US2534890A

US2534890A - Drop-leaf extension table

Info

Publication number: US2534890A
Application number: US42315A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louise T Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-08-03
Filing date: 1948-08-03
Publication date: 1950-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 1967-12-19

Description

Dec. 19 1950 1 T. WATTS DROP-LEAF EXTENSION TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3, 1948 INVENTOR. 0a/5f 7 WATTS ,P A M L. T. WATTS DROP-LEAF EXTENSION TABLE Dec. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 i INVENTOR. 0a/5f 7, WAV-T5 Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES )PATENT OFFICE DROP-LEAF EXTENSION TABLE Louise 'I'. Watts, New York, N. Y.

Application August 3', 1948, Serial No. 42,315

3 Claims.

This invention relatesI to folding tables, and particularly to tables having a fixed or central section and one cr more drop leaves.

The usual drop-leaf table has a xed section with a hinged drop leaf at either the end cr side thereof. Tables of this type as heretofore made, have had complicated leg constructions, and these constructions have made it diicult for those seated at the table to find leg space under the table. In addition, such tables have been costly to construct, requiring a large number of parts, and when constructed have been heavy and otherwise unwieldy to handle.

The principal object cf the present invention accordingly, is to produce a simple folding table of the kind described, which will overcome at least some of the disadvantages of previous dropleaf tables. 4

The invention accordingly comprises the novel apparatus and combinations thereof, specic embodiments of which are described herein by way of example and in accordance with the manner in which I now prefer to practice the invention.

I have found, in accordance with my invention, that a simple type of folding drop-leaf table may be made employing a central or xed section with one or more hinged drop leaves, each of a width less than the height of the table, which provides an uncomplicated leg construction permitting ample leg space underneath the table, and which may be constructed and sold at a relatively small price. I have found, in accordance with my invention, that such a construction may be produced by having a central section with xed legs and one or more swinging apron members having two interconnected legs, one at either end thereof, movable as a unit, with each apron member attached to one of the ixed legs and arranged to be swung outwardly from the central section to support its respective drop leaf, with which it may be locked in position. The apron member and attached legs are fcldable toward and movable away from the center section as a unit.

In the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment of my invention as I now prefer to practice it- Fig. l is a plan view of the table partially broken away, showing a Xed or central section with two drop leaves;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the table shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view partially broken away, of the central section with the drop leaves lowered;

- Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the central section of the table with the drop leaves lowered;

.55 leaf i2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the xed leg hinged to the swinging apron;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of the attachment of the swinging apron to one leg of the end apron; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of the bullet catch for locking each of the drop leaves to the respective end aprons.

Referring now to these drawings, the numeral i designates the flat top of the xed or central section provided with fixed legs 2 and 3 secured to the under side thereof, which support this section on the floor or other surface. To each of the legs 2 and 3 respectively, are joined swinging apron members i and 5. Member 4 is arranged to swing outwardly from the central section and is attached to a leg which in turn is joined by an end apron member i, to a leg 8. The two legs 6 and 3 are located at opposite ends of the apron member l. Similarly, the swinging apron member 5 is attached to leg 3 and arranged to swing outwardly therefrom. The opposite end of this apron member 5i is attached to leg 9, which in turn is attached by an end apron member l0 to leg l i. The member Il is attached to the xed leg 2 by a hinge 2a at one end, and by a hinge 6a to the leg (i. Similarly, one end of the member 5 is attached by hinge 3a to the leg 3, and the opposite end is attached by a hinge 9a to the leg 9. The central section as shown here is oblong in construction and is provided with two drop leaves l2 and E3, each being hinged, respectively, by hinges I4 and l5 to the longitudinal edges of the central section. The drop leaves and center section may have curved edges to give a somewhat rounded table instead of the rectilinear table shown, if desired.

When the section il? is raised about its hinge i4, the end apron member l may be grasped and swung outwardly from the center section about the hinges 2a and da.. In crder to lock the

legs

6 and 5 in position to support the drop leaf I2, a twopiece locking member or bullet catch is provided. The description of the positioning of the locking member and its parts is the same for each of the two locking members employed for locking the respective drop leaves and accordingly, a description of one such two-piece locking member and its position and attachment will suice for both. The two-piece locking member consists of a male member l5, which is attached by screws to the outer face of the end apron member l, and a female member il, which is attached by screws to the under side of the drop As here shown, the two-piece locking member is positioned approximately centrally of the end apron 'I and along the central transverse axis of the drop leaf i2, the two pieces being positioned ywith respect to one another` so that the male member I on the apron may be advanced into and locked in the female member I'l attached to the drop leaf. For the purpose of locking, two spring-held plungers I8 are provided on either side of a cavity in the female member, the springs tending to urge these plungers toward one another. The male member is in the form of a Stud having a base I9, which is the portion attached to the apron, and a shank having iiared sides and rounded end 2l. This lock is arranged so that upon thrusting the shank into the cavity of the female part, the plungers i3 are pushed aside until the rounded end of the shank moves therepast, whereupon they move toward one another and hold the male member by pressing against the surfaces 29.

When the swinging apron 4 is moved inwardly towards the central section about the hinges 2a and 6a, it will come to rest against an abutment designated 22, which consists of a short block attached to the under side of the central section. Strip 23 serving to brace the leg 2, is also attached to the under side of the central section and is generally aligned with the block 22. Similarly, when the swinging apron 5 is moved toward the central section, it comes to rest against a block 24. Generally, aligned strip 25 serves to brace leg 3.

In operation, assuming that the table is in the collapsed or lowered position shown in Fig. 4, in order to extend and fix the drop leaf on the left in the lgure, all that is necessary is to raise the drop leaf I2 about the hinge I4 and to reach under the drop leaf to grasp the end apron l. This end apron is then pulled outwardly from the central section about the hinges 2a and So, thus advancing the legs 6 and 8 attached to the apron. The apron and associated parts are advanced until the two pieces I6 and Il of the locking member lock in one another. Similarly, to

raise the drop leaf I3, a similar outward movement of the apron I0 and locking of the twopiece locking member is effected. When the table is so arranged with the drop leaves in position, it will be noted that it has six legs supporting the three top sections, namely, the central section and two drop leaves. Two of these legs 6 and 8 are situated near the outer corners of the drop leaf I2 and similarly, legs 9 and II being situated near the outer corners of the drop leaf I3, each apron member 4 and 5, respectively, being sufficiently long to permit this. Accordingly, the drop leaves are supported near their outer corners by these legs in cooperation with the apron members. Similarly, fixed legs 2 and 3 are located at opposite corners of the central section I; thus there are three legs on each side of the table as extended. The leg 6 is approximately aligned with leg II and leg 8 is approximately aligned with leg 9. The legs 2 and 3 are a little outside of the alignment towards the respective outer edges of the extended table. It will be obvious, of course, that the table may be used simply as a central section alone, or one drop leaf may be raised and the other left in lowered position, or both drop leaves may be raised as above indicated.

The table is simple in construction. The number of supporting legs is low, and yet the table is stable and. non-tipping. The table is not expensive to manufacture and there is ample leg space beneath the cover, either in extended position or otherwise. The leg space beneath the central section is somewhat less than that provided under the drop leaves when extended, but there is ample leg space under the central section.

What I claim is:

l. A foldable table comprising a fixed center section having not more than two legs, a drop leaf hinged to said center section, said drop leaf having a width less than the height of the table, a pair of interconnected foldable legs, movable as a unit, and a swingable apron member hinged at one end to said leg unit and hinged at its other end to said fixed center section, the apron member having a length so that when the leaf is extended it is supported near its outer corners by said pair of legs in cooperation with said apron member, said leg and apron member being foldable as a unit into a position below the xed center section.

2. A foldable table in accordance with claim l which includes a cooperating spring locking means for limiting the outward movement of the leg unit and locking such unit in extended position.

3. A foldable table in accordance with claim 1 in which there are two legs respectively under each of said center section and said drop leaf section, said legs being positioned in approximate alignment along each longitudinal side of the table.

LOUISE T. WATTS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 407,908 Stockrnan July 30, 1889 553,721 Piaget Jan. 28, 1896 897,520 Brenner Sept. 1, 1908 1,472,575 Anderson Oct. 30, 1923 1,516,323 Bilton Nov. 18, 192-1