US2481671A

US2481671A - Article of furniture

Info

Publication number: US2481671A
Application number: US634263A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hazel E John; John Eugene Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-12-11
Filing date: 1945-12-11
Publication date: 1949-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1966-09-13

Description

H. E. JOHN ET'AL Sept. 13, 1949.

' ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 11, 1945 m l m raks Ha ze/ E. c/o/m fugene A/len Jo/m BY A TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1949 UNITED STATE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Hazel E. John and Eugene Allen J ohn, Seattle, Wash.

Application December 11, 1945, Serial No. 634,263

. 13 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with an article of furniture which may take various forms, the article being herein represented in the form of a table. More particularly it is intended as a table for the use of'children, having incorporated in it convenient means for the storage of toys, books, play materials, and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a table of the nature indicated, which may readily be knocked down for shipment, and the parts of which when assembled will be securely and rigidly interlocked and braced in all its parts.

More particularly it is-an object to provide such a knockdown article of furniture, in which the several parts are capable of interfitting by complemental notches, grooves, and the like, without the use of any tools, in-such manner that each part holds previously assembled parts either positively locked in position, or frictionally so held, and each part as it is added further stiffens, braces, and strengthens the structure as a whole.

It is, too, a further object to provide such a knockdown table in which the various locking and stiffening elements serve the further purpose of affording supports or shelves for the support of books, toys, dolls, and the like, which are to be stored beneath the table, so that the greater part of the space beneath the table is thus usefully employed.

It is also an object to provide a knockdown article of furniture of the general nature indicated, which, in addition to being sturdy when assembled, is also of inexpensive and light construction.

With these and other objects in mind, as will appear hereafter, the invention comprises the novel parts, and the novel manner of assembling and relating these parts, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and as will be hereinafter more fully explained in this specification and defined by the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied in a knockdown table, and in a form which is at present preferred by us, but it will be understood that the invention may be incorporated in a different article of furniture, or for a different purpose, and it may also assume variant forms, within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Figure 1 is an isometric exploded view of the parts, and Figure 2 is a similar view showing the parts assembled.

For the support of the table top 5 a substructure is formed, which substructure has the further function of affording storage space for the various articles for which a child has no ready place of storage. This substructure generally consists of U-shaped end walls I, of which there are two, somewhat spaced apart, two spaced side walls 2, disposed usually at right angles to the planes of the end walls -I a lower horizontally disposed plate member 3, which is in the nature of a final locking member, as well as a large shelf, and smaller side shelf members 4, which also serve to make rigid and to hold properly spaced the upper portions of the end walls.

Each substantially U-shaped end wall I has a cross bar portion In and upright arm portions H at each side. The cross bar portions Ill, in alignment with the inside edges of the upright arm portions, are vertically notched, as. indicated at 12. The lower edges of the, side walls 2 are complementally notched, as indicated at 22, so that these notches l2 and 22 can, in effect, interfit, and thereby the side walls 2 are heldclose against the inner edges of the upright arm portions II, and the walls I and 2 mutually hold one another upright. Any equivalent interfitting arrangement to the same ends may be substituted for that described.

The shelf members 4 are to a degree optional, but highly desirable and useful. They are formed to interfit with theupright arms I I. When employed they must be assembled with the end walls I in advance of the engagement of the side walls 2 with the end walls, or else they must interfit therewith by means somewhat different from that about to be described. These shelf members 4 may interfit by reason of notches 43 in their outer edges, in which case the upright arm portions ll of the end walls arecomplementally notched in their inner edges, asindicated at l3. Two such notches [3 in each arm portion H are shown. The lower of these is preferably in alignment with the upper edge of the cross bar portion, and the upper one is somewhat spaced thereabove. The shelf members 4 are of such width that when their notches 43 are interfitted with the notches 13 of the end walls, the inner edges of the shelves are flush with the inner edges of the upright arm portions ll; When thus in-' terengaged with the end walls the shelf members serve to prevent the tiltingof the end walls, and by employing two such shelf members at each side the rigidity of the structure'is rather appreciable, even before assembly of the side walls 2. When these side walls 2: arefittedinto place, as previously described, they will lock' in place the shelf members 4, for the latter are removable only by movement inwardly relative tothe upright arm portions II, and that is blocked by the interposed side walls 2. The ends of the shelves, extending beyond the arm portions ll, serve as braces for the edges of the side walls 2, and are both useful and decorative.

When the side walls and end walls have been interfitted, the whole may be secured in assembled relationship by a plate member 3. It is not material precisely how this plate member 3 locks with the wall members; for it' s ufiices if; theplate memher be nierelyibfsuch wi dth as to .press'the side walls 2 outwardly against the inner edges Oftlfle I arms II, but a convenient means of interlocking consists of providing grooves 23 in the inn er sur faces of the side walls 2 at the level of th eupper edge of the cross bar portions Illeof -theendwalls, forming the plate 3 of such width as to fit snugly within, and to span the 2 space between, these grooves 23'. When thus inteifit'ted by movement of the plate member in its own plane, and-with the plate member preferably of a length to extend-.beyondanclirestmmmatileastrone, a d r erably upon eachend wall, theiend .wallshand the side. walls ,2 are.securely .neldeinplage- The.substructure soeassembled; wither, without the-. shelves; 4, mayjtconstituteuauseful article .of furniture; in itself-, and Jnayneednotop; or, since the-top performs-the .tunction of .urgingoutwardly the upper -.portions ofithe side. walls. 2za'gainst the inner edges,ofitheupriglitarms 11;, thereby. assisting the plate 3 in frictionallyuholding. thaend walls I and sidewallsl sagain'st-relativelvertical separation, thisufunctiom'may .baaccomplishedin. part onwhollyi byran elementawhichi'in alliother re.- spects .is quite, unliketheetop 51' Any. spacer. element which thuseurgesapart,thebpper.portions of the side wall's zabecomesthe equivalent. of..the top; except l to'- the tops iunction ofeproviding a workingsurface. l r

'I he shape f-=the top-5 is quiteimmaterial,- and a round shapel has -been shown asonepossible choic'e; It is reniovablysecured upon the substructure,- assembled as describ'edlbelew. Preferablythe table top-likewise interlocks to a degree with the substructure, as for example, by -provideneughf apart to'fit-cldsely between-the upper-portions of the; side wallis fl'andgtp urge the-latter apart and t'd liold thm clsag ainst theupper portionsof 'the i i ner'a'ges or tne upright arm portions 11; Any c' Ii'ient means oif releasably securing' the; ta p nfthis position', resting upon th'e1upper-"edges of the vifalls, maybe employed,- such "a reecrew '25 and the eyes 52;" The tdp-ifiay be thus r'eleasably securedto theend walls l or' -to the 'side'walls 2; both types of wall pr fez-ably extend upwardly to i contact thtopi i V As will be--realiaedirern-comparisonoi Figures 1 and-2,' thi s table ls' s'troiig and 'rigidwhen assembled;- yer rue-"assembly can 56 quicklyaccomplished withoutthe us (if any topls There-is provided byfthe plateinembea 3, a -largeledge or shelt in-the middleof the tab'le for-the support of large article's, 'su'ch sasadiills; small/warts; a'nd'ithe like, or which with theltopaomittedLmight. serve as a seat, 'flankedby the arms-rained bytheside wallsil Theshlfimemb'e'rsellrprovidelspace. for the reception. ofis'malli trinkets, book's,v andv the like, and'theendaportions ofitlie shelf members .4 may. :be nicelylroundedioflai soe that they; are .not only .attractiveoin appearanca. but-.avoidJthe .formatiomoflsharp; cdrnersionlwh'icha childzmay injure. himself. The; top-e53 of course, provides. .='a space. on. whichsto playaanda work; The. plate member; 3;, isipreierablya locate.d;-. ate a .sum-cient height that the child cannot comfortably nor con veniently place his feet upon it, and so that it will serve primarily as a support for toys and the like. 5 disassembled, without tools, and can be packed into extremely small compass for shipment. 7

All the parts of the table can be manufactured With a minimum of equipment, from such relatively inexpensive, and light materialv as plywood. The only hardware is that involved inthe topsecurmg means.

We claim as our invention:

'1 an article of furniture comprising two spaced substantially U -shaped end walls having their arms disposed uprightly, and two spaced side walls abutting the inner edges of said upright arms of the end walls said side walls and end walls being complementally' notched to snugly interfit in such relationship by relative vertical movement, a subext nd-basket eas e uei ns vwali width that. whenintem se n S teSi QWa sat a aoi he. n a a s it r 1 wal a in t-fine inneredgesqf the u p, & s-o ifgthe, nd walls eeter. at ve-v rt ca g awe f and de. wal s. an .9 sa 1 .1 alla a ains wreck n alatcrel en e:-

Z A ar cl in-21W z emesiln s wc eaee al srbe naero. es 'fp theereg pt smsbm aeral ,mov m nti ttheo pnes te d es ile -her la amt the r1eve1;oi;tneeupperredeesmirthetcrcss .barse l i -al szsueha allaaeains d format p r aa ter bsens a l 3., An. article, or; furniture-s comprisin wo h pe d@end.-.wa11s.=havinettheir" msl pwardlw directed the bottomaedge oryegcr side wallgand the cross bar of each end Wall, in alignment with the. inner :edsesU-ot' itsnfight Zillizlbfii QmpIQmentaIIy-nQtQhed taiiat rfir -r ectan utlar disposition, theeirmerafac sioh he idearm-l5 being.grooved:attheslevelr thaupnemedgeeoi the interfitted; ross ebarssottthea nda Wal is-l a a subst ntial yi horizont l; plate; memb r; &2 Width .equalltolthe-idistancei between theubpttems of such .oppositezeroeves.zslidablxireceivede heres in. and-urgin the; side olttwardlyt einst the upright arms ..o..-.=the.=.endxwallsa tc. .deihel' "D?- aration of the.sidesandrendrwallfie. 1

4.; article. of furniture-Q comprising two space disubstantiallyiu-shapedaand;walla havin their. armsdirectedoupmardlu, and two. .snaeed side- Walls abuttings thaiinner edgesraofasaid up; right- .armsof; theee'nd: wells}. saide sideawal-lsrand end-walls.beingcomplem nta lyinptchedteesm stx interfit i in-..such,- relationshiprbyrmelativei vertical movement, a substantiallmherizontalrillatezmflma ber of a. widthtolspamtherd stanne b tween sa d side Qwaus, andieof a-len tmta extendznastzatdeast one end Wall, at least one of theatwmpppgsite sidewallsebeingt o izmtallyj roovedtee ec i inter? engagement? toe, brace three. eudr and; sides W511i against ;wracking.-lim .allatexaksemfia ndkteedeteli The whole table may quickly and easily be stantially horizontal plate member of a length e amer? spac d.sidewa s;anditwprspacedo subst ntial-1y their relative vertical separation, and a. top sup- '5. An' article of furniture comprising two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls each having its arms disposed uprightly, and two spaced side walls abutting the inner edges. of said upright. arms of the end walls, said side walls and end walls being complementally notched to snugly. interfit in such relationship by relative vertical movement, a substantially horizontal plate member. of a width to span the distance between said side walls, and of a length to extend past at least one end wall,'at' least one of two opposite side walls being horizontally grooved to receive the edge of the plate member, by such interengagement to brace the end and side walls against wracking in a lateral sense, and to deter their relative vertical separation, and atop supported upon and removably secured to the upper edge of the wall structure thus formed, and having spacer members closely fitting the inside portions of the uppermost and opposite wall members.

6. An article of furniture comprising two spaced side walls and two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls having their arms upwardly directed, th bottom edge of each side wall and the cross bar of each end wall, in alignment with the'in'ner edges of its upright arms, being complementally notched to interfit in rectangular disposition, a substantially horizontal plate member of a length to extend past and rest upon the cross bar of the two end walls, and of a width to span the distance between said side walls, thus to hold the opposite side walls outwardly against the inner edges of the arms of the end walls, at the level of said upper edges of the cross bars of the end walls, to lock the side and end walls against deformation in a lateral sense, and to deter their separation in a vertical sense, and a top resting upon the upper edges of the walls, and secured to certain thereof by readily disengageable means.

7. An article of furniture comprising two spaced side walls and two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls each having its arms upwardly directed, the bottom edge of each side wall and the cross bar of each end wall, in alignment with the inner edges of its upright arms, being complementally notched to interfit in rectangular disposition, the inner faces of the side walls being grooved, at the level of the upper edge of the interfitted cross bars of the end walls, and a substantially horizontal plate member of a width equal to the distance between the bottoms of such opposite grooves, slidably received therein and urging the side walls outwardly against the lower portions of the inner edges of the arms of the end walls, a top resting upon the upper edges of the walls, cleats upon the under surface of the top spaced apart sufficiently to interflt between the upper edges of the opposite side walls and to urge the latter outwardly against the inner edges of the upper portions of the arms of the end walls, and readily disengageable means to secure said top to the supporting wall structure.

8. An article of furniture comprising two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls each having its arms extended upwardly, and two spaced side walls abutting the inner edges of said upright arms of the end walls, said side walls and end walls being complementally notched to interfit in such relationship by: relative vertical movement, a; substantiallyhorizontal plate member of a lengthto extend pastat least one end wall, and

of a Width such that, when interposed between the two opposite side walls, at the level of the cross bars of the end walls, it. urges the side wallsagainstthe inner edges of the upright arms of the end walls to deter relative vertical separation of the endand side walls, and to lock such walls against wracking in a. lateral sense, and shelf members notched in the plane of theupright arm portions of the end walls, said upright arm portions being complementally notched .to interfit therewith for support of said shelf members, and to space apart the upright arm portions thus joined. 1 f

Y 9. An article of furniture comprising two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls each having its arms extended upwardly, and two spaced side walls abutting the'inner edges of said upright arms of the end walls, said side walls and end :walls being complementally notched-to interfit in such relationship by relative vertical movemerit, a substantially horizontal plate member of a length to extend past at least one end wall, and of a width such that, when interposed between the two opposite side walls, at the level of the crossbars of the end. walls, it urges the side wallsagainst the inner edges of the upright arms of the end walls to deter relative'vertical separation of the end and side walls, and to lock such walls against wracking in a'lateral sense, and-shelf members notched in their outer edges, adjacent each end, of a length to extend beyond the upright arm portions of the end walls at each side, said arm portions being complementally notched in their inner edges to interfit the shelf notches by relative lateral outward movement of the shelf members, and to leave the latters inner edges substantially flush with the inner edges of the upright arm portions, for pas-sage of the side walls.

10. A knockdown table comprising two spaced substantially U-shaped end walls, having their arms extended upwardly, and having vertical notches in the cross bar portion disposed in alignment with the inner edges of said upright arm portions, and having horizontal notches in such upright arm portions in alignment with the upper edge of the cross bar portion, and also spaced thereabove, shelf members each having complemental notched in its outer edge interfitting said horizontal notches in the arm portions of the end walls, to support the shelf members and to hold the upright arm portions rigid and spaced, said shelf members when so interfitted having their inner edges substantially flush with the inner edges of the upright arm portions, side walls notched at their lower edges to interfit the vertical notches in the cross bar portion of the end walls, and when so interfitted abutting the inner edges of the shelf members, to retain them in place, and of the upright arm portions, a substantially horizontal plate member, the inner surfaces of the side walls being grooved at the level of the upper edges of the cross bar portion of the end walls, and the plate member being of a width to be slidably received in said grooves, a top resting upon the upper edges of said walls, and readily releasable means to secure said top in such position.

11. An article of furniture comprising two substantially U-shaped end walls disposed side by side in upright planes, with their horizontal portions lowermost and their arms projecting up,

WQMWWGE-W31I simila'lfly'sfieee afiart bfit disposed irhupri'g l'it meme -which zitrBefi-tlie plfines of tli'e wens; said 'sid wlls abtittifig theizineredees oi 131$ upright arm's dfi-"the efid Walls,- and nbthed to dvellap tlie -end' mile at liothesides ofaeaehe thereof; and therebwto pre vent relative approach or: separation ofithe en'd walle -a:substantiallyhorizontal plate eta-width andshape=to'extene betweexgsandiw engage side walls; in :the vicinityaofii'thwherizefitalepor tions df theeen'd wealls and whereby: town-01w the lender portions. of themide wallsdm centaetr with thee-11mm edg es ofirthe'arms ofithe emtiwallsy and tolepre'i ent approach. ofiasuelii luwer pdrtins of thee sidewialll'sx-g i.

12. An article of furniture corirpri'sihgzti'imsuh uyshapedx end: diseased Msi'de by side il i umghtiplanes; .withztheiri hori'tzciimtal tionsx lewermost": and: their; 'armss-rprdjeetmgaupiwardlm two: sidewalls similarlvlsnaieedaapartlhut disposed ifiwuprighti. planes; whiem intersect. the planes of: thesend'zwallsreesaickssidecwalls"abutting thminnerE edgeszof the nrigwhtealrmsizof theeend wallet; andsnoteheda to.: overlap; thee end wallsa a1; both sides}; of I each :thereofi: andztherebw'to pie? vane-relative; approach: on separatiom of: the end Wallss; aesubstantiallm honizzmteh plate z(x5521 width and shaspe to: extend between 1am; to senga ezboth side;:wa11s,-;-

thewici-nity ofitheehomzental pore r ionsaefs hewendzzwall-seam; thGiBhYa-BO heldst he lew txnortionsf f the side wallsiimcontabtg with hee-innerr eclee vofz the arms;; of; the :end: walls, SQQ tO JPB-BYGHF appruacha of; sue-h lewen: portions of the side walls and-@means smemg anartathe Number the: latter against the irmer: edgswf the a rmis s't'antiemy fil shap'ed e'rid Wall's dispbsed: side by side m parallel laneswithjneirnstrme project i'r'ig upwardly',- twb -spaiced iside wens d'iSpDSelie131;

right angles to the end -wallls a etrrd abutting the iwpectivei inner edgesof: the upright? arm of the-end wal'le, and each havingz wdependmg idwer portion which 1 is interposed r amid abuts tl'i e up-x i'ght 'innerifajees of zt'heflhorizentahpuntier-1eof 'the-e'nd walk, to maintaix'i: the" latter spaeed-i apart," a substantiallya'hbriiontwliplate upright inner faces of 'andithi isatmsia'awzmpamt said s ide walls; and to rest upomthewh orizbntal portions: of the" encl- .lwa.11s;:'a,nd tmeamsumtercontmeeting and maintaining;.thesspacmzbetweeticthe upper: portions .e ofthe sidewall-52 nEriErmmcesgcrTnnz The following references are of recordfiin' the'