US20070283860A1

US20070283860A1 - Table structure

Info

Publication number: US20070283860A1
Application number: US11/448,664
Authority: US
Inventors: De-Hong Sun
Original assignee: Jie Yi Co Ltd
Current assignee: JIE-YI Co Ltd; Jie Yi Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-08
Filing date: 2006-06-08
Publication date: 2007-12-13

Abstract

A table structure comprises: a table body having a rotatable platform on a table plate thereof, the platform being divided into a plurality of divisions; a transmission mounted inside the table body for rotating the platform; at least a control box located on the table plate for connection with a control circuit of the transmission; and at least a monitor mounted on the platform for being controlled by a control means, whereby the control means enables the monitor to inform guests of a dish count by showing a numeral before placing the dish on the platform and the control box also controls the rotation manner of the platform for facilitating the eating of dish.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved structure of conveniently usable table that is applicable for various dinning tables of various restaurants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Chinese are a hospitable people. Due to the habitual behavior, the Chinese people always select the large-sized round table, which stands for perfection and reunion. However, the large area of the large-sized round table makes the process for eating dishes difficult. In order to facilitate the eating of dishes, a turntable is placed on this large-sized round table so as to change the locations of the dishes by rotating the turntable.
As shown in FIG. 6, a turntable 10 is mounted on the conventional table structure, and composed of a stand 11 and a rotatory plate 12, wherein rolling balls 13 are located between the stand 11 and the rotatory plate 12 to allow the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the rotatory plate 12. However, the users must rotate the turntable 10 by themselves so as to pick up the dishes according to their likes. In addition, the users are unable to know the current dish count and cannot handle the speed of showing the dishes. Moreover, they cannot be informed that whether the dangerous dish such as hot soup or fiery dish is ready to be placed. As a result, they cannot prepare themselves beforehand.
Whereas the foregoing description, the present inventor makes diligent studies in providing the consumers with an improved table structure that enables the users to know the speed of showing the dishes and promotes the safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved table structure that enables the users to know the dish count.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved table structure that is rotatable according to the requirements of users to facilitate the eating of dishes.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved table structure that promotes the safety.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a table body having a rotatable platform on a table plate thereof, the platform being divided into a plurality of divisions; a transmission mounted inside the table body for rotating the platform; at least a control box located on the table plate for connection with a control circuit of the transmission; and at least a monitor mounted on the platform for being controlled by a control means, whereby the control means enables the monitor to inform guests of a dish count by showing a numeral before placing the dish on the platform and the control box also controls the rotation manner of the platform for facilitating the eating of dish.
The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily clarified in the description of the preferred embodiments and the enclosed drawings of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the components of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are schematic views showing the usage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional table structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 simultaneously, a table body 3 of the table structure of the present invention comprises a table plate 31 and a table post 32. In addition, a platform 34 with a smaller area than that of the table plate 31 is movably, pivotally coupled with the center of the table plate 31. A pivotal connection part 341 on which a corresponding transmission is mounted is located on and protrudent from the center bottom of the platform 34. The platform 34 can be divided into a plurality of divisions, such as six divisions in this preferred embodiment. In addition, a positioning trench 342 is formed on each of these six divisions, wherein a touch switch 343 is formed in the positioning trench 342. Besides, these positioning trenches 342 have respective extension flanges, which are distinguished from one another by respective colors, numerals, English letters, patterns, or symbols. In this preferred embodiment, these extension flanges are distinguished one another by respective colors. Several small-depressed cavities 344 are formed on the platform 34 for holding respective relish trays. Besides, several monitors 345 are properly disposed around the edge of the platform 34. In this preferred embodiment, each monitor 345 comprises two seven-stage display devices for showing green-, red- and blue-color lights.
Moreover, these monitors 345 are controlled by a control circuit and connected to the respective touch switches 343. A transmission, which is composed of a stepper motor 321 and a gear 322, is mounted inside the table post 32 of the table body 3. The gear 322 is coupled to a motor shaft of the stepper motor 321 and engaged correspondingly with the transmission of the pivotal connection part 341 of the platform 34. Besides, the stepper motor 321 is connected to a control circuit 33. The control circuit 33 is further connected to a plurality of control boxes 35 in parallel, wherein the amount of the control boxes 35 is depended upon the size of the table plate 31 and the number of people. Several push buttons are located in each of control boxes 35. For example, nine push buttons are adopted in this preferred embodiment, wherein six of these nine push buttons are assigned to six division colors, respectively, and the remaining three push buttons are adopted as function buttons including a start button 351, a pause button 352 and a stop button 353.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, if there is a need to place the first dish, which is cold cuts, on the platform 34 after the guests have taken their respective seats, the control circuit enables the monitors 345 to show twinkling green numeral “01” so as to inform the guests that the first dish, which is going to be placed on the platform 34, is a low-danger dish. Besides, the dishes can be firmly placed in the respective positioning trenches 342 on the divisions of the platform 34, and held firmly by the extension flanges of the positioning trenches 342. In addition, the numeral, which is shown on the monitors 345, stops twinkling once the dish presses down the touch switches 343. As a result, the guests can be informed of the current dish count by using the static numeral. If the fourth dish, for example, is hot soup or fiery dish, the control circuit enables the monitors 345 to show twinkling red numeral “04” so as to inform the gests that the fourth dish is highly dangerous. Besides, the guests can be informed of the dish count and the speed of showing the dishes by showing the numeral on the monitors 345.
If the guests want to taste a dish on the farthest-distance division, they merely need to push down the push buttons that have the same color as this division to enable the stepper motor 321 to rotate the pivotal connection part 341 such that this division of the platform 34 can be rotated to be in front of the guests for facilitating the eating of dishes. If two guests press different push buttons in the control boxes 35 at the same time, the dish, which is first ordered by one of the guests, is rotated to be in front of this guest by the control circuit 33 for controlling the rotation sequence of the platform 34.
In addition, the rotation of the platform 34 can be controlled by using the function buttons 351, 352 and 353 of the control boxes 35. For example, the stepper motor 321 is driven to rotate the platform 34 slowly, continuously by pressing the start button 351. If it is uneasy to pick up the dishes or the guest is a golden ager or an elderly or young tardy person, the platform 34 can be paused for about 10 to 15 seconds by pressing the pause button 352 to facilitate this guest to pick up the dishes. In addition, if a waiter or a waitress wants to place the dishes on the platform 34, the platform 34 can be stopped immovably by pressing the stop button 353.
Furthermore, after the start button 351 of one of the control boxes 35 on the table plate 31 is pressed persistently for about 3 to 5 seconds, this corresponding seat is defined to be the important seat. After the stopping of the platform 34 for placing the dish, the platform 34 can be rotated by the control circuit 33 such that this newly placed dish is rotated to be in front of this important seat. Accordingly, an elderly person, an important person, or a worthy person has priority in enjoying this newly placed dish, thereby complying with the traditional morality of honoring the aged and the wise and educating the younger persons. In addition, if the stop button 353 is pressed persistently for about 3 to 5 seconds, this button is transformed into a service bell so as to notify the waiter or waitress that the corresponding services are demanded.
After several dishes are placed on the platform 34,. the extension flanges of the farther positioning trenches 342 on the diagonal positions may be covered by the dish plates so the gusts are unable to know the colors of the extension flanges of the positioning trenches 342. In respond to this problem, a plurality of marking regions 346 marked with respective patterns, colors or characters can be formed on the border of the platform 34, as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the above-mentioned six push buttons, which are located inside each of the control boxes, may be changed to have the corresponding patterns of the marking regions 346 so as to enable the guests to know the corresponding patterns of the marking regions 346 clearly. Alternatively, various proper patterns that are suitable for the topic, atmosphere, and situation of feast may be formed on the marking regions 346.
In accordance with the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides the advantages as follows:
1. the monitors mounted on the platform inform the users of the dish count and enable them to further participate in the feast and know the process of feast, and the shown colors of the monitors also notify the users that whether the following dish is dangerous.
2. The platform can be rotated according to requirements by lightly pressing the buttons inside the control boxes on the platform so as to facilitate the eating of dishes.
3. The marking regions formed on the platform can be applied for distinguishing the different divisions from one another and for increasing the atmosphere by forming proper marking patterns according the topic of feast.
In summary, the present invention indeed achieves the expected objects by providing the table structure that enables the guests to know the dish count. Accordingly, the present invention satisfies the requirement for patentability and is therefore submitted for a patent.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A table structure comprising:

a table body having a rotatable platform on a table plate thereof, said platform being divided into a plurality of divisions;

a transmission mounted inside said table body for rotating said platform;

at least a control box located on said table plate for connection with a control circuit of said transmission; and

at least a monitor mounted on said platform for being controlled by a control means, whereby said control means enables said monitor to inform guests of a dish count by showing a numeral before placing said dish on said platform and said control box also controls the rotation manner of said platform for facilitating the eating of dish.

2. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said monitor comprises two seven-stage display devices for showing at least two colored lights.

3. The table structure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of small-depressed cavities are formed on said platform for holding respective relish trays.

4. The table structure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of marking regions marked with respective patterns, colors or characters are formed on said platform.

5. The table structure of claim 1, wherein a positioning trench is formed on each of said divisions of said platform for holding a dish plate.

6. The table structure of claim 5, wherein said positioning trench has an extension flange having an easily distinguishable color, design, light-emitting device for emitting various colored lights, or pattern.

7. The table structure of claim 5, wherein a touch switch is connected with said monitor and mounted in said positioning trench.

8. The table structure of claim 1, wherein a plurality of push buttons are mounted in said control box, wherein three of said push buttons are a start button, a pause button and a stop button, respectively, and the rest are assigned to said divisions, respectively.

9. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said control box is connected to said control circuit in parallel.

10. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said transmission comprises a stepper motor and a gear located on a motor shaft of said stepper motor, and said platform further has a pivotal connection part corresponding to said gear.

11. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said monitor are disposed on the top of said platform.

12. The table structure of claim 1, wherein said monitor are disposed on the edge of said platform.