Motorized Combined Folding Table and Chair for Smart Home

The problem

In modern apartments and home offices, floor space is limited. Traditional desks and chairs occupy room even when not in use. Foldable furniture exists, but usually requires manual effort to set up each time, and the chair must often be moved separately from the table. Users want a solution that maximizes utility per square foot without complex setup. They need a system where expanding the work surface naturally accommodates the user’s seating position without requiring them to adjust their chair manually.

The solution

The patent describes a combined folding table and chair device housed within a support frame.

1. Support Frame (1) acts as the base structure.
2. Table Plate (2) is fixed to the upper end of the frame.
3. Folding Plates (3, 4, 5) are stored inside the frame. There are multiple sets: First, Second, and Third folding plates.
4. Seats (6) are also folded and stored within the support frame.
5. First Folding Mechanism unfolds the plates. It uses a Motor (7) connected to a First Bevel Gear (8). Through universal joints and threaded rods, this mechanism pushes the plates out in four directions (front, back, left, right) so they become flush with the main table plate.
6. Second Folding Mechanism deploys the seats. It uses a Worm (35) and Worm Wheel (36) system. Crucially, as the plates unfold, this mechanism pushes the unfolded seats outward by equal distances. This ensures the seat remains aligned with the new edge of the expanded table.

Who it is for

• Smart Home Integrators: Companies building automated living spaces who need furniture that responds to digital commands or occupancy sensors.
• Urban Apartment Developers: Builders looking to furnish small units with convertible furniture that saves square footage.
• Home Office Furniture Brands: Manufacturers targeting remote workers who need a large desk during the day but a compact footprint at night.
• Educational Facility Suppliers: Schools or libraries needing flexible study pods that can expand for group work and collapse for individual storage.

How it works

The main parts

Operating Steps

1. Activation: The user triggers the system (via switch or automation).
2. Plate Unfolding: The Motor (7) rotates the First Bevel Gear (8). Power is transmitted via Universal Joints (13) to Second Bevel Gears (14) on four sides. These turn the Threaded Rods (10). Because the rods are self-locking and mesh with Racks (12), the Folding Plates (3, 4, 5) slide out smoothly from the frame.
3. Seat Deployment: Simultaneously, the Second Folding Mechanism engages. The Worm (35) turns the Worm Wheel (36), which is connected to the Seat (6).
4. Alignment: As the plates extend, the seats are pushed outward by an equal distance. This keeps the user seated correctly at the edge of the newly expanded table surface.
5. Retraction: Reversing the motor folds the plates back into the frame and pulls the seats inward, restoring the compact footprint.

Applications

Small Studio Apartments

In a studio, a standard desk might block movement. This unit collapses into a narrow cabinet-like profile when not in use, freeing up floor space for walking or other activities.

Shared Home Offices

Two users can share one unit if configured appropriately, or a single user can expand the surface for spreading out documents and monitors. The synchronized seat movement means no fumbling with chair adjustments after opening the desk.

Educational Study Pods

Libraries and schools can install these in corners. Students can expand the table for group projects and collapse it for individual reading, maximizing the utility of limited classroom space.

Retail Display Units

Stores can use these as interactive demo stations. When a customer approaches, the staff or sensor can trigger the expansion, revealing a larger surface for product display or consultation, then retracting it when idle.

Where it is less suitable

• Heavy Industrial Use: The plastic or light metal gears and threaded rods are designed for household loads, not heavy machinery or constant rough handling.
• Fixed High-Load Desks: If the table needs to support very heavy equipment permanently, a static solid-core desk is more stable than a mechanical unfolding system.
• Outdoor Environments: The motor and exposed mechanical linkages require protection from dust and moisture, making them unsuitable for unsheltered patios.