US2546323A

US2546323A - Folding table

Info

Publication number: US2546323A
Application number: US633575A
Authority: US
Inventors: Taylor Auburn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-12-08
Filing date: 1945-12-08
Publication date: 1951-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-03-27

Description

A. TAYLOR FOLDING TABLE March 27, 1951 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 @WJ .WJJIY 1 7 J. mi n W Tw im. r vw v/ M QE IIII Q e III. "I nm* Nm W m f Ff ,M J lrllrllrff wm .Nm.\\\\ T UUIIII:Hwnu'fnuwwmllg 5--- wf m Q Q 3 ww -..uhu mwl. w Q AA kwil P\`\\. NW NW N @m Q n@ nl? n 3 hw \N me. 10 mm W. n m. NN \W MM W w N,\ w\ a. NW Q Q qui. 4%. I H i /f 1. m .wh ,\,|\1 I /I N mi A. TAYLOR FOLDING TABLE March 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE Auburn Taylor, Charleston, W. Va.

Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,575

3 Claims. (Gl.A S11- 89) This invention relates to folding tables and the like.

Among other objects the invention aims to provide a table which though capable of being folded is nevertheless an attractive piece of furniture which does not reveal its folding character, and which has the design and lines of conventional tables.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table which appears substantial in character and in fact has the rigidity and stability of the conventional non-folding table.

Another object is to provide a folding table construction capable of being erected into long dining and other tables, and which eliminates the leg obstructions usually characterizing long temporary tables for dining purposes.

Another object is to provide a folding table of this character which may be easily collapsed into a compact form for convenient storage.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative construction embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a double section table in unfolded or erected condition;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan section, taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1, of a device for locking a table leg in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof taken on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table with the legs in folded position and the top sections.V

in unfolded or extended position;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the table showing in dotted lines one top section folded on the other to illustrate the table in fully collapsed condition for storage purposes;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane 6 6 of Fig. 4 showing a table leg in fully folded position;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the plane 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing the longitudinal hinge in the table leg.

The illustrative table is elongated in form and is particularly useful for dining purposes in clubs and other establishments where it is necessary temporarily to erect long dining tables, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to tables of this character. Indeed it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a table which is substantial and attractive in appearance and may be used as a permanent piece of furniture, such as a library table. The present table is designed with two shallow box-like top sections I0 and II to provide a table of considerable length. The top sections may be made of plywood or other sheet or molded material.

Because of its strength and durability I prefer to use plywood in which the several plies are bonded together by plastic. Each corner of the table when in extended position is provided with a folding leg I2, the details of which will be presently described. The meeting edges of the top sections are provided with a depending skirt I3 along the free edge of Which the sections are hinged together, as at I4. The skirts I3 are advantageously flush with the abutting edges I5 of the top sections and in depth are sufcient to extend beyond the plane of the legs in folded condition. In the present instance the top sections are provided with depending skirts I6 eX- tendng entirely around the top sections and corresponding in depth to that of the center skirts I3 so that when the top sections are folded together (see Fig. 5) the'skirts I6 of each top section abut and thereby form a single closed chest adapted to enclose the folded table legs. An appropriate fastening device here shown in the form of a separable fastener having stud and socket elements Il and I8, holds the sections in folded position. The fastener elements are respectively attached to the underside of the top sections (see Fig. 4) so that they will register and engage when the top sections are folded together as shown in Fig. 5. Ball casters I or other appropriate skid devices are advantageously placed along the edge or skirt of the table so that the i table when in folded or collapsed condition may be moved by skidding it along the floor without lifting.

When in extended or unfolded position the abutting edges I5 of the top sections, being remote from the hinge axis I 4, resist sagging of the table top and cooperate to maintain the coplanar relation of the top sections in unfolded position. Preferably this is supplemented by a support` in the form of a central table leg 2l located intermediate the side edges of the table and in this case in the center line of the table. It is thus remote from the side edges of the table and eliminates obstruction to the use of the table for dining purposes, which is characteristic of the usual temporary table.

In the present case the central table leg comprises two

elements

22 and 23. hinged respectively at the under side of the top sections adjacent the skirt I3. As shown the leg elements are of T-shape to provide an elongated edge 24 hinged to the top sections. It is unnecessary that the hinge be continuous but advantageously the hinge connections 25 are substantially separated to promote lateral stability and rigidity of the leg. In extended position the

leg elements

22 and 23 are advantageously connected together by appropriate connecting means here shown in the form of hooks 26 and studs 21. The foot of each leg element is advantageously provided with a spacer block 28 to hold the legs in spaced relationship and to 'provide means for tensioning the hooks. The legs when extended lie against the inner faces of the skirt I3 and are thereby further stabilized against movement in the direction of the table leg. In folded position the legs are advantageously held against the underface of the top sections by button latches 30 or any other appropriate connecting means. The side edges 29 of the leg elements taper downwardly with the conventional leg taper.

The corner legs I2 are preferably of angular section and tapered downwardly along each side edge 3l with the conventional leg taper. The table therefore has the appearance and design of the conventional rigid table. The legs in the present instance comprise a pair of flat elements S2 and 33 hinged together along their meeting edges 34 and extending at right angles to each other when in unfolded position. One element is adapted to fold on the other along the hinge axis 35 (see Fig. '7) when the legs are collapsed for folding. Only one of the leg elements, in this case the leg element 32 which lies lowermost when the legs are collapsed and folded underneath the table top, is hinged to the top section (see Fig. 6). The hinge connection 36 in the lpresent instance is made with the skirt I6 and the hinge is preferably countersunk in the inner face of the skirt I so that when extended the leg element 32 will lie fiat against the inner face of skirt I6. In folded position (see Fig. 6) the legs are held against the under face of the top by a button latch 3l similar to the latch 30 used for the central leg elements.

If the table comprise only a single section with one of the aforesaid legs at each corner, the center leg may be omitted.

In extending the corner legs after the release of latch 31, the overlying leg elements 'are swung downwardly about the hinge 35 and the free leg element 33 is then swung outwardly on hinge 35 to a position at right angles to the element 32 to lie against the inner face of the side skirt of the table top. The legs I2 are advantageously intertted as shown in Fig. 1 by mutually notch-` ing their adjacent edges as at 39 and 4I to eliminate any crack at the hinge and to improve the external appearance of the legs.

The leg elements are held in extended and angularly related position by a locking device d2 in the form of a lock hinged at d3 to the under face of the top section adapted to swing into the corner between the leg elements to lock them into place against the skirts. The free edge of the locking device is fastened in locking position by an appropriate latch here shown in the form of a hook 4d and a stud 45. The edge of the locking device is rabbeted at t6 and i1 to receive and t around the upper ends of the leg elements thereby to improve the locking contact. A dowel pin 48 carried adjacent the free end of the locking device enters a registry recess 49 in the leg element 33 to support the free end of locking device in locking position. A similar pin may also enter a similar recess in skirt IS (Fig. 7). To collapse a leg it is necessary simply to release the locking device and swing it inwardly (see Fig. 4), then to fold the leg elements on each other about their hinges 35, and thereafter to swing the leg elements about the hinge 36 against the under face of the table top and lock the same in such position by the latch 31.

The several leg elements may advantageously be made of plywood.

After folding all of the corner and center leg elements against the under face of the top sections the latter may then be folded on each other about their hinge I4 into a compact unit which may be easily moved and stored. In the present case the depth of the skirt under the table top is about 21/2 inches making the combined thickness of the table in collapsed and folded condition about 5 inches, thereby providing a unit of little bulk which is nevertheless wide enough to provide a stable base for supporting the folded table in an upright position in storage without lateral support.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative table since these may be variously modified. Moreover it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used jointly since various features may be used to advantage in different combinations and subcombinations.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a folding table having a top, a corner leg structure foldable with respect to the top comprising, in combination, a pair of flat leg elements hinged together along their adjacent edges to stand in angular relation to each other when erected, and a locking device for holding said leg elements erected including a flat member disposed beneath the table top' and pivoted thereto to swing about an axis perpendicular to the top into and out of interlocking relation with said leg elements, said member having two angularly disposed side edges rabbeted for intertting engagement with each of said leg elements when swung into interlocking position into the angle between said leg elements so that said leg elements are maintained in angular relation with respect to each and in upright relation to the top.

2. In a folding table having a top, the combination comprising a continuous skirt bordering the topy a corner leg structure foldable with respect to the top and including a pair` of flat leg elements hinged together along their adjacent edges to stand in angular relation to each other When erected with one of said elements being hinged adjacent said skirt, and a locking device for holding said leg elements erected, said device comprising a fiat member disposed beneath the table top and pivoted thereto adjacent said skirt to swing about an axis perpendicular to the top into and out of interlocking relation with said leg elements, said member having two angularly disposed side edges rabbeted for intertting engagement with each of said leg elements when swung into interlocking position into the angle between the leg elements, so that said leg elements are maintained in angular relation to each other and in upright relation to the top and are clamped by the locking device against the skirt.

3. A central leg structure for a folding table adapted to be erected into an elongated table having a matching pair of top sections each bordered by a continuous depending skirt flush with the peripheral edge of the corresponding top sec- 5 tion and forming two shallow boxes hinged together along adjacent free edges of the skirts so as to fold together into a single closed chest, portions of the skirt abutting when the sections are unfolded into coplanar relationship, said central leg structure comprising, in combination, a pair of iiat T-shaped leg elements each having a transverse member and a central longitudinal member, said transverse members being hinged along their top edges to the undersides of the top sections adjacent the abutting portions of the skirts to fold Within the boxes and to swing into upright position wherein said longitudinal members are substantially parallel, abutments rigid with the opposed faces of the longitudinal members engageable upon swinging said elements into upright position, and means for fastening the free ends of said longitudinal members together to maintain said elements in upright position and said abutments in engagement so 6 that a rigid unitary support is provided centrally of the table.

AUBURN TAYLOR.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,203 Makinen Sept. 19, 1899 653,851 Smith July 17, 1900 777,186 Dittmar Dec. 13, 1904 900,552 Kade Oct. 6, 1908 1,206,582 Orono Nov. 28, 1916 1,426,962 Corpstein Aug. 22, 1922 1,614,539 Ryan Jan. 18, 1927 1,763,671 Rastetter June 17, 1930 1,871,634 Tingle Aug. 16, 1932 2,214,301 Hendricks Sept. 10, 1940