US3923356A

US3923356A - Portable work or display table

Info

Publication number: US3923356A
Application number: US481301A
Authority: US
Inventors: P J Washburne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-06-20
Filing date: 1974-06-20
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02

Abstract

A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottom wall and side walls which mutually define a generally rectangular compartment, a cover being hinged to one of the side walls and closing the compartment. The bottom wall has a pair of elongated spaced, parallel openings formed therein respectively communicating with the compartment. First and second pairs of leg members are provided with means for pivotally mounting the leg members of each pair respectively adjacent their upper ends on a wall of the case, each pair of leg members being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of respective ones of the openings so that each pair of leg members is pivotally movable through the respective opening between a stored position in the compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the respective opening and being generally flush with the bottom wall, and an extended position for supporting the case as a table.

Description

United States Patent 1 Washburne 51 Dec. 2, 1975 1 1 PORTABLE WORK OR DISPLAY TABLE P. .l. Washburne,'655 Valleybrook Ave., Wabash, 1nd. 47591 [22] Filed: June 20, 1974 1211 Appl. No.: 481,301

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 312/241; 108/129; 190/11;

312/244; 312/255 [51] Int. Cl. A47B 3/10 [58] Field of Search 312/244, 240, 241, 255,

1969 Sweden 312/240 Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Assistant E.\-aminer1(enneth .1. Dorner OSCILLATING MEANS {57] ABSTRACT A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottom wall and side walls which mutually define a generally rectangular compartment, a cover being hinged to one of the side walls and closing the compartment. The bottom wall has a pair of elongated spaced, parallel openings formed therein respectively communicating with the compartment. First and second pairs of leg members are provided with means for pivotally mounting the leg members of each pair respectively adjacent their upper ends on a wall of the case, each pair of leg members being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of respective ones of the openings so that each pair of leg members is pivotally movable through the respective opening between a stored position in the compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the respective opening and being generally flush with the bottom wall, and an extended position for supporting the case as a table.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Sheet 2 of 2 3,923,356

U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 PORTABLE WORK OR DISPLAY TABLE This invention relates generally to portable tables. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable work or display table which, in its closed position, resembles a suitcase, and which can be quickly and easily changed to its extended table-folding position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable work or display table which is simple in design, and inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown folded up so to form a suitcase shaped enclosure.

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view thereof shown set up as a display table, and as viewed on line 33 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view thereof taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, shown set up as a display table.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral generally represents a portable work or display table wherein there is a case 11 having a closeable cover 12 attached by hinges 13, and which is securable by lock 14. A handle 15 allows easy carrying. A chain or brace holds the cover in upright displaying position.-

On the bottom wall 16 of the case, two long slots 17 each store a pair of legs 18 which in a stored position are flush with wall 16 so that the case is attractive in appearance. Each leg is pivotable about a pin 19 so the legs can swing out of the slots as shown by arrows 20 in order to form a small table. Each pin is slidable in a slot 21 so that after being pivoted outward, the leg can be pushed upward into an end opening 22 so to hold the leg firmly and prevent collapsing. A notch 23 on the legs snaps behind a leaf spring 24 thus securing it in locked position against spring 25.

To collapse the legs, they are each simply pulled so to disengage from the end openings and are then pivoted back into slots 17. Detents 26 lock the legs in stored position so they do not accidentally pivot out.

A notch 27 at the end of the slots 17 is provided for a finger to reach the leg end so to pivot it out of the slot.

The 'case includes a pair of

flat panels

28 and 29 mounted on hinges 30 so to swing out of the case from a stored position A to an extended position B. In extended position, they each rest across the case end walls 31 so to be strong enough to support heavy objects placed on the panels. Thus, when the panels are extended, the device forms a display or work table.

The case includes compartments 32, 33, and 34 on top formed by partitions 35.

A drawer 36 is slidable outwardly from a space formed between bottom wall 16 and a central wall 37, the drawer having a pivotable flush type pull handle 38. Compartments 39 are formed inside the drawer by means of transverse partitions 40 which also serve as shelves when the drawer is pulled out and stood on its end. As suggested in FIG. 3, jar caps 41 can be secured to the undersides of these shelves so jars 42 can be screwed on, in order to store various items therein, such as nails, screws, or etc.

The device can include numerous other features such as a drawer lock 43, case protective metal corners 44, etc.

The device wouldbe ideal for use by home craftsmen and servicemen to hold tools, and provide a work table, while for salesmen it would carry and display products.

I claim:

1. A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottom wall and side walls mutually defining a generally rectangular compartment, a cover hinged to one of said side walls for closing said compartment, said bottom wall having a pair of elongated, spaced, parallel slots formed therein respectively communicating with said compartment and respectively parallel with and adjacent opposite ones of side wall, first and second pairs of leg members each having upper and lower ends, means for pivotally mounting said first pair of leg members respectively adjacent their upper ends on one of said opposite side walls, the legs of said first pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of the respective one slot, means for pivotally mounting the second pair of leg members respectively adjacent their upper ends on the other of said opposite side walls, the legs of said second pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of the other slot, the leg members of each pair being pivotally movable through the respective slot between a stored position in said compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the respective slot and being generally flush with said bottom wall, and an extended position for supporting said case as a table, the leg members of each pair in the stored position thereof extending in opposite directions and being in parallel, vertically overlapped relation with respect to said cover and bottom wall, said mounting means for each said leg member comprising a pin slidably received in a slot in the respective one of said opposite side walls, each of said last-named slots being generally perpendicular to said bottom wall and having lower and upper ends, each of said pins being adjacent said lower end of the respective last-named slot in the stored position and adjacent the upper end in the extended position of the respective leg member, said case having four parallel, vertical extending openings formed therein, said openings being respectively adjacent the ends of said firstnamed slots, the upper end of each said last-named slot extending into a respective opening, said upper ends of each of said leg members in the extended position thereof being received in a respective opening and being held thereby against collapse.

2. The table of claim 1 further comprising first detent means for holding each of said leg members in its stored positions, and second detent means for holding each of said leg members in its extended position.

3. The table of claim 1 further comprising a pair of panels respectively hinged to the two of said side walls which are respectively joined to said one side wall, said panels being hingedly movable between a stored position in said compartment in generally overlapped relation and an extended position respectively extending outwardly from said two side walls thereby to extend said table.

4. The table of claim 3 wherein said panels in said extended positions thereof respectively rest on and are supported by the upper edges of said two side walls.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION- Peter J. Washburne INVENTOR(S) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

attached Figure [Ill/Ill l/l/ Ill/jI/llI/I/Il/l/Il/ Signed and Scal'cdthie d On the Cover Sheet, cancel Figure of drawing and substitute Twentieth Day Of July 1976 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParems and Trademarks

Claims

1. A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottom wall and side walls mutually defining a generally rectangular compartment, a cover hinged to one of said side walls for closing said compartment, said bottom wall having a pair of elongated, spaced, parallel slots formed therein respectively communicating with said compartment and respectively parallel with and adjacent opposite ones of side wall, first and second pairs of leg members each having upper and lower ends, means for pivotally mounting said first pair of leg members respectively adjacent their upper ends on one of said opposite side walls, the legs of said first pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of the respective one slot, means for pivotally mounting the second pair of leg members respectively adjacent their upper ends on the other of said opposite side walls, the legs of said second pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of the other slot, the leg members of each pair being pivotally movable through the respective slot between a stored position in said compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the respective slot and being generally flush with said bottom wall, and an extended position for supporting said case as a table, the leg members of each pair in the stored position thereof extending in opposite directions and being in parallel, vertically overlapped relation with respect to said cover and bottom wall, said mounting means for each said leg member comprising a pin slidably received in a slot in the respective one of said opposite side walls, each of said last-named slots being generally perpendicular to said bottom wall and having lower and upper ends, each of said pins being adjacent said lower end of the respective last-named slot in the stored position and adjacent the upper end in the extended position of the respective leg member, said case having four parallel, vertical extending openings formed therein, said openings being respectively adjacent the ends of said first-named slots, the upper end of each said last-named slot extending into a respective opening, said upper ends of each of said leg members in the extended position thereof being received in a respective opening and being held thereby against collapse.