Table extension system

Abstract

A system for fastening a table extension to a table includes an anchor plate for fastening to the table, a rail with at least one protrusion extending through an opening in the anchor plate and positioning the rail on the table, a fastener extending through the rail into the table to fasten the rail to the table, and another fastener extending through the rail into the table extension to fasten the rail to the table extension. A system alternately includes a bracket, a rail with a table skirt and an end passing through the bracket, a fastener extending through the bracket and engaging the rail with the table skirt portion in a retracted position, the fastener to be disengaged from the rail and the table skirt to be placed in an extended position, the fastener to be reengaged with the rail, and another fastener to extend through the rail to fasten the rail to the table extension.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for fastening a table extension to a table, comprising:
 an anchor plate for fastening to the table;   a rail with at least one protrusion, the protrusion configured to extend through an opening in the anchor plate and to position the rail at a particular location on the table;   a first fastener configured to extend through the rail into the table to fasten the rail to the table; and   a second fastener configured to extend through the rail into the table extension to fasten the rail to the table extension.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the anchor plate comprises a keyhole shape to capture the protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate is configured to fasten to an underside of the table. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  comprising a recess in the underside of the table to provide clearance for the protrusion when the anchor plate is fastened to the underside of the table. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail comprises an extended cuboid shape. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded insert embedded in an underside of the table for accepting the first fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded insert embedded in an underside of the table extension for accepting the second fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when the protrusion extends through the opening in the anchor plate, the rail is positioned to extend from an underside of the table to beyond a side of the table. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first fastener is configured to extend through the rail into the table to fasten the rail to the table and the second fastener is configured to extend through the rail into the table extension to fasten the rail to the table extension while the table extension abuts the side of the table. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fasteners comprise a threaded shaft extending from a knob. 
     
     
         11 . A system for fastening a table extension to a table, comprising:
 a bracket for fastening to the table;   a rail having a table skirt portion mounted at one end and a second end passing through the bracket positioning the rail at a particular location on the table;   a first fastener configured to extend through the bracket and engage the rail, pressing the rail into contact with the table, with the table skirt portion in a retracted position;   wherein the first fastener is configured to be disengaged from the rail and the table skirt portion is configured to be placed in an extended position;   the first fastener is configured to be reengaged with the rail; and   a second fastener is configured to extend through the rail into the table extension to fasten the rail to the table extension with the table skirt portion in the extended position.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket comprises a threaded portion through which the first fastener extends. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket is configured to fasten to an underside of the table. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the rail comprises an extended cuboid shape. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the table skirt is positioned on an underside of the table in the retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the table skirt is positioned to extend beyond a side of the table in the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first fastener is configured to be reengaged with the rail and the second fastener is configured to extend through the rail into the table extension to fasten the rail to the table extension with the table skirt portion in the extended position while the table extension abuts the side of the table. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second fasteners comprise a threaded shaft extending from a knob.