U.S. Patent No. 5,865,501 - Table And Seats For Children (Feb. 2, 1999)

The present invention includes a table and a plurality of seats that can be coupled together in multiple use configurations and can be easily collapsed into a compact storage unit when not in use. The table includes a table top and a plurality of table legs depending therefrom. In a first use configuration, the table is positioned over the seats with each table leg aligned to engage the seat. Retaining pins extend through apertures formed in the seats and apertures formed in the legs so as to retain the table in position. The retaining pin can be inserted into a second aperture in the leg to retain the table in an extended use configuration. When the pin is withdrawn, the table can be completely removed from the seats for the storage configuration. In the storage configuration, the seats are positioned on the bottom surface of the table top, and the seat legs are aligned to engage recesses formed in the bottom surface of the table top that provide a friction fit. Similarly, when the seat legs are aligned with the recesses in the table top, the table legs are aligned with receiving recesses formed in the bottom of the seat. The engagement of the table legs and seat legs with their respective receiving recesses provides an efficient and effective mechanism for retaining the table in the storage configuration, and advantageously reduces the resultant volume.