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Folding table and seating system

Folding table and seating system description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a folding table with associated seat structures and more particularly to a non-rectangular table, folding between a use position and a storage position with benches spaced around the table.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In large, multi purpose rooms that are utilized at various times as dining rooms, meeting halls, dance areas and the like, it is often desirable that multi-purpose furniture be utilized. This furniture includes tables, chairs, benches and/or stools and combination table and seating units. Such furniture provides added utility if it is folding, so as to minimize the storage space needed. Folding tables and associated stools or bench units are well known and provide seating and table space that requires a relatively small area for storage as compared to the space needed during use. Such folding tables are generally rectangular, folding along a center line, and have benches or stools placed along both sides of the table, but no seats at the ends. Although such tables are successful in providing folding furniture with seating along either side, still further improvements are possible.

For certain teaching, dining and other applications, especially with young children, it can be appreciated that it is preferable to have seating provided in a somewhat circular arrangement rather than in a linear arrangement. Such an arrangement provides for balanced distribution of the occupants and may facilitate easier access to the center of the table among the occupants. Such an arrangement may have dimensions that also fit better into some areas and may provide for added seating in a given space. To meet this need, folding oval table and seating units have been developed. Examples of such table and seating units are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,065,802; 6,254,178; and 6,386,628, all to Bue and assigned to Sico, Inc., the Assignee of the present invention.

The oval folding table and seating units have proven to be very successful in providing a seating and table space that has occupants seated around an oval table and substantially evenly spaced around the table. In addition, the table and seating units fold and have a relatively low ratio of the storage space needed per seat. However, there are applications where additional seating may be required.

To provide additional seating, combination table and seating structures may utilize benches. Although the use of benches may increase the seating capacity, problems with actuation, support and access are encountered when benches are utilized in a folding table and seating system. As elements fold and are spaced further apart, it is difficult to support both ends of a bench which spans supports with the distance between the supports changing during folding and unfolding. To overcome this, some systems have been developed to shorten the bench while this decreases the seating capacity. Other systems utilize sliding supports that increase the complexity of building and may potentially jam during the folding process. Still others span areas wherein the access to the bench is substantially blocked by supporting framework and might cause a tripping hazard. The frames of such table and seating assemblies must be configured differently when supporting stools as compared to being configured for supporting benches, increasing complexity.

It can be seen that a new and improved table and seating structure is needed. Such a table and seating structure should provide non-rectangular table with seating spaced around the table. In addition, the table should allow for the use of benches for increased seating capacity. Such a table and seating system provides added utility if benches and stools may be interchangeably used with the same support frame. The table and seating system should provide for easy folding and improved access to the benches and should fold to a storage position requiring less storage space. The present invention addresses these, as well as other problems associated with folding table and seating systems.

The present invention is directed to a folding table and seating apparatus and in particular to a non-rectangular folding table and seating structure. The tabletop includes a pair of, for example, semicircular shaped tabletop sections folding along a straight edge of each section. A lock maintains the table in the unfolded position and is easily released by accessing an end handle that extends downward from the center axis near the edges of the tabletop sections. The framework extends downward and out to interchangeable seating configurations. In a first configuration, the framework extends downward and out to eight stools, four stools spaced apart around the periphery of each tabletop section. A wheel or a leg extends downward below each stool to provide spaced apart supports around the entire table. The framework extends from under each stool inward toward the tabletop to provide easy access for a person to be seated at the stools without impeding their access or seated comfort.

In a second configuration, the stools are replaced with curving benches. Two curving benches are associated with tabletop section. The benches fold from a horizontal use position to a substantially vertical storage position. The benches curve around the periphery of the tabletop sections with space for walking between the benches at each end. The benches increase seating capacity from eight to up to twelve people, particularly when used for seating children. The benches are pivotally mounted at the top of the seat framework supports to allow for folding between the use position and storage position. The distance between the pivot points for the benches and the tabletops and the two corresponding pivot points of each tabletop section are the same so that the table and seating assembly folds with each half of the assembly functioning as a four bar linkage in a parallelogram type configuration. The benches pivot, but the configuration and spacing of the pivot points eliminates the need for sliding relative to the framework.

The folding framework folds the tabletops from a horizontal position to a vertical position wherein the bottoms of the tabletops substantially oppose one another. In a first configuration, the stools fold inward with the seats remaining substantially horizontal in a configuration that reduces the floor space occupied by the assembly in the unfolded use position. In the second seating configuration, the benches also wrap around the edges of the table so that the table requires less floor space than in the unfolded use position. In the folded position, the table and seating structures are supported on four wheels so that the assembly may be rolled to any desired location. A lock holds the table in the folded position for easy and safe movement.

These features of novelty and various other advantages that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings that form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference letters and numerals indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding table and seating structure with a first seating configuration in an unfolded position according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the folding table and seating structure shown in FIG. 1 in a folded storage position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the folding table and seating structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the folding table and seating structure shown in FIG. 1;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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