US231252A - Fbancis f - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

F. F. ATKINSON. Folding Table.

No. 231,252. Patented Aug. 17,1880.

N. PETERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHEE WASHINGTON. Dr G.

UNITED ST PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS F. ATKINSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,252, dated August 1'7, 1880.

Application filed March 21, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F. ATKINSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

1 My invention relates to tables with folding egs.

It consists in securing one set or pair of legs to the under side of the table by a hinged joint, the other pair being hinged centrally to the first pair, and secured, when brought into proper position to uphold the table, by means of a novel swinging clamp attached to the under side of the table and formed to engage the upper connecting-bar of the free pair of legs.

The object of my invention is to provide a table whose legs will close and fold flatly and neatly under the top, and which may be readily and firmly secured when set up by an adjustable device placed under the table, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding table, the position of its parts when folded being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table; Fig. 3, a view of the under side of the table when its legs are closed or folded down thereon. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views, in detail, of the devices for securing the legs when opened and when closed, respectively.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the table; B B and B B, its legs, connected in pairs by cross-bars G O, and pivoted together centrally by means of pivot-pins or a central transverse rod, D, the one pair, B B, fitting and swinging within the other pair, B B, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer legs, B B, are pivoted or hinged at their upper extremities to the under side of the table at E E. The upper crossbar, G, of the inner legs,-"BB, is formed with a central rectangular portion, affording a bearing-surface to fit neatly against the under side of the table when thrown up for its support, and is provided with a central notch,

adjustable clamp-screw, Gr, secured to the under side of the table in proper position to engage the cross-bar 0 when the legs are opened to support the table. The clamp-screw G, 5 fitted with a thumbnut, H, is pivoted to swing freely between ears m 012, (see Fig. 4,) projecting from a plate, I, and its pivot end is enlarged or bent to form a projection or stop, W, at right angles to the length of the screw, and which shall bear against the plate Z. This offset or projection W serves to prevent the screw from swinging outward from a line at right angles to the table, and yet leaves it free to. swing and close inward against the table. The clamp-screw will drop or swing out from the table by its gravity when the table is set up, and in this position it will serve as a stop against which the upper cross-bar, G, of the inner free legs, B B, will bear. As only one pair of legs are pivoted to the body, and the others are secured thereto by engagement of the swinging clamp'screw G with the notch f in the upper cross-bar, 0, connecting them, when the said clamp-screw is loosened and swung .clear of its notch the legs B B are released, and will drop down and close between the outer pair, B, and both pair, swinging upon their hinged or pivoted joint E E, will fold snugly against the table. When thus folded against the table they are confined by means of a spring-catch, J, projecting from the under side of the table in position to engage a pin, K, (see Fig. 5,) upon the side of the inner pair of legs. This catch will automatically engage the pin K whenever the legs are folded against the table, but may be readily withdrawn and released with the finger whenever it is desired to free the legs in order to set up the table. 0

When thus snugly folded up, and with its legs secured by the spring-catch J, the table occupies the least possible compass, and may be readily stored away in a small space, or carried by the cross-bar G at the projecting 5 ends of the legs. (See Fig. 3.) When needed for use it is quickly set up by releasing the spring-catch J, swinging out the legs, and opening them until the cross-bar O is brought against the screw G, which will drop of its own weight into the notch f of the cross-bar. When the screw is thus within the notch the legs are secured by turning up the clamp-nut H until it bears against the bar, a plate being fitted upon the bar to protect it against the pressure of the nut.

5 The body can be made in any desired shape fancy may dictate, and the legs may be adjusted to fold either in line with thelength or across the width of the table.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure :0 by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the under side of a folding table and with the upper cross-bar of a pair of legs for the same, pivoted centrally to a second pair hinged directly to the table,

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