US2593471A - Foldable serving table - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1952 B. MAYER 2,593,471

FOLDABLE SERVING TA1-BLE Filed May 21, 1946 227 2 1 54 44 14 f 4/3 if 1o 45 '3.56.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 'P/TENT OFFICE 2,593,411;- romanesA sERvINGffrABLE f Bruno, Mayer., eW-Ylfk N Y'. Application Mayen 1era-serials@ 671,312

This invention relates to foldable servingwagons or tables wherein the top-of; the wagon ortabl'e may be used as amanually-transported; tray Whenxdesired, the supporting legs therefor-being foldable to, extend belowor to. underlie-the tray.

' when; it isbeing so carried.

It has heretofore been proposedrto construct foldableserving devices or conveyancesfzadapted forsconversion into :ser-ving trays,v To thilsiend,` theV legs of such devices were arranged to .bemanipulated to causel them to .be swung against the underside ofV the device` or table. y j

It:I is also known to have said legshinged and spring-actuated and to release saidlegs totherebywmdve thev same. from one positiontoanother position.k

These knownk constructions, however, didiinot corrkply` withthe, practical` requirementsl which o ften necessitated,thaty the legs of the device` or table had to be. lengthened or shortened toad. Justthe height .of Athe table y relatively. to :chairs orito other pieces offurniture.l

The present invention overcomes. these.. and` other disadvantages and has as oneA of `vits? objects the provision of vmeans facilitatngfthecexf tension of the-legsof Athe wagongor tablefromg; above the-topk thereof, Y

Another object of theinvention4 is tov ,prcvide means .permitting the operation of ya3mechanismfor causing extensionof-the legs, aswell-as for swinging the legs vwhen the salmeyare retracted.y to a position underneath the top-of the-table which forms a tray or the like.

A, further object of thisV invention is to providermeans forrotatng or moving an accessory.imple,-v ment associated with the tray. relative1ytosaid traywhen the wagon or table is in operativen()-` sition and preventing movementv or,k d isplacementy of said implement when said wagon isin .inopera-v tivev position or is converted intoa serving,trV

Still another object of the invention is'tqprogvide a servingtable with foldablelegsandjmeans for. holding said legs ineither foldedorext ed position,y the'lattermeans includingv ai; |whichis controlled by a manually movable `V'sli ing element.

Yet, afurtheri object of the inventionref "des` in, the provision of .extensibleV legsfcomposedloi ltelescopic elements, andlockingmeansfor-holdingsaid elements.v in any adjusted relation. said; locking means being suitably coupledgtqandgcontrollecl` byD movement`y of; the sliding-fv element, whereby movement.: of: salgas dias-f element f free;V the; locking; means; for th sections A on thek onf-w cih folding of the. legs is facilitated;

in;table-supporting` position,` the movement o said sliding element rstpermitting telescopic movement of the leg sections to shortened positionfand, then permitting the legs in such shorty, enedppsition tovbe swungnflatwisely against the undersidey o f, the ytray portion of the table or wagQIl.

With the v above andvv other objects in view which willappearasthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combihereinaiterfdescribed. and more particularly denedby theappendedrclaims, itbelngrunderstood tliatsuch V changes in- ,the `precise embodiment Aof th h, eindisclosed invention may be made as 1 thinthe-sope of the claims.

Ingthefaccompanying drawing which discloses a, preferred Vembodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view looking at the underside of the tablemith the legs thereof lin folded position;

Fig-Alisa sectional viewof Fig. l, taken on line Z--Zand'ylookingintheA direction of the arrows;

Eigfdis, asectional view through one end of the table showingone pair of legs inthe act of being folded;

isa sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofjFig 2,1-andglooking in the direction of the arrows.

Eig. 5;-isa. detailview olone of the operating locatedat the ends of the table, by means Eiggjs `aview of `a similar slide having a modiliedformpfA aperture bymeans of which thereleaseffof theglocking means for the telescopic` elements@ thelessfissecuredi- Fig.7 a, sectional view along line T-'l of Fig. 6=and1looking in the directiOIl` of the arrows;

A.itis aviewsimilaruto that ofrFig. 7, disclosing a modi i ied form of releasemechanism.`

With reference to thedrawing, there is shown innig. 1` the top-` of theltabie lo which, underV certain conditions, and while the legs of the table/are in Afolded position, will act as a serving` tray. Acircumferential wall Il extends around extendinggskirt portion I2 formingan enclosure lntovrwhich the vlegs may be lfolded and sub-` stantially concealed from view, as Will be hereinafter described.

ff to` divideit. into compartments for holding various nationvhandarrangement of parts substantially as the ,sides of top I0 `Which'wall has a downwardly.

Atja substantially centralposition. top l0 ofthe articles, such as bottles of beverages, food or the like. The turntable I3 carries a central axle |5 which rotates in top I0 of the table or in a suitable bearing provided therein so that the aforesaid articles may be moved relatively to the remainder of top l and objects placed on the latter. Secured on axle I below the bottom of top I0 is a spider I6 having several radiallyextending arms |1 adapted to be engaged by the legs of the table when the legs are in folded position, as shown in Fig. l, at which time the table is being used as a serving tray and carried around by a person while the turntable or rotary tray I3 is prevented from rotative movement.

The table is provided with two pairs of legs I8, |9, respectively. The pair of legs |9 is spaced wider apart than the pair of legs I8 so that the latter pair, when folded, will lie between the pair |9, as it is clearly seen in Fig. 1. The construction of each pair of legs and its attachment to the table is similar and therefore the description of one pair of legs, say, I9, will suflice for both.

The pair of legs I9 is connected at the top by the cross piece 20, which is hinged at 2| to a transversely extending reinforcing piece 22 secured to the underside of the table top |U. Each leg of the pair of legs I9 is composed of a pair of tubular telescoping elements or sections, the fixed or upper section of-each leg being shown atv 23. The upper end of each of the fixed leg sections 23 is secured in the cross piece 20 by means of the straps 24 which, in turn. areattached to the leg section 23 and to the cross piece by means of screws 25a or similar fastening means. Through this arrangement, fixed leg sections 23 are securedly affixed to cross piece 20 and project therefrom, as clearly-shown in the drawing.

The movable or adjustable section of each leg is indicated at 2'5, the same being adapted to telescope into or out of the fixed leg section 23 to a selected extent and t0 be maintained in any predetermined position of 'projected adjustment, as will be hereinafter described.

The slidable or movable leg section 25 is formed with a plurality of spaced holes or apertures 26, any one of which is adapted to be selectively engaged by a` pin 21, projecting laterally from the end of a lengthy lever 28 which extends downwardly through the telescoped leg sections or elements 23 and 25. Pin 21 projects through a hole 26 in the movable leg section and when further extended through hole 29 aligned with, say, 26a, it Will be clear that the movable leg section can beheld in its retracted position.

Each of the levers 28 is pivoted in a bracket 30 located within the upper portion of the fixed leg section 23. The upper end of the lever 28 for one of the legs I9 beyond the pivot is secured to one end of a link or adjustable cable 3| extending through a passage 32 into the cross'piece 20 and having its opposite end secured to one end of a lever 33. The companion leg I9 has its lever 28 attached to a link 3|a, the end'of which is attached at 34 to the second endy of lever 33. Lever 33 is attached to a pin 35 which is pivotally mounted in the cross piece 20. Also attached to pin 35 is one end of a bell-crank shaped lever 36 having its opposite end provided with a laterally extending pin 31 which enters an inclined slot 38 formed in a slot 39 which is mounted to slide through a slot 40 formed in the angularly bent end of a shield or guide end portion of leaf 5|.

4 plate 46. This plate 46 is attached by the screws 41 to an end face of the cross piece 20.

The arrangement is such that when the bellcrank lever 36 is moved in the proper direction, it will pivot the lever 33 about pin 35, causing the same to exert a pull on the two links or cables 3| and 3Ia with the result that levers 28 will be swung on their pivots to cause them to draw their pins 21 out of the holes 26a and 29 to permit extension of the movable leg sections 25 with respect to the fixed leg sections 23 in which they are disposed.

Near the points of connection of levers 28 to links 3| and 3|a are provided springs 48 which normally tend to hold levers 28 in a position wherein pins 21 thereon are in engagement with respective holes 26.

A stop pin 49 is located within each of springs 48, the same serving to limit movement of the levers 28 toward release position and thereby preventing jamming or sticking of the levers within the hollow leg sections.

The means for maintaining the legs in either extended table-supporting or folded positions consists of a hinge-like member 50 having a guide leaf 5| formed with a forward end 52 normally locking or abutting against the front of lower portion 53 of plate 46. Lower portion 53 of this plate projects slightly below the cross piece 20 to be thereby readily engageable with the The engagement of the lower end portion 53 of plate 46 with and along leaf I5| occurs when the legs are to be swung underneath the table or tray. Slide 39 is provided at the top with a cylindrical handle portion 54 which may be readily engaged by the fingers of a person to depress slide 39 and when this is done an angular foot portion 55 on the lower end of the slide will engage leaf 5| and depress it (Fig. 3) against the pull of a spring 56 which connects leaf 5| to the end of a companion leaf 51 secured to a cross member 58 on the bottom of the tray.

When leaf 5I is depressed it will be observed that the end 52 of the leaf is shifted for engagement with and below the lower end 53 of plate 46 and thus, when the two slides 39 controlling the two pairs of legs I8 and I9, are downwardly depressed, the legs will be free to be manually swung inwardly to folded position and to overlie the bottom surface of table top IU.

When the legs are disposed in said folded position, it will be seen that the same bear against arms |1 of spider |6 and act to prevent rotative movement of the turntable or rotary tray |3. Thus,while the table is being used as a serving tray, and is being carried by handles 59 located at the opposite end of the tray or table, and with the legs of the table in folded position, the turntable I3 will be prevented from rotative movement.

When the legs are folded they will be held in such position by pressure of leaves 5| against the outer face of each of the plates 46, as noted in Fig. 1. To open the legs, plates 39 are swung by means of handles 54 in the direction of arrow A, this serving to swing the legs to table supporting position and bringing the ends of leaves 5| into locking engagement with the plate ends 53 (Fig. 2) to hold the legs in such table supporting position.

The angular disposition of each of the slots 38 in slides 39 is such that when slides 39 are depressed, pins 31 will be shifted arcuately as shown by the dot-dash line in Fig. 5, this movement assaggi" tending.; to? swing'f niev beltcrankasf and" causeV pivotalfzmovementf'of"lever33` which results in freeing piris121f from* holes 26a* and 29- in the lleg sections.; 'I'hefresultis that when' slides 39V are depressed;jz-thefl depressing movementof these slideslwill also'servev to free themovable leg sectionsv 25-"sothat` they mayf be telescoped` withinA thelxedxlegi sections 2 31 while :thellegs fare. swung.

tof-supprting position;

Withiv the.: angular; arrangement. of slots 38.V y-twillA befnotedithat Awhen-the ilegs have folding;pjisi'tion.,1.J pressure must.' bei exerted on bellltcran .lever-s 36S; to: freeirf pins;` 21 1 and: permit upwartliv telescopicu sliding:movement',L of'l movable silenced: to tabiesupporting.position and. iflfitiwill l then `be necessary to. swing the: legs. to

le'gelements125iwithintheir outer sections 23 y tot thereby sec/ure: the.: retracted: position (shown inzfll linesfinflilig. 41).;

In1.other. word"s,...with thiszarrangement the adjustment of tliei length. of ther legs must be achievedbyfoperation ofthe bell-cranks36 after tlieflegsfhave been unfolded. Withanarrangementias'vshownain Figs. 6 and '7,.the'a freeing. of pinsx] f ro'maholes:26a` and-2i)v cany also be. secured independently of. the swinging `of. the legs toafopen position; It will'bevnoted. that in this embodiment pin 31 is operative in a substantially triangularslot in slide-'39, and thatsa-id pin ispiprovidedrwithza-nger piece 6I. Whenit is desiredi tofsw'ingthe'legsf to extended or` table supportingposition,.and at thesame time free theistelescopjeielements of the legs, ringer pieces 6l may; bef engaged. tot swing thev bell-crank levers -andl`cause freeing of pins 21.

A't.` the'l same:` time as the legs swing to openv 'slidingumovementof the. movable leg elements andi prey nts separationof 'the same from' the ced secons. within..which. they are slidable. Casters @dorfother suitable wheels may be provided atlthe ends of the movable leg elements and ea'chpair `of legs may befconnected by the cross brace#` 65".'

From the foregoing, the operation of the device will be clearly understood. In Fig. 4 it is shown, that the legs for use in connection with a serving table are in open or supporting position. A Should it be desired at any time while the legs `'are in said supporting position, to increase or decrease the length of the legs, this may be done by pressing both slides 39 slightly downwardly (Fig. 5) during a predetermined length of stroke or by actuation of handles 6I (Figs. 6 and 7) until pins 21 are freed from the holes 26a, 29 (Fig. 4) and the table may then be raised ,to allow the movable leg elements to" drop and extend (or again to retract, ras the case may be) as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 4.

When it is desired to use the device as a tray, slides 39 are depressed by means of handles 54, thus first permitting the leg extensions to be telescoped and retracted (until pins 21 again ward each othertov folded positionI (Figyfl).

This will disposek the legsin'- positionwhere they.` will bev concealed-by the skirtfportion: I2 'ofithe table end, when folded, thel legs'i will. engage.y againstarms l1 of' spider: I6an'd impedethere by the movement of?? turntable- I 3.

Fig. 8 illustrates" a fragmentary "sectional viewI of a' modified formi-asitis applicable: to. thei-rei lease Y mechanism.. Hand lever-l" 1Uv is "guided byiA means of a boltl Irwithrin openingg13 ofithesslide: 39. Lever 10 is pivoted'at114 onifaluglor similariy bearing of slide 39.. When .leverf'10- actuated'. in the direction of arrow C4 a'gainstthe;actionY` of coil.` spring 12 which. isseatedonboltzll; the lever end 15 will'engage pin 31.andLcauserdowruV ward movement of saidpin31 tothereby. actuator lever 36 for the release of the pins-21. Thus;v adjustment of the height ofthe table legs maybe; had independently.A of slide 39. Slide 39fmay;V however, also be employed (by pressing .the sameat 54 in the direction'of arrowfB) to causerfoni the one hand actuation of the pins 21 which,.asy

hereinabove explained, are operativelyA connected through levers 36 andrpins 31 to slide 39, andonf the the other handactuation of the1leaves:5| for? the purpose of first retracting and then folding.; the legs I8-I9 below the tabletop.

It will thus be seen thatthere-has been-provided by this invention a device of the character describedin which the various objects hereinabove set forthtogether with many thoroughly. practical advantages, are successfully` achieved.-

As many possible embodiments'may be vmade'- of the above invention,` and as' many changes might ybel made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood tha-t1 all matters. hereinbefore set forth or shown inuthe accom-,- panying drawing, areto be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting` sense.

Having thus described the invention, what-is`- claimed as new anddesired to be securedby Lets ters Patent is:

l. In a table structurer of the character: deev scribed; a table top having two pairs of. legs. hingedly. attached at its underface, eachpair'oflegs being attached, respectively, to a cross-piece; spring supported means disposed at a respectivel cross-piece and includingslidableA means; each leg including at least twosections, said sections being adjustable to each other to change the:eiY fective length of said legs,.locking means engage-- able with saidleg sections in .adjusted relation'of the latter, and means coupling said leg locking means with said slidable means of said spring supported means whereby movement of said slidable means against said spring supported means will permit swinging movement of said legs and cause release of said leg locking means.

2. In a table structure, a table top having handles by which it can be carried and used as a tray, legs swingably attached to said table top, said legs including each a section telescopically extensible in relation to each of the remainder of said legs so as to regulate the effective length of said legs, said sections of said legs having predetermined holes, locking means disposed within said legs for selective engagement with said holes in said sections to hold said sections in xed relation, slidable means actuatable to facilitate Swinging movement of said legs relatively to said table top, said slidable means being operatively connected with said locking means for engaging said holes in said legs whereby said sections of said legs will be released for movement upon operation of said slidable means.

3. A table of the character described comprising a table plate having an upper surface for supporting articles thereon and an underface, pairs of legs disposed at opposed ends of said underface, respective leg extensions engaging said pairs of legs to change the length of the latter, a cross piece interconnecting each pair of legs, hinge means swingably connecting said cross pieces to said table underface, a mechanism positioned atl each of said opposed ends for actuating said pairs of legs, respectively, so that said pairs of legs assume, respectively, table-supporting position and folded position in which latter position said legs extend below said table plate in substantially lengthwise direction of said underface, each mechanism comprising a slide, a guide plate fixed to the respective cross piece and provided with a slot for guiding said slide into a predetermined position, spring means arranged at the underface of said table plate and including a leaf member engaging. under the action of said spring means said guide plate so as to lock each pair of legs in said table-supporting position, lever means operatively connected to said leg extensions for releasing the latter for adjustment relatively to said pairs of legs, and means positioned adjacent said slide and adapted to actuate said operatively connected means, said slide being adapted in said predetermined position to bring about disengagement of said leaf member from said guide plate to free the latter and to permit said pair of legs to swing to said folded position below said underface of said table plate.

4. A table of the character described comprising a 4table plate having an upper surface for supporting articles thereon and an underface, pairs of legs disposed at opposed ends of said underface, respective leg extensions engaging said pairs of legs to facilitate adjustment of length of the latter, a cross piece interconnecting each pair of legs, respective hinge means swingably attaching said cross pieces to said table plate at its underface, a mechanism positioned at each of said opposed ends for actuating said pairs of legs, respectively, so that said pairs of legs assume, respectively, table-supporting position and folded position in which latter position said legs extend below said table plate insubstantially lengthwise direction of said undersurface, each mechanism comprising a slide, a guide plate xed to the respective cross piece and provided with a slot for 5o guiding said slide into a predetermined position,

spring means arranged at the underface of said table plate and including a leaf member engaging said guide plate s0 as to lock each pair of legs in said table-supporting position, lever means operatively connected* to said leg extensions whereby the latter may be released for adjustment relatively to said pairs of legs, and means controlled by said slide and adapted to actuate said operatively connected means, said slide being adapted to said predetermined position to bring about disengagement of said leaf member from said guide plate to free the latter and to permit said pair of legs to swing to said folded position below said underface of said table plate.

5. In a table structure, a table top having legs swingably arranged thereon and foldable beneath it, said legs being provided with telescopic sections to extend said legs in lengthwise direction of said legs, means releasably holding said legs in either of two positions, respectively, and relatively to said table top, means for locking said telescopic sections of said legs in predetermined position lengthwise of said legs and slidable means arranged to operate said leg holding means and simultaneously said locking means, whereby said locking means will be freed upon release of said leg holding means to one of said two positions.

6. In a table structure according to claim 5, wherein a portion of said leg holding means normally extends at an angle to said slidabe means, each of said leg locking means being provided with an element engageable with said leg sections, said element being operatively connected to said slidable means and caused to be moved relatively to said leg sections lupon movement of said slidable means against said ing means. s

BRUNO MAYER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 493,111 Parsons Mar. 7, 1893 1,354,755 Ferrell Oct. 5, 1920 1,494,893 Fisher May 20, 1924 1,576,455 Parker Mar. 9, 1926 1,667,080 Y Ramsey Apr. 24, 1928 2,284,304 Shoop et al May 26, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS l Number Country 4 Date 380,016 Great Britain Sept. 8,-1932 portion of said leg hold-lv

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