US2325182A - Table hinge - Google Patents

Description

y 1943- J. L. FIT. ".PATRICK 2,325,132

TABLE HINGE Filed Aug. 5, 1941 IN VENTOR,

J0 H L, ET ATRICK BY @ZZ? ORNEY.

the same,

Patented July 27, 1943 UNlTED. stares mgem-E j 1 2,325,182 7 v TA LEHINGE, Joseph L. Fitzpatrick, SanFrancisco, Calif. Application August :5, 1941, Serial No. 405,505

zeit eist (o1.311 '52)' This invention relates to improvements in hinge constructions and has particular reference to a hinge used in conjunction with tables of the folding type, whereby the leaves of the table may be quickly brought into operative position. to present an even alignment of the table leaves, and when collapsed, there is effected a smooth even corner to thus provide a table thatis neat and attractive in appearance when it is in either an open or closed position.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an intermediate member positioned between and connected to a pair of table leaves through the medium of my improved hinge construction to thus effect a ready assembly of the table to an operative or open position, and wherein the leaves are absolutely flat and in alignment, or, on the other hand, to realize, by a raising of theintermediate member, a compact and neat appearance of the table when the latter is 'collapsed or folded.

A further object of; the invention is the provision of a stop element in conjunction with a hinge, whereby the leaves are retained in a vertical position when the table is collapsed or folded.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a hinge constructionthat is economical to manufacture, simple in construction, positive in operation, and highly eifective and serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a folding table, showing an intermediate member located underneath the folding leaves when theleaves are in their open position and the position of the new and improved hinges with'respect intermediate member and leaves;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the table, illustrating the position of the hinges when the leaves are in their closed position;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the table and hinges, and in this particular view the legs are not illustrated;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the hinge and also showing a portion of a table leaf and the intermediate member in dot-anddash outline and illustrating the exact position of the hinge when the leaf is in its open position; I

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the same elements shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the exact :to said position of the hinge when closed-position; and" 1 Fig. disaview of the'hinge shown in Fig. 4, looking in the direction of thearrow-A, and illustrates the extension that is provided on the hinge to serveasa stop to hold thetable leaf vertically when the latteris in its downward DQsitlOn, as

shown in Fig. 5. V

'In the present invention four hinges are employed, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 5;

but since all the hinges are of similar construction, only one will be described. In'the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be noted that the hinge per se embodies in its construction a central curved body I that has pivotally connected thereto two leaves or fiat side members 8 and 9, the medium for eifecting the connection comprising pintles Ill and H, respectively. One end of each of the side members Band a has a male joint,'0ne ofwhich engages with the female joint formed on each end.

of the central curved body I, andthe said joints are adapted to receive the pintles It and H, thus forming the hinge, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The flat portion of the side member 9 is wider than the flat portion of the side member 8 and has a vertical extension or stop I? that holds the table'leaves in. a vertical position, as shown 3 in Figs. 2 and 5, when the table leaves are in their downward position. The said extension I2 may be of any desired length.

The numeral I4 indicatesan intermediate table leaf that isprovided underneath the table leaves i5 andlii and arranged in the center where the ends ofthe table leaves i5 and it meet when they are in their open position, as shown in Fig. l. The table has two standard gates H and I8,

having suitable legs fo supporting the table leaves. The detail of these gates is not shown, as they are of conventional type. f

The numerals 2i) and 2i designate openings in the'side members 8 and 9 respectively to ac- Y commodate suitable nails or screws for fastening the side members to the table leaves.

It will be noted thatthe curved body i of the hinge fits over the end of the intermediate leaf l4 when the folding leaf is in its open position,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and lies directly underneath said intermediate leaf when'th'e folding leaves arein their closed position, as shown in Figs.'2 and '5. It will be further observed that the relationship between the thickness of the intermediate leaf and the distance between the the leaves are in their two pintles l0 and H of the hinge is such as to cause a smooth even corner to be formed when the folding leaf is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing description, considered in:

connection with the accompanying drawing, it will beobvious that I have produced 'a most efficient hinge construction that will have a wide field of use in the furniture industry.

It is to be understood that the iorm of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material,

size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit-o? the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. V r V f 1 Having thus described my ii iveiitiom'l claim: r 1. In combination with a pair of table-leaves,

of an intermediate cross member positioned beportion having pivotal connection with said end sections for efiecting' a raising and lowering of said intermediate member relative to said table leaves, whereby the bottom surface of the inner portions of said pair of table leaves rests 7 directly onto the top surface of the intermediate cross member When the table leaves are in their open position.

' 2. In combination with a pair of table leaves, of an intermediate cross member positioned beheath the innerj'meeting ends' of the table leaves and a hinge efiecting a connection between the giintermediate cross member and the table leaves,

said hinge comprisingan end section secured to ease intermediate cross member and an end section securedto a leaf section, stop means carried by the first-mentioned end section, and a earred cenn ai por'tion having pivotal connection with said end sections for effecting a raising and lowering of said intermediate member relauti ve togsai'dxt'able leaves. .whee'eby the bottom sunface-pf :th'e'inner rpontions -of said "pair of table leaves rests 'dire'ctiyentothe top surface 25 table leaves are "in of' the intermediate icross member 'whenthe their op'entposi-tion. JOSEPH L. MT ZPATRIQK.

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