US554981A - Folding leg for furniture - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 9

' s D. E. CARTER.

FOLDING LEG FOR FURNITURE.

- No. 554,981. Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

' WITNESSES;

ATTORNEYS.

AN DREW BJ'IRANAM, PHOTD-LHHQWASHIN GTONJ) C.

.lJNiTEn STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

DAN E. CARTER, OF TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING LEG FOR FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,981, dated February 18, 1896.

' i A pli ati n fil d June 28, 1895. Serial N0. 554,324. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Traverse City, in the county of Grand Traverse and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Legs for Furniture, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in the folding legs for benches, tables, cot bedsteads', chairs, and like devices; and it has for its object to provide for the folding of the legs of any article of furniture in a manner which will maintain the legs in a closed position or in a position for support, as occasion may demand, the locking device employed being exceedingly simple; and a further object of the invention is to so construct the legs and the locking devices connected therewith that the whole will be du rable and economic, and whereby, further, the legs may be expeditiously and conveniently adjusted to the desired position.

The invention consists in the nox el construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the folding legs applied to a table. Fig. 2is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section through the table and through the connecting-bars of one set of legs, showing an inner face view of the bracket in which the legs are journaled; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a table to which the improvement is applied, the legs being shown in folded position.

In carrying out the invention the table A, to which the legs are shown as applied, is provided at each side of each end with a bracket 10, the said brackets having produced upon their inner faces vertical slots 11,

which are in connection or communication with semicircular or segmental recesses 12, and each bracket is furthermore provided opposite the semicircular or segmental recess with a shoulder 13, and the said shoulder may be in the nature of a rib produced upon the inner face of the bracket, as shown in Fig. 3, in which event the said face where the shoulder is made is lessened in width and Be it known that I, DAN E. CARTER, of

the shoulder is adjacent to the table A.

The legs B are in pairs, and the legs 14 of each pair are usually connected by two or more dowel-rods 15, the upper dowel-rod being made to extend beyond the sides of the pair of legs and is journaled in suitable openings made in the brackets 10. The other dowel-rods are simply rungs serving to connect the legs of a pair, and each of the longer upper dowel-rods 15 has secured to its outer portion, or that portion which is outside of the brackets 10, an arm 16-, preferably made of metal, and the said arms are of such length as to extend beyond the lower edges of the said brackets. V

A binding-rod 17 is passed through the arms of each pair of legs and through the legs themselves, fitting loosely in the latter, and the said binding-rods are squared or rendered polygonal at one of their ends to fit into corresponding openings through which these portions of the binding-rods are to pass, terminating at their outer ends in heads 17, while their opposite extremities, which are likewise loosely passed through the arms 16, are threaded to receive lock-nuts 18, preferably of the wing type, as shown in Fig. 2. The bearings of the upper dowel-rods are located in the slots 11, produced in the said brackets. Therefore, when the legs are carried down to a folded position against the bottom of the table their upper edges, which are rounded off, turn freely in the segmental or semicircular recesses 12 of the bracket.

When the legs are carried to a vertical position they are contained at their upper ends almostwholly within the said slots 11 of the brackets, bearing at their outer edges against the outer walls of the said recesses and at their upper inner edges against the shoulders 13, formed on the aforesaid ribs, as shown in Fig. 3. By screwing the nut 18 on the binding or clamping rod or bar the brackets are forced inward, so as to cause them to bind against the legs of a pair, thereby holding the said legs in the slots 11, it being understood that the inner vertical wall of these slots is much narrower than the outer wall, so as to permit the legs to be folded upon the under face of the object to which the brackets are secured. It is evident that the adjustment of the legs may be expeditiously and conveniently accomplished either in a supporting or in a folded position. \Vhen the legs are to be folded the set-screws 18 are loosened, permitting the legs to turn freely in the brackets.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a table or other article of furniture, brackets secured to the said article of furniture upon its under face, having vertical recesses in their inner surfaces, the inner walls of the recesses being of less width than the outer walls, legs pivoted between opposing brackets, and clamping-rods carried by the legs and connected with the pivots thereof, being adapted to draw the brackets together and confine the legs in the recesses of the brackets and in supporting position, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a table or other article of furniture, the combination, with brackets secured to the under face thereof and having vertical recesses made therein, one wall whereof is of less width than the opposing wall, the Wider wall of the recesses having concavities formed therein, of legs pivoted between opposing brackets, the pivots of the legs extending through said brackets, arms secured to the said pivots of the legs at the outer faces of the brackets, extending beyond the edges thereof, a clamping-rod holding one of the arms against turning, passed through the legs and loosely through the opposing arm of the opposing bracket, and a lock-nut located upon the said rod, by the adjustment of which the brackets may be drawn together, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a table or other article of furniture, a bracket secured to the under face thereof, having slots produced therein, legs arranged in pairs and located between opposing brackets, the pivots of the legs passing through and beyond the outer faces of the brackets, arms secured to the outer ends of the said pivots and extending beyond the under faces of the brackets, a clamping rod passed through each set of legs and the arms on their ends, being held against turning in one of the arms and being threaded at their opposite ends, and a lock-nut located upon the threaded portion of the said clamping-rods, as and for the purpose specified.

DAN E. 'EAR'IER. Witnesses:

CORA L. 1;. CARTER, J. M. THOMAS.

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