US2565187A

US2565187A - Vertically collapsible table

Info

Publication number: US2565187A
Application number: US153207A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis N Udell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-03-31
Filing date: 1950-03-31
Publication date: 1951-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-21

Description

21, 1951 L. N. UDELL 2,565,187

VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed March 31, 1950 INVENTOR.

Joule /I [(22% Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,565,187 VERTICALLY COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Louis Udell, Chicago, I ll.

Application March 31, 1950, Serial No. 153,207

Claims. M (01. 311- 39), 1

providean improved collapsible supporting structurefor tables and the like; to provide a supporting structure for a collapsible table; to provide a collapsible supporting structure for "a table which permits retraction of the table into a small space so that it may. be easily stored, and, at the same time, provides a sturdy support for the table when extended; to provide improved means for locking and reinforcing a collapsible table structure in its extended position; and to provide an improved card tablewhichmay be collapsed and In the form shown in th drawing, each of the legs 4 comprises a pair of rectangular panels 6 which are connected to each other by hinges l at their adjacent edges. The outer ends of the articulated legs 4 are connected to the top 2 and base 3 by hinges 8. The hinges l and 8 are arranged to permit the legs 4 to fold outwardly away from each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

extended with less movement and effort than. is,

necessary for a conventional card table.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of an improved collapsible table-embodyin my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table shown in Fig. 1, one of the corner slides being withdrawn Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the improved table, the table-being shown in a position intermediate its extended-andcollapsed positions;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the table shown in the collapsed or storage position; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a portion of the locking means, the view being taken along line 55 of Fig. -1. I

The improved table-shown in the drawing is very sturdy and at the same time may be collapsed into a minimum of space. In addition, the arrangement of parts is such that effective enlargement of the table may be accomplished .without increasing the over-all bulk of the collapsed table.

As shown in the drawings, th table I comprises a pair of spaced sections including a table top 2 and a base 3, which are interconnected by a pair of collapsible or articulated legs 4, the legs being secured in extended position by improved locking means 5.

The top 2 and base 3 are generally rectangular in shape and are located in spaced, parallel relationship when the table I is extended or 001- lapsed. In order to permit placing a chair close to the table, the base 3 is preferably smaller than the table top I. The base 3 should be of suflicient weight to assure stability of the table. This may be accomplished by loading the base 3 in any well known manner.

The improved locking means 5 comprises a pair of latches or braces 9 which are hingedly connected to the table top 2 and base 3, respectively, by hinges Ill, and a plurality of keepers or catches I I which are bolted or otherwise rigidly attached to the leg sections. The latches 9 comprise an arm section 12 and a catch-engaging member or finger I3 which is attached to the arm by bolts I4 or other suitable fastening means. The arms [2 are generally rectangular panels which are supported at the center of the table so as to extend transversely between the spaced legs 4 and, as a result, the axes of the arm supporting hinges l0 extend transversely to the axes of the hinges I and 8 associated with the legs 4. The fingers l3 carried by the arms I2 are proportioned to frictionally'engage the keepers II so as to secure the latch 9 in position when the table is extended.

In order to collapse the table, the latch members 9: attached to the top 2 and base 3, respectively, must be disengaged from the keepers II, whereupon the table may be collapsed and stored. Suitable locking means (not shown) may be provided for maintaining the table in its collapsed position. To extend the table, the top 2 is lifted so as to permitthe upper latch member 9 to drop into place, whereupon the lower latch member 9 may be raised into engagement with the associated catch II. It will be understood, of course, thatonly one latch member may be necessary in order to provide a satisfactory table, and that other modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

In order to prevent damage to the hinges and leg sections, the keepers H are proportioned and positioned so that when the table is collapsed, the keepers H on the upper leg sections will engage and rest upon those of the lower leg sections. In like manner, when the table is collapsed, the fingers 13 of the upper latch 9 engage and rest upon those of the lower latch 9. These arrangements, which are best illustrated in Fig. 4, provide a sturdy structure when the table is collapsed.

In view of the arrangement of the legs 4 and latch 9, a plurality of slides 15 may be spaced around the periphery of the table. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, these slides 15 extend from the corners of the table I toward the center thereof. The slides 15 are supported upon suitable tracks 16 which are secured to the underside of the table top 2. Similarly, a drawer I! may be supported in tracks l8 attached to the underside of the top, the drawer opening from one side of the table 1. The legs 4, tracks l6 and I8, slides 15, and drawer I! are proportioned so that when the legs collapse they fall into spaces intermediate the slides l5, and the top latch 9 is hinged so as to fold away from the drawer H. The slides l may be provided with an aperture I8 for insertion of an ash tray, and an additional recess ii) for receiving a drinking glass. the arrangement of these slides 15, the efiective area of the table top is substantially increased, and through the provision of the drawer ll various articles may be stored.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A table comprising a pair of spaced sections, an articulated leg extending between said sections, hinge means connecting opposite an end of said leg to one of said spaced sections, and means for locking said leg in an extended position, said locking means including a brace, a hinge connecting said brace to one of said sections, the axis of said hinge being disposed transverse to the axis of the hinge means connecting said leg to said one section, and a keeper on said articulated leg for receiving said brace to lock said leg in said extended position.

2. A table comprising spaced top and bottom sections, an articulated leg extending between said top and bottom sections, hinge means connecting opposite ends of said leg to said sections, and means for locking said leg in an extended position, said locking means including a pair of braces, hinges connecting said braces to said sections, the axes of said hinges extending transversely to the axes of the hinge means connecting said leg to said sections, keepers on said articulated leg for receiving said braces, said keepers being located intermediate said hinges and an articulation of said leg.

3. A table comprising a top and a base, a pair of articulated legs extending between said top and base and disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other, hinge means connecting opposite ends of said legs to said top and base, means for locking said legs in the extended position, said locking means comprising a pair of latche disposed transversely between said legs, a hinge for As a result of connecting one of said latches to said top, another hinge connecting the other of said latches to said base, the axes of said hinges extending transversely to the axes of said hinge means connecting said legs to said top and base, a plurality of keepers on said articulated legs positioned to receive said latches, said keepers being disposed intermediate the hinge attached to the latch and, the articulation of said legs.

4, A collapsible table comprising top and base members disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, a pair of articulated legs extending between said top and base members and disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, each of said leg comprising a pair of sections hinged to each other and to said top and base, respectively, locking means for securing said legs in their extended position, said locking means including keepers mounted on certain of said leg secticns, and a brace hingedly supported on one of said members for movement into locking engagement with said keepers.

5. A collapsible table comprising top and base members disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, a pair of articulated legs 1 extending between said top and base members and disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other, each of said legs comprising a pair of sections hinged to each other and to said top and base, respectively, locking means for securing said legs in their extended operative position, said locking means including keepers mounted on certain of said leg sections, and a pair of braces hingedly secured to the opposed faces of said top and base members and adapted to swing into looking engagement with said keepers.

LOUIS N. UDELL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 672,811 Smitz Apr. 23, 1901 773,721 Duvall Nov. 1, 1904 928,726 Whitthaus July 20, 1909 1,035,575 Goode Aug. 13, 1912 1,891,665 Brenholts Dec. 20, 1932 2,388,192 Stechbart Oct. 30, 1945 2,520,789 Weiss Aug. 29, 1950 2,531,233 Pettit Nov. 21, 1950 2,532,766 Galleret Dec. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,948 Great Britain 1905 15,285 Great Britain 1907