US3080833A

US3080833A - Foldable table stabilizer

Info

Publication number: US3080833A
Application number: US88716A
Authority: US
Inventors: Newell V Risdall
Original assignee: PEABODY SEATING CO Inc
Current assignee: PEABODY SEATING CO Inc
Priority date: 1961-02-13
Filing date: 1961-02-13
Publication date: 1963-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1980-03-12

Description

March 12, 1963 N. v. RlSbALL FOLDABLE TABLE STABILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1961 Rs 4 mm MM 5 a H W I M F W w 1 p) G M2. M a, I Y 9 f m m w E fi fiz.. FE: a J W m u WXMZW lrrazmsvs March 12, 1963 N, v, RISDALL FOLDABLE TABLE STABILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1961 News K R1300 a N N Jrramvezs when the table is in use.

3,080,833 FOLDABLE TABLE STABILIZER Newell V. Risdall, St. Paul, Minn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Peabody Seating Company, Inc., North Manchester, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 88,716

2 Claims. (Cl. 108-112) The present invention relates to foldable tables and more particularly to foldable tables with wheel means to allow convenient transportion of the table from one place to another and means for stabilizing the table by rendering the wheels inoperative when the table is unfolded and placed in position for use.

The present invention is particularly well adapted for use in connection with large tables of the type used for banquets or in schools. Because of the large size and bulk of these tables, they have been inconvenient to collapse and transport for storage during the time they are not in use.

A variety of foldable tables have been previously de- States atent scribed. Some of these tables have been provided with wheels allowing the table to be conveniently moved about when it is folded to a collapsed position. Previously, however, most of these tables have been subject to instability or undesired movement after the table has been unfolded and placed in the operative position.

One previous device pro-posed for rendering wheels inoperative is a means for individually elevating each Wheel from the floor so that another part of the table is folded to the collapsible condition and also having means for automatically placing the wheels in inoperative position as the table is unfolded for use.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved collapsible self-stabilizing table of the type described which is economical to manufacture, reliable in operation and durable under conditions of actual use.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an improved collapsible table which is stable when unfolded for use, which can be collapsed for storage without lifting the table from the floor and which can then be easily moved about upon wheels which automatically become operative as the table is collapsed.

With these objects in mind the invention broadly comprises a collapsible table preferably divided into two similar folding top portions, a plurality of table legs pivotally connected to the folding table top to support the table .from the floor and means connected to the lower end of the legs to enable the table to be readily moved about on To enable the table to be easily moved wheels of known construction are preferred. The wheels support the entire weight of the table when the table is in the collapsed condition but means are provided for automatically placing the wheels in an inoperative position Specifically, I provide a table stabilizer means movably connected to at least one of said legs and means such as a stabilizer control lever connected between the table top and the stabilizer for raising the stabilizer as the table is placed in the collapsed position and for lowering the stabilizer to the operative position to render the wheels inoperative as the table is 28 28 30 and 30 These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of foldable table according to the present invention in the folded condition with the wheels in operative position.

'FIG. 2 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 but with the table unfolded for use.

FIG. 3 is an-end elevational view of the table of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation showing the details of construction of the stabilizer mechanism.

' FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and using reference numerals to denote like parts and structural features, there is shown a collapsible table according to the present invention including stabilizer means operatively associated with the legs to automatically lift the wheels to an inoperative position when the table is unfolded and is ready for use. The table comprises-a table top 10 divided into two flat rectangular

top portions

12 and 14.

Portions

12 and 14 may be formed from wood. Each of the

portions

12 and 14 is provided with reinforcing

members

24 and 26 such as angle irons.

Members

24 and 26 are pivotally connected at the center to a centerpiece 18 by

pivots

20 and 22. These reinforcing

members

24 and 26 are rigidlyattached to each of the table

top portions

12 and 14 by any convenient fastening device (not shown). Pivotally connected to the table top near the outer end of each

ofportions

12 and 14 are .table legs designated at 28 and'30 respectively.

Table legs

28 and 30 include

hinge members

34 and 36 which may be formed from metal tubing.

Members

34 and 36 are accordingly pivotally connected at each end to one of reinforcing

members

24 and 26. Rigidly attached to each of

binge members

34 and 36 are the

leg members

28 and 30. Each leg comprises a pair of spaced apart vertically disposed metal tubes, designated Rigidly attached to the lower end of the

leg members

28 and 30 are horizontally disposed

wheel supporting members

40 and 42 respectively. Mem- 1

bers

40 and 42 may also be formed from metal tubing. At each end of each of

wheel supporting members

40 and 42 is provided a wheel 44, there being a pair of wheels attached to each of the

wheel supporting members

40 and 42.

When the table is collapsed to the position shown in 'FIG. 1, the wheels are operative enabling the table to be moved about with ease and convenience. However, when the table is unfolded to the position in which it is to be used, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the wheels are rendered inoperative by means of the improved stabilizing mechanism according to this invention which will be described below.

Located approximately intermediate the ends of

leg members

28 and 28 as well as

leg members

30 and 30 are provided horizontally positioned connecting

members

46 and 47. Pivotally connected at one end to member 46 is a leg brace 48, while pivotally connected to connecting member 47 at one end is a leg brace 49. The "other end of the brace 48 is pivotally connected to the table top member on the opposite side of the

center pivots

20 and 22 from the leg 28. Thus brace 48 is pivotally connected to one end to the leg member 28 and at the other end to top portion 14. Brace 49 is mounted similarly, it being pivotally connected at one end to table leg 30 and at the opposite end to table top portion 12. It will be understood by making reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 that as the table is elevated from the unfolded position, shown in FIG. 2, to the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1, the resultant relative movement between table

top portions

12 and 14 will cause the legs 28 and 3t: to remain in a vertical position as the table is folded due to the action of

braces

48 and 49. The

braces

48 and 49 may therefore be thought of as a means for maintaining the legs in a vertical position as the table is folded.

Slidably associated with each of the

table legs

28 and 30 are stabilizing

elements

50 and 51. The stabilizing

elements

50 and 51 comprise a pair of elongate members t)" and 50 slidably mounted inside the

leg members

28 and 28* respectively and a pair of members 51* and 51 slidably mounted inside leg members and 39* respectively. Rigidly attached between the lower end of each pair of stabilizer members is a floor engaging 'member 54. The length of the stabilizing

members

50 and 51 is adjusted so that the upper ends thereof, designated at 56, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is spaced apart from the

pivots

34 and 36 when the stabilizing floor engaging portion 54 is in contact with the 11001 thereby allowing a space for the stabilizing members 50 to slide upwardly with respect to the

legs

28 and 30. Pivotally connected near the upper end of each stabilizing member is a stabilizer control lever 58. Each of the stabilizing control levers 58 is pivotally connected at the other end thereof to one of rein-forcing members 24. The levers are in effect pivotally connected to the table top by virtue of their connection with reinforcing

members

24 and 26. The point of connection between the control levers and the table top is located centrally of the

pivot connections

34 and 36 between the table legs and the table top.

According to a preferred form of the invention, each stabilizer control lever comprises a stiff metal rod having a center portion 58 and portions 58 and 58' at each end thereof which are bent at a right angle with respect to the center portion 58 The

portions

58 and 58 can thereby be conveniently pivotally connected to the table top and stabilizer member respectively. The center portion of each of levers 58 is provided with a slight bend 61 best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 to accommodate the

members

34 and 36 when the table is collapsed. I

To allow access of the estabilizer control lever '58 to the stabilizer members 50, each leg is provided at the upper end thereof with an elongate opening 60. The portion 58 of the control lever 58 thus projects through the elongate opening'60 in the stabilizer member 50.

At the center of the table is provided a central leg 70 which is rigidly connected to the upper end thereof to a centerpiece 18. The bottom of leg 70 is provided with a floor engaging portion 72. At approximately the center of leg 79 is provided a sliding collar 74. Between the sliding collar 74 and the centerpiece 18 is provided a helical compression spring 76 which tends to drive apart the collar 74 and the centerpiece 18. Pivotally connected at each end between collar 74 and table top members 12 and 14- are two

links

78 and 80. The

links

78 and 80 are accordingly pivotally attached at the upper end thereof to table topmenrber's 12 and 14 by

pivots

82 and 84 respectively. The

links

78 and 80 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to collar 74 by means of

pivots

86 and 88. Thus, the spring 76 exerts downward force on the collar 74 and therefore also exerts downward force on the

links

78 and 80.

The provision of spring 76 and collar 74 and links 76' and 78 tend to assist folding the table to its collapsed position. The spring tension of spring 76 is not sufiicient to cause the table to assume the folded position without additional manual force but is sufficient to aid on collapsing the table.

In operation, the table is placed in the unfolded .position during use. While the table is in this position, the

stabilizers are extended to a floor engaging position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The stabilizer member 54 thus supports at least a part of the weight of the table. If desired the stabilizer may support the entire weight of the table in which case the wheels 44 will be elevated from the floor. In most applications, however, it is desirable to provide that the stabilizer members support only a part of the weight of the table, the remaining weight being supported by the wheels. If this provision is made, the wheels will not actually be elevated from the floor.

It will be thus apparent that the stabilizing members render the wheels 44 inoperative when the table is in the unfolded position for use and thereby prevent undesired movement of the table across the floor when the table is being used.

To fold the table from the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and 4 to the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1, the centerpiece 18 is raised from the floor. The change in the angle between the

top pieces

12 and 14 will cause the

braces

48 and 49 to exert lateral forces on the

legs

28 and 30 thereby maintaining the

legs

28 and 30 in a vertical position as the table is folded in the manner described above. The

leg members

28 and 30 will thus turn with respect to the

table top portions

12 and 14 in a counterclockwise and clockwise direction respectively. As leg 28 pivots clockwise about pivot 34 relative to table top member 12, the stabilizer control levers 58 associated with leg 28 will cause the stabilizer 50 to slide upwardly in leg 28. The stabilizer control lever associated with leg 30 operates in a similar manner. The

stabilizers

50 and 51 are in this way automatically moved to the inoperative position as the table is folded to the collapsed position for storage.

From the above description it can be seen that the invention provides a collapsible table wherein stabilization of wheels is automatic in operation, the wheels being placed in an inoperative position as the table is placed in the position for use. Under conditions of use the invention has shown good reliability and durability.

The tables according to the present invention are surprisingly stable in the unfolded position and can be readily collapsed and thereby rendered easily transportable as the wheels move to the operating position. The invention is particularly useful in connection with large and bulky tables, such as banquet tables. The invention can be economically manufactured and requires relatively few additional parts.

It is undertsood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible table comprising in combination, a table top, said table top being divided into two similar portions, a pivotal connection between said two portions, first and second table legs, each of said legs being pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to one of said portions to support the table from the floor, wheel means connected to the base of each such leg, at first brace pivotally connected at one end to said first leg and at the other end to the table portion connected to said second leg, a second brace pivotally connected at one end to said second leg and at the other end to the table portion to which said first leg is attached, a first and second stabilizer member mounted slidably with respect to said first and second legs respectively to support at least a part of the weight of said table when said table is unfolded for use, a stabilizer extender lever pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of each stabilizer and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to said table top at a position between the center of said table and the end thereof connected to said stabilizer to extend said stabilizer downwardly to a position rendering said wheels inoperative when said table is unfolded, a central leg means connected to said pivotal connection between said two portions and extending downwardly therefrom, said central leg means being adapted to support the center of said table when said table is unfolded for use.

2. A collapsible table comprising in combination, a table top, said table top being divided into two similar relatively foldable portions, a pivotal connection between said two portions, first and second table legs, each of said legs being pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to one of said portions to provide support for the table from a floor, the pivotal connection of each of said legs comprising a hinge member providing for movement of each leg about an axis parallel to said pivotal connection between said two table top portions, a pair of spaced apart hollow tubular members forming a part of each of said legs and movable therewith, spaced wheels mounted at the lower end of each of said legs for engagement with the floor, a pair of stabilizers slidably associated with said tubular members, each of said stabilizers being in the form of an elongate member telescopically mounted in a tubular member, andmeans connected with each stabilizer and a table top portion for extending said stabilizer from a retracted inoperative position to a position projecting beyond the portions of said wheels engaging the floor in response to relative pivotal movement between said table top and said legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,986 Curtis May 20, 1952 2,720,402 De Puy et a1. Oct. 11, 1955 2,747,958 Wilson May 29, 1956 2,764,460 Nelson Sept. 25, 1956 2,792,270 Anderson May 14, 1957 2,831,741 Wilson Apr. 22, 1958 2,873,157 Wilson Feb. 10, 1959 2,978,754 Wilson Apr. 11, 1961

Claims

1. A COLLAPSIBLE TABLE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A TABLE TOP, SAID TABLE TOP BEING DIVIDED INTO TWO SIMILAR PORTIONS, A PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID TWO PORTIONS, FIRST AND SECOND TABLE LEGS, EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THE UPPER END THEREOF TO ONE OF SAID PORTIONS TO SUPPORT THE TABLE FROM THE FLOOR, WHEEL MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BASE OF EACH SUCH LEG, A FIRST BRACE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID FIRST LEG AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE TABLE PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND LEG, A SECOND BRACE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID SECOND LEG AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE TABLE PORTION TO WHICH SAID FIRST LEG IS ATTACHED, A FIRST AND SECOND STABILIZER MEMBER MOUNTED SLIDABLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEGS RESPECTIVELY TO SUPPORT AT LEAST A PART OF THE WEIGHT OF SAID TABLE WHEN SAID TABLE IS UNFOLDED FOR USE, A STABILIZER EXTENDER LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE UPPER END OF EACH STABILIZER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO SAID TABLE TOP AT A POSITION BETWEEN THE CENTER OF SAID TABLE AND THE END THEREOF CONNECTED TO SAID STABILIZER TO EXTEND SAID STABILIZER DOWNWARDLY TO A POSITION RENDERING SAID WHEELS INOPERATIVE WHEN SAID TABLE IS UNFOLDED, A CENTRAL LEG MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID TWO PORTIONS AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID CENTRAL LEG MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE CENTER OF SAID TABLE WHEN SAID TABLE IS UNFOLDED FOR USE.