US2539603A - Folding chair and table set - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1951 H. H. woHLK FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE SET 4 Sharia-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1949 ATTE R N EYE Jan. 30, 1951 H. H. woHLK 2,539,603

FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE SET Filed Nov. 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTCI RN EYS Jan. 30, 1951 H. H. woHLK FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE SET 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 21, 1949 wlja INVENTOR. @fing/www@ ATTD RN EYB Jan. 30, 1951 H. H. woHLK 2,539,603

FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE SET Filed Nov. 21, 1949 f4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,539,603 FOLDING CHAIR AND TABLE sE'r Henning H. WohllfSpokane, Wash.

Application November 21, 1949, Serial No. 128,638

This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to a folding chair and table set.

The object of the invention is to provide a combination table and folding chairs therefor, the chairs adapted to be folded into a compact unit, whereby the chairs can be positioned in an outof-the-way position beneath the table top when the chairs are not being used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination table and folding chairs which can be used to comfortably support a plurality of persons seated around the table, or the chairs can be folded or collapsed and supported beneath the table top when not being used, whereby the table and chairs will occupy a minimum amount of space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination table and folding chairs, the chairs including suitable braces for preventing the chairs from accidentally folding during use, there being a handle on the back of each chair to facilitate the removal of the chairs from their folded positions beneath the table, and wherein the chairs can be folded and positioned beneath the table top to occupy a minimum space, as when the furniture is being stored or transported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding chair and table set which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

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

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the chairs in their open position around thetable and ready for use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of one of the chairs in its open position;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing one of the chairs in its collapsed or folded position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing a f pair of the chairs in their folded position supported beneath the table top;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view showing certain constructional details of the chair;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I8 designates a table which includes a horizontally-disposed base II. Secured to the bottom of the base II is a plurality of blocks I2 each of which carriesv a glider element I3 that 3 Claims. (Cl. 155-424) is arranged in engagement with the floor, where b-y the table I il can be conveniently slid or moved;

along the floor to any desired location.

Projecting upwardly from the base I| and secured thereto is a vertically-disposed standardl or column I4, and the column I4 has a horizontally-disposed table top I5 secured to its upper end. Although the table top I5 is illustrated in may be circular in shape. Arranged adjacent the lower end of the standard I4 and secured thereto" is a plurality of spaced body members I6 which gdene therebetween guideways I1 for a purpose to be later described.

The persons seated around the table I0 are` adapted to be supported onfolding chairs I8. In Figure l, four of the chairs I8 are shown, but more or less of the chairs can be used if desired.

As each of the chairs I8 has ther same construc-v tion, only one will be described in detail. Each chair I8 comprises a back member I9 that has a handlev 20 secured thereto.

to facilitate the removal of the chair I8 from beneath the table top be used. v

Each chair I8 includes a'seat 2| that is hingedly connected to the back member I9 by a hinge 22, the seat 2| serving to support a person when the chair is in its open position. A hinge 23 pivotally or hingedly connects a leg extensionv 24 to the lower end of the back member I9. Arranged adjacent the front end of the seat 2| and secured 4thereto is a block 25, and a hinge 21 hingedly or" pivotally connects the upper end of a front legr 26 tothe blockv 25.

Each of the front legs 26 includes a pair of' vertically-disposed, spaced members 28 andJ extending between the pair of members 28 is a pair of horizontally-disposed strips 29 and 30.'

The strips 29 and 38 coact with the members 28 a hinge 33, `the hingeconnection between the upper end of the arm 32 and the seat 2| beingv designated by the numeral 34. The arm 32 serves to maintain the leg extension 24 in its open or extended position when the chair is being used.

Secured to the bottom of the seat 2| by suit- The handle 28 is' adapted to be gripped in the users hand so as l5, where the chairs are to' able securing elements, such as screws 36, is a. slide bracket 35 which has an L-shape. The bracket 35 is provided with an elongated slot 31 which terminates in a transverse portion 38. A pin 39 slidably and hingedly connects one end of a rst brace 40 to the bracket 35, the pin 39 extending through the slot 31. A pin 4I pivotally connects the other end of the first brace 40 to the back Ymember I9. The pin =.39.alsoslidably and pivotallyconnects one end -of .a second brace 42 to the slide bracket 35, while a hinge 43 pivotally connects the other end of the second brace 42 to the front leg 26 of the chair I8.

When the chair is in its open position and being used, the pin 39 is positioned ,in the .transverse portion 38 of the slot 31, whereby the front leg 26 and the seat 2| will be maintained safely in their extended or open positions, so that the chair will not accidentally collapse or fold up during use. A horizontally-disposed support member 44 is secured to the back member I9 of the chair, and the support member'44 helps to support the seat 2| when the chair is being used.

lFor maintaining the chairs I8 Yin alignment when the chairs are open and being used, there is provided for each chair a 'hinged lever '45. Thus, each lever 45 comprises a rst section 46 that is'hingedly connected to the leg extension 24 by =a hinge 41. A second section 48 is hingedly connected to the -firstV section 46 by a -hinge 49, and the 'free end of the second section 48 kis adapted to be positioned in the guideway I1. When the chairs are not being used, the section 4'8 `is folded against 'the section 46 and these folded sections are inserted 'through the cut-out 3| in the front leg 26, whereby the chair ywill be maintained in its folded or collapsed position, as show-n in Figures 3 and 4.

iWhen the furniture of the present invention is being used, the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 1. Thus, the chairs I8 serve to support persons thereon and the ends of thesections 48 are seated in the guideways I1 so as to maintain vthe chairs I8 in alignment, whereby the persons seated around the table I!! can use the tableztop for any desired purpose. It is to be noted that the pin 39is positioned in the transverse portion 38 of the slot 31 when the chairs arexbeing used; so that the seat 2| and thefront l'eg25 will :not accidentally fold. Also, the arm 321serves to maintain the leg extension' 24 in its openV position. When the chairs are'not being used, V.thexchairs I8 can be readily folded and supported on the `base I| beneath the table top I5, whereby the furniture lwill loccupy a minimum amount :of space, as'when the furniture is to be storedor transported. 'To fold the chairs, the pin 39 is moved downwardly out' ofthe transverse-portion 38 :of the slot 31,and the seat 2| is pivoted about the hinge 22, so that it occupies or assumes a position-contiguous to the back member I9. Also, the vfront leg 2E is pivoted about .the hinge 21 to a position contiguous to the seat 2|, and further, the lever 45 is folded about the hinge 49 and the sections v45 and 48 are inserted through the cut-outs 3| vin the front leg 26, whereby the parts 'ofthe chair will 'be maintained fin their folded position, sov that accidental opening of fthe `chair will -be `prevented. After the chairs I8 havebeen collapsed or folded, the :parts are in the positions shown in Figuresv 3 and-aand it will -be -seen that the 'leg-extension 24 has :also been 'pivoted about the hinge A23. Then,v the folded kchairs I 8 can be readiiysupported on the base III beneath the tabletop '1"5,

so that the entire table-and-chair set will occupy a minimum amount of space. When the chairs are to be used, the user need only grip the handle 20 and remove the chairs from the positions of Figure 4, and by reversing the previouslydescribed procedure, the parts of the chair can be moved to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby the chairs are ready for normal use.

The furniture may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, and anynumiber of chairs can be used as desired. The furniture is attractive and is especially suitable for use in small apartments or other places where space is at a premium, the furniture set being suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a table including a horizontally-disposed base, a plurality of spaced glide blocks secured to the bottom of said base for supporting the latter, a vertically-disposed standard f proiecting upwardly from said base and secu-red thereto, -a horizontally-disposed top supported on the upper end of said standard, a plurality of chairs for supporting persons thereon when in their open positions, said chairs adapted to be folded when 'not being used and supported on said base, each of said chairs comprising a back member, a seat having one end hingedly connected '-to said back vmember intermediate the ends thereof, a leg extension hingedly connected to the lower end of said back member, a frontleg having its 'upper end hingedly connected to the other end -of said seat, a slide bracket secured to the flower surface of said seat, a rst brace having one end pivotally connected -to said back member and its other end slidably connected to said bracket, a second brace having one -end pivotallyiconnected to said front leg and 'its other end sli-dably connected to said bracket, sai-d'iirst and second ybraces serving to prevent accidental folding of said cha'ir, and an arcuate arm having one end vpivotally connected to said seat and its other endpivotally connected to said leg `exten-- sion 'for maintaining said leg extension in eX- f tended position when the chair is being used.

'2. The apparatus as described in claim Y1, and further including a lever yembodying a pair of sections lpivotally connected together and hingedly connected to said leg extension, anda pluralityof spaced body members secured to the lower end Yof said 'standard and dening guideways therebetween for receiving said levers when the chairs are in their open positions.

'3. In combination, a table including a base, a plurality of spaced slide blocks secured to said base for supporting the latter, a standard projecting upwardly from said base and secured thereto, a top supported on the upper endof said standard, a plurality of chairs "for supporting persons thereon when in their lopen positions, said `chairs adapted to be folded when not Abeing used and vsupported on said base, each of said chairs comprising a back member, a seat having one end 'hingedly connected to said back member intermediate the ends thereof, a leg extension hingedly connected to the lower end of said 'back member, a front leg hingedly Vconnected tothe other end of said seat, a slide bracket secured t0 the `lower surface of said seat, a rst brace Vhaving one end pivotally connected to said back member andthe other end slidably-connected jto said bracket, a second brace having one end pivotally connected to saidfront leg and the other end slidably `connected to said bracket, said viirst and 'second braces rserving to prevent accidental folding of said chairs, and an arm having one end pvotally connected to said seat and the other` end pivotally connected to said leg extension for maintaining said leg extension in extended position when the chair is being used.

HENNING H. WOHLK.

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

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,304,368 Purcell May 20, 1919 1,359,118 Wright Nov. 16, 1920 1,520,641 Giard Dec. 23, 1924

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