US3296983A - Table - Google Patents

Description

J. A. BRUSH Jan. 10, 1967 TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1965 INVENTOR'.

ATTORNEYS.

J. A. BRUSH Mo w, Wm

TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1965 /A/W A. 5605/7 ATTORNEYS United States Patet 3329633 Patented Jan. I0, 1196? 3,296,983 TABLE James A. Brush, 9.0. Box 163, La Crosse, Wis. 546M Filed July 29, I965, Ser. No. 475,819 4 Claims. (6i. Mt -W) This invention relates to tables in general and more specifically to a table which provides a working surface adapted to receive working papers, a checkerboard and checkers, a jigsaw puzzle or the like, and which is so constructed and arranged such that the working surface and the material thereon may be quickly readily hidden from view, as may be necessary when guests suddenly arrive.

It is believed that most persons have experienced the situation wherein they have been working, studying, playing checkers, assembling a jigsaw puzzle or the like in their homes when guests unexpectedly arrive. A period of pandemonium usually follows in attempting to clear the table or other working area in order to make the home presentable. Profuse apologies and much embarrassment usually accompanying such a situation. It necessarily follows that the train of thought of the person involved has been unduly disrupted and, when work is restarted, :an undue length of time is necessary to continue progress because of the time necessary to reassemble the papers or entertainment device. Often the pattern is never restarted because of a fatal disruption of the work or game, as will be experienced by putting away a checkerboard in the middle of a game.

Another situation experienced by most persons is where one member of the family begins work or play on an available table and, before completion, is ousted by a family endeavor. Accordingly, the initial member of the family must gather up the objects being utilized to accommodate the more widespread activity.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a table having a working area adapted to receive papers, checkerboards and checkers, jigsaw puzzles and the like, which may be readily hidden from View without disturbing the items on the working surface.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a table or the like having a working surface adapted to receive articles of play or work in which the table is equipped with a number of movably mounted covers which may be positioned to hide the articles.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a table having movably mounted rigid covers positionable to hide a working surface in which the covers are equipped with grasping means for precluding the inadvertent dis-placement of substantially planar articles on the working surface.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a table having a plurality of working surfaces.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a table having a first working surface which may be covered or hidden from view by a number of covers which act to form a second working surface.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the table of the instant invention showing the covers positioned away from the working surface;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the table of FIGURE 1 showing in solid lines the covers positioned over and hiding the working surface shown in FIGURE l, the covers in the removed position being shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the table of FIGURES l and 2 showing the connection of the cover and the working surface and the connection of a supporting leg;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting leg connection of FIGURE 3 taken along line 44 thereof and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the table of FIGURE 1 taken along line 5-5 thereof and viewing in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of the connecting means securing together the covers and working surface of the table of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a representative cross-sectional view of the covers when juxtaposed to the working surface.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 a table constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention having as its major components a table frame indicated generally at 12,. a plurality of supporting legs designated generally at 14, a pair of movably mounted rigid covers denominated generally at 16, and a connecting means shown generally at 18 securing together covers 16 and table frame 12.

Table frame 12 includes a planar working surface 20 which is preferably of a regular quadrilateral geometric shape, such as rectangular or square, bounded along its periphery by a plurality of depending walls 22, 24, which for purposes of convenience are respectively called transverse and longitudinal. Working surface 20 may be of any desired material, such as wood, plastic, metal or the like and may be finished in any conventional manner.

Supporting means 14 includes a cylindrical leg 26 pivotally mounted on frame means 12 by a pivotal connection shown generally at 28 in FIGURES 4 and 5. Referring to FIGURE 4, pivotal connection 28 includes an L-shaped angle iron member designated generally at 39 having a first leg 32 secured to wall 24 by frictional fasteners 34 such as nails, screws or the like such that a second arm 36 of angle iron member 30 is spaced from wall 22. Wall 22, leg 26 and second arm 36 are provided with aligned apertures in which reside a threaded bolt 38 carrying a Washer 40 between wall 22 andleg 26 with a threaded nut 42 making a secure connection. It will be seen that leg 26 is pivotally mounted about the axis of bolt 38 with a conventional toggle linkage denominated generally at 44 limiting the pivotal movement of leg 26 from a position alongside and substantially parallel to wall 22 to a position substantially vertical with respect to working surface 20.

Referring to FIGURE 5, pivotal connection 28 is substantially identical with respect to the pivotal connection of FIGURE 4 with the exception that first leg 32 of angle iron member 30 is secured to wall 22 and spaced from wall 24 such that leg 26 may be collapsed to lie alongside wall 24 in a conventional manner It will be seen that legs 26 of table 10 are collapsible in a conventional manner such that table 10 may be stored in a relatively small storage area.

Although supporting means 14 has been described in a detailed manner, it should be understood that the principle features of the instant invention are not limited to such a supporting device, but may be used with any type of support, such as to position working surface 20 in an inclined position so that an invalid may use the same. It should be apparent that any suitable type of supporting means may be used.

Covers 16 are pivotally mounted on walls 24 by an upstanding bracket 46 carrying a hinge 48 secured to the o) uppermost corner of cover 16 when cover 16 overlies working surface 20, as may be seen in FIGURE 3. It should be apparent that this placement of hinge 48 allows cover 16 to be substantially flush with walls 24 when cover 16 overlies working surface 20.

Cover 16 includes a rigid planar section 50, which may be of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, metal or the like to which is secured, as by gluing or the like, a resilient layer 52 which may be made of foam rubber, rubber, Styrofoam, sponge or the like. As may be seen in FIGURE 7, resilient layer 52 is secured to a planar section 50 such that it lies between planar section 50 and working surface 20 when cover 16 is in the closed position. As may also be seen in FIGURE 7, a plurality of substantially planar articles 54 simulate pieces of paper, checkers, jigsaw puzzle pieces or the like, and because of the resilient nature of layer 52 are temporarily immobile.

In the use of table 10, an individual may open covers 16 by pivoting them about hinge 48 such that they lie in the open position, as shown in FIGURE 3, and study or participate in entertaining games on working surface 20. When it is desired to temporarily interrupt this study or play without putting away the articles used therewith, it is necessary only to pivot covers 16 to the closed position in order to hide these articles. It will be seen that the unexpected arrival of guests is easily taken into account by closing covers 16 thus obviating the hustle and bustle of putting such articles in a stored location.

In another context, it will be seen that a member of the family studying or playing on working surface 20 may merely close covers 16 leaving the articles thereof on surface 20 when ousted by another member. Subsequent users of table 10 may utilize the working surface formed by planar section 50 of cover 16. A user of working surface 20 may elect to pivot covers 16 to a substantially horizontal position and support them by a suitable means to provide a substantially doubled working area.

Since it is desirable to be able to store table 10, it has been found advantageous to provide connecting means 18 to temporarily secure together covers 16 and frame 12. This may be readily accomplished by a provision of an arm 56 mounted by a pivot pin 58 on a lateral edge of one of covers 16 and adjacent the free end thereof. Arm 56 provides a slot 60 adjacent the other end thereof receiving a stationary pin or lug 62 affixed to the other of covers 16 as shown in FIGURE 6.

A perpendicular arm 64 is secured to pivoted arm 56 in any suitable manner, such as by rivet 66 and is received by a spring secured latch 68. Latch 68 is of the type used on suitcases and the like and is provided with a spring biased lug (not shown) or the like, temporarily securing perpendicular arm 64 therein. Latch 68 is secured to wall 22 of table frame 12 by a plurality of frictional fasteners 70, such as screws or nails. The spring biased lug interiorly of latch 68 may be released from engagement with arm 64 by a movably mounted button 72 in a conventional manner, the construction of the latch being similar to those described in Patents Numbers 2,426,754 and 2,624,191 such as are commonly used on trunks and suitcases. 1

In order to secure covers 16 to table frame 12 it is first necessary to pivot covers 16 to the closed position and pivot arm 56 such that stationary lug 62 is engaged 6 with slot 60. Because of the position of latch 68, the

engagement of lug 62 and slot 60 will result in the positioning of arm 64 within latch 68 wherein it is releasa'bly attached to a spring biased lug. It should be noted that arm 64 describes an arc with respect to the upper end of latch 68 such that a relatively wide entrance should be provided. To release arm 64, button 72 must be manipulated thus releasing the engagement of a spring biased lug.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved table having all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, such as by altering the configuration of working surface 20, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a flat quadrangular top having a smooth upper surface defining a game playing area adapted for the reception of playing pieces, foldable legs secured to the underside of said top, upstanding first hinge leaves secured to the edges of two opposed sides of said top, hinge pins at the upper extremities of said first hinge leaves, second hinge leaves pivoted on said hinge pins, rigid opaque rectangular cover sections, each of an area substantially equal to one half the area of said upper surface, each having an edge secured to the second hinge leaves on one of said opposed sides, so as to fold over said upper surface to completely cover the same, said cover sections each having a pad of an area substantially coextensive therewith secured to its underside when in folded-over relation, said pad being formed of soft compressible resilient material to overlie playing pieces remaining on said playing area, said upstanding first hinge leaves extending above said upper surface a distance substantially equal to the combined thickness of the adjacent cover and its associated pad, whereby said cover sections lie in fiat relation when folded over said top.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pads are comprised of sponge rubber.

3. The structure of claim 1 including means for securing said cover sections together in said folded position.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said securing means secures said cover sections to said upper surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 135,392 1/1873 Wilson l0863 916,849 3/1909 Darrow l0863 955,804 4/1910 Hyde 108112 1,295,438 2/1919 Cordray l0863 1,445,566 2/1923 Stoll 108-34 1,906,552 5/1933 Demint l0863 2,003,834 6/1935 Mitchell l0890 2,180,525 11/1939 Ingram 108-78 2,715,053 8/1955 Wiegel 108-35 FOREIGN PATENTS 662,320 12/1951 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

F. K. ZUGEL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A TABLE COMPRISING A FLAT QUADRANGULAR TOP HAVING A SMOOTH UPPER SURFACE DEFINING A GAME PLAYING AREA ADAPTED FOR THE RECEPTION OF PLAYING PIECES, FOLDABLE LEGS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP, UPSTANDING FIRST HINGE LEAVES SECURED TO THE EDGES OF TWO OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID TOP, HINGE PINS AT THE UPPER EXTREMITIES OF SAID FIRST HINGE LEAVES, SECOND HINGE LEAVES PIVOTED ON SAID HINGE PINS, RIGID OPAQUE RECTANGULAR COVER SECTIONS, EACH OF AN AREA SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO ONE HALF THE AREA OF SAID UPPER SURFACE, EACH HAVING AN EDGE SECURED TO THE SECOND HINGE LEAVES ON ONE OF SAID OPPOSED SIDES, SO AS TO FOLD OVER SAID UPPER SURFACE TO COMPLETELY COVER THE SAME, SAID COVER SECTIONS EACH HAVING A PAD OF AN AREA SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH SECURED TO ITS UNDERSIDE WHEN IN FOLDED-OVER RELATION, SAID PAD BEING FORMED OF SOFT COMPRESSIBLE RESILIENT MATERIAL TO VERLIE PLAYING PIECES REMAINING ON SAID PLAYING AREA, SAID UPSTANDING FIRST HINGE LEAVES EXTENDING ABOVE SAID UPPER SURFACE A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF THE ADJACENT COVER AND ITS ASSOCIATED PAD, WHEREBY SAID COVER SECTIONS LIE IN FLAT RELATION WHEN FOLDED OVER SAID TOP.

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