US1883083A

US1883083A - Legged structure

Info

Publication number: US1883083A
Application number: US288995A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Symmonds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-06-28
Filing date: 1928-06-28
Publication date: 1932-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1949-10-18

Description

0C1. 1932- c. J. SYMMONDS LEGGED STRUCTURE Filed June 28. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 18, 1932. c. J. SYMMONDS LEGGED STRUCTURE Filed June 28. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNET STATES PATENT QFFICE CHARLES J. SYMMONDS, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN LEGGED STRUCTURE Application filed June 28,

This invention relates to improvements in legged structures (such as tables, bedsteads, benches, chairs and the like), and particularly to legged structures of the collapsible or knockdown type, in which the legs are capable of being folded upon the bodyportion of the structure, when the same is packed for shipment, or placed in storage or put away "after use, at which time economy of space is necessary to be exercised.

An object of this invention is to provide a structure of the class just mentioned which will be simple in construction, comparatively cheap in manufacture and highly eflicient in operation and use. Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a structure of this knockdown type which will prove firm and rigid when set up for use.

In the drawings illustrating this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying the principle thereof, Fig. 1 is a bottom plan View of a table (such as a card table), the legs being shown folded against the table-top; Fig. 2 is an isometric View of the same, the table being shown inverted and one of the legs thereof being illustrated in the process of being thrown into inoperative position; Figs. 3 and 4 are details illustrating one of the table-legs in elevation; Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating one of the legbracing rocker-arms; Fig. 6 is a detail showing a leg-engaging spring-catch; Fig. 7 is a detail showing one of the angles that receive or engage the tops or heads of the table-legs; Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating, in isometric view, a fragment of a table-leg provided with means for attachment of one of the leg-bracing rocker-arms; and Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating, in isometric view, another form of catch by which the table-leg is detachably secured to the table-top.

The table-top A comprises a frame I) to which is suitably fastened a piece of beaverboard a (or the like) that serves, in a cardtable, as the card-playing surface, when appropriately faced and finished. The four table-legs 0 are of the same construction and a description of one of them will serve as a description of all of them. In the table-leg 0, between the ends d, (2, thereof, there is bored 1928. Serial No. 288,995.

a hole f at each end of which there is mounted a wear-plate 9 formed with a hole g that is in register with the hole f. The wear-plates g are fastened together in any suitable way, as by means of a rivet g. Through the holes f, 9, there is passed a metal rod h, which is then bent into approximately V-shape (Fig. 5). To the bottom face of the table-top A, there is fastened a pair of bars 11 that cross each other at substantially right angles. The ends h, h, of the rod h are bent at substantially right angles to the main or body part of the rod h. The inner end h is pivotally mounted in one of the cross-bars 2', while the outer end it is pivotally mounted in one side-piece of the main frame I) of the tabletop A. The table-leg 0 is free to rotate or turn upon the mid-part h* of the V-shaped member h; and the latter member is free to rock on its ends h, It, so that the member it functions as a double rocker-arm, when the tableleg c is being thrown into and out of operative position (see Fig. 2). It is furthermore important to note that, when the tableleg 0 is in upright or operative position, the V-shaped member It performs the duty of a double brace and braces the leg in a plurality of directions and confers upon the structure great rigidity and stability, when it is set up. In each of the four corners of the frame I) of the table-top A, there is mounted an L-shaped angle-iron with which are adapted to engage, the walls of a recess 0 formed in in the upper end of the table-leg a, when the latter is thrown into upright or operative position. In this way, the table-leg a is made susceptible of being detachably secured to the table-top A in that position. To each side of the frame 5, there is fastened one end 7: of a spring-wire catch (Fig. 6) the other end is of which is free and extends into a groove (not shown) in a side of the frame I) and in close proximity to the angle-piece 7' adjacent to it. Into the notched upper end or head 6 of the table-leg 0, there is forced a screw m (Figs. 3 and 4), in such a way that the head m of the screw m projects inclined to that side of the table-leg 0 into which the screw m is driven. When the table-leg 0 is thrown into its upright, operative position, the inclined head m of the screw m is thrust and wedged past the free end is of the spring-wire catch is and presses that end As away from the head 6 of the table-leg c. lVhen the latter is forced home into its operative position, the free end 7:" of the wire catch L springs beneath the in clined head m of the screw m and there and then serves to retain the head 0 of the tableleg 0 in interlocking engagement with the angle-piece j and thereby with the table-top A. In order to facilitate the passage of the upper end of the table-leg 0 over the free end is of the wire-catch 70, that end of the tableleg 0 may be chamfered or bevelled, as shown at 0", Fig. 3. Projecting from the inner face of each side of the frame b, there is the rounded head it of a screw 1?. that is driven into the latter (Fig. 1). The member h is preferably made of a material, such as steel wire, that is resilient. The rounded head n projects into the path of travel of that arm it of the member h that extends substantially parallel to the table-leg 0 with which the member k is united. When the table-leg 0 is folded into its inoperative position against the table-top A, the arm 72 springs over the rounded head a, which then serves to retain, free to be released, the arm h and the table-leg c therewith connected.

In the manufacture of the hereinbeforedescribed table, the double rocker-arm and brace h, in being united to the tableleg c, is passed through the holes 9, f, 9', before it is bent into V-shape. In order to expedite this operation of combining the member it with the table-leg, the arrangement of parts illustrated in Fig. 8 may be adopted. Here the table-leg 0 is formed with a channel or groove 0 that is adapted and designed to receive the part if of the member h. The channel-like member p, which comprises a plate p formed with a pair of flanges or wings p" (only one of which is shown in Fig. 8), is provided with a pair of holes 39 disposed opposite each other. The piece of stout wire out of which the member h is fash ioned is passed through the holes p and is then bent to the required V-shape, whereupon the member p, with the member h therewith connected, may be readily attached to the tableleg 0, by means of the screws 0", or otherwise. When the table-leg 0 and the members 7 and h are in assembled relation, the part h* of the member it will be found to be fltted rotatably in the groove 0 provided for it.

An alternative construction for the interlocking of the upper end of the table-leg with the table-top A is illustrated in Fig. 9. A piece of flat metal 7' is so bent as to form an offset or recess 0 and one wall 7* of the latter is bent inwardly at one of its edges so that it forms a flange 7"". A hole r* is formed in another of the faces of the offset 1". At its ends, the metal piece 7" is bent so that it may be fitted into one of the corners formed by the meeting of a pair of the side-members of the frame I); and it is secured in that corner by means of the screws 8. The offset 1" is so shaped and is of such a size that the upper end or head of the leg t of the table has a sliding fit therein. The head of the leg t is encased in a wear-cap t of durable metal. I/Vhen the metal piece 1" is properly positioned and fastened in the corner of the frame I) (as illustrated in Fig. 9), the offset r, together with the opposed face 6 of one of the sidemembers of the frame 6 and the table-top, forms a socket adapted to receive the head of the table-leg t; and the upward thrust and travel of the latter in being positioned in the socket is limited by the lip or flange 1"" that serves as a stop-lug. The leg t is held releasably fastened in the socket or offset 1" by the following arrangement of parts Extending lengthwise in one of the sides of the leg t, there is formed a channel or groove t the upper end of which is enlarged and rounded out so that it may permit the inward movement of the end of the thumb of the person who desires to release the table-leg t from the offset 1". In the other (or lower) end of the groove 25', there is fastened a leafspring 10 at its lower end. The opposite free end of the leaf-spring uis given the form of a tooth u the upper face u of which is chamfered to permit the ready introduction of the capped head of the table-leg t into the offset 1". The leaf-spring u extends upwardly and within the wear-cap t and the tooth u projects outwardly through a hole formed in one side of the wear-cap 6. When the table-leg t is thrust into the offset 1" so that the wear-cap t abuts against the stop-lug 7", the tooth u is brought into register with the hole 9 formed in one of the lateral walls of the offset 7", whereupon the tooth u is forced outwardly through the hole r* automatically, that is, by the resiliency of the leaf-spring u. Thus, the table-leg t is detachably fastened to the offset 1"- and therethrough to the table-top A. To release the table-leg if when the table is to be knocked-down or collapsed, it is only necessary to press the leaf-spring u towards the table-leg t sufliciently to disengage the interlock of the tooth u with the walls of the hole r*; the table-leg It may then be Withdrawn from the offset 1".

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein shown and described the preferred form of this invention; but I desire it to be distinctly understood that I fully realize that changes may be made in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention, and thatIintendto include within the scope of the claims that follow hereinafter all modifications of the preferred form of this invention that do not depart substantially from the spirit thereof. For example, means other than the ones shown for detachably securing the table-leg to the table-top may be provided without any departure from the spirit of this invention; and so, too, may other ways of assembling the table-leg with the double rocker-arm and brace be devised. Moreover, two single rocker-arms may, without departing from the spirit of this invention, be substituted for the one double rocker-arm herein provided.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted intermediate their ends to the bight portion of the braces and means rigid with said element for engaging the legs when in supporting position.

2. In a device of the class describedman element tobesupported, a frame fixed to the element, V-shaped braces pivoted at their ends in the frame, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces and means rigid with said frame to engage the legs when in supporting position.

3. In a device of the class described an ele ment to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces, means on the element to engage and fix the legs in certain positions thereof and complementary means on said legs to co-operate with the first means.

4. In a device of the class described an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces, means on the element to engage and fix the legs in certain positions thereof and a. slot and lug provided on the legs to co-operate with said means.

5. In a device of the class described an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces, guides and catches on the element to engage and fix the legs in certain positions thereof and a slot and lug provided on the leg ends to co-operate with said guides and catches.

6. In a device of the class described an element to be supported, a frame fixed to the element, V-shaped braces pivoted in the frame, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces and means on said frame to engage and fix the legs in supporting position thereof and engage said braces in folded position thereof.

7. In a device of the class described provided with legs adapted to be adjusted into supporting and folded position, an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivoted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces and means on said element to fix the legs in their supporting position and in their folded position.

8. In a device of the class described provided with legs adapted to be adjusted into supporting and folded positions, an element to bgsiipported, Vshaped braces ph oted on the element, legs pivoted on the bight portion of the braces and means on said element cooperating with the legs to fix them in supporting position and with the braces to position the legs in folded position.

9. In a device of the class described provided with legs adapted to be adjusted into supporting and folded position, an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivoted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces and means on said element co-operating resiliently with said braces to maintain the legs in their folded position.

10. In a device of the class described a supported element, leg receiving means on the element, V-shaped leg braces pivoted to said element, legs pivoted intermediate their ends to the bight portion of said braces, said leg receiving means embracing angular portions of the leg to prevent pivoting of the leg within the means.

11. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, a frame on the element, crossed bars on the bottom of the element, V-shaped braces each pivoted on one side to the frame and on the other side to a bar, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces and means on the element for positioning the legs.

12. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, a frame on the element, bars on the element, V-shaped braces pivoted in the frame and bars and legs pivoted to the bight portions of the braces.

13. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, a frame on the element, crossed bars on the element, V-shaped braces each pivoted to the frame and a bar and legs pivoted on the bight portion of the braces.

14. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, a frame on the element, crossed and diagonally disposed bars on the element, V-shaped braces each pivoted in the frame and one of the crossed bars and legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces.

15. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces, rigid sections on the element, offsets in the sections for engaging the legs in their supporting position and means for fixing the legs in the offsets.

16. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces, rigid sections on the element, offsets in the sections for engaging the legs in their supporting position, a slot in the offsets, and means cooperating with the slots to fix the legs in the offsets.

17. In a device of the class described, an element to be supported, V-shaped braces pivotally mounted on the element, legs pivoted to the bight portion of the braces, rigid sections on the element, offsets in the sections for engaging the legs in their supporting position, a slot in the offsets and a tooth on the legs for cooperation with the slots to fix the legs in the ofisets.

Signed at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, this twenty-eighth day of June, 1928.

CHAS. J. SYMMONDS.