US1090451A - Folding table. - Google Patents

Description

- c; W. COPPIN, l v FOLDING TABLE.- APPLIGATION FILED MAB. 25, 1913.

1,090,451 Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

I 2 sums-SHEET 1.

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FOLDING TABLE. l APPLICATION FILED MAR.. 25, 1913.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED sTATEs PATErIT oEEIoE.

CHARLES W. COFFIN, F PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. T. BUBROWES COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

To aZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES lV. CoFFIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to tables, and has for its object the provision of an improved portable, light, folding table, particularly useful as a card table, though, of course, capable of many'other uses expected of a table of the character stated.

A characteristic of the present invention is embodied in the improved construction and formation of a table frame or skeleton, complete in itself, and independently of the covering therefor, comprising a surrounding or marginal ortion and braces connected thereto and tirough other means, spanning the space therewithin, said frame carrying and bracing foldable legs adapted to be clcosed within said space between the upper and lower edges of the marginal or surrounding portion vof the frame; and said frame rendering it possible to employ a thin light material, such as pa er board, as a covering for the frame, wiich, when laid vupon and secured to the frame, will be rendered sufliciently rigid and strong to constitute an eflicient table top, adequately re' inforced'and supported not only4 around the margin thereof but at the central portion of the same.

Other features of the invention reside in an improved manner of arranging and securing within the surrounding or marginal portion of the frame the intermediate braces therefor on which the covering is adapted to be laid; a sim )le and effective manncrof pivoting the fo dable legs on the frame and of bracing the same therefrom when open; an arrangement of the foldable legs relative to the frame, enabling the folding of the legs into compact form and facilitating the use of a frame and top of relatively small size while of suflicient diameter to receive the folded legs therewithin; and sim le durable means for fastening the legs wienfolded into the frame against accidental opening.

All of the foregoin together with addi- -tional advantageous etails -and arrangelegs as will hereinafter appear.

'frame and each secure lthe latter. The bars D and E are arranged at right angles to the bars B and C, and all 4surfaces o ments of parts of the preferred embodiment of my invention will be clear from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings formino' part thereof, wherein said embodiment of tie invention is illustrated for the purpose of facilitating a full understanding of the present improvements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an edge view of the complete table, Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the table in its folded condition, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the up- :per portion of the table, with legs extended, on line of Fig.,2, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line g/-g/ of Fig. 2 lookin in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 5 1s a detail sectional view of the central portion of the table on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring new more specifically to the drawings, and in connection with which like -reference letters will refer to the same parts in the several views, A represents the sur- .,rounding or marginal portion of an open lframe or skeleton, the same being shown of Icircular formation, although it may be of Eother shape, as desired, and of lsuitable thickness or height to accommodate folding Bracing the marginal or surrounding ortion A of the frame are four bars in almed pairs B and C, and D and E, arranged in the space within the surroundin portion A of the at its outer end to of said bars B, CyD and E terminate at points near the center of the frame so as to be s aced apart at the inner ends thereof by tie central unobstructed space e. The frame construction asthus far described is preferably of a light wood, as are also the egs to be presently defined, and the upper the bars B, C, D and E are preferably flush with the upper surface of the surrounding member A of the frame. A centrally located thin horizontal fiat metal plate F, conveniently square in outline, is seated with said ears overlying the upper surfaces of the inner ends of the bars B, C, D and E and having apertured ears f at its corners and is fastened to said bars by screws' or the like f', to connect, brace and support the inner ends of all of-thc bars.

The plate, as will be clear, constitutes a firm middle support for the table top, while aiding in the accomplishment of other advantageous functions present in my table, as will later appear.

G and G2 represent opposite 'pairs of folding legs, the same being mounted in the following manner, to wit: Each of the legs at its upper end adjoins a bearing or spacing block g, each secured to the side of the adjacent bar B, C, D or E, as the case may be, through the medium of a screw g threaded through the block and into the bar. The screw has a smooth or unthreaded outer shank portion g2 passing through theleg and constituting a pivot bearing for the leg. The outer bearing for the leg, separated from and in opposition to the spacing block or bearing gI is formed by the offset or shorter leg g3 of-an approximately L-shaped metallic bracket g4, the screw g passing freely through the offset g3 and having its .head bear against the outer surface of the latter. rIhe longer leg or base of the bracket is formed in keeping with the interior foirmation of the frame to which the same is attached, in the present instance slightly curved to closely lie against the innersurfacey of the circular frame memberA, to which .the base of the bracket is securely fastened at three points by means of the screws g5 engaging 'the opposite projecting end portions of the base g"g at the correspondingly opposite sides of the bar (B, C, D or E), and an intermediate screw g pass- `ing from the outside through the frame member A throughthe base of the bracket g4,- and into the end of the said frame bar,- it being observed that the screws g5 are passed fronifthe inside through the base g4 of the bracket outwardly' into the frame member A. i y

By the foregoing construction of mounting for the legs, it will be observed that the frame members are firmly and rigidly united and strengthened, and a firm, lasting bear- Y legs of one pair (G) near the upper edge of the surrounding frame memberv A, and the supporting brackets for the other, pair gf legs (G2) near .the lower edge of the said l 4frame member A. This .enables the folding of the legs G in a parallel relation against the table top with thelegs G2 folded into a similar parallel relation at right angles tov the legs G and .immediately below the latter, as clearly illustrated.

,All of the legs are provided with braces- H, the same being conveniently formed of spring metal with an offset end L carrying a washer It adapted to work in a confini-ng slot I in the adjacent bars B, C, D and E. The slots in a pair of these ba rs are arranged near the upper edge thereof, the slots of the other pair being arranged near the lower edge of the same, in keeping with the'relavtive positioning of the met-al brackets and legs carried thereby, as just previously de-v scribed.v 'By this arrangement, the spring braces H are each4 interposed between the leg which carries the same and one of the bars,-the spacing blocks y causing the proper separation of the legs from the bars,-and are adapted to be sprung when the legs are folded so that a suiiicient frictional engagement will be created between the sides of the legs and the inner ends b of the bars B, C, D and E, this frictional engagement being accomplished by a required slight deflection of the legs to enable them to enter the space formed at the center of the frame between said ends of thejbars. As is obvious, the legs enter and lie within said central space c left beneath the plate F and between the said ends of the bars.

All of the instrumentalities to which I have alluded are confined, in the closed condition of the table, in the space withinV the surrounding member A of the frame and between the planes ofthe upper and lower edges'of said surrounding member.

The device as thus far described is a rigid complete structure abundantly capable of use for the purposes for which a support of this kind i's designed, and all that remains to be done is to provide the same with a covering Vcapableof coperating with the frame to furnish the table top.. I desire to accomplish this resultl in a simple inexpensive manner yand by the utilization of a ma-' teria-l of light cliaractei,le1iding to the portability of the table,and preferably suliiciently thin to add no material thickness to" the table frame as previously defined'. By reason of the framev construction, Iam enabled to use a paper or similar covering L (even of a character in itself incapable of constituting a table top because of the frailty thereof) which when laid upon the upper edge of thel surrounding frame member A and upon the flush upper surfaces of the bars B, C, D and E, and the central metal plate F, will be abundantly supported and stiifened around the edge and at the central portion thereof, to constitute alrigid durable table top'. Preferably, the paper covering is tacked to the frame members, and a felt or other smooth or decorative facing M is applied thereover andsecured at its depending edge m between the frame member A and a molding strip N, in the present instance in the nature of a ring or ioop, the inoldine', facing material and frame member A bbeing fastened together by screws or similar devices O. The upper edge of the molding N overlaps the edge of the paper covering L to protect such edge from breaking or tearing, which might result were the edge of the paper entirely unprotected atthis point, although I prefer that the felt or similar facing rl\I shall occupy a position (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) slightly raised with reference to the molding N, so that the molding cannot offer any obstruction at the edge of the table, as for example, in withdrawing cards from the table over said edge,-in other words, the whole of the effective or o erating surface of the table may be said to e a smooth continuous surface including the surrounding marginal edge of the top.

While I have herein disclosed a s ecific embodiment of the invention, it will e a arent to persons skilled in the art that tie invention is capable of embodiment in other forms and devices differing in detail and ar `aiigenieiit from that shown, as may be in keeping with the hereto ap ended claims. In these claims, itv will be o served that Il do not claim the improved top per se of the table disclosed herein, in view of the fact that it has been held that such subject mattei' should more properly be included in a divisional application.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of a light, ortable, folding table, comprisinfr a ske etoii or frame including a surrounding member, reinforcing bars in the space within the surrounding member terminating short of the center of said space, to leave an unobstructed central space defined by the ends of said bars, means spanning the space be-v tween the inner ends of the bars and connected thereto, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, and legs pivotally mounted on the frame and foldable into the space within the surrounding member of the frame.

2. An article of manufacture of the chai'- acter described, consisting of a light, aortable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame including a surrounding member. reinforcing ba rs in the space within the surrounding member terminating short of the center of said s nace, a thin metal plate spanning the space ietween the inner ends o the bars and connected thereto, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top and lefrs pivotally mounted on the frame and foldablie into the spacebetween the ini ner ends of the bars.

3. An article of manufacture of the character described consisting of a licht, portable, folding table comprising a skeleton or frame including a surrounding member, reinforciner bars extending inwardly from said surrounding members, bars arranged at right angles to said first mentioned bars, the reinforcing bars being separated at their inner ends, to provide an unobstructed central space defined by said ends, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, legs pivotally mounted on the frame 'and foldable into the space within the surrounding member of the frame, said legs being arranged in )airs adapted to fold at right angles to each other,a pair parallel to the first mentioned bars and within the s )ace between tlie inner ends of the other ars and the other pair parallel to said other bars and under the first mentioned pair of legs, and means for causing a holding engagement between tlie ends of the bars and the legs adjoiningy the same.

4. An article of manufacture of the character .described consisting of a light, portable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame including a snrrouiiding member, reinforcing bars extending inwardly from different angles and separated at their inner ends, a thin metal plate spanning the space between the inner ends of the bars connected thereto, a coveriner on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, and lees pivotallj mounted on the frame and folda le into the space within the surrounding member of the frame and between the ends of the separated reinforcing hars.

5. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of a light, porrable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame including a surrounding member, reinforcing hars within said surroundingniember, a covering on the frame eonstitutiirg therewith a suitable to pivot members secured to the surroun ing member of the frame at points adjacent to the outer ends of the bars, and legs pivotally mounted between said pivot members and bars adapted to fold into the space within the surrounding member of the frame, said iivot members coniprising brackets secured to the surrounding member of the frame having an otlset portion constituting ay support for the outer end of the pivot of the leg, the base portion oi the bracket being interposed between said surrounding member and the end of the reinforcing bar with the end of the bnr directly1 against said base, and secured to both sail member and bar.

0. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of a li ht. portable, foldiir table, comprising a s celcton or frame inchu ing a surrounding member, reinforcing bars within said surrounding mei ber, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable-top, pivot members secured to the surrounding member of the frame at points adjacent to the outer ends of the bars, and legs *pivotally mounted on said pivot members and bars adapted to fold into the space wit-hin the surrounding member of the frame, said pivot members comprising brackets secured to the surrounding member `pf the frame having an offset portion consti- 1 tuting a support for the outer end of the' pivot ofthe leg, the base portion of the bracket being interposed between said Asurroundingmembervand the end ofthe reinforcing bar, and extending beyond. the opposite sides of the bar,and means for securing `the same at the opposite sides of the bar to bracket-s secured to the surrounding memberA of the frame having an offset port-ion constituting a support for the outer end of the pivot of the leg, vthe base portion of the bracketI being interposed between said sur rounding member and the end of the reinforcing` bar, and extending beyond the opposite sides of the bar, means for securing the same at the opposite sides of the bar to the surrounding member, and means for securing the bracket at an intermediate point. to the end of the reinforcing bar.

S. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of a light, portable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame includinga surrounding member, reinforcing bars extending to near the center of the space within said surrounding member, and other similar reinforcing4 bars arranged at an angle to said first mentioned bars, a plate bridging the space between the inner ends of said bars, a covering on the frame constituting therewith'a suitable top,

and legs pivotally mounted on the 4frameand foldable into the space withinthe surrounding member of the frame.

9. .An article of manufacture of the charact-er described, consisting of a light, portable, folding table comprising a skeleton or frame including a surrounding member, reinforcing'bars extending to near the center of the space within said surrounding member, the inner ends of said bars beingseparated to leave a space therebetween, a plate bridging the space between said inner ends,

mounted on the frame and foldable into thel space within the surrounding member of the frame and between the ends of the separated reinforcing bars.

l0. An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of a light, portable, folding table, comprising a skeleton or frame including a, surrounding member, reinforcing bars extending to near the center of the space Within said surrounding inember, and other similar reinforcing bars arranged at an angle to said first mentioned bars, a plate bridging the space between the inner en ds lof said bars, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitable top, and legs pivotally mounted on the frame and foldable into the space Within the surrounding member of the frame, saidllegs being arrangedin pairs adapted to fold at right angles to each other, each pair parallel to a pair of the cross bars and within the space Eetween the' inner ends of the other cross ars.

11. An article of manufacture of the character described consisting of a light, portable, folding table coinprisinga skeleton or space within the surrounding member of the.

frame, and within the space between the inner ends of the bars.

12.v An article of manufacture of the character described, consisting of a light, portable, folding' table, comprising a skeleton or frame including a surrounding member, reinforcing bars extending to near the center of the space within said surroundingv memb er, and other similar reinforcing bars arranged at an angle to said first mentioned bars, a plate bridging the space between the inner ends of said bars, a covering on the frame constituting therewith a suitablev top, and Alegs pivotally mounted on the frame and foldable into-'the space within the surrounding member of the frame, said legs being arranged in pairs adapted to fold at right angles to each other, each pau1 paral-l lel to a pair" of the cross bars and within the space between the inner ends of the other cross bars, the ends of the bars and legs be- 'ing arranged to cause a holding engagement vbetween said ends and the legs adjoining the same.

18,. An article of manufacture of the character described consisting of light, port'- able, folding table comprising a skeleton or frame including a surrounding member, reinforeing bars extending inwardly from said surrounding member, bars arranged'at right angles to said first mentioned bars, the reinforcing bars being separated at theirinner ends, a thin metal plate bridging the space between said inner ends, a covering onI the' frame constitutingl therewith a suitable top,

'legs pivotally mounted on .the frame and foldable into the space within the surrounding member of the frame, said legs being arranged in pairs adapted tofold at right angles to each other, a pair parallel to the Witnesses between the inner ends of the other bars and the other pair parallel to said other bars and under the first mentioned pair of legs, and means for causing a folding engagement between the ends ofthe bars and the legs adjoining the saine.

In testimony whereof lA affix my signature in presenceJ of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. COFFIN.

J. F. COX, H. H. RUSSELL.

vfirst mentioned bars and within the space 15

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