US3479973A

US3479973A - Adjustable tv table

Info

Publication number: US3479973A
Application number: US690313A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald K Bartlett; Thomas M O'sullivan
Original assignee: Osullivan Ind Inc
Current assignee: OSullivan Industries Inc
Priority date: 1967-12-13
Filing date: 1967-12-13
Publication date: 1969-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1986-11-25

Description

Nov. 25, i969 R. K. BARTLETT ET AL ADJUSTABLE TV TABLE Filed Deo. l2, 1967 United States Patent O 3,479,973 ADJUSTABLE TV TABLE Ronald K. Bartlett and Thomas M. OSullivan, Lamar, Mo., assignors to OSullivan Industries, Inc., Lamar, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Dec. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 690,313 Int. Cl. A47b 11/00, 9/14 U.S. Cl. 108-141 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Summary of the invention The TV table of this invention has been provided to msure that the viewing screen of the table can be adjusted so that it is in a direct line with the eye of the viewer. In the past, TV tables have generally been of a fixed nature and the eye of the viewer is usually directed angularly upwardly or downwardly. It will be realized that TV units have varying sizes of screens which are located varying distances from the base, and when this variance of the location of the picture area is taken into consideration with the variance in different types of chairs, it will be seen that there is no fixed relationship that can be provided to accommodate the different levels of the eyes of individual viewers.

Accordingly, through the instant invention, a simply constructed television stand has been provided whereby swivel means are built in to the construction in such a manner that the TV can be rotated to present the picture to either one part of a room or another. This is in conjunction with means for elevating the entire table stand to effect a straight line or horizontal relationship of the line of sight of the viewer. The construction is rugged and simple and the telescopic support shaft, which supports the swivel arrangement and provides the height adjustment, is also used for a simple support to cross arms or cross feet, which are fitted in to the outer tubular telescopic shaft through notches in a very simple yet rugged arrangement. The entire unit is simple to erect and install or repair or maintain where this should be occasioned. Further, the operation is extremely simple such that the table can be swiveled or elevated or lowered as desired by unskilled operators.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows, and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is 'a pictorial view of the TV table in the highest position of adjustment with portions of the inside telescopic mounting shaft and support plate shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

ice

The television stand is generally identified by the reference numeral 10 in FIGURE 1. As there shown, it is comprised of a swivel or rotatable table top 12, a telescopic support shaft 14, and arched leg members 16.

The telescopic support shaft is best shown in its details of construction in FIGURES 2 and 3. It is comprised of tubular inner shaft 18 and outer shaft 20. The outer shaft 20 is provided with four cut-out notches 22 which receive the leg members 16. The leg members 16 fit within the notches 22 and are in turn mated with one another by cut-out notches 24, as shown at the bottom of FIG- URE 2. A bolt 26 fits through an upwardly concave washer 27 and openings in the leg members and is threadedi-iinto a cross web 28 welded to the bottom of the support shaft 20. The upwardly concave washer 27 provides a self leveling feature to accommodate imperfections in the notches.

`The telescopic arrangement of the inner shaft 18 and the outer support shaft 20 is adjusted by means of lock buttons 30, which are biased outwardly through holes 31 by means of a U-spring 32. The buttons have a rounded end surface 34 as shown in FIGURE 3, which aids in hole finding. The buttons are locked in upper adjustment holes 36, as shown in FIGURE 2, and when desired may be engaged in the lower openings 38 to lower the table top. Plastic bearing buttons 40 are provided on the inner shaft in order to provide bearing surface and smooth engagement of the inner shaft with the outer shaft when it is raised or lowered. In this manner the bearings prevent wobbling and insure an even telescopic adjustment.

The table surface 12 is provided with a raised guide rim 42 as best shown in FIGURE 1. This serves as a barrier or rim to prevent the television unit from being accidentally moved ofi the top of the table. The table surface is supported to the stand by means of an adjustment bolt 44 fitting through a bushing 46, in turn fitted through a central opening 48 in the table top. The bolt 44 is threaded into a boss 50 provided in the central part of a support plate 52, welded on top of the inner vertical support shaft 18. Plastic bearing buttons 56 are provided on the outer portion of the support plate S2 to provide bearing support for the table when it is swiveled or rotated.

Use

The TV table of this invention is very simply employed. The television unit is placed upon the ta'ble support and is prevented from accidental dislodgment by means of the protective guide rims 42. The table is swiveled or rotated to any desired position to present the television picture screen to the user at the desired angle. This is effected simply by turning the table top to the desired position.

The viewer may raise or lower the table depending upon his own personal desires, the elevation of the viewing chair, the size of the television unit, etc. The raising or lowering is simply effected by merely depressing the adjustment buttons 30 and lowering the table from the position shown in FIGURE 2 by gravity until the buttons engage the lower openings 38. When registry is effected, the buttons will simply pop out and automatically lock in place. Conversely when raising or elevating the table where desired from the lowermost position, the buttons 'are simply depressed and the entire table top and inner support shaft are manually raised until registry of the buttons is effected with the top openings and the buttons again pop out and automatically lock in place.

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable television stand, said stand comprising a flat table member and a vertically extending support shaft means supporting said table member, said support shaft means comprising first and second telescopic tubular shaft members, the first member being connected to said table member and the second member being connected to a base, the rst -member having means connecting it to the table member for rotatable movement of said table member about the axis of said first member, said connecting means comprising a horizontal support plate fixed to the top of the first member, and a shaft member fitting through a bearing member connecting the table member to said plate, said plate member being provided with raised fixed bearing members about its periphery underneath said table member to prevent wobbling, and means for locking the first and second shaft members in extended and contracted positions of adjustment to vary the height of the table member, said locking means comprising spaced holes in the first and second tubular members registering with one another and lock buttons biased into engagement with the holes by a spring inside the innermost shaft member, said -rst and second tubular members being radially spaced from one another, and bearing buttons mounted on one of said members and contacting the other member to provide a bearing surface.

2. An adjustable television stand, said stand comprising a flat table member and 'a vertically extending support shaft means supporting said table member, said support shaft means comprising rst and second telescopic tubular shaft members, the first member being connected to,said table member and the second member being connected to a base, the first member having means connecting` it to the table member for rotatable movement of said table member about the axis of said first member, said base being formed by a pair of intersecting elongated foot members fitted within positioning notches at the bottom of the second member, and a connecting bolt being fitted through an upwardly concave bearing member underlying both foot members at their intersection and threaded into a support plate at the bottom of said second member, and means for locking the first and second shaft members in extended and contracted positions of adjustment to vary the height of the table member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.