US878555A - Combined sofa or settee and pool or billiard table. - Google Patents

Description

No. 878,555. PATENTED FEB.11, 1908. J. N. MUINTIRE. COMBINED SOFA OR SETTEE AND POOL 0R BILLIARD TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15. 1906 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

I J. N. MoINTIRE. COMBINED SOFA OR SETTEE AND POOL OR BILLIARD TABLE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.15. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I H ll" WIN".

WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB N. MGINTIRE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWIGli-BALKE-OOLLENDER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMBINED SOFA OR SETTEE AND POOL OR BILLIARD TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed August 15. 1906, Serial No. 330.633.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB N. McIN'rIRn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, whose postoffice address is Box 1089, New York city, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Sofa or Settee and Pool or Billiard Table, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to that article of furniture known as a combination sofa or settee'and pool or billiard table in which there is one main part which constitutes the seat and end-portions (or armlike parts) of a settee; and another main portion which, when adjusted in one (a vertical) position, relatively to the first named part, constitutes the back-portion of the sofa or settee and when adjusted into another (horizontal) position, serves the purposes of agame table. In this type of article, or in the piece of furniture above described, as heretofore made; used; and patented; various constructions have been adapted, none of which, however, has so far, (according to my information) resulted in a very desirable or perfectly satisfactory thing, to the purchasing public, either from a commercial or from a mechanical point of view. In some of these combination sofa-tables, the construction is such that when the parts are adjusted for use as a game-table, the bed of the table is not maintained in a sufficiently firm or rigid condition for the playing of games thereon; while in others, in which this difficulty does not exist to a very objectional extent, the structure is such that the translation of the parts, or the transformation of the article from a settee toa game-table, and vice versa, cannot be easily or conveniently enough effectuated, with the table bed made, (as all approved beds must be) with slabs of slate; which add very much to the gravity or weight of the game-table portion of the piece of furniture. In still other constructions, there is too much complexity of mechanism, in the liability to get out of order; and too great a cost to manufacture.

I propose, by my invention, to provide for use a combination settee or sofa'and pool or billiard table of such construction that, while it may be manufactured at comparatively small cost and will, in practice, be perfectly satisfactory in operation, from a mechanical point of view, it will comprise no sort of machinery, or working parts, requiring manipulation by hand power, to effectuate the transformation from a sofa to a gametable and vice versa, and will also be capable of transformation from the sofa to the table, and vice versa, with great ease, i. 6., with little hysical exertion on the part of the user and y hand power applied solely to the translatable bed-portion of the articlenot withstanding the necessary great weight of the bed portion of the piece of furniture; which, when made in the most approved form, with slate slabs, will usually weigh, (in a table say three and a half by seven feet) some 300 to 400 pounds.

To these main ends and objects my invention consists in a combined settee or sofa and pool or billiard table, involving the novel construction, or the novel devices and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter fully described; and which will be most particularly pointed out in the claims of this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my improvements relate, to make and use a combination piece of furniture comprising either wholly or partially my improvements therein, I will now proceed to fully describe the construction and operation of my improved article, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown my said invention carried out, as to the various parts thereof, in that precise form in which I have, so far, successfully practiced it; although it will be understood that, with reference to some of the structural features, mere modification or colorable variations may be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention; and that some of the structural features may be omitted, and only the rest employed, with more or less advantage.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved article of furniture, with its two main portions so relatively adjusted, as to adapt it for use as a sofa or settee, and, in this figure, I have shown one of the two hinged. or movable arm-pieces in its proper position, for use at the right hand end of the figure,while at the left hand end of said figure, I have shown the other hinged arm turned into the position to which it has to be adjusted in order to translate the bed portion, (or back-part of the sofa) into a horizontal position, to adapt the article for use as a game-table. And I have also, in this figure, shown that a certain detachable piece or part, (at the left hand side) is removed or detached, as it has to be, to permit such translation of the sofa back into such horizontal position. :Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the article, with its two main portions adjusted or placed, relatively, in the positions in which they have to be, to use the article as a pool or billiard table. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section, taken in a plane indicated by the dotted line 3-3, at Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar, sectional view taken in a plane indicated by the dotted line 44, of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a partial vertical, longitudinal section, taken in a plane indicated by the dotted line 55, at Fig. 2; to show particularly the metallic shaft and certain grooved wheels, etc., and the relative arrangement of these parts with the bed frame and the stationary track-rails, located at and fastened onto the upper ends of the arm-like portions of the sofa. Fig. 6 is a detail view, (drawn on a somewhat enlarged scale) showing more particularly the structure of the rear end portion of one of the wheeltracks; and the means, preferably, employed for locking the bed thereto, when in place for use as a game table; as will be presently described. Fig. 7 is another detail view of the locking device. Fig. 8 shows, in partial top view, (on an enlarged scale) one of the metallic track rails, detached. Fig. 9 is a partial end View of the article, to show more particularly means designed to act as a supplemental support to the table portion, when the latter is set in its horizontal position. Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the same parts differently adjusted. Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section (on an enlarged scale) at the line 1111, of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a detail view (enlarged scale) showing the configuration of the coacting track-rail and grooved wheel, in vertical cross section.

In the several figures of the drawing the same part will be found always designated by the same letter of reference.

B, B, are the two end-pieces; and C, is the seat of the sofa or settee portion of the article; which parts, are, preferably, framed together in about the usual manner, (as clearly shown) with wedge-keys c, which draw and firmly hold together each end of the said seat portion C, and each one of the two end-pieces B, of the settee.

The game-table portion of the piece of furniture,which, as a whole, is lettered A, is composed of a bed-frame A, on which are mounted and to which are secured the slate slabs A, that are finally covered with the ordinary green or billiart cloth; all in substantially the usual manner of making a billiard or pool table bed; and at a, are shown the cushion-rails, carrying the billiard or pool table cushions a"; all in a manner well known; while, in the case shown the game table, being designed for use as a pocket table, there are formed, at each corner of the bed and in the middle of each one of its two longer sides, pockets a; of the ordinary con struction.

That has so far been remarked as the table bed comprising the usual frame with its slate slabs, is, it will be seen, supplemented, beneath or at the lower surface of the bedframe proper, with cross beams (L in which is mounted, to freely rotate in suitable metallic bearing-boxes (1 (see Fig. 5) a metal shaft E, which carries two peripherally grooved wheels D, mounted fast thereon; all as plainly shown; while a, is a bottom board to the bed structure, which, when the latter is turned into its substantially vertical position, constitutes the wooden back of the settee or sofa; and a", is a sort of apron-like, wooden, casing; which incloses, or closes up, the space between the interior surface of this bottom board a, and the adjacent surface of the bed-frame proper, A.

Each one of the grooved wheels D, just referred to, is made fast to the shaft E, onwhich it is mounted, preferably, by a setscrew.

G, G, are two metallic rails or wheeltracks, each of which is of the peculiar shape or conformation shown in the drawing; and each of which is let down into the woodwork of the upper end of one of the arn1-like portions B, of the sofa; to which it is securely fastened by wood-screws, or otherwise to an extent sufficient to permit the table bed to travelhorizontally on'the said stationary track-rails without having its lower surface touch the top surfaces of the sofa end pieces.

As will be readily seen, the bottom board a, of the table bed is cut away, or cut through,

at each of the localities marked a, to permit a slight protrusion through this bottom board of each one of the grooved wheels D; while at H, is located, so as to similarly-pro.- trude, peripherally, through the said bottom board of the table bed, a grooved wheel similar to wheel D; which turns freely on an arbor or stud, preferably, integral with a cast bracket, secured to one of the cross-beams of the wooden bed-structure.

Each one of the track-rails G, is formed, as shown, at its rear end, with a curved, upwardly projecting portion G; and each one of these rails is also formed with an upwardly projecting rib t, running its whole length, on each of which ribs rides or travels one of the grooved wheels D, and also one of the similarly made wheels H; as and for a purpose to be presently explained.

I, is a pin-like fastener, or bolt-like device, provided with a diametrically arranged slop pin "L, which fastener is arranged, as clearly shown (see Figs. 6 and 7), and is accessible through an opening a in the bottom board a, of the table-bed; so that it may be manipulated by hand, either to push it into the proper position to operate as a stop, in front of the upwardly projecting, rear end, part G of the track-rail G, (as seen at Figs. 4 and 6) or to retract it so as to leave this upper end G of the track-rail free to move, relatively to the table bed, when it shall be necessary to move the latter horizontally from its operative condition as a table bed into position as a sofa back; as will be presently explained. Preferably, I make this locking pin I, with a slight eccentricity in its peripheral surface, where it contacts with the part G, of the track-rail, so that, after having pushed endwise into the locking position, a partial rotation of said pin will cause the eccentric portion of its periphery to forcibly contact with the engaged surface of G, and thus always make a tight lock; even though, in use, the parts designed to contact may have slightly worn away.

The rear part of each of the end pieces B, of the settee or sofa, is shaped or designed, as shown, so as to afford a projecting ledge or stop-like surface, at b (see Figs. 2 aml 3) on which a portion of the table-bed structure of the article contacts and rests, when turned into the vertical position, to adapt the article for use as a settee; in order to relieve the metallic, pivotal devices of undue strain from the gravity of the said bed structure. I), b, are two, hinged arms of the sofa or settee, the turning of which into one or another position, (according to the uses to which the combination article may be adapted) will be presently further explained: while B, is a detachable or removable and replaceable covering-block, adapted to cover and hide from view, respectively, the two protruding track-wheels l), and the two protruding track-wheels ll, when the gametable portion of the article is adjusted in its vertical position, to constitute the back of the sofa or settee; said coverii'ig-block being provided with headed. pin-like devices, which engage with two key-hole aperturesfl made in the bottom board (1 of the billiard-table. bed.

l/Vhen the two main portions of the article are set in the relative position seen at Fig. 1, all the parts appear as they are shown at the right hand end of said figure; but when it may be desired to transform the settee into a garlic-table, the detachable covering blocks B, are taken off (as illustrated at the left side of said figure), and each of the hinged armpieces I) of the settee is turned over,-inwardly and downwardly,into the position illustrated at the left hand side of said figure;

and, with. these hinged and removable parts all m the conditions thus illustrated, (at the left hand side of the figure) the bed portionof the article, which constitutes the back of the settee, maybe oscillated. about the axis of the longitudinal shaft E, in the proper direction and to an extent sufficient to bring the bed portion of the article into a horizontal position, and with its slightly protruding grooved wheels I), l), and 1 1,11 all down into contact with the track-rails G, G, (mounted, as before stated, on the tops of the end portions B, B, of the settee) and, with the parts thus adjusted, or with the game-table portion thus turned down into a horizontal position, the latter may then be pushed sidewise, (in the direction indicated. by the arrow at Fig. 3), until the parts shall have been brought to the relative position illustrated in Figs. 2 and l the grooved trackwheels l), l), and the similar wheels H, H, during this horizontal movement of the gametable portion of the article, rolling along in contact with, or on the stationary trackr'ails G, G; with the bottom surface or portion of the game-table bed very slightly ele vatcd above, and out of contact with, the top surfaces of the said end portions B, B, of the sofa; until the sliding or rolling movement of the bed portion shall have been completed; at which time any further movement of the bed is checked by contact of the slotted-out portions of board a, with the upwardly projecting rear ends G of the track-rails; all as clearly seen at Fig. 4 of the drawing.

To reinforce the support, by the sofa ends, of the heavy table-bed, when thus placed in its horizontal position, I prefer to have combined with said sofa ends prcsser-bars J, (see Figs. 9, 10, 11) that are connected to the said ends B, B, of the sofa through the media of pivoted, vibratorylinks, j, and are actuated, at theproper time, by lugs K, projecting from the bottom board of the tablebcd, so as to be vibrated upwardly into forcible contact with the bottom surface of the table, at the moment the latter reaches its final horizontal position. The operation and effect of this presser-bar, or reinforce support, are plainlyillustrated at Figs. 9, l0 and 11, where Fig. 10 shows the parts in position as if the bed were being rolled forward on the track-rails, but not yet arrived at its final position, so that the lugs K, have not yet come into contact with the rear ends of the vibratory presser-bars; while at Fig. 9, it appears that the bed, having been pushed along horizontally into its final position, the lugs K, have contacted with the rear ends of the presser-bars J, and have forced them forwardly and upwardly so that their top surfaces are in. forcible contact with. the bottom surface of the bed; and act as reinforces to the main supports thereof, (which are the four track-wheels l), l), and. H, H, that rest on the two stationary track-rails G,) especially in the localities in the bed bottom that are intermediate (widthwise of the bed) of the supporting wheels D and H. The top surfaces of these presser-bars J, may be clothed or faced with thin cloth, as seen at m", to avoid the possibility of marring the finely finished surface, of the wooden bottom surface of the bed, (in the case of the article being of the unupholstered style shown and described) which, when adjusted to the position seen at Fig. l, is, of course, exposed to view. As shown (see particularly Fig. 11), the presser-bar J, is hung to the outer surface of B, by means of the two vibratory links 7', the upper end of each of which is pivotally attached to the inner side of the bar at 9' and the lower end of each of which links is pivotally attached at to the sofa end piece B; the arrangement of the assembled parts being such that, when bar J, is forced into its highermost position,to be in forcible contact with the table bottom,- the vibratory links will be, so to speak, on their dead centers, or in vertical positions; and, of course, the moment the table bed is pulled backward, horizontally, its initial movement tends to move the presser-bars and lead them to automatically move downwardly and rearwardly, into the normal positions illustrated at Fig. 10. To assemble these parts, the upper ends of the links are first attached to the bar J, as seen at Fig. 11 then the permanently attached pintles j' at the lower ends of said links, are inserted into the bushings (previously screwed fast into holes in the end pieces 13,) and are secure d in place therein by nuts j; after which the holes in the wooden parts B, of the sofa (through which access to the nuts was afforded) may be pluggedup, as seen at It will be under stood that while I prefer to employ this structural feature, of meansto reinforce the supporting of the bed when in its horizontal osition, this feature is not at all indispensable to the other and more generic structural features of my improved combination sofa table; and that it is perfectly separable from the other parts of my present invention.

In the construction of a sofa-table, in a style of furniture in which the parts to be used for the sofa purposes are to be upholstered, it may be found, in practicing my invention, desirable to wholly omit this structural feature. In like manner, the means I have shown and described for locking in place the bed, when adjusted to the horizontal position in which it is adapted for use as a game-table, is a feature which is separable from the other parts of my present improvements, and may have some different means, or device, substituted for it; (the mere sliding pin device shown, for instance, in my patent of September 18, 1906, No. 831,293,) without affecting the other and more generic features of construction comprised in this application. In my said Letters Patent is disclosed the generic structural feature, in a convertible sofa-game table, (which is original with me) of stationary trackrails simply made fast to the stationary tops of the sofa end pieces; and a translatable bed provided with wheels to rest and travel on said stationary rails, so that the convertible sofa-table can have its heavy bech portion translated from one to the other of its two positions without the use of any sort of incorporated machinery or working parts needing to be operated by hand power; and so that the transformation of the piece of furniture from a sofa, or settee to a gametable and vice versa, can be effectuated simply by the application of hand power to the translatable bed; and with comparatively little exertion; but in my said other case, the claims which have been allowed me cover only the specific features, in such generically new construction, of track-rails with depression, into which the table supporting wheels descend, thus letting the bed, at the end of its horizontal forward movement descend by gravity, into contact with the stationary tops of the sofa end pieces; to get a firmer support; while in my present case this specific construction is not comprised.

In the construction herein shown and described, by reason of the heavy bed portion simply oscillating about the axis of its rearmost set of wheels D, (that are placed at about the center of the bed widthwise) while the latter are seated in the rear end, upwardly projecting, parts G of the stationary track-rails; and by reason of the Wheels D, and H, simply rolling forwardly into final position; and also rearwardly into final position; on the horizontal stationary track-rails G, not only is the translation of the bed from its horizontal position (to serve as the gametable) to that in which it serves as the settee back, and vice versa, rendered very easy of accomplishment and with the application of very little hand power to the bed only; but, furthermore, the convertible article is minus all machinery or working parts; so that it can be made and sold at comparatively small cost; and not be in the least liable to get out of repair or out of perfect working order.

In view of what I have hereinbefore explained, and what is shown in the drawings, it is only necessary to state, with reference to the operation of my improved article, that, assuming the parts to be adjusted for its use as a settee, as seen at Fig. 1, it is only necessary to first remove both of the coveringblocks B, and then turn each hinged arm rest 1), into the position in which that one at the right hand side is shown; when,'by standing in rear of the settee and pushing against the upper edge or part of its back portioni. 0., against the upper part of the vertlcally arranged game-table bed A,the latter may be readily tilted or oscillated into a horizontal position, partially over the settee end pieces, B, B; and so that all four of the grooved wheels D, D, and H, H, will contact with the stationary track-rails G, G, and sustain the bed thereon. In fact, in performing this step of the transformation, after having pushed over the upper edge of the game-table a little ways, no further force need be applied to push it over (and downwardly) the rest of the way; but, on the contrary, the operator will have to hold back on (or keep down) the lower, upwardly moving edge of the bed, to prevent the latter turning too fast into its resting place on the top of the end pieces B, B. After this, the oper ator has simply to push forwardly the horizontally positioned bed until its movement thus is checked by reason of the upturned rear ends G of the stationary track-rail contacting with the ends of the slots, or cut-outs in the bottom board a, and serving as positive stops to prevent further movement of the bed. As this movement of the bed is about terminating, the lugs K, on its bottom, come into contact with and move into their effective positions the reinforcing presserbars J; in the manner, and for the purpose, I have already hereinabove explained. The locking-pins I are then turned (and pushed endwise) into engagement, with the trackrail ends G as heretofore described, and as already shown at Fig. 4, when the gametable is ready for use.

To effectuate the transformation back into a settee, the user, or operator, first unlocks the table bed by releasing the engaged ends G from the locking-pins I then taking hold of the cushion rail (at the back side of the table), pulls the bed back on its supporting wheels, as far as he can which brings the set of grooved wheels D, D, into their seats in the up-turned ends G of the track-rails, after which, by simply pressing, or bearing, down on the rear side, or that portion of the bed nearest his body, the bed will be easily tilted, or oscillated into the vertical position seen at Fig. 1,- the lower outer edge of the bed structure, coming into contact with the supporting shoulders, 01' rests, If, as shown, for the purpose I have already mentioned.

As in the operation of tilting the bed from the vertical into the horizontal position, dur

ing the oscillation of it from the horizontal to the vertical, while the first part of the movement necessitates the application of only a moderate force, the latter part of the movement is effectuated by gravity, and during it, the operator has to hold back on the bed (this time at its upper edge or part), to prevent it from too rapidly assuming its final position. Hence, it will be understood that in the aggregate ofthe several movements of the bed, during both of the transformations explained, the movements are produced very easily, or with very little exertion on the part of the operator.

Of course, either or both of the transformations can be produced by the person standing at the front side of the settee; but it will be found much easier-for obvious reasons to effectuate all the translations of the gametable bed while standingat the rear side, and at about the middle of the bed, lengthwise, as I have herein suggested, or directed.

After the translation of the bed back to its vertical position, (as last explained) to serve as the sofa back, the previously detached covering-blocks B, are replaced, and the arm-rests b, I), turned into their normal positions.

It will be seen that, although my improved article involves no machinery, or workingparts; and has all the transformations most easily and conveniently efl'ectuated, simply by the application of very little hand power, applied directly (and only) to the table bed, it is strong, durable and perfect in operation, or use, .as either a game-table, or a settee, as desired.

Having now so fully shown and described my improved, convertible settee-game-table, that any one skilled in the art can make and use the same, embodying, either wholly or partially, the several parts of my invention, what I claim therein as new and desireto secure by Patent is:

1. In a convertible settee-game-table the combination, with one main portion comprising a seat and end parts; and another main part comprising a game-table bed, of stationary, straight track-rails securely fastened respectively to the tops of said settee end parts and having upwardly projecting rear ends and peripherally grooved wheels mounted on a shaft arranged within and approximately, centrally, widthwise of the bed structure, and operating to support said bed on said straight rails while theformer is in any horizontal position; and to permit the oscillation of the bed; all in substantially the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a convertible settee-game-table the combination, with one main part comprising a seat and end pieces; another main part comprising the game-table bed; stationary track-rails mounted on the tops of the settee end pieces; and grooved wheels mounted in the game-table bed and traveling on said track-rails, of re-inforcing supports automatically caused to move into forcible contact with the bed bottom by the final horizontal movement of the bed, in one direction; and to be automatically thrown into disuse, by the initial movement of said bed, in the opposite direction; all substantially as. set forth.

3. In a convertible settee-game-table of tion, with the bed portion, of a locking device 15 member, adapted to engage with the rear end of the track-rail, carried by said bed, and comprising a pin or bar having a cam-like end portion and provided with a handle to the type shown and described, the combination, with stationary track-rails mounted on the end pieces of the settee portion and having upwardly projecting rear ends, of a horizontally translatable game-table bed; and one set of members of a locking device, carried by said bed and adapted to be manipulated byhand, when the bed is in its position for use as a table, to co-act with said upturned rear ends of the track-rails, to effectuate the retention in place of the bed; substantially as set forth. 7

4:. In a convertible settee-game-table oi the type shown and described, the combina- J. N. MGINTIRE.

In presence o'f H. D. STODDARD, EDWARD F. BAYER.

facilitate manipulation of said member by 20,

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