US3332373A

US3332373A - Drop leaf tables

Info

Publication number: US3332373A
Application number: US571456A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruiz Leon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-08-10
Filing date: 1966-08-10
Publication date: 1967-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-25

Description

July 25, 1967 L. RUIZ 3,332,373

DROP LEAF TABLES Filed Aug. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l .nll w N INVENTOR L eon Ru i z ATTORNEY July 25, 1967 u z 3,332,373

DROP LEAF TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1966 Leon Ruiz ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,332,373 DROP LEAF TABLES Leon Ruiz, 801 Barataria Blvd., Mari-ere, La. 70072 Filed Aug. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 571,456 2 Claims. (Cl. 10877) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises the combination in a drop leaf table or the like, a table top having a vertical support extending downwardly from one side edge thereof, a drop leaf hingedly connected to said one side edge of said top for raising and lowering movement, and self-acting means responsive to raising of said top for releasably sustaining the same in its raised position, said self-acting sustaining means comprising an abutment block having first and second edges at right angles to each other, and hinge means provided at the first edge of the block in parallel therewith and mounting the block at the underside of said drop leaf with the axis of the hinge means normal to said one side edge of the top, said block having an inoperative position wherein it is laterally juxtaposed to the underside of the drop leaf in the lowered position of the latter but being swingable downwardly by gravity toward an operative position when the drop leaf is raised, said second edge of the block in its operative position abuttingly engaging said vertical support whereby to sustain the drop leaf in its raised position, said hinge means being located at one side of said first edge of said block so that the block when swung downwardly by gravity is disposed obliquely to the underside of said drop leaf, and means operative upon oblique disposition of the block for biasing the same to a perpendicular operative position relative to the underside of the drop leaf, said last mentioned means comprising magnetically cooperating means provided in the under: side of the drop leaf and in said first edge of said block.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in drop leaf tables, or the like, wherein a drop leaf is hingedly connected to one side edge of the table top for raising and lowering movement and wherein means are provided for releasably sustaining the drop leaf in its raised position.

In conventional practice such sustaining means usually are in the form of slidable, swingable, collapsible or otherwise adjustable supports which require to be manually set or adjusted in order to sustain the drop leaf when the latter is raised. This not only necessitates a separate manual procedure in addition to the raising of the drop leaf itself, but in some instances the drop leaf is not firmly or adequately sustained when the manual setting or adjustment of the supporting means has not been properly made.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to avoid the disadvantages above outlined by providing improved drop leaf sustaining means which are self-acting and become operative automatically during movement of the drop leaf to its raised position, so that the drop leaf in that position is firmly and properly sustained.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved drop leaf sustaining means which may be quickly and easily moved to an inoperative position when the drop leaf is to be lowered.

The device of the invention is very simple in construction, dependable in operation, suitable for use with drop leaf tables of many different sizes and types, and adaptable to convenient and very economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the underside of one corner portion of a drop leaf table embodying the drop leaf sustaining device of the invention, the drop leaf being shown in its raised position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to the cross-section of FIG. 2, but showing the sustaining block in a position to which it is lowered by gravity;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to that in FIG. 3, but showing the sustaining block in position for lowering of the drop leaf;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken in the direction of the arrow 6 in FIG. 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to that in FIG. 6, but showing the drop leaf in its lowered position; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-8 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the general reference numeral 10 designates a drop leaf table including a table top 11 supported by a plurality of vertical legs, one of which is shown at 12.

A drop leaf 13 is hingedly' connected to one side edge 11a of the table top 11 for raising and lowering movement of the drop leaf, as for example by a plurality of hinges one of which is shown at 14. As shown, the leg 12 has an outer surface 12a coplanar or flush with the side edge 11a of the top 11, the leg surface 12a providing vertical support means for abutment by a drop leaf sustaining block 15 of the invention, as will be presently explained.

The drop leaf sustaining or abutment block 15 is configured substantially as shown and is provided with a pair of

edges

16, 17, at right angles to each other. A hinge 18 has one leaf thereof secured by suitable screws 19 to one side of the block 15, the hinge being located at the edg 16 of the block and having its other leaf secured by the screws 20 to the underside of the drop leaf 13, so that in the raised position of the drop leaf as shown in FIG. 1, the axis of the hinge is normal to the side edge 11a of the table topll, while being parallel to the edges 16 of the block 15. It will be also observed that the side 1511 of the block to which the hinge is fastened is substantially coplanar with the side surface 12b of the table leg 12, when the block is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

As already stated, FIG. 1 shows the table with the drop leaf in its raised position, and when the drop leaf is to be lowered, the block 15 is manually swung or turned about the hinge 18 in the direction of the arrow 21 in FIG. 2, so that it assumes the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the block 15 is juxtaposed to the underside of the drop leaf 13 and is clear of the table leg 12. While holding the block 15 in this position, the drop leaf may be lowered in the customary manner to the position shown in FIG. 7, wherein the block 15 is unobtrusively accommodated in a folded position behind the drop leaf and at one side of the leg 12.

When the drop leaf 13 is manually raised from the lowered position shown in FIG. 7 to the raised position as for example in FIG. 1, the block 15 is automatically lowered by gravity, which causes the block to swing downwardly about the hinge 18 to the approximate position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the block is disposed obliquely to the underside of the drop leaf 13. The block assumes this oblique position inasmuch as its center of gravity is offset by location of the hinge 18 at one side of the block,

3 but nevertheless, it will be noted that even in the oblique position of FIG. 3, the block is so disposed that the edge 17 thereof overlaps the outer surface 12a of the leg 12 and the block thus effectively prevents the rais d drop leaf 13 from becoming lowered.

However, means are provided for automatically biasing the block 15 to a perpendicular, fully operative position under the drop leaf, once the block has assumed the oblique position under influence of gravity. These means comprise a permanent magnet 22 which is embedded, adhesively or otherwise, in the underside of the drop leaf 13 and cooperates with a metal strip or bar 23 embedded in the edge 16 of the block 15, so that when the block is in its oblique position shown in FIG. 3, it is automatically drawn by the magnetic attraction of the strip 23 to the magnet 22 and, as a result, the block 15 asssumes the perpendicular position at the underside of the drop leaf, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In that position the edge or surface 17 of the block 15 abuttingly engages the outer surface 12a of the leg 12, thus firmly and dependably sustaining the drop leaf in its raised position, as will be clearly apparent. If desired, the metal strip 23 may also be magnetized, so as to more forcibly cooperate with the magnet 22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the drop leaf is raised from its lowered position, the block 15 will first swing downwardly about its hinge by gravity to the oblique position of FIG. 3, in which the relatively close proximity of the magnet 22 to the metal bar 23 will swing the block 15 further to its perpendicular position of FIG. 2 by magnetic attraction, thus bringing the block to its fully operative position with its edge 17 in abutment with the leg surface 12a to properly sustain the drop leaf in its raised, horizontal plane.

As already stated, the drop leaf may be readily lowered by simply manually swinging the block 15 to the position of FIG. 4 wherein the block clears the leg 12 and thus permits the drop leaf to be lowered.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a drop leaf table or the like, the combination of a table top having a vertical support extending downwardly from one side edge thereof, a drop leaf hingedly connected to said one side edge of said top for raising and lowering movement, and self-acting means responsive to raising of said top for releasably sustaining the same in its raised position, said self-acting sustaining means comprising an abutment block having first and second edges at right angles to each other, and hinge means provided at the first edge of the block in parallel therewith and mounting the block at the underside of said drop leaf with the axis of the hinge means normal to said one side edge of the top, said block having an inoperative position wherein it is laterally juxtaposed to the underside of the drop leaf in the lowered position of the latter but being swingable downwardly by gravity toward an operative position when the drop leaf is raised, said second edge of the block in its operative position abuttingly engaging said vertical support whereby to sustain the drop leaf in its raised position, said hinge means being located at one side of said first edge of said block so that the block when swung downwardly by gravity is disposed obliquely to the underside of said drop leaf, and means operative upon oblique disposition of the block for biasing the same to a perpendicular operative position relative to the underside of the drop leaf, said last mentioned means comprising magnetically cooperating means provided in the underside of the drop leaf and in said first edge of said block.

2. In a drop leaf table or the like, the combination of a table top having a vertical support extending downwardly from one side edge thereof, a drop leaf hingedly connected to said one side edge of said top for raising and lowering movement, and self-acting means responsive to raising of said top for releasably sustaining the same in its raised position, said self-acting sustaining means comprising an abutment block having first and second edges at right angles to each other, and hinge means provided at the first edge of the block in parallel therewith and mounting the block at the underside of said drop leaf with the axis of the hinge means normal to said one side edge of the top, said block having an inoperative position wherein it is laterally juxtaposed to the underside of the drop leaf in the lowered position of the latter but being swingable downwardly by gravity toward an operative position when the drop leaf is raised, said second edge of the block in its operative position abuttingly engaging said vertical support whereby to sustain the drop leaf in its raised position, said vertical support of said table top having an outer surface and a side surface, the outer surface of said support being flush with said one side edge of said top and being engageable by said second edge of said abutment block when the latter is in its operative position, said block having a side surface substantially coplanar with the side surface of the support in the operative position of the block, and said hinge means being located on said side surface at said first edge of the block, whereby the block in its inoperative position may be juxtaposed to the side surface of said support when said drop leaf is lowered, the location of said hinge means on said side surface of said block causing the block to be disposed obliquely to the underside of the drop leaf when the block is swung downwardly by gravity, and means operative upon oblique disposition of the block for biasing the same to a perpendicular operative position relative to the underside of the drop leaf, said last mentioned means comprising magnetically cooperating means provided in the underside of the drop leaf and in said first edge of said block.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 334,977 1/1886 Peace 108-78 1,720,123 7/1929 Goodrich 108-134 1,900,760 3/1933 Pendleton 108-134 2,203,580 6/ 1940 Ronning 248-206 2,288,688 7/ 1942 Dubilier 248-206 2,519,435 8/1950 Byrd 248-206 2,742,250 4/ 1956 Cronberger 248-206 3,285,206 11/1966 Hoffman 108-134 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A DROP LEAF TABE OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF A TABLE TOP HAVING A VERTICAL SUPPORT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE EDGE THEREOF, A DROP LEAF HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ONE SIDE EDGE OF SAID TOP FOR RAISING AND LOWERING MOVEMENT, AND SELF-ACTING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO RAISING OF SAID TOP FOR RELEASABLY SUSTAINING THE SAME IN ITS RAISED POSITION, SAID SELF-ACTING SUSTAINING MEANS COMPRISING AN ABUTMENT BLOCK HAVING FIRST AND SECOND EDGES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, AND HINGE MEANS PROVIDED AT THE FIRST EDGE OF THE BLOCK IN PARALLEL THEREWITH AND MOUNTING THE BLOCK AT THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DROP LEAF WITH THE AXIS OF THE HINGE MEANS NORMAL TO SAID ONE SIDE EDGE OF THE TOP, SAID BLOCK HAVING AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN IT IS LATERALLY JUXTAPOSED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DROP LEAF IN LOWERED POSITION OF THE LATTER BUT BEING SWINGABLE DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY TOWARD AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE DROP LEAF IS RAISED, SAID SECOND EDGE OF THE BLOCK IN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT WHEREBY TO SUSTAIN THE DROP LEAF IN ITS RAISED POSITION, SAID HINGE MEANS BEING LOCATED AT ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST EDGE OF SAID BLOCK SO THAT THE BLOCK WHEN SWUNG DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY IS DISPOSED OBLIQUELY TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DROP LEAF, AND MEANS OPERATIVE UPON OBLIQUE DISPOSITION OF THE BLOCK FOR BIASING THE SAME TO A PERPENDICULAR OPERATIVE POSITION RELATIVE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DROP LEAF, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING MAGNETICALLY COOPERATING MEANS PROVIDED IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DROP LEAF AND IN SAID FIRST EDGE OF SAID BLOCK.