US2703741A - Collapsible table - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1955 pucc 2,703,741

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed Aug. 30, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH Pucc p ATTOR r T ......fl O m g N 3 NM /l.:.......1|.......|...|T..-| ll- NW M N mhmv Q v Km NM x m Mm mvm. W MW March 8, 1955 Filed Aug. 50, 1950 J. PUCCI COLLAPSIBLE TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Flag.

INVENTOR, 055p PUOC/ B 2 FIT RNEY United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Joseph Pucci, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to P. B. R. Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership Application August 30, 1950, Serial No. 182,291

2 Claims. (Cl. 31185) The present invention relates to foldable or collapsible tables such as card tables or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a handle for carrying a folded card-table or the like; said handle also providing control and/or operating means for opening the legs of the table to operative, extended position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carrying hand-grip which may be concealed when not in use and which also serves as control means to move the legs of the table from inoperative to operative position and back to inoperative position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy, rigid and light-weight card-table construction, the legs of which may be locked in inoperative position by a table-carrying handle; said legs being movable to open or operative position and locked therein by the same table-carrying handle.

Further objects of the present invention will be apparent by reference to the appended specification, claims and drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the under-side of the card-table of the present invention; the legs thereof disposed in retracted, inoperative position and the carrying-handle in extended position for transferring the cardtable.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of the under-side of the card-table of the present invention, with the legs disposed in inoperative position and with the table-carrying handle extended to its operative position.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 33 of Figure 2; the legs of the table being shown in the retracted or inoperative position.

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to that of Figure 3, but showing the legs in extended or operative position.

Figure 5 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the inner end of the control-handle; said handle being rotated 90 from its limiting positions, at which time the legs of the table would be partially extended.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 5 but showing the control-handle rotated 180 from the position of Figure 3 to a position similar to that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 represents a plan view, similar to that of Figure 2, but on a larger scale, showing the under side of the card-table; portions thereof being shown in cross section.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the control-handle shown in its recessed or inoperative position.

In the drawings, the carrying-handle and control-means of the present invention is shown as being applied to a card-table or bridge-table, but it is to be understood that the present invention may be applied to any portable table or support having retractable legs whereby the table may be folded for carrying, storing or the like.

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The table 10 may have a top 11 with a peripheral flange or skirt 12 secured thereto and extending therefrom whereby to provide a relatively shallow open-ended boxlike structure. The flange or skirt 12 may be made of metal having a generally U-shaped cross-section and may be secured to the peripheral edge of the top 11 by any suitable means.

A pair of U-shaped legs 13 and 14 are pivotally supported, as at 13-a, 13b, 14-a and 14-b, to a pair of angle irons 15 and 16, respectively. The angle irons 15 and 16 may have flanges formed at the ends thereof; said flanges being secured to the skirt 12 as by the rivets 17.

The legs 13 and 14 may be formed of generally tubular light-weight metal such as aluminum or the like having a square cross-section; each U-shaped leg being rigid and sturdy and the depending portions thereof being rigidly interconnected with the cross-member so as to be movable in unison about the pivots 13a and 13-h, and 14a and 14-b.

Pivot-engaging brackets 18-a and 18-h and 19-a and 19-12 are secured to the depending portions of the legs 13 and 14 near the juncture with the transverse portions of the legs and are pivotably secured to the pins 13-h, 14a, 13-a and 14-b, respectively. Thus, the U-shaped leg 13 may be pivoted about the pins 13-a and 13b so as to be disposed generally at a right-angle to the top 11. Likewise, the U-shaped leg 14 also may be pivoted about the pins 14-41 and 14-h to be disposed at a right angle to the top 11.

So that the legs 13 and 14 may be swung to an extended or operative position about the pins 13-a and 13*b and 14-a and 14b in one free, easy motion, I provide the control-means and carrying-handle described hereinbelow.

A shaft 21 is rotatably journalled in a pivot-hole 20 disposed generally at the center of the angle bracket 15. This shaft 21 has an extension 22 adapted to engage a cross bar 23 and to be non-rotatably secured thereto whereby the shaft 21 and the cross-bar 23 may rotate in unison but will be axially immovable with respect to each other and to the angle bracket 15. The shaft 21 has a pin 24 extending transversely therethrough.

A generally tubular sleeve 25 is adapted to slide over the shaft 21 with the ends of the pin 24 extending transversely or radially outwardly through a pair of slots 26 and 27 in the sleeve 25. The outer end of the sleeve 25 may be journalled or otherwise supported in an aperture 28 in the skirt 12; and more particularly in a recessed portion 29 thereof.

handle 30 is non-rotatably secured to the sleeve 25 and is adapted to nest or to be concealed within the recess 29 in the skirt 12.

Thus, the handle 30 may be moved axially inwardly, as shown in Figure 8, or may be pulled out to operative position, as shown in Figure 7, without rotating the shaft 21 or the cross-bar 23. However, when the handle 30 is in the operative position shown in Figure 7, it may be rotated, and through engagement of the pin 24 in the slots 26 and 27 the shaft 21 and the cross-bar 23 will also rotate in unison therewith.

Likewise, when the handle 30 is pulled out to its operative position shown in Figures 1 and 7, it may be used as a carrying handle for transporting the table (without rotating the handle or moving the legs to the extended or operative position).

A connecting link 31 is pivotably secured at one end by the pivot-pin 32 to one end of the cross-bar 23, while a second connecting link 33 is connected at one end to the other end of the cross-bar 23 by the pivot-pin 34. The outer ends of the connecting links 31 and 33 are pivotably secured to rotatable links 35 and 36 as by the pins 37 and 38, respectively. The rotatable links 35 and 36 are fastened to the angle-bracket 15 by the pivot- pins 39 and 40, respectively, with the outer ends thereof connected through the links 41 and 42 to the brackets 19-a and 18-h, respectively. Also at the outer ends of the rotatable links 35 and 36 are the ears 43 and 44, respectively, which provide stop-members or locking-ears to prevent excessive rotation of the rotatable links 35 and 36, as will be hereinafter explained.

The operation of the control-handle and leg-extending member is as follows:

When it is desired to use the table of the present invention, it may be removed from storage (in a folded condition) by lifting the handle 30 from the socket 29 (as shown in Figure l) and carried to a place where the table will be used. Thereupon, the handle 30 may be rotated, whereby to pivot the shaft 21 and the cross-arm 23 from the position shown in Figure 3 (in the direction of the arrow 45), through the half-open position shown in Figure to the fully opened position shown in Figures 4 and 6. This rotation of the cross-arm 23 moves the connecting links 31 and 33 inwardly, pivoting the rotating links 35 and 36 about the pivot- pins 39 and 40 so as to elevate the outer ends thereof and, through the links 41 and 42, pivots the brackets 19-a and 18-h (and the legs 13 and 14) to the extended position shown in Figure 4.

When the legs 13 and 14 are fully extended in operative position, the locking ears 43 and 44 prevent further rotation by engagement with the links 41 and 42 and bring the pivots 46 and 47 (at the outer end of the rotating links 35 and 36) to a stop slightly out of line with the pivots 4648 and 4748, respectively. Thus, the legs 13 and 14 are locked in place and no force exerted against the outer end thereof wil fold them to an inoperative position until the rotating links 35 and 36 are pivoted back to the inoperative position shown in Figure 3. This can be accomplished only by rotation of the cross-arm 23. However, as is shown particularly in Figure 6, the inner ends of the connecting links 31 and 33 are curved so that the pivot pins 32 and 34 will pass beyond a line drawn between the center of rotation of the shaft 21 and the pivot pins 37 and 38 so that the connecting links 31 and 33 cannot move to the position shown in Figure 3 until the handle 30 is first rotated back to the inoperative position shown in Figure 3.

Thus the legs are securely locked in their extended position and will not be inadvertently dislodged and the mechanism of the present invention will prevent accidental collapsing of the card-table.

When the card-table is erected, the handle 30 may be moved into the recess 29 so as to be generally inconspicuous and locked in a non-rotatable position within the recess 29.

To collapse the table it is necessary only to withdraw the handle 30 from the recess 29 and rotate it counter to the direction of the arrow 45 whereupon the rotatable links 35 and 36 will be pivoted so that the outer end thereof swings against the under-side of the top 11 drawing the links 41 and 42 and the legs 13 and 14 to the retracted position shown. in Figure 3.

I have thus provided a unitary carrying-handle and control means for extending the legs of a foldable cardtable or the like.

It is to be understood that suitable pivot-means or supports are provided for the legs at the pivot-pins 13b and 14-12. However, the operating and control-linkages heretofore described are necessary only on one side of the table.

The entire device may be constructed of light weight metal such as aluminum or magnesium or the like to provided a sturdy, easily transportable, foldable table which can be carried and set up with a minimum of trouble.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is the followl. A table having a top, a peripheral skirt extending generally transversely to said top, pivotable legs retractable behind said skirt beneath said top, pivotal supports operatively interconnecting said top and said legs, a rotatable control-member, articulated links operatively connected to said supports and to said control-member whereby rotation of said control-member is transmitted through said articulated links to said supports and swings said table legs, a rotatable carrying handle telescopically connected to said rotatable control-member behind said skirt and extending externally of said skirt through an aperture therein, for rotating said control-member and swinging said legs, said carrying handle being axially movable in respect to said control-member and transversely movable in respect to said skirt, a recess in said skirt for receiving said carrying handle when said carrying handle is in noncarrying position, said carrying handle being without said skirt when in carrying position, in which position said handle may be rotated to pivot said table legs.

2. A table having a top, a peripheral skirt extending generally transversely to said top, paired pivotable legs retractable behind said skirt beneath said top, each pair of said legs comprising adjacent legs rigidly connected by a cross-bar, pivotal supports operatively interconnecting said top and said legs, a rotatable control-member, articulated links operatively connected to said control-member and to a pair of pivotable suports of adjacent non-paired legs whereby rotation of said control-member is transmitted through said articulated links to said pair of supports and swings both pairs of said table legs, a rotatable carrying handle telescopically connected to said rotatable control-member behind said skirt and extending behind said skirt for but a minor portion of the width of said table top, said handle extending externally of said skirt through an aperture therein, for rotating said controlmember and swinging said legs, said carrying handle being axially movable in respect to said control-member and transversely movable in respect to said skirt, a recess in said skirt for receiving said carrying handle when said handle is in non-carrying position, said carrying handle being without said skirt when in carrying position, in which position said handle may be rotated to pivot said table legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 412,510 Kaufmann Oct. 8, 1889 822,049 Jetfcott May 29, 1906 1,240,963 Frank Sept. 25, 1917 1,760,302 Dougherty May 27, 1930 1,909,905 Simmons May 16, 1933 2,104,838 Leonard Jan. 11, 1938 2,213,681 Symmonds Sept. 3, 1940 2,602,716 Muth July 8, 1952

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