US2577399A

US2577399A - Collapsible bracket or support

Info

Publication number: US2577399A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred B Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-12-24
Filing date: 1948-12-24
Publication date: 1951-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1968-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1951 BELL, 2,577,399

COLLAPSIBLE BRACKET OR SUPPORT Filed Dec. 24, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l WITNESSES :25 INVENTOR:

Z/Mim; 4 j Aljredfl. 561/ 9% BY Wm A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 4, 1951 A. B. BELL 2,577,399

COLLAPSIBLE BRACKET OR SUPPORT Filed Dec. 24, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 WITNESSES I N V EN TOR:

Z/M%w4 15mm 5611,

BY WW A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 -UENI'T'ED "STA-res ear-em OFFICE .AlfredB. Bell,

Philadelphia, Pa.

'6Claims. a This invention has general reference to collapsildle devices or supports for fold-down shelves,

seats, "and for other similar application; while it"rl'a'teym'ore particularly to the -species-or form o'i such-devices including means for maintaining the same in extended -'or supporting position.

"The prim'ary objeet-of my' invention is 'to provide what I preferably term aself-aligning multiknuckle cdll'apsible bracket or support for general use, or "where it is desirable to mount a 'foldaldle shelf *orseat more particularly.

iAnother objector my invention is to provide "a novel cdllapsible-bracket-or support'of the'type stat-ed in the preceding paragraph fincluding improved catch means'=efiective to automatically -secure said bracket or support inactive position.

-A "further object 'is #30 provide a collapsible bracket or =-supportof *the species indicated in the two preceding paragraphs embodying structural refinements that "greatly enhance its utility,

strength and durability. 7

Other objects, features and ancillary advantages "of -my invention will be hereinafter set forth in-the descriptionof the accompanying'two sheets of illustrative drawings forming a part hereo'f, and in whichlike reference characters designate the-same or corresponding "par-ts in an "the views.

In the drawings:

"Fig. 1 is aside elevation-of a typical embodiment'o'f my improved collapsible brackt-for'the suppor 't'of a she'lfor seat as viewed'when in'collapsed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation but showing the shelf -'or seat "in active position.

Fi-gf-3 is amend elevation taken as 'indicated by the angled arrow-s II-I'-III*in -Fig.2; and,

Fig.4 is an exploded perspective view-f the main components of my improved self-aligning 'four-knucklecollapsiblebracket or support.

In'=desc-ribing the form of my invention exempli'fled by the drawings '-'herewith, specified terms "will beemfiloyed for the sake of clarityjbut it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; "each suchterm being intended to'embrace all "equivalents whichperform the-same function'for an analogous purpose.

*Rc'ferring more in detail "to the drawings my improved self -aligning-collapsible bracket or supper-t as s'howngcomprises four main components comprehensively designated 5, 6, l and 8, see

a Fig. 4'tothe'best 'advantage. "Of'these-components those "marked-"hand 6 will be hereinafter respectively termed-the wall-"attaching andshelf or seat supporting elements; whereas the other elements 1 and 8 willbe similarly distinguished as the lowerand upper brace components. The

elements

5, 6, 1 and .8 it'istobe particularly'noted are all'ofa form-adapted for economical producfi tion from metal or other sheet material,which materially reduces the cost 'o'f'manufacture. "More specifically the'wall or otherwise attachable element'5 conveniently although not essentially embodies a main "portion *9,rincluding a relatively 31'0 stepped upper part H) with :an \offset knuckle section "I I while the lower partris formed 1110 in- :clude a medial :extension tongue l2 having inclinedly relatedflanking knuckles P3, l3; whereas 1 4 designate spaced holes :for rigid mounting of '1 said element 5 :to'a'stationarymember orwall 1'5 as by screws 16, Figs. "'1 and-.2, for exampleionly.

"I'heshelf or seat supporting element '6 comprisesiaiiiatbo'dyportion 'li'with spaced knuckles 1 8 at one end, and relatively inclined similar knuckles I 9 at the other 'endwithian intervening tongue 2fl and holes 2] for passage of suitable :means such as screws 22 for securing said shelf or seat element 23 thereto. As bestappreciated fromtFig. 2 the ex'tensiontongues l2 and 20 are 25 highlyimportantioradded security, at the points :o'f heavieststrain, in that said tongues extend the longitudinal base 50f attachment and serve as securing means beyond and intermediately related to thescrews f6, 22% readilyunderstood byfthoseconversant with'the art. In-

other'words t'hetongues

12,26 function as rigid anchorages outwardly relative to the hinge axes of the respectively adjacent knuckles l3 and I9, which substantially increases the security factor'of the brac' ketor support as awhole. It is also to'be 'noted, atthis juncture, that the shelf or seat lement'23 may have its edge adjoining the wall ZI-E -arcuately rounded at 2'4 "for pivotal move- =ment relative "to a superjacent stationary cover 40 mtil'd-ing' fi appropriately fixed to said wall 15.

-li'lso "the stepped upper part H! of the Wall attacliing element 5 may "include a filler member 26 conveniently heldin placeby screws 21 passed throughthe'holes M in the-element-5 aforesaid. clbviously, the knuckles H, [8 may be arranged in'a common vertical plane with respect to the

knuckles

13, 28 and the wall plate 5 made without the stepped part 10; in which case the Wall and shelf components are made of equal length, so that this 'form is self-aligning and reversible. rReferring now to the brace elements 1, 8, the lower element'i is provided with opposed single -'-knuckles 28, '29 at the respective ends, spaced "elongated slots 36, a medially located shorter slot 3|. and a central hole '32 proximate the knuckle 28; whereas the other or upper brace element 8 embodies an upper knuckle 33, and spaced lower knuckles 34 with a partially intervening outset or pad 35, as well as spaced slots 36 corresponding to the slots 30 aforesaid.

In order to retain the brace elements I, 8 in extended alignment I preferably make use of the following means; said means comprising a catch device embodying a button-head 31 with a base 38 defining an intervening groove or neck and a shank 39 for slidable movement in the slot 3| of the element 1. To the inner or free end of the shank 39 I rigidly attach a grooved spool or sheave 4H and it is to be noted the combined head 31 and sheave 45 are jointly capable of pivotal, as well as sliding movement in the slot 3L, Co-

active with the sheave 40, by aid of an indent 4| Y secured in the central hole 32 of the lower brace element 1, as readily understood on an examination of Figs. 1-3 inclusive. Thus it will be understood that the catch member button-head 31 is normally influenced outwards relative to the brace element 1 so that, when the parts I, 8 are pushed into planar alignment the slightly inclined tip 45 of the pad 35, on the upper brace element '8, will automatically snap intermediate the catch button-head 3'! and the base 38 of the latter. In other words as the parts I, 8 are moved into related extension, see Fig. 2, the inclined tip 45 of the pad 35 smoothly rides over the surface of the button-head 31 in opposition to the spring 42, by aid of the indent 4|, and is automatically snapped into latching position immediately the outer edge of said tip 45 passes over the confronting edge of said button-head3l. The various hinge pins for the several elements 5-8 inclusive are each designated 46.

Having outlined the structural features of my improved multiple or four-knuckle collapsible bracket support it will be readily understood the same is readily attached to the shelf or seat 23, as well as to the wall [5, by passing a screw-driver through the slots 36, 3B for manipulation of the respective screws 21, I6 and 22. It will also be obvious that to let down the shelf or seat 23, into the collapsed position of Fig. 1, all that is needful is to release the catch button-head 31 from coaction with the pad tip 45, in an obvious manner.

Incidental to the inherent stability of my improved bracket or support it is, obviously usable as a single unit attachment whereas, heretofore, two such units were needed in connection with long shelves or table flaps. Furthermore, by use of one of my units in the center of a long shelf or table flap with two ordinary hinges at the ends thereof, in alignment with the knuckle I 8, said shelf or flap will be rigidly supported. In addition the bracket or support disclosed is extremely useful for installing saddle seats in automobiles, at the back of the front seat, each such saddle seat needing but one of my improvedv brackets or supports to adequately stabilize said seat and thereby afford comfortable riding for a child placed thereon.

Fromthe foregoing it is felt the merits and advantages of my invention will be clearly understood, and While I have shown and described a' preferred construction, the same is by way of illustration only and I consider as my own all such modifications as fairly come within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A self-aligning collapsible bracket comprising inter-connected knuckle-jointed consecutive components, :an adjoining pair of which respectively serve as the attaching element and as the support for a fold-down shelf or seat, and the other pair of said components jointly constituting the brace therefor; a retractable spring biased sliding catch carried by one of the last mentioned components and operative to engage an outset projection from the other of said components to rigidly interlock them when in aligned extension; and means effective to cover the knuckle joint articulating the first mentioned adjoining pair of the bracket components.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the lower brace component consists of a sheet metal element embodying a medially located knuckle at each end respectively for operative coaction with the registerable knuckles of the bracket attaching element and the associated upper brace component; wherein said lower brace component includes laterally-spaced, and medially-located slots respectively of greater and lesser length;

and wherein said lower component further includes a centrally located hole proximate one of its knuckles for seeurement therein of a suitable spring anchorage.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the upper brace component consists of a sheet metal element embodying a medially located knuckle at one end for operative coaction with the relatively-inclined spaced knuckles of the seat or shelf supporting component; knuckles at the other end of the brace component aforesaid similarly coact with the registerable knuckle of the lower brace component; and wherein said upper brace component includes laterally spaced slots with a partially intervening pad or tongue having its tip adapted for snap engagement with the bracket brace catch means.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the catch means comprise a shank having a button-head at one end and a spaced base defining therewith an intervening neck; wherein a grooved sheave is rigidly attached to the shank end; wherein a suitable spring in compression attached to the lower brace component includes an indent, seating in the neck of the headed-member, normally forces the catch meansinto snap engagement with the tip of an extension tongue on the upper brace component whereby the bracket brace as a whole is maintained rigid when in active posiprojection on the other braced component ex-- tending beyond the knuckle joint which connects the two components, and a circumferentially grooved enlargement at the opposite end of the shank; and wherein the biasing spring is in the form of a wire loop having indentations at diametrically opposite points, one to engage within the circumferential groove of the enlargement on the stud shank, and the other to engage a fixed anchorage stud on the first mentioned brace component in line with, but spaced from the guide slot aforesaid.

' 6. A collapsible brace bracket for a fold down shelf or seat hingedly connected to an upright surface, said bracket comprising a pair of knuckle jointed components whereof the distal wherein spaced 5 ends are pivotally connected to the shelf or seat and to the wall surface respectively beyond the hinge axis; a stop extension projecting from one of the components beyond the knuckle joint into engagement with one side of the other component to determine alignment of the two components when extended; and a retractable spring biased slide catch constrained to movement longitudinally of the last mentioned component and adapted to engage over the stop extension of the first mentioned component as and for the purpose described.

ALFRED B. BELL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 372,215 Gage Oct. 25, 1887 408,967 Garretson Aug. 13, 1889 485,589 Ravenel et a1 Nov. 1, 1892 772,293 Reese Oct. 11, 1904 1,102,480 Davis July 7, 1914 2,038,143 Swanson Apr. 21, 1936 2,069,067 Hoffman Jan. 26, 1937 2,249,403 Stollsteimer Jul. 15, 1941