US2934386A - Portable circular folding table - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1960 2,934,386

C. SHORE PORTABLE CIRCULAR FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 3 SheetsSheet 1 Fig.

INVENTOR. CHARLES SHORE ATTORNEY April "26, 1960 c. SHORE 2,934,386

. PORTABLE CIRCULAR FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 a Sheets-Sheet 2 2e :8 66 26 aa 64 1 l6 e 2e 7 24 5o 28 as INVENTOR. CHARLES SHORE ATTORNEY April 26, 1960 c. SHORE 2,934,386

PORTABLE CIRCULAR FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. CHARLES SHORE ATTORNEY PORTABLE CIRCULAR FOLDING TABLE Charles Shore, Cheltenham, Pa.,assignor to Falco Products Co., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvama Application February 25, 1959, Serial No. 795,457 '3 Claims. (Cl. 311-90 This invention relates to an all-purpose utility portable circular folding table, the primary object .of which is to provide a table which is light-weight and easily foldable yet attractive and sturdy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable circular folding table wherein leg units are employed which are attached only to the skirt portions and not the table tops, said units serving at the same time to reinforce the table without impairing its beauty.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable circular folding table, the tops of which are reinforced with diametrically extending flanged members which also serve to support the legs in such a way that the legs are adapted to fold diametrically against the undersurface of the table top, there being means to brace the legs which do not interfere with the flanged members in the folding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circular folding table in which the legs, leg braces and supports are retained when folded within the confines of the skirt so that the two halves of the table can be releasably latched in side by side relation to provide a compact light-weight portable unit.

These and other objects will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: t

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table shown in the unfolded or erect position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 isa bottom plan view of the table with one pair of legs shown folded and the other pair erected and in horizontal section;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the table in its folded position ready to be carried;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of the table; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-'7 of Figure 6.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings wherein similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Referring first to Figures 1-5, it will'be seen that the table comprisestwo symmetrical halves 10 and 12, each including a table top, a depending peripheral skirt and a foldable leg assembly. The substantiallyflat table top 14 is semi-circular and may be made of fibrous board,

such as Masonite, metal or other suitable material and decorated as desired. The skirt,'preferably F-shaped in vertical cross-section, as seen in Figure 3, receives and mounts the table top, the skirt including a semi-circular depending portion 16 and a diametrical depending portion or transverse edge flange 18, the portions 18 being hinged at their ends as at 20. In the unfolded or erect position as shown in Figures 1-3, the diametrical skirt portions or transverse edge flanges 18 form a meeting edge, the portions 18 being preferably provided with nied States Patent '0 ice longitudinal edge portions 22 which meet to space the diametrical skirt portions, as shown in Figure 3.

Associated with each table half is a foldable leg unit which is secured only to the depending skirt so that the table top will be smooth and attractive, the unit serving at the same time to strengthen the table. Each unit comprises an angle bar having a horizontal portion 24 and a a g or equivalent securing means.

A pair of legs 32 and 34, preferably capped, are pro vided of length somewhat shorter than the angle bar. The leg 32 is offset at its end adjacent the table top as at 36 and there pivoted by a suitable rivet 38 to the verti- V cal flange 26 adjacent the skirt portion 16, the leg 32 being disposed on the side of the flange facing the diametrical skirt portion or transverse edge flange 1-8. The other leg 34 is also offset at its end as at 40'and there pivoted by a suitable rivet 42 to the vertical flange 26 adjacent a point on the skirt portion 16 diametrically opposite the pivot 38 and disposed on the side of the vertical flange facing the semi-circular skirt 16 or remote from the edge flange 18.

As is evident from Figure 4, the legs are foldable from erect support positions perpendicular to the table top to folded positions in which they extend along the length of and on both sides of the vertical flange 26 and in substantial parallelism to the diametrical skirt portions or transverse edge flanges 18. Conventional folding or break-type braces 44 are provided which are terminally pivoted to each leg and the vertical flange 26, the braces serving to releasably retain the legs in erect positions as is well-known in the art. It will be seen that because the legs are offset as at 36and 40, spaces are provided between the vertical fiange 26 and the legs into which the braces 44 fold when the legs are collapsed, the braces and the legs being retained within the confines of the skirt.

The legs are further braced by rods interconnecting the legs with the diametrical skirt portion or transverse edge flange 18. Adjacent the offset 36 of the leg 32 which is closest to the center of the table there is connected as at 46 a rod 48 which at its other end is pivoted as at 50 to the diametrical skirt portion 18. Adjacent the offset 40 of the other leg 34, that is the one remote from the center of the table, there is connected desirably to the remote side of the leg as at 52 a rod 54 which bends around said leg 34 and which at its other end is pivoted as at 56 to the diametrical skirt portion 18. Thus, as seen in- Figure 4, when the legs are in the completely folded position the leg 32 extends beneath the rod 54 and the rod 54 clears the leg 32 and the vertical flange 26 because it includes a portion ofiset from the line joining the points 52 and 56. In the unfolded or erect position, any releasable latch means, such as pivoted hooks 58 and keeper pins 60, is provided at diametrical endsof the, peripheral skirt to retain the table tops 14 insub skirt 16, the rods 54 serving to retain them in place, each table half may be folded in side by side relation with the free curved edges of the peripheral skirts 16meeting or nearly so, in which condition the table may readily be transported by a suitable handle 62 which is pivoted to one of the skirts 16, there being a means to releasably hold the halves together such as a strap 64 pivoted to the skirt of one table half having a female snap engageable with a male snap member 66 on the skirt of the other table half.

The table of Figures 6 and 7 is primarily of the same construction as that described hereinabove except that the legs are attached to the table in a somewhat different manner. Each leg unit includes a channel member which extends substantially parallel to the diametrical skirt portions or transverse edge flanges 18, the channel member including a web 63 which bears against but is not secured to the undersurface of the table top 14 and a pair of vertical flanges 70 and 72. The ends of the inner vertical flange 70 turn inwardly toward the center of the table and are there secured as at 74 to the skirt poition 16. The ends of the outer vertical flange 72 are turned outwardly away from the center of the table, there to be secured as at 76 to the skirt portion 16.

Legs 78 and 80 are provided which are offset and pivoted respectively as at 82 and 84 in diametrically opposed relation to the flanges 70 and 72 adjacentthe skirt portion 16, the position of the legs being such that in their folded positions they extend in the channel memher along the length of the vertical flanges as shown in Figure 7. Conventional folding braces 86 are provided which are pivoted to each leg and each vertical flange to be confined within the channel bar, the braces when extended serving to releasably hold the legs in erect or support positions substantially perpendicular to the table top. v

To further brace the legs, diametrically opposed rods 88 and 90 are provided. The rod 88 is pivoted as at 92 to the diametrical skirt portion or transverse edge flange 18 at one of its ends and adjacent its other end bends around and is secured desirably to the remote side of the leg '78 as at 94, said rod 88 clearing the vertical flange 70 when the leg is completely collapsed because said rod 88 has a portion offset from the line joining points 92 and 94. The other rod 90 is also pivoted at one of its ends as at 96 to the diametrical skirt portion or transverse edge flange 18 and adjacent its other end is connected as at 98 to the other leg 60, the rod 90 passing over the inner flange 70 and over the leg 78 when said legs are fully collapsed as shown in Figure 6, because said rod 90 has a portion offset from the line joining the points 96 and 98.

As in the previously-described form of the invention, because the legs and braces are retained when collapsed within the confines of the peripheral skirt, the table halves can readily be folded in side by side relation to assume the carrying position.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have here been shown and described, skilled artisans may make minor variations without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding table comprising two halves, each including a substantially flat table top, a depending peripheral skirt and a transverse edge flange, means hingedly securing said edge flanges to each other at their ends whereby said halves are movable from a folded side by side position to an unfolded position in which said table tops are substantially in the same horizontal plane and portions of said edge flanges meet, means releasably retaining said halves in said unfolded position, a flanged bar secured at its ends to said skirt in each half and extending substantially parallel to said edge flange, a pair of legs pivoted to said flanged bar adjacent its ends for movement from erect support positions perpendicular to said table top to folded positions against said table top along the length of said flanged bar and within the confines of said skirt, folding braces pivoted to each leg and to said flanged bar to releasably retain said legs in their erect positions and a pair of brace rods each pivoted to said edge flange and connected to each of said legs, at least one of said brace rods having means permitting said one brace rod to clear said flanged bar when said leg is in the folded position against said table top.

2. A folding table comprising twohalves, each including a substantially flat table top, a depending peripheral skirt and a transverse edge flange, means hingedly securing said edge flanges to each other at their ends whereby said halves are movable from a folded side by side position to an unfolded position in which said table tops are substantially in the same horizontal plane and portions of said edge flanges meet, means releasably retaining said halves in said unfolded position, an angle bar secured at its ends to said skirt in each half and extending substantially parallel to said edge flange, said angle bar having a horizontal portion extending across the undersurface of said table top in close proximity thereto and a vertical flange, a pair of legs pivoted to said vertical flange adjacent its ends for movement from erect support positions perpendicular to said table top to folded positions against said table top along the length of said angle bar and within the confines of said skirt, one of said legs being pivoted to said vertical flange on the side thereof facing said edge flange and the other of said legs being pivoted to said vertical flange to releasably retain the legs in said edge flange, folding braces pivoted to each leg and to said vertical flanges to releasably retain the legs in their erect positions, and a pair of brace rods each pivoted to said edge flange and connected to each of said legs, one of said brace rods having a portion offset from the line joining its point of pivotal attachment to said edge flange with its point of connection to said other leg which is pivoted to the remote side of said vertical flange whereby said one brace rod clears said vertical flange when said other leg is in the folded position against said table top.

3. A folding table comprising two halves, each including a substantially flat table top, a depending peripheral skirt and a transverse edge flange, means hingedly securing said edge flanges to each other at their ends whereby said halves are movable from a folded side by side positionto an unfolded position in which said table tops are substantially in the same horizontal plane and portions of said edge flanges meet, means releasably retaining said halves in said unfolded position, a channel bar including vertical flanges secured at its ends to said skirt in each half and extending substantially parallel to said edge flange, a pair of legs pivoted to said vertical flanges adjacent the ends of said channel bar for movement from erect supportpositions perpendicular to said table top to folded positions within said channel bar along the lengths of said vertical flanges, folding braces pivoted to each leg and one of said vertical flanges to releasably retain the legs in their erect positions, and brace rods pivotally interconnecting said legs with said edge flange, said rods including portions offset from the lines joining their pivotal attachment to said edge flange with their points of attachment to said legs whereby said rods clear the vertical flange of said channel bar which faces said edge flange when the legs are in their fully folded position within said channel bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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