Portable folding tables

Claim 2

In a folding structure including a pair of panels having outer ends and adjacent, hingedly associated inner ends, said panels being swingable from an upright storage position to a horizontal operative position, the improvements comprising: outer leg assemblies pivotally secured to the undersides of said panels adjacent the outer ends thereof, said leg assemblies having laterally and outwardly projecting bottom members thereon, said bottom members having elevated outer extremities; swivel casters carried on the outer extremities of said leg bottom members; foot elements on the undersides of said leg bottom members spaced inwardly from the outer extremities thereof; and link means extendinG between the inner end portions of said panels and the opposite outer leg assemblies adapted to draw said pivotal leg assemblies inwardly as the panels are swung toward their upright folded condition to cause said structure to be supported on said casters, and said link means being adapted to pivot said leg assemblies outwardly during swinging movement of said panels toward a horizontal position to cause the foot elements on the undersides of said leg bottom members to engage the floor and the outer extremities of said leg bottom members to be simultaneously elevated to raise said casters off the floor.

Claim 3

In a folding table including a pair of flat top panels having outer ends and hingedly connected inner ends, said panels being swingable from an upright storage position to a horizontal operative position, and having center leg means associated with the inner end portions of said panels, the improvements comprising: a pair of outer leg assemblies pivotally secured to the undersides of said top panels adjacent the outer ends thereof, each of said outer leg assemblies including an upright portion and a substantially horizontal bottom member extending laterally from the lower end of said upright portion; outwardly directed extensions on said leg bottom members, said extensions having elevated outer extremities; a swivel caster carried on the outer extremity of each of said leg extensions; a foot element on the underside of each of said leg assemblies; and a pair of elongated links pivotally associated with the inner end portions of said panels, each of said links extending outwardly beneath the opposite panel and being pivotally connected to the leg assembly adjacent the outer end of said opposite panel, said links being adapted to draw said outer leg assemblies inwardly as the table top panels are swung toward their upright folded condition to cause said table to be supported on the casters, and said links being adapted to urge said leg assemblies outwardly during swinging movement of said top panels toward a horizontal position to cause the foot elements on the undersides thereof to engage the floor and the outer extremities of said leg extensions to be simultaneously pivoted upwardly to raise said casters off the floor.

Claim 4

In a folding table including a pair of flat top panels having outer ends and hingedly connected inner ends, said panels being swingable from an upright storage position to a horizontal operative position, and having center leg means associated with the inner end portions of said panels, the improvements comprising: a pair of outer leg assemblies pivotally secured to the undersides of said top panels adjacent the outer ends thereof, each of said outer leg assemblies including an upright portion and a substantially horizontal bottom member extending laterally from the lower end of said upright portion; outwardly directed extensions on said leg bottom members, said extensions having elevated outer extremities; a swivel caster carried on the outer extremity of each of said leg extensions; a foot element on the underside of each of said leg assemblies; and a pair of elongated links pivotally associated with the inner end portions of said panels, each of said links extending outwardly beneath the opposite panel and being pivotally connected to the leg assembly adjacent the outer end of said opposite panel, said links being adapted to draw said outer leg assemblies inwardly as the table top panels are swung toward their upright folded condition to cause said table to be supported on the casters, and said links being adapted to urge said leg assemblies outwardly during swinging movement of said top panels toward a horizontal position to cause the foot elements on the undersides thereof to engage the floor and the outer extremities of said leg extensions to be simultaneously pivoted upwardly to raise said casters off the floor.

Claim 5

The folding table recited in claim 2 wherein said leg extensions diverge and extend outwardly beyond the panels when said panels are in their upright folded condition to provide a stable base.

Claim 6

The folding structure recited in claim 1 and wherein said foot elements comprise threaded studs axially adjustably mounted in the undersides of said outer leg assemblies.

Claim 7

The folding table recited in claim 2 and including means maintaining said center leg means in a substantially vertical position when said top panels are in either their upright folded condition or in their outstretched horizontal condition.