US2740681A - Hold-down clamp structure for a foldable table - Google Patents

Description

W. A. DIMICK April 3, 1956 HOLD-DOWN CLAMP STRUCTURE FOR A FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May 18. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W|Nsl ow A. DIMICK wwwdmz ATTORNEYS April 3, 1956 w. A. DIMICK 2,740,681

HOLD-DOWN CLAMP STRUCTURE FOR A FOLDABLEI TABLE Filed May 18, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 '"HHIHIII lnlllllllll fill lll l lllll lll Illlllllllll' INVENTOR.

WNSLOW A.D\MICK "By 1646? ATTORNEYS April 3, 1956 w. A. DIMICK 2,740,631

HOLD-DOWN CLAMP STRUCTURE FOR A FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ""llllllllll 1/ 1/ X 1NVENTOR.

W| NSLOW A. DIMICK BY f,%

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 3, 1956 free HOLD-DOWN CLAMP STRUCTURE FOR A FOLDABLE TABLE Winslow A. Dimick, North Sacramento, Calif.

Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,810

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-91) The present invention relates to improvements in a hold-down structure for a foldable table. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved foldable table, which may be taken apart readily, with the disassembled parts adapted to be formed into a compact unit. The unit thus provided occupies relative small space, and may he moved very easily from place to place. Likewise, the parts are adapted to be assembled into a sturdy table with little effort.

More specifically described, I provide a central leaf having laterally-disposed leaves hinged thereto. The lateral leaves are foldable into upright position relative to the central leaf to enact therewith in defining a channelshaped storage unit. The legs that are provided for supporting the leaves may be folded into compact arrangements and placed in the storage space of the channel. The various parts are retained in folded position by a clamp.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

Drawings For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a table embodying my invention, the table being shown in inverted posh tion after being assembled, or ready for disassembly;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the assembled table;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of that portion of the table enclosed within the circle IV shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VV of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view with the legs folded and nested within the channel defined by the leaves of the table top;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line VIl-VII of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one set of legs ar ranged in folded position.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claim without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a foldable table, including a table top indicated generally at A, and sets of foldable legs B detachably connected to the underneath surface of the table top.

As shown in the drawings, the table top comprises a central leaf 10, intermediate leaves 11, and marginal leaves 12. The leaves 11 and 12 may be regarded as being disposed laterally relative to the central leaf. A plurality of hinges 14 extend across the width of the table top, and swingably connect the leaves together. All of these leaves may be swung into a common plane, as disclosed in Figures 1 and 3 to provide a smooth surface.

The sets of foldable legs B are identical with one another. Each includes a pair of legs 15, which are swingably connected together intermediate of their ends by bolts 16 and wing-nuts 17. When extended, these legs are arranged in crossing relation with each other. In Figure 8, one set of legs are illustrated in folded position.

For the purpose of attaching the legs to the table top, I secure spaced-apart recessed clips 18 to the underneath surface of the marginal leaves 12. Brackets 19 are attached to the upper ends of the legs 15. Each bracket has a tongue 20 projecting therefrom, with the tongue of one bracket extending in the opposite direction from the other. These tongues are disposed for removably telescoping into the recesses of the clips 18 when the upper ends of the legs are separated (see Figures 1 and 3-5).

Cross pieces 21 bear against and support the table top When the table is assembled. These pieces are fastened to the upper ends of the legs 15 to provide a tie member therebetween for retaining the tongues 20 in the clips 18. in each set of legs, the cross piece is permanently secured by a bolt or rivet 22 to the upper end of one of the legs. A bolt 23 and wing nut 24 are employed for removably fastening the upper end of the other leg in the same set to the cross piece. Figure I shows a chain 25 connect ing the cross piece to the nut 24 to prevent the latter from being lost when it is removed.

in order to impart the necessary rigidity to the assemhicd table, I provide a pair of angularly-related braces 26, which extend between the table top A and the sets of icgs B (see Figure 2). The outer ends of these braces are bifurcated at 27 so as to straddle the bolts 16. The wingnuts 17 clamp these ends of the braces to the legs B, while the inner ends of the braces are anchored to a bolt 23. This bolt passes through ears 29 formed on the straps of the central hinge 14 (see Figures 1, 2 and 7). Thus the braces are anchored to the central leaf of the table.

It will be noted that a stirrup 30 is fastened to the bolt 28 so as to project from the central leaf 10. An eycboh 31 is attached to this stirrup by a transverse pin 32 projecting laterally from opposing sides of the stirrup. When the sets of legs B are folded, as illustrated in Figure 8, they may be positioned on opposite sides of the stirrup 30, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The pin 32 extends through openings 33 provided in the cross pieces 21. Thus the legs B are held in place.

Referring more particularly to Figures 6 and 7, the hinges 14 are arranged to allow the marginal leaves 12 to be folded over intermediate leaves 11. Also, both the marginal and intermediate leaves may be swung on the hinges into upright position relative to the central leaf 1% to enact therewith in defining a channel-shaped unit. The folded legs 8 are nested within the channel C of the folded table.

The leaves are retained in their thus folded position by a clamping bar 34, which is slidably mounted on the eyeoolt 31 to extend across the channel C. This bar is fashioned with channelshaped hooked ends 35 engaging over the exposed upper edges of the lateral leaves l112 to hold these leaves folded. A wing nut 36 is threaded on the shank end of the cyebolt 31 to urge the clamping bar 34 toward the central leaf 10 of the table top.

Summary of operation In assembling my table, it will be found convenient to open the leaves 10-12 until they occupy a common plane, and place them in an inverted position upon the floor or ground, as suggested in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Next, the sets of legs B are opened up, and the. normal upper ends of the legs 15 are spread apart, with the tongues 20 telescoping into the recessed clips 18. Now the bolts 23 are inserted through openings 23a formed in the cross pieces 21 (see Figures 2, 5 and 8), and the wing nuts 24 are applied to these bolts. At this time, the cross pieces will rest against the leaves forming the table top.

As the next step, the bifurcated ends 27 of the braces 26 are engaged over the bolts 16, and wing nuts 17 are tightened. This completes the assembling steps, whereupon the table is turned into its normal upright position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

During the folding operation, the table may be inverted again, as shown in Figure l, to facilitate the steps. The wing nuts 24 are removed as the next step, followed by withdrawal of the bolts 23 from the cross pieces 21.

After retracting the tongues 20 from the clips 18, the sets of legs B are folded until the legs 15 and the cross pieces 21 are substantially parallel with one another, as disclosed in Figure 8.

Now the marginal leaves 12 are folded over the intermediate leaves 11 to which they are hinged. Thereafter, the leaves 11-12 are raised into upright position relative to the central leaf 10, producing a channel-shaped unit. The sets of folded legs are introduced into the channel C,

with one set arranged on each side of the stirrup 30, and l the transverse pin 32 projecting through the openings 33 of the cross pieces.

The clamping bar 34 is lowered at this time, with the hooked ends 35 thereof engaging over the upper exposed edges of the laterally-disposed leaves 1l 12. Tightening of the wing nut 36 will move the bar downwardly, clamping the leaves in folded position,

It will be apparent that my foldable table is quite simple in construction, affording a compact unit when folded, and producing a substantial table upon being assembled. the assembling or disassembling thereof may be accomplished with great rapidity.

1 claim:

In a holddown clamp structure for a foldable table: a stirrup secured to a central leaf of a foldable table top; an cyebolt anchored to the stirrup and projecting upwardly oi-tween laterally-disposed leaves which are hinged to opposing edges of the central leaf, when the lateral leaves are folded into upright position relative to the central leaf; and a clamping bar slidably mounted on the eyebolt and being movable into a position extending across upper exposed edges of the lateral leaves; the clamping bar having channel-shaped ends adapted for engaging over said upper edges of the lateral leaves to hold the latter folded; and a nut threaded on an upper end of the cycbolt above the clamping bar, and being adjustable thereon for moving the clamping bar towards the central leaf and into clamping relation with the lateral leaves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 98,079 Mayer Dec. 21, 1869 316,142 Gordon Apr. 21, 1885 1,052,329 Elliott Feb. 4, 1913 1,094,227 Lotz Apr. 21, 1914 1.413706 Cadwell Apr. 5, 1922 1.618.327 Dewey Feb. 22, 1927 2,233,202 Finch Feb. 25, 1941 2,279,122 Kovalchuck Apr. 7, 1942 2,291,967 Keahey Aug. 4, 1942 2,602,718 Brandon July 8, 1952 2,699,977 Breslow Jan. 18, 1955

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