US2047388A - Table - Google Patents

Description

' July14, 1936. v A. L. slNcLAlR A 2,047,388

TABLE Filed Sept. y 14, 1955 i 44@ 44 y MMI/M Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABLE Application September 14, 1933, Serial No. 689,364

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to tables having a removable top and folding legs.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and generally improved table construction. One form of table construction particularly applicable to a card table having folding legs embodying the features of the invention comprises a four piece angle steel inner frame having the adjacent ends of the frame pieces spaced and united at each corner of the table by a leg supporting bracket spanning the spaced frame pieces and welded thereto to simultaneously unite the frame pieces and to secure the brackets thereon. A sheet steel frame surrounding and abutting the inner frame and curved to fit over the top of the table serves to clamp the top to the inner frame, the two frames being united by a series of screws extending through vertical slots in the inner frame and openings in the abutting outer frame and threaded into depressions in binding and ornamentation strips surrounding the outer frame.

The invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of table construction embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the table with the legs folded;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the leg latched in a table supporting position.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral I0 indicates a square inner supporting table frame, comprising four similar right angle steel pieces II having their adjacent ends beveled and spaced from each other at the corners of the table. The pieces I I are united to each other to form the frame I0 by four leg supporting brackets I2 welded thereto, as indicated at I3 (Fig. 2) the brackets spanning the spaced ends of the pieces and in position to support pivotal legs I4 thereon in non-interfering relation, the legs being foldable against the underside of a table top I5. Surrounding and 'abutting the inner frame I0' is a square outer frame or apron I1 comprising four similar Yright angle sheet steel pieces I8 united to each other at their adjacent ends or corners of the table as by welding. The upper portion of the outer frame I1 is curved inwardly and downwardly, as indicated at 20 (Fig. 3), to form a rounded corner extending around the table. A baker enamel coatingr (not indicated) is provided on the outer sur- 5 face of the frame I1 for appearance and to give a smooth finish. In a horizontal channel formed between the horizontal arms of the angle pieces II and I8 having an L-shaped cross-section and comprising the inner and outer frames III and 10 II is the table top I5 comprising a sheet of ply board 2l or other suitable sheet material having a padding 22 laid on its upper surface and covered with cloth, leather or other suitable material 23 (Fig. 2), which extends over the edges of 15 the board 2| and is tacked to the bottom thereof. The table top I5 is clamped in position between the referred to horizontal arms of the frames II) and I'I simultaneously with the uniting of the frames to each other by means of a series of 20 screws 24 which extend freely through vertical slots 25 (Fig. 3) formed in the vertical arms of the angle pieces II comprising the inner frame I and openings in the abutting similar arms of the pieces I8 comprising the outer frame Il and 25 then threaded into holes 28 formed in outer chromium plated binding and ornamentation strips 29 which extend around the outer frame I1. In the uniting of the frames I0 and I'I, in the manner described, the table top I5 is positioned .30 between the frames which may be moved relatively to each other to clamp the top therebetween and while under variable clamping pressure the screws 24, already in position, but loose, are tightened. It will be apparent that by providing the -35 vertical slots 25 in the inner frame I0 the referred to movement of the frames I0 and I'I may be effected with the screws in position. The same result may 'be obtained by making the slots 25 or the openings in the outer frame somewhat over- 40 size, that is, in the form of oversize circular openings rather than definitely in the form of slots and openings. Also, if desired, the ornamental strips 29 may be omitted and the inner and outer 45 frames united by any desired fastening means. Since each of Ythe leg supporting brackets I2 and the means for pivoting the legs I4 thereon, together with the means for latching the legs in either an open or closed position are all identical, 50 the following description will apply to each. The construction of the legs I4 will not be described herein in detail, since the same is fully illustrated and described in a copending application of K. A. Weston, Serial No. 689,363, filed 55 September 1, 1933, and is not essential to a complete understanding of the present invention.

The leg supporting bracket I2 (Figs. 2 and 3) which as before described is welded to the inner frame pieces II at the corner of the table, consists of a U-shaped sheet steel member having arms 30 and 3| extending horizontally from an interconnecting vertically arranged base portion 33 toward the bracket I2 at the opposite corner of the frame I0. The leg I4 which is of tube construction has tightly fitted in its upper end, when the table is in a table supporting position (Fig. 1) or in its left end, as viewed in Fig. 2, with the leg in a folded position, a casting 36. A screw 31 for pivoting the leg I4 on the bracket I2 freely extends through alined openings in the bracket arm 3U, the rear and front walls of the leg I4 and the fitted casting 36 and is threaded into the bracket arm 3l.

For retaining or latching the leg I4 either in an erected position to support the table as shown in Fig. 1, or in a folded position, wherein it lies against the underside of the table top I5, the latter position of the leg being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided a spring pressed plunger or latch member 38, which slides in alined openings formed in the casting 36, fitted in the leg I4, and the rear wall of the leg. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the bracket arm 30 is spaced from the rear wall of the leg I4 and a sleeve 39 is freely interposed between the opposed surfaces of the bracket arm 30 and the leg, the inner diameter of the sleeve being Such that a round head 40 of the plunger 33 may freely slide therein. A compression spring 43 surrounds the plunger 38 with opposite ends of the spring engaging the rear wall of the leg I4 and an annular surface on the plunger head 43, the spring constantly urging the plunger toward the bracket arm` 3U.

Formed in the bracket arm 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, are two circular openings or recesses 44 and 45 into one or the other of which the plunger head 4U moves when the leg I4 is rocked about its pivot 31 from one position to the other. The plunger head 40 is formed with an inwardly tapered peripheral surface 46 beginning at its inner end which terminates in a rounded surface 41 at the outer end of the head. In the folded position of the leg I4 (Figs. 2 and 3) the rounded end surface 41 of the plunger head 40 alone is seated in the opening 45, due to the latters particular diameter, and while this is sufficient to prevent the leg from being moved accidently from its folded position, it does not provide such a retaining effect on the plunger 38 that it will not readily yield and slide out of the opening 45 upon a lateral movement of the plunger head 40 when the leg is grasped at its free end and rocked to its table supporting position (Figs. 1 and 4). In the latter position of the leg I4 the surface 46 of the plunger head 40 is seated in the opening 44 which has a slightly greater diameter than the opening 45 and therefore the rounded outer end surface 41 of the plunger head 40 will project slightly further into the opening. The inwardly tapered peripheral surface 46 of the plunger head 38 coacting with the opening 44 provides a positive retaining effect on the plnuger 38, the action being such that a lateral movement of the head 40 will not cause the head to yield and slide out of the opening 44. This prevents the leg I4 from' being accidently unlatched when the table is being used.

To fold the leg I4 to its closed position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is rst necessary to press nwardly on the rounded outer end surface 41 of plunger head 40 (Fig. 4) which is accessible through the opening 44 of the bracket arm 30, after which the leg may be freely rocked about its pivot 31. The sleeve 39 surrounding the spring 5 43 and the plunger 38 and abutting at opposite ends the inside surface of the bracket arm 30 and the adjacent wall of the leg I4 serves to hold the leg snugly between the bracket arms 30 and 3| and thereby prevents any lateral movement 10 thereof tending to strain its pivot connection 31 with the bracket I2 and also firmly holds the leg when in its table supporting position at right angles to the plane of the table top.

The described construction provides a very 15 rigid and practical table construction which is light in weight, economical to manufacture, and has a neat and pleasing appearance.

When the surface covering of the table top has become discolored or worn out, the top may 20 be removed readily for changing the covering, by unscrewing the fastening screws 24 and lifting the outer frame I1 bodily from the table.

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly well adapted to 25 card tables, it is to be understood that the novel features thereof are capable of many other applications and that modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A table top construction comprising inner and outer frames having Vertical peripheral portions and inwardly extending spaced peripheral portions providing a horizontal channel, a top 35 sheet between the latter frame portions, the vertical portions of one of said frames provided with a series of openings and the vertical portions of said other frame having vertical slots alined with the frame openings, and means including elements extending through the frame slots and openings for securing said frames together and clamping said top sheet therebetween, said elements being capable of being loosened to permit vertical adjustment of said frames relative to each other.

2. A table top construction comprising inner and outer frames having vertical abutting peripheral portions and inwardly extending portions, a top sheet between the latter frame portions, the vertical portions of one of said frames provided with a series of openings and the vertical portions of said other frame having vertical slots centrally alined with the frame openings, a binding strip extending around the outer frame having threaded holes alined with the frame openings, and threaded means extending through the frame slots and openings and threaded into the holes of said strip for securing said frame together while said top sheet is under clamping 60 pressure therebetween.

3. A table top construction comprising inner and outer frames having vertical peripheral portions, the inner frame having inwardly extending horizontal portions and the outer frame having inwardly and downwardly curved portions, a top sheet bewteen the latter portions of both frames, the vertical portions of said outer frame provided with a series of openings and the vertical portions of said inner frame having vertical slots alined with the outer frame openings, an outer binding strip extending around the outer frame having threaded holes alined with the openings thereof, and screws extending through the frame slots and openings and threaded into the holes of said strip for securing said frames together while said top sheet is under clamping pressure therebetween.

4. A table top construction comprising inner and outer frames having downwardly extending peripheral portions and inwardly extending peripheral portions, said frames having an L-shaped cross-section, the inwardly extending peripheral portion being spaced to provide a. horizontal channel, a top sheet between the latter frame portions, and means` for securing said downwardly extending portions together to clamp said top sheet in position, said means being capable of being loosened to permit vertical adjustment of said frames relative to each other.

ALBERT L. SINCLAIR.

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