FOLDABLE TABLE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of KR Patent Application No. 10-2021-0096412, filed on Jul. 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a foldable table, and more particularly, to a foldable table that is easy to store and carry and ensures structural rigidity.

BACKGROUND

In general, foldable tables are used for the convenience of portability and storage.

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for tables that are mainly used outdoors for camping or picnics, light in weight, better shaped, and easy to carry and store.

Because lightweight outdoor tables are advantageous for portability and storage, the weight of the table tends to decrease. However, the decrease in weight may cause a risk of low rigidity of the table and deterioration in stability. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a stable table that is lightweight and has high rigidity.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a foldable table, in which an upper board is made of a lightweight material to make it easy to carry and store the foldable table, and a framework has structural rigidity to ensure stability.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a foldable table including: a plurality of connection members disposed to define vertices of a polygonal plane; a plurality of support frames each having two opposite ends respectively coupled to lateral surfaces of the connection members to constitute a polygonal framework; an upper board coupled to upper surfaces of the connection members and supported by the plurality of support frames; and a plurality of leg frames each having one end detachably coupled to a lower surface of the connection member, and the other end configured to come into contact with a ground surface.

In addition, the foldable table may further include: a pair of storage members respectively attached to the pair of support frames, which face each other among the plurality of support frames, and configured such that the plurality of leg frames separated from the lower surfaces of the plurality of connection members are detachably fitted with the pair of storage members.

In addition, the pair of storage members may each be made of a flexible material, and the pair of storage members may be elastically deformed when the plurality of leg frames separated from the lower surfaces of the plurality of connection members are fitted with the pair of storage members, such that the plurality of leg frames are fixed.

The connection member may include a sleeve positioned between an inner surface of the connection member and an outer surface of the leg frame when the leg frame is inserted.

The leg frame may include: a hole formed in an outer peripheral surface of one end of the leg frame; and a pressing protrusion disposed in one end of the leg frame and protruding radially from the outer peripheral surface through the hole, and the pressing protrusion may press an inner surface of the connection member when the leg frame is inserted into the connection member.

The leg frame may further include an elastic member provided in one end of the leg frame and configured to apply an elastic force to the pressing protrusion in a radial direction.

The leg frame may include: a hole formed in an outer peripheral surface of one end of the leg frame; and a clip disposed in one end of the leg frame, in which the clip includes: a support portion supported on an inner peripheral surface of the leg frame while being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the leg frame; a protruding portion including a protrusion protruding radially from the outer peripheral surface through the hole; and a curved portion configured to connect the support portion and the protruding portion and configured to apply an elastic force in a direction in which the support portion and the protruding portion move away from each other, and the protrusion of the protruding portion may press an inner surface of the connection member when the leg frame is inserted into the connection member.

The plurality of leg frames may extend and be inserted to be inclined with respect to the upper board so that an interval between the plurality of leg frames gradually increases toward a floor surface when the plurality of leg frames are inserted into the connection members.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of connection members may extend to define two sides of the polygon that face each other, and the plurality of connection members may each include a storage part with which the plurality of leg frames separated from the lower surfaces of the connection members are detachably fitted.

The storage part may be made of a flexible material, and the storage part may be elastically deformed when the plurality of leg frames separated from the lower surfaces of the plurality of connection members are fitted with the storage part, such that the plurality of leg frames are fixed.

An interior of the upper board may have a honeycomb structure.

According to the foldable table according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above, the table is easy to store and carry, and the framework configured by the support frames provides the structural rigidity of the table, such that the upper boards made of various materials or having various structures may be used.

In addition, the leg frames may be separated and stored, such that the volume of the table is reduced when the table is stored and carried.

Further, the leg frames are securely coupled, such that the stability is ensured when the table is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a foldable table according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view illustrating a state in which the foldable table according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is disassembled.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a connection member of the foldable table according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow I-I in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are bottom plan views illustrating states in which the foldable table according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is used and stored.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a storage member of the foldable table according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating states made before and after a leg frame of the foldable table according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is assembled.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views illustrating states made before and after a connection member and a leg frame according to a modified example of the present disclosure are assembled.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are bottom plan views illustrating states in which a foldable table according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is used and stored.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a connection member of the foldable table according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the foldable table using an upper board according to a modified example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, four support frames 2 of a foldable table 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure constitute a rectangular framework. Distal ends of the support frames 2 are inserted into connection members 1, such that the plurality of support frames 2 are connected to the connection members 1. When the rectangular framework is provided as described above, the connection members 1 are positioned between the support frames 2. An upper board 3 is connected to an upper portion of the rectangular framework, and four leg frames 4 are respectively coupled to the connection members 1 and coupled to a lower portion of the rectangular framework.

The framework configured by the support frames 2 may have other polygonal shapes such as a square shape or a pentagonal shape in addition to the rectangular shape. A shape of the upper board 3, which is coupled to the upper portion of the framework, may be changed depending on a shape of the polygonal framework.

The framework configured by the plurality of support frames 2 has rigidity, such that stability of the table may be ensured even though the upper board 3, which has comparatively low structural rigidity and is made of a lightweight material, is coupled. Therefore, the stability of the foldable table 100 of the present disclosure is maintained when the table is used even though the foldable table 100 is lightweight by reducing a weight of the upper board.

Because the upper board 3 serves to support an item placed on the upper board 3, the upper board 3 generally has a wide plate shape. In the present embodiment, the upper board 3 is provided in the form of a rectangular plate, but the present disclosure is not limited to this shape. As described above, the upper board 3 may have various shapes depending on the shape of the polygonal framework. For example, the upper board 3 may have other polygonal shapes such as a square shape or have a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and the like.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the support frame 2 and the leg frame 4 each have a rod shape having a circular cross-section. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to this shape. For example, the support frame 2 and the leg frame 4 may each have a polygonal cross-section such as a rectangular cross-section and a square cross-section.

An anti-slip member 48, which is made of a material such as rubber, may be coupled to each of lower ends of the leg frames 4 that come into contact with the ground surface when the leg frames 4 are coupled to the connection members 1. The anti-slip members 48 may prevent a mark from being formed on the ground surface and provide a frictional force with the ground surface to prevent the table from slipping, thereby improving the stability of the table.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection member 1 has an upper portion having a quadrangular plate shape on which the upper board 3 may be placed. The connection member 1 includes two lateral grooves 11 into which the support frames 2 are inserted, a lower groove 12 into which the leg frame 4 is inserted, and four connection holes 13 through which fixing pieces 101 pass when the connection member 1 is coupled to the upper board 3.

The upper portion of the connection member 1, on which the upper board 3 is placed, particularly has a flat cross-section so that an area in which the upper portion of the connection member 1 comes into contact with the upper board 3 is increased, and the connection member 1 is safely coupled to the upper board 3. The upper portion of the connection member 1 may have a plate shape such as a circular shape in addition to a quadrangular shape.

The connection members 1 and the upper board 3 are coupled as the fixing pieces 101 pass through the connection holes 13 and are inserted into the upper board 3. However, the connection member 1 and the upper board 3 may be coupled in various ways. The number of fixing pieces 101 may be changed depending on the design, the coupling method, and the like.

Because the support frames 2 constitute the quadrangular framework, two lateral grooves 11 are formed to be perpendicular to each other and disposed in a direction parallel to the ground surface. Two opposite ends of the support frame 2 are inserted into the lateral grooves 11 of the connection members 1, such that the support frame 2 is coupled.

The lower groove 12 may be formed to be perpendicular to the upper board 3. However, the lower grooves 12 may extend to be inclined with respect to the upper board 3 so that an interval between the plurality of leg frames 4 gradually increases toward the floor surface when the plurality of leg frames 4 are inserted into the connection members 1. A degree to which the lower groove 12 is inclined with respect to the upper board 3 may vary depending on the design implemented by those skilled in the art. In case that the lower groove 12 extends to be inclined with respect to the upper board 3 as described above, it is possible to reduce sway of the leg frame 4 that is caused by a gap between the lower groove 12 and the leg frame 4 when the leg frame 4 is inserted into the connection member 1.

The leg frame 4 is coupled to a lower portion of the connection member 1. An upper end of the leg frame 4 is detachably inserted into the lower groove 12 formed in the lower portion of the connection member 1. The plurality of leg frames 4, which are detached from the connection members 1, may be stored by being fitted with storage members 5 provided on a lower portion of the table. Therefore, the leg frames 4 may be easily managed because the leg frames 4 need not be separately stored.

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating a state in which all the plurality of leg frames 4 are coupled to the connection members 1 so that the foldable table 100 is used. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the storage members 5 are respectively attached to the support frames 2 that define left and right sides while facing each other among the plurality of support frames 2 that constitute the polygonal framework.

FIG. 5B is a view illustrating a stored state of the foldable table 100. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, when the plurality of leg frames 4 are detached from the connection members 1, the leg frames 4 are stored by being fitted with the storage members 5. Therefore, the table is easy to carry and store.

With reference to FIG. 6, the storage member 5 includes a pair of coupling blades 52 each having an isosceles trapezoidal shape and disposed at two opposite ends of the support frame 2 when the pair of coupling blades 52 are coupled to the support frame 2, and a plurality of holding blocks 54 disposed on lower portions of the pair of coupling blades 52 and spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals so that the leg frames 4 separated from the connection members 1 may be fitted with the plurality of holding blocks 54. A cross-section of the coupling blade 52 may have other shapes in addition to the isosceles trapezoidal shape.

In the present embodiment, the storage member 5 and the support frame 2 are coupled by coupling a fastening bolt 102 and a fastening nut 103. The pair of coupling blades 52 respectively have fastening holes 53 through which the fastening bolt 102 passes when the storage member 5 is coupled to the support frame 2. The support frame 2 may also have a hole, like the fastening hole 53, through which the fastening bolt 102 may pass. The fastening bolt 102 penetrates the fastening holes 53 and the support frame 2 and then is fastened to the fastening nut 103, such that the storage member 5 and the support frame 2 are coupled.

The storage member 5 may be made of a flexible material. In this case, the holding block 54 may be elastically deformed when the leg frame 4 separated from the connection member 1 is fitted with the storage member 5, such that the leg frame 4 may be fixed. Only the holding block 54 of the storage member 5, with which the leg frame 4 is fitted, may be made of a flexible material.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating a structure in which the leg frame 4 is coupled to the connection member 1.

With reference to FIG. 7A, a sleeve 15 is inserted into the lower groove 12 of the connection member 1. The sleeve 15 is positioned between an inner surface of the lower groove 12 and an outer surface of one end of the leg frame 4 when the leg frame 4 is inserted into the lower groove 12. The sleeve 15 may be disposed and coupled in the lower groove 12 by a bonding agent or press-fitting.

The structure in which the sleeve 15 is inserted into the lower groove 12 of the connection member 1 provides an effect of improving the stability of the table. A gap may be formed between the lower groove 12 of the connection member 1 and one end of the leg frame 4 inserted into the lower groove 12 when the leg frame 4 is inserted into the connection member 1. The gap causes sway of the leg frame 4 when the table is placed on the ground surface and used, which may degrade the stability of the table. The sleeve 15 serves to minimize the gap, which may exist between the lower groove 12 and one end of the leg frame 4, in order to improve the stability of the table while reducing the sway.

The leg frame 4 may include a hole 41 formed in an outer peripheral surface of one end of the leg frame 4, and a pressing protrusion 42 disposed in one end of the leg frame 4 and protruding radially from the outer peripheral surface through the hole 41. The stability of the table deteriorates in case that the leg frame 4 is easily withdrawn from the lower groove 12 of the connection member 1 when the table is used in the state in which the leg frame 4 is inserted into the connection member 1. In this case, the pressing protrusion 42 presses an inner portion of the lower groove 12, which provides an effect of preventing the leg frame 4 from being easily separated, reducing sway of the leg frame 4, and improving the stability of the table.

In addition, the leg frame 4 has an elastic member 43 installed in one end of the leg frame 4 and configured to apply an elastic force to the pressing protrusion 42 in the radial direction. With reference to FIG. 7B, the elastic member 43 provides an elastic force to the pressing protrusion 42 so that the pressing protrusion 42 may press the inner portion of the lower groove 12 of the connection member 1 when the leg frame 4 is inserted into the connection member 1. Therefore, it is possible to reduce sway of the leg frame 4 and prevent the leg frame 4 from being easily separated from the connection member 1, thereby improving the stability of the table. Particularly, the elastic member 43 may be a spring.

With reference to FIG. 8A, the leg frame 4 may have a clip 45 having elasticity, instead of the pressing protrusion 42 and the elastic member 43 in the first embodiment described above. The clip 45 may include a support portion 44 supported on an inner peripheral surface of the leg frame 4 while being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the leg frame 4, a protruding portion 46 including a protrusion configured to press an inner surface of the connection member 1 when the leg frame 4 is inserted into the connection member 1, and a curved portion 47 configured to connect the support portion 44 and the protruding portion 46 and configured to apply an elastic force in a direction in which the support portion 44 and the protruding portion 46 move away from each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the protrusion of the protruding portion 46 presses the inner surface of the lower groove 12 of the connection member 1 through the hole 41 formed in an outer peripheral surface of one end of the leg frame 4. Particularly, the clip 45 may have a U shape or a V shape to easily apply an elastic force in the direction in which the support portion 44 and the protruding portion 46 move away from each other.

Like the pressing protrusion 42 in the first embodiment described above, the protrusion of the protruding portion 46 of the clip 45 presses the inner portion of the lower groove 12, which provides an effect of preventing the leg frame 4 from being easily separated, reducing sway of the leg frame 4, and improving the stability of the table.

Hereinafter, a foldable table according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The components identical or corresponding to the components in the first embodiment are denoted by the identical or corresponding reference numerals, and a repeated description of the components described in the first embodiment will be omitted.

With reference to FIG. 9A, the connection members 1 of the foldable table 100 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure extend to define two parallel sides of the rectangular framework, such that the two sides, which face each other, are defined when the connection members 1 are coupled to the two support frames 2 to constitute the rectangular framework. The two support frames 2 are disposed in parallel, and the distal ends of the support frames 2 are respectively inserted into the lateral grooves 11 of the connection members 1 disposed in parallel, thereby constituting the rectangular framework. The connection members 1 each further include a storage part 14 with which the plurality of leg frames 4 separated from the lower surfaces of the connection members 1 are detachably fitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, when the plurality of leg frames 4 are detached from the connection members 1, the leg frames 4 are stored by being fitted with the storage parts 14.

The storage part 14 is made of a flexible material. Therefore, the storage part 14 may be elastically deformed when the leg frame 4 separated from the connection member 1 is fitted with the storage part 14, such that the leg frame 4 may be fixed.

According to the foldable table 100 according to the above-mentioned embodiments, the structural rigidity is ensured by coupling the support frames 2 constituting the polygonal framework, such that the foldable table 100 may have the stability even though the upper board 3, which has comparatively low structural rigidity and is made of a lightweight material in order to improve the portability and ease of storage, is coupled.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the upper board 3 may have a honeycomb structure that is lightweight and has comparatively low rigidity. The upper board 3 may be configured as a plywood panel, a Danpla panel, or the like in addition to the honeycomb panel.

As used herein, the terms “general,” “generally,” and “approximately” are intended to account for the inherent degree of variance and imprecision that is often attributed to, and often accompanies, any design and manufacturing process, including engineering tolerances, and without deviation from the relevant functionality and intended outcome, such that mathematical precision and exactitude is not implied and, in some instances, is not possible.

All the features and advantages, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, which follow from the claims, the description and the drawing can be fundamental to the invention both on their own and in different combinations. It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

The above description is simply given for illustratively describing the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will appreciate that various changes and modifications are possible without departing from the essential characteristic of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are provided for illustrative purposes only but not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereby. The protective scope of the present disclosure should be construed based on the following claims, and all the technical spirit in the equivalent scope thereto should be construed as falling within the scope of the present disclosure.