US1703187A - Combination table and ironing board - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1929.

H. J. BUCK COMBINATION TABLE AND IRONING BOARD A5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1925 Feb. 26, 1929.

H. J. BUCK COMBINATION TABLE AND InoNING BOARD Filed Janv.' 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'HIIIHIIIIIIIHIHI IHHIIIII Hllll HERMA/vfz/c Patented Feb. 26, 1929. y

PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN Tx BUCK, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CQMBINATION TABLE AND IRONING BOARD.

Application filed January 22, 1925. Serial No. 4,052.

This invention relates to improvements in combination tables and ironing boards particularly adapted for domestic use, and more particularly relates to such a structure having a foldable orv Collapsible ironingboard which may conveniently be stored in a chamber provided in the table, when not in use.

An object of the invention is to provide such a structure wherein the table provides the ,supporting means for one end of the ironing board when in raised operative position, while the other end of the board is supported by a pair of foldab-le legs pivotally connected thereto. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination table and ironing board so constructed t-hat when the board is withdrawn from the table and its legs are unfolded to support it, the top of the ironing board will automatically be elevated to a convenient position above the plane of the top of a table of standard height' (for example thirty inches) and to the standard height (forexample thirty-two inches) of an ironing board.

A further object is toV provide a structure of the above class comprising a foldable ironing board of simple and inexpensive construction whioh may quickly and conven@ iently be foldedtogether and inserted in the table for storage, and may as readily be withdrawn therefrom and unfolded to a raised position, ready for use.

A further object is to, provide means for securely locking the ironing board to the table when in raised operative position.-

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the aecompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thel accompanying drawings there `has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects .of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to .the exact features shown, as various changes may bemade within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, 5

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the table with the ironing boardfin'raised position; i 4 i f Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the table showing the ironing board partially folded for subsequent insertion in the table; Figure 3 is asimilar View showing the ironing board completely folded together before beingv shoved into the chamber provided in the table.;

lFigure 4 is a view showingthe ironing board positioned within the table; Figure 5 is a bottoni view of the ironing board when in folded position, the outline of the table being shown in dotted lines; Figure 6 is an end view of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 1;

-Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal seotion of a board and a portion of a table embodying my invention, the parts being extended ready for use; I

. Figure 9 is a sectionall view of the table and an elevation of the board, the board being folded ready for insertion into the chamber provided in the table;

Figure 10 is a plan view looking from below, of the arts shown in Figure 8;

In the se ected embodiment of the invention here shown there is illustrated a table comprising `a top 11 having a chamber 12 ar-y ranged therebeneath which is open at one end to receive the ironing board. A door 13 is preferably provided on the end of the table to close the chamberV 12 when the ironing board has been inserted therein as' shown in Figure 4. The table is supported by the usual legs 14.

A feature of this invention resides in the novel meansk provided for supporting the ironing board and automatically elevating it above the planel of the table top when in raised position as shown in Figure 1. It 'will' be understood that the level of an ordinary table top is too lowV for convenient ironing, and when an ironing board is attachedto t-he top of a table the use-r finds the top of the board lower than it shouldbe to enable a per- 4 son to handle an iron easily, and hence an important feature of this invention is to provide'means which, when the ironing board isV drawn out of thetable'and set up, will cause it to be raised above the table top to the normal level of an ironing board. In this way, Il am able lto utilize-the table as a` means for supporting and concealing theboard when not in, use and at the Sametime provide for by studs 21.

setting up the board so that it will be fully as convenient for use as one that is set up or used entirely independent of the table. The ironing board preferably comprises a main section 15 having an end section 16 pivotally connected thereto by means of hinges 17 which may be of any suitable construction applicable for the purpose. As shown in the drawings one end of the ironing board is preferably supported by a pair of inclined leg sections 18 having their upper ends pivotally connected to a pair of spaced links 19 The leg sections 18 and the links 19 form the supporting means for the outer portion of the board when set up. rlhe lupper ends of the links 19 are pivotally connected to the depending end portions of a bar 28 secured to the under side of the section 15 of the ironing board. The diagonal brace links 241- are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the leg sections 18 adjacent the pivots 21 while the upper ends thereof are similarly connected to a pair of oscillating links 25 preferably having their upper ends connected to the end of the ironing board by means of pins 26.

The other end of the ironing board ad jacent the table is supported by means of a pair of inclined links 27 which have their upper ends pivotally connected to a cross member 28 secured to the under side of the board. The lower end portions 29 of the supporting links 27 are preferably bent, as shown, so that when the table is in raised position, as shown in Figure 1, they will be substantially parallel to the table top 11 and the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 12. rlhtse end portions are supported by the bottom 81 of the table. A. substantially U-shaped cross member 32 is secured to t-he lower ends of the links 27 and functions to retain them in spaced parallel. relation. rlhis cross member preferably depends below the lower edge of the end portion 29 so that when the ironing board is drawn outwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, it will drop into a transverse slot 38 provided in the wall 31 of the table, thereby preventing the ironing board from accidentally becoming separated or disconnected from the table when being pulled outwardly prior to being unfolded. A cross har 34 is secured to the cross member 82 and this bar functions to guide the end of the ironing board when being'shoved into the chamber 12, the ends thereof being adapted to engage the side walls of the chamber 12 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the inclined supporting links 27 are also pivotally connected to the diagonal brace links 24 by means of pivots 35. hus when the leg sections and links are folded as shown in Figure 2, the supporting links 27 will also be oscillated from their pivotal connection Awith the under side of the ironing board.

Means are provided on the inclined supporting links 27 for securely locking the board to the table when in the position shown in Figure 1. Such means preferably consists of a pair of upwardly extending lugs or members 36 having their lower ends secured to the supporting links 27 and having their upper ends arranged to engage the under side of the table top 11 when the board is raised. rllhusit will be seen that when the table has been unfolded and raised to the position shown in lFigure 1, the end portions 29 of the links 27 will bear against th-e upper face of the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 12 and the upper end of the upwardly extending lugs or members 86 will bear against the under side of the table top l1, thereby securely locking the ironing board to the table.

llVhen it is desired to fold the lironing board so that it may be inserted into the chamber 12 of the table, the end section 16 of the board will first be folded to the position shown inFigure 2. The user will then grasp the hand-grip 87 provided on one end of a cleat 38 secured to the under side of the section 15 ofthe board and which cleat functions to lsupport the end section 16 when in unfolded position. The leg sections 18 will then be folded as shown in Figure 2 until they assume the position shown in Figure 3 after which the entirD lironin g board may be shoved into the chamber 12 of the table and the end door 18 thereof be closed as shown in Figure a. l/Vhen the ironing board is being folded as above described, it will be noted that the leg sections are swung inwardly and that the links 19 are outwardly swung in the opposite direction. Such action of the leg sections 18 and links 19 will cause the diagonal brace links 24 to oscillate the links `27 or swingl them upwardly against the bottom of the ironing board as shown in Figure 8. Vhen the links 27 are thus swungupwardly against the ironing board, the lugs 36 will be moved downwardly away from the under side of the table top, the end portions 29 of the links functioning as a fulcrum or supporting means for the entire ironing board as it is being folded prior to being inserted in the chamber 12. Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that when the ironing Vboard has been completely folded, the U-shaped member 82, secured to the lower ends of the supporting links 27, will be sufficiently raised out of the transverse slot 88 to allow the inclined bo-ttoinface thereof to slide over the edge thereof as the board is being movedv into the table. By reference to this same ligure, it will also be seen that when the ironing board is drawn outwardly to theposition here 't shown, the U-shaped member will drop Vinto the transverse slot 33 and will thereby prevent the ironing board from becoming completely withdrawn or disconnected from the table. Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6,

llO

the upper ends ofthe leg sections 18 and thatthe links 19 are pivotally connected tothese straps which comprise the upper ends of the leg sections 18. Outwardly projecting stop lugs 41 are secured to the upper ends of the straps 39 and function to retain the leg sections substantially in alignment with the links 19 when the ironing board is in raised position as shown in Figure 1. These lugs, as shown in Figure` 6, are adapted to overhang the edges of the links 19 and thereby enga ge such edges when the board is raised.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, there is shown an ironing board of modified construction, comprising a top 42 having its outer end supported by means of a supporting leg 43. A cross-bar 44 is secured to the board adjacent its opposite end and to this cross bar are pivotally connected a pair of inclined supporting links 45 having their lower ends adapted to bear uponthe upper surface of the bottom wall 31 of the chamber 12 of the table. The lower ends of the links 45 are tied together by means of a cross member 46 secured thereto. This cross member functions in a manner similar to the U-shaped cross member 32A shown in the previous figures. A guide bar 47 is also secured to the ends of the links 45 to guide the table into the chamber 12 as shown in Figure 10.

The means provided for locking the links 45 in the position shown in Figure 8 consists of a. U-shaped member 48 having its spaced end portions pivotally connected to the arms 45. The upper ends of the Ushaped member 48 are pivotally connected to a pair of short oscillating links 49 by means of hinges 51. The upper ends of the links 49 are pivotally connected to the under side of the ironing board. When it is desired to lower the ironing board for insertion in the table, the U-shaped member 48 will be oscillated upon its center as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, thereby causing the supporting links 45 to be swung upwardly against the bottom of the board. The leg 43 may then be folded and the board shoved into the cham ber 12 of the table after which the end door 13 may be closed. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it will be seen that the supporting links 45 are provided with a raised portion 52 which functions to engage the under side ofthel table top 11 when the board is raised, thereby locking the board securely to the table. The leg sections 18 are also preferably'provided with diagonal lbraces 42 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. j

The novel ironing board featured in this invention may advantageously be used in connection with the tables ordinarily employed with the well-known breakfast nooks now commonly used in small apartments and in many homes. By utilizing the space beneath the table it will be readily seen that no yadditional room or space will be required in which to store itwhen not in use, and it will rvlso be ready for immediate use whenever desired.

Anfim'portant feature of this invention is the provision for folding the board and the supporting leg into a compactform to'adapt vkitchen of a modern apartment, and the table having the chamber to receive such a board must be correspondingly large, and Asuch an equipment hasbeen found too large for a small kitchen. My invention provides a folding section for the board, permitting it to be considerably reduced in length when not in use, and also provides a folding leg so that when the board is not in use, it can be considerably shortened and stored away in the chamber of a comparatively small table, thus effecting a considerable economy in the space required for the table and board.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a table, having a recess under the top thereof, of an ironing board adapted to fit and slide in said recess to a concealed position under said top, a leg pivotally connected with the outer portion of said boardto support the same, a. link pivotally connected to said board adjacent the table and having means to slide in said recess and enga-ge the walls thereof when the board is set up to lock it on the table with the adjacent end of the boardv raised above the level of the table, and means connecting said link with said board-'supporting leg, to cause said link to raise theboard above the level ofV the table as said board-supporting leg moves to supporting position.

2. In combination with a table, a board, a leg pivoted to the board, a link pivotally connected at one end to the leg, and movably connected at its opposite end to the board, and a second link pivoted to the first link and to the board, said link having its .outer end removably anchored to the table and having a stop engaged with the table top and cooperating with said first link to lock the board to the table at a predetermined level above the top of the table.

3. The combination with a table having a chamber formedtherein having a slot in its bottom, of an ironing board adapted to slide into said chamber, links pivotallyconnected with said board, means carried by said links and adapted to enter said slot in the bottom of said chamber when said board is drawn out, said links having means for contactr with the vupper wall vof said chamber,.legs pivoted on said board, and means yconnecting said legs with said links for moving said links lnto clamping engagement -with the walls of said Y chamber when said legs are unfolded.

4. A table having a chamber and a foldable the brace link and to the board, and 'having ironing board adapted to be housed in the stops engageable by the Walls of the chamber chamber, a supporting leg pivoted to the to limit outward movement. board and Composed of pivoted together up- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my 5 per and lower sections, a. brace link pivoted to hand this 8th clay of December, 1924.

Jche lower leg section and movab-ly connected to the board and a supporting link pivoted to HERMAN J. BUCK.

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