US390340A

US390340A - Folding table

Info

Publication number: US390340A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1888-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1905-10-02

Description

(No Model.)

FOLDING- TABLE.

No. 390,340. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

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UNITED STATES ABRAHAM T. H. BROWVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,340, dated Octoberz, 1888.

Application filed l ehruary 2, 1888. Serial No 262,829.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknow n that i, ABRAHAM T. H. Baowna, ofChicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention consists in a novel arrangement and construction of the spreading frames of a folding table, so that the whole will fold to gether neatly and compactly, and also possess the requisite strength.

It further consists in the particular construction and arrangement of parts,as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Figurel is a perspective view of a folding table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a. detail view of the spreading frames of said table. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the top shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 isa vertical section of the same on lines a; a", Fig. 3, with parts broken away, showing the axis.

A represents the table.

B 13 represent the spreading frames.

0 represents the legs.

'D D represent the leg-braces.

E represents the bolt which forms the axis.

F represents the casing about the bolt E for ornamenting and stiffening the same.

My invention consists, chiefly, in the peculiar construction and form of the spreading frames B B and in the arrangement of the axis E, by which a single extended axis serves forboth the frames B B and the leg-braces D D.

The frames B B are constructed of plain rectangular bars, preferably of wood, of equal width and thickness, so shaped as to exactly conform to each other when closed, lying side by side, with their outer sides parallel, as in Fig. 1. Thisis accomplished by the following construction: The frame B is cutin a form such that if the plane in which its inner face lies be extended it will divide said frameinto two equal similar portions, one lying on one side and the other on the other side of said plane, and their adjacent extremities overlapping each other for a short distance. B is then formed in the exact counterpart of B, and the edge of each is cutinto at its middle overlapping portion half-way through, forming a notch in each, into which, when one is inverted or reversed, the other will tit and the two will close compactly together, as above (No model.)

described. In other words, both B and B are so shaped that the outer portions of each, lying in opposite directions on either side of the middle portion, where they are intended to cross,'are set at a slight angle to the line of direction of said crossing portion, with the in ner face of each, as they lie when closed, on either side of the middle portion lying inthe same plane. Then by notchingeach, asabove described, and inverting one upon the other, thctwo will close compactly together,filling all interstices and the inner faces ofeach lying flat together, forming a regular, even, rectangular figure, the thickness of which will be equal to the combined thickness of the two and the depth or width equal to that of one. Itis obvious that these two bars B B need not of necessitybe of rectangular form, but may be made ofrounded rods,if desired, the ad vantage in the rectangular or square form being that in a closed position they form a more compact and symmetrical figure. The upper edges of these frames should properly be brought to about the same level, in order to form a good and substantial support for the table-top when opened out, the form and outline of the lower edge being of course immaterial. The legs 0 are attached to the extremities of the frames B B.

The axis E passes through the middle point of the crossing portion of B B. E is formed of a single rod or metallic bolt. This rod or bolt is extended downward, passing through the middle point of the leg-braces D D, where they cross each other, and there forming an axis similar to that of the frames B B. This rod or bolt E may be incased in acovering, F, of wood or other suitable material, to stiffen and ornament it. E thus acts both as an axis for B B and D D, and also acts as abrace and support for the leg-braces and legs, adding greatly to their strength and durability. If it is found that sufficient strength is obtained without the use of the leg-braces D D, it is obvious that E may be used as a single axis for B B, and not extended below the frames.

I prefer to construct my table principally of wood, cut and arranged in the form and man ner described; but it is obvious that the material used is not an essential feature of my invention.

The ad vantage as to strength in the peculiar form of my spreading frames B and B, it will be seen, consists in so disposing of the material of which they are constructed that they will have their greatest depth or width at their extremities, so that the legs may be firmly attached thereto,and having their greatest thickness in the middle portion, through which the axis must pass, and which would otherwise have the tendency to weaken them. Thus it will be seen that great strength is combined with great compactness.

I make no claim to the construction or arrangement of the folding top and the manner of attaching the same to the spreading frames, all of which may be done in the usual and well-known ways; but i What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a folding table, a frame for supporting the top and carrying the legs,composed of two rectangular horizontallydisposed bars of even depth and thickness, crossing each other at their middle points and notchedtogether at said crossing portion, so as to bring the upper edge ofeach on about the same level, and swinging on an axis through said middle portion, the outer portions of each on opposite sides of the axis being olj'l'set sufficiently to bring the inner faces of each on either side of the axis in the same plane, so that thewhole will close conipactly together with even top and substantiall y parallel sides, substantially as described.

ABRAHAM T. H. BROWER.

\Vitnesses:

L. V. LE 1\'[OYNE, It. B. BAooN.