| CPC A47B 3/08 (2013.01) [A47B 9/14 (2013.01); B62D 33/023 (2013.01); B62D 63/04 (2013.01); A47B 2003/0827 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
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1. A method for operating a table with an upper part providing a tabletop, a lower part providing a shelf and a plurality of legs, comprising:
transitioning the table from a deployed configuration to a stowed configuration by:
applying a first pushing force to first ends of first legs of the plurality of legs which are coupled to each other by a first cross bar positioned at or near middles of elongate lengths of the first legs, wherein the first pushing force causes the first legs to rotate towards the center of the table until the first legs reside adjacent to the upper part or lower part of the table;
applying a second pushing force to the first legs to cause the first legs to slide against the upper or lower part in a first direction away from the center of the table until second ends of the first legs are received into openings formed in first couplers that are coupling the first legs to the upper part;
applying a third pushing force to first ends of second legs of the plurality of legs which are coupled to each other by a second cross bar, wherein the second pushing force causes the second legs to rotate towards the center of the table until the second legs reside adjacent to the upper or lower part of the table; and
applying a fourth pushing force to the second legs to cause the second legs to slide against the upper or lower part in a second direction away from the center of the table until second ends of the second legs are received into openings formed in second couplers that are coupling the second legs to the upper part, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction;
wherein a first distance between top portions of the first legs is smaller than a second distance between bottom portions of the first legs, and a third distance between the second legs has a same value along entire lengths of the second legs;
wherein the top portions of the first legs are coupled to the first cross bar at first locations that are closer to a center of an elongate length of the first cross bar as compared to second locations on the elongate length of the first cross bar at which the bottom portions of the first legs are coupled; and
wherein when the first and second legs reside adjacent to the upper or lower part: (i) elongate lengths of both the first and second legs extend adjacent directly to the upper or lower part of the tabletop, (ii) the first ends of the second legs are both nested within first ends of the first legs, and (iii) the first ends of the second legs extend parallel to the first ends of the first legs.
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