US994612A - Folding card-table. - Google Patents

Description

R. D. STAOKPOLE. FOLDING CARD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JULYSl, 1009.

Patented June 6, 1911.

11. D. STACKPOLE. FOLDING GARD TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1909.

Patented June 6, 191 1.

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- RALPH DOW STACKPOLE, F CANTON, OHIO.

FOLDING CARD-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Application filed July 31, 1909. Serial No. 510,597.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH D. STACKPOLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Folding Card-Table, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in folding tables.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of folding tables, and to provide a simple and inexpensive folding card table, adapted to be easily and compactly folded, and capable of being readily unfolded and arranged for use without stooping or opening the legs by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table of this character, equipped with a spring adapted to hold the legs in their separated posit-ion, while the table is in use, and capable also of retaining the parts in their folded position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consist-s in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a reverse plan view of a folding card table, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the legs being folded together preparatory to turning up the top into a vertical position. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the table, illustrating the arrange-- ment of the parts when the same are completely folded. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 1-t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

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

The table comprises in its construct-ion a cloth covered table 1, composed of a plurality of boards 2, 8 and 4 and provided on its lower face with marginal cleats 5, which reinforce the top of the table and connect the boards or leaves 2, 3 and 4. The top of the table, however, may be constructed in any other preferred manner, and may have a smooth pollshed upper surface if desired. Hinged to the lower face of the top of the table is a supporting bar 6, arranged transversely with relation to the boards or leaves 2, 3 and 1, and connected at one of its side edges with each of the said boards or leaves 2, 3 and by hinges 7, whereby the hinged leg supporting bar or member serves to assist in securing the parts of the top of the table together. A foldable leg supporting bar or member 8 is centrally connected with the hinged bar or member 6 by a pivot 9, and it is adapted to be arranged either in a position substantially at right angles to the bar 6, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, or to be turned longitudinally of the said bar, as shown in Fig. 2. Legs 10 and 11 are connected to the bars or members 6 and 8 at the ends thereof. The hinged bar 6 is equipped at opposite sides of its center with longitudinally disposed inwardly tapered members 12, consisting of bars or pieces suitably secured to the bar 6 and having their inner side edges arranged in spaced planes to permit the pivoted bar 8 to fold beneath the bar 6. The inner ends of the members 12 form stops for limiting the swing of the pivoted bar 8, and the side faces of the said members 12 also form stops for limiting the swing of the bar 8 in the closing movement thereof. The top of the table is provided on its lower face with reversely arranged stops 13, consisting of strips or pieces, enlarged at one end to form shoulders 14, which are arranged in the path of the pivoted bar 8. The top of the table is also preferably provided beyond the stops 14: with blocks 15 against which the terminals of the bar 8 bear. These blocks 15 form spacing pieces and solidly support the top of the table at the ends of the bar 8.

The legs of the table are maintained separated by a coiled spring 16 when the table is in use. One end of the spring 16 is connected with the bar 8 by an eye 17, or other suitablemeans located eccentrically of the bar 8 at one side of the pivot point, and the spring extends to the opposite end of the hinged bar 6, being connected with the outer end of the adjacent fixed member 12 by eyes 18 and 19. The terminal portion 20 of the coiled spring is extended laterally and is connected with the top of the table at a point beyond the hinged edge of the bar 6 by an eye 21. By this arrangement the spring 16 operates to maintain the pivoted leg carrying bar 8 in engagement with the stops of the top of the table, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the legs of the table are folded and the top turned up to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the terminal portion of the spring will maintain the parts in their folded position. For convenience of illustration the legs are shown in substantially a horizontal position in Fig. 3 of the drawings, but in practice the legs will form a support for the table, when the same is either folded orv unfolded. Instead of extending the outer terminal of the spring laterally of the table for securing the parts in their folded position, a latch, or other suitable fastening means may be employed for this purpose.

The lower portions of the legs 10 and 11 of the table are preferably connected by bars or braces 22 and 23, pivoted together at the center by a bolt 24, or other suitable fastening means. The top of the table is also provided at its lower face with a cleat 25, arranged transversely with relation to the boards 2, 3 and 4t, and located at the free side edge of the supporting bar 6 when the table is arranged for use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding table comprising a top, a bar hinged to the top, a foldable bar pivoted to the hinged bar, legs connected with the said bars, and a spring connected with the bars and arranged to hold the legs in their separated position, said spring being provided with an extension connected with the top of the table and arranged to hold the parts in their folded position.

2. A folding table comprising a top, a bar hinged at one edge to the top and supporting the same and adapted to permit the top to be arranged either in a vertical or horizontal position, a pivoted bar carried by the hinged bar and adapted to be arranged either longitudinally of the same or at an angle thereto, legs carried by the said bars, and a continuous coiled spring connected with the bar and arranged to hold the legs separated hinged at one edge to the top, a foldable bar pivoted centrally to the hinged bar at a point intermediate of the ends thereof, legs connected with both of said bars, and means for holding the legs in their folded and separated positions, said means including a spring connection extending from one end of the hinged bar along the same to the pivoted bar and connected with the latter at one side of its pivot and also extending across the end of the hinged bar and connected to i the table top beyond the hinged edge of the said hinged bar. a

5. A foldable table comprising a top, a

bar hinged at one edge to the top, a foldable v7 bar pivoted centrally to the hinged bar at a point intermediate of theends thereof, legs connected with both of said bars, and a single continuous coiled spring connected at an intermediate point with the hinged bar at one end thereof and having one portion extending along the same to and connected with the pivoted bar at one side of its pivot for holding the legs in their open or separated positions, the other portion of the spring being extended across and bearing against the end of the hinged bar and connected to the table top at a point beyond the hinged edge of the said hinged bar.

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

RALPH DOW STAOKPOLE.

lVitnesses:

D. K. BUsH, JOHN NooNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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