Nesting Table Top Structure for Compact Stacking and Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional banquet tables are cumbersome due to their large size, weight, and complex assembly requirements, leading to increased storage, transportation, and manufacturing costs, as well as safety hazards from sharp edges and potential frame deformation under load.

Innovation Solution

A table design featuring a lightweight, molded plastic top with a simplified frame structure that allows for easy assembly and nesting, reducing the overall weight and storage space requirements, while maintaining strength and rigidity through recesses, depressions, and compression edges, and facilitating stacking and alignment for efficient shipping and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If table tops are constructed from light-weight materials such as plastic, then the weight of the table is decreased, but the table top requires large reinforcing members or structural parts to strengthen it, which increases weight and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of tableVSAvoidcomplexity of table structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The table top is divided into multiple recesses and depressions that are integrated into the molded plastic structure. These segmented features create localized strengthening without requiring additional external reinforcing members, thus maintaining lightweight construction while providing necessary structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing features (recesses, depressions, compression edges) are merged directly into the table top molding process, creating a unitary structure. This eliminates the need for separate reinforcing members and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional banquet tables are made with large table tops and folding legs, then the tables can be used in various configurations, but the required storage area becomes quite large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility of table configurationVSAvoidstorage area required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The table top is designed with nested recesses that allow the legs to be stored within the table top structure when not in use. This nesting arrangement enables compact storage of the entire table in a minimal footprint while maintaining the ability to deploy legs for various table configurations when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Strength

If wooden or metal table tops are used, then the table top strength is sufficient, but the table becomes relatively heavy and expensive, and requires treatment or finishing before use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of table topVSAvoidweight of table top

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The table top is constructed from molded plastic with integrated reinforcing features (recesses, depressions, compression edges) that work together to provide structural strength comparable to wood or metal. The composite design of the plastic material combined with geometric reinforcement achieves high strength-to-weight ratio without requiring heavy materials or additional finishing treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If additional reinforcing members and fasteners are added to strengthen the table top, then the table top strength increases, but the manufacturing cost and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of table topVSAvoidease of manufacturing table

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

All reinforcing features are merged into the table top molding process as a unitary structure. The recesses, depressions, and compression edges are formed simultaneously with the table top itself, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing steps and assembly operations. This integration dramatically simplifies manufacturing while maintaining structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8757069B2Table with nesting table top

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 LIFETIME PRODUCTS

AI summary

A table may be sized and configured to nest with another table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The table may include a nesting portion formed in an upper surface and sidewall of the table top. The table may also include a frame with one or more engaging portions sized and configured to be disposed in the nesting portion of an adjacent table when the tables are nested together. In addition, the table top may include a compression edge sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the tables are nested together. The compression edge and engaging portions may be sized and configured to be simultaneously disposed in the nesting portion of the adjacent table when the table is nested with the adjacent table.