US1813451A - Convertible basket-table - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1931- o. A. JOHNSTON ET ALgu 1E-,813,451 CONVERTIBLE BASKET TABLE f Filed Dec. 28.' 1928 Smets-'sneu 1A WMA TToRNEx/s.

July 7, 1931.

O. A. JOHNSTON ET AL CONVERTIBLE BASKET TABLE Filed Dec. 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1931 o. A. JOHNSTON ET AL 1,813,451

CONVERTIBLE BASKET TABLE Filed Dec. 28. 1928 4 sheets-'sheet 3 INVENTOR. O/W/v/ZJa/M/ ra/v BY cmmaffv afm/sro# July 7, 1931. o. A. JOHNSTON r-:T AL 1,813,451

ONVERTIBLE BASKET TABLE Filed Dec. 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /fMf-s 5l INVENTOR.

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED --STATES PATENT OFFICE oRIN` A. JOHNSTON, 0E PUECELL, AND CLARENCE JOHNSTON,y 0E OKLAHOMA CITY,

OKLAHoi/TA CONVERTIBLE BASKET-TABLE Application led December 28, Y1928. Serial No.v 328,996.

invention rela-ties to adevice adapted to be used by those engaged in selling merforvo-ne of its objects to provide a novel device of this character which shall beadapted to beused as a basket in which the merchandise may be conveniently carriedrfrom house to house and which shall. be adapted to be used as a table on which the merchandise may beattractively displayed to a householder. i

The inventionhas a further object to provide a device of the character stated which shall be adapted to be easily and quickly converted from a basket into a table and from a table into a basket. v y.

`The invention has for a further object to provide a device of thecharacter stated which shall rembody membersiconnected ina manner to permit them tovbe arranged in basket or table top forming relation and legs connected to one of said members for movement: into extended yor folded relationwith respect thereto. c

The inventionhas for a further4 object to .provide a. device of the character stated which shall embody `means adapted tohold the-legs against accidental movement when extended, and vmeans adapted to hold the vlegs against accidental movement 'when :folded:

` 'The invention has for 'a further'object to provide adeviceof the character stated which i shall be equipped with al handle and with means adapted'to hold the members`v against accidental movement fromV basket forming position; said means embodying elements carriedlby the handle'a'nd adapted to automatically. engage certain of the members on ytheir movement into basket forming position. l

'The invention has for a still further object te provide a devicevof thecharacter stated which shall be adapted to be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost and which shall be light in weight and strong and durable. i t l A ;.The invention is `hereinafter lmore fully describedand claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, jwherein material. y tbasket,formingl position, the side members 2 Figure lis a view in side elevation of the device'in basket form; chandise `directly to householders, and has i Figure?l is a-bottom plan view of the de `v iceinbasket form; y A c Figure 3 isa top plan vievi7 of the device in'basket form; Y y

' Figure 4; is a sectional View taken'on thev vertical pla-ne indicatedby the line 4-4 of Iiligure 3; 4

y Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the verticalplane indicatedby the line 5 5 of Figure; op Y v Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of the device with the members 4 in basket forming relation and'vwith the legs-in extended positi'onv;l A A Figure 7 lsa view inside elevationof the ldleviceas Vshown in Figure 6;

tratifn'gthe. mannerin 7which the side mem- 'bers areretainedin basket forming position; i

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane' indicated by the line lQ-lQ AofFig'ure llfand Y y p l K Y, Figure 13 isa detail sectional view taken .on the vertical plane indicated by the line ,Thegdevicecomprises a central memberl, side'. members 2 and end members. The

side'members andthe end members 3 are connected to the central memberv l by hinges Vlandv, respectively, so` as to kpermit them to be arranged either at right angles to the central member t0 providea basket or in the :plane the central member to provide a table top. Themembers l, 2 and 3 may be made from wood, metal or any other suitable When the members 2 and 3 are in contact with the-end edgesof theend memlloers, Vand'whenthese members are in table i f. vFigure l1 is aldetail elevational view illus- Y top forming position, their hinged edges contact with the edges of the central member 1. The side members 2 are provided with angle irons 6 and blocks 7 which, when these and the end members 2 are in basket forming position, contact with the oppositefaces of the end members to hold said members against any accidental inward or outward movement. vWhen thegside members 2 and end members 3 are in'basket forming pesition, the side members rest against the sides of a'handle 8 and are engaged by the bolts 9 of latches 10, the sides of the handle being arranged inwardly and the bolts 9 being arranged outwardly of the side members. The bolts 9 which are vertically arranged .and slidably mounted in c'asings; 11, are yieldingly held in projected position bysprings 12, so as to permit them to automatieally engage the side members 2 when the latterare swung into basket forming position against ihe sides of the handle 8. Headed pins 1 2 working in slots 14: in the casings 11, serveto limit the .movement of the bolts 9 by the springs 12 and provide means through the medium of which the bolts maybe retracted when it is desired to swing the side members 2 and end members 3 into table top forming Position.

The handle 8 is arranged at the transverse center of the device, andextends for aconsiderable distance above'the side members 2 and end members 3 when said members Vare in basket forming position. It is secured to the central member 1, and comprises a pair of rods 15 of substantially inverted U- forin in elevation and arranged ih relatively spaced relation. The lower ends ofthe rods 1 5 entends downwardly ythrough openings 16 in the central member 1, and are vbeI'it into contact with the lower side of said member. Cleats 17 provided with openingsfor the re ception of the angular ends ofthe reds 15, and secured to the under side of the central member 17 by elements 18, `serve to irmly secure the rods to said member. The sides of the rods 15 are offset laterally at points immediately above the side members 2 so as to provide the handle 8 with a comparatively large upper or looped portion. The upper or looped 'portions of the rods 15 arelield against anj7` relative movement by a 'Inetal strap V19 'of inverted U-form in elevation and arranged within vsaid portion of the rods with` its ends resting upon the shoulders 2 0 'provided by otfsetting'the rods. The side edges of the strap 19 are rolled, as at 21, about the upper or looped portions of the rods 15. 'Inadditionto strengthening and adding rigidity to the handle 8, the strap 19 vprovidesa smooth grip which will not tire the hand. The latch casings v11 are welded o r secured Iin any other suitable manner to the, inner sides of the ends of the strap 19, and the bolts 9 pass downwardly through the shoulders 20 into contact with the outer faces of the side members 2.

The legs 22 and 23 are arranged in pairs, and are connected to the under side of the central member 1 for movement into extendedpr folded relatin with respe'ctlthereto. Then the legs 22 and 23 are in extended position, the central member 1 rests upon their upper ends -and/when they are in folded psition, they oeeupy a common plane. The legs 22 and 23 are connected to the central memberl by hinges 24. The legs 22 are connected together by crossed braces 25, and the legs 23 are connectedtogether by a transverse brace 26. The b race 26 is provided with fl'set ,portion 27 which constittes a latch adapted to engage a keeper plate 28 on one of the legs 22 when these legs. and the' legs 23 are 1in folded psition, the' latch serving to hold the legs against acc ifdentalV mei/'ement from such position. A rod 29 eXending across and secured te the upper ends of each pair of the legs 22 and 23, end springs 30 secured t'o the central member 1 and to the arms or cranks 31 of said rods, provide means for holding the legs inextended position and for moving the legs into such position when they are released by disengagiiig the latch 27 from the keeper plate 28.

In pracice, the salesman carries' his merchandise in the basket provided by arranging and securing the side members 2 and end members 3 in upriht psitin withv respect to the central mem er 1, the legs 22 and 23 being in folded position against the under side of thebasket, in which p'sitin they are 'secured by the `latch 27. When he wishes to display the merchandise to a prospective purchaser', he' freeslthe legs y22 and 23 for i movement intdtheir extended position by the springs 30; After the legs 22 and 23 have reached their eXtended position, in which position they will be held by the springs 30, he rests the device uponthe floor, and thereafter frees the side members 2 to fall intdalinement with the central member v1, with the result that a table having a broad flat ltop is provided'. He nowspreads the merchandise over the tabletop in 4order to display them to thebest advantage to the prospective purchaser. When he wishesvto visitanother' prospect-ive purchaser, hearranges themerchandise on the central member 1, then swings the end members 3 into basket forming position, and thereafter swings the Siae membersa inte basket formin'g position, the side members securing the end members in such position and the side membersbeing automatically secured in such position by the latches 10. LAfter the basket has been formed, the legs 22 and 23 are swung int'o foldedpsition against the 'under side af the basket, ia whichposiaoa they are automatically secured by the latch 27.

Ua'i

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with t-he accompanying drawings, it Will be seen that a salesman equipped With this device has at hand a table on which he may display his merchandise to the best advantage, and that the device, due to the fact that it provides a table for the merchandise, obviates the loss of time incident to and the bad impression created by a salesman who is equipped With only a basket or tray which in the absence of a better support is usually placed on the floor and Who accordingly must constantly be bending over the basket in order to select merchandise for display to a prospective purchaser.

lVhile We have described the principle of,

the invention and the device which We :noviT consider the best embodiment thereof, We Wish it to be understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made therein When desired as are wirhin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What We claim is:

l. A device of the character set forth, comprising a central member, other members connected to the central member for arrangement into basket or table top forming position with respect thereto, means carried by certain of said other members and engaging the remaining of said other members to hold said remaining members in basket forming position, a handle secured to the central member, releasable means carried by said handle and engaging said certain members intermediate their ends to hold them in basket forming position, and means for supporting the members when in table top formation.

2. A device of the character set forth, coinprising a central member, other members connected to the central member for arrangement into basket or table top forming position With respect thereto, means carried by certain of said other members and engaging theremaining of said other members to hold said remaining members in basket forming position, a handle secured to the central member, and means carried by said handle and engaging said certain members to hold them in basket forming position.

3. A device vof the charac er set forth. comprising a central member, other members connected to the central member for arrangement into basket or table top forming position with respect thereto, means carried by certain of said other members for engagement with the remaining of said other members to hold the remaining members in basket forming position, a handle secured to the central member, and spring pressed bolts carried by the handle and adapted to engage said first members to hold them in basket forming position.

v4. A device of the character set forth, comprising a central member, other members contain of said other members resting againstV the sides of the handle when in basket forming position, latches engaging said members to hold them in said position, and means carried by said members and engaging the remaining other membersV to hold them in basket forming position.

5. A device of the character set forth, comprising a central member, other members connected to the central member for arrangement into basket or table top forming position With respectthereto, U-shaped wires having their ends passing through the central member, means securing the ends of the Wires to the lower side of the central member, a strap embracing the upper portions of the Wires, certain of said members contacting With the sides of the' Wires when in basket forming position, latches carried by the strap and engaging said members to hold them in said position, and means carried by said members and engaging the remaining other members to hold them in basket forming position.

6. A device of the character set forth, comprising a central member, other members connected to the central member for arrangement into basket or table top forming position with respect thereto, means releasably holding said other' members in basket forming position, pairs of legs, means connecting the legs to the central member for movement into folded or extended position With respect thereto, means releasably holding the legs in folded position, a cross bar secured to one pair vof legs and having a catch engaging one of the other pair of legs to hold the legs in folded position, and means for releasably holding the legs in extended position.

7. A device of the character set forth, comprising a central member, other members connected to the central member for arrange- `ment into basket or table top forming position With respect thereto, means releasably holding said other members 1n basket forming position, pairs of legs, means connecting the legs to the central member for movement into folded or extended position with respect thereto, means releasably holding the legs in folded position, rods carried by the legs and provided With cranks, and springs secured to the central member and to the cranks.

In testimony whereof vvel affix our signatures.

ORIN A. JOHNSTON. CLARENCE F. JOHNSTON.

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