US2233202A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1941. R, H 2,233,202

FOLDING TABLE Filed, Jan. 22, 1940 IN VEN TOR.

a gaialmwo/y ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention has for an object to effect improvements in folding tables, and particularly to the end of providing a table of extremely simple construction, which will be light and durable and adapted to sustain comparatively heavy loads. It is a particular aim to provide a table of this type which may be set up to afford a table top surface of considerable dimension, and yet which may be collapsed and folded so as tobe packed into an extremely small size, and which may be carried after the manner of a valise, without sacrifice of a good substantially continuous table top surface. It is an object of the invention to present such a table which is adapted to use as a picnic table, and also as a work table for various trades, for display of samples or the like, and for such other general uses as a table may be applied to. The invention has been successfully applied to use as a paper-hangers table, for which use it is especially valuable and well adapted.

It is an important aim of the invention to provide a combined folding and sectional table in which novel functions in certain structural elements are attained, to the end of minimizing fastenings and other elements. This is particularly the purpose in connection with a combined bridge tension and section connecting means, whereby table sections horizontally adjacent are connected together and at the same time braced so as to afford a truss action. It is also an aim to provide a novel construction in the particular connections and fastenings employed.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table embodying my invention as set up for use.

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the table sections arranged in proper relative order for assembly to complete the table, three of the strut elements being in operative position, and two of the section connections being shown engaged, while a third truss member on one section is shown in folded position with the respective fastenings not connected. The legs in this view are all shown in folded position.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the complete table collapsed and assembled in its package form for porting.

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the longitudinal truss connections.

Figure 6 is a side view thereof.

Figure '7 is a view of one of the transverse connections.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the connection in use.

There is illustrated a table comprising four table top sections Ill, II, I2 and I3, of rectangular form, and each comprising a quarter of the total area of the top of the finished table. Each of these sections comprises a table face piece M, which may be of laminated wood or other suitable thin and tough facing material, with a reinforcing edge frame I5 into which the face piece I I is mortised, after which it is otherwise secured as. may be desired. The edge frame portion I5 has been formed of end rails I6 and side rails I! of a suitable Wood, and in one embodiment of the invention stock strip one-half inch thick by one and a quarter inches wide has been used, the major transverse dimension thereof extending vertically with respect to the plane of the table piece. The side and end rails are suitably joined at the four corners of the sections, and are separately reinforced by metal straps I8 applied to the outer sides of the corners at the outer ends of the section, and similar straps I9 may be applied at the inner sides of the inner corners, if desired, or may be omitted at these corners, as found preferable.

All four of the sections are provided with two legs 28 at their outer ends, these legs being pivoted immediately against the side rails IT, by

means of a pin 2i extended through the side rail and through the leg, the pin being supported at its inner end in an ear bracket 22 secured against the inner face of the adjacent end rail I6, one ear of the bracket being close against the leg 20 and receiving the end of the pin 2| therethrough. The legs are all cut from one inch board stock arranged so as to lie flat against the under side of the table face pieces It when the legs are swung inwardly against the table piece. The legs may be tapered, preferably at their inner sides, so that their outer edges will lie snug against the side rails I! when the legs are'folded. Folding stay elements 23 may be connected between the legs and the side rails I Lin accordance with approved practice in card table legs and the like, these devices, as well known, being adapted to hold the legs in extended position until manipulation of extended stay elements 23 to permit folding movement.

In each of the sections I0, I I, I2 and I3 a longitudinally arranged centrally pivoted truss Wing 24 is provided, this, in the present instance, in each of the sections consisting of a simple board of one inch thick stock and having one rectilinear top edge 25, a short outer end edge 26 and a long inner end edge 21 at right angles to the first named edge, and a diagonal edge 28 extending from the short end edge and stopping near the inner end edge 21, where a short bottom edge 29 is formed, parallel to the top edge 25 before mentioned. Near the edge 25, openings 30 are formed through the boards near each end, and bolts 3| are engaged through the adjacent end rails 16 and through the end portions of the board, ex-

tending into the openings 39, where nuts 32 are engaged on the bolts to hold these wing members pivotally assembled between the end rails of the section, and free for movement from position flat against the under side of the table face l4 to a position at right angles thereto. On the sections I and I2, the edge portion 29 'of the truss wing are provided with a hook plate 33, while on the corresponding edge portion of the wing 24 of the section II a lever 36 is pivoted at the extreme adjacent end of the wing, on which there is pivoted a distance from its fulcruma lock plate 31 extended thereupon and formed with a key head 38 adapted to engage the hook portions 39 on plate 33, there being two of the hooks 39, and a shank portion of the plate 31 being adapted to extend between these hooks while the head portion engages in the hooks, so that when the lever 36 is pressed downwardly it will draw the plate 31 toward the section II of the table, and the head portion 38 will thereupon engage the hooks 39 and draw the section l0 toward the section I I, setting up a tension between the end portions of the Wings by which the two table sections are pressed longitudinally together, and also sufficient tension established to properly sustain loads upon the table without its sagging.

In the section 12 of the table, the Wing has mounted thereupon a hook plate 33 as before de scribed, and the wing 24 of section l3 has the I lock plate mounted thereon in the same manner as in the case of section I l, before described. Upon the wing 24 of one section at each end of the table, there is permanently pivoted a tie bar 40, which has been made of wood one inch in cross section, and pivoted near the outer part of the Wing, so that when swung into alinement with the wing, it may lie against the sloping edge of the wing, stopping short of the edge portion 29, as shown in the upper left hand quarter of the table illustrated in Figure 3. This bar is, however, of sufiicient length to extend into engagement across the edge portion of the wing of the laterally adjacent table section when both wings are turned into a plane vertical to the table top, as shown at the right in Figure 3, where the bar 4!] is pivoted on the wing 24 of section l2, and extended into engagement with the wing of section II. On the last named wing a p-in4l is set in the lower edge thereof, and thereadjacent a keeper piece 42 is provided, which in the present instance, is substantially Z-shaped in elevation, its lower flange portion being secured pivotally upon the edge of the wing so that it may be turned to bring its opposite end portion over the pin 4|, or may be turned away therefrom. The end of the bar 40 is formed with an aperture therein into which the pin 4| may be fitted when the keeper 42 is turned out of the way. The wings being moved to vertical position with respect to the table sections, it will be seen that the bar 40 may be swung over th pins 4! so as to enter the I apertured end of the bar, and the retainer 42 then swung so that its outer end lies over the bar and will hold it against accidental detachment from the pin. By pivoting the bar on a secure sturdy pin, and by the proper fit of the pin 4! in the end of the bar, it will be readily understood that this bar thereby serves to hold the wings in their extended position, and also to act as a transverse tie between the laterally adjacent sections, as illustrated, at right in Figure 3. A similar bar is also mounted on the wing 24 of section l3, adapted to be engaged with the pin 4| on the wing of section 12 and to be retained by a keeper element 42, as first described, these parts being shown with the bar in folded position and the keeper element in open position at the left, in Figure 2.

In the use of this article, the parts being constructed as described, the table sections may be laid upside down upon a floor and arranged in the order first enumerated, in clockwise order, with the inner ends of sections Iii and II abutting, as is the case with sections l2 and [3, while the two longitudinally abutting sections are arranged in close lateral abutment with the other two longitudinally arranged sections, as shown in Figure 3. The wings 24 are then turned upwardly, and connected by the devices 36, 3! and 39, which may be termed a trunk latch. The bars 40 are then connected across the wings. 24. The bar 40 thus serves as a transverse tie between laterally adjacent sections, .While the trunk latch device serves as a longitudinal tie as well as a tension element in the truss formed by the two wings 24 when connected. The parts being con:

nected as thus described and the legs 20 moved to extended position, the table legs may then be set in erect position and used as required. The table top sections may be made in various proportions, appropriate to difierent table sizes, and the legs may be made of standard table leg length for all sizes, if desired, or may be made shorter, as required, for special uses. When the table is to be dismantled and packed for transportation, the bars 44 are disconnected and the trunk latch ties also, after which the bars are folded into alinement with the respective wings and all the wings folded downwardly against the under faces of the table top parts, after which any suitable means may be used to secure the folded sections in flat relation, as shown in Fig ure 4, straps 45 being shown pivoted on the sections at one side and hooked with pins on the section at the opposite side of the stack and a carrying handle 46 being attached to the edge of one section, so that the package: may be thereby readily transported manually.

While I have disclosed a specific construction and form of the invention, this purely exemplary, and various changes in proportions'and construction of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as more particularly set forth in the claims.

I claim:

l. A table of the character described comprise ing four table top sections arranged in lateral and longitudinal abutment to form respective quarters of 'a complete table top, foldab-le, coengaging leg members pivoted on axes transverse to the table top on the outer ends only of the sections, and movable to lie flat against the top of the respective sections, longitudinal wing element on each section each pivoted on a longitudinal axis to lie flat against the top of the section at one time and to swing into vertical relation thereto at another, the wing elements of longitudinally abutting sections being alined, and a tension sustaining separable fastener device for connecting the lower parts of mutually adjacent wings to hold the table sections together and to sustain load tension to prevent sagging of the table top at its transverse joints, and separate means to connect the laterally adjacent sections.

2. A table of the class described consisting of quadrilateral table sections, each including a planiform table top face member, and all arranged in longitudinal and lateral abutment to form respective quarters of a complete table top, a wing element longitudinally arranged centrally on each section normally vertical to the table top and each pivoted on a longitudinal axis close to its upper edge and to the top face member to fold flat against the latter, said Wing having an inclined lower edge extending close to the pivot at the outer end, separable tension fastenings between mutually adjacent longitudinally alined ends of the wings to form of each two a truss, a bar pivoted on said inclined edge of one wing at each end of the table adapted to lie GEORGE R. 'FINCH.

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