US2615771A - Knockdown table - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1952 P, Q V (:UFQ'l-gs 2,615,771

KNOCKDOWN TABLE Filed July 10, 1951 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1,952 y UNITED; PATENT.

, "2,615,771: KNoCKDoWuTABLE y Philip-forearm, Scottsdale, ApplicationJuly.,1o, 1951.ssr1a1gNn..23.5.95?

` inver'ition..relates.- to "the construction; of household furniture and. the like..` Moreparticularly, l it concerned .f with.. vproviding a novel knockdown. table assembly, .the .several parts or sections. of which are adaptedto be. easilyffabri.- cated. and theninterlock'edjtogether. to form a table ...without the. use of. nails, bolts.,scr.ews,- glue and the like. n l y In the past..,eiior.ts to. provide a knockdown table assembly, wherein the variousf parts or s'ec. tionsthereof could .be easily fabricated'. and then4 lockedtogether .toA form a tablewithout. the :use oi" nails... bolts.. screws.. etc...l have. not. l met.' with. success forone or morereasons..

Certain.. of 'thesetables were yasseml'ol'ed 'fromv parts havingsuch an intricate design: or' complex". shape., that. they K did. not easily' lend themselves to mass pjrmiu'ctionA or .quick fabrication.

In addition. these same tables frequently re;-y quired more than ordinary: skill or Ispecialy tools bythe person assemblingxthe several sections whenthe table was put together. y l

Qjther tables, althoughrv fabricated Hfrom simple interlocking parts, were not satisfactory since they lacked the strength and rigidity required fornormal use; l l

Furthermore, it' 'was considered necessary `for such tables tobe made only ofv metalparts. since it was believed that other' materials such as. ply.- wood, or plastics did not have the inherent strength' lto provide. a. strong.; and rigid- .table assembly ableito withstand'normal wear.: and abuse... Thesev-ypartsawarealsoinot:easlyfreplaceablewhen.` lost orbroken. f .f

All of these -t'actorsf` :added 'to' the expense lof such tables and precluded vextensive manufacture.: and saleof'the Same; i

It has-been found, however.,l thatiby uniquelyA designingv the several parts of` atableythatia novel table assembly-can be provided having exception'- allysi'mple interlocking-parts! 'This table has such inherent strength and-rigidity that it can be made'V fromv materials readily available :such as, plyvmod,V which' is relatively inexpensive' and easily worked. v y y The partsothe table/of the instant'inventi'on can be i'iuiclrlyand` easily-'fabricated "withoutfthe need s for 1"special: machinery; orf the servicesy ofva skilled craftsmanr` andyno special lskill is@ requiredforv .assemblage ofk the ypartsv or-s'ectionsl to make. the finished' product; y

The table can also .be Aassembled without the use of `nails...gluegbolts,l rivets; screws or special-tools, alloi i which greatly* decreases f the vcost vof the table'.:so that considerable savings? immaterial andv Iaborcan be passed onrto'the'ccnsumerf- Thetable ofthe'in'stant inventionfis also proef vided 'with' novelleg` elementswhich Ahave 'handlesor bail's. Vfor liftingA 'or transporting'th'e asseni'ble'i"2 table formed integrally,therewith:v

Prior to assemblyl or after dismantlement ci the table .the Y several partsA can be quicklyA "and cofrif' veniently stored in a. minimum. amountof space..

For. the. purposes. of shipmentfor4 transit.;.these y videra. novel. table-assembly which,v cangbejabrl.-

cated from materials readily availabletsuchnas.

plywood.

Aliu'rther object of thisinventionistofproyidd simply designed parts, .which lend. themselvesl to. easy-and quick fabrication;

lbf-furtherY object ofthis invention is toprovidel a novel tableV assembly having parts-which can-l be placed convenientlyin apacka'ge orffconta'inerr orshipment or storage. f-

A further'object'of the v invention is to 'provide a novel table assemblyhavinghandles or bai'lsfo'rlifting or transporting .the assembledtable formed integrally with the leg elements or sections. n kAnother object of, .thisinvention is.. to. .provide a lrnockdown table v,having a y novel top whichr can. ble-.conveniently and removably lockedto-the.. in.v ner part of the. legs thereof.. Q n f These .and other objects Willbecoxne more, ang-l parentby reference to the-followingedetailed de.-v scriptionv when taken Ain conjunction with..the. drawings.. wherein: ,y Figure i is a. perspective view of they-tableur the instant invention; n. f FigurerZ is .an enclivievlfo.the tablelshownein., Figure 1;'V 1 Figure 3 Ais atop plarizview'v of thetablelshowm in'Fig'ure 1;... y

Figure. 4 is an elevational sectiona-l..-view.` of. the table taken along lines 4--4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an elevational 'sectionall view-.of th table'takenalong lines.5'.-.5 ofiigure: and.;

'f rigurosasangexpiaded:vleviomhefremeshows.

a novel knockdawn .tabletassexn'bly made-imm.' y

ing the relationship of the several parts immediately prior to assembly.

With further reference to the drawings and particularly Figures 1 and 5, it will be observed that the table assembly of the instant invention is comprised of a pair of spaced side frames I. Each side frame is so formed from a single piece of plywood as to be comprised of an elongated oor engaging. web portion 2, and leg elements 3 projectingsubstantially vertically upward from each end thereof.

Each of the leg elements 3 is possessed of exceptional rigidity and strength because of the integral web portion 2. This web portion also acts to distribute equally on each leg 3, any upward thrust upon the legs. Each leg 3 also has a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting fingers 4 at their free ends.

Mounted upon the side frames I at each of their extremities is an end member 5. Each end member in turn is formed from a single piece of plywood so as to be comprised of a web portion 6, and a pair of depending, downwardly projecting legs 1. As in the case of the base members, this web portion 6 acts to reinforce legs 1, and to distribute equally on each leg 1, any downward thrust upon the legs. Each of these legs 1 has a plurality of spaced fingers 8, at the free ends thereof.l Fingers 8 are disposed at an angle which is substantially transverse to the upwardly projecting fingers lon the side frames and they are adapted to interlock with these latter fingers, when legs 1 of the end members are placed over legs I of the side frames andthrust downward until the bases 9 of the elongated, upwardly proH jecting slots I in the legs 1, contact the bases I I of the elongated downwardly projecting slots I2 in the legs 3 of the side frames.

The end and side frames are then securely and rigidly locked together without the use of any external fastening means such as nails, screws. bolts, glue, etc.

It will also be noted by referring to Figures 2.and 4 that each end member 5 is also provided on .the outer margin of each leg 1 intermediate its ends with a horizontal slot I5, the function of which will be described later. Spaced downwardlyfrom each slot I5 on the inner face of leg 1, a hollowed-out recessed portion I6 may also be located, thefunction of which will be discussed later.

A top surface I1, comprised of a thick web portion I8, from which project outwardly a plurality of arms I9, is then interlocked with the legs 1l of the end members 4, to form a table top. l

The table top is interlocked to the end frames 5 by means of the slots I5'in the outer marginal edges of legs 1, when portions of the arms I9 on table top immediately adjacent web I8 are inserted in these slots. When top I1 is interlocked with legs 1, it will also be noted that a space 2| exists between the webs 6 of the end members and the top I1 of the table. This enables one to slip his fingers in between the top of the table and the webs 6, so that the table can thenbe easily lifted `and carried about. In other words, in this position the webs 6, in addition toV strengthening and rigidifying legs 1, also. act as balls or handles by means of which the table can be easily carried when in an assembled condition.

If desired, the table top I1 can be further anchored to legs 1 on the end members by means oraI plurality of latchinglugsl 23, pivotally atprojecting fingers, when the end members' 'are' tached to the underside of the table at convenient points so that they may be inserted in the recessed portions I6 located on the inner faces of legs 1. The latching legs 23 may advantageously be made of plywood scraps.

It will thus be observed that a novel knockdown table assembly has been provided, having interlocking parts which can be easily assembledl without the need for ,external` fastening means such as screws, bolts, nails and the like. Each of the several slots in leg members 3 and 1 are only of sufficient width to provide a snug flt for the element or part which is receivable therein.

In addition, a table assembly has been provided, which is made from such uniquely and simply designed parts that even a child may put them together. This table has such inherent strength and rigidity because each interlocking part serves to strengthen and reinforce the parts adjacent thereto,l that it can be made of materials readily available such as plywood.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates that all'the parts of the table be made of plywood because of its availability and low cost and the fact that it can be easily worked, it is conceivable that other materials could also be used. l

Furthermore, although plywood having a thickness of about of van inch is the usual size of plywood employed in the making of furniture of this kind, it has been found that because of thev inherent strength and rigidity afforded the table because of the interlocking arrangement of the several parts or sections of the table of the instant invention, and the web portions provided for the end frames and side base members,

that plywood having a'thickness within the range' of to of an inch can also be used with excellentresults for all the parts. In practice plywood of 1/2 an inch thickness has been found advantageous. This savings in material isv obvious and Vcan in turn be passed on to the consumer.

Accordingly, many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is: A A I l. A knockdown table assembly of `the type described comprising` the combination of a pair of spaced side frames, eachof said side frames having an elongated floor engaging web portion, and leg elements projecting substantially vertically upward from each extremity of said web portion, each of said leg elements having a. plurality of spaced upwardly projected fingers at the free endsl thereof. a pair of end members.

' each of said end members having a web portion and downwardly projecting leg elements at each extremity thereof and each of said downwardly projecting leg elements having a plurality of spaced downwardly projected fingers at the free ends thereof, said last-mentioned .fingers being disposed transversely to said upwardly projecting fingers on the leg elements of the side frames, whereby said downwardly projecting fingers arev adapted to interlockingly engage said upwardly mounted on said side frames, each of said legs on said end frames also having a horizontal slotpon its outer marginal edge intermediate thel ends thereof, and a table top vcomprisedvof'a thickI web portion and an outwardlyprojecting arm at each corner thereof, whereby the top is adapted to interlockingly engage the legs on said end members below the Webs thereof and in spaced relationship thereto when portions of the arms of the table top immediately adjacent the web portion thereon are inserted in the horizontal slots on the leg elements of said end members.

2. A knockdown table assembly of the type described comprising the combination of a pair of spaced side frames, each of said side frames have ing an elongated floor engaging web portion, and legs projecting substantially vertically upward from each end thereof, and each of said legs having a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting ngers at the free ends thereof, a pair of end members, each of said end members having a web portion, and downwardly projecting legs at each extremity thereof and each of said downwardly projecting legs having a plurality of spaced downwardly projecting ngers at the free ends thereof, said last-mentioned lingers being disposed transversely to said upwardly projecting fingers on said legs of the side frames whereby said downwardly projecting fingers are adapted to interlockingly engage said upwardly projecting lingers, when the end members are mounted on said side frames, each of the legs on said end frames also being provided with a horizontal open slot on its outer marginal edge intermediate its ends, and a recessed portion spaced downwardly from said slot on the inner face thereof, a table top comprised of a thick web portion and an outwardly projecting arm at each corner thereof, whereby the top is adapted to be interlockingly engaged with the legs on said end members below the webs thereof and in spaced relationship there to when portions of the arms of the table top immediately adjacent the web portion thereon are inserted in the horizontal slots on the leg elements of said end members, and a plurality of latching lugs pivotally mounted to the underside of said table top, each of said lugs being adapted to be inserted in a recessed portion in the said inner face of 2. leg element on said end frames.

PHILIP c. CURTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,538,393 Fowler May 19, 1925 1,903,631 Morrison Apr. 11, 1933 2,203,780 Gatz June 11, 1940 2,427,832 Berger Sept. 23, 1947 2,522,774 Bower Sept. 19, 1950 2,540,254 Garber Feb. 6, 1951

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