Table with molded plastic table top

Abstract

A table may be sized and configured to nest with an adjacent table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The tabletop may include an upper surface, a sidewall and a receiving portion at least partially disposed in the upper surface and the sidewall. The receiving portion may be sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are disposed in a nested configuration. The tabletop may also include a plurality of strengthen members disposed in the lower portion of the tabletop that are sized and configured to support the receiving portion. For example, the strengthening members may include an inner surface sized and configured to support an inner surface of the receiving portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tabletop comprising:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; 
 a sidewall; 
 a receiving portion at least partially formed in the upper portion of the tabletop and the sidewall of the table top, the receiving portion extending about an entire outer perimeter of the upper portion of the tabletop, at least a portion of the receiving portion extending downwardly from the upper portion of the table top tabletop and inwardly from the sidewall of the table top, the receiving portion including an inner surface, the receiving portion comprising:
 a first wall disposed at an angle relative to the upper portion of the table top; and 
 a second wall disposed at an angle relative to the lower portion of the table top; 
 
 a hollow interior portion at least partially defined by the upper portion, and the lower portion, and the sidewall of the table top tabletop; and 
 at least one receiving portion strengthening member contacting the inner surface of the receiving portion to support the first wall and the second wall of the receiving portion, the at least one receiving portion strengthening member at least partially formed by a portion of the lower portion of the tabletop, the at least one receiving portion strengthening member contacting an inner surface of the receiving portion to provide additional strength and providing additional support for the receiving portion, the receiving portion strengthening member at least partially disposed in the hollow interior portion; 
 wherein the receiving portion extends about an entire outer perimeter of the tipper portion of the table top. 
 
     
     
       2. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion, the lower portion, the sidewall, the receiving portion, and the receiving portion strengthening member are constructed from molded plastic and are integrally formed during a molding process as part of a unitary, one-piece construction. 
     
     
       3. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the tabletop is sized and configured to nest with an adjacent table in a nested configuration in order to reduce a height of a plurality of tables in a nested configuration, each of the tables in the nested configuration having substantially the same size and shape; and
 wherein the receiving portion is sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are disposed in a nested configuration to reduce the height of the tables in a nested configuration. 
 
     
     
       4. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall forms a portion of a lip that extends downwardly relative to the upper portion of the tabletop; and 
 wherein the receiving portion strengthening member is at least partially disposed in the an inner surface of the lip and extending at least partially extends towards the an outer surface of the lip; and 
 wherein the receiving portion strengthening member is spaced apart from the outer surface of the lip by a gap. 
 
     
     
       5. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion strengthening member contacts the inner surface of the receiving portion to support the first wall and the second wall of the receiving portion. 
     
     
       6. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , further comprising an engaging portion extending downwardly from the upper portion of the tabletop. 
     
     
       7. The tabletop as in  claim 6 , wherein the upper portion, the lower portion, the sidewall, the engaging portion, the receiving portion, and the receiving portion strengthening member are constructed from molded plastic and are integrally formed during a molding process as part of a unitary, one-piece construction. 
     
     
       8. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one receiving portion strengthening member contacts the receiving portion at least proximate an intersection of the first wall and the second wall of the receiving portion. 
     
     
       9. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion is disposed between a plane generally aligned with the upper portion of the tabletop and a plane generally aligned with a lower portion of the tabletop; and
 wherein the receiving portion strengthening member is disposed between the plane generally aligned with the upper portion of the tabletop and the plane generally aligned with the lower portion of the tabletop. 
 
     
     
       10. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the at least one receiving portion strengthening member extends inwardly from the lower portion of the tabletop and an inner surface of the receiving portion contacts an inner surface of the second wall of the receiving portion. 
     
     
       11. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein an inner portion of the one or more of the at least one receiving portion strengthening member contacts an inner surface of the second wall of the receiving portion; and
 wherein the receiving portion strengthening member allows the receiving portion to be a load bearing surface for an engaging portion of an adjacent table when the table top tabletop is disposed in a nested configuration with one or more table tops. 
 
     
     
       12. The tabletop as in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the at least one receiving portion strengthening member extends upwardly from the lower portion of the tabletop and contacts an inner surface of the second wall of the receiving portion. 
     
     
       13. A tabletop sized and configured to nest with an adjacent table in a nested configuration in order to reduce a height of a plurality of tables in a nested configuration, the tabletop comprising:
 an upper portion; 
 a sidewall extending downwardly relative to the upper portion; 
 a receiving portion at least partially disposed in the upper surface and the sidewall, the receiving portion sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are disposed in a nested configuration to reduce a height of the tables in a nested configuration, the receiving portion disposed about an entire outer perimeter of the upper portion of the tabletop, the receiving portion including an inner surface, the receiving portion comprising:
 a first wall with an outer surface sized and configured to be disposed at least proximate the engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are disposed in the nested configuration; and 
 a second wall with an outer surface sized and configured to be disposed at least proximate the engaging portion of an adjacent table when the tables are disposed in the nested configuration; 
 
 a lip extending downwardly relative to the upper portion of the tabletop; and 
 a plurality of receiving portion strengthening members contacting and supporting the inner surface of the receiving portion, the receiving portion strengthening members at least partially formed by a lower portion of the tabletop, at least a portion of the receiving portion strengthening members spaced apart from an outer portion of the lip by a distance, the receiving portion strengthening members comprising:
 a first plurality of strengthening members contacting an inner surface at least a portion of the first wall of the receiving portion, each strengthening member of the first plurality of strengthening members sized and configured to support the first wall of the receiving portion; and 
 a second plurality of strengthening members contacting an inner surface at least a portion of the second wall of the receiving portion, each strengthening member of the second plurality of strengthening members sized and configured to support the second wall of the receiving portion. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The tabletop as in  claim 13 , wherein the receiving portion strengthening members are at least partially disposed in the lip. 
     
     
       15. The tabletop as in  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of strengthening members extend inwardly relative to a sidewall of a the lip of the tabletop; and
 wherein an inner portion of the first plurality of strengthening members contacts the inner portion of the first wall of the receiving portion. 
 
     
     
       16. The tabletop as in  claim 13 , wherein the second plurality of strengthening members extend upwardly relative to the upper portion of the tabletop; and
 wherein an inner portion of the second plurality of strengthening members contacts the inner portion of the second wall of the receiving portion. 
 
     
     
       17. The tabletop as in  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of strengthening members are disposed generally parallel to a lower portion of the tabletop; and
 wherein the second plurality of strengthening members are disposed generally perpendicular to the lower portion of the tabletop. 
 
     
     
       18. The tabletop as in  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of strengthening members allow the first wall of the receiving portion to be a load bearing surface that contacts an engaging portion of a nested table when a plurality of tables are in a nested configuration. 
     
     
       19. The tabletop as in  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of depressions disposed in a lower portion of the tabletop; and
 wherein one or more depressions of the plurality of depressions are disposed in a lip of the tabletop and an end of the depressions contacts the inner portion of the receiving portion. 
 
     
     
       20. The tabletop as in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of depressions are disposed along one or more sides, one or more corners and one or more ends of the tabletop; and
 wherein the depressions are sized and configured to support the receiving portion in the sides, the corners and the ends of the tabletop. 
 
     
     
       21. A tabletop comprising:
 an upper portion at least partially formed by an upper wall;   a lower portion at least partially formed by a lower wall;   a sidewall that forms at least a portion of a lip that extends downwardly relative to the upper portion of the tabletop;   a hollow interior portion at least partially disposed between the upper wall and the lower wall of the tabletop;   a receiving portion at least partially formed in the upper portion of the tabletop, the receiving portion including an inner surface, the receiving portion extending about an entire outer perimeter of the upper portion of the tabletop; and   at least one strengthening member at least partially formed by the lower wall of the tabletop, an inner surface of the at least strengthening member contacting the inner surface of the receiving portion to provide additional support for the receiving portion.    
     
     
       22. The tabletop of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the at least one strengthening member is spaced apart from the outer surface of the lip by a gap.  
     
     
       23. The tabletop of claim 21, wherein the at least one strengthening member is at least partially formed in an inner portion of the lip.  
     
     
       24. A tabletop comprising:
 an upper wall;   a lower wall;   a sidewall;   a hollow interior portion at least partially disposed between the upper wall and the lower wall;   a receiving portion at least partially disposed in the upper wall and the sidewall of the tabletop, the receiving portion including an inner surface, the receiving portion extending about an entire outer perimeter of the upper portion of the tabletop; and   at least one strengthening member at least partially disposed in the lower wall of the tabletop, an inner surface of the at least one strengthening member contacting the inner surface of the receiving portion to provide additional support for the receiving portion.    
     
     
       25. The tabletop of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the at least one strengthening member is at least partially formed in an inner portion of a lip.  
     
     
       26. The tabletop of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the at least one strengthening member extends upwardly from the lower wall; and
 wherein at least a portion of the at least one strengthening member extends towards the sidewall.