US2622951A - Adjustable drawing table - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1952 L SAUTEREAU 2,622,951

ADJUSTABLE DRAWNG TABLE Filed April 14, 1949 lul k Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 14, 1949, Serial No. 87,479 In France April 30, 1948 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to drawing tables.

More particularly, the present invention relates to adjustable drawing tables where the table is tiltable about a horizontal axis.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for releasably locking a drawing table in an adjusted position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an effective and convenient means for actuating a device for releasably locking a drawing table in an adjusted position. i

Another object of the present invention is to construct a locking mechanism of the above type from relatively few, simple, rugged parts.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of a drawing table having a supporting frame which includes a pair of mutually spaced uprights. A bar extends through these uprights adjacent to the top ends thereof and is axially movable with respect to these uprights. A pair of link members are turnably mounted on the bar for rotation about the axis thereof, and the drawing table top is fixed to these link members. A plurality of friction plates are located between the link members and uprights with a first set of friction plates fixed to the uprights and a second set or" friction plates, respectively located between each pair of adjacent plates of the rst set, being turnably mounted on the bar and fixed to the link members for turning movement therewith about the bar. A clamping means is operatively connected to the uprights and bar for moving the same with respect to each other so as t move the uprights toward the link members to clamp the friction plates to each other and thereby lock the table top, in a desired angular position, on the uprights.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claim. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantage thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a partly diagrammatic side view of a drawing table constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partly diagrammatic front view of the drawing table of Fig. l, showing the table top in dot-dash lines so as to clearly indicate the structure behind the table top; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a detail of the table of Fig. 2, taken along line III--III of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown therein a table top I which is carried by a parallel linkage 2 turnably mounted on a transverse bar 3 carried by uprights il. The linkages 2 are located on the bar 3 between and respectively adjacent to the uprights as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The bar 3 extends through openings in the uprights 13. and is axially movable with respect to the same. A counterweight 5 is carried on extensions of each of the linkages 2 and balances the weight of the table top I so that the latter is easy to tilt.

In accordance with the present invention, each of the uprights It is carried at its lower end by a base member 6 which is pivotally connected to its respective upright by a pivot pin l, As is shown most clearly in Fig. i, four openings 8 are located in the base members 6 and aligned with four similar openings in the uprights 4, the pivot l being located at the center of a square whose corners coincide with the four openings 8. Thus, the base members t, by removing and replacing suitable bolts and nuts in the openings `8, may each be located either in the operative position shown in Fig. l or in a folded position at from the position shown in Fig. 1 where the base members l extend parallel to the uprights 4.

ln order to reieasably lock the table top in a desired adjusted position, there are located between each linkage 2 and the adjacent upright I3 two groups of friction plates 9 and I 9. As is most clearly shown in Fig. 3, the friction plates 9 and I l) are formed with openings l i through which the bar 3 passes, the plates I0 extending in one angular direction, and the plates 9 extending in a different angular direction. These plates 9 and I9 are alternately arranged so that each plate 9 is located between a pair of plates i9 and each plate i9 is located between a pair of plates 9, except, of course. the plates at the ends of the series.

At their outer free ends the plates 9 are each formed with an opening I3, and a pin l5 xed to an upright l passes through the aligned openings I3 so that the plates 9 remain stationary with respect to the uprights d. The plates I9 are each formed with an opening I4, and a pin I 6 xed to a linkage 2 extends through the aligned openings I4 of the plates I9 so that these plates turn with the linkages 2 about the bar 3.

As was mentioned above, the bar 3 is axially movable on the uprights 4. At its left end, as viewed in Fig. 2, the bar 3 is threaded and carries a nut il which abuts against the left upright of Fig. 2. At its right end, as viewed in Fig. 2, the bar 3 is pivotally connected to the link I8 of a toggle joint whose other link I9 is pivotally conneeted to the right upright 4 of Fig. 2. The ends of the links I8 and I9 which are connected together are also connected to the upper end of a vertically extending rod 20 which at its lower end is connected by pivot pin 2| (Fig. 1) to the right end, as viewed in Fig. 1, of a control lever 22 which is pivotally mounted on a base member '6 by a pivot pin 23, as shown in Fig. 1. It is apparent that when the lever 22 is turned about its pivot 23 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the rod 20 will move up and move both of the links i8 and 9 to a substantially horizontal position so as to cause the uprights 4 to be pushed toward each other. This action presses the fri-ction plates together so as to lock the table top in a desired adjusted position. By turning the control lever 22 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the pressure between the friction plates El and l0 is released, and the table top may then be tilted to another position. By reason of their number, the friction between each pair of abutting plates 9 and ii! is considerably multiplied, so that even if a relatively small force is applied to lock the table in an adjusted position, it will still remain rmly locked. It should be noted that the parts are so chosen and arranged that when the table top is locked the pivot 2E is in alignment with the pivot pins l'.

When the drawing table is not in use, it may be folded up by locating the table top l as close as possible to the uprights i and locking it in this position in the manner described above. The base member E may then be turned to a position 90 from that shown in Fig. 1, in the manner described above, and since the pivot pin 2| is aligned with the pins l, this pivot pin 2| does not prevent such turning of the base member 6 on which the control lever 22 is turnably mounted. The bolts may then be replaced in the openings 8. It is thus seen that the table of the present invention requires but little space in its folded position.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of drawing tables differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in adjustable drawing tables, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made Without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and. therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be ccmprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claim.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A drawing table, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame having a pair of mutually spaced uprights; a bar extending through said uprights adjacent the upper ends thereof and being axially movable with respect to said uprights; a pair of link members mounted on said bar for turning movement about the axis thereof; a table top xedly connected to said link members; a plurality of first friction plates xed to said uprights and mounted on said bar between said uprights and link members; a plurality of second friction plates respectively located between pairs of adjacent first friction plates, being mounted on said bar for turning movement thereabout, and being connected to said link members for turning movement therewith; and clamping means operatively connected to said uprights and bar for moving the same with respect to each other so as to move said uprights toward said link members to clamp said friction plates to each other and thereby lock said table top in a desired angular position on said uprights.

LUCIEN SAUTEREAU.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 522,593 Jones July 10, 1894 971,081 Schnorr Sept. 27, 1910 1,184,594 v'Jan Nagy May 23, 1916 1,373,473 Weydell Apr. 5, 1921 1,925,087 Andreu Sept. 5, 1933 2,452,216 Yarber Oct. 26, 1948 2,539,720 Pieper Jan. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 465,576 Great Britain i-iay 10, 1937 237,199 France Feb. 6, 1943 247,735 France Mar. 31, 1947

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