US2158950A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

W. W. SWETT FOLDING TABLE Ma ay 16, 1939.

Filed June 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l fllfer 71419714925 ATTOR N EYS May 16, 1939. ww, sw T 3 2,158,950

FOLDING TABLE Filed June 6, 1938 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 ATTO RN EYS May 16, 1939. w, w, sw T 2,158,950

FOLDING TABLE in the purpose intended;

:Fomnze arms Walter W. vSwett,

Takoma .Baik, Md.

,5 Applicationdune' 6, 2193s, serial No." 212,109

' Claims.

'l'hk -invention relates to folding tables and more particularly to 'tables'used ior games such as-table tennis-or ping pong orfor dress making, :drafting, displaying =samples or other arti- 5 ales-of any nature, for kindergarten-or other school work, or :any other purpose requiring a larse fiatsurface.

i-The -;prime object-oi the invention -is to produce -a ielding table' structure-including a minimum number df separateitop panelsor sections presenting a large working area 'when the table is opened'and set up ior and arranged so as to be folded '-'compactlyand i insmall *compass ,so as to /be quickiy 'and easily removed from the is location iri' WhichdFKs' used to a'small-out-ofthe-way storage space.

ia'particular object-is -10 produce a structure of simple- "character andeconomically -manufactured, yet' 'possessing the requisite stability for {Otherwbjects'and *advantages to be attained will hereinafter -'more-'1ully appear;

I The invention consiSt-sin'the -novel general structure'and-in the parts and combinations and 2 arrangements -01 partsthereof, ashereina'fter described "and set -"forth-in the appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying draw ingsillustrating -a practical adaptation of the invention, ;and in-*whic h figure 11 'is a perspective 'view of the table opened-'and-set'up or-use;

"Figure "2 is a perspective 'view of the "table m-foidedcondition;" 1

1l"igure3 is a' sideflview of the" table in opened condition; r or I v t "Figure "4 is an end elevation, on'yan enlarged scalalofthe 'tableas shown in i ure"3, portions being broken-awayltoIoreshorten the view;

' V ,iFigure t5fis a section on the linei5 -i5 of Figur.el3,..on4the same scaleras Figure gi'and portions being .brolienfaway to .foreshorten the view;

Figure =6..is a view, in side"e1evation,.of the table inlfolded conditiom-with va portion obthe tableibroken away and shown in -section to illus tratethel hingemounting of the drop:-leaf panel;

Figure 77 lis'a fragmentary-,dnyerted plan view of the table top detached from.;the pedestal name; 1-:

5Q lligurediaisaifragmentary seetionalview taken entoriaboutiline 8- 8 .ofi-Figure :7; a

v 9 giszaasection on-the dine 19-8 of [Figure hr-and j 7 7-10 is ea detail aview oi the hinge :end

r section ofla, -foidabie:supportmg leg for ztheadrop leaf, together with associated brace-members for the'leg.

"The :table "as illustrated in the drawings and generally describedcomprises a topincluding-a central, relatively narrow panel l which is mounted on a pedestal' frame 2 with provision for vertica1 movement on said frame, said central panel having relatively-long drop-lea! panels 3 'hinged :thereto, said drop leaf panels being provided with ioldable egs for supporting them in opened position "and the panels being supported son the pedestal fr-ame in closed position, as will 'be hereinafter more iully described.

Referring :now more specifically -to the draw-- ings, irthecent1=al panel and drop leaves *3 '0! the table top are preferably made of *piy -boa-r'd onother --non-.warping materi-al I and each of the three= panels isstrengthened by' a marginal frame on itsunder side and also by a cross-rib-or 'ribs connecting the marginal *frame members. The central panel isreinforeed by 'reiatively'heavy cleats 24 on its under side, at its opposite ends, and also by a middle -'cleat "5, said cleats afi'ordingw astabie support for the attachment oi'hinges 6, which latterare'in-turn attached to supporting 'bloeks 1 provided thereforon the adjacent under sides of the drop leaves 3 in alignment with said-cleats land 5, respectively. Said central panel is'fur'ther reinforcedonits under side and: near its opposite-ends 'by'relativeiy-wider cleats: or blooks-fl to which flanged brackets 9 are attached, said brackets 9 -having rigid guide rods or other suitable elongated =members 1-0 depending therfrom an'd slidably engagingthe pedestal frame -2 as will presently more *fullyappear.

The :pedes'tal frame, as shown, comprises opposite end upright-s ll which are carried by transverse -base members 42, said base members "l2 being cross"connected by a pair of lower'horizontal irame members -l3,--while the uprights H are cross'connected by a -pairof spacedframe members 4% which are =relatively flat and vertically disposed and-between which a horizontally disposed member 45 is-interpose'd and attached thereto so as to aflord -rig'i'dity:to':the" upper ;portion --of the frame structure, sald 'cross member F5 "being preferably mortised intothe uprights H "at its "opposite ends. As shown,-said jcross member I5 is provided with 'vertical openings having elongated bushings l6- secured therein-and sm-tably' braced in which bushingsthe guide rods ilaonthe table top panel I are siidably iitted.

natheropened-rand set up: condition of thetable, the :central panel I :15 lowered to restbn the pedestal. frame .12, eat which ?time the drop deal.

panels '3 are supported at their outer ends by leg members II which are hingedly attached to said leaves near the corners thereof. As shown, the mounting for each of the leg members I I comprises an elongated bracket I8 which is secured, as at I9, to the adjacent marginal frame member of the leaf and having a rebent substantially U-shaped end portion 20 abutting the adjacent right angular marginal frame member of the leaf, to which U-shaped portion of the bracket the leg member I1 is pivotally attached, as at 2|. Further hinging of the leg member I'I, together with a bracing effect, is accomplished by providing an angular bracket 22 on the marginal frame member against which the U-shape portion 20 of the bracket I8 abuts and at a point inwardly from said portion 20, said bracket member 22 having the end portion 23 of a diagonal brace member 24 hingedly attached thereto in axial alignment with the pivot 2I, said brace member 24 being attached at its opposite end tothe leg member I I, as at 25. By this provision, the leg member I! is readily foldable against the under side of the drop leaf panel 3 where it is releasably held by a conventional latch element 26 provided therefor on the side marginal frame member of the leaf (see Figure 7) while in its opened position said leg member I] is braced laterally by the diagonal stay member 24. In order to brace the leg member I! in its opened position and at right angles to the stay 24 so as to further steady the leg and prevent collapsing of the table, a brace member 21 is turned angularly at one end and pivotally attached to the leg member, as at 28, the opposite end portion 29 of said brace member 21 being turned at a right angle to the body portion and in the direction opposite to the portion 28, said angular portion 29 working in a longitudinal slot 30 provided in an offset portion 3| of the elongated bracket member I8. In the folded position of the leg member I! said end portion 23 of the brace member 21 is located near the inner end of said slot 30 but in the opened position of the leg member said end portion 23 is pressed into engagement with the lateral offset 32 at the outer end of said slot 30 by a spring member 33 provided therefor on the offset portion 3| of the bracket I8. In this connection, it is noted that the angular portion 29 of the brace member 21 is provided with a head 34 for retaining it in its working relation in said slot 33 of the bracket member I8.

When the table is in opened condition with the drop leaves 3 supported at their outer ends on the-leg members II, the central panel I to which the inner end portions of the leaves 3 are .hingedly attached rests solidly on top of the'pedestal frame 2, that is to say, the cleats or blocks 8 on the under side of the panel I rest, crosswise directlyupon the adjacent top portions of the pedestal frame members I4, while the middleportion of the central cross cleat 5 on the under side of said panel I is cut away, as at 5, to reduce that portion of said cleat 5 to the same thickness as the respective cleats orblocks 8, said cutaway portion 5 straddling and resting upon the adjacent middle portions of "said frame members I4.

' In the folded condition of the table, the center panelmember I is raised above the pedestal frame 2 andthe drop'leaves 3, with the outer supporting legsv I'I folded back thereunder, are swung downwardly on their hinges 6 to vertical position oniopposite sides .of the pedestal frame 2 with their end portions resting on the transverse base members I2 of said pedestal frame (see Figure 6). In lifting the center panel member I it is guided by the rod members III sliding through the elongated bearings afforded by the bushings I6 in the upper horizontal member I5 of the pedestal frame. Any suitable means may be provided for limiting the upward movement of the panel I and prevent the withdrawal of the rods III entirely from said bushings I6. As shown, a flexible connecting element, such as a chain 35, is provided for the purpose, said chain 35 being conveniently attached at its lower end to the upper portion of the pedestal frame 2 and at its upper end to the under side of the panel I, and being obviously of a length so that when drawn taut the panel I is held against further upward movement with the lower ends of the rods I0 still within the bushings I6.

When the table is folded as shown in Figures 2 and 6, it is readily movable from place to place, as the transverse base members I2 of the pedestal frame are mounted on suitable swiveled casters 36, while to releasably hold the pedestal frame from movement on its supporting casters 36 at the time the table is being opened and set up for use and also while it is being folded, as well as during the time the table is in use, floorengaging devices of the character of conventional door stops 31 may be provided on the lower end portions of the uprights I I of said pedestal frame 2, these stops 31 each including the usual plunger 38 having a rubber or other suitable cushioning head 39 to engage the floor and the plunger being releasably held in its depressed position by a releasable detent 40. V a

To facilitate the operation in opening and closing the table and minimize the physical labor required of the operator, the drop leaves 3 are provided on their under sides near their outer margins with rollers M which ride on the floor during the swinging movement of the leaves while the center panel I is being moved vertically with relation to the pedestal frame 2. Preferably, these rollers 4| are mounted without any swivel action upon blocks 42 provided therefor on the under side of the leaf 3 so that said rollers will track only in a straight line during the swinging movement of the leaf on its hinges 6, said rollers being also arranged in alignment with inclined panels 3 on to and from the base members I2 while the operator is raising or lowering the center panel I, as the case' may be, and during which operation, of course, the stop members 31 have their plungers 38 operated to set the head portions 39 in engagement with the floor so as to hold the pedestal frame against movement; As shown, the track members 43 have upturned end portions 44 which serve as limiting stops against which the rollers 4I abut when the drop leaves 3 are in their vertical folded position and resting on the adjacent end portions of the transverse base members I2 of the pedestal frame (see Figure 6).

It is here noted that in the folded condition of the table with the drop leaves 3 resting on the 1' transverse base members I2 of the pedestal frame, the flexible chain 35 is not fully tautened but is slightly slackened so as to permit the slight upward movement of the center panel I to permit the leaves 3 to be readily eased on" the base members I2,-after which the center panel I is lowered and the rollers 4 I ride. downwardly on the inclined trackmembers .43 and thence on the ifloor ;away from :said track members-until the! center .panel I is brought to rest upon the top .of the pedestal frame ,2. .Then, with '.the panel I. supported on the pedestalframe .and said frame held against movement on the floor by the application .ofthestop elements .31, it is an easymatter toswing the drop leaves upwardly on their hinges 6 and unfold the leg members I1 and lock them in position'to support the outer ends of said leaves 3. By the same token it is an easy matter to fold the table-by first collapsing the leg members I"! and locking them in folded position under the drop leaves 3 and then lower the outer end portions of said leaves to the floor, after which it is only necessary to lift the center panel I from the pedestal frame 2, during which operation the outer end portions of the leaves move inwardly towards the pedestal frame with the rollers 4I riding first on the fioor and then up the inclined trackways 43 and against the stop portions 44 on top of the base members I2 of said pedestal frame 2, the flexible stop element or chain 35 being, of course, fully tautened while the leaves 3 are swinging onto the frame base members I2, and the center panel I being finally eased downwardly until the leaves 30 3 are supportingly engaged with said base members I2.

By the foregoing it is seen that a foldable table structure is produced which permits the use of a comparatively narrow center panel for the table top and a pair of one-piece drop leaves which are each much greater in width from hinged end to free outer end than the height of the table when set up for use, whereby the table top is of amplified working length when the table is set up and at the same time the table can be folded compactly and in such a manner as to be quickly and easily removed from the location in which it is used to a small storage space. Animportant advantage in the provision of the relatively wide one-piece drop leaf is the elimination of seams and the presentation of an unbroken surface area whichmakes the table especially adaptable for the playing of table tennis or ping-pong in that the net may be stretched across the narrow central panel I and the seam where the drop leaf is hinged to said central panel being located so close to the net that there is little, if any, possible interference thereby in the natural rebound or deflection of the ball when batted into contact with the playing surface of the table during the play.

Obviously, if desired, suitable power means may be provided on the pedestalframe 2 for raisingand lowering the center panel I and considerable modification may be made in the general structure of the table and parts thereof within the spirit and scope of the invention as deestal frame, said drop leaf panels havingfoldable legs at theirouter ends 'forP supporting said panels in opened position and in horizontal alignment withsaidcenter panel in its loweredpositionon saidpedestal frame, said dropleaf panels, with their supporting legs folded thereunder, being supported inftheir folded position upon said pedestalframe and supporting said center panel in itsraised position.

"2.71m a folding :table, a transverse pedestal frame, a relatively narrow centraltabletop panel having depending guide members slidably mounted on said pedestal'frame whereby to guide said panel'in up and down vertical movement onsaid frame, -:said 1 panel in its lowered position being supported on said pedestal frame, relatively wide drop leaf panels hingedly attached at their inner ends to said central panel, said drop leaf panels having foldable legs at their outer ends for supporting them in open position and in horizontal alignment with said central panel in the lowered position of the latter, said drop leaf panels in their closed position, being supported at their lower ends on said pedestal frame, roller elements provided and arranged on said drop leaf panels to ride on the floor during part of the opening and closing movement of said panels, and opposed inclined trackways on said pedestal frame located adjacent the floor for guiding said roller elements onto and from said pedestal frame.

3. In a folding table, a central supporting frame, a central table top panel mounted on said supporting frame with vertical movement and supported directly on said frame in its lowered position, and a pair of relatively wide drop leaf panels hingedly attached at their inner ends to said central panel on opposite sides thereof, said drop leaf panels having provision at their outer ends for supporting them in horizontal opened position in alignment with said central panel in its lowered position, said drop leaf panels in vertical closed position resting with their outer ends on the base portion of said central supporting frame with the central table top panel supported thereby above said supporting frame.

4. In a folding table, a transverse pedestal frame, said frame being mounted on supporting casters and having releasable floor-engaging stop means for holding said frame against movement on the floor, a central relatively narrow table top panel having depending guide members mounted slidably on said pedestal frame whereby said panel may be raised and lowered, said panel in its lowered position resting directly on said pedestal frame, a pair of relatively wide drop leaf panels hingedly attached at their inner ends to the opposite sides of said central panel, foldable legs at the outer ends of said drop leaf panels for supporting said panels in horizontal opened position and in cooperative relation to said central panel in its lowered position, releasable bracing means for holding the legs of said drop leaf panels in their opened position, means for releasably holding said legs in closed position under said drop leaf panels, roller elements provided and arranged on said panels to ride on the floor during part of the opening and closing movement of the latter, and inclined trackways on opposite sides of the base portion of said pedestal frame adjacent the fioo-r for guiding said roller elements onto and from said pedestal frame, said trackways having stop members at their inner ends for arresting said drop leaves in their folding movement upon the pedestal frame, said drop leaves in their vertical closed position being supported with their outer ends on said pedestal frame and in turn supporting said central table top panel in its raised position above said frame.

5. In a folding table, a pedestal frame comprising vertical end members, transverse base members at the lower ends of said vertical members, cross connecting members at the upper ends of said vertical members, vertical guide bushings on said upper cross members of the pedestal frame, a central table top panel having depending guide rods fitted slidably in said bushings on the pedestal frame, said table top panel in its lowered position resting upon said pedestal frame, means for limiting the upward movement of said panel, a pair of relatively wide drop leaf panels hingedly attached at their inner ends to said central panel, said drop leaf panels in vertical closed position being supported with their outer ends upon the transverse base portions of said pedestal frame, foldable leg members on said drop leaves for supporting them in horizontal opened position and in cooperative working relation to said central panel in its lowered position, roller elements on said drop leaf panels to ride on the floor during part of the opening and closing movement of said panels, and means for guiding said roller elements onto and from the transverse base portions of said pedestal frame.

- WALTER W. SWE'I'I.

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