US1898307A - Table - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1933.

C. J. MILLER TABLE Original Filed 0ct.-9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l [rm/alder C. J. MILLER Feb. 21, 1933.

TABLE Qriginal Filed Oct. 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I MW A oIrNEm Feb. 21 1933.

c. J. MILLER TABLE Original Filed 00*... 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fla. 7

Feb. 21, 1933. Q MlLLER 1,898,307

TABLE Original Filed Oct. 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [raven/02 CHARL :JfM/um ii V 23 A F1612 2 mm AT'roRNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1933 CHARLES J. MILLER, OF'MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA TABLE Application filed October 9, 1925, Serial No. 81,493. Renewed June 2, 1932.

My invention relates to a folding type of table adapted for use generally as a table,

but particularly designed for kitchens, small dining rooms, breakfast nooks, or wherever it may be desired to conserve floor space.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tableof simple compact construction which without detracting in any way from the general appearance of the furniture in the room, will be capable of folding into a comparatively small space and be unfolded easily and quickly when desired for use.

A further object is to provide a folding table that is adapted when folded to receive or contain or have hinged to the legs of the table, the seats or settles used around it when unfolded.

A further object is to provide a simple inexpensive, automatic means for bracing the hinged sections of the table when unfolded and holding them rigidly in their expanded or open position.

A further object is to provide means becoming automatically operative when the table is folded to serve as legs to hold the folded section of the table from touching the floor when in an upright position.

A further object is to provide a folding table of solid construction with provision for automatically bracing all of the joints and particularly in providing edge rails in such form and arrangement to allow the folding features of the table, while at the same time bracing the top sections against splitting or warping.

A further object is to provide a table embodying a folding principle of such a nature that the table, or table and seats, may be of a single or double construction according to the space where it is to be used and the requirements of such use.

Other objects of the invention will appear M from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out the claims.

in the accompanying drawings forming Us part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a single fold type of table in an open position with the seats or settles ready for use;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the seats in a nested position beneath the table;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the table and seats folded;

Figure 4 is a view of the under side of the table top showing the means for locking it in its expanded or open position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a simla-r view showing the table partially folded;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the table completely folded and the position assumed by the locking devices when the table is in this position;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fi ure 4.;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view showing the means employed for supporting one side of the folded table;

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a type of the table without the settles or seats in an open or unfolded position;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view showing the type of table illustrated in Figure 10 in its folded or closed position;

Figure 12 is an end view of a table and seats having a double fold or one having folding sections on each side of a. middle stationary section;

Figure 13 is a similar view showing the same type of table without the use of the seats or settles.

In the drawings,2 represents a section of a table top having supporting legs 3 and braced and strengthened on the under side in the usual manner. 4: is an extension of the top section 2 having one edge hinged thereto as at 5 and adapted when unfolded to form a horizontal continuation of the top 2 and when folded to drop down to a vertical position parallel substantially'with the legs 3. The top section 4 has legs .6 hinged to the under side of the section t at 7, and joined to gether at their upper ends by an end rail 8 adapting the legs 6 to be folded inwardly and upwardly against the under side of the table t op or rails when the table is to be closed and downwardly to a vertical position when the table is opened. As shown in. Figure l, the edge rail 8 opposite the rail 8 is preferably longer than the rail 8 and the side rails 8" and 8 of the two sections 2 and i are'oi'lset or out of alignment with each other so that the sections can be folded wiihout interference of the opposite rails, but at the same tim these ails will perform their functions of bracing and strengthening the table sections and preventing them from warping or twisting. l

the top section 2 and a similar blocl: or bar 10 is correspondingly secured to the underside of the top section f opposite the block 9 on the other side of the hinges 5 therefrom. A brace 11, preferably fl shaped in form, is hinged at 12 to the bar 8 and has a beveled inner end 13 provided with an orifice 14 to receive a pin 15 in the block 10 for the purpose of locking the legs 6 in their unfolded position. A bar 16 is hinged at 1"? to the block 9 and has an orifice 18 to receive a pin 19 mounted in the block 10 and adapted to hold the table sections 2 and lin their aligned open position, bridging the hinges 5 between the sections while the shaped brace 11 bridges the hinges 7 between the legs 6 and the table top 4:.

A tension member 20 composed preferably of spring wire has a looped end passing through a slot 21 in the bar 16 and engaging the block 10 bearing on the end of the bar 16 and normally holding it in its interlocking engagement with the pin 19 with a yielding pressure. The other end of the spring member 20 engages a stud 2O in the block 10 near he brace 11 and bearing on the of the brace serves to hold it in yielding engagement with the pin 15. Thus I utilize one spring for locking both of the hinged braces of the table. The bar 16 has a beveled end 22 and a lever 23 is loosely mounted on a pin 24- and projects through an opening 25 under the top of the section l to a position where it can be most conveniently grasped to release the bar 16. The inner end of t iis lever bears on the block 10 and also contacts with the brace 11 so that when the outer end of the lever is raised the brace 11 will be disengaged from the pin 15 thereby releasing o unlocking the legs 6, and allowing them to folded inwardly and upwardly against the table top.

en agement will operate to move the end of the bar downwardly and disengage from the pin 19, thereby releasing the lock between the two s ctions of ihe table and allowing the section 4 to swing down to a verti'nl position parallel substantially wi h the legs 3. This movement is clearly iili .ted in Figures 5 and 6; Figure 5 show the unfolded position of arts with a se-tions and the in their locked positi n while Figure 6 shows the legs released or unlocked and the sliding brace 11 in the act of disengaging the bar from the pin 19 to allow the section t to be swung down to a vertical position as shown in Figure 7.

To fold the table, it will only be necessary therefore, for the user to raise the lever 23 which trips the brace 11 and th act of closing or folding the legs 6 will operate anton'iatically to unlock the 16 and a low the top sections to be folded and he table closed.

Upon opening the table, the withdrawal of the brace 11 by the lowering of the legs lease the bar 16 and allow the tension of the ,pring 20 to move the bar to its loch- )osit1on thereby holding the two top 1 ins in perfec alignment. [it the same time, when the legs reach a vertical positi n the brace 11 will engage the pin 15 and au omatically locked until such time s again disengaged by the movement of To provide a support for one side of the table when folded and prevent the table top from contacting with the floor, I provide supplementary legs 26 hinged at 26 to the top ection 2 and having their free ends proecting through openings 27 in the end rail f the section d. These legs are pivoted off he center of or eccentric to the pivots of be section and consequently when the top :ection 4: is down to the vertical position as .hown in Figure 5), the legs 26 will be pros jected or protruded through the openings 27 to a point beyond the edge of the top seclit n the .tion and the supplementary legs are retracted and aid in bracing and supporting the table top.

The legs 3 are provided with hinged counections 28 *etwecn them and seats or settles 29 and 29 these hinged connections comprising pin and eye members which adapt the seats to be raised with the table when the top section is lifted or the seats may be lifted independently of the table top and readily disengaged from the legs. The hinged connections adapt the seats to be swung inwardly under the table top and one section is preferably a little longer and higher than the other so that they will assume a nested position as indicated in Figure 2 when folded under the table top. When the table has been unfolded it will only be necessary to reach under the top and swing the seats outwardly on their hinges to a usable position. I

Figure 3 illustrates how compactly the table may be folded with the seats occupying the space under the narrower table top section and the wider section forming in effect a leaf depending vertically in front of the table and concealing the space beneath the top and the hinged seats. These top sections may of course be made of suitable ma terial that will take a high polish or finish and even when the table is folded the mechanism employed in the folding operation will be concealed and the table will form an ornamental piece of furniture in the room.

The table shown in Figures 1 to a has a 'ider top section 2 adapting it to receive the nested seats or ettles. In some instances I may omit these seats and in that case, the table with a narrower top section 2 shown in Figure 10, may be provided, the other elements of the table being substantially as heretofore described with reference to the table of Figure 1. This construction, with the narrower top section, permits a more compact folding of the table as illustrated in Figure 11 where the section 4 swung down to a vertical position is close to the legs 3 of the section 2 and the table may of course in this form be put in a smaller space than where provision is made for the nesting of the seats under the table top.

In Figure 12, I have shown a table corresponding to the one illustrated in Figure 1 except that it has a double fold construction, a normally stationary middle top section 30 being provided with centrally arranged legs 3 and end sections 4 on each side corresponding to the section previously described eXcept that instead of having one section on one side of the stationary top section, provision is made for a hinged section on both sides, thus practically doubling the surface area of the table top when unfolded. Provision is here made for the nesting of two pair of seats, one pair of seats on each side of the legs 3 instead of one pair of nested seats as shown in Figure 3. The means for locking the hinged sections in their open or unfolded positions is substantially the same as described with reference to previous ures and further illustration or description herein is unnecessary.

In Figure 13, a double folding table is shown in which the middle or stationary section 30, is narrower to adapt the table for use without the nesting seats, the hinged end sections being thereby brought close to the central legs 3* during the folding operation.

The form of table illustrated in Figure 13 will effect an economy in space of fiVGSlXt-hS of the areav required for this type of table when in its open position. The table sections may of course be made of any suitable material and finished in any preferred manner, and in various Ways the details of con struction herein shown and described may be modified and still be within the scope of my invention. 7

It will be noted that the bars'16 and 26 both lie across the hinge line and are pivoted on the same side of the hinge line and respectively act as bracers to resist buckling action at the hinge line either upwardly or downwardly.

I claim as my invention:

1. A table comprising sections hinged together for relative movement and having supporting legs, the legs of one section being adapt-ed to swing inwardly and allow that section to t"rn down to a vertical position parallel substantially with the legs of the other section, and supplemental legs slidably arranged and connected to one of the sections in a manner tobe automatically projected to supporting position as the swinging section travels to folded position.

2. A table comprising sections hinged together for relative movement and having supporting legs, the legs of one section be ing adapted to fold to allow that section to turn down to a vertical position, and means normally retracted but adapted to be projected by the turning down of said section to contact with the floor and cooperate with said section to support that side of the table when folded.

3. A table comprising sections hinged together for relative movement and having supporting legs, the legs of one section being adapted to fold and allow that section to swing down to a vertical position, and bars mounted to reciprocate in said swinging section and pivoted eccentric to the axis of said section whereby when said section is swung to its vertical position, said bars will be projected to contact with the floor and cooperate with said swinging section to support the table.

i. A table comprising top sections hinged together for relative movement and having supporting legs, the legs of one section being pivoted, means hinged to the legs, and yield ably urged toward one of the sections, and adapted for latched engagement therewith for locking said pivoted legs in an upright supporting position when the table is open, and a lever adapted to be manually operated for unlatching said locking means to allow the folding of said legs and table.

5. A table comprising top sections hinged one upon the other, a bar, adapted for looking said sections in horizontal alignment, legs for one section pivoted thereon, a brace movable with the legs and adapted for latch engagement with one of the sections for holding said legs in their upright supporting position, a tension member for holding both bar and brace in their locking position, and said brace being adapted when released and moved by the legs to disengage said bar, from its locking position.

6. A table comprising top sections relatively hinged andhaving supporting legs, one pair of legs being pivotally mounted, a bar pivoted to one of the sections, and adapted for locking said top sections in horizontal alignment, a brace for locking said pivoted legs in a vertical position, means yieldably urging said bar and brace to locking position, a manually operated means for releasing said brace, and said brace being adapted when said pivoted legs are folded to engage said bar and move it to its release position.

7. A device of the class described comprising two hinged together top sections, one section having legs pivoted to fold therebeneath, a brace hinged to the foldable legs and detachably engageable with one section to latch the legs in supporting position, a bar hinged to one of the sections and detachably cngageable to secure the sections in tableforming position, a resilient element connected to one of the sections and yieldably engaging brace and bar in a manner to urge them to latch position, the brace being engeable with the bar to unlatch the same, as

the legs are folded.

8. A device of the class described comprising two legged, hinged together, top sections, first and second, the second having legs pivoted to fold therebeneath, a hinged brace movable with the legs and detachably engageable with said second section to latch the legs in supporting position, a bar hinged to the first section and detachably engageable with the second to secure the sections in table-forming position, a resilient element connected to one of the sections and yield ably engaging brace and bar in a manner to urge them to latch position, the brace being second section engageable by the bar to lock the sections in alined open position, a tension member arranged to yieldingly urge the brace and bar to latch position, and a lever movably attached to one of the sections and having a portion arranged for releasing the bar against the action of the tension member, the brace being wedgingly engageable with the bar to unlatch. the same as the legs are swun from supporting position.

10. A device of the class described comprising two-legged hinged together top sections, first and second, the second having legs pivoted to fold therebeneath, a hinged brace movable with the legs and detachably engageable with the second section to latch the legs in supporting position, a bar hinged to the first section and detachably engageable with the second to secure the sections in table forming position, the brace being engageable with the bar to unlatch the same as the legs are folded.

11. A device of the class described comprising two legged hinged togetner tog sections, first and second, the second having legs pivoted to fold therebeneath, a hinged brace movable with the legs and detachably engageable with the second section to latch the legs in supporting position, a bar hinged to the first section and detachably engageable with the second to secure the sections in table-forming position, the brace being engageable with the bar to unlatch the same as the legs are folded, and means operable by a simple lifting motion, to unlatch the brace.

12. A table comprising sections hinged together and having supporting legs, the legs of one section being adapted to swing inwardly and allow that section to turn down to a vertical position, supplemental legs arranged across the hinge line of the table sec tions and adapted to be automatically projected to supporting position as the swinging section travels to folded position. and bar hinged to one section and detachably engageable with the other section and also arranged across the hinging line, said supplemental legs, and said bar acting respectively to prevent hinging movement at the hinge line in opposite directions.

13. A device of the class described comprising two legged hinged-together top sections, first and second, the second having legs pivoted to fold therebeneath toward the other legs across the hinge line, a hinged brace movable with the legs and detachably engageable with the second section to latch the legs in supporting position, and a bar hinged to the first section detachably en able with. ti 0 second to secure the sections in table-formig position.

14. A four-legged table consisting of, a top composed of two Ling-ed together sections first and second, the length of the second measured in direction perpendicular to the hinging axis being substantially equal to the over-all height of the table, and having a pair of legs hinged thereto, the first section having two fixed legs, the second section being adapted to be swung toward the fixed legs, and to a vertical position, and the hinged legs being adapted to be swung to a position parallel to the section to which they are at tached when that section is in vertical position, means adapted to secure the top sections in coplanar table-forming relation, and means for locking the hinged legs in tablesupporting position.

15. A four-legged table consisting of, a top composed of two hinged-together sections first and second, the length of the second measured in direction perpendicular to the hinging axis being substantially equal to the over-all height of the table, and having a pair of legs hinged thereto, the first section having two fixed legs and being shorter than the second section in direction perpendicular to the hinging axis, the second section being adapted to be swung toward the fixed legs and to a vertical position, and the hinged legs being adapted to be swung to a position parallel to the section to which they are attached when that section is in vertical position, means adapted to secure the top sections in coplanar table-forming relation, and means for locking the hinged legs in table-supporting position.

16. A four-legged table consisting of, a top composed of two hinged-together sections first and second, the length of the second measured in direction perpendicular to' the hinging axis being substantially equal to the over-all height of the table, and having a pair of legs hinged thereto and adapted to swing in unison, the first section having two fixed legs, the second section being adapted to be swung toward the fixed legs, and to .a vertical position, and the hinged legs being adapted to be swung to a position parallel to the section to which they are attached when that section is in vertical position, means adapted to secure the top sections in coplanar table-forming relation, and means for looking the hinged legs in table-supporting position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of October 1925.

CHARLES J. MILLER.

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