United S ta tes P a tent

US 006994032B2
( 1 2) ( 1 0) P a tent N 0. : US 6, 994, 032 B2
Conley et a l. ( 45 ) D a te of P a tent: F eb . 7 , 2006
( 5 4) EXP AN D ABLE TABLE 3, 683, 825 A * 8/1 97 2 S heldon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 08/66
4, 7 82, 7 64 A * 1 1 /1 988 Rob ins on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 08/90
( 7 5 ) I nv entor s : Ja mes R. Conley, H ic k or y, N C ( US ) ; 4, 809, 61 9 A 3/1 989 P ir etti
Andr ew D Ru dis ? ] , H ic k or y, N C ( Us ) 5 , 1 5 6, 095 A 1 0/1 992 H a ns b a ek et 21 1 .
5 , 237 , 937 A 8/1 993 P eltier et a 1 .
. _ . - 5 , 425 , 31 3 A 6/1 995 Rowa n
( 7 3) As s ig nee. I CI Entp Jr S y F u r nitu r e, LLC. , H ic k or y, 5 , 45 8, 07 0 A 1 0/1 995 G a mb a et a 1
( ) 6, 009, 81 4 A 1 /2000 Ros s i
( * ) N otic e: S u b j ec t to a ny dis c la imer , the ter m of this F OREI G N P ATEN T D OCUMEN TS
p a tent is ex tended or a dj u s ted u nder 35
U. S . C. 1 5 4( b ) b y 37 9 da ys . G B 67 88 0/1 835
* c ited b y ex a miner
( 21 ) Ap p l. N 0. : 1 0/403, 5 07
P r ima r y Ex a miner Jos V . Chen
( 22) F iled; Ap r . 1 , 2003 ( 7 4) Attor ney, Ag ent, or F ir mV ena b le LLP ; H enr y J.
D a ley
( 65 ) P r ior P u b lic a tion D a ta
5 7 ABS TRACT
US 2004/01 9467 2 A1 Oc t. 7 , 2004 ( )
( 5 1 ) I nt- Cl- An ex p a nding ta b le of the typ e in whic h a nu mb er of ta b le
A47 B 1 /00 ( 2006- 01 ) top s ec tions a r e c a u s ed to mov e ou twa r dly a nd ex p a nd on
U- S - Cl- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r ota tion of the ta b le The ta b le top S ec tions a r e Cou p led
( 5 8) F ield of Cla s s i? c a tion S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 08/65 , to a g u ide p la te, whic h de? nes the p os itions b etween whic h
1 08/66, 67 , 68, 1 1 5 the s ec tions mov e. The g u ide p la te is mou nted f or r ota tion
S ee a p p lic a tion ? le f or c omp lete s ea r c h his tor y. a nd eng a g es low f r ic tion r u b b loc k s mou nted a long the inner
_ p er imeter of the ou ter edg e of the ta b le. The ta b le top
( 5 6) Ref er enc es Clted s ec tions thems elv es a r e mou nted on g u ides , whic h a r e a t
US P ATEN T D OCUMEN TS lea s t p a r tia lly r ec eiv ed in the g u ide p la te. Onc e the ta b le top
s ec tions ha v e b een mov ed into the ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion
25 4, 388 A 2/ 1 882 S c hu ltZ b y r ota tion of the ta b le top , ta b le lea v es a r e ins er ted in the
34047 6 A 4/1 886 W a r dwell: Jr - s p a c es b etween a dj a c ent ta b le top s ec tions to f or m a la r g er
35 1 7 1 01 A 1 0/1 886 F a u b er c ontig u ou s ta b le s u r f a c e.
838, 67 1 A 1 2/1 906 Tu r ner
1 , 384, 925 A 7 /1 921 S eiler
1 , 993, 7 87 A * 3/1 935 H owe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 08/7 7 49 Cla ims , 1 2 D r a wing S heets
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EXP AN D ABLE TABLE
BACK G ROUN D
1 . F ield of the I nv ention
The p r es ent inv ention r ela tes to f u r nitu r e, a nd mor e
p a r tic u la r ly, to ex p a nding ta b les .
2. D is c u s s ion of Rela ted Ar t
I n 1 835 , Rob er t Ju p e W a s g r a nted Br itis h P a tent N o. 67 88
f or a n ex p a nding ta b le. The or ig ina l Ju p e ex p a nding ta b le
inc lu des a ta b le top tha t is div ided into a nu mb er of s ec tions .
Ea c h s ec tion is c onnec ted to a n u nder lying f r a me s tr u c tu r e,
s u c h tha t W hen the ta b le top is r ota ted, the s ec tions mov e
r a dia lly ou tW a r d, inc r ea s ing the ef f ec tiv e s iZ e of the ta b le
top . Onc e the ta b le top ha s b een r ota ted to mov e the ta b le top
s ec tions ou tW a r d, lea v es a r e ins er ted b etW een the s ec tions ,
s o a s to ? ll in the s p a c es c r ea ted b y the ou tW a r d mov ement
of the s ec tions . Bec a u s e the ta b le top s ec tions div er g e a nd
mov e r a dia lly ou tW a r d f r om a c entr a l p oint, the Ju p e ta b le
top r eta ins its s ha p e in its ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion.
The Ju p e ta b le ha s noW b ec ome one of the mos t v a lu a b le
a nd s ou g ht a f ter a ntiq u es . Or ig ina l Ju p e ta b les in g ood
c ondition ma y s ell f or u p to $ 35 0, 000 a t the time of W r iting .
H oW ev er , des p ite its p op u la r ity, the Ju p e ta b le ha s b een v er y
dif ? c u lt to ma s s p r odu c e, b ec a u s e its W or k ing s a r e b oth
ex tr emely c omp lex a nd entir ely ha ndc r a f ted.
F or ex a mp le, the f r a me s tr u c tu r e tha t s u p p or ts the ta b le
top s ec tions in the Ju p e ta b le is c omp r is ed of ma ny indi
v idu a l b ea m s tr u c tu r es tha t a r e s ec u r ed tog ether to f or m the
f r a me. Ea c h of thos e b ea ms mu s t b e indiv idu a lly ma de a nd
a s s emb led to ex a c ting toler a nc es in or der to ens u r e tha t the
ta b le top s ec tions W ill mov e f r eely a nd ma te in the c enter of
the ta b le top to f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le s u r f a c e
in b oth the c ontr a c ted a nd ex p a nded c on? g u r a tions . The
ma nu f a c tu r e of s u c h a s tr u c tu r e is time- c ons u ming a nd is not
c ondu c iv e to r a p id p r odu c tion.
Other a s p ec ts of the Ju p e ta b le des ig n a ls o ma k e the
des ig n dif f ic u lt to imp lement. F or ex a mp le, in a t lea s t s ome
of the ex is ting ex a mp les of f u nc tioning Ju p e ta b les , the p iv ot
f or the ta b le top is a thr ea ded r od tha t r u ns the entir e leng th
of the ta b le p edes ta l. Tha t is a n ex tr emely dif ? c u lt a nd
time- c ons u ming c on? g u r a tion to r ep lic a te.
Additiona lly, ea c h ta b le top s ec tion in a Ju p e ta b le
inc lu des a ha nd c a r v ed tenon s tr u c tu r e W hic h is r ec eiv ed b y
a c entr a l p iec e tha t ha s c or r es p onding ly ha nd c a r v ed mor tis e
s tr u c tu r es . The c entr a l p iec e loc k s the ta b le top s ec tions in
p la c e r ela tiv e to one a nother W hen the ta b le is in its
u nex p a nded c on? g u r a tion, b u t minor mis a lig nments in the
c a r v ing of thes e c a n r es u lt in the ta b le top s ec tions b eing
u na b le to eng a g e the c entr a l p iec e to f or m a c ontig u ou s ta b le
s u r f a c e.
I n g ener a l, ev en W hen ha nd ma de to the a p p r op r ia te
toler a nc es a nd c or r ec tly a s s emb led, Ju p e ta b les a r e es p e
c ia lly s u s c ep tib le to the ef f ec ts of f r ic tion a nd W ea r . They
r eq u ir e c a r ef u l ha ndling a nd f r eq u ent ma intena nc e to ens u r e
s mooth mov ement.
S UMMARY OF TH E I N V EN TI ON
One a s p ec t of the inv ention r ela tes to a n ex p a nding ta b le
of the typ e in W hic h a p lu r a lity of ta b le top s ec tions mov e
ou tW a r dly u p on r ota tion of the ta b le top to ex p a nd the ta b le.
The ta b le c omp r is es a p edes ta l, a g u ide p la te mou nted on the
p edes ta l, a nd a ta b le top c ou p led to a top s u r f a c e of the g u ide
p la te. The ta b le top c omp r is es a p lu r a lity of s ep a r a te ta b le
top s ec tions tha t a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e mov a b le
r ela tiv e to ea c h other b etW een p os itions de? ned b y the g u ide
1 0
1 5
20
25
30
35
40
45
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
p la te. The ta b le top s ec tions f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s
ta b le top W hen they a r e in a ? r s t p os ition.
Ak ing p iec e ma y b e mou nted on the g u ide p la te. The k ing
p iec e ha s r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e inner
edg es of the ta b le top s ec tions , s o a s to f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly
c ontig u ou s ta b le top . I n one emb odiment, the ex p a nding
ta b le is r ou nd a nd the ta b le top s ec tions a r e s ha p ed a s s ec tor s
of a c ir c le.
Ta b le lea v es ma y b e p r ov ided f or the ex p a nding ta b le.
The ta b le lea v es a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e mou nted
b etW een r es p ec tiv e ta b le top s ec tions s o a s to f or m a
s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le top s u r f a c e W ith the ta b le top
s ec tions W hen the ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a s ec ond,
ex p a nded p os ition.
The g u ide p la te ma y inc lu de a p lu r a lity of g u ide s lots
f or med in it. A g u ide ma y b e mou nted in ea c h g u ide s lot, a nd
the ta b le top s ec tions ma y b e mou nted to the g u ides . As p line
ma y b e mou nted W ithin ea c h one of the g u ide s lots to
s liding ly eng a g e the g u ide.
Another a s p ec t of the inv ention r ela tes to a n ex p a nding
ta b le. The ta b le inc lu des a p edes ta l a nd a ta b le top s u p p or t
c ou p led to the p edes ta l. Ru b b loc k s a r e mou nted on the ta b le
top s u p p or t. A ta b le top is c ou p led to a top s u r f a c e of the
g u ide p la te. The ta b le top c omp r is es a p lu r a lity of s ep a r a te
ta b le top s ec tions tha t a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e
mov a b le r ela tiv e to ea c h other in a r a dia l dir ec tion.
The ex p a nding ta b le ma y inc lu de a g u ide p la te eng a g ing
the r u b b loc k s W ith a doW nW a r dly- f a c ing s u r f a c e ther eof f or
r ota tiona l mov ement W ith r es p ec t to the r u b b loc k s .
Ak ing p iec e ma y b e mou nted on the g u ide p la te. The k ing
p iec e ha s r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e inner
edg es of the ta b le top s ec tions , s o a s to f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly
c ontig u ou s ta b le top . I n one emb odiment, the ex p a nding
ta b le is r ou nd a nd the ta b le top s ec tions a r e s ha p ed a s s ec tor s
of a c ir c le.
Ta b le lea v es ma y b e p r ov ided f or the ex p a nding ta b le.
The ta b le lea v es a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e mou nted
b etW een r es p ec tiv e ta b le top s ec tions s o a s to f or m a
s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le top s u r f a c e W ith the ta b le top
s ec tions W hen the ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a s ec ond,
ex p a nded p os ition.
The g u ide p la te ma y inc lu de a p lu r a lity of g u ide s lots
f or med in it. A g u ide ma y b e mou nted in ea c h g u ide s lot, a nd
the ta b le top s ec tions ma y b e mou nted to the g u ides .
The r u b b loc k s ma y b e c omp r is ed of D ELRI N a c eta l
p la s tic , or they ma y b e c omp r is ed of hig h dens ity p olyeth
ylene, u ltr a hig h molec u la r W eig ht p olyethylene or u ltr a
u ltr a hig h molec u la r W eig ht p olyethylene.
A f u r ther a s p ec t of the inv ention r ela tes to methods f or
ma nu f a c tu r ing the ta b les des c r ib ed a b ov e.
Other f ea tu r es , a s p ec ts a nd a dv a nta g es W ill b e des c r ib ed
in the f olloW ing deta iled des c r ip tion, a nd in the a tta c hed
dr a W ing s .
BRI EF D ES CRI P TI ON OF TH E D RAW I N G S
The inv ention W ill b e des c r ib ed W ith r es p ec t to the
f olloW ing dr a W ing s , in W hic h lik e r ef er enc e nu mer a ls r ep
r es ent lik e f ea tu r es thr ou g hou t the ? g u r es , a nd in W hic h:
F I G . 1 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of a ta b le a c c or ding to the
inv ention W ith s ev er a l of the ta b le top s ec tions r emov ed s o
a s to s hoW the mec ha nis m b enea th;
F I G S . 2A a nd 2B a r e p er s p ec tiv e v ieW s of the ta b le of
F I G . 1 W ith the ta b le top s ec tions a nd g u ide p la te r emov ed,
US 6, 994, 032 B2
3
s o a s to s how the ta b le top s u p p or t s tr u c tu r e a nd the r ota ting
memb er s s ec u r ed ther eto in ? r s t a nd s ec ond op er a tiv e p os i
tions , r es p ec tiv ely;
F I G . 3 is a c r os s - s ec tiona l v ieW of the ta b le of F I G . 1 ;
F I G . 4 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of the ta b le of F I G . 1 in a n
ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion W ithou t ta b le lea v es ins ta lled;
F I G . 5 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of the ta b le of F I G . 1 in a n
ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion W ith ta b le lea v es ins ta lled;
F I G . 6 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of the ta b le of F I G . 1 W ith the
ta b le top s ec tions r emov ed;
F I G . 7 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of a k ing p iec e inc lu ded in
the ta b le of F I G . 1 ;
F I G . 8 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of a b r a c k et a da p ted to ma te
W ith the k ing p iec e of F I G . 7 ;
F I G S . 9A a nd 9B a r e s c hema tic top p la n v ieW s of a ta b le
a c c or ding to a nother emb odiment of the inv ention;
F I G S . 1 0A a nd 1 0B a r e s c hema tic top p la n v ieW s of a
ta b le a c c or ding to yet a nother emb odiment of the inv ention;
a nd
F I G S . 1 1 A a nd 1 1 B a r e s c hema tic top p la n v ieW s of a
ta b le a c c or ding to a f u r ther emb odiment of the inv ention.
D ETAI LED D ES CRI P TI ON
An ex p a nding ta b le a c c or ding to the inv ention, g ener a lly
indic a ted a t 1 0, is s hoW n in the p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of F I G . 1 .
The ta b le 1 0 is of the typ e in W hic h a p lu r a lity of ta b le top
s ec tions 1 2 s lide ou tW a r dly s imu lta neou s ly in r es p ons e to a
r ota tion of the ta b le top 1 4 a nd ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24 s o a s
to ex p a nd the ef f ec tiv e s u r f a c e a r ea of the ta b le top 1 4.
The ta b le top 1 4 of the ta b le 1 0 ha s a g ener a lly c ir c u la r
s ha p e, a lthou g h other s ha p es , s u c h a s ov a l a nd r ec ta ng u la r ,
a r e c ontemp la ted W ithin the s c op e of the inv ention, a nd W ill
b e des c r ib ed b eloW W ith r es p ec t to other emb odiments . I n
the v ieW of F I G . 1 , the ta b le 1 0 is in its u nex p a nded
c on? g u r a tion, a nd tW o of the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 ha v e b een
r emov ed to illu s tr a te p or tions of the a r tic u la tion mec ha nis m
of the ta b le 1 0.
Ap edes ta l 1 6 s u p p or ts the ta b le top 1 4 a b ov e ? oor lev el
a t a c onv enient heig ht, W hic h ma y b e s elec ted a s des ir ed.
The p edes ta l 1 6 is g ener a lly v er tic a l in or ienta tion a nd
inc lu des f ou r f eet 1 8 a t its b a s e, a lthou g h v a r iou s c on? g u
r a tions a r e p os s ib le, a nd a ny s u p p or t memb er tha t ma inta ins
the ta b le top 1 4 a t a n a p p r op r ia te heig ht a b ov e ? oor lev el
ma y b e u s ed. The p edes ta l 1 6 ma y b e s c u lp ted or c ontou r ed
f or a dec or a tiv e ef f ec t, a s is s hoW n in F I G . 1 .
The c ons tr u c tion of the ta b le top 1 4 c a n b e s een in F I G S .
2A2B, a nd in the c r os s - s ec tiona l v ieW of F I G . 3. ( I n F I G S .
2A a nd 2B, c er ta in c omp onents of the ta b le top 1 4 a r e not
p r es ent in the v ieW , s o a s to s hoW the r ema ining c omp onents
W ith mor e c la r ity, a s W ill b e ex p la ined b eloW . ) As s hoW n in
F I G S . 2A2B a nd 3, a nu mb er of s u p p or t a r ms 20 a r e
mou nted a b ou t the c ir c u mf er enc e of the p edes ta l 1 6 u s ing
dov eta il j oints b etW een the s u p p or t a r ms 20 a nd the p edes ta l
1 6. F a s tener s ( not s hoW n in the F ig u r es ) a r e a ls o s ec u r ed in
a nu mb er of holes 22 p r ov ided in the s u p p or t a r ms 20,
p r ima r ily to hold the s u p p or t a r ms 20 to the p edes ta l 1 6
W hile the dov eta il j oints a r e s et ( f or ex a mp le, W ith a dhe
s iv es ) . Althou g h dov eta il j oints a r e u s ed in this ex emp la r y
emb odiment, a ny c onv entiona l j oining p r oc es s or s tr u c tu r e
ma y b e u s ed. Eig ht s u p p or t a r ms 20 a r e p r ov ided f or the
ta b le top 1 4, a lthou g h mor e or les s ma y b e p r ov ided. The
s u p p or t a r ms 20 ex tend g ener a lly ou tW a r dly f r om the p ed
es ta l 1 6 a nd a r e g ener a lly c o- p la na r , s o a s to p r ov ide a
r ela tiv ely lev el s u p p or t f or the ta b le top 1 4.
As u p p or t r im 25 ex tends a r ou nd the c ir c u mf er enc e of the
c ir c le de? ned b y the f r ee ends of the s u p p or t a r ms 20 a nd
1 0
1 5
25
35
40
45
5 5
65
4
p r ov ides a c ontinu ou s , ? x ed c onta c t s u r f a c e a long the f r ee
ends of the s u p p or t a r ms 20. Ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24 r es ts on
the s u p p or t r im 25 a nd ex tends u p W a r dly f r om it to de? ne
the ou ter edg e of the ta b le top 1 4. The f ea tu r es of the ou ter
edg e s tr u c tu r e 24 W ill b e des c r ib ed in mor e deta il b eloW .
On a n inner p or tion of ea c h s u p p or t a r m 20, p r ox ima te to
the p edes ta l 1 6, a n a r c u a te r ota ting memb er 26 is mou nted
f or r ota tion a b ou t a v er tic a l r ota tiona l a x is b y a doW nW a r dly
f a c ing eng a g ing end 28 of the r ota ting memb er 26 tha t is
s ec u r ed W ithin a s ha lloW tr ou g h 30 p r ov ided in the s u p p or t
a r m 20. The doW nW a r dly- f a c ing eng a g ing end 28 of the
r ota ting memb er 26 is mou nted in the tr ou g h 30 b y thr ea ded
f a s tener s a nd f or ms a hing ed p in j oint in the illu s tr a ted
emb odiment, a lthou g h other mou nting c on? g u r a tions c ou ld
b e u s ed. The tr ou g h 30 a c c ommoda tes the heig ht of the
mou nting ha r dW a r e u s ed to mou nt the doW nW a r dly- f a c ing
eng a g ing end 28 of the r ota ting memb er 26, s o tha t the
heig ht of the mou nted r ota ting memb er 26 does not ex c eed
a des ir ed heig ht, s u c h tha t other c omp onents ma y b e
mou nted on the r ota ting memb er s 26 W ithou t ex c eeding the
heig ht of the ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24.
As mou nted on the s u p p or t memb er s 20, the a r c u a te
r ota ting memb er s 26 ma y r ota te b etW een c los ed p os itions ,
in W hic h the f r ee, u p W a r dly- f a c ing ends 32 of the r ota ting
memb er s 26 a r e p r ox ima te to the p edes ta l 1 6, a nd op en or
ex p a nded p os itions , in W hic h the f r ee, u p W a r dly- f a c ing
ends 32 of the r ota ting memb er s 26 a r e p r ox ima te to the
ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24. F I G . 2A illu s tr a tes the c los ed
p os itions of the r ota ting memb er s 26, a nd F I G . 2B illu s tr a tes
the op en or ex p a nded p os itions of the r ota ting memb er s
26.
The r ota ting memb er s 26 ma y ha v e s ev er a l dif f er ent r a dii
of c u r v a tu r e a long their leng ths . The p r ec is e r a dii of c u r v a
tu r e u s ed in the r ota ting memb er s 26 ma y b e r ea dily deter
mined b y thos e s k illed in k inema tic s , g iv en the des ir ed
initia l a nd ? na l p os itions of the r ota ting memb er s 26. The
u s e of s ev er a l r a dii of c u r v a tu r e a long the leng th of the
r ota ting memb er s 26 p er mits one to ma nu f a c tu r e the r ota ting
memb er s 26 s u f ? c iently p r ec is ely a nd ec onomic a lly. H oW
ev er , c ontinu ou s ly v a r ying , s moothly c u r v ed r ota ting mem
b er s a r e a ls o W ithin the s c op e of this inv ention.
As s hoW n in the c r os s - s ec tiona l v ieW of F I G . 3, a thr ea ded
r od 34 is ? x edly mou nted W ithin a n u p p er p or tion of the
p edes ta l 1 6 s u c h tha t it ex tends u p W a r dly f r om the p edes ta l
1 6 a nd a c ts a s a c entr a l r ota tiona l a x is f or the ta b le top 1 4.
Rota ta b ly mou nted ov er the thr ea ded r od 34 a nd on the
p edes ta l 1 6 is a g u ide p la te 36. The g u ide p la te 36 is p a r tia lly
v is ib le in F I G . 1 , b u t is not s hoW n in F I G S . 2A a nd 2B; it
is b es t s hoW n in the p er s p ec tiv e v ieW s of F I G S . 4 a nd 6.
The g u ide p la te 36 is a g ener a lly c ir c u la r p la te tha t ha s a
nu mb er of linea r s lots 40 f or med in it. Althou g h the g u ide
p la te 36 is c ir c u la r in this emb odiment, it is g ener a lly not
limited to only c ir c u la r s ha p es . The linea r s lots 40 ex tend
f r om a n inner c entr a l p or tion of the g u ide p la te 36 r a dia lly
ou tW a r d toW a r d the edg e of the g u ide p la te 36. The nu mb er
of linea r s lots 40 c or r es p onds to the nu mb er of r ota ting
memb er s 26 p r ov ided in the ta b le 1 0. Ea c h linea r s lot 40 is
s iZ ed a nd a da p ted to a t lea s t p a r tia lly r ec eiv e a f r ee,
u p W a r dly- f a c ing end 32 of one of the r ota ting memb er s 26
s o a s to eng a g e the f r ee, u p W a r dly- f a c ing end 32 f or s liding
mov ement W ithin the linea r s lot 40. The linea r s lots 40 a r e
s iZ ed s o tha t the p os itions of the ends of the s lots 40 tha t a r e
p r ox ima te to the p edes ta l 1 6 c or r es p ond to the p os itions of
the f r ee, u p W a r dly- f a c ing ends 32 of the r ota ting memb er s
26 W hen they a r e in the c los ed p os ition illu s tr a ted in F I G .
2A.
US 6, 994, 032 B2
5
By r ec eiv ing the f r ee, u p W a r dly- f a c ing end 32 of ea c h
r ota ting memb er 26 in a s lot 40, the g u ide p la te 36 c ons tr a ins
a ll of the r ota ting memb er s 26 to mov e s u b s ta ntia lly s imu l
ta neou s ly a nd c oinc identa lly s u c h tha t their u p wa r dly f a c ing
ends 32 mov e b etW een the ends of the linea r s lots 40. ( The
u p W a r dly- f a c ing ends 32 ha v e the s a me typ e of hing ed p in
j oint a s the doW nW a r dly- f a c ing ends 28, a lthou g h the j oints
or mou nting s tr ic tu r es of the tW o ends 28, 32 ma y b e
dif f er ent in dif f er ent emb odiments . ) I n g ener a l, the a r r a ng e
ment is s u c h tha t a r ota tiona l mov ement of the g u ide p la te
36 is tr a ns la ted into a r a dia lly inW a r d or ou tW a r d mov ement
of the u p W a r dly f a c ing ends 32 of the r ota ting memb er s 26.
The g u ide p la te 36 illu s tr a ted in the F ig u r es a ls o inc lu des
op en s ec tions 42 f r om W hic h the ma ter ia l ha s b een c u t ou t
or other W is e r emov ed. The inc lu s ion of op en s ec tions 42
r edu c es the W eig ht of the g u ide p la te 36 a nd, ther ef or e,
ma k es it ea s ier f or the u s er to r ota te the g u ide p la te 36. I n
the illu s tr a ted emb odiment, the op en s ec tions 42 a r e g ener
a lly s ec tor - s ha p ed, s u c h tha t the g u ide p la te 36 a s a W hole
ha s a hu b - a nd- s p ok e c on? g u r a tion. H oW ev er , thos e of
or dina r y s k ill in the a r t W ill r ea liZ e tha t the inc lu s ion of op en
s ec tions 42 is op tiona l, a nd tha t, if p r ov ided, the op en
s ec tions 42 ma y ha v e s u b s ta ntia lly a ny s ha p e. I n the g u ide
p la te 36, enou g h ma ter ia l ( e. g . , W ood) r ema ins b etW een the
op en s ec tions 42 a nd the linea r s lots 40 s o tha t the mec ha ni
c a l s tr eng th r eq u ir ed b y the linea r s lots 40 is not c omp r o
mis ed.
W her ea s the or ig ina l Ju p e r ota ting ta b le des ig n u s ed a
f r a me c omp r is ed of mu ltip le p r ec is ion- c r a f ted p a r ts to g u ide
the mov ements of the ta b le top s ec tions , a s ing le p iec e g u ide
p la te, s u c h a s g u ide p la te 36, is ea s ier to ma nu f a c tu r e a nd
p r es ents les s of a c ons is tenc y a nd toler a nc e p r ob lem. Addi
tiona lly, the ta b le 1 0 is f a r ea s ier to a s s emb le b ec a u s e of the
g u ide p la te 36 tha n a c omp a r a b le or ig ina l Ju p e ta b le W ou ld
b e. As W a s des c r ib ed a b ov e, a s s emb ly of the f r a me s tr u c tu r e
of the Ju p e ta b le is a p r ec is ion, ha nd- c r a f ted a nd la b or
intens iv e p r oc es s .
ToW a r ds its c enter , the g u ide p la te 36 r es ts on a nd s lides
a g a ins t a c enter p la te 38 tha t is s ec u r ed to the p edes ta l 1 6.
At its ou ter edg e, the g u ide p la te 36 is s u p p or ted b y r u b
b loc k s 44 ( b es t s hoW n in F I G S . 2A a nd 2B) tha t a r e s ec u r ed
to the inner p er imeter of the ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24. AloW er
f a c e of ea c h r u b b loc k 44 is des ig ned to s lide a g a ins t the
s u p p or t r im 25 ; the u p p er f a c e of ea c h r u b b loc k 44 is
des ig ned to r es t a g a ins t the loW er s u r f a c e of the g u ide p la te
36. The r u b b loc k s 44 a r e des ig ned to s u p p or t the g u ide p la te
36 a nd ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24 a nd r edu c e the f r ic tion
r eq u ir ed to r ota te them. The r u b b loc k s 44 a r e c ons tr u c ted of
a loW - f r ic tion p la s tic ma ter ia l, s u c h a s D ELRI N ( a c eta l
p olymer s old b y D u P ont, I nc . , W ilming ton, D el. , United
S ta tes ) or hig h dens ity p olyethylene, a lthou g h D ELRI N is
c u r r ently p r ef er r ed f or mos t a p p lic a tions . I n other emb odi
ments , u ltr a hig h molec u la r W eig ht ( UH MW ) or u ltr a u ltr a
hig h molec u la r W eig ht ( UUH MW ) p olyethylene ma y b e
u s ed. I n g ener a l, the ma ter ia l of the r u b b loc k s 44 s hou ld
ha v e hig h s tif f nes s , loW c oef ? c ient of f r ic tion, a nd r es is ta nc e
to a b r a s ion. I t is a ls o des ir a b le f or the r u b b loc k s 44 to ha v e
c hemic a l r es is ta nc e, p a r tic u la r ly to the typ es of oils , ? nis hes
a nd lu b r ic a nts tha t mig ht b e u s ed on the ta b le 1 0. The
nu mb er , s iZ e, a nd loc a tion of the r u b b loc k s 44 ma y b e
s elec ted a s des ir ed. H oW ev er , it is g ener a lly des ir a b le to
p r ov ide enou g h r u b b loc k s 44 s u b s ta ntia lly ev enly s p a c ed
a r ou nd the p er imeter of the ta b le top 1 4, s o a s to p r ov ide the
g u ide p la te 36 W ith ev en s u p p or t. Eig ht r u b b loc k s 44 a r e
u s ed in the ta b le 1 0. I n ta b les 1 0 a c c or ding to the inv ention,
it is c ontemp la ted tha t the r u b b loc k s 44 ma y c a r r y mu c h of
the W eig ht of the g u ide p la te 36 a nd ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24.
1 5
25
35
40
45
5 5
65
6
The g u ide p la te 36 is r ota ta b ly mou nted on the p edes ta l 1 6
a t its c enter a nd r ec eiv ed W ithin the ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24
s u c h tha t its loW er s u r f a c e r es ts on the r u b b loc k s 44 a nd its
top s u r f a c e is g ener a lly ? u s h W ith the top of the ou ter edg e
s tr u c tu r e 24. W ithin ea c h one of the linea r s lots 40, a n
elong a te g u ide 46 is mou nted ( tW o of the eig ht g u ides 46 a r e
s hoW n in F I G . 1 ) . The g u ides 46 a r e mou nted on the
r es p ec tiv e u p W a r dly f a c ing ends 32 of the r ota ting memb er s
26 s u c h tha t they s lide inW a r dly a nd ou tW a r dly W ithin the
linea r s lots 40 W hen the g u ide p la te 36 is r ota ted to mov e the
r ota ting memb er s 26.
As s hoW n in F I G . 6, ea c h of the linea r s lots 40 ha s a s p line
47 mou nted W ithin, a long the inner p er ip her y of the linea r
s lot 40. The s p lines 47 a r e c omp r is ed of a g r a p hite a nd
c a r b on ? b er c omp os ite ma ter ia l a nd inc lu de tr a c k s 49
f or med ther ein. Alter na tiv ely, the s p lines 47 c ou ld b e c om
p r is ed of D ELRI N or one of the p olyethylene ma ter ia ls
des c r ib ed a b ov e. The tr a c k s 49 a r e des ig ned to s liding ly
eng a g e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es of the g u ides 46 ( not s hoW n in
F I G . 6) s o a s to mou nt the r es p ec tiv e g u ides 46 f or s liding
mov ement eng a g ing the s p lines 47 W ithin the linea r s lots 40.
The g u ides 46 a r e p os itioned r ela tiv e to the ou ter edg e
s tr u c tu r e 24 s o tha t they ma y s lide in a nd ou t of the s lots 48
in the ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24 a nd the linea r s lots 40 c u t in
the ou ter edg e s tr u c tu r e 24. Bec a u s e they eXtend thr ou g h
b oth the s lots 48 a nd the linea r s lots 40, the g u ides 46 a ls o
c ou p le the mov ement of the g u ide p la te 36 a nd ou ter edg e
s tr u c tu r e 24 s o tha t the g u ide p la te 36 r ota tes W ith the ou ter
edg e s tr u c tu r e. Ea c h g u ide 46 p r ov ides holes or other
r ec ep ta c les 5 0 f or mou nting one of the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2.
The ou ter ends 5 2 of the g u ides 46 ma y b e p r ov ided W ith a
dec or a tiv e a p p ea r a nc e, b ec a u s e the ou ter ends 5 2 ma y b e
v is ib le to the u s er .
One ta b le top s ec tion 1 2 is mou nted on ea c h g u ide 46, the
ov er a ll a r r a ng ement b eing s u c h tha t a c loc k W is e r ota tiona l
mov ement of the ta b le top 1 4 ( inc lu ding the ou ter edg e
s tr u c tu r e 24) c a u s es the r ota ting memb er s 26 to mov e
ou tW a r dly a long the linea r s lots 40 in the g u ide p la te 36,
W hic h, in tu r n, c a u s es the g u ides 46 a nd the ta b le top
s ec tions 1 2, W hic h a r e mou nted on the g u ides 46 to mov e
ou tW a r dly. Conv er s ely, a c ou nter - c loc k W is e r ota tion of the
ta b le top 1 4 c a u s es the r ota ting memb er s 26 a nd ta b le top
s ec tions 1 2 to mov e inW a r dly. The dir ec tion of r ota tiona l
mov ement tha t c a u s es a n inW a r d or ou tW a r d mov ement ma y
b e a r b itr a r ily s elec ted. F or eXa mp le, if the r ota ting memb er s
26 a r e a r r a ng ed in a r ev er s e or ienta tion f r om tha t illu s tr a ted
in the ? g u r es , a c ou nter - c loc k W is e mov ement of the ta b le
top 1 4 ma y c a u s e the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 to mov e ou t
W a r dly. F I G . 4 illu s tr a tes the ex p a nded p os ition of the ta b le
1 0, W ith the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 in the ou tW a r d p os ition.
At the c enter of the ta b le top 1 4, W her e a ll of the ta b le top
s ec tions meet W hen the ta b le 1 0 is in the u neXp a nded
c on? g u r a tion, a k ing p iec e 5 4 is mou nted on a k ing p la te 5 6,
W hic h, in tu r n, is mou nted to the g u ide p la te 36 s o tha t the
k ing p iec e 5 4 a nd p la te 5 6 r ota te W ith the g u ide p la te 36.
F I G . 7 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of the k ing p iec e 5 4 in is ola tion.
As s hoW n in F I G . 7 , the k ing p iec e 5 4 is g ener a lly c ylin
dr ic a l in s ha p e a nd inc lu des tW o r oW s of hole- r ec ep ta c les ,
one r oW of loW er hole- r ec ep ta c les 5 8 a nd one r oW of u p p er
hole- r ec ep ta c les 5 9 ev enly s p a c ed a b ou t its c ir c u mf er enc e.
Ea c h r ec ep ta c le 5 8, 5 9 is s iZ ed to r ec eiv e a p r oj ec tion 60
p r ov ided on a b r a c k et 62 tha t is f a s tened to the inner edg e
of ea c h ta b le top s ec tion 1 2 a nd ea c h ta b le lea f 66. ( The ta b le
lea v es 66 W ill b e des c r ib ed in mor e deta il b eloW . ) The
hole- r ec ep ta c les 5 8, 5 9 ha v e a g ener a lly hor iZ onta lly- eX
tending f u nnel s ha p e W ith s lop ed W a ll p or tions . The f u nnel
s ha p e of the hole- r ec ep ta c les 5 8, 5 9 f a c ilita tes the a lig nment
US 6, 994, 032 B2
7
of the hole- r ec ep ta c le 5 8, 5 9 W ith r es p ec t to the p r oj ec tion
60, in tha t if a minor mis a lig nment oc c u r s du r ing the
eng a g ement p r oc es s , the f u nnel s ha p e of the hole- r ec ep ta c le
5 8, 5 9 W ill g u ide the p r oj ec tion 60 toW a r ds the c enter of the
hole- r ec ep ta c le 5 8, 5 9. S imila r ly, the p r oj ec tion 60 ma y b e
p r ov ided W ith a ta p er ed s ha p e, W hic h ma y a s s is t in the
a lig nment p r oc es s du r ing ma ting . At its c enter , the k ing
p iec e 5 4 inc lu des a c ou nter b or ed hole 5 5 s iZ ed to a c c om
moda te the thr ea ded r od 34, W hic h p a s s es thr ou g h the k ing
p la te 5 6 a nd s ec u r es the k ing p iec e 5 4 a nd k ing p la te 5 6
r ota ta b ly to the p edes ta l 1 6.
F I G . 8 is a r ea r p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of the b r a c k et 62. The
b r a c k et 62 is mos t a dv a nta g eou s ly des ig ned s o tha t the
p r oj ec tion 60 ma y b e r emov a b ly mou nted on the b r a c k et 62
s o a s to b e a t the p r op er heig ht to ma te W ith either of the
u p p er 5 9 or loW er 5 8 r oW s of hole- r ec ep ta c les of the k ing
p iec e 5 4. Us ing tha t c on? g u r a tion, the s a me b r a c k et 62 ma y
b e u s ed on either a ta b le top s ec tion 1 2 or a ta b le lea f 66 b y
c ha ng ing the p os ition of the p r oj ec tion 60. I n F I G . 8, tW o
thr ea ded holes 63 a r e p r ov ided in the b r a c k et 62 f or eng a g
ing a p r oj ec tion 60 tha t inc lu des a c or r es p onding thr ea ded
p or tion 60 a long its leng th. The thr ea ded holes 63 need not
ex tend thr ou g h the entir ety of the b r a c k et 62, a lthou g h they
do in the emb odiment illu s tr a ted in F I G . 8. The p os itions of
the thr ea ded holes 63 ma y b e c hos en to s u it the des ig n
dimens ions . Other mov ea b le p r oj ec tion c on? g u r a tions a r e
p os s ib le. F or ex a mp le, the p r oj ec tion 60 c ou ld b e mov ea b ly
s ec u r ed W ithin a v er tic a lly- ex tending s lot in the b r a c k et b y
a n eng a g ing nu t or other s imila r s tr u c tu r e.
F I G . 8 a ls o s hoW s the hor iZ onta lly- ex tending p or tion 67
of the b r a c k et 62. TW o thr ea ded holes 65 a r e p r ov ided in the
hor iZ onta lly- ex tending p or tion 67 s o tha t the hor iZ onta lly
ex tending p or tion 67 of the b r a c k et 62 ma y b e s ec u r ed to the
u nder s ide of a ta b le top s ec tion 1 2. Typ ic a lly, the thr ea ded
holes 65 W ou ld b e b or ed f or p a n- hea d or other s u c h s c r eW s
tha t c ou ld b e ma de ? u s h W ith the loW er f a c e of the hor i
Z onta lly- ex tending p or tion 67 .
W hen the p r oj ec tion 60 ha s eng a g ed a r ec ep ta c le 5 8, 5 9
in the k ing p iec e 5 4, the ta b le top s ec tion 1 2 or ta b le lea f 66
is loc k ed in p la c e W ith r es p ec t to the other ta b le top
s ec tions 1 2. The eng a g ement of the p r oj ec tions 60 a nd the
r ec ep ta c les 5 8, 5 9 loc k s the ta b le top s ec tion 1 2 or ta b le
lea f 66 thr ee- dimens iona lly; tha t is , the eng a g ement p r e
v ents mov ement in the hor iZ onta l a s W ell a s v er tic a l p la nes .
The top of the b r a c k et 62 ha s a tr ia ng u la r edg e 69 tha t
p r oj ec ts ov er the top of the k ing p iec e 5 4 to c omp lete the
ta b le top 1 4.
On ea c h s ide, ea c h ta b le top s ec tion 1 2 inc lu des a tong u e
a nd- g r oov e s tr u c tu r e 64 tha t is c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
ma te W ith the tong u e- a nd- g r oov e s tr u c tu r es 64 of a dj a c ent
ta b le top s ec tions 1 2. The k ing p iec e 5 4, k ing p la te 5 6, a nd
b r a c k ets 62 ma y b e ma de of a meta l. I f a dec or a tiv e ef f ec t
is des ir ed, it ma y b e a dv a nta g eou s to ma k e thos e c omp o
nents f r om b r a s s .
As s hoW n in F I G . 4, the ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion of the
ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 lea v es s u b s ta ntia l r oom b etW een the
s ec tions . I n or der to ? ll the s p a c e, a nd to p r ov ide a c ontig u
ou s ta b le top s u r f a c e in the ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion, a
nu mb er of ta b le lea v es 66 a r e p la c ed on the g u ide p la te 36.
F I G . 5 is a p er s p ec tiv e v ieW of the ta b le 1 0 in its ex p a nded
c on? g u r a tion W ith the ta b le lea v es 66 ins ta lled on the g u ide
p la te 36. Ea c h ta b le lea f 66 ha s a g ener a lly p enta g ona l s ha p e
a nd inc lu des a b r a c k et 62 on its inner edg e f or eng a g ing the
k ing p iec e 5 4 to loc k the ta b le lea f 66 in p la c e W ith r es p ec t
to the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 tha t a r e a dj a c ent to it. The ta b le
lea v es 66 a ls o inc lu de tong u e a nd g r oov e s tr u c tu r e ( not
1 0
1 5
20
25
30
35
45
5 0
5 5
60
65
8
s hoW n in the F ig u r es ) f or eng a g ing the c omp limenta r y
tong u e a nd g r oov e s tr u c tu r es 64 of the ta b le top s ec tions .
The p r oj ec tions 60 in the b r a c k ets 62 of the ta b le lea v es
66 a r e p os itioned to eng a g e the loW er r oW of hole- r ec ep
ta c les 5 8 of the k ing p iec e 5 4. S imila r ly, the u p p er r oW of
hole- r ec ep ta c les 5 9 of the k ing p iec e 5 4 a r e p os itioned a nd
a da p ted to eng a g e the b r a c k ets 62 of the ta b le top s ec tions
1 2. As s hoW n in F I G . 7 , the u p p er r oW of hole- r ec ep ta c les
5 9 is a ng u la r ly of f s et f r om the p os ition of the loW er r oW of
hole- r ec ep ta c les 5 8.
I n a ddition to the eng a g ement of the k ing p iec e 5 4 W ith
r es p ec tiv e b r a c k ets 60, the g u ide p la te 36 p r ov ides a nu mb er
of loc a ting p in holes 7 1 into W hic h loc a ting p ins , s u c h a s
W ooden doW els , ma y b e s ec u r ed. The loc a ting p ins ma y b e
u s ed to loc a te the ta b le lea v es 66 r ela tiv e to the ta b le
s ec tions 1 2, s u c h tha t the ta b le lea v es 66 a r e loc a ted p r op er ly
a nd do not s lide r ela tiv e to the g u ide p la te 66 onc e they ha v e
b een p u t into p os ition.
The ma j or ity of the c omp onents of the ta b le 1 0, inc lu ding
the p edes ta l 1 6, g u ide p la te 36, a nd ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 ma y
b e c ons tr u c ted of a ny ma ter ia l. H oW ev er , W ood is one
c u s toma r y a nd p r ef er r ed ma ter ia l f or ta b les of this typ e.
Typ ic a lly, W hen W ood is u s ed a s a ma ter ia l f or c onv entiona l
f u r nitu r e, the dimens iona l toler a nc es s p ec i? ed a r e r ela tiv ely
g r ea t. I n the c a s e of the ta b le 1 0, it is a dv a nta g eou s if the
dimens iona l toler a nc es a r e k ep t r ela tiv ely s ma ll, a s minor
v a r ia tions in c omp onent s iZ e ma y c a u s e f r ic tion- indu c ing
mis a lig nments , or ma y p r ev ent the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2
f r om meeting a t the k ing p iec e 5 4 to f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly
c ontig u ou s ta b le top s u r f a c e.
As one ex a mp le of the typ e of dimens iona l toler a nc es tha t
a r e b ene? c ia l in a ta b le s u c h a s ta b le 1 0, if the ta b le 1 0 ha s
a n ov er a ll dia meter of a b ou t 84 inc hes in the ex p a nded
c on? g u r a tion a nd a heig ht of a b ou t 30 inc hes , the ta b le top
s ec tions 1 2, s u p p or t a r ms 20, g u ide p la te 36, a nd other W ood
c omp onents ma y b e g iv en dimens iona l toler a nc es of 1 0. 03
inc hes or les s . The meta l c omp onents , s u c h a s the k ing p iec e
5 4 a nd b r a c k ets 62 ma y b e g iv en dimens iona l toler a nc es of
1 0. 004 inc hes or les s .
Typ ic a lly, the ta b le top s ec tions 1 2, p edes ta l 1 6, a nd other
c omp onents v is ib le to the u s er ha v e a v is u a lly a ttr a c tiv e
s u r f a c e ? nis h. I n p a r tic u la r , if thos e c omp onents a r e W ood,
they ma y b e s ta ined a nd p olis hed to a des ir ed dec or a tiv e
? nis h.
Althou g h the ta b le 1 0 des c r ib ed a b ov e is r ou nd a nd
r ema ins r ou nd in its ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion, ta b les of ma ny
dif f er ent s ha p es a nd s iZ es ma y b e ma de a c c or ding to the
p r inc ip les of the p r es ent inv ention. F or ex a mp le F I G S . 9A
a nd 9B a r e s c hema tic top p la n v ieW s of a nother ta b le 1 00
a c c or ding to the inv ention. The ta b le 1 00 ha s a r ou nd s ha p e
in its u nex p a nded c on? g u r a tion, a s s hoW n in F I G . 9A;
hoW ev er , its ta b le top s ec tions 1 02, 1 04 a r e of dif f er ent s iZ es .
Ther ef or e, W hen the ta b le 1 00 is in its ex p a nded c on? g u
r a tion, ta b le lea v es 1 06, 1 08 of dif f er ent s iZ es , c or r es p onding
to the s iZ es of the g a p s b etW een the r es p ec tiv e ta b le top
s ec tions 1 02, ma y b e ins er ted, g iv ing the ta b le 1 00 a n ov a l
s ha p e in its ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion, a s s hoW n in F I G . 9B.
F I G S . 1 0A a nd 1 0B a r e s c hema tic top p la n v ieW s of
a nother ta b le 200 tha t is s imila r to the ta b le 1 0 des c r ib ed
a b ov e. The ta b le 200 ha s a r ou nd s ha p e in its c los ed
c on? g u r a tion a nd ta b le top s ec tions 1 2 identic a l to thos e in
the ta b le 1 0, a s s hoW n in F I G . 1 0A. H oW ev er , a s s hoW n in
F I G . 1 0B, the ta b le lea v es 202 ha v e s tr a ig ht, s q u a r ed ends
ins tea d of r ou nded ends , g iv ing the ta b le 200 a s emi- r ou nd
s ha p e in its ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion.
F I G S . 1 1 A a nd 1 1 B a r e s c hema tic top p la n v ieW s of a
r ec ta ng u la r ta b le 300 a c c or ding to the p r inc ip les of the
US 6, 994, 032 B2
9
inv ention. Ea c h of the ta b le top s ec tions 302, 304 is s u b
s ta ntia lly tr ia ng u la r in s ha p e, a s s hoW n in F I G . 1 1 A. I n the
ex p a nded c on? g u r a tion, s hoW n in F I G . 1 1 B, the ta b le lea v es
306 of the ta b le 300 a r e s ha p ed to ma inta in the r ec ta ng u la r
s ha p e of the ta b le 300. Additiona lly, the ta b le top s ec tions
a nd ta b le lea v es of a ta b le s imila r to ta b le 300 ma y b e s ha p ed
s o a s to f or m a s q u a r e ta b le top W hen the ta b le top lea v es a r e
in their c los ed p os ition a nd a r ec ta ng u la r ta b le top W ith the
lea v es ins er ted.
One of or dina r y s k ill in the a r t W ill b e a b le to c a lc u la te the
r eq u ir ed s ha p es of the k ing p iec es a nd b r a c k ets nec es s a r y f or
ta b les 1 00, 200, a nd 300 b a s ed on the nu mb er of ta b le top
s ec tions a nd the g eometr y of ea c h s ec tion.
W hile the inv ention ha s b een des c r ib ed W ith r es p ec t to
c er ta in emb odiments , modi? c a tions ma y b e ma de W ithin the
s c op e of the inv ention. The s c op e of the inv ention is de? ned
b y the a p p ended c la ims .
W e c la im:
1 . An ex p a nda b le ta b le, c omp r is ing :
a p edes ta l;
a g u ide p la te mou nted on s a id p edes ta l;
a ta b le top c ou p led to s a id g u ide p la te ov er a top s u r f a c e
of s a id g u ide p la te, s a id ta b le top c omp r is ing a p lu r a lity
of s ep a r a te ta b le top s ec tions tha t a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd
a r r a ng ed to b e mov a b le r ela tiv e to ea c h other b etW een
p os itions de? ned b y s a id g u ide p la te; a nd
a k ing p iec e mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te, s a id k ing p iec e
ha v ing r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e
inner edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions , s o tha t s a id ta b le
top s ec tions a r e s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s W hen s a id
ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a ? r s t p os ition.
W her ein s a id k ing p iec e is s u b s ta ntia lly c ylindr ic a l, a nd
W her ein s a id r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es a r e holes f or med
a b ou t the c ir c u mf er enc e of s a id k ing p iec e.
2. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 , W her ein s a id k ing
p iec e inc lu des a n u p p er r oW of holes a nd a loW er r oW of
holes .
3. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 2, W her ein s a id u p p er
r oW of holes is a ng u la r ly of f s et f r om s a id loW er r oW of holes .
4. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 3, W her ein s a id p r oj ec t
ing s tr u c tu r es a r e p r ov ided on b r a c k ets s ec u r ed to r es p ec tiv e
inner edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions .
5 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 4, W her ein s a id ta b le top
s ec tions a r e s ha p ed a s s ec tor s of a c ir c le, a nd s a id ta b le top
is a c ontig u ou s c ir c le W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e in s a id
? r s t p os ition.
6. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 5 , W her ein s a id k ing
p iec e is mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te s o a s to de? ne the
c enter of the ta b le top .
7 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 6, f u r ther c omp r is ing a
p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es , ea c h ta b le lea f b eing c ons tr u c ted
a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r emov a b ly mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te
W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a s ec ond, ou tW a r dly
ex p a nded p os ition.
8. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 7 , W her ein s a id ta b le
lea v es f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le top W ith s a id
ta b le top s ec tions W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e in s a id
s ec ond p os ition.
9. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 8, W her ein s a id ta b le
lea v es inc lu de p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on inner edg es
ther eof , s a id p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es b eing c ons tr u c ted a nd
a r r a ng ed to eng a g e one of the u p p er a nd loW er r oW s of holes
in s a id k ing p iec e.
1 0. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 9, W her ein ea c h of s a id
p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es is c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e
mou nted b etW een r es p ec tiv e ones of s a id ta b le s ec tions to
1 0
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f or m s a id s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le s u r f a c e W hen s a id
ta b le s ec tions a r e in s a id s ec ond p os ition.
1 1 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 2, W her ein ea c h hole of
s a id u p p er a nd loW er r oW s of holes ha s s lop ed W a ll p or tions .
1 2. An ex p a nda b le ta b le, c omp r is ing :
a p edes ta l;
a g u ide p la te mou nted on s a id p edes ta l, W her ein s a id
g u ide p la te inc lu des a p lu r a lity of g u ide s lots f or med
ther ein;
a ta b le top c ou p led to s a id g u ide p la te ov er a top s u r f a c e
of s a id g u ide p la te, s a id ta b le top c omp r is ing a p lu r a lity
of s ep a r a te ta b le top s ec tions tha t a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd
a r r a ng ed to b e mov a b le r ela tiv e to ea c h other b etW een
p os itions de? ned b y s a id g u ide p la te;
a k ing p iec e mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te, s a id k ing p iec e
ha v ing r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e
inner edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions , s o tha t s a id ta b le
top s ec tions a r e s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s W hen s a id
ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a ? r s t p os ition; a nd
a p lu r a lity of g u ides , ea c h of s a id g u ides b eing c on
s tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e s lidea b ly mou nted W ithin
one of the g u ide s lots in s a id g u ide p la te,
W her ein s a id ta b le top s ec tions f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly c on
tig u ou s ta b le top W hen in a ? r s t p os ition, a nd
W her ein ea c h of s a id g u ide s lots inc lu des a s p line
mou nted ther ein.
1 3. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 2, W her ein s a id s p line
is f or med of a ma ter ia l s elec ted f r om the g r ou p c ons is ting of
g r a p hite a nd c a r b on ? b er c omp os ite ma ter ia l, a c eta l p la s tic ,
hig h dens ity p olyethylene, u ltr a hig h molec u la r W eig ht
p olyethylene, a nd u ltr a u ltr a hig h molec u la r W eig ht p oly
ethylene.
1 4. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 3, W her ein s a id s p line
inc lu des a tr a c k c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to s liding ly
eng a g e p r oj ec tions p r ov ided on s a id g u ides .
1 5 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 4, W her ein ea c h ta b le
top s ec tion is mou nted on one of s a id g u ides .
1 6. An ex p a nding ta b le, c omp r is ing :
a p edes ta l;
a ta b le top s u p p or t c ou p led to s a id p edes ta l;
a p lu r a lity of r u b b loc k s mou nted on the ta b le top s u p p or t;
a ta b le top dis p os ed ov er s a id ta b le top s u p p or t; a nd
a g u ide p la te eng a g ing s a id r u b b loc k s W ith a doW n
W a r dly- f a c ing s u r f a c e ther eof f or r ota tiona l mov ement
W ith r es p ec t to s a id r u b b loc k s
W her ein s a id ta b le top c omp r is es a p lu r a lity of s ep a r a te
ta b le top s ec tions tha t a r e c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
b e mov a b le r ela tiv e to ea c h other in a r a dia l dir ec tion.
1 7 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 6, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a k ing p iec e mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te, s a id k ing p iec e
ha v ing r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e inner
edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions , s o tha t s a id ta b le top
s ec tions a r e s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s W hen s a id ta b le top
s ec tions a r e in a ? r s t p os ition.
1 8. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 7 , W her ein s a id k ing
p iec e is s u b s ta ntia lly c ylindr ic a l, a nd W her ein s a id r ec eiv ing
s tr u c tu r es a r e holes f or med a b ou t the c ir c u mf er enc e of s a id
k ing p iec e.
1 9. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 8, W her ein s a id k ing
p iec e inc lu des a n u p p er r oW of holes a nd a loW er r oW of
holes .
20. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 9, W her ein ea c h hole
of s a id u p p er a nd loW er r oW s of holes ha s s lop ed W a ll
p or tions .
US 6, 994, 032 B2
1 1
21 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 20, wher ein s a id u p p er
r oW of holes is a ng u la r ly of f s et f r om s a id loW er r oW of holes .
22. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 7 , W her ein s a id
p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es a r e p r ov ided on b r a c k ets s ec u r ed to
r es p ec tiv e inner edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions .
23. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 7 , W her ein s a id ta b le
top s ec tions a r e s ha p ed a s s ec tor s of a c ir c le, a nd s a id ta b le
top is a c ontig u ou s c ir c le W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e in
s a id ? r s t p os ition.
24. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 23, W her ein s a id k ing
p iec e is mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te s o a s to de? ne the
c enter of the ta b le top .
25 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 24, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es , ea c h ta b le lea f b eing c ons tr u c ted
a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r emov a b ly mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te
W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a s ec ond, ou tW a r dly
ex p a nded p os ition.
26. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 25 , W her ein s a id ta b le
lea v es f or m a s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le top W ith s a id
ta b le top s ec tions W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e in s a id
s ec ond p os ition.
27 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 26, W her ein s a id ta b le
lea v es inc lu de p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on inner edg es
ther eof , s a id p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es b eing c ons tr u c ted a nd
a r r a ng ed to eng a g e one of the u p p er a nd loW er r oW s of holes
in s a id k ing p iec e.
28. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 27 , W her ein ea c h ta b le
lea f of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es is c ons tr u c ted a nd
a r r a ng ed to b e mou nted b etW een r es p ec tiv e ta b le top s ec
tions of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le top s ec tions to f or m s a id
s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s ta b le s u r f a c e W hen s a id ta b le top
s ec tions a r e in s a id s ec ond p os ition.
29. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 28, W her ein s a id g u ide
p la te inc lu des a p lu r a lity of g u ide s lots f or med ther ein.
30. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 29, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a p lu r a lity of g u ides , ea c h of s a id g u ides b eing c ons tr u c ted
a nd a r r a ng ed to b e s lidea b ly mou nted W ithin one of the
g u ide s lots in s a id g u ide p la te.
31 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 30, W her ein ea c h of
s a id g u ide s lots inc lu des a s p line mou nted ther ein.
32. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 31 , W her ein s a id s p lines
a r e f or med of a ma ter ia l s elec ted f r om the g r ou p c ons is ting
of a g r a p hite a nd c a r b on ? b er c omp os ite ma ter ia l, a c eta l
p la s tic , hig h dens ity p olyethylene, u ltr a hig h molec u la r
W eig ht p olyethylene, a nd u ltr a u ltr a hig h molec u la r W eig ht
p olyethylene.
33. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 32, W her ein s a id s p lines
inc lu de tr a c k s c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to s liding ly eng a g e
p r oj ec tions p r ov ided on s a id g u ides .
34. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 30, W her ein ea c h ta b le
top s ec tion is mou nted on one of s a id g u ides .
35 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 25 , W her ein s a id ta b le
lea v es ha v e s tr a ig ht, s q u a r ed ou ter edg e p or tions .
36. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 7 , W her ein the r u b
b loc k s a r e c omp r is ed of a c eta l p la s tic .
37 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 7 , W her ein the r u b
b loc k s a r e c omp r is ed of a ma ter ia l s elec ted f r om the g r ou p
c ons is ting of hig h dens ity p olyethylene p la s tic , u ltr a hig h
dens ity p olyethylene p la s tic , a nd u ltr a u ltr a hig h dens ity
p olyethylene p la s tic .
38. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 1 7 , W her ein s a id ta b le
top is a c ontig u ou s r ec ta ng le W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e
in s a id ? r s t p os ition.
39. An ex p a nda b le ta b le, c omp r is ing :
a p edes ta l;
a ta b le s u p p or t s tr u c tu r e mou nted to s a id p edes ta l a nd
ex tending ou tW a r dly ther ef r om;
1 O
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a p lu r a lity of a r c u a te r ota ting memb er s mou nted on s a id
s u p p or t s tr u c tu r e;
a g u ide p la te mov a b ly mou nted on s a id p edes ta l a nd
ha v ing a p lu r a lity of s lots ther ein, ea c h a r c u a te r ota ting
memb er a t lea s t p a r tia lly r ec eiv ed in the s lots of s a id
g u ide p la te;
a p lu r a lity of g u ides , ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of g u ides b eing
a t lea s t p a r tia lly r ec eiv ed in one of the s lots of s a id
g u ide p la te, ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of g u ides b eing
mou nted on one of s a id p lu r a lity of a r c u a te r ota ting
memb er s ; a nd
a ta b le top c omp r is ing a p lu r a lity of ta b le top s ec tions ,
ea c h ta b le top s ec tion of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le top
s ec tions b eing mou nted on a c or r es p onding g u ide of
s a id p lu r a lity of g u ides s u c h tha t s a id ta b le top s ec tions
a r e mov a b le r ela tiv e to one a nother in a r a dia l dir ec tion.
40. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 39, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a k ing p iec e mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te, s a id k ing p iec e
ha v ing r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e inner
edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions s o tha t s a id ta b le top s ec tions
a r e s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e
in a ? r s t p os ition.
41 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 40, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es , ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le
lea v es b eing c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r emov a b ly
mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e
in a s ec ond, ou tW a r dly ex p a nded p os ition.
42. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 41 , W her ein ea c h of
s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es inc lu des a p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r e
on a n inner edg e ther eof , s a id p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r e b eing
c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r ec eiv ed b y s a id k ing p iec e
W hen s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es is mou nted on s a id g u ide
p la te.
43. An ex p a nda b le ta b le, c omp r is ing :
a p edes ta l;
a g u ide p la te mov a b ly c ou p led to s a id p edes ta l, s a id g u ide
p la te ha v ing a p lu r a lity of s lots ;
a p lu r a lity of g u ides , ea c h b eing dis p os ed in a s lot of the
p lu r a lity of s lots of s a id g u ide p la te;
a ta b le top c omp r is ing a p lu r a lity of ta b le top s ec tions ,
ea c h ta b le top s ec tion ha v ing a tong u e a nd g r oov e
s tr u c tu r e c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to eng a g e a tong u e
a nd g r oov e s tr u c tu r e of a n a dj a c ent ta b le top s ec tion,
ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le top s ec tions b eing
mou nted on a c or r es p onding one of s a id p lu r a lity of
g u ides s o a s to b e mov a b le r ela tiv e to ea c h other in a
r a dia l dir ec tion; a nd
a k ing p iec e mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te, s a id k ing p iec e
ha v ing r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e
inner edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions s o tha t s a id ta b le
top s ec tions a r e s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s W hen s a id
ta b le top s ec tions a r e in a ? r s t p os ition.
44. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 43, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es , ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le
lea v es b eing c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r emov a b ly
mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e
in a s ec ond, ou tW a r dly ex p a nded p os ition.
45 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 44, W her ein ea c h of
s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es inc lu des a p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r e
on a n inner edg e ther eof , s a id p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r e b eing
c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r ec eiv ed b y s a id k ing p iec e
W hen s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es is mou nted on s a id g u ide
p la te.
US 6, 994, 032 B2
1 3
46. An ex p a nda b le ta b le, c omp r is ing :
a p edes ta l;
a ta b le s u p p or t s tr u c tu r e mou nted on s a id p edes ta l a nd
ex tending ou tW a r dly ther ef r om;
a p lu r a lity of a r c u a te r ota ting memb er s mou nted on s a id
ta b le s u p p or t s tr u c tu r e;
a g u ide p la te mou nted on s a id p edes ta l, s a id g u ide p la te
ha v ing a p lu r a lity of s lots ther ein, ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity
of s lots a t lea s t p a r tia lly r ec eiv ing a n end of one of s a id
p lu r a lity of a r c u a te r ota ting memb er s ;
a ta b le top c omp r is ing a p lu r a lity of ta b le top s ec tions
dis p os ed ov er s a id g u ide p la te, ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of
ta b le top s ec tions b eing c ou p led to the end of one of
s a id p lu r a lity of a r c u a te r ota ting memb er s , the ta b le top
s ec tions b eing c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e mov a b le
r ela tiv e to ea c h other in a r a dia l dir ec tion.
47 . The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 46, f u r ther c omp r is ing
a k ing p iec e mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te, s a id k ing p iec e
1 0
1 5
1 4
ha v ing r ec eiv ing s tr u c tu r es c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to
r ec eiv e p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r es p r ov ided on r es p ec tiv e inner
edg es of s a id ta b le top s ec tions , s o tha t s a id ta b le top
s ec tions a r e s u b s ta ntia lly c ontig u ou s W hen s a id ta b le top
s ec tions a r e in a ? r s t p os ition.
48. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 47 , f u r ther c omp r is ing
a p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es , ea c h of s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le
lea v es b eing c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r emov a b ly
mou nted on s a id g u ide p la te W hen s a id ta b le top s ec tions a r e
in a s ec ond, ou tW a r dly ex p a nded p os ition.
49. The ex p a nda b le ta b le of c la im 48, W her ein ea c h of
s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es inc lu des a p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r e
on a n inner edg e ther eof , s a id p r oj ec ting s tr u c tu r e b eing
c ons tr u c ted a nd a r r a ng ed to b e r ec eiv ed b y s a id k ing p iec e
W hen s a id p lu r a lity of ta b le lea v es is mou nted on s a id g u ide
p la te.