US2973028A - Desk or table attachment for folding chairs - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1961 c. s. CELESTE DESK OR TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING CHAIRS Filed July 3, 1958 JNVENTOR.

l www@ Feb. 28, 1961 c. s. CELESTE 2,973,028 DESK OR TABLE ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING CHAIRS l Filed July 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N V EN TOR. @wwf/2@ Sks 2"@ L60 b -d v TT/YEYS" DESK R TABLE ATTACHMENT FR FOLDING CHAIRS Carmine S. Celeste, 1546 Virginia Ave., Monaca, Pa.

Filed July 3, 1958, Ser. No. 746,373

9 Claims. (Cl. 155-123) This invention relates to novel attachments for chairs to provide a tray, desk, shelf, or table surface Iprojecting rearwardly from the backs of chairs.

The desirability of a device of the character stated is of course well appreciated. For example, in churches, auditoriums, etc., a device of the character described can be used to support hymnals, program books, etc. and can even be used as a storage place for said books. Further, in schools the device can comprise either a temporary or permanent desk for pupils. By reason of the invention, a plurality of folding chairs can be quickly set up, to accommodate extra pupils eiciently while still avoiding the expense of heavy, permanent-type desks that cannot be folded and moved to a storage area.

To obviate the diiiiculties which have been noted in connection with permanent desks and equivalent pieces of furniture, land to provide chair and desk means that can be swiftly erected, and that can be collapsed and stored away with equal ease, it is proposed in carrying out the present invention to provide an attachment which is designed especially for fitting over the back of a folding chair. However, as will presently appear, the attachment need not be limited to use only with folding chairs, and can be applied to the back of any type of chair having the properly shaped back frame, shaped to receive the device comprising the present invention.

Another more particular object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character stated which will itself be of a foldable nature, so as to be collapsed into a substantially fiat condition against the chair back when not in use.

Another object is to so form the device that when moved to its operative, unfolded position, it can, in at least one form of the invention, be adjustable to a selected position of inclination, designed to acconnnodate the particular user with maximum comfort.

Another object is to provide a device as stated which, when unfolded, will at least in one form provide not only a surface on which one may support a book, or on which one may write, but also a lower surface which provides a storage shelf.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated which will not require modification or redesign in any way of a chair to which it is applied, and which can be removed bodily from the chair without the use of special tools.

Another object, in all forms of the invention, is to provide a chair attachment of the character stated which, despite its marked versatility, will nevertheless be capable of manufacture at a relatively low cost.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a folding chair to which has been secured a chair attachment according to the present invention, said attachment fbeing shown in full tent C ICC and dotted lines in operative and inoperative positions respectively;

Figure 2, is a fragmentary elevational view of the chair with the device attached, vas Seen from the left of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the chair, showing the device as seen from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 4'is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 4 4 of -Figure l;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section of 'the device `as seen from line 5--5 of Figure l;

.Figure 6 is `a detail sectional view of the device taken substantially on line 6--6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a reduced side elevational view of a chair equipped with an attachment of the type shown in Figure l, wherein the attach-ment has been slightly modified to provide special bracing means;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 7, as seen from the right of Figure 7, the dotted lines showing the brace means as it appears while being detached;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a chair equipped with another modified form of the attachment;

Figure l10 is an elevational view of the device shown in Figure 9, as seen from the right of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical section through still another form of the invention in its open position;

Figure l2 is a View like Figure 11 in which the device has been moved to a folded or inoperative position;

Figure 13 .is a side elevational View of the device shown in Figure l1, a portion being broken away, with the device in its folded position;

Figure 14 is a horizontal section on line 14-14 of Figure 11; and

Figure 15 is a horizontal section on line .15--15 of Figure 1l.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the form of the invention shown in Figures l -to 6, includes vertical tubular side rails 14, between which a transversely curved back plate 16 is ixedly connected, the upper end of the plate being secured over the cross member 17 at the upper ends of the rails 14.

The chair back attachment 12, shown in Figures 1 to 6, has mounting means which comprises an inverted U- shaped channel 18 which extends along and is engaged removably around the side rails 14 and the cross member 17.

Fixedly secured to and projecting rearwardly from the legs 18 of the channel 18 are vertically, rearwardly extending parallel flanges 20 of approximately right-triangular configuration, and a horizontal plate 21 extends between and is xedly connected to the bottom edges of the flanges 2t).

The attachment further comprises a desk assembly 19 having a rearwardly declining flat top wall 22 having along its rear edge an upstanding flange 24. The top wall 22 provides a table or desk surface, when the assembly 19 is in its elevated operative position, as shown in Figure 1.

The top wall vIZZ'has along its side edges rigid depending side walls 26 which have txedly connected to their bottom edge a bottom wall 28, so that an open-ended box form is produced which provides a storage compartment 29, in which articles may be kept while the device is in USC.

The desk assembly 19 is pivoted on the flanges Ztl by pivot pins 30 which extend through the lower ends of the flanges 20 and through forwardly extending laterally outw-ardly oiset ears 31 on lower portions of the side walls 26, so that, in its elevated position, shown in Figure l,

3 y the walls of the assembly 19 abut the walls of the mounting support. Latch dogs 32 are pivoted at 34 on the outer sides of the side walls 26, at points spaced above and rearwardly of the pivots 30. The dogs 32 extend beyond the forward edges of the side walls 26 and have notches 36 in their lower edges which are adapted to engage over detent pins 3S which project from the outer sides of the mounting means fianges 20.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is shown a modified construction, wherein the device 38 comprises a channel 40 which is like the member 18.

Projecting rearwardly from the upper portion of the channel 40 is a transversely, horizontally extending piano hinge 42, and connected to the member 40 by said hinge 42 is a desk assembly comprising plate 44 providing a desk or table surface and having an upwardly projecting flange 46 on its rear edge. Extending downwardly 'from intermediate portions of opposite side edges of the plate 44 are ears 48.

A U-shaped brace 50 has its bight portion extending through and pivoted in the ears 48, its legs having on their free ends notched heads 51 which are removably engageable with selected ones of vertical rows of headed pins 52 that project laterally outwardly from the legs of the channel 4t). By reason of this arrangement, adjustment of the inclination of the plate 44 is provided for. Disengagement of the notched heads S1 from the pins 52 permits the desk assembly to swing downwardly to a collapsed position.

In Figures 11-15 there is shown another modified form of the invention, generally designated S4. The form 54 includes a U-shaped channel 56 which has on its forward side a plate 57 that extends there across and in front of the chair back 1t), as clearly seen in Figure 14. The plate, though of fiat formation, could be curved correspondingly to the plate 16 of the chair back, so as to be disposed in face-to-face contact therewith.

Plate 57 at its top is integral with a rearwardly projecting flange 58, and at its sides is integral with rearwardly projecting vertical flanges 60. A bottom wall 62 is fixedly connected between the lower edges of the iianges 60.

Designated at 64 is a plate usable as a desk, tray, or table surface. r1`his is reinforced through the provision of depending longitudinal side flanges 68 integrally formed thereon (Figures 11 and 13). At the rear free edge of plate 64 there is integrally provided an upstanding flange 70. Latch dogs 72 are pivotally connected at 73 Ito `the outer sides of the Side anges 62, and are adapted to extend rearwardly therefrom to engage laterally outwardly projecting latch pins 74 provided on -the outer sides of the side flanges 68, the latch dogs having notches 75 in their lower edges to engage over the pins 74, so as to hold the desk `assembly in its pendant collapsed position, shown in Figures l2 and 13.

When the plate 64 is swung upwardly to its use position, it is supported by a brace 76 of U-shape (Figure 15) having a horizontally, transversely extending bight portion 77 journaled in downwardly struck sleeves 78 on plate 64. The legs 79 of the brace, adjacent their free ends, have stop collars 80.

Vertically elongated angle brackets 82 are fixedly secured to the inner surfaces of the flanges, 60 and have flanges 83 which are formed with vertical rows of openings 85, any of which can receive the free ends of the legs 79, with 'stop collars 80 bearing against the flanges 83. Through the provision of a plurality of openings in each bracket, the inclination of the plate 64 can be adjusted according to the desire of a particular user.

Designated at 84 is a shelf, which is hingedly connected as at S6, at its forward edge, upon the bottom wall 62, forwardly of the bottom wall 62. Plate 84 is swingable between its depressed horizontal position shown in Figure 11, to an inoperative, upwardly swung position, shown in Figure 12. Bottom wall A62 serves as an abut- 4 ment limiting swinging downward movement of the shelf 84 `below its operative horizontal position.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, there is here shown a modification which is identical to the form shown in Figure 1, except for the provision of additional brace means to hold the desk assembly up to its operative position. The additional brace means comprises a U-shaped brace 88, having legs 89, the upper ends of which are formed with inwardly projecting extensions 91 which are engaged rotatably in sleeves fixed on the rear part of the bottom wall 28. Legs 89, at their lower ends, are integrally connected to a bight portion 94 which has forwardly offset portions at its opposite ends, which are formed with rearwardly opening notches 96, which are engageable with pins 92 projecting outwardly from lower portions of the legs 97 of the chair 10.

It will be seen that when the retaining bracket or brace 88 is in its Figure 7 position, it will provide a very effective, strong support for the desk assembly 12, so that the device can actually be used as a school desk.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specio use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a chair having a back comprising vertical side rails and a cross member extending between the upper ends of the rails, a U-shaped channel mounting member having a bight portion engaged over said cross member and legs engaged over said side rails, and vertical flanges fixed to said legs and extending rearwardly therefrom, said anges having upper and lower ends and rear edges, a desk assembly having forward and rear ends, means horizontally pivoting the desk assembly at its forward end on said mounting member to swing from a horizontal operative position to a pendant inoperative position, and means adapted to extend between the desk assembly and portions on said flanges for holding the desk assembly up in its operative position.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises latch dogs pivoted on the sides of the desk assembly, said dogs having notches, and lateral pins on said flanges over which the notches are engageable.

3. The combination of claim l, wherein said holding means comprises latch dogs pivoted on the sides of the desk assembly, said dogs having notches, and lateral pins on said anges over which the notches are engageable, and a brace pivoted to the desk assembly and extending downwardly therefrom and having a free lower end removably engageable with a part of the chair only in the operative position of the desk assembly.

4. The combination of claim l, wherein said holding means comprises brace means having an upper end pivoted to and depending from an intermediate part of the desk assembly, said brace means having a free lower end, a bracket means fixed on a fiange of the mounting members and having a row of vertically spaced openings in which thelower end of the brace means is selectively engageable, and stop means on the brace means engageable with the bracket means and limiting insertion of the lower end of the brace` means in openings.

5. The combination of claim l, wherein said holding means comprises brace means having an upper end pivoted to and depending from an intermediate part of the desk assembly, said Ibrace means having a free lower end, bracket means fixed on a flange of the mounting members and having a row of vertically spaced openings in which the lower end of the brace means is selectively engageable,

and stop means on the brace means engageable with the bracket means and limiting insertion of the lower en-d of the brace means in openings, said pivot means being a hinge located at the upper end of the mounting means, said hinge means being connected to the forward end of the desk assembly at a location spaced above said bracket means.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises brace means having an upper end pivoted to and depending from an intermediate part of the desk assembly, said brace means having a free lower end, bracket means fixed on a flange of the mounting members and having a row of vertically spaced openings in which the lower end of the brace means is selectively engageable, and stop means on the brace means engageable with the bracket means and limiting insertion of the lower end of the brace means in openings, said pivot means being a hinge located at the upper end of the mounting means, said hinge means being connected to the forward end of the desk assembly at a location spaced above said bracket means, a vertical plate extending across the forward side of said mounting member and iixed to the bight portion and the legs of the mounting member, said plate having an extension on its upper end reaching rearwardly over said bight portion and to which said hinge is fixed.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said desk assembly comprises an open-ended box form having a top wall providing a writing surface, side walls, and a bottom wall providing a storage shelf.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said desk assembly comprises an open-ended box form having a top wall providing a writing surface, side walls, and a bottom wall providing a storage shelf, said pivot means comprising ears fixed on and extending forwardly from said side walls and along sides of the anges, and pivots on the anges extending through the ears, said holding means being spaced above said ears and said pivots.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises brace means having an upper end pivoted to and depending from an intermediate part of the desk assembly, said brace means having a free lower end,

bracket means xed on a ange of the mounting members and having a row of vertically spaced openings in which the lower end of the brace means is selectively engageable, and stop means on the brace means engageable with the `bracket means and limiting insertion of the lower end of the brace means in openings, saidpivot means being a hinge located at the upper end of the mounting means, said hinge means being connected to the forward end of the desk assembly at a location spaced above said bracket means, said desk assembly comprising a plate serving as a writing surface, said plate having a forward end connected to said hinge and having depending side flanges, a bottom wall extending between and fixed to said vertical anges at the lower ends thereof, said bottom edge having a rear edge, a shelf plate having a forward end portion overlying the rear edge of the bottom wall and hinged upon said bottom wall at a point spaced forwardly from said rear edge to be supported in a horizontal operative position by the bottom wall, said shelf plate being swingable upwardly between the desk assembly and the chair back as the desk assembly is swung downwardly toward its pendant position, and latch means on the vertical anges removably engageable with the side flanges of the desk assembly only in the pendant position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 119,794 Schlag Oct.' 10, 1871 547,830 Yates Oct. 15, 1895 1,227,516 Yelinek May 22, 1917 1,448,118 Hoffman Mar. 13, 1923 1,886,217 Noonan Nov. 1, 1932 2,436,045 Leinheiser Feb. 17, 1948 2,480,876 Paden Sept. 6, 1949 2,487,536 Fiscus Nov. 8, 1949 2,584,179 Adams Feb. 5, 1952 2,703,426 Barkl Mar. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 30,421 Netherlands Aug. 15, 1933 851,834 France Oct. 9, 1939

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