US3336883A

US3336883A - Extension table

Info

Publication number: US3336883A
Application number: US519723A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wengi Walter
Original assignee: A SCHIFFERLE AND CO AG
Current assignee: A SCHIFFERLE AND CO AG
Priority date: 1966-01-10
Filing date: 1966-01-10
Publication date: 1967-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-22

Description

Aug. 22, 1967 w. wENGl 3,336,883

EXTENS I 0N TABLE Filed Jan. l0, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l WALTER .wENG/ 37 /nM/{wfww ffy/wf 1N vEMTof Aug. 22, 1967 w. WENGI 3,336,883

` EXTENSION TABLE Filed Jan. lO, `).966 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 mvENTo WA LTER WENG/ %7 WMe/WMM M Mmmm/5 United States Patent O 3,336,883 EXTENSIN TABLE Walter Wengi, Klingnau, Switzerland, assignor t A. Schifferle & Co. A.G., Dettingen, Aargau, Switzerland Filed Jan. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 519,723 4 Claims. (Cl. 108--86) The invention relates to an extension table having two separable end leaves and a folding center leaf.

Extension tables of this kind have the disadvantage that not only must first one and then the other end leaf be pulled out, but also that they be suliiciently pulled out to permit the unfolding of the center leaf.

An object of the invention is to provide an extension `table in which the separating and bringing together of end leaves is greatly facilitated.

This and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a top view of the table not extended;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the table opened for unfolding ofthe center leaf;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the table with the center leaf in position and the two end leaves pulled into abutment therewith;

FIGURE 4 is an end view taken along line IV-IV of FIGURE 2, with the partly unfolded center leaf shown in dot-dash line;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are side views taken along lines V-V and VI*VI of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a detail view of the catch connection between leaves; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the catch,

Referring to FIGURES 1-6, the extension table of the invention has two separable leaves 10, 11, four legs 14 braced by two rails 12, 13, and a two-section folding center leaf 15, 16, located below leaves 10, 11, when not in use. A sheave 17, 18 is mounted by means of a bracket 19 to each of the end rails 12. Each sheave carries a cable 20, 21. One end of cable 20 is fastened to leaf 10 near the rail 12 and the other end to leaf 11 near the middle of the table (FIGURE l). Conversely, one end of cable 21 is fastened to leaf 11 near the other rail 12 and the other end to leaf 10 near the middle of the table. Each of the cables is guided over its sheave under tension to form together two Us, the mouths of which lie opposite one another.

Two `additional rails 22, parallel to the rails 12, are located on either side of the folding leaf 15, 16 and serve as the ultimate support for the leaf 15. A tube 23, through which the cables 20, 21 are led, is pivotally mounted in the rails 22 in any .desirable manner. The four ends of cables 20, 21 are secured to the leaves 10, 11 by screws 24 or any other suitable means. The folding center leaf 15, 16 is mounted in a known manner on the tube 23 at 23A and is hinged at its center at 23B. Thus, when the end leaves 10, 11 are separated, the center leaf can be pivoted with the tube 23 and unfolded, as shown in FIGURE 3, to constitute the central portion of the table top extended.

The table operates in the following manner. If the table is to be extended, it is simply necessary to pull outwardly on one or the other of the two leaves 10, 11 to cause the other leaf also to move outwardly. If leaf 10 is pulled upon, cable 20 through sheave 17 exerts a similar force, but in the opposite direction, upon leaf 11. Conversely, if leaf 11 is pulled, cable 21 through sheave 18 exerts a similar but oppositely directed force upon leaf 10.

After the leaves have been separated, there is sufficient space to permit the unfolding of the center leaf 15, 16. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the lengths of the cables 3,336,883 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 ICC between the two rails 22 are completely enclosed in the tube 23, thereby preventing any possibility that the center leaf can be scratched by the cables.

When the center leaf is to be removed, it is simply folded together, swung :down -around the tube 23, and set on a support bar 22A, held by the two rails 22, FIG- URE 2. The two end leaves 10, 11 are brought together simply by pushing on the one or the other. For example, if leaf 10 is pushed upon, cable 21 through sheave 18 exerts a similar, oppositely directed force on leaf 11. Or, if leaf 11 is pushed, cable 20 through sheave 17 pulls upon leaf 10.

From the above it is apparent that when an end leaf is pulled out, one of the two cables pulls out the other leaf; but when an end leaf is pushed in, the other of the cables pulls in the other end leaf.

Groove and tongue joints 25a extend along the mating edges of the two leaves 10, 11 and the mating edges of the center leaf 15, 16. A catch 25, 26 is provided for securely holding the end leaves to the respective sections 15, 16 of the center leaf. Leaves 10, 11 have mounted thereon a catch 25 and strike 26, respectively. The section 15 of the center leaf is provided with a strike 26 and a catch 25. To open up the table, whether to fold or unfold the center leaf, it is simply necessary to pull on one or the other end leaf 10, 11. j

To prevent shifting of the leaves 1t), 11 and to ensure non-jamming parallel guiding of these leaves, they are provided in their center and at their sides with rails. Dovetail rails 27, mounted on the underside of the leaves 10, 11, run in dovetail grooves 28 in the rails 12. Side rails or guides 29, two for each leaf 10, 11, slide in grooves in the inner side walls of the rails 13, which latter terminate with the stops 30 that limit the outward movement of the end leaves. The rails 22, as seen in FIG- URE 4, are provided with suitable openings 31, 32 for the guide rails.

The cables 20, 21 can be made of wire, hemp, synthetic plastic or any other material suitable `for the purpose. The sheaves 17, 18 can be made of wood, metal, a synthetic plastic, or other suitable material, and have any desirable diameter.

The table top can be round, oval, or rectangular. The table can be supported in any desired, manner and may, for example, have four legs or a single pillar leg.

It further will be appreciated that the table of the invention is not restricted to one having a folding center leaf but is generally applicable to extension tables.

I claim:

1. Extension table, including: first and second ends defined by said table and defining a first direction transverse to said ends; first and second leaves having adjacent edges mounted for movement in said first direction to separate said leaves along said edges, for acceptance therebetween of at least one extension leaf; first and Y second stationary support means at either end of the table when the table is not extended and located -below the top thereof; first and second sheave means mounted on respective ones of said support means; a rst cable means anchored at'its respective ends to the undersides of said first and second leaves and passing over said iirst sheave, whereby the cable means describes a U open towards said adjacent edges in said first direction; a second cable means anchored at its respective ends to the undersides of said rst and second leaves and passing over said second sheave, whereby the cable means describes a U open towards said adjacent edges in said first direction but in an opposite sense to the U of said first cable means: whereby a pull or push, to open or close the table, on either of said leaves transmits through one of said cables a like but oppositely directed force to the other of said leaves; housing means mounted on the underside of the table top and through which those portions of said first and second cable means pass which are common to the opening between said adjacent edges when the table is extended; said housing means pivotally mounted; a folding leaf for occupying the space between said adjacent edges when the table is extended, said folding leaf mounted on said housing means for pivoting therewith into and out of use.

2. The extension table of claim 1, including catch means for disconnectably holding said first and second leaves together when the table is not extended and for holding said first and second leaves to said folding leaf when the table is extended and the folding leaf is in use.

3. The extension table of claim 1, wherein the ends of said first cable means are connected to said first leaf remoteifrom said adjacent edges and to said second leaf ln the vicinity of said adjacent edges, and the corresponding ends of said second cable means are connected to said second leaf remote from said adjacent edges and to said first leaf in the vicinity of said adjacent edges.

4. The extension table of claim 2, wherein the ends of said first cable means are connected to said first leaf remote from said adjacent edges and to said second leaf in the vicinity of said adjacent edges, and the corresponding ends of said second cable means are connected to said second leaf remote from said adjacent edges and to said first leaf in the vicinity of said adjacent edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,420 4/1919 Nyholm 108-67 1,559,711 11/1925 Kusterer 108--87 1,766,694 6/1930 Siskin 108-87 2,031,649 2/ 1936 Harrington 108-87 2,205,274 6/ 1940 Rastetter 10S-67 2,274,531 2/1942 Cooper 10S-67 2,631,910 3/1953 Maracek 108-67 3,059,981 10/ 1962 Bellomo 108-87 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. EXTENSION TABLE, INCLUDING: A FIRST AND SECOND ENDS DEFINED BY SAID TABLE AND DEFINING A FIRST DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID ENDS; FIRST AND SECOND LEAVES HAVING ADJACENT EDGES MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION TO SEPARATE SAID LEAVES ALONG SAID EDGES, FOR ACCEPTANCE THEREBETWEEN OF AT LEAST ONE EXTENSION LEAF; FIRST AND SECOND STANTIONARY SUPPORT MEANS AT EITHER END OF THE TABLE WHEN THE TABLE IS NOT EXTENDED AND LOCATED BELOW THE TOP THEREOF; FIRST AND SECOND SHEAVE MEANS MOUNTED ON RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS; A FIRST CABLE MEANS ANCHORED AT ITS RESPECTIVE ENDS TO THE UNDERSIDES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEAVES AND PASSING OVER SAID FIRST SHEAVE, WHEREBY THE CABLE MEANS DESCRIBES A U-OPEN TOWARDS SAID ADJACENT EDGES IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION; A SECOND CABLE MEANS ANCHORED AT ITS RESPECTIVE ENDS TO THE UNDERSIDES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEAVES AND PASSING OVER SAID SECOND SHEAVE, WHEREBY THE CABLE MEANS DESCRIBES A U OPEN TOWARDS SAID ADJACENT EDGES IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION BUT IN AN OPPOSITE SENSE TO THE U OF SAID FIRST CABLE MEANS, WHEREBY A PULL OR PUSH, TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE TABLE, ON EITHER OF SAID LEAVES TRANSMITS THROUGH ONE OF SAID CABLES A LIKE BUT OPPOSITELY DIRECTED FORCE TO THE OTHER OF SAID LEAVES; HOUSING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TABLE TOP AND THROUGH WHICH THOSE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CABLE MEANS PASS WHICH ARE COMMON TO THE OPENING BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT EDGES WHEN THE TABLE IS EXTENDED; SAID HOUSING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED; A FOLDING LEAF FOR OCCUPYING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT EDGES WHEN THE TABLE IS EXTENDED, SAID FOLDING LEAF MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING MEANS FOR PIVOTING THEREWITH INTO AND OUT OF USE.