US1336480A - Leg extension - Google Patents

Description

F. NELSON.

LEG EXTENSION.

APPUCATION FILED AUG. 6. 1919.

1,336,480. Patented Apr. 13, 192( UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK NELSON, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHRISTIAN ESPERSON, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.-

LEG EXTENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed August 6, 1919. Serial No. 315,627.

tain new and useful Improvements in Leg Extensions, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to leg extensions for 'bedsteads, tables and other articles of which it is desirable to change the height; and the object of the improvement is to provide a telescoping extensible leg construction which normally remains in the non extended position, but which may be quickly and easily extended by pressing the foot on a spring step which permits a plurality of pivotally mounted dogs or drop catches to fall by gravity into an engaging position for the leg end, and holds the same firmly in line until the leg is raised slightly, permitting the dog withdrawing member to draw all the dogs back into their normal non-locking position; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a bedstead head or foot frame showing the leg. extension in the extended supporting position for the bedstead. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise diametral sectional view of the lower telescoping portion of the leg showing the construction and arrangement of the different parts. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower end of the spring retaining strip for the dogs or catches, showing the step and hinged end of the crosswise actuating rod; and Fig. i is an elevation of the upper end of the telescoping leg parts and the spring actuating strip showing the parts in. position therein.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral designates the tubular leg of a bedstead, table or similar article on which extensible legs are desirable, within the lower end of which the tubular extension 11 is telescopically mounted.

The extension tube 11 has the caster 12 attached on its lower end and the dogs or drop catches 13 pivotally mounted 011 cross pins 14 at spaced distances throughout the length of the extension 11. A slotted strip 15 is attached to a spring 16 at its upper end, which spring is supported on the cross pin 17 in the extension 11 near its upper end. The spring strip 15 has the slots 18 through which the dogs or catches 13 are inserted, the slots 18 fitting sufliciently close upon the dogs 13 to draw the same upward within the tube 11 when the spring 16 is released and permitted to draw the slot-ted strip 15 upward to its normal position.

A similar series of slots 19 is provided in the tube 11 opposite the slots 18 in spring strip 15 through which the catches 13 tall by gravity when the spring strip 15 is drawn downward sufficiently to cause the two slots 18 and 19 to register with one another, and also SUiilClGIltlY to draw the extension tube 11 below the lower end 20 of the leg 10 so that when the leg 10 is permitted to move down on to the drop catch 13, said drop catch is held by the lower end wall 21 of the slot 19. It is apparent that the leg may be held by any one of the series of catches 13 in this position and that all the catches below the supporting catch 13 for the leg 10 will be in the dropped or horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to quickly and easily actuate or move the spring strip 15 downward to permit the drop catches 13 to fall outward, a step or small foot engaging extension 22 is attached to the lower end 23 of the spring strip 15, which arrangement permits the operator to merely press downward on the step or sidewise extension 22 and raise up on the leg 10 whereby the catches 13 automatically drop outward as the lower end 20 rises above them one by one so that said leg may be extended to any desired height. The spring strip 15 is preferably provided with series oi sidewise bends 24 for each of the slots 18 so that the main central draw of the spring strip 15 on the spring 16 centers the tubular extension 11 while the series oi strip portions containing the slots 18 is moved suiticiently to one side to operate the drop catches 13 in drawing them up into the nonlocking position.

In order that a nurse may individually raise a heavy or an occupied bedstead, a rod 25 is preferably hinged at 26 at one end to one of the treads or sidewise extensions 22 and extends across to the opposite tread or sidewise extension 22, resting on the same so that pressure upon any portion of the rod 25 will move both the spring strips 15 downward in each of the extensions 11 of the two legs at the head or foot of the bedstead and the nurse may lift the bedstead to the desired height, the drop catches l3 falling outward on each leg extension 11 as the legs 10 move upward. When not in use, the rod 25 may be folded upward out of the way into a spring clasp 27 alongside the leg 10. It is apparent also that the rod 25 might be attached directly to the lower ends 23 of the spring strips 15 to permanently remain in the crosswise attached position between the tubular extensions 11 for the two legs at one end of the piece of furniture.

It is apparent that the stop 22 might form a stop for the lower end 20 of the bed post 10, but as this would cause it to ride upon the spring 16, a stop pin 28 which extends beyond the sides of the inner tube 11 sufli ciently to receive the lower end 20 is provided, which stop pin 28 preferably extends across the tube 11 and out each side sufiiciently to hold the end 20 squarely in position thereon when an extension of the leg 10 is not desired. The cross pin 28 also holds the strip 15 firmly in line in its upward and downward movements thereby performing a double ofiice.

It is also obvious that the extension tubes 11 may be inserted in the tubular lower end of any tubular bed post or may be quickly and easily removed therefrom as desired and forms a neat and convenient extension always ready for use.

I claim as new:

1. A leg extension comprising a tubular leg, a tubular extension slidably fitting in said tubular leg having a series of vertical spaced slots therein, and a series of similarly spaced drop catches in said tubular extension to drop out through said spaced slots to support the lower end of said tubular leg at different heights.

2. A leg extension comprising a tubular leg, a tubular extension slidably fitting within said tubular leg having a vertical series of'spaced slots therein, a series of similarly spaced drop catches hinged in said tubular extension to drop out through said spaced slots to support the lower end of said tubular leg at difierent heights, and means to normally draw said drop catches upward within said tubular extension in individual readiness to drop out through said spaced slots into supporting engagement for the lower end of said tubular leg.

8. A leg extension comprising telescoping leg portions, a spring strip having spaced slots therethrough within said telescoping leg portions, spaced pivotally mounted catches extending through aid slots in said spring strlp to be drawn upward thereby,

said telescoping extension having similarly when not in use, and a sidewise foot engaging extension on the lower end of said strip to provide downward pressure to permit the exposed catches to drop outward and engage the lower end of said leg.,

5. A leg extension comprising a tubular leg, a tubular extension fitting in said leg having a series" of spaced slots therein, a similar series of spaced catches pivotally mounted within said tubular extension to drop out through said spaced slots, a similarly slotted spring strip engaging said catches to draw them normally upward when not in use, a sidewise foot engaging extension on the lower end of said strip to provide downward pressure to permit said catches to drop outward and supportingly engage the lower end of said leg, and a crosswise rod connection between said spring strips in two or more of said tubular extensions to simultaneously actuate the strips in said extensions.

6. A leg extension comprising a tubular leg, a tubular extension fitting in said leg having a series of spaced slots therein, a

similar series of spaced catches pivotally' mounted within said tubular extension to drop out-through said spaced slots, a similarly slotted spring strip engaging said catches to draw them normally upward when not in-use, a sidewise foot engaging extension on the lower end of said strip to give the needed downward pressure to permit said catches to drop outward and engage the lower end of said leg, a crosswise rod connection between said strips in said tubular extension at one end of a piece of furni ture, and a crosswise rod hinged to' one of said foot engaging extensions and extending across to the foot extension on the opposite leg to simultaneously actuate said strips and to be folded upward alongside the leg when desired.

In testimony whereof I have atfixed my signature in the presence-of two witnesses.

FREDERICK NELSON. Witnesses C. V. SwANsoN, HAROLD FORSBERG.

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