US1487734A - Variable table - Google Patents

Description

March 25,, 1924. 1,4 7,734:

G. E. FAY V VARIABLE TABLE Filed Aug. 31 1922 I/ I I Patented Ma.r. 25, 1924.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. FAY, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SALVA- TOR/E GANGI, SALVATORE LARZZARA, AND PHILIP SEARNICI, ALL OF EAST BOS- TON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VARIABLE TABLE.

Application filed August 31, 1922. Serial No. 585,394.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. FAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk and btate of Massachusetts, ,have invented new and useful Improvements in Variable Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is embodied in a table comprising a box-shaped body having a horizontal top, formed as an open frame, the walls of the body forming a storage space below the frame opening, horizontal internal guide members located in the stora e space, a transparent cover seated on t e frame, and a plurality of interchangeable slides engaged with said guide members and movable in horizontal slots in one side of the table body, the slides being horizontally supported out of contact with each other, and the arrangement being such that the upper slide is operatively supported in close proximity to the cover, the other slides being stored out of contact. with each other, and ready for use below the upper slide,

' each of the slides being accessible at the external surface of the body, so that it may be readily inserted and removed.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a table, the top of which is variable, by locating either of the said slides in operative proximity to the transparent cover, the surfaces of each slide being provided with indicia distinguishing the slide from the .others of the series. For example, one slide may have one of its surfaces marked as a checker-board, and the opposite surface marked as a backgammon-board, so that the table may be used for playing either of the games mentioned, by locating the slide in the top opening with either of its surfaces uppermost. There may be any desired number of slides, each being marked to distinguish it from the others, the slides being duplicates of each other in form, so that either may be located in operative relation to the cover, as the acting or operating slide, the others being inoperatively stored.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure l is a side view of a table embodying the invention, the legs being partly broken away. Y

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of F igure 2.

Figure 4 is an edge view of a thin insert, such as a parchesi-board, adapted to be introduced between the acting slide and the transparent cover.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, showing a portion of one of the slides.

Figure 6 is a view'similar to Figure 2, th slides, the glass cover, and the drawers being removed.

same parts in all of the figures.

The body of my improved table is boxshaped and includes a horizontal top portion 12, formed as an open frame, edges of the opening of which are indicated by 13 in Figures 2, 3 and 6. The box-shaped body includes upright side members 14 and 15, upright end -members 16 and 17, and ahorizontal bottom member 18. The body also includes upright members 19, 19 (Fig-' ure 3), these members, the side members 14 and 15, and the bottom member collectively forming a storage space. The members 19 are provided with a series of pairs of horizontal guide members 20, shown in Figures 3 and 6, and by dotted lines in Figure 2, as tongues engaging grooves in opposite edges of horizontal slides 21. Said slides project through horizontal spaced apart slots 23 in the side member 15, and are provided with knobs or handles 22, whereby they may be manipulated. Each slide is a duplicate in form and size of the others, so that the slides are interchangeable, either slide being adapted to be placed at the top of the series as the acting slide, the others being stored inoperatively in the table body below the top 12.

The arrangement of the guide members 20 is such that the acting slide has its upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of the top 12, and constitutes a removable part of the top, the slide being formed to closely fit and fill the opening in the top.

It will now be seen that the top may be varied, and adapted for different uses, by locating either slide 21 in the top opening, and by placing either side of the acting slide uppermost.

Each slide is preferably made of Wood, and composed of a plurality of members The same referencecharacters indicate the relatively arranged to prevent liability of warping. Each slide may be composed of a body portion 1. a transverse end portion 2, and side portions 3, 3. The grain of the wood in the portion 1 may run at right angles to the grain in the portion 2. The portions 3 may be thin layers or veneers in which the grain runs differently from the grain of the portions 1 and 2.

To protect the exposed surface of the act ing slide without interference with its function, I rovide a transparent cover 25, which is pre erably a pane of glass, formed to fill the opening in the frame-shaped top.

- The cover 25 is removably confined by curb 26, projecting upward from the marginal portion of the top, and adapted to prevent edgewise displacement of the cover in any direction,,and to permit the cover to he lifted from the table so that its under side may be cleaned. The upper surface of the acting slide is in close proximity to the cover 25, so that the markings of the slide are clearly visible, and movable game pieces maybe moved upon the cover in accordance with the markings of the slide, the cover constituting, in effect, a transparent top member of the acting slide.

I prefer to rovide a crevice 27 between the acting sli e 21 and the cover 25, for the reception of a relatively thin supplemental slide 28 (Figure 4) which may be an ordinary parchesi-board of considerably less thickness than a. slide 21. This is accomplished by making the upper slot 23 Wider than the others, and enough wider than the .thickness of a slide 21 to space the upper side of this slot from the upper side of the slide 21, and form said crevice. The upper slot may be provided with narrow extensions 27 at its opposite ends, as shown by Figure 3, so that a parchesi-board having a greater area than a. slide 21 may be accommodated.

As shown by Figures 2 and 3, the slides 21 are supported entirely out of contact with each other, so that their side surfaces are notliable to be marred or defaced.

The lower portion of the casing formed by the table body may be provided with drawers 29, located below the series of slides,

rect slides inserted inthe slots, the upper.

slot being wider than the others, so that its upper side is spaced above the slide inserted in the slot, the arrangement being such that the upper slide is spaced from the said cover by a thin crevice, adapted to receive a relatively thin supplemental slide superimposed on the upper slide.

2. A variable table substantially as specified by claim 1, the upper slot. being wider than the others, and arranged with its upper side spaced above a slide inserted in the slot, saidslot being provided at its opposite ends with relatively narrow extensions, the upper sides of which are flush with the upper side of the slot, the arrangement being such that the upper slide is spaced from the said cover by a thin crevice, adapted to receive a relatively thin supplemental slide superimposed onthe upper slide and of greater area than the latter.-

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

GEORGE E. FAY.

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