초록 ▼

An expandable table that has a frame, at least one leg supporting the frame, first and second top portions movably connected or interconnected to the frame, an intermediate top portion movably connected or interconnected to the frame, and a movement mechanism connected or interconnected to the frame

An expandable table that has a frame, at least one leg supporting the frame, first and second top portions movably connected or interconnected to the frame, an intermediate top portion movably connected or interconnected to the frame, and a movement mechanism connected or interconnected to the frame. The movement mechanism is configured to cause the first and second top portions to move along a longitudinal axis of the frame. The movement mechanism is also configured to cause the intermediate top portion to move normal to said longitudinal axis of a plane of movement of said first and second top portions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An expandable table comprising a frame, at least one leg supporting said frame, first and second top portions movably connected or interconnected to said frame, an intermediate top portion movably connected or interconnected to said frame, and a movement mechanism connected or interconnected to s

1. An expandable table comprising a frame, at least one leg supporting said frame, first and second top portions movably connected or interconnected to said frame, an intermediate top portion movably connected or interconnected to said frame, and a movement mechanism connected or interconnected to said frame, said movement mechanism configured to cause said first and second top portions to move along a longitudinal axis of said frame between fully unexpanded and fully expanded positions, said movement mechanism configured to cause said intermediate top portion to move between an upper and lower position in a manner that is normal to said longitudinal axis of a plane of movement of said first and second top portions, said movement mechanism is configured to automatically cause said intermediate top portion to move between a lower position and an upper position based on the orientation and movement of said first and second top portions along said longitudinal axis of said frame, said movement mechanism including a multi-level guide arrangement and a guide gate, said guide gate configured to move in a first position and a second position, said first position and second position of said guide gate controlling access to a particular level of said guide arrangement to enable upward or downward movement of said intermediate top portion, said multilevel guide arrangement including a first level, a second level, and a transition region connected to said first and second level, said first level is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to be positioned in said lower position, said second level is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to be positioned in said upper position, said transition region is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to move between said upper and lower positions, said intermediate top portion including guides that move in said first level, said second level, and said transition region when said intermediate top portion moves between said first and second levels as said first and second top portions move along said longitudinal axis of said frame between said fully unexpanded and said fully expanded positions, said guide gate controlling movement of said guides between said first level and said second level. 2. The expandable table as defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate top portion includes an opening designed to receive an umbrella pole, said movement mechanism configured to enable said intermediate top portion to move normal to said longitudinal axis of said plane of movement of said first and second top portions while at least a portion of the umbrella pole remains positioned within said opening of said intermediate top portion. 3. The expandable table as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second top portions includes an umbrella recess that is configured to at least partially encircle an umbrella pole when said first and second top portions are positioned in said fully unexpanded positions. 4. The expandable table as defined in claim 3, including a movement limiter that limits movement of said intermediate top portion to movement in an axis that is normal to said axis of movement of said first and second top portions. 5. The expandable table as defined in claim 4, wherein said movement mechanism allows said first and second top portions to be separated a greater distance from one another when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said lower position to said upper position than when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said upper position to said lower position. 6. The expandable table as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second top portions includes an umbrella recess that is configured to at least partially encircle an umbrella pole when said first and second top portions are positioned in said fully unexpanded positions. 7. The expandable table as defined in claim 1, including a movement limiter that limits movement of said intermediate top portion to movement in an axis that is normal to said axis of movement of said first and second top portions. 8. The expandable table as defined in claim 1, wherein said movement mechanism allows said first and second top portions to be separated a greater distance from one another when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said lower position to said upper position than when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said upper position to said lower position. 9. An expandable table comprising a frame, at least one leg supporting said frame, first and second top portions movably connected or interconnected to said frame an intermediate top portion movably connected or interconnected to said frame, and a movement mechanism connected or interconnected to said frame, said movement mechanism configured to cause said first and second top portions to move along a longitudinal axis of said frame between fully unexpanded and fully expanded positions, said movement mechanism configured to cause said intermediate top portion to move normal to said longitudinal is of a plane of movement of said first and second top portions, said movement mechanism configured to automatically cause said intermediate top portion to move between lower position and an upper position based on the orientation and movement of said first and second top portions along said longitudinal axis of said frame, said intermediate top portion including an opening designed to receive an umbrella pole, said movement mechanism configured to enable said intermediate top portion to move normal to said longitudinal axis of a plane of movement of said first and second top portions while at least a portion of the umbrella pole remains positioned within said opening of said intermediate top portion, said first and second top portions including an umbrella recess that is configured to at least partially encircle an umbrella pole when said first and second top portions are positioned in said fully unexpanded positions, said movement mechanism is configured to automatically cause said intermediate top portion to move between a lower position and an upper position based on the orientation and movement of said first and second top portions along said longitudinal axis of said frame, said movement mechanism including a multi-level guide arrangement and a guide gate, said guide gate configured to move in a first position and a second position said first position and second position of said guide gate controlling access to a particular level of said guide arrangement to enable upward or downward movement of said intermediate top portion, said multilevel guide arrangement including a first level, a second level, and a transition region connected to said first and second level, said first level is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to be positioned in said lower position, said second level is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to be positioned in said upper position, said transition region is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to move between said upper and lower positions, said intermediate top portion including guides that move in said first level, said second level, and said transition region when said intermediate top portion moves between said first and second levels as said first and second top portions move along said longitudinal axis of said frame between said fully unexpanded and said fully expanded positions, said guide gate controlling movement of said guides between said first level and said second level. 10. The expandable table as defined in claim 9, including a movement limiter that limits movement of said intermediate top portion to movement in an axis that is normal to said axis of movement of said first and second top portions. 11. The expandable table as defined in claim 10, wherein said movement mechanism allows said first and second top portions to be separated a greater distance from one another when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said lower position to said upper position than when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said upper position to said lower position. 12. The expandable table as defined in claim 9, wherein said movement mechanism allows said first and second top portions to be separated a greater distance from one another when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said lower position to said upper position than when said intermediate top portion is being moved from said upper position to said lower position. 13. A method for expanding and contracting an expandable table comprising the steps of: a. providing an expandable table, said expandable table including a frame, at least one leg supporting said frame, first and second top portions movably connected or interconnected to said frame, an intermediate top portion movably connected or interconnected to said frame, and a movement mechanism connected or interconnected to said frame,b. providing a movement mechanism for moving said first and second top portions and said intermediate top portion, said movement mechanism configured to cause said first and second top portions to move along a longitudinal axis of said frame between fully unexpanded and fully expanded positions, said movement mechanism is configured to automatically cause said intermediate top portion to move between a lower position and an upper position based on the orientation and movement of said first and second top portions along said longitudinal axis of said frame, said movement mechanism including a multi-level guide arrangement and a guide gate, said guide gate configured to move in a first position and a second position, said first position and second position of said guide gate controlling access to a particular level of said guide arrangement to enable upward or downward movement of said intermediate top portion, said multilevel guide arrangement including a first level, a second level, and a transition region connected to said first and second level said first level is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to be positioned in said lower position, said second level is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to be positioned in said upper position, said transition region is configured to cause said intermediate top portion to move between said upper and lower positions, said intermediate top portion including guides that move in said first level, said second level, and said transition region when said intermediate top portion moves between said first and second levels as said first and second top portions move along said longitudinal axis of said frame between said fully unexpanded and said fully expanded positions, said guide gate controlling movement of said guides between said first level and said second level;c. moving said first and second top portions away from one another along a longitudinal axis of said frame until a gap between said first and second top portions is greater than a width of said intermediate top portion;d. causing said guides of said intermediate top portion to move from said first level to said second level of said multi-level guide arrangement to cause said intermediate portion to move from said lower position to said upper position after said gap between said first and second top portions is greater than a width of said intermediate top portion; and,e. moving said first and second top portions toward said top intermediate top portion until said inner side edges of said first and second top portions contact or are closely adjacent to outer side edges of said intermediate top portion. 14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said movement mechanism causes said intermediate top portion to move normal to said longitudinal axis of a plane of movement of said first and second top portions. 15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein said movement mechanism causes said intermediate top portion to move from said upper position to said lower position after said first and second top portions are pulled apart from said intermediate top portion and subsequently pushed together, said guides on said intermediate top portion caused to moved from said second level to said transition region and then to said first level as said first and second top portions are pushed together. 16. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said movement mechanism causes said intermediate top portion to move from said upper position to said lower position after said first and second top portions are pulled apart from said intermediate top portion and subsequently pushed together, said guides on said intermediate top portion caused to moved from said second level to said transition region and then to said first level as said first and second top portions are pushed together.