US2263921A - Convertible table - Google Patents

Description

(Nov. 25, 1941. A. GlPsON coNvETIBLE TABLE Filed June 14, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l o0 M v. @ma /LGM v K 9 MM5 7/ Y, ma .T 9 x v INVEN TOR.

NQV. 25, 1941. A, GlpsgN v l2,263,921 CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed June 14, 1940 2 sheets-sheetY 2 lIN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE QONVEET'IBLEy TABLE Allen Gpson, New York, N. Y.

Application June 14, 1940', SerialNo..34li,5ll1

Z Claims.

My invention relates to an article of furniture which by the means and constructions'hereinafter described can be converted from a IOW bench into a low table, and which can also be converted into a high narrow table as well as into a high table of considerable leaf area. Other modifications and adjustments will be brought out in this specification and all such conversions and modifications and the means for achieving them will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The uses to which the convertible article of furniture of my invention can be put are suggested in this specification, from which it will also be apparent that its initial bulk is inconsiderable and that it can be placed in any apartment, room or hall without in any degree interfering with the appointed placement of other furniture and without encroaching on the space required for the unhampered moving about of the occupants.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a sectional View of my convertible article of furniture when used as a high table with particular reference to the means employed for effecting the conversion.

Figure 2 is a top view of the table top, cut away on all sides showing certain detail of mechanism on dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the low table, the position of the table-top corresponding to that shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the high table, showing the table leaves folded together, the top- Ieaf being also shown in a raised position indicated by thedotted lines.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing how maximum table area is obtained by transverse sliding and folding out of the table leaves.

Figure 6 shows a simple exempliiication of means for tilting the. table top.

Figures '7, 8, 9, 1f), l1, and 12 show the various articles of furniture derived by conversion from the. original shown in Figure 7'.

It is seen that the convertible article of furniture of my invention comprises two. main parts, namely, the base l and the table-top 2. The base I has the two spaced side-frames 3 and 3a which are rigidly connected by such4 conventional means as the cross-members and 5 The base in its confining outlines is ofl three-dimensionally rectangular conformation, the. side-frames being of considerably greater length than width, so that when the table-top is placed on the short sides of the base frames the table will be of ordinary height, whereas when thel table-top rests on the long side the table will be correspondingly lower. In order to insure level support for the table in eithery case, the side-frames are provided with the feet 6a for the high or up-ended positions, and with the feet 6b for the low or prone position, the feet 6a and 6b being to this end adequately levelled and squared with reference to one another as well as to the table-top.

The side frames and table-top may be of Vany suitable material, metallic or non-metallic, and of any ornamental design within their fundamental rectangular outline.

The table-top 2 is slidably mounted on the topframel which is so conformed as to fit snugly over the. short sides ofthe spaced side frames 3' and 3a. In the drawings the frame 1" has been shown as consisting of the angle-members 8 and 9, the depending sides of which encompass the tops ofthe side frameswhereby the top-frame, when positioned, is held against horizontal displacement in any direction. I wish it to be understood, however, that l do notlimit myself to the use of angle-members and do equally favor any other means. for seating the top-frame l on the side-frames, 'and for holding it against' horizontal displacement.

The top-frame l is movably connected with the base by such means as the link-members l2 mounted by the hinges I'll on the rod I which is secured in the angle-members 8, the link-members having also hinge-mounting on the tie-rodl lf3 secured in the side-frames 3 and 3a. The tie-rod I3 may also serve as a spacer between the sideframes', thus eliminating the necessity for employing an additional'cross-member like the one designated by the numeral 4.. The link-members t2, of which there are preferably not more than two, Yare of such length that when the table-top 2 conjointly with the top-frame T is lifted from the base which is thereby simultaneouslyv tilted and quarter-turned with reference to the'fioor, the table-top and top-frame will therebyl be positioned on the adjacent long side of the basey after having executed a swinging motion with referenceto the base through the arc indicated in dotted lines. in Figure 1, so that the converted table thenv stands on' the feet 6b as shown in Figure 2'.

The height of the table has thus been decreased to the extent of the d-iiierencey between the long side and the short side of the base.

In order to convert .the high table into a low one, the operator rst folds the table-leaves and adjusts the folded table-top in transversely symmetrical relation to the top-frame. He then grasps the table-top with both hands at its longitudinal center line and elevates the substantially level-held table-top and top-frame. The base is thereby partially lifted and tilted about its corners diagonally opposite the hinge-mountings of the link-members. In order to further tilt the base and quarter-turn it so that it will rest on its long side, the operator swings the substantially level-held table-top and top-frame in the tilting direction of the base and then in the opposite direction, and concurrently lowers them and seats them on the upper side of the now quarterturned base, which is provided with the seat surfaces I4 and I5. y

If conversion from a low table into a high one is desired, the operation is substantially the same, the base however being then turned in the opposite direction.

The table-top 2 comprises the leaves 2a and 2b joined by the hinges I 6, conformed and placed to permit close abutment of the leaves which when unfolded present a smooth table-top without any discernable division line. It is essential that the hinge mountings for the link members in the base should be located substantially in the position shown in the drawings, that is, above and laterally remote from the mass center of the base, either in its up-ended or in its prone position so that the base will be immediately tilted by lifting the top-frame and table-top. It is obvious that no tilting of the base would take place if the link-members were hinged at its mass center.

For the purpose of adequately supporting the unfolded table-top, the leaf 2a is slidably mounted on the members 9 of the top-frame 1, the slidable mounting being exemplified by the tongueand-groove fittings II which are in any suitable manner secured to the table-leaf so that the folded table-top can be adjusted transversely to the base, this sliding adjustment being limited by the mounting I 'I contacting the members 8 of the top-frame l. The table-top is then unfolded, the table-leaf 2b thus resting on the top-frame while the leaf 2a is partially supported by the tongue and groove fittings.

The operation of conversion is greatly facilitated by folding the table-top`l`and by adjusting its position transversely so that it is disposed in symmetrical relation to the top-frame and the base. The lower table-leaf will then have the full benefit of the support provided by the tongueand-groove connection, a condition which is important since in the initial stage of the conversion practically the entire weight of the base is taken by the tongue-and-groove connection.V If the table-top'were to remain unfolded only part of this connection would effectively sustain this weight.

Moreover, when the table-top is folded and symmetrically adjusted to the top-frame, the operator is thereby enabled to apply his lifting grasp accurately at the longitudinal centerline of the folded table-top, which insures a balanced lifting of the table as a whole. Should he however allow the table-top to remain unfolded, he then would instinctively apply his grasp at the folding line of the table-leaves and would not be in a position to judge whether the unfolded tabletop is symmetrically adjusted with respect to the base. An unbalanced lift would result, causing the table to cant over toward or away from the operator, the base being thereby tilted unstably on one cornerinstead of two, with attendant frictional disturbances and side-strains in the link mechanism. Adequate provision for transverse adjustment of the table top with respect to the top-frame and base is therefore essential to the smooth operation of the device.

Provision has been made for raising the upper table leaf and holding it in a substantially vertical position by such means as the preferably removable strap or link I8.

For some kind of work, such as drawing or writing, it is desirable to incline the table top at a convenient angle. This is accomplished in the manner illustrated in Figure 6, by the movable support I9 which for the purpose of exempliiicationlis shown hinged about the link fulcrum rod I3. Normally the support I9 is swung downward so that it does not protrude beyond the limiting rectangle on the base frames. When it is desired to tilt the table top, it is raised at one end while the member I9 is swung upward until it affords support for the inclined table top whose weight holds the prop I9 in the required position. The member I9 may be locked in any position by such conventional means as set-screws and the like. The number of tilting supports is, of course, not confined to one and it is understood that their length may be adjustable to suit the desired degree of inclination.

Figures 7-12 illustrate how the article of furniture of my invention can be converted from a low bench in its simplest form to a high table of relatively large top area. By swinging the top table leaf up to a substantially vertical position and holding the table leaf in this position by means of the straps, the simple bench is converted into a low bench with a back rest as shown in Figure 8. By shifting the folded table leaves transversely across the base, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and subsequently swinging the top table leaf down until it rests on the side frames, the bench is converted into a low table of considerable area, suited to the serving of refreshments at social gatherings, as shown in Figure 9.

By swinging the folded table top over to the i shorter side of the base and simultaneously upending the base the high narrow topped table shown in Figure 10 is obtained. A table of this description may serve a number of purposes. By swinging the top table leaf up as in Figure 11, the high narrow table can be used as a writing table, the upturned back affording support for open books, pictures and the like. When the table leaves are shifted transversely and opened up to fullest extent the large topped high table shown in Figure 12 is obtained and itis obvious'that such a table can be used for many purposes. For instance, it may be used as a card table, a lunch or dinner table, a reading table and so forth. When its use is not required, it can be immediately converted back into a low bench and put out of the way if desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An article of furniture convertible from a relatively high table into a relatively low table and vice-versa, including a top-frame and a table-top carried thereby, having a movable base in link-connection with the said top-frame, the said movable base having relatively long sides and adjacent shorter sides adapted to levelly support the said top-frame and table-top and conformed to provide a relatively high support and seat for the said top-frame when placed up-ended upon its short side and a relatively low support and seat for the top-frame, when quarterturncd and placed lengthwise upon its long side,V

and link-members movably connecting and having hinge-inountings in the base and the toprarne, the hinge-mountings in the base being located above and laterally remote from the mass center thereof, so that by manually elevating the substantially level-held top-frame and tabletop the base is tilted by the link-members about its corner diagonally opposite the hinge-mounting, further tilting and turning of the base to a quarter-turned position being effected by swinging the substantially levelly maintained table-top and top-frame in the turning direction of the base and subsequently in the other direction, the conversion being concluded by concurrently lowering and seating the table-top and top-frame upon the upper side of the quarter-turned base.

2. An article of furniture convertible from a relatively high table into a relatively low table and vice-versa, comprising a top-frame and a table-top having slidable mounting therein and symmetrically adjustable thereto, a movable base in link-connection With the said top-frame having relatively long sides and adjacent shorter sides adapted to levelly support the said top-frame and table-top and conformed to provide a relatively Y high support and seat from the said top-frame effected by swinging the substantially levellyV maintained table-top and top-frame in the turning direction of the base and subsequently in opposite direction, the conversion being concluded by concurrently lowering and seating the tabletop and top-frame upon the upper side of the quarter-turned base.

ALLEN GIPSON.

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