposed on the tabletop when the tabletop tilts from the second position thereof to the first position thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A table comprising:
 a base;   a tabletop supported by the base and having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, wherein the tabletop is movably coupled to the base so as to be selectively tiltable 1) from a first position, operative in which the first surface extends at least substantially horizontally 2) to a second, stowed position in which the first surface extends at least substantially vertical; and   a counterweight positioned substantially within a bottom half of the tabletop when the tabletop is in the second position and configured to counterbalance gravitational forces imposed on the tabletop when the tabletop tilts from the second position thereof to the first position thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The table of  claim 18 , wherein the counterweight comprises a plate that is supported at least partially within a recess of the second surface of the tabletop. 
     
     
         20 . The table of  claim 18 , wherein the counterweight is a plate mounted between side brackets of a frame supported on the second surface of the tabletop. 
     
     
         21 . The table of  claim 18 , further comprising a latch assembly supported by the second surface of the tabletop and the base, the latch assembly having a first latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the first position and a second latch that releasably retains the tabletop in the second position;
 wherein each of the first and second latches has a pin that that selectively engages a corresponding catch to latch the tabletop in position and that selectively disengages from the corresponding catch to unlatch the tabletop from position.