US1983065A

US1983065A - Table construction

Info

Publication number: US1983065A
Application number: US638695A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren S Bellows
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-10-20
Filing date: 1932-10-20
Publication date: 1934-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1951-12-04

Description

Dec. 4', 1934. s. BELLOWS 1,983,065

TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 20, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Dec. 4, 1934. w ows 1,983,065 I TABLE CONSTRUCTI ON F iled Oct. 20, 1932 s sneets-shet's lHIINIHHIIIHIIHIHHIIIHH'" v 'INVENTQR Patented Dec. 4, 1934 Tum Tel) srA Es PATENT OFFICE Warren s. Bellows, Shaker Heights, om 7 A plication October 20, 1932, Serial No. 638,695 1 5 Claims. (01. {IL-108) This inventionrelates to, improvements in tables and more particularly to collapsible portable tables and is a continuation in part of my ccpending application Ser. No. 737,972, filed September 16, 1924. r

Folding tables as heretofore constructed have usually been loosely put together and .the legs have been commonly secured to the top which is the weakest part of the light weight portable tables. Inasmuch as such tables were unsteady i when subjected to any great weight the use of such tables hasbeen extremely limited and even .their use as gametables has been objectionable. Not only have the legs been unsteady but furthermore the, table top has been diflicult to change where a different type of cover was desired or where the cover was to be removed for anyde-r sired purpose. These tables although primarily used for card playing are also suitably used for display purposes. 7 I

It is'the principal object of this invention to provide a substantial folding table-with'a' strong rigid frame holding a lightweight removable center which can be attractively ornamented and in which the table has foldable legs directly secured to the frame for greatest strength and simplicity of manufacture.

It is a further and more specific object of this invention to provide a portable table with a top supporting frame making a rabbeted joint with alightweight cover, whichframe is rigidly supported by a suitable leg construction, the cover reducing the weight without reducing the strength of the table. Y Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular metal frame which may be welded or otherwise made into an integral piece to hold a separate non-metallic center for a portable table such as a card table which will have unusual rigidity and lightness.

' Another object of the invention to provide a portable table having a removable center portion which is supported in a suitable frame to which the legs are directly attached, the center being removable for recovering as desired and in which the frame may be decorated to more satisfactorily harmonize with other beautiful furniture with which the table may be used.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description thereof taken in connection with the attached drawings which illustrate preferred forms on it. Other forms of leg constructions may of lie within the flange formed by the side 10 of the Figure 2 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the table shown in Figure. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a detail show: ing a slightly different form of construction;

Figure 5 is a plan-view of a. still further modified form of construction, partially in section;

Figure 6 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5, and,

Figure 'Iis a partial vertical section of a still further modified form of construction.

A portable type of table for card playing, dis-, play purposes, or otherwise and embodying certain features of my invention is more clearly shownin Figures 1 and 2. The table has, as its principal elements; a rigid frame 10, a separable center portion 16 and the frame is directlysupported by collapsible legs 22.

The frame 10 may be made of wood, metal or other materials and if made of wood, may be made in two pieces 10 and 10a, the pieces giving an attractive wide marginal portion or border 11. If desired, the frame 10 may also be reinforced by

suitable reinforcing strips

12 and 14 reinforcv ing the corners and actingas'supports for the center respectively, as will be more fully explained hereafter.

The frame is supported directly by legs 22 which are held in open or extended position by suitable The'braces 24 which may he pivoted on the reinforcing strips 12 extend from points spaced from the pivot 26 of theleg and will thus hold the legs in a'desired position bracing the legs in both planes. As the legs are directly bracketed to the frame which may preferably be made the strongest partof the table without increase in weight, 5 the fraine will withstand extremely heavy loads for'such a table yet-without -shaking or undue strain and even with the usual use as a card table,

the table will not wobble if a player rests his hand 10. course be found suitable and the legs may be made in any desired shape and of metal or wood as desired.-

The legs will fold about their

pivots

26 and 10 frame and the bottom of the marginal strip 10a. This facilitates close packing and carrying and prevents possibility of damage to the legs when the table is folded. It is to be understood that mg any suitable clip may be used to hold the legs in the folded position if found desirable.

In order to detachably support the center 16 flush with the top of the frame 10, I prefer to form an open rabbet groove 28 in the top of the frame to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the center support 18 and any desired cover 20 which it may carry to form the desired center 16. This rabbet 28 is thus arranged to receive the center 16 and the center will be held in a detachable manner to the frame 10 by suitable fastening means 30 which project at spaced intervals through the frame. and other materials may be used for this purpose, making possible the easy removability of the cover.

When in position, the center is preferably flush with the marginal edge 11 which may also be ornamented or otherwise decorated to correspond with the cover material. The braces 14 may be used'to additionally support the center 16 to hold it more rigid throughout its length. Obviously, these strips are unnecessary where the center 16 is inherently strong enough to accomplish the purpose. The center may be of any desired material but is preferably not metallic for lightness, and laminated'wood structures are satisfactory.

The removable center has many advantages in that the table may be constructed with any desired frame and the center may be inserted at a subsequent time and is substantially a separate entity. The center may have, for example, a transparent cover and advertising or ornamental matter placed under it for specific uses. Cover materials of treated fabrics or celluloid may be used which are not stained or which can be washed repeatedly without injuring the decorative effect on the center portion. It is also possible to have a plurality of covers for a single frame, each cover for example having a game, chart, or similar design on the surface so that the table will have many separate uses.

If desired, the table top may have a narrow border 11a by slightly changing the shape of the supporting frame 10b. In Figure 4, for example, I have shown a solid block 10b in which the channel or rabbet portion 28 has been cut out leaving the exposed narrow marginal portion. In

such a construction the support 18 for the center 16 may similarly be covered with a suitable cover 20 of fabric or other flexible material whether it be transparent or otherwise. In this construction the legs 22a are similarly secured to the frame 10b so that a strong bond may be-made between the frame and the legs rather than in the prior forms of constructions in which the legs were secured to the center portion which is nor.- mally the structurally weakest part of the table.

If desired, the table may be made with a tubular metal frame more clearly shown in Figure 6. The frame 30 may be of any particular crosssectional configuration and it preferably is provided with some projecting means forming a support for the removable center portion. One form of construction includes angle brackets 32 which may be bolted or spot welded to the frame 30 in any desired fashion and either be bolted or otherwise removably secured by detachable means 33 to the removable center portion.

The cover 20 is preferably secured to the support 18 by tacks 34, cement or other securing means before the center portion is secured'to the frame. This makes separate handling of the center possible and facilitates the stretching of the cover in place. After the cover is secured Screws, bolts, etc.,-

the frame.

to the center portion, and the center portion se-' cured in the frame, the contact between the cover and frame will prevent loosening and will give a very attractive joint. I

It is also possible to apply two or more respective covers 20 and 20a to the support 18, one of which may be transparent and the other of which may be ornamental.

On large tables it may be found desirable to employ reinforcing rods 36 which may, if desired, project through the frame at right angles and be spaced from the center support 18 by additional angle brackets 38. Such a reinforcing means accomplishes two purposes in that it not only prevents expansion of the frame but also cooperates to support the center which may be structurally weak.

Tubular frames made of steel for example, may be readily pressed to any desired form or shape, and it may be found preferable to use a construction such as shown in Figure 7. In this in stance the metal frame 40 is provided with a narrow ledge -or marginal portion 41 and has a suitable channel 42 forming a rabbet which will receive the center support 18 and the cover 20 and if desired a second cover 20a. as in the previous form. This is very similar to the rabbet construction of Figure 4. The legs 22 which may be of steel or wood and of any desired shape are similarly secured to an inner flange 43 of the frame and only indirectly support the center and cover through the frame member. Such a table has considerable rigidity and may be preferred from a standpoint of lightness to the wooden frame tables, especially when a light laminated or moulded product is used for the support 18.

The center support 18 and covering 20, if any, are intended to fit closely within the rabbet of Preferably the covering will overlap the edge of the center support and then be held in firm contact between the support 18 and the bracket to which it is secured as well as being secured directly to the support 18. While this is not essential inasmuch as the cover may be secured to the center support in any other desired manner, it is nevertheless an additional feature which prevents the cloth from being inadvertently removed from the table.

As is indicated, it is possible to have either the very narrow border table or the wide border table depending entirely on the selection of frame members, and the center support may be demountably held by any desired means such as bolts, or nuts, as shown in Figure 6, or by screws 44 as shown in Figure 7. The frame, after being pressed into proper shape to give a pleasing outer appearance, can then be welded in any desired manner to give an integral structure. The table will thus be rigid, strong, ornamental and of light weight and may be made by simple manufacturing methods.

While I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that other modifications may be made thereto and I therefore desire a broad interpretation of my invention within the scope and spirit of the description ,herein and of the claims appended hereinafter.

I claim: 4

1.- In a portable table of the type described, a rim having an offset edge, a plurality of foldable legs supporting said rim, a detachable center portion, and means to removably secure said detachable center portion to the offset edge. of said rim, a cover for said center portion, means to secure said cover to said center portion whereby said center portion and cover may be removed as an integral whole, and a second cover on said center portion, said second cover being flexible and transparent.

2. A folding portable table of the class described, comprising a supporting rim having an open rabbet groove in the top inner edge thereof, a lightweight center portion for said table and supported in said rabbet in a substantially flush relation, detachable means extending into said center portionand projecting through a part of said rim to demountably retain said center portion in position, and a plurality of removable covers on said center portion and. extending between said center portion and said rim in said rabbet, one of said covers being flexible and transparent, and legs pivotally secured directly to said rim and supporting said rim independently of said center portion.

3. A folding portable table of the class described comprising a hollow metallic supporting frame, a ledge extending from said frame and forming a support on the inner edge thereof, a lightweight center portion for said table supported on said ledge, securing means extending through said ledge and contacting with said center portion to demountably retain said center portion in said frame, a reinforcing rod extending across the frame to support the center por-- tion, a flexible transparent cover on said center portion and secured thereto, and foldable legs secured to said rim and supporting said rim independently of said center portion.

4. A portable, light weight and. rigid game table having a hollow tubular metallic rim portion supported by collapsible legs, said rim portion and center portion being of such position and thickness that thecenter portion is substantially flush with the top of the rim portion, the rim portion being adapted to receive the legs of the table in folded position substantially within its lower edge, and means to secure said center portion to said projecting support, said center portion being of slightly smaller dimensions than the opening in the rim so that the center portion may be covered and the cover be secured over the edges of the center portion.

5. A portable, light weight and rigid game table having a hollow tubular metallic rim portion supported by collapsible legs, said rim portion having a projecting support comprising an integral rabbeted edge on the inside thereof and below the top surface of the rim portion, and a light weight center portion supported by said projecting rabbet, the projecting rabbet and center portion being of such position andthickness that the center portion is substantially flush with the top of the rim portion, the rim portion being adapted to receive the legs of the table in folded position substantially within its lower edge, and means to detachably secure said center portion to said projecting rabbet, said center portion being of slightly smaller dimensions than the opening in the rim so that the center portion may be covered and the cover be secured over the edges of the center portion.

WARREN S. BELLOWS.

DISCLAIMER 1,983,065.Wm"ren S. Bellows, Shaker Heights,- Ohio. TABLE CONSTRUCTION. Patent dated December 4, 1934. Disclaimer filed August 24, 1937, by the patentee. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 5 in said specification.

[Oflicial Gazette September 28, 1987.]