US2666682A - Folding table with cross legs - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19', 1954 MCCORMICK 2,666,682

FOLDING TABLE WITH CROSS-LEGS Filed July 10, 1950 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 19 1954 FOLDING TABLE WI'I H CROSS LEGS Morris D. McCormick, Muncie, Ind., assignor to McCormick Brothers Company, Albany,lnd., a corporation of Indiana Application July 10, 1950, Serial No. 172,807

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-83) This invention relates to furniture and parsigns of tables of this character have heretofore been suggested and placed in use. In accordance with the present invention a table is provided in which the effective table top comprises a rectangular sheet of thin gauge metal and the foldable table top supporting means includes as one of its principal elements a table top engaging frame, two parallel terminal strips or margins of the table top being curved downwardly and around two parallel members of this supporting frame and thetop. and foldable supporting means being thus permanently connected in a simple but thoroughly effective manner. Those portions ofthe table top engaging and stiffening frame of the foldable supporting means which are encircled by the curved margins of the top comprise stifiening elements after such assembly has been effected, making it possible to utilize, in forming the top, a relatively light weight sheet of metal the resulting top having, however, sufficient mechanical strength for all ordinary purposes. Likewise the two remaining portions of the top engaging frame which directly'contact with the undersurface of the top, serve to support the top and hold it against downward flexure, the net result being that a table of very great strength-but of light weight is obtained.

In the accompanying drawings one embodivment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that, without departure from the invention, minor changes in the design and arrangement of its several elements may be effected.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a similar view, the parts of the foldable supporting means being shown in the positions which they occupy when the table as an entirety is suspended by its top;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the table, the supporting means being shown-in folded condition; and

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

ticularly to folding tables of small size and light The table top I6 is preferably rectangular and, as heretofore stated, is fabricated of light gauge sheet metal, attractively painted, enameled or otherwise coated. Its margins are preferably turned downwardly and inwardly to constitute stiffening beads and two of these margins, disposed at its opposite ends, comprise means for securing the table top to the foldable support, as will hereinafter be made clear. Thus the foldable support for the table includes as one of its principal members a rectangular frame ll of heavy Wire or like material, the width of this frame being somewhat less than the width of the table top it but the length thereof being substantially the same as that of the table top. Parallel end elements H a and Ho of the frame i i are encircled by the downwardly and inwardly curved margins ltd and lllb of the top l0, as most clearly shown in Figure 6, this frame thus being securely attached to the top It and the end edges of the top being substantially stiffened by the elements He and Elb.

The longitudinally extending elements I la and i Id of the frame H are disposed parallel to each other and directly underlie and engage the lower surface of the table top, comprising. longitudinally extending top supporting members as well as functioning as elements to which the folding legs of the support are attached.

The folding support comprises, in addition to frame I l, two generally rectangular frame-like legs 12 and I3 each having a floor engaging portion slightly wider than the table top engaging and supporting frame H, and two parallel elongated portions adapted to transmit, when the table is erected and in operative position, the weight of the topand articles supported thereon to the floor or ground engaging portion. This last mentioned portion of the leg member I2 is indicated at l2a and the corresponding element of the leg member I3 is indicated at I3a. The elongated upright elements of the leg members are indicated at I21? and I20 and I3?) and I30 respectively. To one of these leg members is welded or otherwise firmly attached a crossbrace l5 and the ends of this cross-brace l5 pass through and are rotatably retained within loops or eyelet members [6 and i1 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the second leg member, the result being that the two leg members 12 and I3 may be relatively rotated about the axis of the cross-brace i5 from the positions in which they are shown in Figure 1 of the drawings into substantial parallelism with each other, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

The upper ends of the upright elements 121) and 120 of the leg member I2 are inturned, likewise the upper ends of the upright leg elements I31) and E30 of the second leg member, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The inturned upper ends of elements 12b and [20, which ends are indicated at lid and 12e, respectively, are adapted to slide longitudinally of theparallelside members l 10 and I Id of the table top supporting frame I i, from the position in which one of these members is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings; when the table supporting means isfully folded, to the position in which this member is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, member He comprise ing a top guide for the inturned endv He'during;

such movement, the bottom guide, cooperating with element I l c in constraining end We to move in a path parallel to the table top, two such guides, indicated at l8 and I9, being provided.

The ends of each such guide are welded to the ss ci d e memb s of the frame the guard being thus rely fastened in position At one end each guard i8 is provided with .de-. pending looped portion lilaand at the other end with an eye till), the inturnedends I311 and We of the leg elements. I31) and 13c, respectively, passing through alignedeyes i813 and 1919, within which these portions may freely rotate, the leg element 13 thus being connected to the frame ii for swinging movement about an axis passing through the loop members l$b and. I92). As one of the leg members is pivoted for swinging movement about an axis fiXfid with respect to the top and the second is mounted for. rotation about the axis of the cross-brace [5, the two leg members may be moved into parallelism or folded position or disposed angularly with respect to each other, as indicated in Figure l, to support the table top in a generally horizontal plane. When the table is unfolded or erected the inturned ends l2d and 12c of the leg member i2 will be positioned as shown in Figure 2, the table top being supported in a sturdy manner so as to be able to bear substantial burdens.

It is desirable that the table be; so designed that it may be readily lifted by its top and moved from place to place without causing collapse of the supporting structure. This is easily. possible, the bearer of the table picking it up by its ends as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 3, the inturned ends 82d and l2e of the leg element {2; dropping downwardly into the. oops- I8a and its of the guard members 18 and [9 respectively, the leg member l2 being thus locked against accidental rotation about cross-brace 1.5 during theoarrying operation. Then, when the table is again lowered to the supporting floor there will be no collapse orshifting ofthe-supporting elements.

Preferably the foldable supporting means is formed of heavy wire and the wires are welded to each other. The table top It, as previously explained, may conveniently be fabricated of metal of light weight or thin gauge and the table as an entirety is light in weight, attractive in appearance, and may easily be fabricated at relatively'low cost.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1.. A folding table comprising a rectangular top of light gauge sheet metal and a collapsible support therefor, said support including a rectangu- 1 lar frame and rectangular legs attached thereto for bodily movement about an axis fixed with respect to said frame and relative angular movement about an axis movable toward and away 1 frame. for swingingmovement about an axis fixed MORRIS'D. MCQORMICK.

References Cited in the-file Of' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number:

Name Date 6.0.6.845 Simmons July 5, 189.8 1,313,662. Armstrong Aug. 19, 1919 2,029,434. Mitchell Feb. l, 19.36 2,114,912 Cox Apr. 19., 15333 2,288,737 Page July 7, 1942 2,516,933 Wallance. Aug. 1, 1950 2,540,875 Genge Feb. 6, 19.51

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