US3672312A

US3672312A - Work table having multiposition extension board

Info

Publication number: US3672312A
Application number: US885801A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F Pettit; James F Wesnoskie
Original assignee: Teledyne Inc
Current assignee: Teledyne Inc
Priority date: 1969-12-17
Filing date: 1969-12-17
Publication date: 1972-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-27
Also published as: CA940184A

Abstract

A work table having an extension board at an edge thereof and mounting mechanism by which the board may be positioned alternatively in any one of three positions, in one of which the board extends from the edge of the table, in another of which the board projects upwardly adjacent said edge of the table to act as a limiting stop, and in the third of which the board is stowed beneath the table.

Description

United States Patent Pettit et al. 1 June 27, 1972 541 WORK TABLE HAVING 2,449,903 9/1948 Langstaff ..108/69 MULTIPOSITION EXTENSION BOARD 2,691,559 10/ 1954 Harry 108/4 2,850,341 9/1958 Spinner. .....l08/69 [721 lnvenmm James Wesmskie, 2,911,217 11/1959 Hirsch ..108/1 12 of Reading, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Teledyne, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Dec. Canada PP NW ,801 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney-Synnestvedt & Lechner [52] US. Cl ..l08/69, 108/80, 108/134 51 Int. Cl. ..A47b 1/04 1 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..108/l1l, 72, 69, 77, 80, 82, A work table having an extension board at an edge thereof-and 297/376 mounting mechanism by which the board may be positioned t ed alternatively in any one of three positions, in one of which the [5 6] Re erences board extends from the edge of the table, in another of which UNITED STATES PATENTS the board projects upwardly adjacent said edge of the table to act as a limiting stop, and in the third of which the board is 491,098 2/1893 Gould ....297/376 stowed beneath the table 2,604,140 7/1952 Bursey ....297/376 1,858,857 5/1932 Huntley 108/69 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHZY I972 3,672,312

SHEET 1 BF 2 A TTOR NE Y5 PFENTEDJUNN I872 sum 2 m 2 INVENTORS Rem F. Pa'r'rrr JAM: F. wesuosmi A TTORNEYS WORK TABLE HAVING MULTIPOSITION EXTENSION BOARD This invention relates to work tables. Although various features of the invention have wide applicability, the invention is particularly concerned with work tables adapted for use in the garment industry.

In the performance of certain operations in the manufacture of garments it is of advantage to have a table top of large or extended surface area, and in the performance of other operations it is of advantage to have an upwardly projecting limiting stop at the edge of the table, for instance at the rear edge which may be utilized either as a guide for positioning pieces of fabric on the table or for the purpose of preventing articles from dropping off the rear edge of the table. For still other purposes, a table top somewhat narrower than the fully .extended table top is preferred.

In order to meet certain of the foregoing operating requirements, it is known to provide a drop leaf type of table extension providing extension of the table surface for certain purposes and for folding of the drop leaf for certain other purposes.

The present invention contemplates an improved work table having an extension board which is conveniently adjustable between three different positions, in one of which the board serves as an extension of the table area, in another of which the board serves as a limiting stop at an edge of the table, and in the third of which the board is stowed beneath the table.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extension board mounting arrangement providing for convenient adjustment between the several positions of the extension board without detachment of the board from the table structure.

How the foregoing objects and advantages are attained, together with others which will occur to those skilled in the art, is explained more fully hereinafter by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of work table according to the present invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the work table with the extension board arranged along the rear edge of the table and shown in position to extend the table area;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the table shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the extension board and the mounting mechanism, the board here being shown in position to extend the table area, as in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the extension board and parts of the mounting mechanism, this view being taken as indicated by the section line 4-4 applied to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the board in its position of adjustment in'which the board projects upwardly at the edge of the table to serve as a limiting stop; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 5 but illustrating still another position of the extension board, i.e., the position in which the board is stowed under the table.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the table is supported by legs indicated at 7 and bracing elements shown in FIG. 2 at 8. The table top itself may be made up of several sections such as shown at 9, 10, and 11 in FIG. 1, and a drop leaf extension 12 may be provided as is also shown in FIG. 1. These table sections may be interconnected to form a unitary structure in any desired manner which need not considered herein.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the front edge of the table is provided with a cut-out shown at 13 in the region where the person using the table may sit. At the opposite or rear edge of the table an extension board 14 is provided. This board may extend along any desired portion of the rear edge of the table, but in the embodiment shown the extension board extends along the entire rear edge, even including the rear edge of the drop leaf 12.

The table extension board 14 is provided with mounting mechanism including adjusting channels 15 in the form of braces having slots 15a, six of these being used in the embodiment shown, as appears in FIG. 1. The arrangement and manner of interconnection of each adjusting channel 15 with the extension board and with the table structure is shown in FIGS. 2-6 inclusive, in which figures various positions of adjustment are also illustrated. One end of each adjusting channel l5 ispivotally connected at 16 with a bracket 17 having a flange by means of whichthe bracket may be attached to the underside of the extension board 14 as by the bolts 18.

The bracket 17 also has a projecting arm 19 having an open ended slot 20 for receiving the shank of a bolt 21 which extends through the slot 15a of the adjusting channel 15 (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 4), this bolt being provided with square head 22 adapted to fit inside of the adjoining channel 15. When this bolt 21 is tightened with the parts positioned as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the angular relationship between the adjusting channel 15 and the extension board 14 is fixed.

Toward the other end of the adjusting channel 15 attachment means are provided for mounting the channel and thus the extension board upon a leg of the table structure. This arrangement is also best-seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which one of the table legs appears at 7. Connected with a side of that leg there is a lock plate 23 which is positioned in spaced relation to the leg 7 as seen in FIG. 4 but which has an offset flange portion 24 lying adjacent to the leg 7 and connected therewith by the bolt 25. A spacer 26 is interposed between an upper portion of the lock plate 23 and a side of the leg 7, and a bolt 27 extends through this spacer and the adjacent wall of the leg and also through the slot 15a, to provide a pivot about which the adjusting channel 15 may be swung. Bolt 27 has a square nut 28 fitting in the adjusting channel and serving to retain the adjusting channel in position with the pivot bolt 27 projecting through the channel slot 15a.

The lock plate 23 still further has a slot indicated at 29 which is open at one end and which is adapted to receive the shank of a bolt 30 having a squared head 31 positioned in the adjusting channel 15. Upon tightening the nut with the parts positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjusting channel I5 is rigidly clamped in a fixed position with relation to the table structure. This will retain the extension board 14 in the position illustrated in FIGS. I4, and this is true even if the nut 28 is not tightened on the bolt 27. Indeed it is preferred to provide a nut and bolt arrangement at the pivot point in which the nut will be retained upon the bolt without being tightened so that when the extension table is shifted to other positions, a pivoting action to another position may occur without the necessity for loosening and tightening the pivot bolt.

The foregoing mounting arrangements provide for fixing the extension board in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the board provides an extension of the table area.

When it is desired to position the extension board 14 as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table (see FIG. 5) the nut and bolt 21-22 are loosened as are also the nut and bolt 30-31, the bolt 21 is disengaged from the slot 20 and the bolt 30 is moved in the slot 29 to the position shown in FIG. 5. The adjusting channel is shifted in its position so as to bring the arm 19 of the bracket 17 upwardly against the underside of the table top with the extension board 14 preferably positioned in abutting relation to the rear edge of the table. The bolt and

nut

30 and 31 are then tightened and this tightening will retain the extension board in the position shown in FIG. 5.

If it is desired to shift the extension board to an inoperative position, it may be stowed beneath the table top by adjusting the position of the parts to positions illustrated in FIG. 6. This position of the board may be reached, for example from the position shown in FIG. 3, by loosening the bolt and

nut

21 and 22 and bolt and

nut

30 and 31. The bolt 21 is then disengaged from the slot 20 in the bracket 17 and the bolt 30 is disengaged from the slot 29, whereupon the adjusting channel 15 is swung about the pivot bolt 27 until the point of pivotal connection 16 of the channel with the bracket 17 is extended downwardly from the channel pivot bolt 27. The parts will be retained in this position merely by the action of gravity. The bolt and

nut

21 and 22 may be removed if desired, or alternatively may merely be positioned along the channel member 15 between the bracket 17 for the extension board and the lock plate 23, as is indicated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the various adjustments in position of the extension board may be accomplished with ease and further that in each of the positions in which the board is utilized to perform a function in association with the table top, the board may be securely fixed in the desired positron.

It is also of advantage that the shifting in position may be accomplishcd without detachment of the extension board and, indeed, even without detachment of mounting parts. A single extension board or element is thus made to serve several alternative purposes.

lclaim:

l. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extension board adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means provided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, or in a position in which the board is stored beneath the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means located at a fixed location relatively to said board and said elongated member pivotally securing one end of the said elongated member to said extension board, a table leg member, means carried by said table leg member including a pin projecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved between said three positions.

2. A work table including an extension board adapted to be positioned at an edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means providing for mounting said board alternatively in three ositions, in one of which the board is extended from said edge of the table, and another of which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to said edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at said edge of the table, and in the third of which the board is stowed beneath the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one end of said elongated member to said extension board, a table support member, means including a pin carried by said support member with said pin projecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, and slotted plate means cooperating with said elongated member, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved into any one of said three positions.

3. A work table as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating with said elongated member for releaseably retaining said extension board in said position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the table and in said position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table.

4. A work table having from and rear edges and including an extension board adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means provided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one end of the said elongated member to said extension board, a table support member, means carried by said table support member including a pin rojecting through said slot of said elongated member and efining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved between said three positions, and wherein said mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating with said elongated member for releasably retaining said extension board in said position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the table and in said position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table, and wherein said means for releasably retaining said extension board in said position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table comprises a bracket element carried by said extension board and having a slot extending inwardly from an outer edge of said element and having a closed inner end and bolt means penetrating said longitudinally extending slot of said elongated member and said slot of said bracket and engaging the closed end of said last mentioned slot.

5. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extension board adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means provided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one end of the said elongated member to said extension board, a table support member, means carried by said table support member including a pin projecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved between said two positions, and wherein said mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating with said elongated member for releasably retaining said extension board in said position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the table and in said position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table, and wherein said means for releasably retaining said extension board in said position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table comprises a bracket member secured to and projecting from said support member, said bracket member having a slot extending inwardly from an open end at the outer edge of said bracket member and terminating in a closed inner end, and there is bolt means penetrating said slot in said elongated member and said slot in said bracket member and engaging the closed end of said last mentioned slot.

Claims

1. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extension board adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means provided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, or in a position in which the board is stored beneath the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means located at a fixed location relatively to said board and said elongated member pivotally securing one end of the said elongated member to said extension board, a table leg member, means carried by said table leg member including a pin projecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved between said three positions.

2. A work table including an extension board adapted to be positioned at an edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means providing for mounting said board alternatively in three positions, in one of which the board is extended from said edge of the table, and another of which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to said edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at said edge of the table, and in the third of wHich the board is stowed beneath the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one end of said elongated member to said extension board, a table support member, means including a pin carried by said support member with said pin projecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, and slotted plate means cooperating with said elongated member, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved into any one of said three positions.

4. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extension board adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable means provided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, said mounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one end of the said elongated member to said extension board, a table support member, means carried by said table support member including a pin projecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be moved between said three positions, and wherein said mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating with said elongated member for releasably retaining said extension board in said position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the table and in said position in which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table, and wherein said means for releasably retaining said extension board in said position extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the table comprises a bracket element carried by said extension board and having a slot extending inwardly from an outer edge of said element and having a closed inner end and bolt means penetrating said longitudinally extending slot of said elongated member and said slot of said bracket and engaging the closed end of said last mentioned slot.