US1630102A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

" :Patented ;May 24, 1927; if

1 "l nmvorn w. ZIMMERMAN, {or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. "1

I rornnve TABLE.

Application d September 1451925.: Seria1 N oi56,172.

- This invention relates generally to tables and: is particularly concerned with ja table Dffoldi'ng construction which'is adapted to beyrea'dily set upfand collapsed.

'5 One of the principal objects of the inventlonjis theprovision of a table suitable either for continuous or infrequent servlce,

. one which may be compactly folded to 'occupy aininimum of space when not in use and which vvill provide seating accommodaa tions for a large number without interfermembers. i o M a v Another object oft-he inventionisthepro 1,15 vision on folding tablef of simplified 0011- s'truction adaptedfo'r connecting in series I 1 with other tables] with a lea'for 'spacing connection therebetweenfor' eliminating superfluous'supportinglegs or elements,

r and improved. means for holding the supportingmembers securely boththe r open andfclosed positions, 1 v i r I Theinvention providesaneasilyymanipu' 25' lated folding'table (vi-light, strong, durable and firm construc'tion, vvhiclris highly jefii 'cient but inexpensive, and 'possessesnumerous advantages other than thosefspecifically set forthfas willjbe apparent frornthe' dravW ings, understood when the specification is i read and pointed outin the appendedclaimsj [I have shown in'the accompanying draw-U ,lngs only what I" consider to be a preferred 1 embodiment of the, invention, but by stat- 1 ing this preference it is to be understood that I do" not intend; to suggest anyjlimitation in I a the application of the invention The draw- 3 ingis for illustration purposes only, and

" should notfrea'ct' to curtail unnecessarily the scope of the claims,' as obviously various modifications of incidental details of the invention will occur toothersand be ems ployed with satisfactory. results. i 'In the: drawing: w Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table em ;bodying the-invention; 1 I

Fig. 2 is avertical section through line 2-2 ofiFig. 1; l

"when folded; i v I i V l V Fig. 41 is a fragmentary detail view of the supporting brace and. the'catch therefor; and t Fig. 5'is airenl'argedcross sectional view on line 55 of Fig; 1 showing the interlocking arrangement of the tablewith a spacing ence} or inconvenience fromthe supporting A. further ob'ect-is' the pr'o'visioriof never Fig. 3 is a bottom plan. view of the table 1 portion 16 within the opening 20. A

bracing member thus provides a rigid supf portrfor maintaining the legs in upright member orleaf for" use when several units v are connected in series. 1 1 v The top 1.0 of the; table has-associated I thereWith, after thehusual manner, an apron The sides of the'apron 11 are drillednear thelr ends to provideopenings .12 to receive thelegs 13 ofthe supporting frame. The support ng frame, as, shown, is substantially Ueshaped, and 1s formed. from ordinary A ends of the legs 13 may be bent'o'utward to pedientofinserting ,'1n the openings 12, one

end of'th-e leg13 byscrew threaded engages ment'with the stem ,ofvthe TJQ The bottom" :or floor portion 14 of the supporting, frame lsbowed slightly upward toward the center so that theouter ends thereof restfuponitlie floor when thef table is setup; The floor.

portion tends to distribute the weight of the,

of the ends of the transversememhenof{an i p 1 ordinary T 13 vand to connect thereto the tablefand its contentsjover a wide area, fand 3* between the upper ends of the legs" and at its freeiend witha bent catch engaging supporting frame bytensionmg heavy Wires;

jfwill be found, effective infeliminatin'g the i usual rock ng due to uneven floors. g i

Strength'and rigldity may beaddedjto'thef a I i is fretatr ablyf attachedbya; T 15 to the medial per: i 1 tion of the floor member l' l and is provided portion 16. which is a dapte'd' to b e'retaine d jff by the catch member shown in Fig. 4; when the table is setup; [Said catch; member comf prises an, iron strapl'f which is fixedly se cured to the'under side of the table top 10 by means of screws 18 and which has ends bent awayfrom the table to form a right-angled retaining portion 19 and a "spring portion 21. The perpendicular portion19 of the strap is providedovvithan opening/20 toreceive the engaging portion 16 of the bracing member 15. The spring portion 21 is adapted to bear against'the bracing member 15 and retain the engaging The positions 1 i 1 A'right-angled finger 22 extends from the no base portion of thestrip 17 and isadapted to Y v v be turned to bridge the opening defined by Q 65 ii 2 inch galvanizedipipe or tubing. The upper v the three sidesot the strap, and to hold the brace member 15 therein when the table is collapsed.

The table is set up. placing-the legs. in perpendicular relationship to the top and snapping the engaging portion 16 at the brace or supporting rod 15 into the opening 20 of the catch member 17.

To fold or collapse the table the sprin 21 is depressed and the supporting member 15 removed from en 'agenient with the catch member 17. The legs are then swung inwardly toward the center of the table and the free end of the bracing memberis swung outwardly toward, the end of the table. until both rest against the top as shown in Fig. In this position the bracing member lies, across the strap 17 within the confines thereof and is therein retained by turning of the finger 22. The complete supporting struc ture is retained in place within the apron of the'table and several tables when collapsed may be piled one upon another, or a single table can be conveniently stored in a small space.

The supporting members may advantageously be constructed of pipe lengths joined at the corners by elbows and utilizing tees for connecting the bracing members as shown in the drawing. Or, the complete structure may be made of tubing or solid stock which may be bent to form the component parts.

Two or more tables may be coupled to provide extraordinary seating accommoda-v tions by interposing leaves. such as the, leaf 27, between the ends thereof; thereby making the supporting structure perform double duty.

To facilitate this arrangement the ends of the table are provided with a plurality of socket membersQS which are adapted to receive the catch members 29, oppositely disposed on the ends oi the leaf 27,

Each socket 28 comprises a. recess 30 in the edge of the table, covered by a slottedv angular metallic piece 31 whichfits over the edge oi the tableand rests upon a marg nal ledge which is countersunk into the top of the table about the sides of the recess. The piece 31 is fastened by means of bolts or screws 31". Each catch member 29 is composed of a metal strap secured at one end to the leaf 27 and bent at right angles top and connected in pairs at the bottom thereof by bowed base members. a rigid brace rod attached to each of said base members. said latch means comprising metallic straps, each or" said straps having one end bent and apertured and receiving the free end of one of the brace members and having the'other end bent to form a spring adapted to engage said brace member to hold it in engagement with the first-mentioned end when thelegs are in table-supporting position.

2. In a folding table, the combination. of a top, an apron, latch means on the under side of said top, a plurality of table l'e; pivoted to said apron and connected in pairs at the bottom thereof by bowed base members, Ts secured to the upper end of rail legs and adapted to lit into holes providedin said apron, a rigid brace rod attached to each of said base members, said latch means comprising, metallic straps, each of said straps having one end bent and apertured and receiving the free end of one of the brace members and having the other end bent to form a spring adapted to engage said brace member to hold itin engagement with the first-mentioned end when the legs are in table-supporting position, and a linger attached to each of said straps and adapted to be turned to bridge the space between the ends of said strap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARN OLD. IV. Z'IMMERMAX.

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