US2707141A - Tray attachment for folding game table top - Google Patents

Description

L. L. WITTER April 26, 1955 TRAY ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING GAME TABLE TOP Filed Jan. 29, 1954 INVENTOR. LAWRIE WITTER Um v}/1;Mu%

ATTORNEYS United States Patent TRAY ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING GAME TABLE TOP Lawrie L. Witter, Newton Highlands, Mass. Application January 29, 1954, Serial No. 407,044

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-103) This invention relates to a novel table-tray combination and more particularly concerns a tabel provided with a rail for supporting bracket trays adjacent to the margin of the table. The invention is applicable to various types of tables and since the trays are removable the tables can be used either with or without the trays. The functions served by the trays are numerous and one important use embodies a gaming or poker table in which the trays provide each player with a receptacle for holding his chips. The bracket trays are also useful on card tables for holding beverage glasses, score pads, providing individual lunch trays, etc. The production of a novel table-tray combination embodying these and other feature's hereinafter more specifically described comprises the object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will best be understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a table-tray combination embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tray shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view like Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified construction, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a further modified construction.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a circular table top 10 constructed to nest on and be supported by a card table 12.

The top 10 illustrated is made in two half sections pivotally joined at 14 for folding into face to face contact for easy and compact storage when not in use. It will be understood that the invention can also be incorporated in a table having legs attached to and supporting a unitary top. A cover 15 of felt or the like can be cemented to the top if desired.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a game table commonly known as a poker table and having individual tray compartments at the margin for the players. In accordance with my invention, I provide a semi-circular rail 16 outwardly of and in closely spaced relation to the margin of each half section of the table. The rail is supported on brackets 18 afiixed to the under face of the table by bolts 20. The function of the rail is to support individual chip receiving trays 22 and such other trays as may be desired. The tray 22 can be constructed from plastic material, sheet material, wood or otherwise and embodies an inner hook-like marginal bracket 24 for engaging over and supporting the tray on the rail, the bracket 24 being substantially flush with and forming an extension of the table as illustrated in Fig. 2

so that chips can be raked from the table directly into the tray.

The trays 22 will be of a size to serve the convenience of each player and the table will be constructed to accommodate up to eight players. It will be noted that the trays are free to slide to any position along the rail. The rail is also adapted to receive and support additional receptacles for serving various functions, such as the receptacle 26 shown in Fig. 4 and adapted to serve as an ash tray or beverage glass holder. The rail 16 is non-circular in cross section and functions to support the trays horizontally and non-rotatably thereon.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 5 the rail 30 is of circular cross section and is supported by brackets 32 and bolts 34. The tray 36 is provided with a hook-like inner marginal bracket 38 for engaging over the rail and it has an inner face 40 abutting against the margin of the table. The construction supports the tray horizontally in the position illustrated in the drawing.

A further modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 employs a plate 50 secured to the margin of a table 51 by screws 52 and having an over-hanging bracket 54. The tray 56 has the top portion of its inner wall directed outwardly at 58 to interlock with the bracket 54 to support the tray horizontally as illustrated. The tray can be removed by a lifting pivotal movement about the bracket.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable to tables and table tops of various shapes and construction and can be applied to any table to expand its use. It is particularly noted that the table top illustrated in Fig. 1 has duplicate half sections and since the trays are also duplicates the entire unit can be produced at minimum cost. It is contemplated that the rails will be constructed in a variety of attractive finishes including chrome, black, etc., and therefore serve both ornamental and useful functions.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a table top having a substantially circular margin and jointed diametrically into half sections for folding relation, a substantially semi-circular rail carried by each half section in closely spaced relation to its margin, and a plurality of shallow chip-receiving bracket trays adapted to be removably carried on and extend outwardly from each rail and including means for maintaining the trays in horizontal position on the open .and horizontal table top and substantially in a common horizontal plane therewith.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each tray includes an open chamber disposed beneath the top surface of the table and a horizontal surface substantially flush with said top surface and bridging the gap between the chamber and table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,918 Palmer July 20, 1896 581,681 Shauer Apr. 27, 1897 818,004 Thornton Apr. 17, 1906 1,074,173 Hines Sept. 30, 1913 1,747,710 Hanley Feb. 18, 1930 1,855,009 Clegg Apr. 19, 1932 1,921,645 Williams et a1. Aug. 8, 1933 1,937,994 Taylor Dec. 5, 1933 2,066,816 Wurzer Jan. 5, 1937 2,430,682 Merkle Nov. 11, 1947 2,463,400 Lowe Mar. 1, 1949 2,614,782 Jackson Oct. 21, 1952

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