US2368155A

US2368155A - Supporting means

Info

Publication number: US2368155A
Application number: US472723A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nash James
Original assignee: WILLIAM H MURPHY
Current assignee: WILLIAM H MURPHY
Priority date: 1943-01-18
Filing date: 1943-01-18
Publication date: 1945-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-30

Description

Jan. 30, 1945. J. NASH SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Jan. 18, 1943 2 sheets sheet 1 Jan. 30, 1945. J. NASH SUPPORTING MEANS Fil ed Jan. 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 30, 1 945 SUPPORTING MEANS James Nash, Sheboygan, Wis., assignor to William H. Murphy, executor of Harry De Lisle, deceased, doing business as Engineering Sales Company, Sheboygan, Wis.

Application January is, 1943, Serial No. 472,723

7 Claims. (01. 311--36) This invention relates generally to a new and improved supporting means, and more particularly to a supporting means of the adjustable type, such as is used in drafting table construction for instance.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and simplified adjustable supporting structure for drafting tables or similar objects which facilitates adjustability while retaining great sturdiness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel supporting means adapted to be used in a drafting table or like objects which eliminates play or weaving in any direction without sacrificing ready adjustability.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting mechanism for use with draftingtables which permits positive height adjustment while preventing slipping or accidental moving of parts when once adjusted.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved drafting table or like object having the above advantages, which is readily assembled and disassembled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel support for drafting tables or the like, having some or all of the above features, which is easy to manufacture, which employs a minimum of parts, and which therefore may be constructed at low cost.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel drafting table or like object, embodying the above features which is well adapted to be shipped in easily assembled subassemblies, the subassemblies being well adapted for shipment in a minimum of space.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of references refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 shows in prespective a drafting table which embodies features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the support illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is generally a view of the portion illustrated in Fig. 2 as seen from the opposite side. It may be considered as a vertical sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view takenalong lines 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction downwardly as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal medial sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the base as it might appear at the time of assembly.

Prior drafting tables with which I am familiar that have sufiicient rigidity have been constructed in such a manner as to include many cross braces and supplemental supports, all of which have been found advisable in order to prevent the table from wobbling and weaving. Due to the many cross braces and supplemental supports, the ready adjustmentand assembly and disassembly of such tables have been comparatively difficult. Such construction has also necessitated relatively high manufacturing costs. An inspection of such prior tables also discloses that they are unwieldly and unsightly.

When the adjustable supporting means of my invention is employed in drafting tables, many of the braces, cross members and supplemental supports heretofore so commonly used are unnecessary. Further, tables constructed according to the present invention are light, easy to adjust. readily assembled and disassembled, and extremely sturdy.

Referring now to the drawings and more spe cifically to Fig. 1, l0 indicates a drafting table which in general comprises a top 12, uprights I l and IS, a spreader l8, and

leg units

20 and 22. The table top I2 is pivotally secured to the upper ends of the uprights l4 and l 6 by means of brackets (not shown), the brackets being attached to the under side of the top and in turn being piv-' oted to the upper ends of the uprights l4 and i6, upon long bolts passed through the uprights and brackets. This arrangement permits the table top to be tilted to any position from the horizontal to the vertical in either direction.

In the lower portion of each of the uprights l4 and extending slot 26 cut centrally, through the upright from side to side. the length of which is determined by the degree of vertical adjusta-' bility desired, as will become apparent presently. It will be noted upon examination of Fig. 3 that there is provided a plug or dowel 23 which is adapted to be inserted into a socket 25. These last members are employed to keep the two prongs provided by the slot 26 from springing inwardly. Further, each of the generally rectangular uprights l4 and is have their outer edges beveled to provide a substantially V-shaped surface 28.

The spreader 18 comprises a. pair of boards 30 and 3|, which are secured together in spaced Hi, there is provided a longitudinally parallel relation by means of screws 29 passed through the boards and into spacers 32. The spacers 32 are located inwardly from the ends of the boards sufficiently to permit the boards to be somewhat springy toward and away from each other. At each of .the free ends of the spreader I8, the inner surfaces of the boards 30 and SI are secured to a pair of

blocks

33 and 34, or 35 and 36. The boards 38 and 3| are secured to the blocks 33 to 36 inclusive, by means of screws 38 (Fig. 4). The inner faces of each pair of

blocks

33 and 34, or 35 and 36 are beveled so as to provide surfaces 40 generally complementary to the faces 28 of the uprights I4 and I6.

The

leg units

20 and 22 each comprise a pair of generally triangular shaped members 42 and 44, a plate 24, which in the present instance is made of wood, and a brace 46. The triangular shaped leg members 42 and 44 are secured with their outer faces against the plate 24 by. means of several screws 48. The plate 24 isgenerally rectangular in shape, having its upper corners 45 and 41 cut off to coincide with the outer edges of the leg members 42 and 44, principally for reasons of appearance.

The brace 46, as best seen in Fig. 6, extends between the legs 42 and 44 of the

leg units

20 and 22 and is secured to the legs 42 and 44 by screws I on the side of the legs opposite to where the block 24 is secured. It should also be noted that the brace 46 is positioned a substantial distance below the upper edge of the leg units or 22 for the reason that the brace forms an additional support for the legs 42 and 44 and, in addition, when the adjustable supporting means of my invention is assembled relieves the strain placed on the uprights I4 and I6 due to the weight which may be placed upon the table top l2.

Locking member 66 (Fig. 5) which is used to lock the uprights I4 and I6, spreader I8 and

leg units

20 and 22 together, comprises an elongated member 6! provided with a pair of bolt holes 62 adapted to receive a pair of bolts 63, having threaded ends 64 adapted to receive nuts 65. The manner in which the locking member 60 secures the aforementioned parts together will be better understood from the description to follow.

Secured to the forward end of the table top I2 (Fig. l) and extending between the table top and legs 4?. of

leg units

20 and 22, there is provided a supplemental adjusting means for adjusting the table top I2 and securing the same at any desired angle. The supporting means 52 is pivotally secured at its upper end to a bracket (not shown) by means of bolts which extend through the member 52 and through the bracket. At the lower end the brackets are secured to legs 44 of

leg units

20 or 22 by means of screws which permit free movement of the means 52 from the vertical toward the horizontal in either direction.

The supporting means 52 comprises a hollow tubular member 54 which is adapted to receive a shaft 55. The tubular member 54 has a greater interior diameter than the outer diameter of the shaft 56, so that the shaft 55 can freely slide in the tubular member 54. Near the upper end of the tubular member 54 there is provided a screw threaded bore 59 which is adapted to receive a screw threaded means 58. The member 58 will bear with its forward end against the shaft 56 and prevent the shaft from sliding in the inside of the tube 54 when the threaded member 58 is drawn tight in the bore 58. Thus by the use of the screw member 58 it is possible for the user of the table to secure the top I2 at any desired angle.

The assembly and operation of my adjustable supporting means will now be described: The spreader I8 is first positioned in the box portion 50, provided by the

legs

40, 42, braces 46 and block 24.' The lower ends of the uprights I4 and I6 are then passed between the boards 30 and 3| of the spreader I8 in such a fashion that the beveled edges of the blocks'33 and 34, or 35 and 36, are in face to face relationship with the beveled edge 28 of the uprights I4 and I6. The locking member 60 is then placed in position and the bolts 63 are passed outwardly through the slot 26 in uprights I4 or I6, bolt holes 66 provided by each pair of

blocks

33 and 34, or 35 and 36, and through holes 62 in block 24. At this point it is believed desirable to call attention to the fact that it has been found best when first assembling the table to have the lower ends of the uprights I4 and I6 resting upon the floor and then just prior to drawing the nuts 65 tight on the bolt 63 to raise the uprights to the desired height.

When the nuts 65 are drawn tight on the bolt 63, the V-shape edge 28 of the uprights I4 or I6 will wedge inwardly between the

blocks

33 and 34, or 35 and 36, and cause the blocks to move the outer ends of the boards 30 and 3I of the spreader I8 outwardly and against the end III of the legs-40 and 42.

The tighter the nuts are drawn, the stronger the wedging action between the uprights, blocks and leg units. From the above description it will become apparent that the new and improved adjustable supporting means forming the basis of my invention provides a maximum support for a table top or the like, and that the arrangement is such that it provides great sturdiness, at the same time eliminating the many cross braces, supplemental supports and the like which were heretofore used in the construction of drafting tables. It will also be apparent that the table is easily assembled or disassembled, and when assembled can be adjusted to any predetermined height or angle desired.

What I claim is:

1. In a drafting table, the combination of a pair of uprights, a cross member having bifurcated ends adapted to be wedged outwardly, said uprights being adapted to extend downwardly through said cross member and adjacent to said bifurcated ends, complementary beveled edges on said uprights and bifurcated ends, leg units, and means for wedging the beveled edge of said uprights between the bifurcated ends of said cross member to wedge said cross member outwardly against a portion of said leg units and to secure said leg units, cross member and uprights together, to prevent relative movement of said last mentioned members in any direction.

2. In a drafting table having a table top, the combination of a cross member having bifurcated ends adapted to be wedged outwardly, a pair of uprights slidably associated with said cross member to permit raising and lowering of said uprights with respect to said cross member, complementary beveled edges on said uprights and bifurcated ends, le units, and means for wedging said uprights between the bifurcated ends of said cross member to move said cross member outwardly against a portion of said leg units and to secure said uprights, cross member and leg units together, to prevent relative movement of said members in any direction.

3. An adjustable supporting means for a table top comprising a cross member, said cross member having bifurcated ends, a pair of uprights slidably associated with said cross member, leg units, and means for causing said uprights to wedge said bifurcated ends outwardly against said leg units and to secure said uprights, cross member and leg units together, to prevent relative movement of said members in any direction.

4. An adjustable supporting means for a table top comprising a cross member having bifurcated ends, a pair of uprights slidably associated with said cross member to permit raising and lowering of said uprights with respect to cross member, complementary beveled edges on said uprights and bifurcated ends, leg units, and means for wedging the beveled edges of said uprights between the bifurcated ends of said cross member to cause the ends of said cross members to move laterally and'abut against a portion of said leg units and secure said uprights, cross member and leg units together to prevent relative movement of said last mentioned members in any direction.

5. An adjustable supporting means for atable top comprising a cross member having bifurcated ends, a pair of uprights, a beveled edge on each of said uprights, complementary beveled edges on the bifurcated ends of said cross member, said uprights bein slidably associated with said cross member to permit the raising and lowering of said uprights, leg units, said leg units comprising a pair of legs, a block for securing said legs together, a brace secured to the opposite side of said legs to said block and positioned a substantial distance below the top edge of each of said leg units, a pocket formed by said legs, block and brace adapted to receive the bifurcated ends of said cross member, and means for causing said uprights to wedge said bifurcated ends outwardly against the vertical walls of said pocket and to secure said uprights, cross member and leg units together, to prevent relative movement of said last mentioned members in any direction.

6. An adjustable supporting means comprising an upstanding member, a second member slidably associated with said upstanding member to permit the raising and lowering of said upstanding member with respect to said second member, a leg unit, means forming a seat in said leg unit to receive an end of said second member, and means for wedgin said upstanding member and said second member together and for wedging said second member against the walls of the seat of said leg unit. said means securing said members and said leg unit together to prevent relative movement therebetween.

7. An adjustable supporting means for a table top or the like, comprising a pair of spaced'apart upstanding members, a second member connecting said first members and formed with openings at both ends to receive said first members, said first members being slidably associated with said second member through said openings to permit the raising and lowering of each of said first members with respect to said second member, leg members extending upwardly to contact the outer sides of the second member, and means for wedging said first members against the walls of the openings in said second member with the second member in contact with the upper por-' tions of the leg members to secure said members together.

JAMES NASH.