US3020111A

US3020111A - Convertible coffee-dining table

Info

Publication number: US3020111A
Application number: US51397A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry A Berliner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-08-23
Filing date: 1960-08-23
Publication date: 1962-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1962 H. A. BERLINER 3,020,111

CONVERTIBLE COFFEE-DINING TABLE Filed Aug. 23, 1960 N T WW E a M M,-

Filed Aug. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 51,397 6 Claims. (Cl. 3l1.-3)

This invention relates generally to table structure and more particularly to a novel construction providing a table that can be converted from a dining table to a coffee table of less height and length.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a self-contained table structure which may be readily converted from a dining table to a coffee table by appropriate reductions in both the height and the length thereof, without detracting from its structural rigidity or appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible coffee-dining table where the manipulation of the structural elements can be quickly and easily performed, and where there are no legs or leaves employed in one position which must be stored separately when the table is utilized in the other position.

Still another object is to provide a convertible coffeedining table which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and not unduly subject to damage in normal use.

Other objectives and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a table construction incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the table illustrated in FIG. 1, shown here in a position suitable for use as a dining table;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation similar ot FIG. 2 but showing here the table construction in a position suitable for use as a coifee table; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevation taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the table construction is illustrated here as comprising a table top 1 defined by

side edges

3, 5 and

end edges

7, 9. In the embodiment illustrated, the

side edges

3 and 5 are both tapered inwardly from a central point along their length, but it should be noted that other edge contours may be employed.

A pair of table leaves 11, 13 are provided to form extensions of the table top 1 at either end thereof. Leaves 1?. and 13 are preferably of the same vertical thickness as the table top itself and lie in coplanar relationship therewith when positioned in abutting relationship with respect to the

respective end edges

7 and 9. Leaves 11 and 13 may have their sides tapered to form a continuation of the tapers provided on the

side edges

3 and 5 of table top 1.

Both of the leaves 11 and 13 are rigidly secured at the inner ends thereof upon the upper surface of a connector members 15. The connectors 15 extend inwardly under the surface of the table top 1 and are pivotally secured at their inner ends to the underside of the table top at points adjacent to but spaced from

end edges

7 and 9. Piano-type hinges 17 may be employed for this purpose.

The connectors 15 preferably extend substantially the full width of the table along the lines of abutment between table top 1 and leaves 11 and 13. A pair of legs 19 are rigidly mounted in laterally spaced relation under hired States Patent 0 each connector 15 and are of sufiicient height to support inches and a height of approximately 28 inches. From this position the legs 19 may be pivoted inwardly, thus swinging the connectors 15 and the leaves 11 and 13 into the position illustrated in FIG. 4. The leaves 11 and 13 thereby form the supporting legs of the table which now has a longitudinal dimension on the order of 50 inches and a height of approximately 18 inches. Depending upon the relative dimensions of the legs 19 and the table top 1, the former may be arranged to overlap when pivoted into cotfee-table position as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Where the leaves and/ or the legs are not inclined outwardly to a sufiicient extent when in table-supporting position, supplementary locking means may be employed to hold the legs and leaves at the extremities of their pivotal movement. For example, when the table is in its lowered position, conventional spring clips 21 may be mounted on the underside of table top 1 and serve to engage the legs 19. When the table is in its raised position a sliding bolt assembly can be employed to prevent pivotal movement of the connector. Thus bolts 23 mounted in the underside of table top 1 in retainers 25 are adapted to be moved inwardly through gaps in hinges 17 and be received in apertures 27 in the connectors.

While one embodiment only has been shown here it should be understood that numerous modifications can be made in the construction and design of the present device without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible table, comprising: a table top; leaf means projecting horizontally beyond at least one edge.

of said table top to provide an extension of the upper surface of said table top at generally the same level therewith; generally upright leg means rigidly connected at their upper ends to said leaf means; and means pivotally connecting said leaf means to said table top for downwardly swinging movement into a generally vertical table supporting position, said rigidly connected legs being swung upwardly and inwardly thereby to an inactive position underlying said table.

2. A convertible table, comprising: a table top; table leaves projecting from opposite edges of said table top to form extensions of the upper surface thereof; generally upright table legs rigidly connected at their upper ends upper surface thereof; connector means rigidly secured,

to said table leaves and extending inwardly therefrom beneath the underside of said table top; leg means rigidly secured in depending relation beneath the inner portions of said connector means; and hinge means securing said connector means to the underside of said table top for pivotal movement of said connector means about the inner ends thereof on axes adjacent to but spaced inwardly from the end edges of said table, whereby said leaves may be swung downwardly and inwardly into a generally vertical position supporting said table top through said connector members, said table legs being simultaneously swung upwardly and inwardly into a position underlying said table top.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein said table leaves References Cited in the file of this patent project horizontally outward for a substantially shorter distance than the height of said table legs. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. The construction of claim 3 wherein said connector 2,527,505 Wilkin on Oct. 24, 1950 members extend inwardly beneath the undersurface of 5 2,560,821 Rieman ct a1 July 17, 1951 said table top for a distance at least equal to the thickness 2,602,716 Muth July 8, 1952 of saicltable leaves. 2,630,360 McGinley Mar. 3, 1953 6. The construction of claim 3 including means for lock- 2,636,794 Sternkopf Apr. 28, 1953 ing said leaves and legs at the opposite extremities of 2,688,524 Hodgman Sept. 7, 1954 their pivotal movement. 10 2,843,437 Dorsey et al July 15, 1958