US2683944A

US2683944A - Adjustable ironing board

Info

Publication number: US2683944A
Application number: US53037A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kiel John Ripley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-10-06
Filing date: 1948-10-06
Publication date: 1954-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-20

Description

July 20, 1954 J. R. KIEL ADJUSTABLE IRONING BOARD 5 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

July 20, 1954 J. R. KlEL 2,683,944

ADJUSTABLE IRONING BOARD Filed Nov. 6, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOB.

July 20, 1954 J. R. KlEL 2,683,944

ADJUSTABLE IRONING BOARD Filed Nov. 6, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w agga/0 V F .25 /Z \\/Z /3 I j" y 0, 1954 J. R. KIEL ADJUSTABLE IRONING BOARD INVENTOR, WM

y 1954 J. R. KlEL ADJUSTABLE IRONING BOARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 6, 194a Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE IRONING BOARD John Ripley Kiel, Wilmette, 111.

Application October 6, 1948, Serial No. 53,037

9 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with ironing boards of the vertically adjustable type.

The-principal object of the invention is to provide, in an ironing board of the type described, a supporting leg structure of new and improved construction, arrangement andoperation, which leg structure is expansible from a collapsed positionagainst the underside of the-board to ,a partially or fully extended position beneath the board, therebyenabling the board to be set up at whatever height is most convenient to the user in either a standing or sitting position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and operation of the new leg structure.

One embodiment .of the invention is presented herein by way of exemplification but it will be evident that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in various otherstructurallymodified forms coming equally within the .scope of the a pended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an ironing board equipped with a leg structure constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the leg structure in a more or less fully extendedor stand-mp position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the board, with the leg structure in the extended position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the board, showing the leg structure in but partially extended or sitdown position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the board and leg structure, in the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is another bottom plan view, showing the leg structure fully collapsed against the underside of the board;

Fig. 6 is a front end View of the board, with the leg structure more or less fully extended as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a corresponding rear end View;

Fig. 8 is a front end View of the board With the leg structure but partially extended as shown in Fig. 3;

i 9 is a corre pondin roa cud view;

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section through h fron lee;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the lower end of the iltont leg, taken on p x ma ly the line ,i l. ll of Fig. 19;

Fi I2 is an en a e fragmentary vertical secti thro an inte mediate portion of the front leg, at the location of the releasable clutch members which control the paying out of the tie members connecting the lower end of the front leg with the lower ends of the sidelegs;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the above mentioned clutch members, taken on approximately the line I3l 3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a transverse section showing such clutch members, taken on approximately the line [4-44 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the operating mechanism mounted on the underside of the board;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the device for automatically preventing the leg structure from fully collapsing except in an up-endedposition of the board;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary bottom plan'view of the manually releasable rack and pawl device for holding the leg structure in any desired position of adjustment; and

Fig. 18 is a section through the tube which pivotally connects the three crossed legs intermediate their ends.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the new leg structure which constitutes the subject matter of the invention is shownapplied to the underside of an ironing board It. Theboard It! may be of conventional design or of any other design, and may, if desired, be provided about its periphery with a short downwardly extending flange or apron, of sufiicient depth to more or less completely house the leg structure in the fully collapsed position of the latter. This flange feature, however, is purely optional and has beenomitted from the drawings in order to permit illustration of those parts which might otherwise be concealed in certain of the views.

The new leg structure is extensible from a collapsed position against the underside of the board to a partially or fully extended supporting position beneath the board, and is characterized primarily by an inclined front leg II which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined rear legs l2 which are disposed at opposite sides of the front leg in medially crossed relation to the latter.

The lower end of the front leg H is connected to the lower ends of the side legs [2 by tie members is. These tie members, which will subsequently be described in more detail, are adapted to extend along the floor between the ends of the legs when the leg structure is extended into a supporting position.

The front leg H is preferably of tubular metal construction and the upper end of the same is hinged on a transverse pivot 14 to a bracket [5 which is secured to the underside of the board at the rear end of the latter. The bracket I5 is of substantial width to afford stability and is hinged to a plate It of generally triangular form which is in turn rigidly secured to the leg I I.

The side legs l2, which are similarly of tubular metal construction, are hinged at their upper ends to individual brackets I1, which brackets are both slidably mounted for movement in arcuate paths on a plate H8. The plate [3 is in turn slidably mounted on a longitudinally extending track member is. The track member [9 is of downwardly opening channel formation, and is fixedly secured to the underside of the board along the center line of the latter. The sliding connections between the plate is and the brackets i! consist of studs 28 on the brackets H, which extend through and operate in symmetrically arranged arcuate slots 2! in the plate 18.

In the collapsed position of the leg structure the plate 58 assumes a position at the front end of the track member [9, and the hinged and slidably mounted upper ends of the side legs i2 assume spread apart positions at the front ends of the arcuate slots 2 i, all as shown in Fig. 5.

The side legs i2 are curved preferably from end to end, as shown, and are pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the ends of a cross rod 22, which rod also provides a pivotal mounting for the front leg H at the point where the legs cross each other. The side legs H are also connected, at points intermediate their lower ends and the cross rod 22, with an extensible and con tractable cross brace 23, which brace is of collapsible link formation and consists of two side links 2 5 which are pivotally connected with the side legs l2 and a medially offset center link 25 which is pivotally connected with the side links 24. The

links

24 and 25 are extended or collapsed by means of two rods 25, which rods are pivotally connected at their rear ends to the pivotal connections between the links and are pivotally connected at their front ends to downturned cars 21 on the plate Hi.

In the collapsed position of the leg structure the plate 58 is locked against longitudinal sliding movement along the track member I!) by a detent member 28, which member is pivotally secured to the plate is at 29 and is provided with a locking finger so which extends laterally into a recess 3! in one side of the track member ii), the detent member 28 being urged into its locked position by spring 32.

During the first part of the movement of the leg structure from its fully collapsed position the temporarily locked plate is will act through the rods 25 and

links

24 and 25 to progressively spread apart the lower ends of the side legs i2, while the arcuately slidable connections between the plate iii and the brackets I! to which the upper ends of the side legs 12 are hinged will cause the upper ends of such legs to converge rearwardly, thereby further spreading apart the lower ends of the side legs l2.

When the leg structure in being extended reaches a position which corresponds to the lowest sit-down position of the board, a dowel member on one of the side leg brackets i! will enter a complementary socket 34 formed in the other side leg bracket, thereby in effect locking the upper ends of the side legs l2 rigidly together in sidewise abutment. At the same time a hook 35 on the front end of one of the side leg brackets i1 will engage with a lip 36 on the rear end of the detent member 28, swinging the detent member 28 far enough away from the track member 13 to disengage the finger 39 against the action of the spring 32. This engagement of the hook 35 with the lip 36 on the detent member 28 will effectively couple up the plate [8 with the laterally abutting upper ends of the side legs l2, through the anchorage provided by the pivotal connection of the detent member 28 with the plate 58, with the result that further extension of the leg support will cause the plate l8 to travel rearwardly along the track member I9.

At about the same time that the hook 35 engages and pulls the lip 36 the studs 263 in the arcuate slots 2| come into abutment with the rear ends 31 of the slots, thereby additionally anchoring the plate l8 to the upper ends of the side legs i2.

A brace rod 38 is positioned directly above the front leg 5 i. In all extended positions of the leg structure the rod 38 is inclined downwardly and forwardly at a more abrupt angle than the underlying front leg H. The rod 38 is preferably of downwardly opening channel formation in order to nest throughout its length with the front H in the collapsed position of the leg structi The lower end of the rod 38 is pivotally connected at 3& to the lower portion of the front leg ii, while the upper end of the rod 38 is pivotaily connected at 40 to a bracket ti which is slidably mounted on the track member 69 behind the plate l8. The bracket 41 is of downwardly opening U-shaped formation, and has a short lever 42 pivotally attached to one side of the same at 43. One end of the lever 42 is provided with a laterally extending hook 4 which is ted upon rearward movement of the bracket 4i into the lowermost position of adjustment of the board to ride upwardly into and lock with a one-way limiting notch 45 in one of the side flanges of the track [9. The other end of the lever 62 is provided with a weight 46, which weight acts move the hook 44 into the notch when board is disposed in any generally horizontal position, while acting to automatically release 118 hook from the notch and permit further rearward travel of the bracket iii when the board is upended ready for complete collaps ng of the leg structure.

The two members which are adapted to travel longitudinally of the track i9namely, the plate l8 which carries the upper ends of the side legs l2 and the bracket 4| which carries the upper end of the brace rod 33are secured against with-- drawal from the track by having portions thereof disposed between the track and the underside of the board, the track being spaced slightly from the surface of the board for this purpose by a plurality of longitudinally separated spacers 2. The plate 28 is prevented from turning at an angle to the track by downturned lugs at on the front and rear edges of the plate, which lugs bear against the side flanges of the track, while the bracket 4! is prevented from turning by reason of its nested association with the track.

When the structure starts to open up from its collapsed position, the bracket 4!, which will then be in its rear-most position on the track it, will start moving forwardly along the track. As soon as the leg structure has been extended to a position corresponding to the lowest sitdown adjustment, the board can be tilted over onto the leg structure, from its upended storage position into a horizontal position. When the 2,-oea944 leg structure is opened up beyond the above {described lowermost sit-down position-which operation can be performed either when the board is in a horizontal position or in an up ended position-the bracket 4! will continue its forward movement along the track [9 and the plate l 8 will at the same time start moving rearwardly along the track, the bracket ll and the plate it approaching each other until, in the fully extended position of the leg structure, they both move into abutment with one of the intervening spacers Al.

Vertical adjustment of the board is controlled by a hand lever is, which lever is mounted on the underside of the board in a position generally crosswise of the latter, with one end of the lever conveniently accessible from beneath one side of the board and the-other end conveniently accessible from beneath the other side. The lever s9 is movable between a release position, wherein it is crosswise of the board, to a locking position wherein it is disposed at a substantial angle.

The lever is is pivotally attached at 58 to the underside of the front end of a fiat elongated casing 55, which casing extends rearwardly be yond the track it in alignment with the latter. At the location of the lever is the casing 5| contains two laterally spring pressed pawls 52 which are pivoted at 53 to the casing. The pawls 52 are provided near their ends with oppositely facing one-way teeth 55 which are adapted to engage with series of one-way teeth 55 on two longitudinally extending rack bars 56 and 51. The pawls 52 are provided beyond the teeth 54 with ears 58 which are adapted to be engaged by upturned lugs 55? on the lever 49. When the lever is turned from its angular locking position with respect to the board to its crosswise release position the lugs 59 on the lever d9 will withdraw the pawls 52 from engagement with the rack bars 58 and 5?, thereby freeing the rack bars and permitting the latter to move longitudinally within the casing 5!.

The rack bar 5$-which can move rearwardly at all times withrespect to its pawl 52 but can only move forwardly when the control lever M3 is swung into its release position-extends forwardly through the front end of the casing 5! adjacent one side of the latter and is pivotally connected at the stud 29 to one of the brackets H which carry the upper ends of the side legs i2. The other rack bar 5l'-which can only move rearwardly when the control lever 59 is in its release position but can move forwardly at all times-lilcewiso extends forwardly through the front end of the casing 5! adjacent the other side of the latter, and is connected at its front end to the bracket M which carries the upper end of the brace rod 38.

The rack bar 56 is provided intermediate its ends with a slot 66 into which one end of the lever E2 is adapted to move when the hook M on that lever moves into the notch 55. This engagement of the end of the lever '52 with the slot to anchors the racl: bar 56, and consequently the plate is to which the rack bar is connected, against forward movement until such time as the board been upended preparatory to collapsing the leg structure.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the control lever 59 is in its release position the board can be moved upwardly or downwardly, with a corresponding contraction or extension of the leg structure, whereas when the control lever is in its locking position the board is preventedfrom being lowered, with attendant contraction of the leg structure, but can be raised with ease into-any desired higher position of adjustment, with an attendant extension of the leg structure.

To lower the board to any extent desired it is merely necessary to swing the lever is into its release position, whereupon the board will sink gradually under its own weight, stopping when the lever is moved to its locking position. The lever id is biased at all times toward its locking position by a small tensioned coil spring Bl, which spring extends from a portion of the lever to a portion of the casing 5!. Movement of the lever 63 into its release position will only permit the board, however, to lower to its lowest sit down position of adjustment, as at that point the hook is on the weighted lever s2 will ride into the notch 65 in the track 19, automatically preventing further downward movement of the board until such time as the board is upended for storage, at which time the hook at will disengage from the notch it, permitting full col lapse of the leg structure.

In order to maintain the control lever in release position when the leg structure is fully collapsed, for a purpose which will hereinafter he described, the bracket All which carries the upper end of the brace rod 38 is provided with a rearwardly extending finger 62, which finger is adapted to move into abutment with one side of the control lever is in the fully collapsed position of the leg structure.

After the leg structure in being opened up has been extended to what corresponds to the lowest sit-down position, the control lever 43 will be automatically returned from its release position to its locking position by means of a longitudinally extending rod 63 which is secured at its front end to the plate l8 and extends through an apertured car 64 on the control lever is in frictional engagement with a small leaf spring E5 on the lever. As soon as the plate 58 starts to move rearwardly, in extending the leg structure from its lowermost sit-down position, the frictional engagement of the spring 65 against the then rearwardly moving rod 53 will swing the control lever 69 from a more or less dead center position of the coil spring 6! into a locking position.

The previously mentioned tie members It between the lower end of the front leg l! and the lower ends of the side legs IZ-which keep the legs from spreading apart after the board has been adjusted to any particular height-preferably consist in part of small diameter rods which are pivotally secured at their rear ends to the lower ends of the side legs 52. Near their front ends the rods 66 are connected to flexible chains 6'], which chains continue forwardly to the lower end of the front leg I I and pass alongside each other about juxtaposed rollers 53 which are journaled in the end of the leg at that point. The rollers 68 and the portions of the chains extending about the same are partially hoi d within a small sheet metal shield to which i otally attached to the leg on the axis of the rol and affords an angularly adjustable supper foot for the leg.

From the rollers '58 the chains 5'! extend lengthwise for some distance within the front leg H and-connect with the ends of two clutch rods l8 housed within the leg. At their point of connection with the clutch rods '59 the chains El are connected with two equalizing coil springs II, which springs in turn converge into connection with a single main coil spring I2. The main spring 12 continues lengthwise of the front leg I I and is connected at its far end under tension to the rear end of the leg. The springs II and '52 act to keep both tie members I3 reasonably taut at all times, in the collapsed as well as extended position of the leg structure, and may even serve, if desired, to partially or wholly counterbalance the weight of the board during lowering of the same.

The clutch rods I pass freely through closely fitting apertures I3 in two segmental clutch members I4. The members 14 are of semicircular form and are held together loosely in complementary relation by a spring clip 14a to provide in effect a two-part disk I5. The disk l5 fits loosely within the leg II and is capable of tilting therein into a position wherein its two parts will individually bind against and grip the rods 70. The disk is cut away at one point between the segments 14 to pass the main spring 72, and is apertured at another point between the segments to pass a trip rod I6. A small cross bar l? is secured on the trip rod 15 beyond the disk 75, and small coil springs 18 are compressed be ween the cross bar TI and the segments M for individually tilting the same into binding engagement with their respective clutch rods ill. The trip rod 16 is provided at its front end with a head 19, which head is adapted to draw the segments I4 back from their tilted positions when the rod is drawn rearwardly, whereby to release both clutch rods I0 and permit paying out of the chains 6! and rods 66.

While the tie members I3 have been illustrated and described as of composite rod and chain construction, they could be formed entirely as chains or other flexible connectors. They are preferably so arranged as to rest flatly on the floor but they might instead be elevated somewhat without loss of their tying function.

The rear end of the trip rod 16 emerges from the rear end of the front leg II and is connected to the rear end of a link 80 which extends longitudinally of the casing 5| adjacent the underside of the latter. The front end of the link 89 is pivotally connected at 8I in an off-center posi tion to the control lever 49. the lever 49 is moved into its release position the tie members I3 will be released, and when the lever as is moved to its locking position the tie members I3 will be locked.

In order to prevent the tie members I3 from being locked when the leg structure is being fully collapsed, the control lever 49 is caused to assume its release position by being engaged at such time by the previously described finger 62 on the bracket 4.

The previously described cross rod 22which forms a pivotal connection between the front leg i I and side legs I2-may be constructed and connected with the legs in any desired manner, but is herein disclosed as a tube '82 which passes loosely through apertures in the front leg and is arranged with its ends seated in apertures in the side legs. The tube 82 is fixedly pinned to the front leg II, is universally mounted in the side legs I2 whereby to permit limited endwise as well as angular movement of the tube in the apertures and thus avoid binding during the erection of the legs, and is retained in the apertures in the side legs by a bowed spring member 83 within the tube having projecting right angularly bent As a result, when F ends 84, which ends releasably engage with the inner walls of the side legs at the ends of the tube 82.

When the leg structure is fully collapsed against the underside of the board the leg structure may be releasably locked in such collapsed position by means of a spring latch 85 of any suitable character located on the underside of the front end of the board adjacent the end of the front leg II. The latch is provided with a detent 86 which springs into the hollow front end of the leg, latching the latter against withdrawal. To unlock the front leg and consequently the entire leg structure from its collapsed position, it is merely necessary to press back the latch 85.

Briefly summarizing the way in which the new leg structure is adapted to be collapsed, extended and adjusted, and starting with the board resting in an upended position on its rear end, with the leg structure fully and compactly collapsed against the underside of the board within the margins of the latter, and with the control lever '39 in its released position it is merely necessary in order to extend the leg structure 201 one to grasp the then upwardly projecting end of the front leg II and swing it outwardly and downwardly in an are away from the board, first, of course, releasing the latch 85, if the board is equipped with a latch.

This movement of the front leg II will automatically cause the lower ends of the side legs I2 to swing outwardly and the upper ends of such legs to shift downwardly on the then stationary plate I8, converging at the same time into laterally abutting longitudinally locked engagement With each other.

During this movement of the front leg II and side legs I2 the end of the brace rod 38 which is pivoted to the front leg II will swing outwardly and downwardly with the front leg, and the bracket II, to which the other end of the brace rod 38 is hinged, will start to move upwardly.

If for any reason it is desired to again fully collapse the leg structure while the latter is still in this semi-collapsed position, the same can be done by merely swinging the projecting end of the front leg I I upwardly and inwardly again toward the board, whereupon the side legs I2 and the brace rod 38 will again assume their original positions with respect to the front leg I i of the board. This return can be accomplished without having to operate the control lever 49, the latter having remained in its release position.

At the end of this preliminary extension, the brackets I! to which the upper ends of the side legs I2 are hinged will come into abutment with the end of the arcuate slots 2i in the plate I8 and the resulting initial downward movement of the plate I8 will immediately act through the rod I53 to swing the control lever 59 past the dead center position of the spring 6i from its release position into its locking position.

After the leg structure has been partially extended in the manner above described, to a position which corresponds to the lowest position in which it is adapted to support the board in use, namely, the lowest sit-down adjustment, the board can be tilted over into a horizontal position on the leg structure in readiness for use. Or before tilting the board over the leg structure can, if desired, be further extended, merely by swinging the projecting end of the front leg I I farther down.

To elevate the board when in any of its operative positions, it is merely necessary tograsp the sides of the board and lift it to the desired position. In doing this it is not necessary to move the control lever 59 into its release position as the ratchet action of the pawls 52 will permit free movement of the rack bars 6 and 51, the rack bar 53 forwardly and the rack bar 57 rearwardly.

To lower the board from one position to another it is merely necessary to move the control lever ie into its release position and hold it there against the action of the spring ti until the board has settled to the desired elevation.

To close up the board after use, the board is upended, the control lever i9 is moved and held in its release position, and the projecting end of the front leg l I is grasped and swung upwardly and inwardly toward the board until the leg structure has moved into its fully collapsed position.

While the centered longitudinally extending leg E! has been described as the front leg and the legs l2 as the rear legs, it will, of course, be appr ciated that these terms are only relative and that if desired the arrangement of the legs ight be reversed end for end with respect to the front and rear ends of the board. It will also be appreciated that the new leg structure might be used for adjustably supporting members other than ironing boards.

I claim:

1. in an ironing board of the adjustable standup or sit-down type, a leg structure which is eX-- tens b e from a collapsed position against the side of the board to a partially or fully extended supporting position beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined front leg and a pair of oppositely inclined rear legs, the iron" leg being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board, and the rear legs being disposed at opposite sides of the center line of the board in crossed relation to the front leg, tie members extending between the spaced apart lower ends of the rear legs and the lower end or the front leg, said tie members provided with flexible extensions which continue upwardly from the lower end of the front leg, and anchored sp means connected under tension with said extensions for eliminating slack in said tie menubers.

In an ironing board or the adjustable standup or sit-down type, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to a partially or fully extended supporting position beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined front leg and a pair of oppositely inclined rear legs, the front leg being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board, and the rear legs being disposed at opposite sides of the center line of the board in crossed relation to the front leg, tie members extending between the spaced apart lower ends of the rear legs and the lower end of the front leg, tie members provided with flexible extensions which continue upwardly from the lower end of the front leg, a spring member which is, anchored at one end and is connected under tension at its other end with said extensions for eliminating slack in said tie members, and a manually controlled clutch associated with said tie members for determining th effective length of the same between the leg ends.

3. In an ironing board of the adjustable standup or sit-down type, a leg structure which is eX- tensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to a partially or fully extended supporting position beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined front leg and a pair of oppositely inclined rear legs, the front leg being centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board, and the rear legs being disposed at opposite sides of the center line of the board in crossed relation to the front leg, tie members extending between the spaced apart lower ends of the rear legs and the lower end of the front leg, said tie members provided with flexible extensions which continue upwardly from the lower end of the front leg, a spring member which is anchored at one end and is connected under tension at its other end with said extensions for eliminating slack in said tie members, a manually controlled clutch associated with said tie members for determining the effective length of the same between the leg ends, and means mounted on the under side of the board for manually controlling said clutch.

4. In an ironing board, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to an extended posltion beneath the board, said leg structure ineluding an inclined leg which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined legs which are disposed at opposite sides of the center leg in crossed relation to the latter, a pivotal connection between the center and side legs at the point where they cross, a pivotal connection between the upper end of the center leg and the board, a longitudinally slidable connection between the upper ends of the side legs and the board, an inclined brace rod positioned above the center leg between the side legs in crossed relation to the latter, a pivotal connection between the lower end of the rod and the lower ends of the center leg, and a longitudinally slidable connection between the upper end of the rod and the board, said first and second mentioned longitudinally slidable connections mov ing in opposite directions to each other both during collapse of the leg structure and during extension of the same.

5. In an ironing board, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to an extended po-- sition beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined leg which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined legs which are disposed at opposite sides of the center leg in crossed relation to the latter, a cross member pivotally connected with each of the side legs intermediate their ends, means for moving the upper ends of the side legs toward and away from each other whereby to bring the lower ends of said legs closer together when the support is collapsed and farther apart when the support is extended, and a laterally releasable locking connection between the upper ends of the side legs for securing the same to-- gather for movement only as a unit lengthwise of the board after said upper ends are moved to ward each other.

6. In an ironing board, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to an extended position beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined leg which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined legs which are disposed at opposite sides of the center leg in crossed relation to the latter, a cross member pivotally connected with each of the side legs intermediate their ends, guide means connected with the underside of the board in guiding engagement with the upper ends of the side legs above said cross member for moving the upper ends of the side legs toward and away from each other whereby to bring the lower ends of said legs closer together when the support is collapsed and farther apart when the support is extended, a laterally extensible and contractible cross brace between the side legs intermediate the lower ends of the latter and said cross member, and means for automatically extending the cross brace when the upper ends of the side legs are moved toward each other.

7. In an ironing board, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to an extended position beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined leg which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined legs which are disposed at opposite sides of the center leg in crossed relation to the latter, a cross member pivotally connected with each of the side legs intermediate their ends, guide means connected with the underside of the board in guiding engagement with the upper ends of the side legs above said cross member for moving the upper ends of the side legs toward and away from each other whereby to bring the lower ends of said legs closer together when the support is collapsed and farther apart when the support is extended, a laterally extensible and contractible cross brace between the side legs intermediate the lower ends of the latter and said cross memher, and means for automatically extending the cross brace when the upper ends of the side legs are moved toward each other, said cross brace comprising two side links pivotally connected to the side legs and a center link pivotally connected to the side links, and said brace extending means including a push and pull rod which is anchored at one end and is connected at its other end to said cross brace.

8. In an ironing board, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to an extended position beneath the board, said leg structure inc1uding an inclined leg which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined legs which are disposed at opposite sides of the center leg in crossed relation to the latter, and an inclined brace rod above the center leg pivotally connected at its lower end with the latter and slidably connected at its upper end with the board, said rod being of downwardly opening channel construction and of such size as to nest with the leg in the collapsed position of the leg structure.

9. In an ironing board, a leg structure which is extensible from a collapsed position against the under side of the board to an extended position beneath the board, said leg structure including an inclined leg which is centered with respect to the board and extends longitudinally thereof, and a pair of laterally offset oppositely inclined legs which are disposed at opposite sides of the center leg in crossed relation to the latter, a cross member pivotally connected with each of the side legs intermediate their ends, the upper ends of the legs being connected with the board and the upper ends of the side legs bein shiftable longitudinally of the board, means for locking said ends against shifting, tie members extending between the front leg and the rear legs below said cross member, said tie members being extensible in the direction of their length, means for locking said tie members against extension, and single manually operable control means for simultaneously releasing both of said locking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,150 Busch et a1 Aug. 13, 1907 1,162,778 Hoihne Dec. 7, 1915 1,742,431 Williams Jan. 7, 1930 2,005,976 Keller June 25, 1935 2,023,747 Schlesinger Dec. 10, 1935