Collapsible table

Abstract

An easily transportable collapsible table in which a box with a support structure inside converts to a table top with the support structure as its base. The box provides substantial structural integrity for the table top and it is easily assembled on site. The collapsible table can be disassembled, restored in the box and reused, or disposed of after a single use.

Description

[0001] Applicant claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application for A Portable Table, Application No. 60 / 524,259, filed Jan. 5, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a method and device for a collapsible table preferably constructed from and contained in a thin portable cardboard box. [0003] There are a variety of foldable paperboard tables. Some of these include U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,065 issued to Lin for a foldable paperboard table comprising a number of sections to form the base, and an additional center section support is required because the structure of the table top is insufficiently suitable on its own. Additionally, the structure on the periphery must be folded over and attached to base to provide adequate peripheral support. [0004] Another paperboard table patent is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,473 issued to Kondratiev. This device has no transporting means and it requires a separate attaching means to connect the base to the top. [0005] A transp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The transportable box of the instant invention which also serves as a table top has sufficient independent structure to provide the necessary support without all of the additional elements and attachments that are required by the foregoing references. Nonetheless, this transportable table can be made out of lightweight corrugated paper board or cardboard and coated to reduce the effects of water on corrugated material protecting it against water from drinks in glasses or bottles that may be placed on the table top. It can be used inside or outdoors on a clean, dry, and level surface. Footings have been provided for more effective stabilization on uneven surfaces. Waterproof footings have been added to allow it to be used on surfaces that are not entirely dry.

[0012] The base and table top snap and lock together when the unit is assembled without the need of separate attachment elements. The units can be made in a variety of sizes, each of which can support about 100 pounds of evenly distributed weight.

[0013] Moreover, the instant invention provides methods and devices for building a collapsible table from a thin lightweight cardboard box having a bottom surface, a top surface, an end flap for sealing an end opening and an interior space, a collapsible base that can be stored in the interior space of the box, and preferably a fold back stabilizer and a pair of interlocking flat cardboard sheets. In one embodiment of the collapsible table, the bottom surface has a pair of transverse perforated cuts forming four opposing wedges which can be displaced to form an aperture for receiving a base. The base can be removed from storage in the interior space and inserted into the aperture of the outer thin box to form a lightweight easily transported table.

[0014] Each of the pair of interlocking flat cardboard sheets, the collapsed open-ended base, and the fold back stabilizer can be removed from the interior of the outer thin box; each of the pair of interlocking flat cardboard sheets can be interlocked and the collapsed opened base can be expanded to receive the interlocked flat cardboard sheets to form a base; the four opposing wedges which can be displaced by the fold back stabilizer to form an aperture for receiving the base; and the fold back stabilizer with two end openings and two side openings can be disposed to receive an apex of each of the four opposing wedges to secure the aperture in an open position, as shown in the drawing.

[0015] The top end of the base can be inserted into the aperture of the outer thin box, and the outer thin box with the base disposed in its aperture can be arranged with the base at the bottom and the top surface at the top to form the disposable lawn table of the present invention. The outer thin box with the base disposed in its aperture can be arranged with the base at the bottom and the top surface at the top to form the table of the present invention.

[0016] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Problems solved by technology

Some of these include U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,065 issued to Lin for a foldable paperboard table comprising a number of sections to form the base, and an additional center section support is required because the structure of the table top is insufficiently suitable on its own.

The principal disadvantage of such devices is their bulky, difficult to transport configurations and lack of structural integrity.

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