US1997182A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1935. F. FECK 1,997,182

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. PECK FOLDING TABLE April 9, 1935.

Filed July 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 ParhteEi Apr. 9, 1935 UNlTED TSITATE.

,, FOLDING TABLE 7 Frank Pooh-Colorado Springs, Colo.

i I 4 Claims. This invention relates to folding tables, itsprimary object being to provide a table which when not in use may be folded so compactly that, with reference to its normal extent, it'will occupy a comparatively verysmallspace. I

A further object of the invention is toprovide a foldable or collapsible structure which may be adjusted to provide tables of different superficial dimensions, and still other objects reside in'novel constructions and in novel combinations and arrangements of parts, by which simplicity of construction is combined with strength, stability, and practicabilityin use. i V

An embodiment of -my invention has been .shown in the accompanying .drawings the several views of which,like parts are similarly designated and in which, 7 o p 1 Figure v1 is a partiallybroken plan viewof the table. V i

,Figur.e;2,, a partially sectional side elevation of thesame. j V

Figure 3, a transverse vertical section of the upper portion of tabletaken on the line 3% .of Figure 1.

Figure 4, asectional view showing a modificationin which the table top *isj 'permanently connected to tliesupporting frame, the top being'in its normal horizontal position.

Figure '5, a similar view' showing the top in a suspended position when thestructure isin' a folded or collapsed condition. w l

Figure 6 is a perspective view of'theleg 'supported folding'frame of the table.

Figure 7, a perspective view of the framein a partially collapsed condition.

Figure 8, a perspective View of complete folded condition, and

Figure 9, a perspective view of a portion of a table made in accordance with the modification illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring further to the drawings, the table as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 8, comprises three separate elements, namely; a folding supporting frame A, a folding top B, and a folding brace C.

The folding top is composed of two sections 5,

each having two leaves 6 hinged together as at l; and each having at its underside lengthwise and transversely extending cleats 8 and 9, which fit inside the frame as will hereinafter be described, and thereby stabilize the structure in its assembled state.

The table sections have at their abutting ends dowel-pins 2| and correspondingly formed sockets 22 fitting one within the other. 7

the frame in its 7 Application July 27, 1933, Serial No. 682,445

The supporting frame comprises legs l0 rigidly connected in pairs bytransverse frame-rails ;l2.

ends of the supporting structure, are connected by side rails, each composedof hingedly connected The pairsof connected legs, which constitute the, f

are ,foldably connected atltheir outer ends, di-

.rectly to one of theends of the structure and to the stud of the opposite endof the same, respectively, as by means of hinges l1 and 18. i

The hinges 18 which connect the members I4 of the side rails to the studs l5 have angular extensions which embrace the adjacent legs of the ends .of the support, for the purpose of connect: ing the studs to the jlegs, in a manner'whichre enforces the structure; and the hinges I! .have similar extensions also for the purpose of reenforcement.

Ill

The brace-element of the table comprisestwo members is and 20 centrally pivoted togetheras at 23, 'The longitudinal member I9 is notched at its ends'to fit in seats 24, fastened centrally of -and'upon theinside of theend rails 'l2, and the transverse member 20 fits between the side rails of the frame, when the members are at right angles to each otherl l The brace-element thus holds the'side rails against accidental collapse, when the supportin structure is in its normal, extended "condition i. -3 The top of the table, in its normal condition,

' is placed upon the supporting structure with its cleats 9 and 8 in engagement with the end-rails and the side-rails respectivelm'so that it is rigidly held against displacement.

The elements of the table thus assembled, provide a structure so stable and rigid as to favorably ,compare with a table of the usual solid bers are placed in alinement by turning one about its-pivot with relation to the other.

Finally the supporting frame is'collapsed by I moving the members l3 and M of the side rails inwardly, about. the hinges l6, l1 and I8, which ,alined members ,I3a, Ma and Ba.

ure 1, except as otherwise noted. struction shown the hinges 25 are each composed of five blades hingedv togethenthe outer blades end parts rails as shown in Figure 8.

It follows that the length of the side-members of the frame is not restricted by the length of the end-members of the same, so that while the frame in its collapsed condition is compact to the extreme, it is in its extended state, sum-,1

ciently long to support atop of a length suitable for use as a large dining room table, or asalibrary or clirectors-room table.

; The table may be further extendedby joining two or more frames of the character hereinbefore described in end-to-end relation and corre--- spondingly increasing the number of sections of which the top is composed.

I This feature of the invention is so obvious that it has not been thought necessary to illustrate the same. V l r Instead 15 providing a top which is removable,

relative to the supporting structure, one or both of itssections 6a maybe permanently connected toithe end-sections of the structure as illustrated in Figures 4,5 and 9 of the drawings. The connections between the top 5a and the supporting frame are established .by means. of hinges '25 which are of compositeconstruction, so that the top sections may bellifted and turned over and around the rails I211.- of the respective ends of the frame and then lowered in a folded condition 'to hang parallel to and outside the ends as shown in Figure 5. Theframe in this modification com- ,p risesl'egs I 0d rigidly. connected in pairs by transverse frame rails [2a. The, pairs of connected legs, which constitute theends of the supporting structure, are connected by side rails,

each composed of hingedly connected normally It will be understood .that the-top and frame areidentical with the corresponding parts illustrated in Fig- In the conbeing fastened inside the end railsand under the top, respectively. It will be understood that one or more of these hinges may be applied at one or both ends of the frame;

'Oneadvantage of the last described modification is that the brace-element of the firstv described form of the invention may be dispensed with, since the top-sections, permanently connected at the ends of the supporting frame and abutting one another in end-to-end relation, will hold the frame against collapse.

Another advantageous feature of the modified construction is that the top-sections may be placedin a folded condition upon the supporting frame in a totally or partially collapsed condition, to provide a table of smaller dimensions.

Thus a table made according to the present invention may be used as a dining room table .or'a library table, or it may be reduced in size for use as a card table or as a side table. The last mentioned use has been illustrated in Figure 9, in which one section of the table is shown in a suspended position, While the other section in a folded condition rests upon the supporting frame.

The table has been shown as placed against a wall 26 of the room. 7 r

' Other modifications of the invention may be resorted 'to within the scope of the hereunto appended claims;

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table comprising a frame having supporting ends and folding side-rails connecting said ends, a brace-element composed of two members, one of which extends between the ends, and another of which extends between the side-rails,

and a top resting on the frame.

I 2. A table comprising a frame having supporting endsand folding side-rails connecting said ends, a brace-element composed of two pivctally connected members one of which extends between ends,v a brace-element composed of two members,

one of which is seated upon the ends, and another of which extends between the side-rails, and a .top resting on the frame.

4. A table comprising a frame having support- ,ing] ends, side-rails connecting said ends, each side-rail comprising a stud fastened to an endmember, a member hinged to the stud,-and a second member hinged tothe first-mentioned member and having its opposite end hinged to anend member, the studs of the respective siderails being at diagonally opposite points of the frame, and a top resting on the frame.

. FRANK PECK.

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