US2862777A

US2862777A - Tables foldable into suitcase-like form

Info

Publication number: US2862777A
Application number: US602271A
Authority: US
Inventors: Isaac A Paige
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-08-06
Filing date: 1956-08-06
Publication date: 1958-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-02

Description

- 1958 1, A. PAIGE TABLES FOLDABLE INTO SUITCASE-LIKE FORM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS [5a ac A azye BY m 6M,

Azfiior eys Filed Aug. 6, 1956 Dec. 2, 1958 Filed Aug. 6, 1956 l. A. PAIGE TABLES FOLDABLE INTO SUITCASE-LIKE FORM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORF Isaac A. ai e,

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Dec. 2, 1958 PAIGE 2,862,777

TABLES FOLDABLE INTO SUITCASE-LIKE FORM Filed Aug. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet s v l 1 I V m FIG, 1 59W,

FIG 15 54 F1614 INVENTORS Isaac A az'ye Zm gm.

flu 0:: eus

Dec. 2, 1958 A. PAIGE M 2,862,777

TABLES F OLDABLE. INTO SUITCASE-LIKE FORM Filed Aug. 6, 1956 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR5 Isaac A. Pazge "Mfim, Edam/Z 44444 ditor e35 2,862,777 TABLES FoLnAaLE IN'ro 'SUllTCASE-LIKE FORM I Isaac A. Paige, Chicago, Ill. Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,271 14 Claims. (Cl. 311- 90 This invention relates generally to foldable tables, and more particularly to those adapted to be readily carried or stored in a minimum of space when folded.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a table of relatively large area and sturdy construction which can be quickly and easily folded. into a suitcase-like form having approximately one fourth the area of the table when it is in fully extended position of use, and having a thickness only twice as great as the depth of the marginal flanges depending from the table top.

Another important object of theinvention is the provision in such a foldabletable of a supporting leg structure which may readily be retracted to a storage position wholly within the enclosure defined by the suitcase-like form assumed by the table when folded, and which may be quickly extended tosupport the table a standard distance from the ground or other supporting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for releasably locking the legs of such a leg structure in extended position.

Another object is to make a four part table top with each half thereof substantially the same as the other and hingedly interconnected therewith, and with each half comprising two of such parts telescopically interconnected for relative translational movement in the direction of the axis of the hinge connection between the halves, so that sliding of the telescopic parts together will reduce the table top area by approximately one half, and folding of the hinged halves together will superpose one of them over the other to further reduce by one half the table top area.

A further object is to provide novel means for locking such relatively movable parts in either extended or folded position.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a table embodying the features of the instant invention in fully extended position of use;

Figure 2 shows the tableof Fig. 1 in folded or closed, storage or traveling position in full lines, and in dot-dash lines the two halves of the top are illustrated as in a retracted coplanar position;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan-view of the table with the-two halves of the top in fully extended coplanar or tandem position and the legs in-retracted folded position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing the two halves of the top in a retracted coplanarposition and the legs of each half or section-crossed;

Fig. 5 is a side elevationaliview ofone of thelegs in retracted and foldedposition, with the central portion thereof in section, and the leg shown swungtovertical osition in dotted lines;

Figs. .6, 7, and 8 are detail-vertical sections takensub- 'nited States Patent stantially on the

lines

66, 77, and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal section through the side walls of the table to illustrate the latch shown in Fig. 6 for retaining the sections of the table in either of their positions of Figs. 3 or 4; v

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a table in its folded position of Fig. 2, with the top panels of the upper'section partially broken away to illustrate the position therein of the legs;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section of an end portion of a leg in retracted position to show the spring latch employed for retaining the end leg section in either extended or retracted position;

Fig. 12 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on line 12ll2 of Fig. 4 showing a means for strengthening the inner end of the narrower top panel;

Fig. 13 is a detail elevational view, with parts broken away, of one of the legs swung to an inverted vertical position and with its end section retracted, as it would be seen in its broken line position of Fig. 5 from the left side of the latter;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view, as seen from the right side of Fig. 13, and illustrating in broken lines the end leg section extended;

Fig. 15 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 1515 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a detail horizontal section taken through a corner of the table and from the position of the line 116 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a detail elevational view of a modified hinge and latch construction in open or extended position as seen from the outside of the table and with the table shown in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 18 is a detail vertical section similar to Fig. 8 showing the hinge and latch mechanism of Fig. 17 as seen from the rear of the latter;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the hinge in folded position;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Figs. 17 and 19 showing the hinge in a partially closed position; and

Figs. 21 and 22 are detail horizontal sections taken substantially on the lines 2121 and 2222, respectively, of Fig. 17.

As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the present invention comprises a table having a top 25 which is foldable from a fully extended position, Figs. 1 and 3, into the small compact arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2. Supporting legs are mounted on this top 25 and are also foldable from an extended table supporting position, as shown in Fig. 1, to a retracted position (Fig. 3), so that the top subsequently may be folded into its position of Fig. 2. The top 25 comprises a pair of similar halves or

sections

26 and 26a hinged together for relative pivotal movement from an extended coplanar position, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4,.to a folded or superposed and closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. The top section 26 comprises a pair of

subsections

27 and 28, and the top section 26a comprises a pair of subsections 27a and 28a. The subsections '27 and 27a are telescopically slidable relative to the subsections 28 and 28a for movement from an extended tandem position, as shown in Fig. 3, to a retracted open position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Each subsection is generally rectangular in shape, and the subsections 23 and 28a are slightly wider than the

subsections

27 and 27a to permit such telescopic movement. The subsection 27 comprises a rectangularly shaped top panel or plate 29 having downwardly extend ing side guide flanges 31 at opposite sides and an end flange 32 extending downwardly from one end thereof. T hesubsection 28 comprises a rectangularly shaped top .section 27, having a rectangularly shaped top panel 29a and similarly positioned side guide flanges 31a and an end flange 32a. The subsection 28:: is constructed similarly to the subsection 2%, having a rectangularly shaped top panel 33a, side guide flanges 34a and an end flange 35a.

The top panel 33 isslightIy wider than the top panel 29 so that the guide flanges 31 and the top panel are slid able within the top panel 33 and the side flanges 34.

Similarly, the top panel 33a is wider than the top panel 2%, so that the side flanges 31a and the top panel 2% are slidable within the top panel 33a and the side flanges 34a, as viewed in Fig. 3.

Openings in the outer ends of the

inner side

31a, 34 and 34a are provided for placement c. hinge means (to be describedlater) secured to the

end flanges

32, 32a, 35 and These hinge means provide for relative pivotal movement between the top sections 26 and 25a from a retracted open position, as shown in Fig. 4, to the folded or closed position of Fig. 2. For the purpose of strengthening each part of the table and preventing bending thereof, each of the

end flanges

32, 32a, 35, and 35a, have their lower edges reversely bent horizontally. This is best illustrated in Fig. 12 wherein the outer end flange 35a of subsection 28:: is shown on an enlarged scale. The inner end of the

top panels

29 and 29a of the

narrower subsections

27 and 27a also may be flanged downwardly and provided with suitable strengthening bars 35 secured thereto in any desired manner, as by welding, one of which is best illustrated in detail in Fig. 12. It is to be understood, of course, that any other suitable manner of strengthening the top panels may be employed. The inner ends of the wider top panels 33 33a, asbest illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, are not flanged so as to present the smoothest possible top surface when the table is in its fully extended position of use of Fig. 1. Also for strengthening purposes and to maintain the slidable panels in interfltting, telescopically disposed arrangement, it is preferred that the lower edges of the

side guide flanges

31, 31a, 34, and 34a be bent inwardly slightly more than 90 degrees, as best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. To further strengthen the table structure and to assist in preventing buckling of the table top when disposed in its fully open position of use, it may be found desirable to use one or more retaining clips similar to that best illustrated in Fig. 7. In that figure, the clip is designated by reference numeral 37, is substantially lJ-shaped in cross section, of slightly greater interior width than the combined thicknesses of the associated side guide flanges, and is secured to one of them, as by welding, and slidably engages the other. In Fig. 7, the lower leg of the clip 37 as therein illustrated is secured to the inner surface of the inturned end of side guide flange 31 and the upper leg in that figure (which is actually the lower leg of the clip since the parts are shown in inverted position in Fig. 7) slidably engages the outer surface of the inturned end flange of the associated side flange 3 As previously noted, openings are provided in the outer ends of the

inner side flanges

31, 31a, 34, 34a (Figs. 3 and 4) to provide clearance for hinge means secured to the

end flanges

32 and 32a and 35 and 35a. Two such hinge means are provided, one at each end of the table, and one of these is illustrated in detail in Fig. 8. As shown therein, this hinge means comprises an inner hinge plate 38 secured in any suitable manner to the channel formed by the outer end flange 32 and the associated top panel 29. A locking slide 39 having a reduced inner end and an outer end with an inwardly directed flange or handle portion 41 is slidably mounted on the inner surface of the inner hinge plate 38 and retained thereon by a suitable bracket 42 which cooperates with the handle portion 41 of the slide 39 to limit inward movement of slide toward the center of the table. Outward sliding movement of the slide 39 is limited by a suitable spring clip 43 mounted on the outer end of the hinge plate 38. A filler plate 44 of substantially the same thickness as the inner hinge plate 38 is disposed against the inner vertical surface of the associated outer end flange 32a within the channel formed by the latter and its top panel 2%, and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, together with an outer hinge plate 45. The inner ends of the two hinge plates 38 and 45 overlap each other, and the same are pivotally secured together at their lower corners (at the top of Fig. 8) by a suitable hinge pin or rivet 46. The inner end of the outer hinge plate 45 is recessed at 47 to receive the reduced inner end of the locking slide 39 when the table is opened into a coplanar position, as illustrated in Fig. 8 in full lines. When it is desired to swing the two halves of the table into or toward closed position, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 8, the locking slide 39 is first moved to its broken line position of that figure, by means of its handle portion 41, into engagement with the spring clip 43 to remove its reduced inner end from engagement with the recess 47. When the parts are returned to their full line positions of Fig. 8, it will be seen that the slide 39 cooperates with the outer hinge plate 45 to lock the extended halves of the table against pivotal movement relative to each other.

Locking or retaining means also are provided for releasably maintaining the two sections of the table top in their fully extended coplanar or tandem positions of Figs. 1 and 3 or in their retracted coplanar positions of Fig. 4.

This locking means comprises one or more spring latches mounted upon the inner surface of either or both of the outer

side guide flanges

31, 31a, and cooperating with suitable apertures provided in the associated

outer side flanges

34, 34a. As shown in Figs 6 and 9, such a latch comprises a leaf spring member 48 secured at one end in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the inner surface of the outer side flange 31a. Secured to and extending through a suitable aperture in the other or free end of the leaf spring 48 is a stud 49. This stud 49 is slidably disposed in and extends through a suitable aperture 51 in the side flange 3111. It is also adapted to extend into and cooperate with one or the other of a pair of apertures 52 provided in the outer side flange 34a. Each such aperture 52 is disposed in such a location that one of them will cooperate with the stud 49 when the table halves are in their fully extended positions of Figs. 1 and 3, and the other one will cooperate therewith when the halves have been moved to their retracted coplanar position of Fig. 4. In order to effect relative sliding or telescopic movement of these halves or sections of the table top, it is first necessary to displace the leaf spring latch. 48 inwardly as by pressure of a thumb or finger against the outer end of the stud 49 to its broken line position of Fig. 9, which clears the stud 49 from the associated aperture 52 and permits relative movement between the

side flanges

31a and 34a. As the two sections of the table top thereafter are moved relative to each other, the spring latch-'48 will force the stud 49 outwardly position as will later be more fully described, the specific construction of only one such leg means or assemblage now will be detailed. A mounting plate 53 is disposed in the outer corner of each of the subsections or parts of the table top and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as best illustrated in Fig. 16, for the dual purpose of mounting the associated leg assembly and strengthening the corner portion of each subsection. This mounting plate 53 may be provided with downwardly extending flanges spaced from each other to provide trunnion means or, as shown in Figs. 13, .14, and 16, the desired trunnion means may be provided by a separate member. comprising a U-shaped bracket 54 having parallel legs;55 with rounded corners comprising cam surfaces and terminating at its upper end (the bottom of Figs. 5, l3, and 14) in outwardly extending or horizontal flanges. 56 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the mounting plate 53 (Fig. 16). Therefore, as above noted, these members 53 and 5456 may be formed as one integral member.

As best'seen in Fig. 13, a horizontal shaft 57 extends through and is supported by the legs 55 of the bracket 54. Each leg assembly also comprises a base leg section 58 and an end leg section 59, which, for the major portion of their length, have similar cross sectional shapes (Fig. 15), with the end leg section 59 being somewhat smaller than the base leg section 58 and slidable telescopically therein. The upper end of the .base leg member 58 (shown at the bottom in Figs. 13 and 14) is U-shaped in horizontal cross section to fit slidably between the parallel legs 55 of the bracket 54, and is pivotally mounted at its upper end on the shaft 57. A spring urged latch-is slidably mounted between the legs of this U-shaped portion of the base leg section 58 which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a slide 61 thatis offset at its upper end toward the open side of the leg and terminates in laterally extending flanges 62. Secured to the slide 61 is a finger piece 63 having an outwardly turned end portion that extends through a suitable slot 64 (Fig. 5) in the base wall of the upper end portion of the base leg section 58. Extending through a similar and adjacent slot 65 is a rivet 66 or shouldered stud which secures the slide 61 and its finger piece 63 together and retains them in the base leg section 58'for vertical sliding movement relative thereto. The end of the slide 61 comprising the flanges 62 is secured to one end of a suitable spring 67, the other end of which is mounted upon the shaft 57. This spring 67 resiliently maintains the flanges 62 in engagement with the edge surfaces of the legs 55 of the bracket 54. These legs 55, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 14, are provided with vertical apertures or slots 68 to receive the flanges 62, when the leg is swung into its vertical position, for the purpose of maintaining the leg locked in that position. When it is desired to release this locking means comprising the slide 61, it is necessary only to engage the finger piece 63 from the exterior of the leg and to move the same and the slide 61 downwardly (upwardly in Figs. 13 and 14) against the action of the spring 67 to remove the flanges 62 from the slot 68,

which will permit pivotal swinging of the leg from its vertical position to a horizontal or retracted position, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. Sand shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the leg is swung from the latter horizontal position to a vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, it will be seen from that figure that the flanges 62. will ride the curved or cam surfaces of the legs 55 of the bracket 54 and be pulled into the slot 68 by the spring 67 automatically when the leg reaches its vertical position to lock the same therein.

As previously noted, he end leg section 59 is telescopically and slidably disposed within the base leg section 58, and means are provided for releasably locking these two leg sections against relative movement either in their retracted or'extended positions. The locking means for performing this function as herein illustrated are shown in Figs. 5 and 11, and comprise a leaf spring clip 69 riveted or otherwise suitably secured at its lower end (at the left end of these figures) to the outer'or lower end of the base legsection 58. At its other or upper end, 7

the spring .69 is provided with an inwardly extending stud 71 slidably disposed in a suitable aperture through the wall of the base leg section 58 and adapted to engage either one of two suitable disposed apertures in the end leg section 59. One of the latter apertures is disclosed in Fig; 11 as being engaged by the stud .71 when the end ,leg section 59 is in its fully retracted position, and the 6 other such aperture is so located in the wall of the end leg section 59 as to be engaged by the stud 71 when the legs are in their fully extended position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 14 and in full lines in Fig. 1.

For convenience in describing the angular position of the four legs when each is in its fully retracted and folded position as in Fig. 3, that mounted upon the

subsections

27, 28, 27a, and 28a are designated, respectively, by numerals 58:1,.58b, 58c, and 58d. In order to prevent jamming ofthe-end portions of these legs against each other as the subsections are telescoped into each other from their fully extended tandem position of Fig. 3 to their retracted coplanar position of Fig. 4, these several legs are not disposed uniformly at 45 degree angles to the edge and end flanges of the table top. Rather, as best seen in Fig. 3, the leg 58a is angularly disposed relative to the outer end flange 32 at 40 degrees, and the leg 58b is positioned to define an angle of 50 degrees with the outer end flange 35. In the section 26a, the leg 58c defines an angle of 50 degrees with the outer. end flange 32a, and the leg 56d defines an angle of 40 degrees with -the outer end of flange 35a. Whenthe several legs are .the sloping arrangement of the outer side surfaces of each base leg section 58, such contact of the outer ends of the legs 58b and 580 with the side surfaces, respectively,

' of the legs 58a and 5812 will result in the legs 58b and 580 beingcammed away from the lower surface of the table top, and they will assume their positions of Fig. 4 when the subsections have been slid into fully retracted positions. The dimensioning of the several legs relative to the side flanges of the table top is such that, when the retracted

sections

26 and 26a are swung pivotally from their open position of Fig. 4'to their fully closed position of Fig. 10, the several legs will assume the positions illustrated in the latter figure and the table top will provide a suitcase-like enclosure of suiflcient thickness or depth to accommodate them in that position.

A modified type of hinge construction is illustrated in Figs. 17 through 22 which performs the same function as that of Fig. 8 and is mounted similarly thereto, but in which locking of the two hinge sections in their fully open position is accomplished automatically. As in the case of the

hinge plates

33 and 45 ofthe modification of Fig. 8, that illustrated in Fig. 18 comprises two hinge plates '72 and 73 which are secured, respectively, in any suitable manner, as by means of riveting, to the adjacent

outer end flanges

32 and 32a of the table top. At their lower inner corners (at the top in Figs. 17, 18, and 20) these hinge plates are provided with laterally offset portions 74 (Fig. 21) which are suitablyv apertured to receive a rivet-like, hinge pin 75. At the opposite side from the hinge pin 75, the hinge plate 73 is provided with two inwardly offset or struck-

cut portions

76 and 77, the former being disposed adjacent the longitudinal center of the hinge plate and providing a seat upon which is riveted the inner end of a leaf spring 78 (Fig. 22). The outer end of this leaf spring 7% carries an outwardly extending locking corner extension having a somewhat curved outer end 7 7 84 (Fig. 22) and an aperture 85 adapted to receive the locking stud 79.

When the table sections are swung to their open or coplanar position, they will be locked therein as illustrated in Figs. 17, 18, and 22, by engagement of the stud 79 in the aperture 75. In order to move them through their position of Fig. 20 and to their closed position of Fig. 19, it is first necessary to remove the locking stud 79 from the aperture 85, and this may be done by a simple inward pressure against the finger stud 82. It will be readily apparent that swinging of the table sections from their closed positions to their fully opened positions will cause the curved end portion 84 of the hinge plate 72 to cam against the rounded outer end of the locking stud 79 to bend the spring latch 78 inwardly and that, when the parts reach their fully opened position of Figs. 17, 18, and 22, the leaf spring 78 will automatically engage the locking stud 79 in the aperture 85.

As best seen in Fig. 2, means are provided to facilitate carrying of the table when folded which, in the present embodiment are in the form of a handle 86. Suitable means also are employed to releasably maintain the two halves in carrying or folded position, such as the latch 87 shown in Fig. 2.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the forms, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. A foldable table having a top comprising a pair of top sections hingedly connected to each other for pivotal movement from a retracted coplanar position to a folded position, and each of said top sections comprising a pair of subsections telescopically connected to each other for sliding movement from an extended tandem position to said retracted position. I

2. A foldable table having a top comprising a pair of top sections hinged together for relative pivotal movement about an axis disposed centrally of the .table when said sections are in an extended coplanar position, and each of said top sections comprising a pair of subsections slidably connected to each other for relative movement in the direction of said axis from an extended tandem position to a retracted position.

3. A foldable table having a top comprising a pair of top sections hinged together for relative pivotal movement about an axis disposed centrally of the table when said sections are in an extended coplanar position, each of said top sections comprising a pair of subsections slidably connected to each other for relative translational movement in the direction of said axis from an extended tandem position to a retracted open position, and a leg pivotally mounted on each of said subsections for movement from a supporting position transverse to the plane of the subsection to a retracted position approximately parallel to the plane of the subsection.

4. A foldable table as set forth in claim 3, having loclo ing means mounted on said top sections for releasably locking the same in said extended coplanar position.

5. A foldable table having a top comprising a pair of top sections hinged together for relative pivotal movement about an axis disposed centrally of the table when said sections are in an extended coplanar position, each of said top sections comprising a pair of rectangularly shaped subsections each having a rectangularly shaped top panel with two side guide flanges extending vertically therefrom, an end flange extending vertically from each said top panel at one end thereof, one of each said pair of subsections being slightly wider than the other of the said pair of subsections for slidably en aging the latter to provide for relative telescopic movement thereof in the direction of said axis between an extended tandem position and a retracted open position, whereby said top panels and said side and'end flanges form a longitudinally adjustable suitcase-like enclosure, and a leg pivotally mounted on each of said subsections for movement about a leg axis between an extended table supporting position and a retracted position within said enclosure.

6. A foldable table as set forth in claim 5, wherein each said leg comprises a base leg section pivotally mounted on a said subsection and an end leg section mounted on said base section for movement relative thereto between an extended position and a retracted position, and means for releasably locking said leg sections in extended position.

7. A foldable table as set forth in claim 6, wherein each said leg is substantially shorter than a diagonal of the associated said top panel and is mounted adjacent an outside corner of a said subsection for pivotal movement in a plane diagonally disposed with respect to the top panel of said subsection.

8. A table having a top, a leg supporting means secured to the underside of said top, a leg pivotally mounted on said supporting means for movement from an extended table supporting position to a retracted position, a locking member slidably mounted on said leg for movement longitudinally of said leg, a slot in said supporting means which is aligned with said locking member when said leg is in said table supporting position, and spring means for moving said locking member into engagement with said slot when said leg s in said table supporting position to releasably lock said leg therein.

9. A foldable table having a top comprising a pair of top sections hinged together for relative pivotal movement about an axis from a substantially coplanar position to a superposed closed position, a flange extending outwardly from each of said top sections, a hinge plate secured to each of said flanges, means for pivotally connecting said hinge plates together to provide a hinge connection for said pair or" top sections, slot means in one of said hinge plates, and a locking member mounted on the other of said hinge plates for movement from a retracted position to a locking position in engagement with said slo-t means when said pair of top sections are in said extended position for releasably locking said pair of top section's in said extended position. v

10. A foldable table as set forth in claim 9, wherein said locking member comprises a spring member having a detent at the outer end, said spring member tending to force said detent toward said one of said hinge plates, and said slot means comprises an aperture in said one of said hinge plates that is aligned with said detent when said pair of top sections arein said extended position so that said detent will automatically releasably lock said pair of top section's in said extended position. I

11. A f-oldable table as set forth in claim 9, wherein said slot means comprises a longitudinally disposed recess in said one of said hinge plates, with said locking member slidably mounted on said other of said hinge plates for reciprocal movement from a retracted position to a locking position in engagement with said recess for'releasably locking said top sections in said extended position.

- 12. A foldable table comprising a top having four parts, side flanges on each said part for slidable engagement with similar flanges on an associated said part to provide two telescopically disposed section's, anouter end flange on each said part, hinge means interconnecting adjacent said end flanges to enable relative pivotal movement of said's'ections between a coplanar position and a folded position with the lower edges of opposite said side flanges in engagement to provide a suitcase-like enclosure therebetween, and releasable locking means for retaining said telescopically disposed section's in either one of two coplanar positions. p 4 13. In a foldable table according to claim 12, adjustable leg means movable between a substantially vertical table supporting position and a folded position within References Cited in the file of this patent the enclosure provided by said top whenthe latter is in folded position UNITED STATES PATENTS 14. In a foldable table according to claim 13, mount- 973,2 0 schmidtmann 00 13, 1910 ing means secured to said top for pivotally supporting said 5 2 444 532 Chi k July 6, 1948 leg means, and releasable latching means automatically 255 300 G h t 1 Sept, 15, 1953 cngageable with said mounting means when said leg means 2 653,066 A d Sept, 22, 1953 are swung to table supporting position to retain the same therein.