US2306931A - Extension table - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 29, 1942. E. c. BOOTH EXTENSION TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Origintl Filed March 6, 1941 I l nn IIIIIIIII II I! lllli. llllvi l 1| I l| .1 a H my y mm M N .P H

Dec. 29, 1942.

E. c. BOOTH EXTENSION TABLE Original Filed March 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES tit,

Ell FFIQE EXTENSION TABLE Earl C. Booth, Columbus, 11111., assigncr to Noblitt- Sparks Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ind, a corporation of Indiana 4 Claims.

My invention relates to an extension table provided with a removable center leaf and has for its object the creation of a table suitable for manufacture from metal. Another object of my invention is to equip the table with means for supporting the center leaf in an inconspicuous position beneath the table when the latter is collapsed.

In carrying out my invention, I form the table of two generally similar sections slidably interconnected by suitable longitudinally extending guides, the arrangement being such that the two sections can either be pushed directly together or separated from each other to provide for the reception of the center leaf between them. The center leaf is provided with suspension means which projects downwardly when the center leaf is in use but which can be received between the two sections of the table when the latter is collapsed to engage suitable provisions on the table and hold the center leaf suspended beneath the table-top.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the table with the center leaf in lace; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table shown extended in full lines and collapsed in dotted lines; Fig, 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan of the table in collapsed condition, portions of the construction being broken away to illustrate the means by which the center leaf is suspended; and Fig. 5 is a sectic-n on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Details of the construction of the table shown in the accompanying drawings are more fully set 5 forth and described in my prior application Serial No. 382,003, filed March 6, 1941, of which this application is a division. As brought out in that prior application, each section of the table embodies a sheet-metal top H] generally rectangular in shape with its corners rounded. Along two sides and across the outer end, the metal of the top H] is bent downwardly to form a continuous flange ll. Each section of the tabletop is stiffened and supported by braces including an inner transverse brace I2, intermediate transverse braces l3, and diagonal braces M (Fig, 4). Each section of the table includes a pair of legs I 5 located at the outer corners of the table-top.

The inner transverse brace I2 on each section of the table is desirably of sheet metal formed in channel-section with the web of the channel extending vertically, as will be clear from Fig. 5.

At each end, the web of each brace I2 is provided 55 P0141801 in e11 0111; f the y,

with an integral ear I! which extends for a short distance along and is secured to the adjacent flange H on the table-top IO. Near the sides of the table, the inner and intermediate braces 12 and 53 are provided with alined flanged openings for the reception of tubular guide members I8 by means of which the two sections of the table are interconnected for sliding movement toward and away from each other.

For the table as thus described I provide an intermediate removable extension leaf 2!] which is shown in place in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. When in place, the center leaf 2% is supported upon the guides it, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that its upper face will be flush with the table-top sections l0.

Near the longitudinal center of the extension leaf 2%.? there are secured at the sides thereof a pair of hook-like members designated generally by the reference numeral 2! in Figs. 3 and 5. Each of these members has a generally vertical shank 22, an inclined portion 23, and a hooked end 2%, as will be clear from Fig. 5. At points corresponding to the spacing of the two hooks 2| on the center leaf, the inner braces 12 on each section of the table are formed to provide opposed grooves or channels 25 adapted, when the two sections of the table are forced together to receive the shanks 22 of the members 2| in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. At the upper end of each such groove or channel, the reinforcing member l2 is pierced to provide an opening 26 large enough to receive the hooked end 2 of the member 2|,

When the center leaf is removed from the table and before the two sections of the table are forced together, the center leaf is inverted beneath the table, the hooks 24 on the member 2| are passed through the openings 26 in one of the reinforcing members 12 and the two sections of the table are then forced together. Upon initial insertion of the members 21 into the holes 25 the center leaf will be supported by engagement of the hooked end portions 24 on the members 22! with the lower edges of the holes 26. As the table-sections are forced together, however, the shanks 22 on the members 2| are struck by the other table section, which forces the inclined portions 23 of the members 2| into the holes 26 and causes the center leaf to be drawn upwardly against the bottom of the table. When the two sections of the table are completely together, the shanks 22 of the members 2| are firmly seated in the grooves 25 in the reinforcing members 52, and the center leaf is firmly supthough accessible,

position. When it is desired to insert the center leaf, the table-sections are separated. This frees the members 2! and permits the hooked ends 24 thereof to be disengaged from the holes 25, whereupon the center leaf may be removed from beneath the table and placed between the two table sections in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

Attention is directed to the fact that the insertion of the members 2| into the holes 26 and their removal from such holes is facilitated by themclined portions 23. Because of these inclined portions the center leaf lies closely against the under surface of the table top when the tablesections are collapsed but lies considerably below the under surface of the table top when the tablesections are separated and it is desired to disengage the hooks 24 from the lower edges of the holes 26.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extensible sheet-metal table, two sections each including a generally rectangular topportion provided with legs at its outer corners and havinga depending flange along its sides and cuter end, a Sheet-metalreinforcing member extending across the top-portion beneath the inner *edge thereof, means interconnecting said sections for relative sliding movement, a center leaf receivable between said two sections when they are extended, and a pair of suspending members on the lower side of said center leaf, each of said suspending members having a shank portion and a hooked end, at least one of said reinforcing shanks of said suspending members when the table is collapsed.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that each of said suspending members has an intermediate portion between its shank and its hooked end, said intermediate portion being inclined upwardly from the shank to the hooked end when the center leaf is in inverted position.

3. In an extension table having two sections slidably interconnected for relative movement between an extended and a collapsed condition, each of said sections having a top portion and legsat'theouterends thereof, a center leaf insertable'between said top portions when the table is extended, and one or more suspending members secured to said leaf and projecting downwardly therefrom, the adjacent edges of the top portions of said two table sections having provisions for engaging said suspending members to hold saidcenter leaf suspended in inverted position beneath the top sections when the table is collapsed.

4. In an extension table having two sections slidably interconnected for relative movement between an extended and a collapsed condition, each of said sections having a top portion and legs at the outer ends thereof, a center leaf insertable between said top portions when the table is extended, one or more suspending members on the lower side of said leaf, and provisions on said two table sections co-operating with each other to grip said suspending members to hold. said center leaf suspended in inverted position beneath the top sections when the table is coilapsed.

EARL C. BOOTH.

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