US1916288A - Article of furniture of the folding type - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1933. Cl lI SYMMONDS 1,916,288

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE OF THE FOLDING TYPE Filed Sept. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l c; J. SYMMONDS 1,916,288

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE OF THE FOLDING TYPE July 4, 1933.

Filed Sept. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I, l 8/ /4 9/ 01. Z4

INVENTOR.

Chv es JSW/WOHQ/S BY @6MM ATTORNEY.

Vniture or Patented July d, 1933 l enlise i.,

Lil. F'JNTURE 0F TEE FOLDING' TYPEv Application niet".

September 27,1932. SerialmG-Bfll.

(GRAiirnn tinnen Tien here? immens. 188e, is AMENDED maitrise, 192e; 37e o. e. 757) Ynianuiactured and used by or 'for the Government for governmental purposes,without the. payment to nie of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an articleof turi the folding type, mere particularly it' is directed to a folding', locking;l and leg bracing mechanism for an article of turni: ture ordinarily having a` dat top. l

@ne of 'the objects'oi my invention is to 'provide a folding, locking),h and leg bracing mechanism i'vhich adapted to be easily and quickly applied to an art ele et Afurniture such as a table or the lille. te provide inea-ns fer'rcadily folding' and unfolding the legs thereof, also for rigidly bracing said legs when Vin an unfolded er onerative position and for locline' said leg teliiini'aiul untoldine' mechanism including' said legs into position as usage requires,

Another object VolI niy invention is to provide a folding', locking and legi 'iracingwniecln anism for an article et Iurniture sucn as a `table or the like which may be applied to thc Article of furniture ier easily and quickly A L f folding or unfoldi n' the llas thereof. ndependently oi the Vt A oi said article of furniture. therebypermitting dille'renttops 'for the furniture to be sul tituted without inter- 1 r! tering' with the were` le; nari", of said loldi rhzinisin.

tion is to 'probracing mechrni iure which is construction 'i order.

7 her objectoi my ur'c limi', locking; and 'einem' au article `i simple in eperatioin'clieag and 'which not liable locking and leg' n uit' construction., arrang'cin ci parts which will herein es oit illustration tl ce to the accoinpan iup; draw y. bers distinguish like pa Fig. l is a persnei'ftiye told table inverted with l I Operative position Ahavin' l L thereto, Y Y

I y;*lfiich are suitably connected thereto.

or" the' legs ofthe table in o'iierativeposi- Fig'. el is bottom plan view of Fig.. l; andv Fig. is a cross-sectional view taken on line of F le looking in' tno. direction or the arrows. y A

ln the illust-rated embodiment character-V izing my invention, A indicates generally an article of furniture here illustrated in the term oi a table to which my invention in y be applied for folding" or unfolding the 'pairs of legsl a'nd, respectively. y

The tabled comprises latop supporting traine 3 having depending side rails 4l and' which are joined together at their ends by means of'eorner irons 6 whichare attached to the side rails d and 5 by any suitable means such as screws 7, transversely. extending' across the side rails l and suitably connected thereby their ends are stabili Zing beams or cross ends by means'oif metallic angle st 'apsll .Y

flanges l0 are tastened te the sides et the rails 'et and of the supporting vframe 3 by any suitable means such as screws l2 orjthe like. Cross bars 131i and 18B" are provided between the l and 2. wherein L. denotes the left land 'side and' B, the right hand side of ythe .ble A. 'The bars lLand 13R constitute pivot and are provided at each end with reduced rounded ends .forming pivots 14 which are adapted toproject through an ap.- erture provided in theinner endY of each of the' Legs l and 2 and be pii'fo'tably secured to y the side rails 5 of the supporting frame 3 by ens of securingA means ll. rl`he legsl and Y, further secured tothe pivot bars ALSL vand means of lined braces i6 and also byineens of plates HL and 17B, which are made oit metal or any other suitable mate-rial.

The

Vnr handle H to links SSL.

therefore constitute eoualizer bars.

Each of said plates 17L and 17B may be provided with an aperture 18, through which the pivots 14 of the pivot bars lSL and 13R may project and are provided with extensions 19 having pivotable connection with links QOL and 270K. Each of the links 20L and 20B are pivotably connected at the other end to stub links orequalizers 21L and 21R. The other end of each stub link or equalizer QlL and 21R is pivoted to a substantially triangular-shaped offset portion Q2 of links QSL and 23R, which is pivoted to the cross braces 8 at 24 and forms part of collapsible braces .ZL and 25B7 the other end of the collapsible braces 251i and 25B constituting links QSL and 26B, which are pivoted at 27 to each of the links QSL and 23R and at its other end to its respective leg.

A stop 28 is provided as an extension of each link 26L andfQGR to abut ragainst the table side of links QSL and 23R.

The above description applies equally well to any one of the linkages of each of the four corners of the-table.

For purposes of my invention I provide an operating or control linkage which is c onnected to all of said corner or leg moving linkages so that upon movement thereof the two right legs 2 will be opened up into operative position first and thereafter the two left legs 1 upon further movement ot the control linkage will be opened up to their normal extended or operative position. This control linkage comprises a substantially bail or U- shaped member 29 which is made of resilient material and is adapted to be held in a locked or latched position b v means of a latch S0 having one portion S1 thereof connected to the control linkage 29 and other portions comprising complementa-l members SQL and 32B thereof connected to the bottom of the. table top 9 and suitably spaced from each other;

The control linkage 29 is pivotablv connected at its remote ends to links SSR and pivotably connected at points intermediate said ends and the common connecting portion It is to be noted that the other end of links SSL and SSR are connected pivotablv to the, centers or the middle of the stub links QlL and 21R. which e In order to guide the action of the control linkage 29, a friction bearing and guide member S4 provided with a guide aperture S5 through which the links SSR extends and which are adapted to be frictionally held stationary or move longitudinally thereonupon the operation of the control linkage 29 is secured to the cross braces 8 of the table.

To operate my device I proceed as follows: I irst grasp the folded table and place it in an inverted position so that the obverse side of the table ispresented to the operator. Next the common bail-shaped member 29 is pushed iixwardly against the spring action thereof to release the latch SO from its complemental latch member SQL. By pushing on the common bail-shaped member Q9 it is caused to be sprung inwardly which causes the ends thereof to iorcc the links SSR against the. outside edge of the guide aperture S5 provided in each of the friction bearing and guide members S4. The hand then orients l the common bail-shaped member 29 in an accurate path in a clockwise direction. Continued motion of the common bail-shaped member causes the links SSR to move longitudinally in the friction bearing and guide members Si and constrains the .linkage and equalizer-s to raise the right hand leg members which attain their fully extended lo- :ation when the angle described is subst-antially tantamount to 900. The lett hand legr members are acted upon by the constrained inl-tages and cqualizers when the common bail-shaped member operated and the right and left hand leg members are in afolded position thereby causing the left hand leg members to assist in raising the right hand leg members. EXt-enuated action of the common bail-shaped member 29 then acts on the linkages and ecplalizers of the left hand leg members with a delayed action to raise them to their tully extended location. mon bail-shaped member is now snapped into its latch position with the complemental latch member SZR. The collapsible braces The comi hold the unitary leg members in extended position and prevent the collapse thereof. Upon inversion of my table it is ready for use.

To fold the leg members from a raised or unfolded position to a lowered or folded position the common bail-shaped member Q9 is again grasped by the hand and pulled inwardly against the spring action thereof to unlock the latch S0 from its complemental latch member This action causes the ends of the common bail-shaped member 29 to torce the links SSR against the outside edges et the guide aperture S5 provided in the friction bearing and guide members therelnY causing the links to have a frictional connection therewith to hold the right hand leg members in extended position while the left hand leg members are being lowered to a folded or collapse position. The action of thevcommon bail-shaped member also H causes the links t to be held in a. stat1onary position thus contributing to the frietional action above referred to for holding the right hand leg members in fully extended position. The hand then orients the common bail-shaped member 29 in an accurate path in a counter-clockwise direction. The pivots which are common to the links SSR and the ends of the common bail-shaped member 29 remaining fixed while the common bail-shaped member is being operated.

vBy virtue Vofthe above mentioned spring effect of tliecommon bail-shaped member 29 'on the links' 33B. when released bythe latch Ofrom its complemental; latch-,member 32B, the action thereof is transmitted to the links USL which in turnacts on the linkage for .the leftghand legv members to loiver the left ,hand leg members into folded position. EX'

tenuatedniotion of the common bail-shaped member after the lefthand leg members have been foldedgto their :fully Lclosed position 'causes the pivoted point` of the equalizers QlLand the ends of the links 33L to become fixed; which in turn causes the links SSL-Which are connected bythei-r other` eiidtothe bailshaped member 29. to act on the bail-shaped member "as a ,revolvingror moving fulcrum. T he Yrestraining actionof the li'Xed equali'zers QlLjand the links BBL causes the action of the bail-shaped member 29 to be transmitted backto the links 33B which in turn act on the linkage for the right hand leg members 'to foldlthem into inoperative or folded position, the right hand legA members folding upon-the left hand leg members.` The latch 30 ofthe common bail-shaped'member 29' is now snapped'into its latch .position with the Y complemental latch member SQL. The table is now in anr inoperative conditionv for putting it away iiik a-small space for future use.k

it will thus be seen that I have invented a highly novel, simpleandefticient article of furniture of the folding type which isivell Vadapted for all the purposes designated. lventhough I have Vherein shown and described my device'as comprising certain structural elements, it -is'nevertlieless to be understoodthat changes may he made therein Without departino` from the spirit or scopeof my invention, which broadly comprises a frame having ends, a unitary legfmember pivotedthereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extend-ing first one unitary leg 'member into and then-the other unitary leg member into eXtended position upon continualv movement of said means, said means comprising pivotal equalizingbars, and 'a combination bail link and branching linkagesv connected to said lin ; near fits" ends,brace members comprising a 5 bar tixabl'y securedaty onevendi tol-.its respec tive leg and' at lthe other endto said rod, .and i latch means for holding said common means inl locked vposition either when the unitary leg Ymembers are in a folded: or unifolded position;

i Noiv; that l have disclosed my invention what I claim as new anduseful is: i l. An article. of furniturecomprising a fra-me having ends,a unitary leg iiiemoer j pivoted thereto at each end, common control means, leg moving means connected to said unitary leg members and said eomiiioncoii- `trol means, said vcommon control means acty ing upon said lee' moving means to first move one ofv said iinitary leg members and then folded or unfolded position.

Q 'An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each, control linkageV means, leg moving links connected to said unitary members and said control linkage means, said control linl age means acting upon said leg moving links tofirst'iiiove one of said unitary leg members and then the other of. said unitary'leg members into a folded or unfolded position. f

3. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, asuiiitary leg member pivoted thereto at-each end, control linkage means, legvmoving links `connected to said unitary leg members and said `control linkage means, afriction bearing and guide, member connected to certain of said leg moving links andsaid table, said control linkage meansacting upon saidY leg moving links to first moveone of said unitary legvmembersl and then the other Vof said unitary leg members into afolded or unfolded position.

, An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary legv member pivoted thereto each end and common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unit-ary leg member and then the other unitary legmember into extended position upon continual movement offesaid means, said means comprising pivetal eqiializing bars, and a combination bail link andbranching linkage connected to said i. legs, saidbianching lin rage comprising links having one end ofeach pivotably connected to said equali'zing bars and links having one end of each pivotably connected Sto said. pivotalequalizing bars and the other ends thereof pivotably connected to said'legs.

, 5. Anarticle of vfurniture comprising-a. frame having ends, a uiiitaryvleg member pivotedV thereto at each end, common means veonnec'tedfto said unitar'yleg members for extending first one unitary leg member and' then the other unitary leg member into cxtendedposition upon continualmovement of said means, said, means vcoiiipris'iiig pivotal eqiializing bars,rand,v a combination'bail link and branching Ylinkages connected toA saidv se the other of said unitary leg members into ice legs, said branching linkages comprising links having one end of each pivotably con-V nected to said equalizing bars and links having one end of each pivotably connected to said pivotal equalizing bars and the other ends thereof pivotably connected .to said legs and collapsible braces, each pivoted to its respective leg at 011e end and to said pivotal equalizing bars and said frame at the other end thereof. i

6. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means and latch means for holding said common means in locked position either when the unitary leg members are in a folded or unfolded position.

7. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means, said means comprising a combination bail link and branching linkages connected to said legs and guide means secured to said frame and' having a guiding surface in contact with certain of said branching linkages.

8. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first oneunitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means wherein said unitary leg member comprises a common pivoted rod having legs fixably secured thereto near its ends and F brace members, each of said brace members comprising a bar fixably secured at one Yend to its respective leg and at the other end to said rod.

9. An 'particle of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means, said means including pivotal equalizing bars, and collapsible braces, each pivoted to its respective leg at one end and to said equalizing bars and said frame at the other end thereof.

10. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto-at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means, said means comprising pivotal equalizing bars, and a combination bail link and branching linkages connected to said legs, said branching linkages comprising links having one end of each pivotably connected to said equalizing bars, links having one end of each pivotably'connected to said pivotal equalizing bars andthe other ends thereof pivotably connected to said legs, collapsible braces, each pivoted to its respective leg at one end and to said pivotal equalizing bars and said frame at the other end thereof and latch means for holding said common means in locked position either when the unitary'leg members are in a folded or unfolded position.

- 11. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means,lsa.id means comprising pivotal equalizing bars, and a combination bail link and branching linkages connected to said legs, said branching linkages comprising links having one end of each pivotably connected to said equalizing bars, links having one end of each pivotably connected to said pivotal equalizing bars and the other ends thereof pivotably connected to said legs, collapsible braces each pivoted to its respective lleg at one end and to said pivotal equalizing bars and said frame at the other end thereof, guide means secured to said frame and having a guiding surface in contact with certain of said branching linkages, and latch means for holding said common means in locked position either When the unitary leg members are in a folded or unfolded position. l2. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of said means, said means comprising a combination bail member and branching linkages connected to said legs, guide means secured to said frame and having a guiding surface in Contact with certain of said branching linkages and latch means for holding said common means in locked position either when the unitary leg members are in a folded or unfolded position. A 13. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end, common means connected to said unitary legmembers for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member' into eX- tended position upon continual movement of said means, said means comprising a bail link and branching linkages connected to saidV locked position either when the unitary legr members are 1n afolded or unfolded position.

14. An article of furniture comprising a frame having ends, a unitary leg member pivoted thereto at each end and common means connected to said unitary leg members for extending first one unitary leg member and then the other unitary leg member into extended position upon continual movement of'said means, said means comprising a combination bail link and branching linkconnected to said legs, guide means secured to said frame and having a guiding surface in Contact with certain of said branching linkages? wherein said unitary leg member comprises a common pivoted rod having legs lifzably'secured thereto near its ends and brace members, each of said brace members comprising a bar liXably secured at one end 'to its respective leg and at its other end to said rod.

CHARLES J. SYMMONDS.

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