US2536450A - Foldable prayer rail - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1951 A. E. LANDAU v FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL Filed Jan. 5, 1949 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR ARGO E. LANDAU ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 A. E. LANDAU FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ARGO E. LANDAU ATTORNEY 1951 A. E. LANDAU FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 3, 1949 FIG. l0.

FIG. 6. FIG. 7.

FIG. ll.

INVENTOR ARGO E LANDAU FIG. l4.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 1951 s: PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE PRAYER RAIL Argo E. Landau, StiLouis, Mo., assignor to Royal Bond, Inc St. Louis Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,978 r This invention relates to prayer rails and, more particularly, to certain new and useful improvements in portable kneeling rails.

An important object of the present invention is toprovide a portable prayer rail of simple, compact and economical construction which iscapable of being folded into a compact form for packaging, storage, or for being carried from place to place, as the case may be.

It is also an obiectof the present invention to improve on the constructionand arrangement of prayer rails generally'and to provide such an arr'angementof parts therefor that the folding or erecting operation can be effected quickly and conveniently in a' single "manually controlled operation. 7

Another object of this invention may be found in'the character and operating nature of the mechanism herein preferred for accomplishing the simultaneous folding or erecting operation and in the arrangement of elements to afford a positive, but easily releasable, retention of the prayer rails in erected position. With the above and other objects inview, my

, invention resides in the novel features of form,

construction, arrangement; "and combination of parts'presently described and pointed out in the claims."" In the accompanyingdrawings (three sheets) Figure l isa perspective view of a portable prayer rail in extendedor serviceable position constructed in accordahcewith and embodying the present invention} Figure 2 is a perspective view of the prayer rail in'folded or collapsed position; i 1 Figure 3 is a top plan view of the prayer rail in extended position; i

b '-Figure 4 isa fragmental front elevationalview of the prayer rail in extended position;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the prayer rail with a frame housing endcover removed to show the important details of the folding mechanism therefor; I Y

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9,-'10, and 11 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 66, 'I--1, 8 -8, 9 -9, l--l9, and l l-l I respectively, of Figure Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentary transverse sectional views taken along line l2-|2 of Figure 11, showing the toggle joint in unlocked and locked positions; and

.t vFigure 14 is an 'end elevational view of the prayer rail with a frame housing end cover removed to show the folding mechanism when the prayer rail is in folded or collapsed position.

" "Referring now by reference characters to the 9 Claims. (Cl. 155'-166) I: drawings, which illustrate a preferred emboditit ment of my invention, A designates a prayer rail comprising two spaced similar end housings h on which have been mounted for pivoting movement an arm rest member I and a kneeling board 2.

The assembled relationship of the housings h, arm rest member I, and kneeling board 2 is such to permit a smooth and rapid movement from the fully opened position shown in Figure 1 to the compact folded or collapsed position shown in Figure 2.

The end housings h of the prayer rail A are integrally formed or cast to provide an inner side wall 3, front and rear end walls 4 and 5, and a top wall 5 coveringthe forward and central portions of the housings h, said top wall 6 being extended upwardly, as at 8, centrally of the housings It; An outer side wall, in the nature of a removable cover 1, is secured to the respective walls 4, 5, and 6 in any desired manner. Thus, each hous ing h defines an interior space which is open along the bottom side, as at :r, and along the top side rearwardly of the wall 6, as at y, and is readily adapted to receive and enclose foldable parts of the assembly and the folding mechanism presently to be described. I j

Rigidly mounted, at one end; in the inner wall 3 of each housing h and extending across the interior space for opposite end support in a suitable recess formed in the removable cover I are pivot pinsB, Ill, for swingably supporting legs ll, l2, respectively, which are, in turn, provided with longitudinal recesses I3, M. The rear wall 5 of each housing It is provided with a pair of internally threaded, vertically aligned apertures l5, [6, for receiving adjustment screws l1, l8, respectively, which may be threaded to project at their forward ends into the interior space of the housings-h for reasons more fully appearing hereinafter.

"The arm rest member I, positioned between the housings h adjacent the rear ends thereof, comprises a rectangular panel [9 having an artistic design 20 suitably provided thereon and being further provided about its margins with a rearwardlyturned flange 2'I. Suitably secured to the'fiange 2| on the upper transverse margin of the panel I9 is a transversely extending arm rest 22, which may, if desired, be appropriately covered or upholstered. Secured by screws 23 to the lower end of each vertical flange 2| is a hinge element 24 integrally provided with a forwardly extending boss 25 having a longitudinal recess 26. The bosses 25 respectively project through the top openings 3 of the housings h and 3 .4 are pivotally held in place by pins 21 which are signed to be pivoted into a closurewise disposisupported at their end in, and extend between, tion between the upper margins of the Walls 3, 1, the wall 3 and the cover 1. When the hinges rearwardly of the top wall 6 when the prayer rail 24 are swung outwardly of the housings h, the A is in extended or serviceable position, as shown end surfaces thereof will ordinarily abut the-5 in Figure 5, and into concealed position within upper surfaces of the rear walls 5 and thereby the housing I when the prayer rail A is in folded hold the member I in a plane substantially at or collapsed position, as shown in Figure 14. The right angles tothejloiigitiidinal aiies'of'thehouslinlis45, 46,- are also pivotally connected at their ings h, as best seen in Figure 5. It will be noted, forward ends on opposite'sides' of the upper end however, that the adjustment screws I1, l8, will "10 of the leg l2 by a pin 55. abut against the legs H and hinge elements 24, 'In operation, the foregoing link mechanism respectively, on being threaded *rsr'warmy 'wm'assu'methe position shown in Figure 14 when through the aperture and thus act as adjustable the armrest member I, the kneeling board 2, stop means for varying the: relative sentient: v andthe legs "I I; l2fo'f both end housings h are said leg H and member I. 15' 'infolded or collapsed position. In this folded The kneeling board 2 is swingably mounted position, it is to 'be'fioted that the arm rest membetween the forward ends of the 'hbrising'sh and her I -'is disposed between the upper margins of is suitably mounted at its ends on anglesections the walls 3 of the housings h and extends for- 28 having depending flanges 29 integral "thfe W' ffilly y n i h u i s h i v yin r l w'th for operative engag' t w 20 tionship to the kneelingboardf it being further notedthat thelegs ll; !-2,' an" 'hmges-{ze a bosedin'cbneealedmanner" h, whereby the maximum-degreeol'f sis is provided. To u'nfold ore' ect theprayer-rail 2 5 A, a liiting pressure is'exerted on the em res: member musing it 11. 0 e pivote upwar' i3} through action or the "hinge elements 2 4, w h pivoting "effects a rearward movement or .5, dalwimm the housings lr so the legs n, {negrosesw ng-odwnw op r bie posit onfthrough extens on necjtinglinks i sf iffrespectively it menu 7-. inthe'wall ii.

V er as-r new '35 "thereof to bear "sewn onthe "hinge between the toggle linKs 39, 4&3, 42 thereb ing tlielattr past dead-den os'lti'onar'i'd i'ng 'th ej'ar, "t i and e if iifiioiddtr Se iceaple p'o ti'on. In-this the inner ends oftrie 'lirigboard'i a rest and are supported on I gra'll'y '"onthe inwardly A housing walls 3. Y 'Ilie'cover"nieriiber"'5 fisfidis posed closurewise between the'fuppermafgl'fisbf thehousing h forwardlyr of 'the top Wal that the interior ofthehousing -h is oompletely obscm'ed-j-from v-iewof =nsers' of the :prayerrail 'lx. "In moving the prayer'*'rail- A from -exteirded' to folded position, "the kneeling board-2 isswur'ig reversely, whereby the inner faceof the legfil of "the rocker member 33 *is 'swung upwardly againstthe hinge *bi'hlifi eausm it t0mDvef ilp'-' wardlyfthereby iinlock'ingthe 'n'ichanis y fwith 'the 'link ani-sin 'Ifim We ar a q 't r stews-n tl'ie armrestnieniberfl will eif ec ward pivoting of the hinge e nemes s pinsfl, ca sing 'a' 'sim'ult etraction fo he links to I efi'ectja folding} movementfwhei'eby t lino the pin 4] ,I interm heil ksfiaa, 140., i s' a 1r ia d n ciea 1a notch m or the lgT ein.

otally mounted liii'kinechani'smis" oved'foiwardlyiirthe' ings h, e egs H," e g 'iiiiwardly iiiwtrie 'iibusm'g's raid the member to come to rest between the, upper margins of the housings h in fully collapsed position. I

The foregoing detailed description of a pre ferred kneeling rail construction and an operative fol'dable mechanism therefor will serve to illustrate the principal features of the invention in accordance with the stated objects.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrange;- ment, and combinationof the several parts of the prayer rail may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l-. n prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front/and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement between erect and folded position, a togglejoint providedin each housing, linkage mechanism disposed in each housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest member and the respective front and rear legs, and a rocker member pivotally mountedon each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint for optional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect and supporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement.

2. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between sup porting and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement between erect and folded position, a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed in each housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest member and the respective front and rear legs, a rocker member pivotally mounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint for optional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect and supporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement, and a kneeling board operatively carried by and extending between the end housings.

3. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement between erect and folded position, a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed in each housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest member and the respective front and rear legs, a rocker member pivotally mounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint for optional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect and supporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement, and a kneeling board pivotally mounted on and extending between the end housing, said board being operably connected to said rocker member for movement between a rearwardly directed serviceable position and a folded position.

4. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end 6: housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporte ing, and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement betweenerect and folded position, a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed in each housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest member andthe respective front and rear legs, a rocker member pivotally mounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint for optional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect and supporting position or un locked to facilitate folding movement, a kneeling board pivotally mounted on and. extending between the end housing, said board being oper ably connected to said rocker member fo i move: ment between a rearwardly directed serviceable position and a folded position, and means operably connected to the linkage mechanism for closurewise disposition between the upper mar-' gins of the housing when the toggle joint'isi-n straightened position.

5. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting and folded positions, an armrest; member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement between erect and folded position, a toggle joint provided in each housing, linkage mechanism disposed in each housing for connecting the toggle joint with the arm rest member and the respective front and. rear legs, a rocker member pivotally mounted on each housing and adapted to engage the toggle joint for optional straightening and bending thereof whereby the arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect and supporting position or unlocked to facilitate folding movement, and a kneeling board operatively carried by and extending between the end housings, said kneeling board being engageable with the toggle joint to lock same. i

6. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement between erect and folded position, a kneeling board rockably mounted between the end housings for movement between operative and collapsed positions, actuating means disposed in each housing for connecting the arm rest member and the respective front and rear legs, and locking means operable responsive to movement of the kneeling board for optional engagement with the actuating means whereb the arm rest member and the front and rear legs may be respectively locked in erect and supporting position.

7. A prayer rail comprising a pair of end housings, front and rear legs pivotally mounted on each housing for movement between supporting and folded positions, an arm rest member pivotally connected to and disposed between the end housings for movement between erect and folded position, a kneeling board rockably mounted between the end housings for movement between operative and collapsed positions, actuating means disposed in each housing for connecting the arm rest member and the respective front and rear legs, and locking means opera me'u'mjermidthe resmeetiye front and rear 1e'g s. a reeker member pivota11y "rammed *on each each houfiingfor connecting the toggle joint with hie erm rest 'menioer alid the respective frerjt and rear legs,e;*V-=Shspeb1'rocker'member'pivtit any mounted on each housing andembracingly fl'ispqed around fthe togglejoint "for Optional Straightening faind bending thereof whereby the arm frest member and "the front and rear llejgs "may be re313eetqiw'lelyiitackegi' in erect and sqppe'rh i ng positi'nbr iinlocked t0 "fabilitat fqldi't ig' movement, and a. kneeling board operativeiy carried by and eite'xiding"'between'- the end Imusm gs. V

REFERENCES CITED I The failed/mg references are of recdr'a' ih the file bfthis patent:

UN ITED STIATES Number Name Date 1-, 981'3 87 Kovats Nov. 20,1934 2}041',19'6 *Li'ska -'Ma,y 19;1-9'36 2; 1'o1;2 59 Landau Dec. 7,1937 22253306 *Kovats DeC. 17,- 1 940 H for "movement between eret' "and fblded pesitien, =af -togg-le'jdint *providefi in V

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