US3246612A - Adjustable table - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1966 G. c. BALLAS 3,246,612

ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed Dec. 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l George C. Ballas INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY April 19, 1966 G. c. BALLAS 3,246,612

ADJUSTABLE TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

65b 69 65a 67 55 57 65 67 57a 7 57a 57 7/0 H 69 65 66 mi?" k 66 70 um! 7 J fl FIG. 9 FIG. IO

George C. Ba/Ias INVENTOR %g c M FIG. I!

ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,246,612 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 3,246,612 ADJUSTABLE TABLE George Charles Ballas, 5614 Almeda, Houston, Tex. Filed Dec. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 329,679 4 Claims. (Cl. 1086) The present invention relates to an adjustable table and more particularly to a table which may be adjustable to any desired height, angle of inclination or rotated in any horizontal direction.

The subject invention is designed primarily for use by bed-ridden patients and permits the performance of many tasks by a recumbent or semi-recumbent person which tasks have heretofore been extremely difficult if not impossible under such conditions. In addition, such device has proven to be especially practical for persons aggravated by back and/or neck strain resulting from long hours of standing or sitting. It has been shown that such a person utilizing the subject adjustable table while working in an incumbent position can actually increase work output, primarily due to the added comfortand relaxation afforded.

Some of the many tasks that can be performed from a horizontal or semi-recumbent position are as follows:

typing can be easily and comfortably executed; many business machines such as adding machines, posting machines and calculators can easily and quickly be secured to the table and utilized; heavy books may conveniently be supported; and drawing and oil painting may easily be performed.

Additionally, the table may conveniently be used as a desk, a drafting table, a work bench, a display board, an easel, a hospital table and/ or desk or as a utility table.

Furthermore, the novel adjustable table makes available to the user many pieces of furniture that would not ordinarily be used in the home but whose occasional use would be beneficial, as for example, a typewriter stand, a drafting table or a hospital table.- The cost of these separate pieces of furniture would be prohibitive and their space requirements do not ordinarily justify their individual purchase.

The subject invention is designed for convertibility, mobility, adaptability and portability and provides many useful functions both indoors and outdoors, in home and office, hospitals and rest homes and schools and institutions.

An object of the present invention 'is the provision of an adjustable table which may conveniently be adjusted to any desired angle of inclination and includes means whereby heavy articles may be secured when the table surface is inclined.

Another object is to provide such an adjustable table which includes additional storage space.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable table which may conveniently be assembled and disassembled.

Still another object is to provide an adjustable table having top and bottom table surfaces which may be utilized for different purposes.

A still further object is the provision of a table including means whereby at least one caster of said table may be locked in position preventing movement of said table.

Afinal object of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable table which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, easy to use and universal in its adaptability.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art-as the disclosure is made in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the upper, rear portion of the device.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the upper portion of the device.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view through a portion of the table surface.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view, partly in section, of a modification to the table surface.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the lower, central plane of the device.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a modification of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a transverse sectional view through the upper, central portion of the device.

FIG. 9 shows a side elevational view, partly in section, through a caste-r of the subject invention with the caster free to rotate.

FIG. 10 shows a side elevational view, partly in section, through a caster with said caster locked in position; and

FIG. 11 shows a top'plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 11-41 of FIG. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1, which illustrates a preferred embodiment, an adjustable table 20 including an integrally formed, essentially U-shaped base 21 provided with casters 22 so that the table may conveniently be moved from place to place. Commercially available casters may be utilized in a conventional manner or the casters of FIGS. 9-ll, hereinafter to be described in detail, may be utilized. An upstanding collar 23 is secured in the approximate center of the top surface of the web portion 21a of the base 21, said collar includes a female threaded portion (see FIG. 6) which accommodates a set screw 24 or the like. A tubular extension 25 slidably inserts into said collar and is secured thereto by means of set screw 24 bearing against the lower side wall portions of extension 25; the upper portion of extension 25 includes a female threaded portion into which inserts set screw 26. A cylindrical member 27 (see FIGS. 1 and 6), either tubular or rod, slidably inserts into extension 25 and is adjustably secured at any desired height by means of set screw 26.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the base 28a of an essentially L-shaped bracket 28 is secured in a conventional manner to the upper end portion of member 27 in such a manner that the downwardly depending portion 28b is spaced inwardly with respect to the side wall portions of said member 27. A piece of material 29 having frictional properties, such as rubber or the like, is afiixed to the innermost side of portion 28b by means of a commercially-available adhesive.

A circularly shaped disk 30, preferably of metal, plywood or the like, is pivotally mounted to member 27 as by means of a bolt 31 (see FIG. 3) passing through the bore 32a of a shaped spacer 32 and through bore 27a in member 27. A washer 33 is placed on the bolt and nut 34 is threaded thereon. Spacer 32 preferably is of hard rubber or plastic and includes a convex outer surface which bears against the side wall portions of member 27.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, a cross bar 35, rectangular in section, is mounted substantially below bore 27a, said bar inserts into a recess 27b in the member 27 and is secured thereto as by means of a bolt 36 and nut 37 threaded thereon. Spacers 38, preferably of rubber, are secured to the innermost, end portions of said bar 35 and bear against the outer surface 30b of disk 30 as will hereinafter be described in detail.

A table 39 of any desired shape or configuration is attached to the inner surface 30a of said disk. In the preferred embodiment of the invention L-shaped brackets 40 are secured to the undersurface 39b of table 39 and the lower, inner surface 30a of disk 30, respectively, in a conventional manner. It is obvious that the table may be rotated to any desired angle of inclination and is maintained in such position primarily by the weight of said table. The upper, inner surface 30a of disk 30 bears against material 29 on portion 28b of the bracket; the lower, outer surface 30b of the disk bears against spacers 38 secured to the cross bar 35.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the table 39 may include a plurality of recessed portions 39c of any desired shape or size in the upper surface 39a thereof. As best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, a rectangularly shaped member 41 is secured as by means of screws 41g or the like in a rectangular recess 39d in the upper surface of the table. The member 41 includes top, bottom and side wall portions, 41a41d, respectively; an elongated slot 41a is provided parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table, said slot is expanded at each end into a circularly shaped portion 41 A ball 42, preferably of hard rubber or plastic, inserts into said portion 41 and is secured at any desired position in the channel formedby portions ilo-41a. The ball 42 further includes two parallel bores 42a passing therethr'ough; a thong 43 or the like is passed through said bores and is secured as by tieing the end portions together or by knottingeach terminal portion. The loop 43a formed by said thong 43 passes through the slot 41c as best seen in FIG. 4 and may conveniently be passed around the legs or feet on the base of a typewriter or other piece of office equipment thereby securing the equipment to the table. One edge of the table may include an upstanding edge 44 whereby pencils, books, or the like may be held.

Referring again to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the brackets 40 secured to the lower surface 39b of the table may conveniently be positioned in elongated recesses 39c, said brackets being secured to the table as by wood screws 45 or the like. In such construction the lower surface 39b of the table is absolutely fiat and may be covered by a sheet of vinyl, Formica or any other composition material 46 whereby either surface of said table may be utiliZed depending upon the desired use.

In FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings there is shown a. bin 47 which may be mounted on the member 27. A collar 48 is secured at any desired position on member 27 as by means of set screw 49. The base 47a of the bin bears against the upper end 48a of the collar and is supported thereby. The bin consists of a central tubular member 47b into which member 27 inserts; the annularlyshaped base 47a is secured to the lower end of said member 47b and the side wall portions 47c, respectively. Any desired number of vertically-extending partitions 47d (see FIG. 1) may be placed in said bin and secured to the sides, bottom or tubular member, heretofore described. The bin 47 may conveniently be removed from member 27 and it is to be understood that the preferred embodiment of the invention is not restricted to the use of such bin.

There is shown in FIG. a modification of the outer portion of the table 39. In this embodiment of the invention a leaf 50 pivotally attaches to the table as by means of a piano-type hinge 52 or the like. The leaf may be folded down while not in use and retained in a recessed portion 39f in the upper surface of the table. A plate 53 including a semi-circular shaped portion 53a is secured to the side 39g of the table in a conventional manner. The periphery of said shaped portion includes a plurality of bores 54. The leaf may be raised to any desired angle of inclination and an elongated pin 55 inserted through a desired bore and into a bore 56a in the end of the leaf. The pin may be inserted through bore 54a whereby the upper surface 5% of leaf 50 is flush with the upper surface of the table.

It is obvious, of course, that the lower end of the collar 48 may bear against the upper end of extension 25 and the member 27 secured at any desired height by means of set screw 49. Set screw 26 may then be loosened whereby the table 39 is free to rotate in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the adjustable table 20 is so constructed that it may conveniently be disassembled for purposes of packing and transportation.

There is shown in FIG. 7 a modification of the invention which includes a disk 30 and table 39 constructed essentially as heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings. In FIG. 7 the disk 30 is shown secured to a frame 56 which includes front and back walls 56a-56b, respectively, separated by shelves 560 or the like. More specifically, frame 56 is supported by outwardly extending base portions 57 having incorporated therein the casters of FIGS. 9-11, hereinafter to be described. As best seen in FIG. 8, disk 30 is rotatablyconnected to the frame as by means of a bolt 31 passing through aligned bores 56a-1, 5611-1 in the walls 56a, 5611. A washer 58 may be placed on said bolt and a nut 59 or the like threaded thereon securing disk 30 to the frame. As heretofore described, the base portion 28a of an L-shaped bracket 28 is secured in a conventional manner to the upper end of the frame in the approximate center thereof. Horizontally aligned spacers 38 are secured to the inner surface of wall 56a in proximity to the edges of disk'30. As heretofore mentioned the table is maintained at any desired angle of inclination by the weight of said table and the equipment placed thereon; such weight causes the upper, inner surface 30a of disk 30 to bear against material 29 while the lower, outer surface 30b of the disk bears against the spacers 38. A plurality of shelves 56c may be provided, in a conventional manner, in the frame. In like manner, the upper end of the frame may be provided with cylindrical wells 56d; the lower, inner portion of the frame may include a larger storage space, access to which is provided by means of doors 60 hingedly mounted on wall 56a of said frame.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11 of the drawings, there is shown a locking device for casters whereby any desired caster may conveniently be locked preventing said caster from rotating. For purposes of convenience only the construction and operation of a single locking device will be described. It is to be understood that any number of such locking devices may be incorporated into the base in the same manner. A conventional yoke and caster wheel combination 61 may be secured to the lower surface 57b of the base 57 in a conventional manner. A plurality of vertically-extending rods 62 (see FIG. 11) pass through corresponding bores 63 in the lower surface 57b, each of said rods are connected at their lower end to an annular plate 64 and at their upper end to a plate 65 containing a central bore 65a. Each of the rods 62 carry a helical spring 66; the upper end of each of said springs bear against the lower surface 65b of the plate while the lower end of each of said springs bear against the lower surface 57b. A circular foot plate 67 rests on plate 65, the foot plate 67 and the plate 65 when depressed insert into an aperture 68 of slightly greater diameter than plates 65 and 67, respectively, which is provided in the upper surface 57a of the base. The foot plate 67 further includes a centrally positioned, downwardly-dcpending shaft 69 terminating at its lower end in a horizontally-extending, rectangularly-shaped bar 70. An inverted U-shaped member 71 is secured to the base 57b in a conventional manner; the upper surface of member 71 includes a rectangularly-shaped slot 71a of slightly greater length and width, respectively, than bar 70. As seen in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the longitudinal axis of said bar 70 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said slot 71a whereby the bar 70, when depressed, aligns with and passes through slot 710'. The individual using such device may then rotate said plate 67 in either direction (see FIG. whereby the bar 70 is turned across said slot 71a, locking the foot plate 67 in position. It is evident that when the foot of the user depresses plate 67 the lower surface thereof bears against plate 65 causing the annular plate 64 to be depressed. The sides 64a of the annulus of said plate 64 bear against one or more edges of the caster preventing movement thereof.

It is to be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

11. A rotatable table comprising a base, a vertical support mounted on said base, an L-shaped member secured .to said vertical support, a frictional element secured to said L-shaped member, a disk rotatably mounted on said vertical support, a cross bar secured to said vertical support, a plurality of frictional elements secured to the outermost portions of said cross bar, a table secured to said disk, means secured in said table, said means including a channel having top, bottom and side Wall portions, an elongated slot in the top thereof, a spherical member positioned in said channel, a flexible member secured to said spherical member, said flexible member extending through said elongated slot.

2. A rotatable table comprising a base, a vertical sup port mounted on said base, an L-shaped member secured to said vertical support, a frictional element secured to said L-shaped member, a disk rotatably mounted on said vertical support, a cross bar secured to said vertical support, a plurality of frictional elements secured to the outermost portions of said cross bar, a table secured to said disk, said table including a recessed portion, a leaf hingedly connected to said table and mounted in said recessed portion, shaped means secured to said table, said shaped means including a plurality'of bores, a bore in a side of said leaf aligned with respect to said plurality of bores, and a pin inserted through a selected bore of said plurality of bores and into the bore in said leaf.

3. A rotatable table comprising a base, a first collar secured to said base, a vertical support inserted into and secured to said first collar, a second collar secured to said vertical support, storage means positioned on said vertical support and supported by said second collar, an L-shaped member secured to said vertical support, a gripping element secured to said L-shaped member, a cross bar secured to said vertical support, gripping means secured to said cross bar in proximity to the ends thereof, a disk rotatably mounted on said vertical support, and a table mounted perpendicularly to said disk.

4. A rotatable table comprising a base, a vertical support mounted on said base, gripping means secured to said vertical support, a disk rotatably mounted on said vertical support, a cross bar secured to said vertical support, a plurality of additional gripping means secured to said cross bar, a table mounted on said disk, said table having first and second surfaces, means secured in said first surface, said means including a channel having top, bottom and side wall portions, an elongated slot in the top surface thereof, a spherical member positioned in said channel, a flexible member secured to said spherical member, said flexible member extending through said elongated slot, and a composition material secured to and covering said second surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,453 8/1888 Schubert 108-8 529,210 11/1894 Henni et a1 108-8 672,573 4/1901 Sidway 108-8 745,160 11/1903 Cummings 108-8 976,759 11/1910 Weingaer'ther 108-8 7 1,079,487 11/1913 Hasenzahl 108-8 1,117,062 11/1914 Lahedzki 108-8 1,916,537 7/1933 Smith 108-8 2,681,840 6/1954 Miller 108-8 2,846,761 8/1958 Evans 108-8 X 2,951,258 9/1960 Brooks et a1. 16-35 2,972,163 2/1961 .Ross et a1 16-35 2,980,944 4/1961 Bolinger 16-35 2,996,310 8/1961 Culver 16-35 X 3,061,049 10/1962 Bramiley 16-35 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A ROTATABLE TABLE COMPRISING A BASE, A VERTICAL SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, AN L-SHAPED MEMBER SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT, A FRICTIONAL ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID L-SHAPED MEMBER, A DISK ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT, A CROSS BAR SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF FRICTIONAL ELEMENTS SECURED TO THE OUTERMOST PORTIONS OF SAID CROSS BAR, A TABLE SECURED TO SAID DISK, MEANS SECURED IN SAID TABLE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A CHANNEL HAVING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE WALL PORTIONS, AN ELONGATED SLOT IN THE TOP THEREOF, A SPHERICAL MEMBER POSITIONED IN SAID CHANNEL, A FLEXIBLE MEMBER SECURED TO SAID SPHERICAL MEMBER, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ELONGATED SLOT.

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