The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2002
Eric M. Kaltenmark, Chuckey, TN (US);
Anne C. Underwood, Johnson City, TN (US);
Meco Corporation, Greenville, TN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a folding wooden table is disclosed wherein the table retains the attractiveness of traditional wooden tables by having hidden hinges and leg supports, yet which folds flat for storage and requires no tools for assembly and disassembly. The underside of the table top has a side skirt pivotally secured adjacent to each side with at least one hinge so as to enable them to fold inward. End skirts are pivotally secured to the table top at each end with at least one hinge, and a pair of legs are secured to opposite ends of each end skirt to form a pivoting leg assembly. The legs preferably have an “L”-shaped cross-section to hide the support hardware yet provide an attractive exterior. The hinge is offset sufficiently inward from end skirt to allow legs to fold flat against the table top. An “L”-shaped support bracket is secured to each end of the side skirts with an appropriately positioned pivot. The end of the support bracket opposite pivot includes a retention slot to engage a boss on an inside of each leg when rotated into a securing position. A sliding and/or pivoting retention member is then used to lock the support bracket into position to complete the erection of the fold-up table.