US415841A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

H. S. LEE.

(No Model.)

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 415,841. Patented Nov. 26, 1889 ag J(sf/33 d i v 5;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HARRY S. LEE, OF TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,841, dated November 26. 1889.

Application filed May 4, i889. Serial No. 309,560. (No model.)

To all zuhont it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY S. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tecumseh, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables of that class wherein the legs are adapted to be folded beneath the table-top in order to allow the whole to be set up against the wall out of. the way, or entirely detached and removed therefrom in order that the top may be used as a lap-board; and the invention consists, broadly, of a top, a pair of outer legs detachably hinged to the under side thereof, a second inner pair of legs connected to each other by longitudinal braces, one of which is extended at its ends beyond the said inner legs and forms the pivot between the inner and outer legs at their points of crossing, a bar connecting the upper ends of said inner legs, and blocks on the under side of the table-top, with which said bar is adapted to'be detachably engaged to look all of said legs in distended position.

The invention further consists of certain details of construction and arrangements of the parts mentioned, whereby the table complete is rendered light, serviceable, and easy of operation.

The following specification describes and the accompanying drawings illustrate What I consider the best method of carrying out my invention.

In the said drawings, wherein the same letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views, Fig ure 1 is a perspective view of the under side of the table when in its. open extended position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same closed, and Fig. 3 is a central transverse section thereof.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, T designates the top of my improved table, to the under side of which, near its ends, are secured transverse cleats 0, each cleat being provided near one end with a curved slot 0, extending inwardly and downwardly and opening through the lower edge of the cleat at c O are the outer legs, of which there is one at each end of the table. Each outer leg has a bolt 0 extending transversely through its upper end and adapted to engage one of the slots 0. The body of each outer leg stands against the inner face of its adjacent cleat O, and is adapted to just clear said face when the leg is in its folded position, as shown in Fig. 2.

I are the inner legs, of which there is one at each end of the table just inside each outer leg, and said inner legs are connected rigidly and firmly by braces B and B, the upper brace B being extended through the body of the inner leg at each end and journaled in the body of the adjacent outer leg; or, if preferred, a bolt, screw, or pin may be employed, which passes through the two legs and extends into the end of the said upper brace. The braces B and B are preferably connected at suitable points throughout their length by vertical rods V for further bracing the whole and to give an ornamental appearance thereto.

R is a bar, preferably square in cross-Section, and which is rigidly connected at its ends to the upper ends of the inner legs I. This bar is so arranged that when the table is in its distended position one fiat face thereof will rest firmly and squarely against the lower face of the top T, as seen in Fig. 3.

K are blocks secured to the lower face of the top and cut away or recessed on their i11- ner faces, so as to receive the bar R, and pivoted to the lower face of each block K is a button N, all as will appear in the drawings and will be obvious to a person skilled in the art Without a more explicit description.

The uses and adaptability of my improved folding table are as follows: The said table being in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, if now it is desired to close the same the upper ends of the inner legs I are grasped by the operator and pressed inwardly toward the center of the table, whereby the bar R is disengaged from the recesses in the blocks K. A further pressure upon the said upper ends carries the bar R into alignment with the upper ends of the outer legs 0. The four legs are then folded against the under face of the top T and the buttons N turned on their pivots, so that one end thereof will engage the body of the inner legs, and theoperation is finished, the table then occupying the position illustrated in Fig. 2. To again open the table, theoperation is reversed. WVhen in its folded position, the operator may sometimes desire to use the table-top as a lapboard, and this may be accomplished by closing the buttons N and then drawing the four legsdownwardly, whereby the bolts 0 in the upper ends of the outer legs 0 will be drawn out of the open ends 0' of the curved slots 0 and the legs will be entirely disengaged from the top.

I claim as the salient points of my invention-- In a table, the top T, the transverse cleats 0 near the ends thereof upon its under side, said cleats having inwardly-curved slots 0 near one end opening at their inner lower ends 0 through the lower faces of said cleats, and the blocks K, secured to the under side of said top between the other ends of said cleats, in combination with a pair of outer legs 0, bolts 0 through their upper ends adapted to make removable connection with said curved slots, and a pair of inner legs I, pivoted at their centers to the centers of said outer legs and detachably connected at their upper ends with said blocks, the whole adapted for use as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY S. LEE.

' Vitnesses.

OSCAR P. BILLS, WALTER O. BURRIDGE.

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