US3267889A

US3267889A - Collapsible table

Info

Publication number: US3267889A
Application number: US435475A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bedol Alan
Original assignee: MARSHALLAN Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: MARSHALLAN Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1965-02-26
Filing date: 1965-02-26
Publication date: 1966-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-23

Description

Aug. 23, 1966 A. BEDOL 3,267,889

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 26, 1965 INVENTOR. ALAN 65 oz.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,267,889 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Alan Bedol, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to Marshallan Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, 21 corporation of Uhio Filed Feb. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 435,475 1 Claim. (Cl. 108-157) This invention relates to tables and particularly to collapsible sheet metal tables.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible table having a separable tripod leg unit that may be securely attached to, or detached from, the table top through interlocking means, requiring no tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible table, of the type stated, whose top has spaced studs, on the underside thereof, adapted to interfit slots at the upper end of each of the tripod legs in interlocking engagement.

Another object is to provide a collapsible table having a table top supporting structure that is foldable upon itself, to facilitate storage of the table in a minimum space, when in a collapsed state.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible table that is possessed of a high degree of stability when in its erected condition.

Still another object is to provide a novel and facile method of attaching a foldable frame to a table top, whereby the frame and top are held against accidental detachment, thereby facilitating the moving of the table from place to place, when in its assembled condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable table that is simple, yet sturdy, in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and pleasing in appearance.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible table that is the subject of the invention, with a portion of the top broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the edge of the table top, illustrated in FIGURE 1, showing how the top and one of its supporting legs interlock, when the table is in its assembled state;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the assembled table;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the top end of one of the table legs;

FIGURE 5 is a left end view of the same; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the upper half of the leg frame in its semi-collapsed condition.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURE 1 the collapsible table that is the subject of the invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10;

The table comprises a sheet material top, or tray 12, and a foldable tripod frame 11, the latter being adapted, when in its expanded condition, to support the top 12 in a horizontal plane.

The frame, or tripod 11, comprises three elongated

tubular legs

19, and 21, of uniform diameter and length, which are assembled in clustered relation and operatively connected to one-another, intermediate their ends, by an encompassing triangular collar 29, as described in my US. Patent No. 3,160,121, issued December 8, 1964.

Each of the legs has affixed to its lower end a tip 28 which is preferably formed of rubber, plastic, or other suitable non-slipping material.

The tripod 11 and the top 12 may be joined to form the table 10, or separated and collapsed for compact storage, when not in use. Furthermore, the top 12, itself, may be used as a serving tray when not combined with the tripod 11.

The top 12 is circular in configuration, and is preferably stamped and formed from a blank of sheet metal, and may have a suitable decorative design imprinted thereon.

The formed top has a plane central portion 16 bounded by a circumferential convexo-concave ridge 13, rising above the central portion 16, which is in turn, bounded by a dependent peripheral rim 15. The curvature of the ridge 13 is such that its inner face 14 meets the central portion 16 at a continuous abutment having an inclination of approximately 30 to the plane of the central portion 16.

Three, equi-spaced studs 17 are mounted on the underside of the ridge face 14 at its abutment with the central portion 16, of the top 12, as is seen most clearly in FIG- URE 2.

Each stud 17 has a circular, disc-like, head 18 mounted on the end of the neck thereof and spaced outwardly of the concave undersurface of the ridge 13, at an approximate angle of 30 to the plane of the central portion 16 of the top 12.

The upper end of each leg 19, 2t] and 21 is flattened to provide

anchor plates

22, 23 and 24, respectively.

Each anchor plate has two intersecting circular holes, or apertures, 25 and 26 therethrough, joined through a locking slot 27 whose Width is slightly less than the diameter of the stud neck so that the stud neck can only be forced therethrough, from one aperture to the other, by exerting lateral pressure. In other words, the stud neck cannot pass freely through the slot 27.

The diameter of the entry aperture 25 is such that the stud head 18 may be fitted therethrough, while the diameter of the stud retaining aperture 26 is such that it will retain the stud neck therethrough, with the stud head 18 positioned outwardly thereof, as seen in FIGURE 2.

By referring to FIGURE 3 it will be seen that the entry apertures 25 are to the right of the longitudinal axes of

legs

19 and 21, and to the left of the longitudinal axis of leg 20, for a reason to be explained hereinafter.

To secure the

legs

19, 20 and 21 to the top 12, the top is placed on a flat surface with its underside facing up, as seen in FIGURE 3.

The tripod 11 is then expanded and the

anchor plates

22, 23 and 24 of the legs 19, 2t) and 21, respectively, are positioned over the table top studs 17 with their entry apertures 25 aligned with the stud heads 18. Each anchor plate is then pressed against the top ridge 13 until the stud heads 18 enter and pass through the anchor plate entry apertures 25.

With pressure still maintained the

anchor plates

22 and 24 are moved clock-wise, as seen in FIGURE 3, to move the stud neck from entry aperture 25 through lock slot 27 into retaining aperture 26. Then the anchor plate 23 is moved counter-clockwise to similarly move its associated stud neck from entry aperture 25 through lock slot 27 into retaining aperture 26.

The leg anchor plates are now in locked engagement with the studs 17 due to the fact that each anchor plate is held in pressed engagement against the underside of the top ridge abutment wall 14 by the stud heads 18, which cannot pass throughthe anchor plate retainer apertures 26, which snugly surround the stud necks now positioned therethrough.

The so assembled table 10 may now be lifted by its top 12, and turned upright, without danger of the tripod unit 11 becoming separated therefrom.

The tripod unit 11 can be intentionally removed by reversing the assembly procedure, just described.

When the table 10 is in its dis-assembled condition, the tripod legs may be collapsed against one another, as seen in FIGURE 6, for storage with the top 12 in a small space.

However, due to the fact that the

leg anchor plates

22 and 24 must be moved in a direction opposite to that of anchor plate 23, for disengagement, the several anchor plates react against one another to prevent accidental, or unintentional, disengagement of the legs.

Furthermore, the studs 17 cannot move from retaining aperture 26 to entry aperture 25 unless intentionally pressed through lock slot 27, which does not offer free passage for the stud 17.

It will now be clear that there has been provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A collapsible table, comprising in combination, a circular sheet material top having a plane portion bounded by a circumferential convexo-concave ridge rising above the central portion, the ridge defining a continuous circular abutment at the central portion at approximately 30 to the plane of the under-side thereof; three, circumferentially spaced, headed studs mounted on the underside of the top, at the circular abutment, with their heads spaced outwardly of the abutment in a plane inclined at approximately 30 to the under-side of the top central portion; three support leg elements, arranged in clustered relation within a collar positioned intermediate the ends of said legs, and adapted to hold said legs in either expanded or collapsed positions; each leg having a fiat anchor plate, at the upper end thereof, extending crosswise of its longitudinal axis; each anchor plate having two intersecting holes therethrough defining a first, stud entry, aperture and a second, stud retaining, aperture, positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axes of the legs, joined through a lock slot; the diameter of the first aperture being greater than that of the stud head, the diameter of the second aperture being less than that of the stud head; theentry and retaining apertures of one of the leg anchor plates being reversely positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of its leg, to those of the other two leg anchor plates; the several table-top studs being adapted to be inserted through the leg anchor plate first apertures, when the legs are in their expanded positions, and moved laterally thereof through the lock slots into the second apertures, whereat the leg anchor plates are pressed between the table-top abutment and the stud heads, to secure the top and legs together in interlocked engagement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 799,455 9/1905 Cornell 108118 1,378,613 5/1921 Putman 248432 1,940,565 12/1933 Schott 108159 2,859,080 11/1958 Botnik 108159 X 3,160,121 12/1964 'Bedol 108-157 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,101 6/1957 Belgium.

335,326 3/1921 Germany.

593,520 5/1959 Italy.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. McCALL, Assistant Examiner.