US639837A

US639837A - Combination ironing-table.

Info

Publication number: US639837A
Application number: US72784699A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1899-08-19
Filing date: 1899-08-19
Publication date: 1899-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1916-12-26

Description

No. 639,837. I .Patentedne'c. 26, I899.

.1. F. WHITE.

COMBINATION IRONING TABLE.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1899.)

.(No Model.)

I NITED STATES PATENT union.

COMBINATION lRONlNG-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,837, dated December 26, 1899.

Application filed August 19,1899. Serial No. 727,846. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Oombination Ironing-Table, of which the follow-- ing is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination ironing-table, and has for its object to provide an improved article of this character having simple and efficient means for supporting an ironing-board and the separate parts of which are capable of independent use.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates the novel construction of a boardsupport in the form of a ladder, so as to be readily adapted not only for supporting the ironing-board, but also as a convenient stepladder for independent use.

A further object of the invention is to construct a board-supporting ladder in such a way as to give the same the necessary strength and rigidity for use as a ladder as well as the supporting element for the ironing-board.

Another object of the invention is to associate with the ironing-board a novel form of cleat, which facilitates applying the article to tables of different height.

With these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same con,- sists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combination ironin g-table and ladder embodying the improvements contemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the brace-bar of the supporting-ladder engaged with one of the rest-shoulders of the cleat at the under side of the ironing-board. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the board-supporting ladder in the position in which it is used as the supporting element for the board. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the ladder inverted for use as such.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the ironing board proper, of the usual configuration. As hereinafter explained, this board may be the plain ironing-board, such as is commonly used by housekeepers, with one end placed on a table and the other end on a chair-back; but in carrying out the present invention there is preferably associated with the board 1 a transverse cleat This cleat is fastened to the under side of the board, near one end thereof, and extends the full width of the same, thereby serving to strengthen the board and prevent any tendency thereof to warp while in use. In addition to this function the cleat 2 forms a rest for engagement with the supporting element or leg of the table and is provided with a step series of restshoulders 3, which cooperate with the board support 4. in the manner to be presently explained.

The board-support 4. constitutes an essential part of the present invention and is constructed in the form of a complete ladder, essentially comprising a pair of opposite divergent side rails 5 and a plurality of transverse flat step-pieces 6, connecting the said side rails and secured at their ends to thesame by suitable fastenin gs. The flat transverse steppieces 6 aredisposed obliquely to the longitudinal plane of the side rails, so that when the support is set up at an inclination against a wall or other-object the said step-pieces will lie in substantially horizontal planes to form the usual steps of the ladder.

To provide for adapting the ladder tas the supporting element of the ironing-board 1, the same is provided between'the divergent ends of the side rails with a transverse brace bar 7. The brace bar 7 extends entirely across the space between the divergent ends of the side rails and is suitably secured at its ends to said rails, being also arranged at one side of and secured directly to the contiguous step -piece 6 of the structure. The transverse brace-bar 7 is disposed at right angles to the step-piece with which it is connected, and thereby serves as an effectual brace for the bottom step of the ladder by strengthening the portion thereof upon which the great est strain is placed when it is used simply as a ladder, as well as when used as the supporting element for the ironing-board.

and constitutes a fulcrum upon which theironing-board is supported. The divergent ends of the side rails 5, beyond the brace-bar 7, are provided in one edge thereof with the angular notches 8, which are adapted to engage the top edge of the table or wall eleat, beneath which one end of the ironing-board is placed.

In the use of the structure as an ironingtable one end of the ironing-board is placed between the spread or divergent ends of the side rails 5 and engages beneath the edge of the table or wall cleat. In this position the board may rest directly on one edge of the bracebar 7, with the rest-cleat 2 disposed at one side of the same, which arrangement of parts is necessary when the device is applied to a low table; but in the event of it being necessaryto attach the parts to a higher table any one of the rest-shoulders of the cleat 2 may be arranged to engage with the upper edge of the brace-bar 7 to secure the desired elevation of the parts. \Vith one end of the ironing-board engaged beneath the edge of the table or wall cleat and the angular notches 8 of the side rails engaged with the upper side of the said table or wall cleat the parts are held securely locked together by reason of the leverage exerted by downward pressure upon the ironing-board.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that any ordinary board might be used with the brace 7 of the supporting-ladder; but the cleat 2 is a desirable addition, inasmuch as it adapts the article for attachment to tables of different heights. As for the supporting-ladder, it will be observed that when in use as the supporting element for the board the downwardly and inwardly converging side rails extend beneath the board inside of the vertical planes of the side edges of the latter, so as to be entirely out of the way of the feet of the operator. By engaging the notches S of the side rails with a window-sill or table the said supporting element might be used as a step-ladder in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. .Ordinarily when used solely as a step-ladder the said supporting element 4 is inverted to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that the lower step, upon which great strain is usually placed,

will be effectually braced by the transverse brace-bar 7.

- From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation will be readily apparent without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a ladder comprising a pair of opposite divergent side rails having notchesat or near one end thereof, a plurality of transverse flat steppieces connecting the side rails at intervals, and a transverse brace-bar secured to and arranged longitudinally of the bottom steppiece, said brace-bar being disposed at right angles to the step-piece with which it is associated, and when the ladder is inverted constitutes a fulcrum-support for the ironingboard, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ironing-table,the combination with the board, of a board-supportingladder having steps, and a separate transverse bracebar fitted directly to and arranged longitudinally of one of the steps, said brace-bar projecting at one side of the plane of the step to which it is attached, and also constituting a fulcrum-support for the board.

3. In an ironing-table,the combination with the board provided at its under side with a fixed transverse rest-cleat having a step series of shoulders, and a support for the board having a transverse fulcrum-bar adapted to have its edge engaged with any of said restshoulders, substantially as set forth.

4. In a device of the class described, a'ladder comprising a pair of side rails, a plurality of transverse step-pieces connecting the side rails at intervals, and a transverse brace-bar secured to and arranged longitudinally of the bottom step-piece, said brace-bar being disposed at an angle to the step-piece with which it is associated, and when the ladder is inverted constitutes a fulcrum-support for the ironing-board.

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

J OIIN F. VVIIITE.

Witnesses PEARL REED, A. M. DUFF.