US750577A

US750577A - Self-leveling furniture

Info

Publication number: US750577A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1904-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1921-01-26

Description

No. 750,577. PATBNTED JAN. 26. 1904. G. W. & R. W. BOSTWICK, SELF LEVELING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 750,577. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904. G. W. & R. W. BOSTWICK.

SELF LBVELING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED un. 1, 1903.

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No. 750,577. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904'. G. W. D B.. W. BOSTWIGK.

SELF LEVELING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT XV. BOSTVIOK AND ROBERT WT. BOSTVIOK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LEVELING FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent N o. 750,577, dated January 26, 1904.

Application led April l, 1903. Serial No. 150,576. (No model.)

To all when@ it may concern:

Be it known that we, GRANT W BosTwIoK and ROBERT lV. Bos'rwrck, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburg', in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Leveling Furniture, of which the following' is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of our improved self-leveling table with a portion of the connected counterweight-controlling framework. Fig. 2 is plan View of one of the ball-bearings of the frame, taken on the line H H of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the controlling-frame and its connected counterweights, showing the arrangement of a series of gravity-controlled tables. Fig. L is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view showing a series of tables in their normal position and indicating in dotted lines the varying' positions of the tables and of the gravity-actuated controlling means.

Our invention relates to improvements in self-leveling furniture and other apparatus or device with particular reference to a table and a series of seats connected therewith of the type of such furniture as is used on floating vessels or other similar structures subject to variation from a horizontal position, as to decks or Hoor-levels.

rlhc objects in view have been to provide an integral structure with a central supporting clement adapted to normally conform to and to be maintained in a vertical position independent of its supporting-foundation and to the means whereby a series or plurality of such vertical supporting' devices and the superimposed table and chairs are simultaneously controlled and maintained, so that the table will be constantly held in a horizontal position and the chairs in unvarying relation to the table.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 repre.-

metal, either solid or of other suitable design, in the upper portion of which is provided the ball-bearing' 4, having interior spherical surfaces. Y

The construction of the ball-bearing terminals is preferably separable and so designed' that it will permit of the easy assemblage of the parts and with sufficient clearance-open-V ings and space for oscillating movement around the central supporting-stem. K

The central supporting-stem 5 is provided with a sphere or ball 6, secured to or formed integral with the stem and adapted to neatly fit in the interior of the ball-bearing support 4, 'the stem extending upwardly and downwardly, as clearly shown, and secured to and supporting at its upper end the article of furniture, as a table 7, `as shown in Fig. l.

Rigidly connected with the stem 5 above the ball-bearing in any suitable manner, asindicated at 8, is a downwardly-depending surrounding base 9, preferably flared outwardly and continued on a horizontal plane to provide a fioor of circular plan form. The fioor 10 is preferably also provided with a downwardly-depending peripheral ange 11 to provide an inner closingwall adapted to interiit with the edge of the receiving-cavity. The flange also gives added strength and may be of any depth desired; but it may, however, be dispensed with without affecting the operation of the device. v Y

The space beneath the floor and through the deck is hollowed out in bowl form, as indi-v cated at 12, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower portion of the coniform support 3 is so shaped as to form a continuation of such hollow interior, being secured to the under portion of the deck by fiangesfas shown, or in any suitable manner.

The downwardly and outwardly sloping portion 9 of the floor-support is preferably flared out at a considerable angle, so as to provide an intervening space 13 between it and the exterior wall or frame 3, thus providing sufficient space to allow of the oscillating movement of said frame in conformity with such movement as is imparted to the deck of the vessel.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that if the stem 5 is maintained in a vertical position independent of the movement of the deck the surrounding edges of the deck may undulate, rise, or fall at any point (either longitudinally or laterally) and that the floor-surface 10 will remain level and will always maintain a close interfitting joint with the inner surface of the bowl-cavity 12. It will be understood that to insure such interengagement the outer spherical surface of ange 11 and the .inner spherical surface of the bowl have common radii centering in the ball 6.

A particular feature of advantage of this construction is that the passage of small articles between the iioor is prevented, as is likewise the engagement of skirts or other similar material, while a finished appearance is always' insured.

Rigidly mounted on the floor 10 by suitable supports are the seats 14 in proper relation to the surface of the table and to the sloping Wall 9, so that this wallwill provide suitable and convenient foot-rests, if desired.

The lower end of the stem 5 terminates in a ball 15, which is engaged by a surrounding ball-bearing 46 of any suitable design adapted to provide for free movement and oscillation, and with which ball-bearing are connected the rods or other elements 17 of a lower depending regulatingframework, by which the stem 5 is always maintained in a true vertical position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the rods 1T of the framework diverge in opposite directions from the ball-bearings 16 both longitudinally and laterally and are connected in one entire structure by a surrounding similar frame 18, while diagonal truss-rods 19 or any other suitable bracing elements are incorporated with the frame, so as to provide a rigid unyielding structure on a normally general plane.

As shown in Fig. 3, a series of twelve tables are assembled and connected with such controlling-framework, although it will be readily understood that a single table or any desired number may be similarly arranged, according to the dimensions or design of the vessel or other structure, and that they may also be arranged in a continuous line, if desired, and we have not considered it necessary to show such various arrangements, as they are more properly within the province of the designing engineer or builder.

At the corners of the controlling-frame and at intermediate positions, if desired, are located supporting stems or rods 20, provided at their upper portions with balls 21, adapted to rest in universal or ball bearings 22 of any suitable design and preferably extending` above the deck-surface for economy of space and located on the same level with balls 6. 1f desired, these bearings may be also provided with an annular interior row of balls 23, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower interior portion of the bearing and of the deck being hollowed out, as indicated at 24, to permit vibration or oscillation around the stem 20. The stems 20 are provided with supporting-balls 25, around which are the embracing ball-bearings 26 of the controlling-framework either at the corners or intermediate positions and by which bearings the framework is partially supported. It will also be understood that a portion of its weight is carried by the depending balls 15 of the stem 5. To the lower end of the stems 20 are attached the gravity Weights or balls Q7 of suitable weight and resultant leverage and designed to suit varying conditions for each particular case, but preferably of several hundredweight, so as to provide effective inertia. As thus constructed it will be seen that the weights 27 will constantly tend to hold the stem 2O in a vertical position by reason of the fact that all oi' the stems 2O are connected by the rigid framework 17. It will also be seen that the force of each weight will be exerted throughout the framework in every direction, so as to correct the tendency of any of the stems to assume other than a vertical position, and it also follows that the stems 5 will be absolutely controlled by the rigid frame and will all be maintained in a vertical position. This is due not only to tile accumulated inertial force of the connected weights, but also to the excessive leverage which results from their joint and simultaneous operation exerted through the frame in a lateral direction against the lower ends of stem 5.

The leverage of the frame as thus constructed is proportionally greater than any tendency of the stems 5 or their supported furniture to deviate from vertical and horizontal positions, respectively, independent of whatever load is carried by the tables or however distributed.

Te are aware that self-leveling devices for furniture have been patented wherein a counterweight is attached to the vertical stem of an upper table, but believe that we are the first to provide the mechanism shown and described whereby the corrective inertial action of a frame and a series of surrounding connected independent weights is applied to one or a series of pendently-arranged supportingstems.

The operation is obvious from the foregoing description. The advantages of the invention will be appreciated by all those who are skilled in the art. It is very efficient, simple, durable, and inexpensive, and is capable of instal- IIO lation without interfering with the head room ingstem provided with a bearing ball, a socket-bearing therefor, a table-top supported by the stem, and a floor-plate secured to the stem and provided with seats, with means for holding the stem in a vertical position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a self-leveling apparatus, a supporting-stem provided with a bearing-ball, a hollow coniform support terminating in a bearing-socket, a table-top supported upon the stem, a base secured to the stein and provided with a surrounding downwardly extending middle portion and a peripheral flat ioor portion, with seats secured to the ioor portion, and means for maintaining the stem in a vertical position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a self-leveling apparatus, a supporting-stem provided with a bearing-ball, a hollow Coniform support terminating in a bearing-socket, a table-top supported upon the stem, a base secured to the stem and provided with a surrounding downwardly-eXtending middle portion and a peripheral flat floor p0rtion having a downwardly-extending spheroperipheral flange, a bowl-shaped cavity therefor, seats secured to the floor portion, and means for maintaining the stern in a vertical position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stem provided with an attached table and chair support, a universal bearing-support and a downward extension; of a gravity-actuated controlling-frame in engagement with the stem and suspended from bearings on the same plane as said universal bearing-support, substantially as set forth.'

5. In self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stem provided with an attached table and chair support, a universal bearing-support and a downward extension, of a gravity-actuated controlling-frame, having a universal joint in engagement with said stem and supporting means suspended from bearings and connected with the frame on the same planes respectively, as the said bearings, substantially as set forth.

6. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stemv provided with an attached table and chair support, a universal bearing-support and a downward eXtension, of a gravity-actuated controlling-frame, having a universal joint in engagement with said stem and supporting means suspended from bearings and connected with the frame on the same planes respectively, as the said bearings, and carrying controlling-weights, substantially as set forth.

7. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stem provided with a table-top, a universal bearing-support and a downward extension; of a gravity-actuated controlling-frame in engagement with the stem and a series of independent depending weights and stems connected with the frame at positions lateral to the stem, substantially as set forth.

8. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stem provided with a table-top, and a connected licor with seats mounted thereon, and a downward extension; of a gravity-actuated controlling-frame in engagement with the stem and a series of depending weights connected with the frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GRANT W. BOSTWICK. ROBERT W. BOSIWICK.

Witnesses:

THos. B. MCLAIG, I). B. BEACH.