US2793924A

US2793924A - Folding table

Info

Publication number: US2793924A
Application number: US524326A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johansson Ebbe Anders Israel; Johansson Sture Allan Mattias
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-07-29
Filing date: 1955-07-26
Publication date: 1957-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1974-05-28
Also published as: BE540170A; DE1081630B; GB774164A; CH332757A; FR1128253A

Description

May 28, 1957 Filed July 26. 1955 E. A. l. JOHANSSON ET AL.

FOLDING TABLE 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l INVENTORS [58f A/VDBQS LW/JEL JOf/A/VSSO/V m STl/Rf ALLAN MATT/AS JUHA/VSJON ATTORNE VS y 1957 E. A. I.'JOHANSSON ET AL 2,793,924

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS [BB/F Moms ASRAH mm ATT/AS JUHAIVSSO/V AND STURALLA/V M ATTORNE Y8 FOLDING TABLE Ebbe Anders Israel Johansson and Sture Allan Mattias I Johanssou, Halmstad, Sweden App i July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,326

Claims priority, application Sweden July 29, 1954 2 Claims. (01. 311-49 The present invention relates to camping or similar collapsible tables of the type comprising a rectangular table top carried by a detachable chassis consisting of two substantially rectangular ground-supports in the form of pivotally interconnected closed frames collapsible from a top-supporting position in which the supporting frames cross each other, into an inoperative position in which said frames are disposed in a common plane. The invention more particularly relates to collapsible tables of this kind in which there are attached to the lower face of the table top, in the vicinity of two oppositely disposed edges thereof, two resilient sheet-metal brackets, each comprising a leg portion disposed in spaced relation to the lower face of the top, these leg-portions being directed towards one another and adapted, when said chassis is in situ relative to the table top, to embrace the portions of the chassis frames adjacent the lower face of the table top.

Heretofore, it has been common practice in collapsible tables of the kind specified to provide for the clearance between the lower face of the table top and the bracketleg portions in question to be less than the thickness of the portions of the chassis frames to be embraced by said legportions; thus, when engaging or disengaging the said chassis-frame portions, utilising the resiliency of the brackets, the operation of attaching the chassis to the table top, and in particular, its removal therefrom, was rendered comparatively difficult.

The present invention, having for its object to overcome the difficulty referred to, is characterized in that the clearance between the lower face of the table top, on the one hand, and the oppositely aligned leg-portions of the brackets, on the other hand, is slightly wider than the thickness of the portions of the chassis frames to be embraced by said leg-portions, and in that pivotally mounted on the lower face of the table top are two cam members or the like for co-operation respectively with said leg-portions of the brackets so as to urge the legportions towards the table top and against the frame portions embraced by the leg-portions.

In a case where each bracket is in the form of a sheetmetal piece bent substantially into U-shape and being secured to the table top by one of its two leg-portions, then according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the said cam members may be pivotally attached to said leg-portion by a rivet or the like.

One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described more closely by way of example, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an inverted planview of a table according to the invention, the chassis thereof being shown partly cut away along the line I---I in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the table;

2,793,924 Patent ed May2 8, 195,7

ice

Figure 3, to a larger scale, shows an inverted plan view of one of the brackets for attaching the chassis;

Figures 4 and 5 are sections through the bracket taken along the line IV-IV, for two different mounting stages, respectively, Figure 4 illustrating the bracket in its chassis-retaining position, and 'Figure 5 illustrating the bracket in its position for receivingor releasing .the chassis. I

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral .1 designates the rectangular table top to the underside of which there are secured by rivets 2, in spaced relation to the ends of the table top, two brackets 3 for detachably securing to the table top a chassis structure serving as a groundsupport for carrying the table top. This chassis is composed of two rectangular closed frames 4 made of tubing or rod material, one frame 4 being slightly smaller than the other in size, and the frames being pivotally interconnected in such a manner as to enable them to be un folded or extended from a position in which they are collapsed in a common plane into a position in which the planes of the frames intersect. In the latter position of the chassis, the table top will rest on the frame portions 5 which are intended to be releasably retained by the brackets 3. Each such bracket 3 consists of a sheetmetal piece bent into a substantially U-shaped crosssectional form, one, relatively long, leg-portion 6 of each bracket being secured by the rivets 2 to the table top, and the other and shorter leg-portions 7 of the brackets being directed towards one another, the portions 5 of the chassis frames being adapted to be introduced into the clearance between the

legs

6 and 7 of the brackets; Pivotally secured to the long leg-portion 6 of each bracket by a rivet 8 is an elongated cam member 9 in the form of a lever arm 10a projecting from the hub portion 10 at an acute angle to the plane of the table top, this cam lever being adapted, when being turned in contact with the bracket leg 7, to urge the latter towards the table top. When the legs 7 of the brackets are released by the cam lever 9 the clearance between the

bracket legs

6 and 7 is slightly wider than the thickness of the frame segments 5 (see Figure 5), whereby upon attaching the chassis to the table top or on its removal therefrom, the frame portions 5 can be conveniently engaged in, or disengaged from, the said clearance. When, after the frame segments 5 have been introduced into the corresponding bracket gap, the cam levers 1011 are turned in contact with the bracket leg-portions 7, the latter are urged against I the frame segments 5 causing the chassis to be held rigidly to the table top.

It is understood that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the same being susceptible of various modifications in respect of its details without departing from the scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a collapsible table having a table top and ground supports for said top being in the form of pivotally interconnected closed frames collapsible from a top supporting position in which said frames cross each other, into a collapsed position with said frames positioned in a common plane, brackets each for connecting one of said frames to said table top and comprising a resilient sheet connected to said table top and having a leg portion spaced from said top for receiving a portion of one of said frames therebetween and a cam member pivotally connected to said table top and extending from said top in a manner for contacting said leg portion when pivoted thereto and bending said leg portion towards said top for releaseably retaining said frame portion between said leg portion and said table top.

2. In a collapsible table having a table top and a ground support for said top being in the form of pivotally interconnected closed frames collapsible from a top supporting position in which said frames cross each other, into a collapsed portion with said frames positioned in a common plane, brackets each for connecting one of said frames to said table top and comprising a resilient U-shaped sheet with one leg thereof mounted on and connected to said table top with the other leg thereof spaced from said table top whereby a portion of one of said frames can extend between said legs, a cam member pivotally connected at one end to said table top connected leg of said bracket and being capable of engaging the spaced leg of said bracket when pivoted thereto for bending said spaced leg towards said top connected 4 leg releaseably retaining said frame portion between said bracket legs.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 344,834 Hines July 6, 1886 606,845 Simmons July 5, 1898 628,712 Hoshour July 11, 1899 1,412,314 Pandolfo Apr. 11, 1922 1,462,615 Noble July 24, 1923 2,288,737 Page July 7, 1942 2,514,735 Wilson et al July 11, 1950 2,666,681 Adler Jan. 19, 1954 2,675,286 Derman Apr. 13, 1954 2,709,120 Tuttle May 24, 1955 2,729,279 Axtell et a1. Jan. 3, 1956