US1911750A - Foldable table - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1933. w. c. COLLIGNON 1,911,750

FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May 4, 1951 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT-f FOLDABLE TABLE Application filed May 4, 1931. Serial'No. 534,788.

This invention relates to folding articles of furniture of the portable class, and particularly to folding tables, benches, stools and other articles having legs and a flat'upper surface, being primarily concerned with the mechanism for enabling the articles to be folded into compact form for easy transportation and so as to occupya small space.

., In the past, devices of this type have in 19 general embraced a flat surface, as for example, the top-of atable, which may be of single or unitary construction in smallsizes and foldable sections in'the larger sizes. Regardless of size, these articles have in the 'main, included folding legsor supports at tion-served quite adequately for articles of relatively small size, the prior art construction was objectionable when used in the 20 larger size articles, sincefthere would be a tendencyfo'r the table top to sagjwhc n loaded, especially was this true in tables having very long tops. Obviously, this construction is disadvantageous in that it is i often very important that the top should remain perfectly flat when the table is loaded. This invention has, therefore, been designed to overcome the above noted defects and objections, in the provision of a foldable table which'is adapted to be folded to assume an exceedingly compact form, and yet of such construction, that it may be embodied in relatively large tables-with equal facility.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an intermediate foldable' support for the table, which is adapted to automatically assume its extended position when the table is unfolded, and which'will in the unfolded 40 position, retain the support rigidly against movement. a

- It is also an object of this invention to rovide anti-friction means,-particularly in foldable tableswhich are tooheavy to be easily carried, whereby the table'may be easily and readily moved from one location to another, when in the folded position.

Some of the more salient features, char acteristics and advantages of the device em- 'bodying the presentinvention have been folded position. the ends of the tables. While'this construc- -hinges 3' v supporting member 5 so that when the table above set forth, others will become apparent from the following disclosures.

The inventlon includes these and other fea- 'tures' of construction and COIIlblIiii/HOII of parts, hereinafter-described and shown ina preferred form in .the drawing, as more particularly indicated by the claims.

On the drawing Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a device embodying principles of my invention, shown adjusted to position for use as a table orthelike. i 7

FigmreQ is-a'bottomplan view of the device, showing the end supporting members in Figure 3 isa side elevation of the device in folded position. 4

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line IV.IV of Figurel. i

Figure; 5 is an enlarged" fragmentary View, showing the manner in which the intermediate support and top sections are "connected together, and also the relative posi-v tions of the supporting members and top 5 sections when folded.

FigureG is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the bracing means for the end'supporting members.

As shown on the drawing: 1

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention there is shown a foldable table, but

it is to be noted that many and other varied uses or devices maybeadapted orformed embodying features ofthe present inventionf 5 as will become apparent to one skilled in the art, without departing from'ithe spirit and scope of the invention For example, the in-- vention may be incorporated 'in seats,

benches, and the like.

The table as shown in the present embodiment comprises a pair of top sections 1 and 2, as shown in Figure l, whichare arranged in end to end alignment'with the adjacent ends abutting. These top sections are respectively hingedly connected by means of and 4: to the upper marginof a is inunfolded position, the joint 6 between the abutting'endsof the top sections is centable is unfolded and set up in a position for use. These hinges also enable relative pivotal movement between the top sections 1 and 2 and the supporting member 5 so that when the table is folded, these sections and supporting member will be in spaced juxtaposed relationship as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5. It is to be noted that in the folded position, the topsections are disposed outwardly from the supporting member 5, and that the previously abutting ends, that is, the hinged ends of the sections proj ect beyond the hinged end of the supporting member 5, thereby serving to seal and protectthe hinged members against, damage whenqthe table. is being -moved from one location to another. 1

Since the under structures of the sections land 2 are identical, except for their opposite dispositions, only one set need herein be described. A pair of spaced legs 77 joined at their upper ends by a strip or yoke 8 are hinged on the under side of each of the sections 1 and 2 as indicated at 9. In order to increase the stability and provide adequate rigidity, the legs 7-7 are connected adjacent their free ends by a bracing member 10. It

:is'to be noted that when the table is. set up and the legs 7-7 are in upright position, the upper edge of the yoke abuts theunder surfaceof the section to whlch it is connected thereby providing additional rigidity which tends to prevent the table from. wabbling.

In order to prevent folding thelegs- 77 and rigidly retain them in upright position when the table is set up,-bracing meansare provided which connect. between the legs ;and=the top section withfwhich the legs are associated. These means comprise a pair of upwardly convergmg members11-,11 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends as indicated at 12 to the'inner surfaces of the legs. The adjacent ends of the members 11 are deflected to form spaced parallel lugs 13-13which are provided with aligned apertures for receiving a pivot pin 1f1. This pivot pin forms a pivotal .connectlon to a bracing member 15 having one end disposed between the lugs 1313 and its other end pivotally connected to a suitable bracket 16 secured to the under side of the section to which the legs are connected. 1

WVith the foregoing arrangement, it will be observed that when the legs 77 are in upright position, the bracing members 11-11 and 13 are extended and lie in the same .plane, as shown in Figure 1. When, however, the legs 7--7 are folded against the under sideof the section to which they are connected, the bracing members are folded so that the bracket 16 is disposed between the pivotal connections 12 of the members 11 to the legs, and the bracing members lie recessed portions 17 for receiving a clamping screw 18 which extends through and threadedly engages the end of member 15. One end of this screw is provided with a wing head 19 which may be tightened against the surface of the lug 13 adjacent one ofthe recessed portions to securely clamp the members 11 and 15 in extended position. 1

Inlarge size tables, I have found it par- ..ticularly advantageous to provide anti-friction means, whereby the table may be convenlently rolled without the necessity of having to lift the entire table, from one po-- sition to, another. The anti-friction means comprises ball retaining sockets, 20 which are mounted in the free endsof the top sections 1 and 2 and have rotatably mounted balls 21 therein which project past the edges? of the top sections, as best shown inFigure 5. As shown in'Figure 3, it will be noted that when theftable is folded, the balls 21 in each top section are spaced apart and enable the folded table to be supported upon;

the balls and slidably move from one. location to another.

From the foregoing,

it will be apparent that I have provided a foldable table orsim- .ilar device, which is readily and easily folded to assume aniexceedingly compact form, and yet of suchconstruction that it may be embodied in relatively large tables; a table .which is provided with an intermediate foldable support arranged to automatically.

assume an extended position when thetable is unfolded and set up for use, this support being rigidly held against movement, when the table is in position of use; and which is provided with novel anti-friction means.

whereby the folded table may be easily and readily moved fromone location to another, without the necessity of having to lift the entire weight of the table.

Now, it is of course to be understood that although I have described in detail thepreferred embodiment of myginvention, the invention is not to be-thus limited. but only insofar as. defined by the scope and spiritof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foldingotable. comprising a pair of top sections in end to end relationship with their innerends abutting, a support common tothe abutting ends of said sections,

the upper edge of said support being of such width as to extend over the under surface of the abutting ends of said sections, and hinge means connecting each side of the support to the end of the section contiguous thereto, said means being arranged to enable folding of said sections and support into superposed relationship.

2. A folding table comprising a pair of top sections in end to end relationship, a common support for the contiguous ends of said sections, hinges on the opposite sides connected to the respective sections, said hinges being disposed in such a manner as to enable the under surfaces of the contiguous ends to engage against the upper edge of the support, when the sections are in the same plane, whereby the support is rigidly held against movement relative to said sections, and other supports for the outer ends of said sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois. 1

WILLIAM C. COLLIGNON.

Images