US2868600A

US2868600A - Interior automobile folding table

Info

Publication number: US2868600A
Application number: US684511A
Authority: US
Inventors: Belden Nadine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-09-17
Filing date: 1957-09-17
Publication date: 1959-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1976-01-13

Description

Jan. 13, 1959 N. BELDEN INTERIOR AUTOMOBILE FOLDING TABLE Filed Sept. 17, 1957 Z n %Io u NAB/NE BELDEN BY h lw'a wwfl A TTORNEYS 2,868,600 INTERIOR AUTOMOBTLE FOLDING TABLE Nadine Belden, Sacramento, Calif. Application September 17, 1957, Serial No. 84,511

2 Claims. 01. 311-92 This invention relates to an interior automobile foldmg table and has for its object the provision of a table which can be used and carried in an automobile.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a folding table having a novel type of leg construction, which legs are locked in open position by special braces.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a folding table having braces for locking legs in open position, which braces become concealed when the legs are folded.

I am aware that somechanges may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the erect table.

Fig. 2 is a perspective top view of the folded table.

Fig. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the folded table.

Fig. 4 shows how the table is used in an automobile.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a front plate of a table leg, shown partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a front view of said front plate.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a brace.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the lower portion of Fig. 9 is a plan view of a leg casing; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the top of a leg assembly.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my interior automobile folding table consists of a top having a main section 10 and may have one or two longitudinally disposed side leaves 11 connected to the main section by plurality of hinges holding said leaf or leaves horizontally and permitting them to swing upwardly and over the main section 10 when the table is folded. Each leaf 11 is of less width than one half of the width of the main section 10, but said leaves 11 are of the same length as said main section 10. The hinges connecting said main section and the side leaves are preferably of the concealed type; such as the so called Soss invisible hinges.

The table has four legs 12 secured in pairs by cross members 13 attached to the upper ends thereof. The legs 12 are hingedly connected to the underside of the main section 10 so that they freely swing from the extreme position, when erect, toward the center of the table when folded.

Due to the fact that said legs when folded on the main section extend over the middle thereof in direction tosaid brace.

United States Patent 17. Each of the latter is formed with an. inwardly di- 'ice ward each other, said legs are offset, as shown in Fig. 3 i

to allow them to assume folded position.

The legs 12 are preferably constructed of an extruded channel 15 of aluminum alloy having a back 16 and sides rected groove 20 at its free ends, extending the entire length of the leg.

A thin plate 23, preferably made out of steel, is inserted into said groove to close said casing. The plate 23 is formed with a hinge 25 at the top. .A portion of the top of the casing 15 is cut off to accommodate said hinge, as shown at 26, in Fig. 10, so that when the plate 23 is inserted in said casing the top thereof is level with said hinge. The hinges 25 extend toward the center of the table, and when the legs 12 are folded, said hinges are covered by said legs. The casing 15 and the plate'23 may be secured to each other by various means, or may be held together by friction therebetween.

The plate 23 is provided with a narrow longitudinal central slot 28 which extends from the lower end of said plate upwardly toward the middle of said leg and terminates in a pocket 29. The latter is formed by bending the central portion of the plate inwardly and slightly downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to form a shoulder 30.

The slot 28 extends into the pocket 29 to a certain extent, as shown in Fig. 6.

hingedly connected to the underside of said central section 10 a comparatively short distance from the leg 12.

The brace 35 is preferably made of a strip of metal which may be corrugated longitudinally for the purpose of rigidity.

The free end of the brace 35 is provided with a pair of oppositely located notches 36 so as to form an inverted T-shaped anchor 37 having a transverse bar 38 and a stem 39. The latter is of such width as to be readily admitted by the slot 28. The stem 39 and the bar 38 are bent outwardly to permit the same to slide freely in said slot 28.

The transverse bar 38 is inserted through the slot 28 prior to the attachment of the brace 35 to the central section 10. When the leg 12 is in erect: position, the anchor 37 is lodged in the pocket 29 thus locking the leg and corresponding brace in erect position. To fold the leg it is necessary to spring the same outwardly and to slide the brace 35 downwardly. The anchor 37 slides in the slot 28 toward the free end of the leg 12, until said brace is fiat on the under surface of the central section 10 and the leg is on said brace.

While the present invention is especially adapted to use in automobiles, it should be understood that is not restricted thereto and that it is desired to cover all forms and modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a foldable table leg comprising a substantially rectangular channel consisting of a back, two sides and having its front open, said channel having a longitudinal groove extending the length thereof formed at the free end of each side, said groovesfacing each other, a narrow plate inserted in said grooves and extending the length of said channel for closing the same, said plate having a hinge at its top, said channel having a cut away portion to accommodate the hinge and to have the tops of the channel and said plate level for supporting said table, said plate having a longitudinal slot in the lower portion thereof, said plate having a pocket formed by bending the same inwardly at a sharp angle and then outwardly, said slot extending into said pocket; of a brace for holding said leg in the erect position comprising a metal narrow plate having a hinge at its top and an anchor at its lower end, said anchortbeing adapted to slide in said slot and to rest in said pocket for holding said leg in the erect'position. I

2. A leg assembly for a foldable-table having a top, comprising a substantially rectangular channel having a back, two sides-randhaving'itsfrontopen, said channel having a longitudinal groove extending thelength I-thereof .formed at the. ,free endv of :each:side,said, grooves facing each other; a narrow plate insertedin said grooves and extending the. length ofusaid channel for closing the same; said plate and rsaidtchannel-being secured to each other by'friction therebetweenand said plate beingslidableinsaid grooves; saidplateihavi'ngfa=hinge at the top by which the vsanre isfisecured,to the itable top, said channel having. aportionthereof cutaway to accommodate lsaid' hinge so that the top of-;said table, rests on the chaninel;ssaid plate thavingza longitudinal slot in the lower portion thereof and a pocket formed at the upper end of said slot by bending the same inwardly at a sharp angle and then outwardly, said slot extending into said pocket; and a brace for holding said leg in erect position, comprising a narrow metal plate having a hinge at its top by which the same is secured to the table top, and an anchor at its lower end adapted .toslide in said slot and to rest in said pocket for holding said leg in the erect position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Anderson Jan. 3, 1956