US2005976A - Ironing table - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1935. v, KELLE 2,005,976

I RoNING TABLE Filed Feb. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1m 25, 1935. KE LER 2,005,976

- IRONING TABLE Filed Feb. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 25, 1935 l l NITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE momma TABLE Henry V. Keller, Minneapolis, Minn. Application February a 1921, Serial No. 514,499

Claims. (on. 68-10) My present invention relates to ironing tables in the forward ends of the upper braces are perof the type wherein the ironing board proper is manently connected with the bottom of the board provided with folding or collapsible supporting by a toggle structure adapted to move past a mechanism attached to the under side thereon dead center position to lock the legs securely in 5 ready for use and collapsible compactly for storplace when the device is set up and simultane- 5 age or shipment. ously'tension the various braces for the legs.

Ironing tables of this general class have been Still a further object is to provide an ironextensively utilized and for the most part have ing table of the-typedescribed wherein the lower included a pair of rear legs pivotallyconnected brace rods comprise integral elements or rods to the under side of the board and a third or forplvotally connected at their ends with the sup- 10 ward leg also pivoted to the board and inclined porting legs, the distance between the connected or obliquely disposed when the device is set up for points being the same when the legs are either use. Various bracing means have been utilized in t e ap d et p po s thereby for strengthening the supporting mechanism viating the necessity for sectional brace rods or and reinforcing the legs, usually including dirods having slidable or telescopic connectionwith 5 agonally disposed upper braces extending bethe legs. tween intermediate points of the rear legs and the These and other objects and advantages of the medial portion of the board as well as lower brace nv nt n w l be ul y t fo in the following wires or rods extending between the lower end of description made in connection with the accomthe forward leg and medial points on the rear De y drawings, in Which k erence char- 20 legs. acters refer to similar parts throughout the sev- In most instances the front and rear legs had erel Views, d in 2 to be independently set up and the forward ends F 1 is a perspective View Of an embodiment of the upper braces had to be attached to the of my invention set up for u board or abutted against a cross piece on, the Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device in set 25 under side of the board before the ironing table up position, the dotted lines indicating t P could be utilized. Moreover, in such prior structi n of h upper brace el pri r to p in tures it was found necessary to either construct dead center or looking pos the'lower brace rods of two folding sections or F e- 3 a cross section showingthe ructo make a, telescopic or slidable connection t tion of the braces and hinge elements for the rear 30 one end of the rod with one of the legs, in either egs a d ta en 0 the line of event weakening the lower braces and producing 4 S a C oss Section taken on the line 4-4 a tendency of the rods to buckle during the setof 2 showing'the hinge co nect on between ting up or collapsing of the device, the upper brace bars and the link plate;

It is an object of my present invention to pro- Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the ironing table 35 vide an improved and comparatively inexpensive in Collapsed Position, and collapsible ironing table having a maximum Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line amount of rigidity when in use, adapted to be 66 of Fig. 2. compactly folded for storage or shipment and In the embodiment of the invention illustrated wherein the entire supporting structure is operin the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the flat 40 atively and automatically set up or collapsed by top or board of the table, which may be of the swinging any one of the legs. All of the parts conventional shape used in ironing boards and. of the supporting structure are permanently having hingedly secured to the rear end thereof connected to the board or other parts and conse--- the two rear legs 8 which are adapted to lie flush quently there is no possibility of the board acclagainst the bottom of the board when the table 45 dentally collapsing when it has once been set up. is collapsed and which are positioned slightly It is the further object of my invention to pro-- past vertical when the board is set up for use vide a light but extremely rigid collapsible ironwiththe outer ends thereof spread apart to a 7 ing table wherein the rear supporting legs are distance greater than the width of the board.

automatically spread apart at their outer ends The hinged ends of legs 8 may have inner bev- 50 and firmly braced by the action of swinging any eled surfaces 8a engaging the downturned hinge one of the legs from the collapsed to the operaears 9aof transverse attachment bracket 9 which tive position. is rigidly secured to the under side of the rear end It is a more specific object to provide an imoi the board. A forward and longer supporting proved ironing table of the class described whereleg in is hinged between attachment ears ll 55 are pivotally secured to a rear and dependingbrace arm I3. The outer ends of toggle arms I2 are pivotally connected with short brace arms I20, which are rigidly connected to the legs 8 and which have turned abutment elements I2b adapted to overlie the upper edges of toggle arms I2 and limit the spreading of the outer ends of the legs when the device is set up. The depending or rear brace arm I3'has a twisted upper end I3a which is hinged between angle attachment brackets I3b disposed a short distance forwardly of attachment bracket 9 and centrally of the board.

Upper converging braces connect the medial portions of the rear legs 8 with the medial portion of the board 'I and comprise a pair of di-. verging brace bars I4 pivotally connected at their lower ends to the irmer edges of legs 8 and hingedly connected at their upper and converging ends to a link or looking plate I5, said'plate and said brace bars forming a toggle brac'e which passes the dead center position to lock the legs in set up position and to further tension the legs and brace members. It will be noted that the .pivotal connection element '(see Fig. 6) upon which locking plate I5 is swingably mounted spans the forward extremities of the brace bars I4 and spaces these extremities apart in a predetermined relation. The forward end of plate I5 is hinged to a bracket 45 disposed some distance from the forward end of the board and at the center of the under side thereof. The forward portions of brace bars I4 are connected by an abutment link Ida which is disposed rearwardly of the inclined forward leg iii in a position to engage and thrust against the same when the rear legs are swung in the direction of the board for collapsing the table.

A lower brace link connects the intermediate portions of the rear legs 8 with the outer end of the forward or inclined leg and this brace may comprise a pair of converging rods or wires I! having their rear ends pivotally connected at Ila to the inner sides of legs 8 and having their forward ends pivotally connected at ill) to the outer end of forward leg I0. In the embodiment illustrated the two rods I! are formed from an integral piece of wire bentinto the shape of a V, with the bent end pivoted in the notched portion of the forward portion of the leg 00. Cross pieces or abutment'members I8 are secured to the central portion of the bottom of the board and positioned to abut the forward ends of upper brace bars it when the table is in set up position. These cross pieces are not -absolutely essential, but serve to increase the rigidity of the supporting structure. A locking arm is may be pivoted to the board adjacent the link plate 55 adapted to underlie the plate and lock the same in set up position.

The compact collapsed position of my table is illustrated in Fig. 5 where it will be seen that the rear legs 8 are disposed substantially flush,

edgewise and parallel against the bottom of the board. The upper and lower braces as well as the back brace I3 are also disposed substantially flush with the board and it will be noted that the beveled inner engagement surfaces at the upper ends of the rear legs 8 are disposed outwardly of the hinge ears 9a of the attachment bracket 9 permitting the outer ends of the rear legs to be drawn inwardly by the collapsing action of the toggle arms l2 connected with rear brace I3.

To set up my ironing table it is only necessary to swing any one of the supporting legs outwardly from the board, the connections between the legs, braces and the boardcausing all the parts to move in unison to the operative position. The dead center relation of the upper brace comprising brace bars I4 and link I5 may be so adjusted that the impetus of the swinging legs will automatically carry the brace past dead center position into the locked position shown in Fig. 2, thereby placing additionaltension .upon the brace rods I1 and the legs 8 and I 0, or if a maximum tension is desired the toggle pivot of the brace bars I4 and link plate I5 may be adjusted so that some force would have to be exerted to lock the brace in place.

If the forward'leg I0 is swung to set up the board, movement will be transmitted to the rear legs and upper brace through the abutment link Ma, thus preventing buckling of the rods II. It will be noticed that as the rear legs swing outwardly from theboard the connection of the rear brace I3 with the toggle arms I2 causes the arms to be swung into substantial alignment, movement thereof being limited by the overlying or turned abutment elements I2b.

If either of the rear legs is swung to set up the board, movement will be transmitted tothe forward leg I0 through the engagement of abutting link Ha connected with the upper braces and the parts are swung in unison, as previously described. The swinging of the rear legs brings the A beveled. or inclined inner surfaces 80. into abutment with the hinge ears 9a. of the attachment bracket and thereby permits the outer ends of the rear legs to be spread apart.

To my knowledgeli am the first to provide a the board and positioning-the various pivots in the manner illustrated and described the attachment points H0. and Nb of the lower rods or braces may be the same distance apart when the supporting-structure is in the collapsed and set up positions and further the forward ends of the brace bars i4 may be permanently connected to the board to permit the entire supporting structure to be automatically set up when any one of the legs is swung.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, extremely rigid collapsible ironing table adapted to be very quickly and easily set up or collapsed and incapable of accidental displacement or collapsing of the several parts of the supporting structure when in use.

Attention is called to my improved bracing and hinge construction for the rear legs. This construction is automatically operated by the swing ing of any of the supporting legs and also effects the spreading of the rear legs as the table is being set up. It moreover will be seen that in set up position the legs are rigidly held against both outward or inward displacement by the toggle brace arms 12 connected with the rear brace I3.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, and in the novel partsand combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ironing table, a top, a pair of rear legs pivoted to said top for folding movement thereagainst, a forward leg pivoted to said top forwardly of said rear legs and inclined downwardly and forwardly when the device is set up, an upper brace connecting intermediate portions of said rear legs with an intermediate portion of said top, said brace comprising an elongated section pivoted to said rear legs and extending therefrom to said top when said table is set up and a relatively short section pivoted to said first men- I tioned section and non-slidably pivoted to said table, said short section lying against the top when the table is set up and a pair of non-collapsible brace rods connecting. said forward leg with intermediate points on said rear legs.

2. In an ironing table, a top, a pair of rear legs pivoted to said top for folding movement thereagainst, a, forward leg pivoted to said top forwardly of said rear legs and inclined forwardly and downwardly when the device is set up, an upper brace connecting intermediate portions of said rear legs with an intermediate portion of said top, said brace comprising a pair of brace elements, each pivotally connected respectively with one of said rear legs and extending therefrom to said top when said table is set up, said brace elements converging at their forward ends and being pivotally connected with a relatively short element constituting a section of said brace, said short section being pivoted to the top of said table and lying against said top when the table is set up, and a bracing structure connecting said front leg with said rear legs.

3. In an ironing table, a top,'a pair of rear legs pivoted to said top for folding movement thereagainst, a forward leg pivoted to said top forwardly of said rear legs and inclined forwardly and downwardly when the device is set up, an upper brace in the form of a two-section toggle connecting intermediate portions of said rear legs with an intermediate portion of said top, one of said toggle sections comprising a pair of forwardly converging brace elements, each pivotally connected respectively with one of said rear legs and both extending from said rear legs to said top when said table is set up, the second of said toggle sections constituting a relatively short rigid plate pivoted between the forward extremities of said converging brace elements and pivoted at its other end to said table top, the pivotal connections between said rigid plate and said brace elements holding said forward extremities in predetermined spaced relation, said toggle brace construction being proportioned to pass a dead center relationship with reference to the pivotal connections of the toggle with the top and rear legs when the table is set up; and bracing structure connectin said front leg with said rear legs.

4. In an ironing table, a top, a pair of rear legs pivoted to said top for folding movement thereagainst, a forward leg pivoted to said top forwardly of said rear legs and also foldable against said top, and extending in inclined relation to said top forwardly and downwardly when the device is set up, an upper brace connecting the intermediate portions of said rear legs with the intermediate portion of said top and comprising a twosection toggle construction having an elongated section formed of two forwardly converging members each pivotally connected respectively with one of said rear legs and extending therefrom to said top when said table is set up and havinga short section pivoted to said elongated section at the forward end of the latter and also pivoted to said table, said forward leg being disposed between said converging brace members, bracing structure connecting said front leg with said rear legs to cause all of said legs to swing in unison after said rear legs have swung a predetermined 1 distance, connections between said rear legs and said top for automatically expanding the free ends of said rear legs when they are swung outwardly into operative position, the point of said connections with said top being offset with respect to a line joining the pivot points of said rear legs and an abutment element traversing said converging brace members adjacent their forward ends and disposed below said forward leg when the table is collapsed and in position to be engaged by said front leg in the initial swinging movement of the front leg from collapsed position to thereby transmit initial swinging movement to said rear legs through said upper brace, to swing said rear legs through said predetermined distance. I

' 5. In an ironing table, a top, a pair of rear legs pivoted to said top forfolding movement thereagainst, a forward leg pivoted to said top forwardly of said rear legs and also foldable against said top, an upper brace connecting intermediate portions of said rear legs with said top, said brace comprising an elongated section pivoted to said rearlegs and extending therefrom to said top when said table is set up, and a relatively short section pivoted to said first mentioned section and non-slidably pivoted to said table, said short section lying against the top when the table is set up, means including a bracing structure connecting said front legwith said rear legs to cause said rear legs to swing in unison with said front leg when the latter is swung, and connections between said rear legs and said top for automatically expanding the free endsof said rear legs whenever said front leg is swung into operative position, the point of said connections with said top being offset with respect to a line joining the pivot points of said rear legs.

HENRY V. KELLER.

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