US2038838A

US2038838A - Folding table

Info

Publication number: US2038838A
Application number: US727990A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick R Greyson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-05-28
Filing date: 1934-05-28
Publication date: 1936-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-04-28

Description

28, was;

F. R. GREYSON FOLDING .TABLE Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR TORNEY 28, 1936. I F. R. GREYSON 2,038,838

FOLD ING TABLE Filed May 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Q B oielDQ 0d 3 me Patented Apr. I 28, 1936 UNITED STATES FATE NT OFFIE '7 Claims.

This invention is a folding table of the type designed to be extended from a suitable storage compartment.

'One of the objectsof the invention is to provide a table of the character mentioned, so constructed and arranged as to be folded and stored within a small space, whereby it is adapted for use on railway coaches and in other places of limited floor space. A further object is to provide a folding table capable of being compactly folded into a very small space when not in use, but so constructed and arranged that it may be readily extended to substantial dimensions for practical use. A further object is to provide a table which while in extended condition will be rigid in construction and capable of sustaining substantial weights without sagging. A further object is to provide a folding table which is constructed in such manner as to obviate the necessity of providing any sort of support independently of the table itself, for holding the same in extended relation.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view illustrating a table constructed in accordance with the invention, with the table in extended position. Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in cross section. Figure 3 .is a vertical cross sectional View showing the table in folded position. Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view illustrating the table top construction. Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional View on the line 55, of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view partly in section showing the link connection employed in the horizontal and vertical segments forming the top and sides of the table. Figure 8 is a detail plan view partly in section of one of the table top segments showing the complementary engagement with adjacent side segments. Figure 9 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the segments shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a detail side view of the mechanism for locking the table in extended position. Figure 11 is a plan view of the locking bar. Figure 12 is a detail view of one of the spring rollers forming part of the invention. Fig. 13 is an end View of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, l 0 designates a cabinet which may be secured to a vertical wall, such as the wall of a railway coach indicated at ll. Disposed within the cabinet I0 and rotatably mounted therein is a horizontal roller 12 and two vertically disposed rollers I3 arranged adjacent the ends of the roller I0. These rollers are all of the spring impelled type illustrated in Figure 12, in which the roller is provided with a spring It by means of which a reacting tension is applied to the roller when rotated in one direction and the reaction of the spring causes the roller to rotate in the other direction. The rollers are mounted in suitable brackets [5 such as shown in Figure 1.

Connected to lugs IE on the periphery of the roller 52 is a table top T formed of a plurality of flexibly connected members I1, said members being connected by links l8 having their ends pivotally connected to the members by pins I9, the

links l8 fitting in suitable recesses so that they lie flush with the underside of the table top when the parts are in extended relation. To the outer end of the table and to the last member IT is connected a rigid end portion 20 which abuts against the front wall of the casing H] when the table is in retracted position.

Connected with each of the rollers I3 are side walls 2| and 22, each consisting of a plurality of members 23 flexibly connected by links similar to the links it illustrated in Figure 7, and already described with respect to the top of the table. The outermost members 23 of the side members are also connected with the rigid end member 29.

In order to provide for a rigid detachable connection between the top T and the sides 2| and 22, the members I! are provided with projecting teeth 25 which extend from the opposite ends thereof and are so positioned as to engage sockets 26 formed in the upper ends of the adjacent links of the sides 2| and 22. The teeth 25 engage with the inclined surfaces of the sockets 26 as the table sections are drawn out of the compartment, by a pull exerted on the end member 20, and provide a rigid frictional engagement between the sides and top of the table, of such a character as to obviate the use of any extraneous supporting legs. 7

Provision is made for locking the table in any desired extended position. This feature comprises a locking lever 21 provided with slots 28 through which extend pins 29 fixed to the cabinet and projecting forwardly from the front edge of the lower wall of the cabinet. By this arrangement the bar 21 may be moved in a rectilinear direction transversely of the table. Said bar is provided with projections 30 complemental to recesses or slots 3| in the lower ends of the side members 2| and 22, so that when the bar is shifted in one direction the enlargements will be engaged in the slots and hold the table against retraction by the return tension of the spring rollers.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance it is clear that a very simple form of extensible folding table is provided, in which the parts are capable of being so engaged as to provide a rigid structure while in extended position, and yet be stored in a compartment out of the way when not in use. Another advantage is that the table may be extended to its fullest limit, or to any intermediate limit atwill and whatever portion is extended is main- :tained in rigid operative position. The top and side wall members may be constructed in any,

suitable manner but it is preferable that the same be constructed of wood having metal ends as clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although with out attemptingto set'forth all "of the forms in which it may be made, orall of the forms of its use, what is claimed is: V V

l. A folding table comprising a sectional top,

I sectional side'members on opposite sides of the top, spring tensioned rollers upon which said sectional top and'side members are respectively windable, means providing interengagement between the top and side members as they are moved to unfolded position, and means for holding said members in extended position. r

2. ,A folding table comprising a sectional top, sectional side members on opposite sides of the top, spring tensioned rollers upon which said sec-c tional top and side members are respectively windable, means providing interengagement between the top and side members as they are moved to unfolded position, a rigid endlmember con tions having complemental portions providing rigid engagement of said sections during the time that the table is in extended relation.

4. A folding table comprising a top formed of flexibly connected sections, projections on the ends thereof, side members formed of flexibly connected sections, each section having a recess complemental to one of said projections of the top sections, spring tensioned rollers upon which said sectional top and side members are respectively windable, and means for holding the table in extended unwound position.

5. A folding table comprising a sectional top, sectional side members on opposite sides of the top, spring tensioned rollers upon which said sectional top and side members are respectively wind able, means providing interengagement between the top and side members as they are moved to unfolded position, and alocking bar mounted to V V move transversely with respect to said table, each side member having means for" engagement with saidlockingbar; V Y 1' T 6. A folding table comprising a sectional top, sectional side members on opposite sides of the top, spring tensioned rollers upon which said sec!- tional top and side members are respectively windable, means providing interengagement be-' tween the top and side members'as they are moved to unfolded position, said'side members 'having slots in their lower ends, and a bar mounted to slide transversely with respect to saidtable and having enlargements complemental to said slots, said bar being constructed and arranged to hold said table to any adjusted extended posi-i tion. a

7. In a table, means providing a compartment,

a horizontal spring tensioned roller rotatably V mounted in said compartment, a sectional table top connected at one end to said roller in such manner that it may be wound thereon, a pair of vertical spring tensioned rollers also rotatably' mounted in said compartment, sectional side members each connected at one end toa vertical roller in such'manner that they may be wound thereon, means providinginterengagement of the top and side members while in extended relation,

and means for holding said table in extended position. 7

FREDERICK R. GREYSON