Stowable Device with Adjustable Suspension System

Description

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Other designs which attempt to provide a similar stowable platform are not portable. Currently, similar items on the market do not have the weight capacity or durability which the design herein comprises. Other products available which can serve as an easel or drafting table are not as stowable as this design herein is capable of. The design disclosed in these specifications come with aesthetics which are suited to areas which have other wooden features to match with; similarly, the design herein is capable of being made of other materials to where its variants could match the metallic and plastic appearances of offices, homes and workplaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Documents and drawings are readable in different forms, such as in hand, on a desk, on a table or on a computer screen. As the hand tires, a person is more apt to place the document or drawing on a stable surface. Sometimes the stable surface, or computer screen is not at the most preferable height or angle for the reader; and can henceforth cause ergonomical problems. Sometimes a person's space for reading or studying is clustered and is limited by the available space for placing documents or drawings for viewing.

There is a need for a stowable desk station which can be adjusted in height and inclination for presentation. There are inventions which can raise and lower a person's entire desk, however they're not able to adjust the angle of presentation, nor are they stowable. By stowable, that means fold away to where the platform/desk is not taking up a significant amount of square footage in the study or workspace. A usual desk, whether it can be raised or not, still takes up the same amount of square footage day in and day out. There is a need for a studying platform which can be stowed away and conserve usable square footage of space. Such adjustable and stowable platforms are also useful for creating works of art such as paintings and drawings, or assembling puzzles or other systemic components in the two-dimensional plane.

There are numerous types of prior easel designs which have their own benefits towards holding items of art as the art is being made or displayed; however, these designs are not as stowable as the improvements provided herein. Many prior easel designs need to be loosened up, folded up and moved to a different part of the room for stowing. There is an apparent need for an ergonomical work, reading, or art station which can be easily adjusted in height and inclination, and which can be stowed away with the simple lift of a finger.

A simple desk does not have the ability to adjust its angle of presentation, nor can a simple desk adjust its height based on a person's seating, standing height, or based on a person's posture. A desk which can be manually or mechanically raised for suiting the person's height, is still not able to adjust for the angle of presentation.

On a usual desk or office platform, the usable surface space is not adjustable to suit the person's desired angle of approach for the items being viewed.

As is common for desk/work/art platforms in the office, home or school space, the spaces above the standard desk/table are mostly unused and are therefore wasted; the areas above a simple desk/table can be better optimized through the utility and pleasing appearance of this stowable table. Adding another working space in these unused areas will increase the areas of functionality and usefulness.

There is a need for better optimization of the study/presentation area in office and home working environments. Within many office spaces there is limited room in each cubicle, and increasing the area's workspace and available office “real-estate” would increase productivity, improve performance, and the happiness of employees. With the improved ergonomics there would be less workplace hazards and less long-term negative health consequences with working in an office setting. Reading or drawing with one's neck bent downward and a hunched over spine cause long-term health problems, generate fatigue, reduce the quality of life, reduce one's happiness, and can cause headaches along with a wide array of other troubles.

There is a need for more impressive presentation platforms in the office, work and home spaces which can be satisfied through the visually-pleasing and functional means of the stowable table within this patent application, specifications and drawings. With the population growing, space is becoming more valuable. Any device which increases the size of a person's workspace without increasing the nominal footprint, is a device which will allow each person a greater advantage in keeping up with the exponentially growing demands for production and with the reduction of available space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present disclosure provides a foldable device which can either be statically mounted to a wall or temporarily mounted over a wall like that of a cubicle wall. The primary function which takes the foldable device from its stowed position to the working position is a single linear movement by only one finger. The same linear movement with one finger is the same function used to stow the platform away.

The objects disclosed in this foldable device include two parallel, vertical rails which the platform and its movable parts are adjusted along. The resultant forces from the platform and its anchoring components all transfer their forces into the two rails. The foldable device includes a first horizontal component which is affixed to the platform using spring-loaded hinges. That first horizontal component is connected below a carriage riding assembly on each of the two vertical rails. The first horizontal component and the two carriage riding assemblies are connected and disconnected through cable connections. The first horizontal component and both carriage assemblies slide along the vertical rails simultaneously to keep the platform level during use, operation and when changing its height and inclination.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the two vertical rails which are parallel to gravity force (g) are either anchored to the wall for a more permanent stabilization or they are stabilized on the top of a wall, like a cubicle wall, with clamps at the tops of the rail's wall hooking arms for this option. The first option mentioned, where the rails are anchored to the wall for a more permanent stabilization, does not come with wall hooking arms. Both vertical rails are comprised of grooves to which further components will ride within. For clarity of the grooved rails concept, and for ease of comprehension for the prototype, the grooves mentioned herein these specifications and the counterparts which ride along the grooved rails are dovetail style.

The present disclosure comprises a horizontal bar which is perpendicular to the two vertical rails. Such a perpendicular bar has a dovetail style fitting notch established to where the horizontal bar functionally slides along the two vertical rails simultaneously.

In further embodiment of the present disclosure, the horizontal bar is connected to the two carriage assemblies which also ride along the vertical rails parallel to gravity force (g). These two carriage assemblies are connected to the foldable platform using suspension cables.

The functionality of the present disclosure is established and stabilized through the friction of the horizontal bar onto the vertical rails, through the friction of the carriage assemblies and their inner components onto the vertical rails; and through the wedging action when the platform is lowered or raised into another operable position. While the platform is raised in its stowed position, the inner components of the carriage assemblies and the frictions therein, and on the vertical rails, are what keep the platform, horizontal bar and carriage assemblies stationary along any position parallel to gravity force (g). For ease of comprehension within these disclosures, the force of gravity (g) is acting in the same direction as the Y axes indicated throughout these drawings and specifications.

The present disclosure comprises of a pair of carriage assemblies which both have two points of suspension cable anchoring, one rail anchoring device, and one connection to the horizontal bar which is just below the carriage assemblies.

A further embodiment of the carriage assemblies includes alternative methods for the clamping device. The clamping device within the carriage assembly is what stabilizes this working system and its adjoined components along the Y axis. The prototype was built using a simple turning handle which causes a threaded rod to tighten down on the forward-facing side of the vertical rails which was scratching and wearing down the forward-facing side of the vertical rails. This carriage assembly inner anchoring design feature was improved using an inner shaft with various threaded sections which establishes a dovetail style inner clamping mechanism that tightens down on the vertical rails. Such design improvement will establish a more secure anchoring of the carriage assemblies on the vertical rails and will prevent damage to the surface of the vertical rails. The functionality of the improved carriage assemblies and each of their dovetail style inner clamping mechanism is performed simultaneously, by a single person with both hands, to adjust the height of the working platform along the vertical rails and then anchor the system onto the vertical rails. Once the height is selected and anchored with the carriage assemblies, the operator would simply use one finger to lower the working platform down. The operator would then use both hands on each side of the foldable table to simultaneously lift the platform to the desired angle of inclination and position the cables on the respective anchor setting points on each side of the foldable table which engages the cable suspension system and stabilizes the platform where the operator desires it to be.

Further disclosure of the cable suspension system extending from each carriage assembly and to where they are anchored in the outside edges of the foldable platform, includes a jointed area near each carriage assembly. Both suspension cable anchorages from each carriage assembly are merged near the carriage assembly, from both sides of the carriage assembly in a manner which helps transfer the forces from the foldable platform into the carriage assembly evenly. The forces transferred into the carriage assembly from the dual suspension cable anchors allow the resultant horizontal and vertical forces from the operating system to be distributed evenly along the dovetail style grooves within the vertical rails.

As an embodiment of these disclosures, the person operating this foldable platform may adjust the height of the platform while it is still in its lowered position F.1. This is accomplished by lifting the weight of the platform off the suspension cables to relieve the wedging forces within the cables and system connections with the vertical rails. The operator would then loosen the carriage assembly clamps from the vertical rails, and then raise or lower the platform to the desired height. The operator would then either tighten the carriage assembly clamps and then lower the platform into the desired inclination; or the operator could temporarily allow the platform to lower to where the suspension cables become loaded with tension again and thus create again the wedging action within the components and their connections with the vertical rails, and then tighten the carriage assembly's clamping devices.

Further disclosures are that the carriage assemblies need to move simultaneously and be anchored level to each other on the vertical rails. Keeping the carriage assemblies level with each other during use of this foldable platform device will keep the horizontal bar perpendicular to the vertical rails, which will prevent the components from seizing up the system as adjustments and movements along the Y axis are made.

Further disclosures are that when the dual suspension cables are set to their desired anchors on the foldable platform, the operator should ensure that the cables are fully seated on the correct anchor setting pins to avoid incorrect alignment and to prevent the cable from sliding off the selected anchor setting points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numbered components and design configurations in each of the subsequent figures will be disclosed in detail within the Detailed Description of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the adjustable platform, shown in the open position. This figure shows the table open in its lowest positioning, that of the position F.1 as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a side view and cross section of the platform in its stowaway position shown as position F.5 in FIG. 3. This figure does not show components 45 through 55 from FIG. 6 for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the platform and its various ranges of motion. This view shows the positioning angles of the table and the vertical rail section to which the table's height is adjusted on. This figure shows the range of motion and functionality.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an improved cable/cord anchoring device alternative, as compared to how the prototype's cables were originally anchored. This view shows a cable/cord range of motion which is parallel with the longitudinal side of the cable/cord anchoring device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the cable/cord anchoring device design alternative, which partners with FIG. 4. This view shows a cable/cord range of motion which is perpendicular to the longitudinal side of the cable/cord anchoring device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view cross sectional area of the improved carriage design. This view shows the threaded components and rubber clamp components of the improved carriage anchoring assembly. This view shows how items 17, 17.1, 18 and 31 can be removed from the prototype design. Components within FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 were left out of FIG. 6 for clarity and ease of comprehension. Items 20, 27, 21 and anchors related to item B.1 were left out of FIG. 6 for clarity and ease of comprehension.

FIG. 7 is a side profile view cross sectional area of the improved carriage design. This view shows the threaded components and rubber clamp components of the improved carriage anchoring to rail system. This view shows the cable/cord anchoring system within FIG. 4 and

FIG. 5. This view shows the holes 42 where cables 26 goes through the carriage assemblies 10 on the left and right of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The details within this specification are not limited to the specifics mentioned herein; the general understanding of how this product is made, what it is made from, the sizes of components, strength of materials, and how the materials are installed and possible aesthetics are presented to where any person of common intelligence can comprehend the varying components and features. The means and methods within this document can be scaled to where the product can be made into a larger or smaller platform, like drafting tables, large easels, presentation table or other similar variants. The following numbered items may be represented on multiple figures in these drawings, but with a different perspective or angle of consideration. Each item of this invention is described below.

New items for this patent embodied within FIG. 1:

Item 10 is the rail carriage assembly, on both left and right sides of the stowable table.

Item 11 is the rail on the left and right sides of the stowable table. This is the vertical rail system which the rail carriage 10 and horizontal bar 20 slide along.

Item 12 is the Tabletop/Deck/Foldable Member. This is the stowable desk and working platform. Deck 12 is where the item to be viewed and worked with will be placed upon. Deck 12 is connected to the rail carriage 10 through both cords 16 and their end point terminals at anchor 14. The deck 12 is connected to the horizontal bar 20 through the dual spring-loaded hinges. Magnets can be installed in deck 12 to serve as an anchoring point for a metallic or magnetic paperweight to help keep large documents stationary on the deck, which would be great for when the tabletop is at a steeper angle, or for when there is a breeze. The deck 12 can be made using a process, material and design which would be suitable for a kitchen use as a cutting board, or as a fish cleaning station, or for other occupational preferences, such as a workshop or carpentry table, or a welding table or many other possibilities.

Item 13 is a set of three anchor setting points which will be used to position deck 12 in three of its five different positions. Item 13.1 is the first anchor setting point for the cable 16 to be hooked onto; once both cables 16 on the left and right have been hooked onto anchor point 13.1 the deck will be in position F.4 (FIG. 3). Item 13.2 is the second anchor setting point for cables 16 to be hooked on; once both cables on the left and right have been hooked onto anchor point 13.2 the deck will be in position F.3 (FIG. 3).

Item 13.3 is the third anchor setting point for cables 16 to be hooked on; once both cables on the left and right have been hooked onto anchor point 13.3 the deck will be in position F.4 (FIG. 3). The material used for anchor points 13 should be solid enough and be anchored deep enough to prevent them from bending or being pulled out through the anticipated years of use and heavy moments and shear forces exhibited through these anchoring points. Plastic or rubber coated anchor points 13 are not ideal due to the forces and wear which cables 16 will be causing on the plastic or rubber coated anchor points 13; the plastic or rubber coating on the anchor setting points will eventually break off and cause a potential misalignment for the platform angle settings on both sides. These anchor points for the cables can be alternatively constructed of a rail system which offers many more anchor setting points and would therefore allow the deck 12 to have many more inclination angles.

Item 14 is the secondary anchor point for the left and right cables 16 to anchor into deck 12. This is where both chords terminate into the deck 12. Cable anchoring points 14 can be constructed of various anchor styles. The simplest anchor is a screw on the end of the cables 16 and into the side of deck 12. Please see the following alternative cable anchoring device 32 through 44: The “Cable Gator” is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, which requires more milling of substrate material and a more complicated installation of each cable anchoring device. However, the “Cable Gator” method of anchoring a cable into a wooden, metal or other type of substrate generates an even more secure connection which is less likely to wear out over time.

Item 15 is the leading edge on deck 12 preventing items placed on deck 12 from falling off the working platform. Leading edge 15 can be of multiple materials and have varying heights or thicknesses. The height of leading edge 15 off of the deck 12 would need to be tall enough to hold items or books which have a greater thickness; if the edge is only ⅜″ tall, items such as thick books or plan sets may not stay within the support of the leading edge 15 when deck 12 is placed in the more vertical positions, such as F.1, F.2 or F.3 in FIG. 3.

Item 16 are both left and right cables which suspend deck 12. Cables 16 are accompanied with two anchor points 42 in both rail carriage assemblies 10 and one anchor point 14 in deck 12. Each cable 16 has three permanent anchoring points within this prototype design. Each cable 16 diverges into two cables 26 which anchor into the rail carriages 10 so the tensions are distributed evenly across the weight distribution area within the rail 11 of each rail carriage 10, while the cables 16 are positioned throughout the four deck positioning points, F.1 through F.4, in FIG. 3. The merging points for each of the two cables 26 coming from rail carriages 10 relate with a cable coupling device 22 or throughout other means such as unbraiding a single cable and braiding it back into two separate stem cables. The braided cable approach is more visually appealing; however, it is more complicated and labor intensive than using a cable coupling device. There are many other potential methods for joining these two cables. For larger concepts of this working platform such as drafting tables, easels, plan tables capable of holding 30″×42″ or 36″×48″ drawing sets; items 16, 22, 14, 13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 and 26 would need to be stronger than the components used for this prototype which is 12″×24″.

The dashed line at 16A is a suggested alignment correction for the cables 16, so that cables 16 are not oriented directly over deck 12, and so that cables 16 are not rubbing on the top edges on the left and right of deck 12 as the table is positioned from F.1 through F.4 (FIG. 3). The design improvements needed to shift cables 16 from their original position to the 16A position would be an angle change of theta, as shown on the left side of FIG. 1 in the XZ plane. This would consist of 1) shifting the alignment of both rails 11 towards the outer ends of horizontal bar 20; 2) increasing the width of rail carriage assemblies 10; and 3) adjusting the cable lengths and angles between connection points for cables 26 and where cable coupling 22 is installed.

Item 17 is the knob with threaded shaft which tightens down to secure the positioning of both rail carriage assemblies 10, which ultimately sets the height of the rail carriages 10 and deck 12 height along the rails 11. Knob 17 is to be easily loosened and tightened, for ease of use for the system. Knob 17 tightens into 17.1 in FIG. 3. As both knobs 17 tighten down they connect with the front surface on their respective rail 11; this area of contact is shown as 31. The style, type and positioning of both knobs 17 could be altered to where they could be of different designs, materials, colors, textures and orientation to how a person would loosen and tighten knob 17. Moving the knob 17 devices to the outer sides of 10 would make it easier for one person to adjust both sides at the same time, improving the current prototype. Such alternative anchoring device being mounted to the outer sides of carriage assemblies 10 would resemble an internal clamp, which is installed on the inside of 10, and which clamps down on the rails 11. This improvement is desired for greater functionality, easier use, easier adjustments in the table's height settings, and to eliminate the wearing area of the prototype's initial design of knob 17 and how it wears the area on the front face of both rails 11, as indicated by wearing pattern 31. This improvement would also eliminate the recessed area 18.

Item 18 is a recessed area for knob 17 to fit into when deck 12 is raised all the way up in its stowaway position F.5. As recessed area 18 may be an undesired aesthetic feature, it can be eliminated through the means of increasing the depth of bar 20 along the Z axis.

Items 19 are spring loaded hinges. Hinges 19 keep deck 12 attached to horizontal bar 20. Hinges 19 lightens the weight of deck 12 while its lowered or raised; hinges 19 lightens the weight on both cables 16. Hinges 19 are the devices which keep the deck 12 in the upright position F.5 in FIG. 3. For larger concepts of this working platform, there would need to be stronger springs and or multiple more spring-loaded hinges to account for the additional weight and moment of deck 12 along the X axis.

Item 20 horizontal bar is a structural component which holds the other half of spring-loaded hinges 19, and which holds both carriage assemblies 10 in place through the 16.1 cables and their cable anchors 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Bar 20 has a construction joint between itself and carriage assemblies 10, to allow for ease of movement when raising or lowering the carriages 10 on rails 11. Bar 20 and carriages 10 can be made from one solid piece of structural material such as wood, plastics, metal or other similar substrates.

Item 21 is a metallic angle support with four screws in each bracket used for securing the top corners of the cubical edition of this product where the wood components were jointed together with 45-degree angle cuts and glue. For the edition which mounts directly on a vertical wall surface as exemplified on the left side of FIG. 1 and through the B.1 anchor point locations, these angle supports 21 are not required. The angle supports 21 for the cubical edition could be eliminated using a continuous construction method for the top structural portion of rails 11. Supports 21 could also be eliminated through other joint connection styles, components and methods of construction such as biscuits, dowels or others.

Item 22 is a cable coupling device used to joint the two sections of cable coming out of both carriages 10 at the cables 26. This coupling device could be eliminated from the design if the divided braided cable approach is used.

Item 23 are the grooves on both sides of each rail 11. These grooves are the female component to which the male segments of carriages 10 and bar 20 travel vertically in. These grooves are to be designed and constructed as to allow sufficient contact surface on the inside contact points; so that the leading edge of the male components will not break off when there is a load placed on deck 12. Likewise, the contact surface area of these grooved interlocking components are to be designed where the leading tip edge of the female section will not be broken or chipped off. If metals or polymer compounds were used to construct carriages 10, bar 20 and grooves 23 there would be less concern for the groove's contact point's leading edges breaking off or chipping when undergoing a heavy load being placed on deck 12. These sliding connections between carriages 10, bar 20 and grooves 23 do not have to be of just the design within the prototype; they could be of square, circular or other interlocking designs.

Improvements to grooved design 23 could have a gear and rail system where the simple turning of a handle would lower or raise the carriage assemblies 10, deck 12 and their connecting components on both sides simultaneously. Such design alternative would also incorporate changes within components 10 and 20 while eliminating the design items of 17, 17.1, 18 and 31.

Item 24 is a set of neodymium magnets on the edge of deck 12. These magnets can be used to keep a person's pen, pencil, straightedge or other items which the user would like to keep near or on the table/easel/desk. Magnets 24 can also be installed inside the deck 12 for the purpose of using metallic and or magnet paper weights to keep the documents placed on deck 12 held down.

Item 25 is a wooden wedge glued into the top portion of the rails 11 after the carriage assembly 10 and horizontal bar 20 have been installed on the rails 11. This wooden wedge prevents the carriage assembly 10 and horizontal bar 20 from sliding off the rails 11. The top wooden wedge 25 is removed from the prototype design and replaced with a bottom wooden wedge 30 as shown in FIG. 2.

Item 26 is the section of cable 16 splitting into two cables 26. Each cable 26 is connected to the left and right side of each rail carriage 10 to distribute the tension forces within cable 16 evenly upon carriage assemblies 10 and in rails 11.

Item 27 is the rail hook component of the anchoring approach A.1 which hangs the foldable table and all components over a wall such as a cubicle wall. Item 27 used with clamping device 57 from FIG. 2 keeps the foldable table system affixed over the top of a wall. The width of this wall anchoring section A.1 can be adjusted during the construction of component 27 to accommodate varying wall thicknesses.

Item 28 is an area where decals could be installed on the deck 12, which is included within the prototype as pictured. There is another larger area for decals on the opposite side of the deck 12, see prototype pictures.

Item 31 is the area on each rail 11 where the prototype's carriage anchoring devices 17 and 17.1 tightens on each rail 11. The tightening of the knob 17 and its threaded bolt 17.1 onto the rails 11 generates a wearing area 31 which damages the front face of the prototype's wooden rails 11. An improvement for this wearing area 31 can be to install a rubber boot type of contacting device on the end of the threaded knob 17 and 17.1 where the knob 17 contacts and compresses onto the rails 11.

Item A.1 indicates a width for the anchoring approach for the foldable table variant which is affixed over the top of a wall, for example a cubicle wall.

Item B.1 indicates an anchoring approach for the foldable table variant which mounts directly to a wall or the wall's framing studs. If the design variable B.1 is selected by the user, the wall anchoring system offered through items 27, 21 and the width of anchoring approach A.1 would not be necessary. B.1 also shows how the two anchors in each rail 11 can be spaced accordingly.

Item D.1 indicates the varying distance between each rail 11. For the wall mounted variant as represented on the left rail of FIG. 1 where B.1 is shown, the D.1 spacing should be the same as the wall's frame/studs. If the wall's frame/studs do not match with the rail 11 spacing, there would need to be additional framing added in the wall to securely support the foldable table and the forces exerted upon the table.

Carriage assembly clamping device components 45 to 55 are an alternative design for anchoring the carriages 10 to the rails 11; they replace items 17, 17.1 and prevents the wearing of item 31 and eliminates the recessed area 18. Items 45 to 55 will be described in detail under the descriptions of new items embodied within FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

New items for this patent embodied within FIG. 2:

Item 16.1 is a cable/chord connection which links the horizontal bar 20 to the carriage 10. Item 16.1 can be anchored at their respective ends through design methods such as the disclosed screws for anchor point 14, or through improving design components of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, or through other means.

Item 17.1 is a threaded nut which is affixed to the inside of each carriage 10. The nut is for the threaded rod of knob 17 to connect with and to keep knob 17 clamped onto the rails 11.

Item 19.1 is the anchoring device used to secure the spring-loaded hinges 19 onto deck 12 and bar 20. For larger design variants of this foldable table, the spring-loaded hinge and its anchors would come with a stronger spring, hinge and anchoring device or bracket.

Item 23.1 is the wedge at the top portion of each rail 11, indicating the maximum height for the carriage assembly and associated components to respectably reach.

Item 23.2 is the wedge at the bottom portion of each rail 11 indicating the minimum height for the horizontal bar and associated components to respectably reach.

The height difference between 23.1 and 23.2 could be increased for there could be multiple folding tables operating on the same two rails 11. Such as having one folding table positioned in the seating position height and another folding table in the standing position height. A third folding table could be installed between the folding tables at the seated and standing position heights, or above them.

Item 27.1 is the location where a drilled hole could receive an anchoring device to secure the rails 11 at the top of the cubical wall mounted variant as shown on the right side of FIG. 1.

Item 29 are neodymium magnets embedded on the underside of rail hooks 27, which were used in the prototype to keep the rails 11 affixed to the top of the metal cubical wall. The magnets were not suitable to keep the rails 11 stationary while the foldable table was being adjusted in height along its rails 11, which incited the additional design feature options of item 57, 27.1 and the anchoring design and methods associated with B.1.

Item 30 is a wedge which is affixed in the bottom of the rail's grooves 23 on each side of both rails 11, so that the horizontal bar 20, carriage assemblies 10 and overall folding table system will not slide off the rails 11 once they've been installed.

Item 57 is an anchoring knob on the back of the cubicle wall rail hook 27. Anchoring knob and its threaded shaft are used to clamp both rail hooks 27 on to the top of the cubicle wall. Item 57 is accompanied with a threaded nut similar to item 17.1, which is embedded within the back section of the rail hooks 27.

Item C.1 shows how the horizontal bar 20 can be extended along the Z axis. Extending item 20 along the Z axis would allow enough room for item 17 to remain as a design option, so that the recessed area of item 18 would not be necessary, improving the appearance and working side of the foldable table. To reiterate, if the carriage anchoring clamping device offered in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is used, then the design components associated with items 17, 17.1 and 18 would not be used.

Item E. 1 are the spacings of the anchor setting pinpoints 13.1 to 13.3 on the sides of the deck 12. These spacings are with respect to the cables 16 being anchored at both of their ends in deck 12 and the other ends of cables 16 turning into cables 26 and their connections into carriage assemblies 10.

New items for this patent embodied within FIG. 3:

As disclosed in the drawings and specifications of this patent application the variable inclination angles to which the foldable table can be set are represented in FIG. 3 as positions F.1, F.2, F.3, F.4 and F.5.

Position F.5 is the stowed position, where the table is stored in its vertical position through the stabilizing efforts of the spring-loaded hinges. A stabilizing could be installed between carriage assemblies 10 and deck 12 to further ensure that the table stays in the F.5 position, such as a hook and loop, to lock the table in position F.5. The cables 16 are slack when the table is in position F.5.

Position F.1 is the lowest default position. Position F.1 is established by lowering the table all the way down to where the cables 16 are not looped on any of the anchor setting pins 13.1 to 13.3.

Positions F.2 through F.4 are established by lowering the table to that respective angle, then simultaneously looping both left and right cables 16 under their respective anchor setting pinpoints 13.1 to 13.3 which are on both sides of the deck 12.

As per the prototype for this foldable table and patent application, the positions F.1 through F. 4 are respectively and approximately 22, 25, 29 and 42 degrees from the vertical point of reference.

The positions F.1 through F.4 and their associated inclinations could be established and made to be more adjustable through an alternative design and method for the cables to anchor along the sides of deck 12; such as a track and wheel method with a movable anchor setting pin device. Another design option and improvement especially for larger version of this foldable table includes the capabilities and features offered through a motorized/retractable cable system/winch, which could adjust the foldable table to any angle along the range of motion.

New items for this patent embodied within FIG. 4:

Item 32 is the metal bottom structural frame component which anchors to the various folding table components which need a cable anchored to it such as rail carriage assemblies 10, deck 12 and horizontal bar 20. This component comprises at least two drilled holes 44 for the anchoring screws 36 to mount in, a hole on the bottom 41 for the cables 16 to extend through, a threaded shaft 32.1 which is securely connected to the frame of 32. The frame 32 components have ribs 43 along the area where cables 16/26/16.1 will be secured, which will generate a pinching and frictional force connection with the cables 16/26/16.1.

Item 32.5 is the metal top structural frame component which anchors to structural component 32 through the threaded shaft 32.1. The cables 16/26/16.1 are secured by the compressional and frictional forces generated on the cables as 32.5 is tightened onto 32, through the threaded bolt 35 and lock washer 34. The top structural frame component 32.5 has ribs like the ribs on 32, for the purpose of stabilizing the cables 16/26/16.1 once 32.5 is tightened onto 32. Item 32.5 has at least one bolt 35 and washer 34 to anchor it to item 32 and to compress and anchor the cables 16/26/16.1 being clamped.

Item 33 is a milled-out recess area for the bolt head 35 and the washer 34 to sit in.

Item 34 is a lock washer which fits between head of 35 and the recessed area 33 of structural component 32.5.

Item 35 is a bolt which secures structural component 32.5 onto the cable 16/26/16.1 and onto bottom structural component 32.

Item 36 is an anchoring device which secures structural component 32 into the substrate platforms, such as carriage assemblies 10, deck 12 and bar 20.

Item 37 is a drilled hole for the anchoring device 36 to be secured in.

Item 40 is the ribbed section on structural component 32.5 which clamps down onto and stabilizes the cables 16/26/16.1 with compression and frictional forces.

Item 41 is the hole in the bottom of structural component 32, as is needed for the ends of cables 26 to pass through, at the carriage assemblies 10.

Item 42 is the hole in carriage assemblies 10 for which the cable 26 can pass through.

Item 43 is the ribbed section on structural component 32 which clamps down onto and stabilizes the cables 16/26/16.1 with the compression and frictional forces from the top structural component 32.5 being tightened onto bottom structural component 32.

Item 44 is a milled area for the screw heads of 36 to sit in.

The gap between structural components 32 and 32.5, where the cable is secured with assistance from items 40 and 43, is designed where the clamping and frictional forces from both components will be equal on the cable throughout this clamping zone. So that the bottom portion of the clamping mechanism does not over clamp the cables 16/26/16.1 and where the top portion does not fail to clamp the cables 16/26/16.1 enough.

The epsilon angle shows a range of motion in the XY plane for the cables 16/26/16.1 coming out of the top of the structural components 32 and 32.5.

New items for this patent embodied in FIG. 5:

The beta angle shows a range of motion in the XZ plane for the cables 16/26/16.1 coming out of the top of the structural components 32 and 32.5.

New items for this patent embodied in FIG. 6:

Item 45 is a shaft of varying diameters and with varying threaded sections. Shaft 45 is affixed into the carriage assemblies 10.

Item 45.1 is a threaded section on the smaller end of shaft 45. Threaded section 45.1 is threaded onto component 52 after clamping component 50 slides onto shaft 45. This threaded section 45.1 is originally comprised of and not limited to the following design specifications: approximately one-half of an inch long, three-sixteenths of an inch (#10 size) in diameter and of machine thread count 32.

Item 45.2 is a smooth shaft section of shaft 45. This smooth shaft section 45.2 is originally comprised of and not limited to the following design specifications: 1.25 inches long and one-quarter of an inch in diameter.

Item 45.3 is a threaded section between the ends of shaft 45. Threaded section 45.3 is threaded onto component 49. This threaded section 45.3 is originally comprised of and not limited to the following design specifications: 0.75 inches long, three-eighths of an inch in diameter and of machine thread count 24. The left and right shaft components inside the rail carriage assemblies 10 and their clamping devices 49/50/51 are operated by the user using both hands to loosen and tighten both assemblies within both carriage assemblies 10, and for both knobs 46 to be hand turned in the same direction by the user. The threaded sections of the left and right 45.3 would be opposite of each other. Likewise, the threaded component of 49 would be made to match the threaded direction of each 45.3. This way the user will manually turn both knobs 46 in the same direction to tighten the clamping components 49/50/51 onto the rails 11; and both knobs 46 turned in the other direction together to loosen the clamping components of 49/50/51 from the rails 11.

Item 45.4 is a smooth shaft section of shaft 45 which fits snugly into hole 48. This smooth shaft section 45.4 is originally comprised of and not limited to the following design specifications: two and seven eighths of an inch long and seven sixteenths of an inch in diameter.

Item 45.5 is a threaded shaft section at the larger end of shaft 45. Shaft section 45.5 threads onto the knob assembly comprised of knob 46 and threaded insert 47.

Item 46 is a knob affixed on the end of shaft 45.

Item 47 is a threaded device affixed into knob 46, which is used for the larger end of shaft 45 to thread into knob 46.

Item 48 is a predrilled hole into the carriage assemblies 10, for which receives shafts 45.

Item 49 is rectangular metal component comprising a threaded hole in the center which receives the threaded shaft section 45.3, as well as having an extending bracket which is perpendicular to the direction of the shaft 45 and then a continuation of that bracket which angles inward in the direction parallel to the rail grooves 23 of rails 11. Clamping device 49 is designed to be accompanied with a boot 51 such as rubber, a polymer or otherwise similar material which will serve as the clamping contact surface for the clamping components 49 and 50 to squeeze onto their respective rail 11 grooves 23. The material of boot 51 is such that generates optimized skin friction onto the rails 11, so that the material of boot 51 does not damage the surfaces of the rails 11 as represented in item 31.

Item 50 is rectangular metal component comprising a smooth hole in the center which slides over the threaded shaft section 45.1. Clamping component 50 is affixed to shaft section 45.2 with threaded component 52. Clamping component 50 comprises an extending bracket which is perpendicular to the direction of the shaft 45 and then a continuation of that bracket which angles inward parallel to the rail 11 grooves 23. Clamping component 50 is accompanied with a boot 51 such as rubber, a polymer or otherwise similar material which will serve as the clamping contact surface for the clamping components 49 and 50 to squeeze onto their respective rail 11 grooves 23. The material of boot 51 is such that generates optimized skin friction onto the rail 11 grooves 23 so that the material of boot 51 does not damage the surfaces of the rails 11.

Item 51 is a boot made of rubber, polymer or similar material affixed to the inside portions of clamping devices 49 and 50. Boot 51 is what allows the clamping assembly components 45 through 55 to be stationary on the rail's 11 grooves 23, so the folding table and its components are stabilized along the rails 11. The wedging actions created by the foldable table when it is open, such as in a position like F.1 to F.4, also help to keep the foldable table and its components stationary at any given height along both rails 11. That wedging action is generated through the internal forces amongst items 10, 20, 12, 16 and their connecting components which work together to transfer their weights, forces and moments into the rails 11.

Item 52 is a threaded end cap device which anchors onto shaft section 45.1. Threaded end cap device 52 serves as a smooth shaft section for clamping component 50 to move along as the clamping device 50 is loosened and tightened. Once device 52 is installed with the rest of the clamping assembly components, and the rails 11 are slid into place, the clamping assembly 45 through 55 will be in position for operation. Device 52 has a head designed so that it can be gripped by a pair of plyers or a wrench and then tightened onto threaded shaft section 45.1.

Item 53 is an optional port in the head of threaded end cap device 52 so that inner air pressure can be released as 52 is tightened onto shaft section 45.1.

Item 54 is a small amount of lubricant which allows the inner smooth surface of clamping component 50 to freely ride along the outer smooth surfaces of threaded end cap device 52 and shaft section 45.2.

Item 55 is a small amount of a seizing type of liquid applied on the threaded connections of device 52 and shaft section 45.1, before they're tightened onto each other. Seizing type of liquid 55 is also for the threaded connections between components 47, 46 and shaft section 45.5, as to prevent the connections from becoming loose after installation and during normal operations.

Item G is shown as the contacting surface area on both sides of rails 11, for each set of clamping components 49 and 50 to contact. As the clamping assemblies are engaged and tightened onto their respective rails 11, the entire contacting surface area of both boots 51 for clamping devices 49 and 50 will simultaneously make contact and grip onto the entire surface area of G on both sides of the respective rail 11. This set of actions and effects are what secures the foldable table and all its components in reference to the system's height along the rails 11.

New items for this patent embodied within FIG. 7:

Item 56 is a rectangular cut-out area within carriage assemblies 10 for the clamping assembly components to be installed in and to operate within. The given length of area 56 along the X axis is a portion larger than the required operable ranges for components 49, 50 and 52, so that components 49, 50 and 52 will allow full release of the rail 11 for the foldable table system to slide up or down along the rails 11 without interference.