US2026995A - Table - Google Patents

Description

D. D. MYERS 026,95

TABLE i Filed March 3l, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 7, 1936.1.y D D MYERS www TABLEy Filed March 3l, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan.i 7, 1936.

` Filed MaICh 3l, 1932 D. D. MYERS [2,626,995

TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jari. 7, '1936. D D YMVYERS 2,026,995

TABLE Filed March 5l, 1932 4V Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABLE Application March 31, 1932, Serial No. 602,280

31 Claims.

This invention relates generally to furniture and has particular reference to supporting legs for an article of furniture.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide supporting legs of the above mentioned character which may be collapsed to inoperative positions when the article of furniture is not in use.

Further, the invention contemplates the provision of supporting legs of the above mentioned character together with means operating upon movement of one of the supporting legs to collapsed position to effect a successive or sequential movement of the remaining legs to collapsed posil5 tion.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of resilient means which will tend to hold the legs in supporting or collapsed positions and which will also operate to move the actuating connections between the several legs to locked positions.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 532,447, filed April 24, 1931, and entitled Table Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a table in which the invention is incorporated, the view being taken looking downwardly on the table from one corner thereof;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table shown in Fig. 1 looking upwardly toward the under side of the table and from one side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially at right angles to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

ig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the table showing the legs in operative position; Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view of the table showing the legs in collapsed position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the positions assumed by the legs during the collapsing thereof;

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. l showing a slightly modified form of construction;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the table shown in Fig. 9 showing the legs in open position;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary perspective view showing the positions assumed by the legs during the collapsing thereof;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of one vof 5 the elements forming a part of the structure shown in Fig. 10; Y

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill-I4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. l5 is a sectional view taken substantially l0 on the line lE-IS of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line lli-I6 of Fig. 12.

As brought out above, the invention is directed more particularly to supporting legs for l5 an article of furniture and to means providing for the operation of all of the legs upon movement of one of the legs to open or collapsed positions. The invention will nd utility when incorporated in any article of furniture, but for the purpose 20 of illustration, the invention will be described more particularly as being incorporated in a table construction.

Referring then particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate cor- 25 responding parts throughout all views, the numeral 20 designates generally an open frame which will, in the case of a table construction, preferably be substantially rectangular. This frame is provided with a downwardly depending 30 Viiange 2| within which the legs hereinafter to be described are adapted to fold, and the upwardly extending flange 22 within which the table top 23 is positioned. The table top is preferably supported at its edges on the horizontally extending 35 portion 24 of the frame 2|] and is removably held in position by pivoted clips 25 which are carried by the under face of the table top and engage the under face of the horizontal portion 24 of the frame. 40

Disposed at the four corners of the frame 20 are supporting legs 3l! and 3l, the legs 20 being diagonally opposite each other and the legs 3| being at diagonally opposite corners. The legs 30 and 3l are not themselves directly connected 45 tothe frame 20, these legs being indirectly hingedly connected to the frame by braces rigid with the upper ends of the legs and extending normal thereto.

The structure of these braces or bars will be 50 better understood by reference to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings wherein it will be noted that rigid with the legs 30 and projecting in a direction normal to these legs at the upper ends thereof are braces or bars 32. These braces 55 have their upper edges 33 parallel with the under face of the adjacent portion 24 of the frame and are hingedly connected to this frame by hinge plates 34. It will be noted that the braces 32 are so arranged that they extend along opposite sides of the table and thus form hinge` connections for the legs 30 providing for the collapsing or folding of these legs in directions transverse to the planes of the braces.

Rigid with the legs 3| at the upper ends thereof and projecting normal to these legs are braces or bars 35. These bars have their upper edges parallel to and adjacent the corresponding portions 24 of the frame 23 and are hingedly connected to these portions of the frame by hinges 36 and 31. It will be noted that the braces 35 lie on opposite sides of the table frame and thus provide for the folding or collapsing of the legs 3| along the sides oi the frame to which the braces 32 are secured.

Since stability and lightness are both desirable characteristics in a ioldable table construction, the braces 32 and 35 are preferably of iiaring skirt shape, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 of the drawings. Further, these braces are preferably of tapered cross sectional thickness, being of greater thickness adjacent their respective legs and being of less thickness at their free ends.

It will be noted that the braces 32 and 35 extend from their respective legs toward the next adjacent legs in the series. The braces 32, however, are longer than the braces 35, with the result that the free ends of the former braces are closer to the legs 3| than the free ends of the braces 35 are to the legs 33. It will be noted further that the axes of the hinges 35 and 31 intersect the axes of the hinges 34 adjacent the inner corners of the several legs of the table.

The free end of each brace 32 is out on an angle, and hingedly connected as by a hinge 4D to this free end is a plate 4|. It will be noted that the axis of the hinge 43 bisects the angle between the adjacent axes passing through the hinges 36 and 3i and the hinges 34. Each plate 4| is hingedly connected as by a hinge 42 to the adjacent portion of the adjacent leg 3|. It will be noted, by reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings, that the hinge plate 4l is connected by oiTset portions to the hinges 43 and 42 and that the axis of the hinge 45 is disposed slightly out of the plane of the axes of the hinge 42 and hinges 34.

Each brace 35 is provided on its free end with a plate-like extension 45 which is hingedly connected to the table frame to move with its respective brace by the hinge 31 and by a second hinge 46. Each plate 45 is provided with an angular end portion hingedly connected by a hinge 41 to a plate 48, this latter plate being similar to the plate 4|. Each plate 48 is connected as by a hinge 43 to the adjacent leg 3Q.

It will be noted that the plate 43 is connected by offset portions to its respective hinges 41 and 49 in the same manner is the plate 4|. It will be noted further that the axis of the hinge 41 substantially bisects the angle between the adjacent axes of the hinges 35 and 31 and the hinges 34. Still further, the axis of the hinge 41 is disposed slightly out of the plane of the axes of the hinges 36, 31 and 49.

Each plate 45, while being mounted for movement with its respective brace 35, may also move independently of its respective brace by virtue of its separate hinged connection to the frame 20. It will be noted, however, that each hinge plate 45 slightly overlaps the end of its respective brace 35, and for the purpose of holding these overlapping-portions of the plate and brace in juxtaposition to each other, there is fixed to each brace 35 a spring wire member 53. Each wire member has its one end anchored in its respective brace and is embraced intermediate its ends by a clip 5| secured to its respective brace. The free end of each wire 5B passes slidably through an ear 52 formed on the adjacent edge 10 of its respective hinge plate 45 so that each wire 50 tends to hold its respective plate 45 fiat against the brace 35 with which this plate is associated.

From the above it will be obvious that each log is braced in one direction by a member 32 or l5 35 rigid therewith. Each leg 3i is further braced against movement to collapsed position by a toggle brace comprising its plate 4I and the member 32 connected to an adjacent leg 3i). Each leg 33 is braced against movement to collapsed 2O position by a toggle brace comprising its associated plates 45 and 48. These toggle braces will be successively moved into or out of bracing position upon movement of one or" the legs to open or collapsed positions, thus providing for a se- 25 quential movement of the legs to open supporting positions or to collapsed positions where they are disposed Within flange 2l as shown in Fig. S.

In operation, with the legs in open position in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, 30 any one leg may be grasped, as for example, the leg 3| and this leg moved in a direction transverse to the axis of its respective brace if suicient force is exerted on the same. This movement of the leg is permitted by virtue of the fact that 35 the toggle braces are not positively locked in bracing position because of the fact that the axes of the hinges 40 and 41 are slightly out of the plane of the axes of the other hinges of the toggle braces of which they form a part. The axes 40 of the hinges 40 and 41 are, however, sufliciently close to the plane of the axis of the other hinges of the braces to require considerable force to collapse the braces, and this collapsing is further resisted by the springs 50 which act directly on 45 plates 45 and indirectly on plates 4| by way of braces 32 to hold the several toggle braces in bracing position.

If, therefore, suihcient force is exerted on leg 3|, for example, this leg may be moved in the div50 rection illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. By virtue of the fact that the brace 35 of this leg moves immediately with the same, the free end of this brace tends to break the toggle brace disposed between the end of this brace and the next adjacent leg 30, starting a collapsing of this leg. Further, the hinged connection between leg 3| and the adjacent end of the adjacent brace 32 tends to move this brace to start a collapsing of the other leg 3D in a direction transverse to its 60 respective brace 32. Thus the toggle brace between this leg 38 and the adjacent end of the brace 35 of the next adjacent leg 3| is broken, and the spring 50 associated with this brace tends to urge this leg 3| to collapsed position. This 55 latter leg is also urged to collapsed position by virtue of the hinged movement of the brace 32 of the next adjacent leg 30 which is moved toward collapsed position by virtue of the breaking of its toggle connection by the brace 35 of the 70 first moved leg 3|. Thus it will be apparent that a successive collapsing of the legs will be effected until the legs assume the position shown in Fig.

7 of the drawings. With the legs in collapsed po- .sition it will be apparent that they may be moved 75 to openv position by a reversal of ther above described actuation. Movement of one leg' toward open position will effect a successive movement of the remaining legs to open position by virtue of the toggle connections between the severallegs.

If, in the collapsing of the legs, one of' the legs 33 should be the one grasped and moved toward collapsed position, a slightly modified operation would result. Referring then again to Fig. 8, if the leg 38 located at the lower left hand corner of the frame were moved toward collapsed position, the plate associated with this leg would first move away from its respective brace 35, so that an immediate movement of the leg 3l associated with this brace would not be effected.v

The brace 32, however, associated with the moved leg 3D would effect a breaking of the hinge connection between the free end of this brace and the next adjacent leg 3l. This would start a collapsing ofthis leg and the brace 35 of this leg would then start a breaking of the brace 45-48 between the end of this brace and the next adjacent leg 38 to start a collapsing of this leg. The brace 3i. associated with this leg would in its movement break the hinged connection between this brace and the last leg 3i to effect a collapsing of this leg. Thus should one of the legs 30 be first moved toward collapsed position, there would be a complete successive breaking of the several toggle connections to effect a sequential collapsing of the legs.

The springs 58 act to maintain the plates 45 in the planes of the members 35. Thus these springs tend to hold the toggle braces formed by the plates 45 and 48 in bracing position and, by thus tending to hold the legs 38 in open position, act indirectly through braces 32 to hold the toggle braces formed of these members and plates 4l in bracing position. Thus in moving the legs to collapsed position, considerable force must initially be exerted on the legs to effect a breaking of the braces. If desired, recesses 53 may be made at desired points in the portion 24 of the frame 28 to receive the adjacent hinge plates when the legs are in collapsed position.

If desired, the hinges 43 and 4l may be so arranged that their axes are in the planes of the toggle braces of which they form a part, with the result that the toggle braces would positively lock the legs in open position. With the hinges arranged in this manner, the legs could be collapsed conveniently only by first directly breaking one of the toggle braces connected with a leg 38, the collapsing of this leg then effecting a sequential breaking of the remaining toggle braces in the manner previously described. If an attempt was made to collapse the legs by rst moving one of the legs 3l, it would be necessary to directly break the toggle brace associated with this leg and the toggle brace associated with the next adjacent leg 38.

In Figs. 9 to 16, inclusive, a slightly modified form of construction is disclosed as comprising a table frame 28a having a depending flange 2| a within which the legs of the table may be folded The frame is provided with an upwardly extending flange 22a within which the table top 23a is mounted. In this form of construction the table tcp is preferably rigid with the frame 20e, and the braces for the several legs are preferably hingedly connected to the table top.

In this embodiment of the construction the legs are designated by the reference character there being four of these legs, one being dispose-dat each corner of the table. Rigid with the upper ende of each leg is a brace 6I', each brace extending from its' respective leg toward the next adjacent legt in the series. Each brace is of ilaring skirt shape'in elevation and is of gradually decreasing cross sectional thickness from its respective leg to its free end. Each brace may be hollow in'- structure, being formed of sheet metal plates 62 and 63 suitably secured together and ribbed for the purpose of reinforcement.

Fixed to the under face of the table top at each corner isa right angled sheet metal plate member 65, each member preferably being provided with a boss 6B constituting a seat for the upper end of the leg associated with its respective' corner. Each plate 65 is also preferably provided with a border reinforcing flange 61, and formed in this flange are hinge eyes 68, 69, TD, 1|, and 12.

Each brace 6I is hingedly connected at its one end to the hinge eyes 68 and 69 as by the hinge eyes 13 and al pintle 14. The free end of each brace 6| is hingedly connected to the hinge eye 12 of the next adjacent plate B5 by a hinge eye 15 and a pintle 16. Thus the upper ends of the braces are hingedly connected to the plates 85 which in turn are xed to the under face of the table top so that the legs may be moved to collapsed position.

Hingedly connected to the upper end of each leg is a plate 80, and each of these plates is hingedly connected as by a hinge 8| to a plate 82, 30

the plates 80 and 82 being similar to the plates 48 and 45, respectively, previously described. The axis of the hinge 8| substantially bisects the angle between the adjacent braces 6|, the planes of these adjacent braces intersecting each other adjacent the intermediate leg.

Each plate 82 is hingedly connected to its adjacent plate by the hinge eyes 10 and 1I formed on this plate, there being suitable hinge pintles provided for this purpose in the manner clearly illustrated' in Fig. 12 of the drawings.

Each plate 82 slightly overlaps the adjacent end of its associated brace 6 I, and for resiliently holding each plate 82 in the plane of its associated brace, there is provided a spring member 85 mounted in the brace and having itsv one end 86 anchored in the brace adjacent the leg end thereci'. The opposite end of each spring is angularly bent with reference to the body portion thereof and is anchored to the adjacent portion of the adjacent plate 82 with the result that any relative movement between the plate 82 and its respective brace isv resisted by a twisting of the spring 85.

In this form of construction each leg is braced in one direction by a member 6I rigid therewith. Each leg is further braced against collapsing by a toggle brace comprising plates Btl-82. The hinges 8l of these braces are adapted to move to dead center position when the legs are fully opened, or in the position shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the toggle braces thus being locked in open position so that the legs may not be collapsed by merely exerting a force on one of the legs tending to collapse the same. The plates 88 and 82 are limited in the-ir outward movement by engagement of the overlapping portion of each plate 82 with its respective brace 6|, while each spring 85 acts to hold its respective toggle brace in the locked position.

In operation and with the legs opened, it is necessary to directly break one of the toggle braces prior to collapsing of the legs. This is illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings wherein the toggle brace designated by the reference character A has been directly broken by the application of pressure on one of the plates 80 or 82. With this toggle brace broken, the leg 60 may be moved toward collapsed position and the member 6| associated with this leg Will directly break the toggle brace associated with the next adjacent leg in the series. The member 6| connected with this leg will then break the toggle brace of the next adjacent leg, and this operation will be continued until all of the toggle braces have been successively broken. Thus movement of any one of the legs toward collapsed position will effect a sequential or successive movement of the remaining legs to collapsed position, the movement in this case being entirely successive because of the fact that no one of the legs may be collapsed prior to the direct breaking of its respective toggle brace.

In this case the springs 85 will at all times tend to maintain the plates 82 in the plane of their respective braces 6I. 'I'hus these springs Will, when the legs are moved toward open positions, force the plates 82 outwardly to move the hinges 8! to the dead center position and to thus lock the toggle braces. Further, when the legs are in collapsed position, the springs 85 Will tend to hold the braces 6I closely adjacent their respective plates 8D to thus aid in holding the legs collapsed.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides supporting legs for an article of furniture, these legs being arranged in series and so connected that movement of one leg to supporting or non-supporting position Will effect a successive movement of the remaining legs to one of these positions. The structure will nd particular utility when incorporated in a table construction, but may be adapted for use in connection with other articles of furniture.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the descript-ion is for the purposes of illustration only and that the right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as Will fall Within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of legs for said deck movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, and means operable upon movement oi one of said legs to either of said positions to successively move the other legs to said position.

2. The combination with an article of furniture including supporting legs movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, oconnections between said legs operating upon movement of one of said legs to either of said positions to effect a sequential movement of the remaining legs to said position.

3. The combination with an article of furniture including legs movable to open and collapsed pcsitions, of a brace associated with each leg, each brace being movable to bracing and non-bracing positions, and means associated with each leg and adapted to be actuated solely thereby operable upon movement of said leg to open or collapsed position to move the brace of an adjacent leg to bracing or non-bracing position.

4. In combination, a frame, supporting legs for said frame movable to open and collapsed positions, and toggle braces associated with said legs operating upon movement of one of said legs to either of said positions toy successively move the remaining legs to said position.

' 5. In combination, a frame, a plurality of legs for said frame movable to open and collapsed positions, and means connecting said legs in an endless series operating upon movement of one of said legs to either of said positions to effect a successive movement of the remaining legs to the said position.

6. In combination, a frame, a plurality of legs free from direct connection to said frame, a brace rigid with each leg, and a hinged connection be- 10 tween the longitudinal edge of each brace and said frame providing for collapsing of each leg in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of its respective brace.

7. In an article of furniture, a deck, supporting legs for said deck, a brace rigid with each leg, hinged connections between the longitudinal edge of said braces and said deck, and a collapsible brace for each leg.

8. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of legs movable to open and collapsed positions for supporting said deck, a brace for each leg, each brace being movable to bracing and nonbracing positions, and a member rigid with each leg operable upon movement of its respective leg toopen or collapsed position to move the brace of an adjacent leg to bracing or non-bracing position.

9. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of legs arranged in series for supporting said deck, said legs being movable to open and collapsed positions, a brace rigid with each leg, hinged connections between the longitudinal edge ci each brace and the deck, and toggle braces associated with said legs for holding the same in open position.

l0. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of legs for supporting said deck, each of said legs being free from direct connection to said deck, a brace rigid with the upper end of each leg, each brace having a longitudinal edge disposed adjacent the under face of said deck, hinged connections between each brace and said deck, and means disposed between the brace of each leg and a next adjacent leg operating upon movement of one of said legs to open or collapsed positions to move the other of said legs to the said positions.

l1. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of legs for supporting said deck, toggle 5o braces for said legs, said toggle braces being adapted to be locked in extended position when said legs are in open position, and means operating upon the breaking of one of said toggle braces and the movement of one of the legs toward collapsed position to effect a successive breaking of the remaining toggle braces to provide for the successive movement of the remaining legs to collapsed position.

12. In combination, a table top, a plurality of 00 hingedly mounted leg units, a bracing means for each unit, and means extending :from each leg unit toward an adjacent leg unit and actuated solely by the leg unit from which it extends for moving the bracing means of the adjacent leg 05 unit to bracing or non-bracing positions.

13. In combination, a table top, a plurality of legs for said top movable to open and collapsed positions, a collapsible brace for each leg, and means operable to successively collapse said braces upon movement of one of said legs from open to collapsed position.

14. In combination, a table top, legs for sup- DOIllg said table top, said legs being movable t0 Open and collapsed positions, a brace rigid u with the upper end of each leg, a plate constituting an extension of each brace, and a second plate hingedly connecting each first mentioned plate to an adjacent leg.

15. In combination, a table top, means including a pair. of legs for supporting said top, a brace rigid with the upper end of one of said legs, a plate hingedly connected to the other of said legs, and a hinged connection between said plate and the free end of said brace.

16. In combination, a table top, means including a pair of legs for supporting said table top, a brace rigid With the upper end of one of said legs, said brace having an edge adjacent to the under face of said top, a hinged connection between the said edge of said brace and said table top, a plate hingedly secured to the other leg, a second plate hingedly secured to said rst mentioned plate, a hinged connection between said second plate and the table top, and resilient means normally maintaining said second plate in the plane of said brace.

17. In combination, a table top, a plurality of legs for supporting said table top, a brace rigid With each leg, a plate hingedly connected to each leg, a second plate hingedly connected to each of the first mentioned plates, means hingedly connecting each of said second mentioned plates to the table top, and resilient means for maintaining each of said second mentioned plates in the plane of one of said braces.

18. In combination, a table top, a plurality of legs for supporting said table top, a brace rigid with the upper end of each leg and extending toward an adjacent leg, means hingedly connecting each brace to the table top providing for collapsing of each leg in a direction transverse to its respective brace, a plate asociated With each brace, each plate being hingedly connected to the table top for movement with its respective brace, a second plate hingedly connecting each of said first mentioned plates to an adjacent leg, and means resiliently maintaining each of said first mentioned plates in the plane of its respective brace.

19. In combination, a table top, a plurality of leg units for supporting said top, means hingedly mounting said leg units providing for movement of said leg units to open and collapsed positions, a bracing means for each leg unit for holding the same in open position, and means associated with each leg unit and extending toward an adjacent leg unit for movement with its respective leg unit, about an axis substantially concentric with the axis about which its respective leg unit moves, for' moving the brace of the adjacentl .leg unit to bracing or non-bracing positions.

20. In combination, a table top, a plurality of leg units for supporting said top, means hingedly mounting said leg units providing for movement 0f said leg units to open and collapsed positions, a bracing means for each leg unit for holding the sam'e in open position, and means associated with each leg unit for movement about an axis substantially concentric With the axis about which its respective leg unit moves, and extending toward an adjacent leg unit for moving the brace of the adjacent leg unit to bracing or nonbracing positions.

21. The combination with an article of furnitureincluding legs movable to open and collapsed positions, of a brace associated with each leg, each brace being movable to bracing and nonbracing positions, means associated with each leg operable upon movement of said leg to open and collapsed position to move the brace of an adjacent leg to bracing or non-bracing position, and connections between each brace and its associated leg operable upon movement of the brace to bracing or non-bracing positions to move its respective leg to open or collapsed position.

22. In an article of furniture, a deck, a plurality of legs movable to open and collapsed positions for supporting said deck, a brace for each leg, each brace being movable to bracing and non-bracing positions, a member rigid with each leg operable upon movement of its respective leg to open or collapsed position. to move the brace oi an adjacent leg to bracing or non-bracing position, and means operable upon movement of each brace to bracing or non-bracing position to move its associated leg to open or collapsed position.

23. In combination, a table top, a plurality of hingedly mounted leg units, a bracing means for each unit, means extending from each leg unit toward an adjacent leg unit and actuated solely by the leg unit from which it extends for moving the bracing means of the adjacent leg unit to bracing or non-bracing positions, and means operable upon movement of each bracing means to bracing or non-bracing positions to move its respective leg unit to open or collapsed positions.

24. In combination, a table top, a plurality of legs for said table top movable to open and collapsed positions, a collapsible brace for each leg, means operable to successively collapse said braces upon movement of one of said legs from op-en to collapsed position, and means operable upon the collapsing of each brace to move its respective leg to collapsed position.

25. In combination, a table top, a plurality of leg units for supporting said top, means hingedly mounting said leg units providing for movement of said leg units to open and collapsed positions, a bracing means for each leg unit for holding the Same in open position, means associated with each leg unit and extending toward an adjacent leg unit for movement with its respective leg unit, about an axis substantially concentric with the axis about which its respective leg unit moves, for moving the brace of the adjacent leg unit to bracing or non-bracing positions, and means operating upon movement of each brace to bracing or non-bracing positions to move its respective leg unit to open or collapsed position.

26. In combination, a table top, a plurality of leg units for supporting said top, means hingedly mounting said leg units providing for movement of said leg units to open and collapsed positions, a bracing means for each leg unit for holding the same in open position, means associated with each leg. unit for movement about the axis of movement of its respective leg unit, and extending toward an adjacent leg unit for moving the brace of the adjacent leg unit to bracing or non-bracing positions, and a connection between each brace and its associated leg unit operable upon movement of the brace to bracing or non-bracing positions to move its respective leg unit to open or collapsed position.

27. In an article of furniture, a deck, a series oi legs for said deck movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, and actuating means for moving. said legs to said positions, the actuating means for each leg including as a part thereof the next prior leg in the series.

28. The combination with an article oi furniture including supporting legs movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, of actuating connections between said legs and including said legs as a part of said connections operating upon movement of one of said legs to either of said positions to effect a movement of the remaining legs to said position.

29. The combination with an article of furniture including supporting legs movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, of actuating means for said legs for moving the same to said positions, said actuating means being so constructed and arranged that after movement of one leg the movement of each successive leg is dependent 'upon the prlor movement 'of an adjacent leg.

30. In a table, a table top, a plurality of cleats hinged to said top, a leg carried by each cleat, and a collapsible brace connecting each leg with 5, the cleat of the next adjacent leg. ,j

31. In combination,Y a top member, a plurality of cleats hinged to said top, a leg carried by each cleat, and means connecting each leg with the cleat of an adjacent leg and capable of transl0' mitting movement from any leg to each of the other legs.

DON D. MYERS.

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