Table-Mate Portable Tables - Ditch Those Old TV Trays!

The history of the TV tray was born out of necessity and is very uninspiring. Americans had a brand new form of entertainment -- the black-and-white television! And what does one do with a new television? Why eat dinner in front of it, of course! TV dinners and TV trays became the rage.

The first TV trays were metal contraptions in a wide variety of colors and designs with a recessed tray. The recessed portion was excellent for catching spilled food and drinks. The tray table was sturdy and had plenty of room under it to be comfortably seated. Most sets came with a wheeled or stationary storage rack. Unfortunately, in time, the trays would begin to bend and rust.

The next bright idea was a small, rickety wooden table with a flat top. These little gems, for the most part, were made of very nice, solid wood but were quite expensive and quite unstable. You had to maneuver carefully to get situated in the small recess between the legs; and since the legs were not positioned properly, the table was not stable. It was quite easy to get your feet entangled in the cross brace or one of the legs in the confined quarters . The flat top dared you to spill a drink or drop a piece of food. The dogs loved this new design. I found these tables to be highly impractical; and I passed on purchasing these wooden monstrosities.

After hours of searching the Internet for some new TV trays, I happened upon the Table-Mate Portable Table. All at once the skies cleared; and the sun shone brightly! Voila'! Could this be the answer? Yes, indeed!

I purchased two of the White Original Table-Mate Tables because the surface area was larger than most standard TV trays (19.75" x 25.5"). Table-Mate then introduced a Light Oak Original Table-Mate; and I purchased two of them to use in the living room so that my husband and I could have our dinner and watch TV.

This year (2011) I purchased a laptop.  I wanted to be able to work sitting in my recliner with the footrest placed in the upright position.  I checked out dozens of tables on the Internet; and they were too expensive, the supports would not fit in the space allowed and it would be difficult to position the table close enough for me to work comfortably. I decided to take a look at the Table-Mate website just for kicks and was surprised and delighted to find that they had added a new table to their product line -- the Table-Mate V. This table was made specifically for wheelchairs and lift chairs and has a wider space between the legs. I measured my recliner's footrest; and it appeared to be a good fit...and it was!  The Table-Mates's legs are set wide enough to fit around the outside of my recliner's footrest which allows me to pull the table in close enough to work on my laptop or eat a meal.

All Table-Mate Tables have a polypropylene top, painted steel base and are adjustable to 5 heights and 3 angles (2 down, 1 up). The table top can be folded down for easier storage or completely folded to slide under a bed or possibly a couch. Because of the leg design, there isn't the restrictive space as there was with the old-style TV tray. Instead of legs there are smooth pieces of painted steel that can be easily slid across the floor. You could not do that with a typical TV tray with four legs. The details for the various tables are:

• Table-Mate I (Original)
• Table size - 19.75" x 25.5", Distance between legs - 23", Maximum weight capacity - 50 lbs.
• Table-Mate II (A compact version of the Table-Mate I)
• Table size - 15" x 20", Distance between legs - 18.25", Maximum weight capacity - 50 lbs.

• Table-Mate V
• Table size - 19.75" x 25.5", Distance between legs - 28.62", Maximum weight capacity - 50 lbs.
• This table is the same size as the Table-Mate I except that there is a wider distance between the legs to accommodate recliners, lift chairs and/or wheelchairs. Whether you use it as an eating tray, laptop desk or craft table, it can be pulled in close for easy, comfortable access. Be sure to measure your chair's footrest or wheelchair width before ordering.

• Table-Mate Classic
• Table size - 17" x 23", Distance between legs - 18.25", Maximum weight capacity - 50 lbs.
• The table top is ergonomically shaped (scooped so that the table can be pulled in closer to the body); and the corners are more rounded.

• Table-Mate 4 Kids
• Table size - 14.25" x 18.25", Maximum weight capacity - 40 lbs
• Includes a multi-colored table, chair and carry bag. The chair folds up and clips onto the back of the folded table for storage in the carry bag. Grandparents take note if you have a little one coming to visit on a regular basis!

Table-Mate Tables are easy to assemble and fully adjustable. There are no cross-braces so it is very easy to sit comfortably without worrying about hitting the legs and possibly tipping the table or spilling your food. The recessed tabletop catches any spilled food or drinks; and the table can easily be slid out of sight if necessary. For example, if you are working on a jigsaw puzzle and you have company coming, you can easily slide the table into another room.

The uses for these tables are endless. Does your college-bound teen need a portable table in his/her dorm room? Is there limited space in his/her bedroom for a desk? Do you need a craft or sewing table? A serving table? I'm sure you can think of dozens of uses!

Depending on the style, the tables are available in white, light oak and/or dark walnut. The white is very utilitarian. If you prefer the Table-Mate Table in a color and cannot find it through amazon.com or any other merchants, you might try ordering direct from Table-Mate.com.  Not all tables are available in all colors; and not all merchants carry an assortment of all table types and colors.  When comparing prices, please be sure to check shipping costs.  This is a larger item; and retailer's shipping costs will vary.

I couldn't be happier with my Table-Mate Tables; and you may find that they become one of your favorites as well!

Check amazon.com for complete listing of Table-Mate Tables. Some examples of prices and availability from amazon.com updated as of 2/25/12 are shown to the right. Be sure to check shipping charges for each merchant as they will vary. All prices, shipping charges and availability from amazon.com are subject to change.

If you would like to order direct from Table-Mate.com, prices, shipping charges and availability as of 2/25/12 are as follows: (Check Table-Mate website for current pricing.)

Table-Mate I - White - $39.95, Light Oak - $49.95, Dark Walnut - $49.95

Table-Mate II - White - $29.95, Light Oak - $39.95, Dark Walnut - $39.95

Table-Mate V - White - $49.95, Dark Walnut - $59.95,

Table-Mate Classic - White - $34.95, Light Oak - $44.95, Dark Walnut - $44.95

Table-Mate for Kids - $39.95

Shipping charges: $14.95/unit for Table-Mate I & V (U.S. & Canada), $9.95/unit for Table-Mate II & Classic (U.S. & Canada)

• All prices, shipping charges and availability from Table-Mate.com subject to change.