US2696416A - Drop-leaf table with pivoted support legs - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1954 H. J. STEDMAN 2,696,416

DROP-LEAF TABLE WITH PIVOTED SUPPORT LEGS Filed Feb. 6, 1953 INVENTOR. HENEY J. STEP/144M United States Patent O DROP-LEAF TABLE WITH PIVOTED SUPPORT LEGS Henry J. Stedman, Peoria, Ill.

Application February 6, 1953, Serial No. 335,463

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-63) This invention relates to drop leaf tables having movable, leaf supporting legs, and more particularly to an improved under frame construction for such table.

it is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved drop leaf table which has an under frame of improved and simplified construction which places the leg carrying members of the frame at locations spaced from diametrical or transverse center lines of the table, so that persons can be seated comfortably at the table without interference with the table legs; which firmly supports the legs in either their leaf extending or leaf folding position; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and effective and efiicient in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claim in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan of a drop leaf table illustrative of the invention with the table leaves in extended position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the table with the table leaves in extended position as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 2, but with the table rotated through an angle of approximately 90 degrees from the position shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the table with the leaves in folded position; and

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the table with the leaves in folded position depending from the table top.

With continued reference to the drawing, the table comprises a top of elongated shape having straight, parallel side edges 11 and 12, and extension leaves 13 and 14 extending each at one edge along a corresponding side edge of the top 10 and hinged to the top by hinges, as indicated at 15 and 16 for the leaf 13, and 17 and 18 for the leaf 14. The table top and leaf combination with the leaves extended is illustrated as of circular shape, but it is to be understood that the table may be of other shapes, such as square or rectangular, if desired, without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

An under frame, generally indicated at 20, is secured to the under side of the table top 10 and is formed of wooden members or boards of elongated, rectangular cross sectional shape each having one edge disposed against and secured to the under surface of the table top 10 and extending downwardly perpendicularly from the table top. This under frame includes an intermediate cross member or bar 21 which extends transversely across the table top 10 at the mid-length location of the table top and end cross members or bars 22 and 23 which extend transversely of the table top near the respectively opposite ends of the top. A first side member or bar 24 extends from a location near one end of the end cross member 22 spaced from and parallel to the side edge 11 of the table top to the adjacent end of the intermediate cross member or bar and carried by said bar 24 is an extension 24' which extends beyond and is secured to the intermediate cross member 21. A second side member or bar 25 extends from a location near the end of the end cross member 23 at the side of the table top remote from the side member 24 to the adjacent end of the intermediate cross member 21 and carried by said side member or bar 25 is an extension 25' which extends beyond the intermediate cross member 21 and is secured to the adjacent end of the intermediate cross bar 21. A third side member to 2,696,413 Patented Dec. 7 1954 26 extends from the intermediate cross member 21 to the end of the end cross member 23 nearest the side edge 11 of the table top and is disposed parallel to the side edge 11, but spaced from this side edge a distance greater by approximately one half the thickness of the upper end portions of the table legs than the distance from the side edge 11 to the outer side of the first side member 24. A fourth side member 27 extends from the intermediate cross member 21 to the end of the end cross member 22 nearest the side edge -12 of the table and is disposed parallel to the side edge 12, but spaced from this side edge a distance equal to the spacing between the third side member'26 and the side edge 11 of the table top. The side members are disposed perpendicular to the cross members and the side and cross members together constitute an under frame of elongated, substantially rectangular shape secured to the under surface of the table top 10.

An angle brace 28 is secured in the corner at the juncture of the end cross member 22 and the fourth side member 27 and a first table leg 29 is rigidly secured to the under frame at the corner of the frame constituted by the approximate juncture of the end cross member 22 with the first side member 24, the leg 29 being disposed perpendicular to the table top 10. An angle brace 30 is secured in the corner provided by the juncture of the end cross member 23 with the third side member 26 and a second table leg 31 is rigidly secured to the under frame at the corner of the frame constituted by the approximate juncture of the end cross member 23 and the second side member 25 and is disposed perpendicular to the table top 10. Thus the stationary table legs 29 and 31 are carried by the table top 10 and extend vertically downwardly therefrom adjacent diagonally opposite corners thereof.

A first leg carrying arm or wing 32 is hingedly secured at one end to the end of the extension 24 of the under frame at the end of this side member remote from the leg 29, and a third leg'33 is secured to the arm 32 at the distal end of this arm. The arm 32 is swingable about an axis perpendicular to the table top 10 in an arcuate path therebeneath and has a length substantially equal to the distance from the end cross member 23 to the extension 24.

A second leg carrying arm or wing 35 is hingedly secured at one end to the extension 25 for swinging movement in an arcuate path beneath the table top 10 and a fourth table leg 36 is secured to the arm 35 at the distal end of this arm and thereof for movement therewith in an arcuate path beneath the table top 10. The arm 35 has a length substantially equal to the distance from the end cross member 22 to the adjacent end of the second side member 25, so that when the table leaves 13 and 14 are in folded condition, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the leg 33 will be disposed against the adjacent end of the end cross member 23 and the leg 36 will be disposed against the adjacent end of the end cross member 22. When the table leaves are extended horizontally outwardly from the table top, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the arms or wings 32 and 35 are swung in their arcuate paths until they are disposed beneath the leaves and lie substantially perpendicular to the side edges of the table top 10. Such movement is restricted to such a perpendicular position by suitable stops 38 and 39 secured to the under sides of the leaves 13 and 14 respectively. When the legs 33 and 36 are in table supporting position, they are spaced from the diametrical center line of the table which extends midway between and parallel to the arms 32 and 35, so that persons can be seated at opposite sides of the table in line with this diametrical center line without interference with the table legs 33 and 36. The legs 29 and 31 are also displaced to respectively opposite sides of a diametrical center line of the table perpendicular to the center line parallel to the arms 32 and 35, so that persons can be seated at the respectively opposite ends of the talzilesiop 10 without interference with the table legs 29 an The improved under frame construction thus provides more convenient seating of persons at the table and also provides an under frame of increased strength and rigidity which holds the leaf supporting legs firmly in position to leaves are in extended position.

The invention may beernbodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character'- istics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claimsirather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are, therefore, intended to betembraced therein;

What is claimed is:

A drop leaf table comprising, an elongated tabletop, leaves hinged to the table top for movement in vertical arcuate paths adjacent opposite sides thereof,.legs fixed to the table top and extending vertically downwardly therefrom adjacent diagonally opposite corners thereof, side members fixed to the table top and to the-fixed legs and extending longitudinally along the underside and parallelwith opposite side edges thereof, arms carried by the side members for movement in horizontal arcuate paths on Opposite sides of a transverse axis which extends perpendicularly across the table top, midway between opposite ends thereof from inactive positions in which they lie beneath and parallel to the table top to active positions inwhichrthey lie on opposite sides of. the axis and perpendicular to the table top beneath the leaves, carried by the arms and extending perpendicularly downwardly therefrom for movement therewith from inactive positions in which they extend downwardly beneath the table top to active positions in which they extend downwardly beneath the leaves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 164,976 Cutler June 29, 1875 170,515 Bradfield Nov. 30, 1875 185,219 Cutler Dec. 12, 1876 293,565 Conover Feb. 12, 1884 1,516,323 Bilton Nov. 18, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number I Country Date 336,170 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1930

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