Foldable support for foldable furniture

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable furniture, and more particularly to a foldable support for a foldable furniture, which is adapted for enhancing the strength of the tabletop and the leg assembly in a foldably movable manner.

2. Description of Related Arts

Banquet tables have become very popular since the tables are economy, cheap and foldable that can be quickly and easily folded for carriage and storage and unfolded for use. Especially when some participant-intensive activities take place in multi-function rooms or designated areas, the banquet tables can be temporary set up in minutes. After the functions, the banquet tables can be quickly and neatly folded up for storage.

A conventional banquet table comprises a tabletop 1 and a pair of table legs 2 foldable mounted underneath the tabletop 1. Accordingly, the banquet table further comprises a retention unit 3 for retaining each of the table legs 2 at an opened position, wherein the retention unit 3 comprises a first retention member 4 pivotally connected with the tabletop 1 and a second retention member 5 having two ends pivotally connected to the first retention member 4 and the respective table legs 2 in such a manner that when the first retention member 4 is pivotally folded to align with the second retention member 5 end-to-end, the table leg 2 is retained by the retention unit. However, such retention unit 3 has several drawbacks.

A rivet is used as a pivot joint to pivotally connect two end portions of the first and second retention members 4, 5 so as to allow the first and second retention members 4, 5 to pivotally fold in an end-to-end manner. In order to hold the first and second retention members 4, 5 in position, the first and second retention members 4, 5, must be connected tight enough such that two inner sides of the first and second retention members 4, 5 are frictionally engaged with each other at the end portions thereof. In other words, the frictional engagement of the retention unit 3 ensures the alignment of the first and second retention members 4, 5 to retain the table leg 2 at the opened position. Therefore, it is a hassle for the user that the user must apply enough pushing force at the retention unit 3 to overcome the frictional engagement during the set-up operation of the banquet table. In addition, the rivet for the pivot connection between the first and second retention members 4, 5 is gradually deformed by the pivotal movement thereof over a period of continuous use. Therefore, the friction engagement will be loosened that the retention unit 3 cannot substantially retain the table leg 2 in position.

In order to overcome the above mentioned problem, a tubular locker 6 is used for locking up the first and second retention members 4, 5. Accordingly, the tubular locker 6 is slidably mounted along the first retention member 4 such that when the first retention member 4 is pivotally folded to align with the second retention member 5, the tubular locker 6 is slid at the rivet to lock up the first retention member 4 with the second retention member 5.

A clearance is formed between the tubular locker 6 and the first retention member 4 because the inner circumference of the tubular locker 6 must be large enough for the tubular locker 6 sliding along the first retention member 4. In other words, even the tubular locker 6 is slid to lock up the first retention member 4 with the second retention member 5, the first and second retention members 4, 5 are still allowed to pivotally move with the clearance. Therefore, the tubular locker 6 cannot substantially lock up the first retention member 4 with the second retention member 5 to prevent an unwanted movement of the first and second retention members 4, 5.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support for a foldable furniture, which is adapted for enhancing the strength of the supporting top and the leg assembly in a foldably movable manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support for a foldable furniture, wherein a sliding locker is slid to lock up the first retention arm with the second retention arm so as to substantially prevent any unwanted movement of the first retention arm with respect to the second retention arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support for a foldable furniture, wherein the sliding locker is guided to slide along the engaging slot of the first retention arm so as to securely engage with the locking slot of the second retention arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support for a foldable furniture, which is adapted to incorporate with any kind of leg assembly pivotally connecting with the supporting top without altering or complicating the original structure of the foldable furniture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support for a foldable furniture, which does not involve complicated and expensive mechanical components and processes so as to minimize the manufacturing cost and the ultimate selling price of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support for a foldable furniture, wherein no expensive or mechanical structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution not only for providing a reinforced supporting configuration to the foldable furniture but also for enhancing the folding movement of the leg assembly with respect to the supporting top.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a foldable furniture, comprising:

a supporting top;

a leg assembly comprising a leg which is pivotally connecting with the supporting top and is pivotally folded between an opened position and a storage position; and

a foldable support, comprising:

a first retention arm pivotally connecting with the supporting top, wherein the first retention arm has an engagement end portion defining a pivot end and an engaging slot formed at the engagement end portion;

a second retention arm pivotally connecting with the leg, wherein the second retention arm has a locking end defining a locking slot thereat and a locking portion which is pivotally connecting to the pivot end of the first retention arm and is arranged to pivotally fold to align with the first retention arm end-to-end at a position that the locking slot is aligned with the engaging slot of the first retention arm so as to retain the leg at the opened position; and

a sliding locker substantially engaging with the locking slot and the engagement slot to securely lock up the first retention arm with the second retention arm so as to lock up the leg at the opened position.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional banquet table with a retention unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a foldable support for a foldable furniture according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the foldable furniture with a foldable support according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the leg being outwardly folded at an opened position.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the foldable furniture with a foldable support according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the leg being inwardly folded at a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a foldable support for a foldable furniture according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the foldable support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the foldable support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding locker of the foldable support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative mode of the foldable support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the foldable support incorporating with an alternative mode of the foldable furniture according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a foldable furniture according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the foldable furniture, which is embodied as a foldable table, comprises a supporting top 10 as a tabletop and a leg assembly 20 comprising at least a leg 21 which is pivotally connecting with the supporting top 10 and is pivotally folded between an opened position and a storage position.

Accordingly, at the opened position, as shown in FIG. 3A, the leg 21 is pivotally and outwardly folded at a position perpendicularly to the supporting top 10, and at the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3B, the leg 21 is pivotally and inwardly folded to overlap with the supporting top 10. According to the first embodiment, the supporting top 10 has a bottom side 11 defining four peripheral edge portions, wherein four legs 21 are pivotally connecting to four corners portions of the supporting top 10 at the bottom side 11 respectively such that the legs 21 are adapted to pivotally fold to overlap at the peripheral edge portions of the supporting top 10 respectively.

The foldable furniture further comprises a foldable support 30 for retaining the leg 21 at the opened position and for guiding the leg 21 being folded at the closed position. The foldable support 30 comprises a first retention arm 31, a second retention arm 32, and a sliding locker 33. The foldable supporting 30 further comprises a guiding arm 35 pivotally coupling with the respective leg 21 to guide the legs 21 to pivotally fold to perpendicularly to the supporting top 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first retention arm 31 is pivotally connecting with the supporting top 10, wherein the first retention arm 31 has an engagement end portion 311 defining a pivot end 312 and an engaging slot 313 formed at the engagement end portion 311.

The second retention arm 32 is pivotally connecting with the leg 21, wherein the second retention arm 32 has a locking end 321 defining a locking slot 322 thereat and a locking portion 323 which is pivotally connecting to the pivot end 312 of the first retention arm 31 and is arranged to pivotally fold to align with the first retention arm 31 end-to-end at a position that the locking slot 322 is aligned with the engaging slot 313 of the first retention arm 31 so as to retain the leg 21 at the opened position. In other words, when the first retention arm 31 is pivotally folded to align with the second retention arm 31 end-to-end, the engagement end portion 311 of the first retention arm 31 is overlapped with the locking portion 323 of the second retention arm 32.

The sliding locker 33 is substantially engaging with the locking slot 322 and the engagement slot 313 to securely lock up the first retention arm 31 with the second retention arm 32 so as to lock up the leg 21 at the opened position. Accordingly, the engagement end portion 311 of the first retention arm 31 does not need to frictionally engage with the locking portion 323 of the second retention arm 32 to hold the first and second retention arms 31, 32 in position because the first and second retention arms 31, 32 are locked up with each other by the pivot point therebetween and the sliding locker 33 so as to prevent any unwanted movement between the first and second retention arms 31, 32.

According to the first embodiment, the engaging slot 313 and the locking slot 322 are two through holes formed at the first and second retention arms 31, 32 respectively, such that when the first retention arm 31 is pivotally folded to align with the second retention arm 32 end-to-end, the engaging slot 313 is coaxially aligned with the locking slot 322.

The sliding locker 33 comprises an enlarged retaining head 331 and an elongated inserting body 332 which is integrally extended from the retaining head 331 and is arranged to slidably insert into the locking slot 322 through the engaging slot 313 in a detachably attaching manner so as to securely lock up the first retention arm 31 with the second retention arm 32 in an end-to-end manner.

The foldable support 30 further comprises a reinforcing unit 34 which has a reinforcing groove 341 indently formed along a side edge of the first retention arm 31 at the engagement end portion 311 thereof and comprises a reinforcing latch 342 transversely extended along a corresponding side edge of the second retention arm 32 at the locking portion 323 thereof, wherein when the first retention arm 31 is pivotally folded to align with the second retention arm 31 end-to-end, the reinforcing latch 342 is engaged with the reinforcing groove 341 so as to ensure the locking slot 322 aligning with the engaging slot 313. Accordingly, the reinforcing latch 342 has a size adapted for a thumb of the user to push the reinforcing latch 342 away from the reinforcing groove 341 so as to disengage the reinforcing latch 342 with the reinforcing groove 341.

In order to fold the leg 21 at the opened position, the user can easily pivotally fold the leg 21 perpendicular to the supporting top 10 to pivotally move the first retention arm 31 aligning with the second retention arm 32 until the reinforcing latch 342 is engaged with the reinforcing groove 341 to align the locking slot 322 with the engaging slot 313. Then, the sliding locker 33 is slidably inserted into the locking slot 322 through the engaging slot 313 to lock up the first retention arm 31 with the second retention arm 32 so as to lock up the leg 21 at the opened position. For folding the leg 21 back to its closed position, the user is able to detach the sliding locker 33 from the first and second retention arms 31, 32 to release the locking engagement therebetween, such that the leg 21 is allowed to pivotally fold to overlap on the bottom side 11 of the supporting top 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the foldable support 30′ illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the foldable support 30′ comprises a first retention arm 31′, a second retention arm 32′, and a sliding locker 33′.

The first retention arm 31′ is pivotally connecting with the supporting top 10′, wherein the first retention arm 31′ has an engagement end portion 311′ defining a pivot end 312′ and an engaging slot 313′ formed at the engagement end portion 311′.

The second retention arm 32′ is pivotally connecting with the leg 21′, wherein the second retention arm 32′ has a locking end 321′ defining a locking slot 322′ thereat and a locking portion 323′ which is pivotally connecting to the pivot end 312′ of the first retention arm 31′ and is arranged to pivotally fold to align with the first retention arm 31 ′ end-to-end at a position that the locking slot 322′ is aligned with the engaging slot 313 of the first retention arm 31′ so as to retain the leg 21′ at the opened position. In other words, when the first retention arm 31′ is pivotally folded to align with the second retention arm 31 end-to-end, the engagement end portion 311′ of the first retention arm 31′ is overlapped with the locking portion 323′ of the second retention arm 32′.

The sliding locker 33′ is substantially engaging with the locking slot 322′ and the engagement slot 313′ to securely lock up the first retention arm 31′ with the second retention arm 32′ so as to lock up the leg 21′ at the opened position.

According to the second embodiment, the engaging slot 313′ is an elongated slot formed at the first retention arm 31′ along the engagement end portion 311′ thereof, wherein the sliding locker 33′ is slidably engaged with the first retention arm 31′ along the engaging slot 313′ to detachably engage with the locking slot 322′ of the second retention arm 32′.

The locking slot 322′ is an opening slot formed at the locking end 321′ of the second retention arm 32′ to align with the engaging slot 313′ of the first retention arm 31′, wherein the sliding locker 33′ is slid into the locking slot 322′ at an opening thereof along the engaging slot 313′ to lock up the first retention arm 31′ with the second retention arm 32′. Accordingly, the engaging slot 313′ has a predetermined length that when the sliding locker 33′ is slid to an end of the engaging slot 313′ towards the supporting top 10, the sliding locker 33′ is disengaged with the locking slot 322′ and when the sliding locker 33′ is slid to an opposed end of the engaging slot 313′ towards the leg 21, the sliding locker 33′ is slid into the locking slot 322′ to lock up with the second retention arm 32′.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sliding locker 33′ has two enlarged retaining heads 331 ′ and an elongated sliding body 332′ extended between the two retaining heads 331′ to slidably engage with the engaging slot 313′, wherein the sliding body 332′ of the sliding locker 33′ is driven to slid into the locking slot 322′ to lock up the first retention arm 31′ with the second retention arm 32′.

It is worth to mention that when the first retention arm 31′ is aligned with the second retention arm 32′ to retain the leg 21′ at the opened position, the engaging slot 313′ of the first retention arm 31′ is extended inclinedly, such that the sliding locker 33′ is slid downwardly towards the locking slot 322′ by gravity to lock up with the second retention arm 32′ so as to prevent the foldable furniture from being accidentally collapsed.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the foldable support 30′ further comprises a securing cap 35′ slidably engaging with the first retention arm 31′ to hold the sliding locker 33′ in position, wherein the securing cap 35′ is slid to engage with the locking portion 323′ of the second retention arm 32′ when the sliding locker 33′ is slid into the locking slot 322′ so as to provide a dual locking configuration between the first and second retention arms 31′, 32′. In other words, the foldable support 30′ can substantially enhance the strength of the supporting top 10 and the leg assembly 20 in a foldably movable manner.

Accordingly, the securing cap 35′ has a hollow shape allowing to slide along the first retention arm 31′ wherein a through holding hole 351′ is formed at one of the sidewall of the securing cap 35′ to hold the sliding body 332′ of the sliding locker 33′ in position such that when the securing cap 35′ is slid to enclose the locking portion 323′ of the second retention arm 32′, the sliding body 332′ of the sliding locker 33′ is driven to engage with the locking slot 322′ to lock up the first retention arm 31′ with the second retention arm 32′. It is worth to mention that when the securing cap 35′ is slid to enclose the locking portion 323′ of the second retention arm 32′, the locking slot 322′ of the second retention arm 32′ is enclosed within the securing cap 35′ so as to retain the engagement between the sliding locker 33′ and the locking slot 322′. According to the preferred embodiment, the securing cap 35′ has length between 15 mm and 150 mm depending on the size of each of the first and second retention arms 31′, 32, wherein the securing cap 35′ can be made of metal or plastic to retain the sliding locker 33′ in position.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternative mode of the foldable support 30″ is illustrated, wherein the foldable support 30″ further comprises a reinforcing unit 34″ which has a reinforcing groove 341″ indently formed along a side edge of the first retention arm 31″ at the engagement end portion 311″ thereof and comprises a reinforcing latch 342″ transversely extended along a corresponding side edge of the second retention arm 32″ at the locking portion 323″ thereof, wherein when the first retention arm 31″ is pivotally folded to align with the second retention arm 32″ end-to-end, the reinforcing latch 342″ is engaged with the reinforcing groove 341″ so as to ensure the locking slot 322″ aligning with the engaging slot 313″. Accordingly, the reinforcing latch 342″ has a size adapted for a thumb of the user to push the reinforcing latch 342″ away from the reinforcing groove 341″ so as to disengage the reinforcing latch 342 with the reinforcing groove 341″. Preferably, the reinforcing latch 342″ has a size between 12 mm and 100 mm outwardly extended from the second retention arm 32″ to define a thumb surface for the user to press thereon.

The securing cap 35″ further has an open-end guiding groove 352″ formed thereon, wherein when the securing cap 35″ is slid to enclose the locking portion 323″ of the second retention arm 32″ at a position that the sliding body 332″ of the sliding locker 33″ is engaged with the locking slot 322″, the reinforcing latch 342″ is guided to slide into the guiding groove 352″ so as to ensure the reinforcing latch 342″ engaging with the reinforcing groove 352″. In other words, the foldable support 30″ provides three securing configurations by the sliding locker 33″, the securing cap 35″ and the reinforcing unit 34″ to lock up the first and second retention arms 31″, 32″.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the foldable support 30, 30″, 30″ incorporating with different type of foldable table, wherein the foldable table comprises a supporting top 10A as the tabletop and a pair of leg assemblies 20A foldably and spacedly affixing to two side portions of the supporting top. Each of the leg assemblies 20A comprises a leg 21A transversely and pivotally mounted at the bottom side 11A of the supporting top 10A that the leg 21A is adapted to pivotally and perpendicularly fold at the opened position and adapted to pivotally fold to rest on the bottom side 11A of the supporting top 10A at the closed position. Accordingly, the foldable support 30, 30″, 30″ is adapted for locking the leg 21A at the opened position as shown in FIG. 9A. It is worth to mention that the foldable support 30, 30″, 30″ is also adapted to incorporate with any kind of foldable furniture such as foldable chair having a leg pivotally coupling underneath the seat as the supporting top so as to retain the foldable furniture at the opened position.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.