US2004296A - Table - Google Patents

Description

D. ROYCE June 11, i935.,

TABLE Filed Oct. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l |1// INVENTO'R.

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ATTORNEYS June11,193 5. D. ROYCE l 2,004,296

TABLE Filed est. 27, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 ,l l l 'la WWW/#WWW Z ATTORNEYS Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABLE Doris Royce, East Orange, N. J.

Application October 27, 1934, Serial No. 750,265

3 Claims.

My invention provides an improved table particularly designed as a. dining table, but adapted to serve other uses. Notwithstanding the limitations of size and strength and the requisite space for the legs of the diners, the invention provides a table which can be reduced to a compact small structure, and moved aside if desired, so as to be available in small living apartments. It can be set up to accommodate only two or three people, or to accommodate a larger number, at will. Although compact, as stated, it is provided with a chest adapted to hold linen, utensils and other things of the sort where they are readily accessible to the host or other persons at the table. The chest portion also gives strength and stiffness to the entire structure, is capable of carrying easily the heaviest weights of dishes or the like, and serves other functions hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings rillustrate embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is an isometric view. Fig. 2 is a plan partly broken away and Fig. 3 a vertical crosssection of the complete table. Fig. 4 is a vertical section in the collapsed or folded position. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing the slides in retracted position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a modification (partly broken away) and Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section of the same.

A central portion is in the form of a chest having a top II.

At opposite ends are extension leaves I2 hinged thereto and having their top faces, when raised, flush with that of the central portion and of suflicient height, length and width to accommodate diners sitting at each side and at the end, with their legs under the table.

For example, the width may be'three feet, the length five feet eight inches, of which the central portion is one foot eight inches and the leaves two feet each, and the height from the floor to the top surface two feet ve inches. The height limits the length of the leaf since, when let down as in Fig. 4, it must clear the floor.

The leaves are made of practically or pact.

The central chest has two compartments at the sides alternating with the leaves.

The sides the floor. They are connected at the top by the board II and at the bottom by cross boards I 4 so that they form a solid stiff structure. Each of the compartments has a back wall I5 and a front wall I6 extending xedly across the bot- 5 tom, above which is a door I'I as shown at one side or a pair of doors I8 as shown at the other. With a pair of doors, articles within the compartment are more easily accessible to a person sitting at either side. However, either one or 10 two doors may be used on either or both sides. Or doors may be used of accordian type or ,slotted flexible type arranged to slide vertically or horizontally into suitable recesses. Or drawers may be used in the upper parts of the compartments, or throughout their heights; and various other known or suitable arrangements may be made for access to the space within.

The compartments may be fitted with special racks, shelves or the like, according to individual fancy. In Fig. 3, for example, the compartment at the right has racks I9 on the door for stemmed glasses and is divided into two fairly high spaces for bottles and the like. The compartment at the left has a sliding drawer 2o 20 which may be for silver, and a number of trays 2| for table linen, or it maybe for writing paper, desk supplies, a card file, and various other uses.

'Ihe backs I5 of the compartments stiffen the central structure andalso provide an enclosed space for slides 22 which when extended support the leaves I2. Each of the slides 22 is made of two plates to give it width and strength, united at the edges by a strip 23 which is 35 grooved as at 24 to provide a hand hold. The slides extend' from top to bottom of the space and each has its lower edge supported by a brace 25 connecting the two compartments, and by a roller 26 which rests on the floor. Limiting 40 stops 2l are provided on each slide near the top and bottom. The slides move on opposite sides of a depending guide 2Ia and through slots between the side plates I3. When the slides are pulled out the stops 21 strike the edges of the 45 plates I3 and thus limit the movement. The sides I3 are cut away at 28, Fig. 5, to facilitate taking hold of the slides. Slides extending thus to the oor and resting thereon give a most rigid support. But they may extend downward a shorter distance, being held firmly in the central compartment; and this leaves more freedom for feet under the table, permits the use of smaller leaves, and allows the side pieces I 3 of these compartments extend substantially to I3 to be in a single plate on each side connect- 55 ing both compartments into a practically unitary strong, stiff, structure.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate such ,a modiflcation. While it has the advantages stated, it does not carry the weight on the leaves directly to the oor as in the case of the slides 22, Fig. l. The weight on the leaves inv Fig. 6 is transmitted through the comparatively narrow slides 22a to the central portion. The latter is made of such dimensions and weight that it will carry, Without tilting, any loads that are apt to be put on the leaves during use.

In this function, the important dimension is the lengthwise extent of the central portion which as a minimum should be approximately that previously stated, namely one foot eight inches for leaves which are two feet long, or live-sixths of the lengthwise dimension of the leaves. walls, shelves, top and bottom at the center, and the things carried therein, it has been found in practice that there is no substantial danger of tipping. Stability is further assisted by the natural practice of putting heavy dishes, vases and other decorations on the stiff clear central portion, the leaves being fairly covered by the individual utensils. And when the table is out of use and not so fully weighted, the leaves willv generally be dropped.

The table is supported on rollers 29 at the corners, or on sliders or equivalent devices. When not in use as a dining table it can readily be pushed aside, with the leaves dropped. These rollers on the central portion, support the entire table.

The material used may be metal or wood or other material. Insulating material may be used for the walls of the compartments, or for lining the same, so as to better adapt them for hot or cold food or drinks.

Instead of the hinged drop leaves illustrated, leaves which are extensible and contractible in various other ways may be used. For some cases it will be suicient to provide a single leaf instead of the two illustrated.

The provision of two complete compartments, back-to-back, connected at the upper and lower parts by the top plate Il and the bottom brace 25, or the side plates I3.' provides for an extremely stiff and strong structure as well as vfor an intermediate space for the retracted slides. The compartments may be each entirely closed, as shown, or may be of more or less open skeleton construction, according to the fancy of the owner or the uses to which they are to be put. Though the compartments should extend nearly to the bottom, they may be raised above the lloor a little more than in the embodiment illustrated, so as to leave more foot room for persons sitting up at the sides of the extended leaves.

The most important points aimed at are a table ol' such size when extended as to provide With such a ratio and the weight of the greatest compactness when the leaves are folded down. To this end, the central portion has its edges substantially flush with the sides of the cupboards. The slides being entirely retractable within the central space, when the leaves are dropped they lie close against the sides and reduce the table to a comparatively small and compact structure. The extension of the leaves nearly to the iioor makes them long enough for the intended use when raised, without regard to the lengthwise dimension of the central portion.

Various other modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

l. 'A dining table comprising a central portion and drop leaves hinged at opposite ends thereof, the leaves when extended having their top faces ush with that of the central portion and being of sufficient length, width and height to accommodate diners sitting with their legs under the leaves,the central portion comprising a pair of cupboards arranged back-to-back, open at opposite sides of the table, each having a separate back wall, the top of the central portion forming an integral top for the two cupboards and said cupboards being united to each other at their lower portions also so as to provide a unitary stiff supporting structure with a space between the backs of the cupboards, slides in said space for supporting the leaves, which slides are adapted to be drawn out of said space to support said leaves when raised and to be retracted into the space between the cupboards when not in use, the top of the central portion having its 'side edges substantially ilush with the sides of the cupboards so that when the leaves are dropped they lie close against the sides of the cupboards and reduce the table to a small and compact structure, the leaves extending nearly down to the oor so as to be of suiiicient size when raised for the serving of dinner to persons sitting up to the leaves as above described, and the central portion also having walls extending substantially to the floor and providing a stiff, strong central support for any loads to be carried on the top.

2. The dining table of claim l, the slides extending down to the floor so as to transmit directly to the oor the loads applied tothe leaves.

3. The dining table of claim 1, the slides extending downward only to a point well above the floor, so as to leave the latter clear for the feet of the diners while transferring any loads on the leaves directly to the central portion, the central portion having a lengthwise dimension equal at least to about flve-sixths of that' of the leaves and providing a weight suflicient to overcome the tilting tendency of any ordinary loads or pressures that may be applied to the leaves.

DORIS ROYCE.

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