US2533416A - Adjustable reading and writing table for furniture - Google Patents

Description

L. L. ANTHES Dec. I2; 395@ ADJUSTABLE READING AND WRITING TABLE FOR FURNITURE Filed Nov. 12,, 1946 Inven ior Patented Dec. 12, 1950 ADJUSTABLE READING AND WRITING TABLE FOR FURNITURE Lawrence L. Anthes, Toronto Qntario, Qanada Application November 12, 1946, Serial-No. 709,236.. In Canada. November: l6, 194 5 6 Claims. (01.

This invention relates to a device for the use of. invalids or persons who, while resting in bed or in a comfortable chair, may desire to support reading, or writing material in a position which wi11- be comfortable and convenient and which will. relieve the person of the stress of holding such material and will form a rest for the arms.

Lhe principal object of the invention is to provide a table which may be easily and quickly adjusted topositions close to the body at an easy and restful angle. to permit the person using same tov move freely and to provide adjustable means. for. holding such table in pos'ition'so that it maybe quickly moved clear of the bed or chair.

The. principal feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of a board'having depending legs on opposite sides adapted to straddle the body of the person to support the board from a bed or chair, the board being movably supported in an inclined position by a flexible cord extending from the upper corners of the table around the frame of the bed or chair.

A further feature of importance consists in providing an adjustable overhead extension from the'bed or chair and a flexible suspension means for supporting the table in aninclined position or in a position clear of the person if desired.

In' the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved table shown in an operative position upon a bed.

Figure 2 is a small side elevational view showing the application of my. improved table to an easy chair.

Figure 3 is an enlarged part plan detail of one side of the board of my improved device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through One. of; the side bars of the frame of the board showing one, of the, adjustable spring clips thereon.

'Figure 5. is an enlarged sectional detail of. a portion of the board and side frame showing the detail of a shelf attachment to the board.

The invention as herein illustrated comprises a board lformed of alight tough material such as Masonite and which is of a width greater than the width of a normal sized person and is formed with a curved bottom edge which terminates in a pair of rounded legs 2, the curved edge and legs being adapted to span a persons body in bed or in a chair so that the legs rest upon the top of the bed or the seat surface of the chair.

The board I is preferably provided, as here shown, with tubular top and side edges formed of a length of tubing 3 of thin metal or plastic av n a 9i 4. cut n. its nw de to. e e ve. the edge of the board.

T bu r fit g em e e side. r ions of the tube 3 adjacent to the top and th seare PM". vided with suitable yes 6. to which the ends of a; flexible cord 1. are. attached. The loop 8 of} th d i a s d a ou d. the d. nd, 9 f a bed. fra eo r und e ac m of a cha and ide n it ble e es o t r guides o edon; the. frame or. chair. This. cord is of such length s tovsu o t t eup e edg f he ard- I ate. suitable anglewith the legs .2 resting on the b ed j or chair straddling the person using it and by; s i t th less the board m y e a us ed. at. different angles from the perpendicular or in, transverse relation to the bed or, chair. 'When a transverse adjustment is made the loop of the cord will slip freely through the eyes II on the bed or chair. frame.

The board frame is, here, shown with light. tubular. frames 12 arranged at either side. These. frames are connected at one end to the. top. tubular fittings 5 which are adapted to swivel 0n the side bars. and the. other'endsf are;

. connected to. the frame sides by similar tubular fittings 13. A suitable thumb screw Ill may" be threaded in each of the fittings l3 to secure the side frames in adjusted positions; The frames: l2 when turned at right angles to the board? I 1 form rests to support the table in al'iorizontal position over thepersons body or legs.

Mounted on the 'side'members of the frame are spring clips IE which maybe moved to various positions on said sides. Elastic cords IE, 'or cords in' which coil springs I! are arranged; are connected at one end'to the adjustable clips l5. and extend across the "board I and the other ends are connected to the eyes of the fittings 5; These cross cordsmay thus be adjusted to over-l lie'th'e pages or" n'o'pe'n book or magazine 'or othefpapeisplaced on the table and suoh'book' may be further secured" independent of. these; cross 'cordsbva spring jaw'clip" 18', the board being provided witha slotopening I'9,"theedg'e of which'ihay be gripped along the cove by theb ipla. A'bed'or chair may be provided with a tubular upright 29 arranged centrally of the width thereof and a right angular extension 2! therefrom carries at its outer end a pulley 22.

A suitable clip or other fastening member 23 is connected midway of the Width of the board l at its upper edge and to this is connected a cord 24 which passes over the pulley 22.

A pulley 24' is arranged at the juncture of the horizontal extension 2! and the upright and the cord extends thereover and passes downwardly into the upright and is connected to a counterweight 25 which substantially counterbalances the total weight of the board so that if the board is lifted up from its position on the bed the counterweight will retain it in the raised position.

The horizontal angular extension 21 of the tubular upright is here shown telescopic so that the position of the end of the cord depending therefrom may be altered to permit of adjustment of the position of the board I relative to the bed end and the person resting therein.

Another feature of my device comprises a shelf 25, the end edges of which are provided with spring clips 27 which will readily spring over the tubular side bars of the frame of the board thus providing a horizontal shelf when the main board surface is arranged in a substantially vertical position. This may be removed or placed in position at will.

It may be found that when this device is applied to a chair the arms may be too close together to permit the legs 2 to rest on the seat surface and in order to permit the table to be used the legs 2 are formed with transversely hinged joints 28 which permit the legs to fold into an angular position to rest upon the chair arms.

Suitable sliding clips 29 are provided on the outer edges of the board I which will engage the upper outer edges of the legs to hold them ex tended and when the legs are to be folded as described it is merely necessary to slide these clips free of the cross hinge joint. The sides of the clips 2!] allow a certain flexibility of the joint.

A device such as described has been found to be a great boon to persons compelled to rest in bed or in chairs for long periods as it enables them to read or write or draw with great comfort without straining the arms or back and the table may also be used at meal times by using the side frames as supporting legs.

When the person using the device desires to be free from it he merely lifts it up out of the way where is is held suspended and ready for replacement at any time.

The flexibility of the joints in the legs 2 obviates the transference of vibration to the board when such is used on a moving vehicle and enables the user to write with great comfort.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture. comprising a board having legs extending downwardly at either side, a tubular frame embracing the side and top edges of said board, fittings rotatably mounted on the side members of said frame adjacent to the top and bottom ends thereof, and frames secured to said rotatable fittings and extending substantially parallel with said frame sides.

2. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture, comprising a board adapted to rest upon the article of furniture and to extend upwardly therefrom, an arm supported by said article of furniture and projecting laterally above said board, a flexible suspension connected between said arm and board to suspend same, a counterbalance connected with said suspension, flexible means connecting the sides of said board with said article of furniture, said flexible suspension and flexible means holding said board to form a supporting surface extending transversely of said article of furniture and permitting and guiding the movement of said board in any direction laterally or vertically of said article of furniture or rotatively relative thereto.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2- in which said flexible means connecting the sides of said board comprises a flexible cord secured at the ends to opposite sides of the board and passing around and freely slidable relative the back of said article of furniture.

4. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture comprising a board having legs hingedly connected thereto at either side thereof and adapted to support said board on an article of furniture, clips bridging the hinges connecting said board and legs, said clips having resilient sides engaging opposite faces of said board and legs with said legs extended to form. with said hinges, connections between said board and legs having a flexibility to dampen transfer of vibrations from said legs to said board while returning said legs to an extended position upon displacement therefrom under vibration.

5. A table adapted to be used with an article of furniture comprising a board having legs hinged thereto at either side thereof and adapted to support said board on an article of furniture, clips normally engaging said board and legs and bridging the hinge connection therebetween and having sides engaging opposite faces of said board and legs with said legs extended resiliently resisting movement of said legs from an extended position while permitting such movement under impact to dampen transfer of vibrations from said legs to said board and acting to return said legs to the extended position upon displacement therefrom.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which said lips are pivoted to said board and are movable from a position bridging said hinge connections to a position clear of said hinges to permit said legs to be swung from an extended position.

LAWRENCE L. ANTHES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,550,981 McGarrity Aug. 25, 1925 1,867,498 Craig July 12, 1932 1,928,806 Barcalo Oct. 3, 1933 1,938,638 Ponten et al Dec. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,571 Great Britain 1912 379,543 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1932

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