US2685490A - Foldable multiple purpose table with container mounted in the top - Google Patents

Description

g- 3, 1954v w. A. SNYDER 2,685,490

' FOLDABLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE TABLE WITH v CONTAINER MOUNTED IN THE TOP Filed Sept. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INvz NTOR. W A 5 Nypza Aug. 3, 1954 w. A. SNYDER F OLDABLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE TABLE WITH CONTAINER MOUNTED IN THE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1952 a5 W.H. 51v

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE MULTIPLE PURPOSE TABLE WITH CONTAINER MOUNTED IN THE TOP 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a foldable table capable of being put to a great variety of uses, among which are: as an automobile accessory to be carried about from place to place by automobilists on vacation and other tours, so as to be unfolded from a compact condition stored in the car, to an upstanding, operative position for use as a multiple purpose table; to be used to house in a concealed position a mirror carrying casing which contains toilet accessories to be used along with the mirror when the latter is adjusted to an upstanding position in relation to the top of the table; and to be used either as a moderately sized table for a small family or as a large, elongated table capable of accommodating a considerable number of persons, either as a dining table, card players table, or for various other uses.

Another object is to provide for a table top member, an improved supporting structure that can be adjusted so as to form out of the superstructure either a horizontal supporting surface or a surface at a suitable inclination for a writing desk top or for a draftsmans use.

Another object is to provide a foldable table furnished with a superior leg bracing means which will safely maintain the table in an upstanding, operative position even when young children at play around it come into contact with its leg structure. In this connection it is a specific object to provide the table with an improved leg bracing means equipped with a latching device which can be hooked onto a jointed leg bracing structure adjacent to the point of fiexion therein in such a manner as effectively to safeguard against the leg bracing structure being moved away from its extended, leg bracing position by any unauthorized, accidental force applied thereto.

The table provided by this invention, being of a firm, stable character, is also well adapted for being used as an ironing board.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical midsection of my foldable, multiple purpose table, showing the same in its unfolded, operative position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view looking up at the extended table structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective illustrating one of the leg bracing arrangements of the middle section of the table.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail, on a still larger scale than Fig. 3, illustrating the leg brace latching means of the latter view.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the four table top sections as they appear after the first stage of the table top folding operation has been completed. In this view the leg structure for the two leaves of the central table top section is omitted.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating in a somewhat diagrammatic fashion the four completely folded table top sections.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view illustrating one of the leg brace locking devices.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure shown in Fig. '7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow on the latter view.

Fig. 9 is a partly elevational and partly sectional view of a combined mirror and toilet accessory carried by the table.

Hg. 10 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 9, looking from right to left from the line l@-lt on the latter view.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of an end portion of a foldable table provided with a modified leg bracing means.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the toilet accessory, per se.

Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, face and edge views of the two-part latching strip for the limbs of the U-shaped member of Fig. 11.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 the invention is shown embodied in a table structure having twin midlength table top sections 55 and it, and twin outer table top sec tions ll and I8. Along the under side of its inner edge portion each of the table top sections l5 and it carries a transverse border strip 29, these strips affording a good anchorage for the two hinges 25 which render these table topsections downswingable toward each other.

A pair of twin foldable legs 22 is provided for each of the aforesaid central table top sections l5 and E6, the outswing of these pairs of legs from each other being limited by two pairs of dual linkage 23, this linkage being located at each side of the table and the outer end of each dual link structure being pivoted to a table leg, while these links are pivoted to each other at 26, as indicated in Fig. l. A duplicate leg bracing means is provided beyond each end of this linkage for each of the two central table top sec- 3 tions. These duplicate bracing structures will next be described, each being given the same reference characters as the other.

A transverse anchor block or strip 21 is secured to the under side of the outer end portion of each central table top member (IE or IE), and to the under side of each end portion of said strip 2'! is secured a metal mounting strip 28 (see Fig. 3), the outer end portion of which is upwardly directed to form an apertured ear 29 to which is pivoted the upper end of a strap metal arm 39. Each of said arms 39 has its lower end portion 3! deflected in an edgewise, obtusely angular manner.

The aforesaid legs 22 of each pair are united by a strap metal U-shaped member 3d having a basal run 35 the arms 3c of which are swingably connected at 3'! with the inner sides of the legs which said member 34 unites. Near its extremity the deflected part 3! of each arm 89 is internally pivoted at am to the U-member 34 near its basal run or crosspiece 35, so that said crosspiece co-operates with the inner side of the angular part of each arm 38 to form a stop means that prevents the bracing structure between each pair of legs 22 and the overlying table top member from flexing outwardly beyond the operative position (slightly beyond dead center), shown in Figs. 1 and 4, so that the central table top members i and l B are maintained in their horizontal, 5

operative positions.

In order to prevent the aforesaid leg bracing structures from being accidentally forced to swing back across dead center, each arm has pivoted to it a latching hook 39. These latching hooks are so positioned as to be hooked over the upper edges of the crosspieces of the U-shaped members 34. The leg bracing structure is completed, so far as the two central sections of the table are concerned, by providing each pair of legs 22 with a pair of crossed braces ll As viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 the left hand table top member it 'is hinged by hinges 39 to the adjacent table top member l5, and is provided with a foldable supporting means which comprises a pair of legs 59 united by a crosspiece 5i. With the midlength part of this crosspiece co-operates a swingable leg brace 52, the upper end of this brace being hinged to a crosspiece 53 secured to the under side of the outer end portion of the table top section l'l. As best shown in Figs. '7 and S, the lower end portion of said brace 52 has secured to it a metal strip 55 having a hooked end portion 55 to hook over the upper edge of the crosspiece 5i, and an auxiliary hook 5i is attached to the brace 52 to hook into an eye 58 carried by the crosspiece 5!. This hook 5'! latches the leg bracing parts against accidental displacement. Said brace 52 is in two parts swingably and extensibly fastened together by a nut carrying bolt 59. A slot 6%, fragmentarily shown in Fig. '7, is formed in one part of said brace and slidably contains said bolt. By means of this two-part brace the table top member I! may be adjusted at somewhat of an inclination, better adapting it for use as a writing desk. If preferred, said slot may be made long enough to contain two spaced apart nut carrying bolts carried by the unslotted part of the brace, and adjustment may then be elfected only by lengthening and shortening said brace.

At the right hand end of the table structure as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 the table top member 18 is hinged to the table top member It by hinges 66 and is provided with a different leg bracing structure from that which has been described for the table top member H. In this latter leg structure the paired, swingably mounted legs 6| are furnished with a crosspiece 62. Also each of these legs has pivoted to it at 64a an outwardly deflected end portion 64b of a brace rod 64 which is shaped as a rectangular U the middle run 65 of which, during the swinging of the legs 6|, travels along a guideway provided for it between a rail 66 and the superjacent table top member i3. At the outer limit of its travel the rod run 65 will abut a border strip 65a, thus being arrested in one of its leg bracing positions. Each leg 61 is pivoted to the lower part of a table top carried block 59, the legs and U-shaped member thus being so related to each other that said member does not interfere with folding up said legs. Said guide rail 66 is bent so as to form in its seats 65a, and by means of a spring loaded bolt 56b, depending from the crosspiece 65a, and winged nut l0 carried by said bolt, said rail can be forced up to form a firm, locking relation between the crossarm of the U-shaped member and the selected seat 66a.

In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown another type of table comprising only two table top members 14 and 75, the latter having through it an opening with which cooperates a swingable closure member l5 carrying toilet accessories. Each of these table top members is provided with the same arrangement of swingable paired legs H and accompanying brace means. Where said table top sections meet each has secured to its under side a border strip '18 and hinges i9 swingably fasten these strips together. The inner end portion of each leg H has a groove 89 extending along the midwidth of its inner side, and with these grooves co-operate the outwardly deflected end portions 8! of a rectangularly U-shaped brace rod 82, the midlength run of this rod being turnabl carried by a hinge member 83 directed horizontally and anchored under a table top border strip 84.

A two-part spacing strip 85 is shown, the outer ends or which are pivotally connected to the outer portions of the arms of the U-shaped member 82. The two parts of this strip are pivotally connected to each other at 35, and in a spaced relation to this pivot both parts are bulged in the same direction as indicated at 81, thus providing a swell in one part which is seatable in an indentation in the other part to releasably latch the two parts in alinement with each other to spring the arms of the U-shaped member out so that their end portions positively engage the aforesaid grooves til.

The aforesaid toilet swingable closure 16 is rectangular, somewhat elongated box, except that its attached end portion is provided with a rounded heel portion 90, this rounded part having in it at each side of the box a socket 9|. The two sockets thus provided receive end portions of pivot pins 92. Small recesses 92a are made in the table top to clear the way for putting said pins in place through bores in a subjacent, parallel relation to the surface of the table top. Said recesses may later be filled with putty, or the like. Said recesses 9211. are an essential aid to mounting the swingable member 76. By their use the workman avoids applying any objectionable projections to the upper surface of the table top.

The table top member i5 is provided with a rectangular opening 93 within which said member '16 is swingably fitted to swing to and from the operative position thereof shown in Fig. 9 in full lines. When the member 16 is in its horizontal, inoperative position Within said opening 93 said heel 90 is sufiiciently spaced away from the fulcrum afforded by the pins 92 to enable the user, by depressing said heel, to tilt up the opposite end of the case sufficiently to place a thumb 0r finger under it, thus to swing the ease up either to the broken line or full line position thereof shown in Fig. 9.

Said member 16 has swingably attached to its normally upper side portion a prop 95, the attached end portion of said prop carrying a pair of laterally directed ears 95 which are pivotally attached to said member within recesses 91 in the sides of this member. Also the case is provided with a broad groove 99 to receive the body portion of said prop together with the deflected tip 95a thereof, so that the entire prop is normally countersunk into the member 16.

Into that side portion of the member 15 which is opposite to said groove 95 is inset a cutlery box 98 having a cover 99 with thumb notches I90 to slide it to open position either toward the right or the left. Said cover is slidable in a plane parallel to the axis about which the swingable member 15 swings and therefore the operation of said cover does not disturb the position of said swingable member. Said box 98 may contain various toilet articles, including the articles required for shaving and manicuring.

Between said cutlery box 99 and the free end of the member 16 is attached a mirror 102 which is shown overlying about half the surface of that face of the case to which it is attached. Said mirror does not extend quite to the free end of I claim:

In a foldable multiple purpose table, a table top member having a cut-out therein, a swingable member normally occupying said cut-out and having a fiat face which is normally flush with the upper surface of said table top member, the cut-out in said table top member being a substantially rectangular opening therethrough and said swingable member being loosely fitted to said opening, hinge means connecting one end of said swingable member with said table top member near one side of said opening, means operating between said table top member and said swingable member to maintain the latter at times in an upswung inclined position, a mirror attached to said swingable member and overlying a portion of the upper face of the latter when upswung as aforesaid, said mirror being then considerably spaced upwardly from said hinge means, a cutlery box countersunk into the upper face of said swingable member between said hinge means and mirror, and a cover for said cutlery box, said cover being slidable from open to closed position and vice versa along a path which is parallel to the axis about which said swingable member swings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,611 Davis May 10, 1887 1,588,351 Grossnickle June 18, 1926 1,625,011 Wolfe et a1 Apr. 19, 1927 1,765,514 Wetmore June 24, 1930 1,862,911 Snyder June 14, 1932 1,888,009 Moss Nov. 15, 1932 2,321,328 Stack June 8, 1943 2,456,415 Hillenbrand Dec. 14, 1948 2,628,147 Berner Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 174,594 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1935

Images