US3001843A - Convertible table - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1961 s. D. DAVIS CONVERTIBLE TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1959 INVENTOR.

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SUD/E D. DA V S Unite This invention relates generally to articles of furniture, and more particularly has reference to convertible furniture, in particular tables adapted to be converted to different uses.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a convertible table which when not in use will comprise an attractive article of furniture on which a picture may be displayed vertically, said picture being incorporated directly in the furniture piece.

' Another object is to provide a convertible table which,

when not in use, will occupy a minimumamount of space by reason of the fact that the table top is vertically disposed upon a novelly designed support or stand which in itself can be so formed as to blend with adjacent pieces of furniture.

Another object is to provide a convertible table that will be so formed that it can be swiftly converted for use as a card table.

Another object is to permit the equally swift conversion of the table for use as a table on which checkers or chess can be played.

Another object is to provide a novel means for mounting foldable legs upon the table, said means being so designed as to provide maximum rigidity when the legs are extended for use, while still permitting the legs to be folded in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of difliculty.

Another object is to provide a convertible table of the type stated which will be so designed as to insure to the maximum extent against marring or other damage of the surface thereof, due to the provision of felt coverings over portions of the table that are particularly subject to being scratched.

Another object is to provide a convertible table of the character described which, when used as a card table, will have novelly designed means for supporting glasses, and other articles, in an out-of-the-way location where they will not interfere with playing of the cards.

' Still another object is to so form the convertible table that it can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, considering the particular versatility thereof, its adaptability for quick assembly or disassembly, and the wide range of its uses.

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 1' is an exploded perspective view, partially in section, of the furniture piece comprising the present invention, the legs of the support frame being in unfolded, operative positions;

' FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the table;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view;

j FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, detail sectional view substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, detail sectional view showing the connection of one of the legs to the support frame, the leg and the connecting means being shown in full lines with the leg unfolded, and in dotted lines with the leg folded.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the item of furniture comprising the present invention includes a support frame generally designated 10. The support frame or base includes four supporting legs 12, which at their lower ends may be provided with threaded sockets in Patent which are engaged the shanks of adjustable feet 13, thus,

to permit leveling of the device for adjustment of the height of the table surface.

In any event, designated at 14 are the side rails of the horizontal, open-center, rectangular frame 15 comprising the top portion of the base 10. Side rails 14 are identical to one another, each side rail being formed, at locations adjacent its opposite ends, with upwardly pro jecting tongues 16.

The tongues 16 are so formed as to be progressively decreased in width, in a direction from the outer faces to the inner faces of the side rails on which they are formed. There are two tongues on each side rail, said tongues of each side rail being identical to one another. The outer and inner faces of the tongues are coplanar with the cor responding faces of the side rails proper, while the side faces 17 of the tongues converge in a direction toward the inside face thereof.

Extending about each corner of the horizontal, opencenter frame 15 is a protective plate 18, which at its op posite ends may have upwardly projecting extensions 20 overlying a portion of the outer faces of the adjacent tongues 16.

At this point, it is to be understood that there will be no attemept to specify particular materials, such as nickel, aluminum, or the like, nor should dimensions be specified herein, since it is not desired to limit the protection sought to certain materials or certain dimensions. Rather, it is intended, of course within the scope of the appended claims, to protect the basic principles of the invention, and the relative form and arrangement of the component parts thereof.

Designated at 22 are rectangular cuffs or sleeves (see FIGURES l and 5), in which are tightly fitted the upper ends of the several legs 12. Adjacent each leg is a connecting bracket 24. ,Each connecting bracket comprises an elongated, flat length of material secured by screws or equivalent means to the inner surface of an adjacent rail 14. Then, projecting outwardly from the elongated body portion or main part of the bracket are ears or arms 26, disposed in embracing relation to the sleeve '22, as will be clearly seen (from FIGURE 1. The ears 26, and the sleeve 22, have registering openings, receiving a pivot pin 28, so that each leg 12 is hingedly mounted, for swinging movement between operative and inoperative positions angularly spaced 99 degrees apart, and shown in full and dotted line positions respectively, in FIGURE 5.

In any event, the device comprising the present inven tion includes a lock means for releasably engaging the legs in both their operative and inoperative positions. Said lock means comprises an L-shaped, vertically slidable locking plate 3%. the support bracket 24 of each leg is connected to one rail 14, while the locking plate 30 used to engage the same leg in the operative and inoperative positions of the leg is mounted upon the adjacent rail 14', that is, the rail 14 cooperating with the leg-supporting rail, in forminn one corner of the base.

The locking plate 30 includes a wholly planiform, L-shaped portion, which L-shaped portion has a horizontal part 31 and a vertical part 32. The vertical part 32, as seen from FIGURE 5, has a longitudinal, vertical slot 34. Extending through the slot 34 are vertically spaced, headed rivets or similar fastening elements 36 that extend into the adjacent side rail 14. As a result,

the L-shaped locking plate is mounted for vertical sliding,

movement between the full and dotted line positions shown in FIGURE 5.

Patented Sept; 26 1961 As will be seen from. FIGURE 1,

3 slot 34 formed in the upper ends of the leg 12 and sleeve- 22:

A short distance downwardly from the upper extremity of the leg, there is provided a slot 42 disposed wholly in a plane perpendicular to theplane of the slot 40. Slot upon the inner side surface of the sleeve and Due to this arrangement, it will be seen that when the leg is swung to its operative, vertical position shown in fiill lines in'FIGURE- 5, locking plate 36 may be shifted downwardly from its dotted line position so as to engage arm 38 in slot 40; Asa result, the leg is locked in its operative position. It is important to note, in this connectiomtha-tirr no circumstances would'thc leg becapable of bei'ng accidentally unlocked. This often happens with respect to foldable card table legs, that is, ones knee may strike the locking brace such as the typical articul'ated bracing linkage 44 shown in FIGURE 1 and also in FlGURE' 2. Whenones knee strikes such a linkage, it often happens that the leg is collapsed, at least partially, so that the table may partially collapse, causing mixing of cards, or movement of checker or chess pieces.

At such time as itis desired to collapse the leg, one merely shifts the lockingplate 30 upwardly to the dotted line position shown ln-FIGURE' 5. This disengages arm 38 from the slot 40. The leg may now be swung upwardly into a position extending along the inner faceof the adjacent side rail, as shown in dotted lines in FIG- URE' 5. With the leg in this position, slot 42 in now facing upwardly, in coplanar relation to the arm 38. The locking plateis now dropped sutiiciently to engage the arm 38 in the slot 42, and as a result, the leg is now locked in.its upwardly swung or collapsed position.

Generally designated at 46 is a table top which can, when one side is faced upwardly, be used for playing cards. When the other side is faced upwardly, the table top can be used for playing chess or checkers. When one views FIGURE 3, one sees the side used for playing cards, while in FIGURE 1, the surface used for playing chess or checkers is' faced upwardly.

In any event, the table top 46 is preferably of octagonal outer configuration, and is adapted to be removably supported upon the frame 15 of base It The table top 46 includes an octagonal inside rail 48, and at 49 there is shown a fiat plate member. forced by a support rail 56, which extends about and is secured to the inside rail 48.

Designated at SZis anoutside rail, and at the several corners of: the octagonally shaped table top, protective corner brackets 54 are provided. Extending radially inwardly from each corner are connecting, spacer pieces 56, which can be arrow shaped by the provision of notches 58 in their opposite sides. These are disposed in position to be seen when the table top is in the FIG- URE 1 position, that is, when the table top is disposed withits plate member at the bottom, and with the checker on chess playing area 60 available for use.

Referring to FIGURE 3, also at the several corners of the table top there are spaced blocks 62, 64-, 66, and 67; shaped as spades, diamonds, hearts and clubs respectively. In other words, there are diametrically opposed blocks 62 shaped as spades, a pair of diametrically opposed blocks 64 shaped as diamonds, etc. In each block there are shallow recesses 68, '70 adapted to receive glasses or similar objects.

Designated 72 are flat filler pieces disposed in a common plane midway between the top and bottom edges of the octagonally shaped rails (see FIGURE 4). The filler pieces. 72 are. secured along their outer edges by screws. 74 to; the outside rails 52, and the inside edge portions of the filler pieces are secured by screws 76 extending downwardly from the peripheral portion of theplate. 49 Plate 49 is in the plane of one edge of rails52, that is, the plate 49 is the uppermost portion of thetwle. top. when: thetable top. is being used for. play- This is peripherally rein 4% ing a card game. The table top would be in this position when seen as in FIGURES 3-and 4.

A felt covering 78 is applied to the surface of the table top used for playing cards, and has a marginal portion 80 turned downwardly andengaged in a slot formed in the support rail 50. In. this connection, the inside rail 48 is preferably formed of spongerubber in an illustrated embodiment, and is covered by felt 83 which is anchored along one edge by'afelt-covered strip that is secured to rail 50 by fastening means 92 having a reduced head The other; edge portion of the felt 88 is secured be, tween. plate; 49 and a. feltretainingstrip 8'2, that isconwwhich. face of. the table. top isturned, upwardly, that. is..

each tongue 16 extends into engagement with a selected? spacer plate 72 as shown in FIGURE 4. The table: top

is thus locked against rotatable movement relative to, the base, and. is firmly supportedv in proper position, ready. for*use,.whether it is to. be used for card playing, or on the. other hand for. chess or checker playing.

The blocks 55, of course, are disposed in contact witln and are secured to one face of the spacer plates 72, while the. blocks 62, 6.4, 66 and67 are secured to the, opposite face. Again, this is clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE l, generally designated at 96, is. acover plate, which isdesigned to, provide an attractive picture whenthe device isnot in use. ThBzCOVBI'. plate 96 has a flat, plate-like center portion.98,,on. which. may be provided. as picture 99 which could. be a. photograph, or perhaps. some sporting scene such as a. fox: hunt, etc. and is bordered by a: series of framing strips 100 which have miter. joints where they are in abutting relation; The strips 100 provide an octagonal border on the cover plate. 96, and reinforcingthe periphery of the plate. is a marginal reinforcement, strip 102. Secured to the strip 132 in underlyingrelationto plate 99 are backing plates 164, 106 respectively;

Designated generally at 108 is a stand which supports the device when not in use. Stand 108 includes transversely spaced base members 110, and rigid with. and extendingupwardly from said base members are standards 112 of. identical. though. opposite: construction. Base members are connected in transversely spaced I'Clflr tion by cross members 1 14, 116, with cross member 116 being disposed in an inclined position. Formed in the front edges of the standards 112 are elongated recesses 118, the opposite end walls of which are oppositely. beveledas at 120. Fixedly connected between the upper. end portions of the standards is an upper cross bar 122,. and at itsupper extremity, each standard may be ornamentally shaped through the provision of a circumferential. groove 124.

When the device. is not in use, the peripherally flanged cover plate, is adapted to seat upon the table top, withthe flange defined by strips 100 in overlying relation to rail 50. Strip 102 and backing plates 104,106 extend into the well defined by the rail 48. and plate 49 in FIGURE 1. There, is a snug fit of the cover plate upon the table top, so that it remains assembled therewith at all times.

With the legs folded, the base 19 can be engaged. in the recesses 118, and in these circumstances, the beveled wall 120 of said recesses will be in firm engagement with the several side rails 14. The side rails 14 will be in a diamond-shaped arrangement, that is, they will all be inclined, rather than disposed in horizontal positions. The table top 46 remains in engagement with the tongues 16;, and the cover plate is engaged in the table top in the manner previously described. The result will be that the devicewill be'supported in such a way that it could cover a fireplace or be otherwise located where it will comprise an attractive piece of furniture, displaying the pictorial representations. 99; Of. course, the posts for standards The center. portion 99 is octagonally. shaped;

112 are inclined from the vertical, so that there will be no danger of the base, table top, and cover plate falling forwardly of their properly supported positions.

It will be seen that the device has a highly versatile construction, permitting it to be used for many purposes. At the same time the device is quite sturdy, and can be assured of remaining in any position selected therefor, with minimum danger of its dislodgement from such position. This of course interferes to the minimum extent with card playing, chess playing, etc.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not neces sarily confined to the specific 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:

l. A convertible table including a base, said base including a frame and legs depending therefrom; a table top removably seating on said frame in engagement therewith; said legs being rectangularly spaced on the base, the frame being of rectangular configuration with the legs being disposed at the corner of the frame, said legs being connected to the frame for swinging movement between vertically depending, operative positions and horizontal collapsed positions in which the legs are disposed in the general plane of the frame, said frame including locking plate means at the several corners thereof adapted for releasably engaging the several legs in the operative and inoperative positions of the legs so as to lock the legs in said positions, said locking plate means comprising a plurality of locking plates disposed adjacent the several corners of the frame and mounted upon the frame for vertical sliding movement between locking and unlocking positions respectively, each locking plate having an extension, the adjacent leg having slots one of which registers with said extension in the operative position of the leg and the other of which registers with the extension in the inoperative position of the leg, said extension engaging in a selected slot responsive to sliding of the plate to its locking position,

2. A convertible table comprising a supporting, rectangular frame having folding legs at its corners, a table top having marginal, spaced, parallel rails, octagonal in form and of substantial depth, a plate attached to the inner of said rails at one edge, spanning the central area of the table top and providing a working surface which is flush with the table in one position of the table top and is recessed in the inverted position thereof, a web plate extending between said rails medially of their depth and throughout their extent about the table, and defining channel-form pockets on opposite sides of the table, and reinforcing blocks between the rails at each associated pair of corners of the respective rails in each of said pockets, said supporting frame having, in its upper edge, medially of each side, a slot with angularly disposed end faces to accommodate the inner of said rails at a corner, to avoid turning movement of the table top, and also having a recess at each corner to accommodate said blocks with either of said pockets in downward position, and a storage stand for said table in folded position comprising a frame with a pair of uprights having slots with angularly disposed end faces.

3. A convertible table comprising a supporting, rectangular frame having legs at its corners, a table top having marginal, spaced, parallel rails, octagonal in form and of substantial depth, a plate attached to the inner of said rails at one edge, spanning the central area of the table top and providing a working surface which is fiush with the table in one position of the table top and is recessed in the inverted position thereof, a web plate extending between said rails medially of their depth and throughout their extent about the table, and defining channel-form pockets on opposite sides of the table top, and reinforcing blocks between the rails at each associated pair of corners of the respective rails in each of said pockets, said supporting frame having, in its upper edge, medially of each side, a slot with angularly disposed end faces to accommodate the inner of said rails at a corner, to avoid turning movement of the table top, and also having a recess at each corner to accommodate said blocks with either of said pockets in downward position.

4. A convertible table top comprising a supporting,

rectangular frame having legs at its corners, and a table top having marginal, spaced, parallel rails, octagonal in form and of substantial depth, a plate attached to the inner of said rails at one edge, spanning the central area of the table top and providing a working surface which is flush with the table in one position of the table top and is recessed in the inverted position thereof, a web plate extending between said rails medially of their depth and throughout their extent about the table, and defining channel-form pockets on opposite sides of the table top, and reinforcing blocks between the rails at each associated pair of corners of the respective rails in each of said pockets, said supporting frame having, in its upper edge, medially of each side, a recess to ac commodate the inner of said rails at a corner, and also having a recess at each corner to accommodate said blocks with either of said pockets in downward position.

5. A convertible table comprising a supporting, rectangular frame having legs at its corners, and a table top having marginal, spaced, parallel rails, octagonal in form and of substantial depth, enclosing a central working space on the table, a web plate extending between said rails medially of their depth and throughout their extent about the table, and defining channel-form pockets on opposite sides of the table top, and reinforcing blocks between the rails at each associated pair of corners of said rails in each of said pockets, said supporting frame having, in its upper edge, medially of each side, a recess to accommodate the inner of said rails, and a recess at each corner to accommodate said blocks with either of said pockets in downward position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 391,013 Bogardus Oct. 16, 1888 885,630 Mason Apr. 21, 1908 1,926,429 Bendelari Sept. 12, 1933 2,047,388 Sinclair July 14, 1936 2,203,780 Gatz June 11, 1940 2,322,089 Greitzer June 15, 1943 2,450,827 Clare Oct. 5, 1948 2,608,454 Slattery Aug. '26, 1952 2,901,861 Oakes Sept. 1, 1959 2,903,312 Lawless Sept. 8, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 408,019 Great Britain 1934

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