US2023553A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

H. SCHULZ FOLDING TABLE mac. w, 1935.

Filed April 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Henr' y 5010/:

ATTORNEY.

H, SCHULZ FOLDING TABLE Dam. 1935 Filed April 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6.

INVENTOR. 16 Henry Jc/w/z v Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables with particular reference to such as are capable of being collapsed into a compact form for transportation and storage or extended for service at will.

An object of the invention is to provide a table suitable for general or special use, firm and rigid when extended and when folded to present two flat outer surfaces between which the legs, braces and other parts are enclosed.

A further feature is in the provision of a knock down table assembled or dismantled without the use of any tools and which presents the usual appearance of a conventional table, being devoid of awkward, cumbersome features.

Another purpose is to produce a table of this type at a moderate cost of manufacture, well adapted for the many purposes for which a table is used.

These and other valuable features which will appear as the description progresses, are accomplished by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention as assembled for service.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire table structure as folded.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, it will be .seen that the table top is composed of two flat plates, designated respectively 15-15, of uniform size, each being provided, on their under side, with outer end cleats 16-16 and side cleats 11-11, constituting a'frame work slightly inset from the extreme edges of the plates.

At their inner, adjacent edges are similar but wider cleats 19-19 held together by pairs of hinges 20 allowing the plates to move through an angle of ninety degrees.

When folded, the plates may be secured by hooks 21, engaging studs 22, in the opposite members.

Other pairs of hinges 23-24 fixed on the cleats 19-19 connect transverse strips 25-26 to which are rigidly engaged pairs of braces 21-28, in turn fixed to another pair of strips 29-30, connected by hinges 31-32, to the upper edges of cross members 33-34, which connect between legs 35-36 near their bottom.

These legs 35-36 are also cross connected at their upper ends by cross pieces 31-38 in which are set pins 39-40 adapted to slide freely in slots 41-42 formed in the frame elements 11-11, these slots being inclined slightly upward at their 10 inner, adjacent end as best seen in Figure 5, while the cross pieces 31-38 are free to move between the elements 11-11.

A pair of oppositely dispose-d bars 43-44 are connected by hinges 45-46 to the cross members 5 33-34 at the bottom of the legs and are also connected together at their inner contacting ends by another hinge 4'1.

Slidable over the hinge 41 is a clasp 48 adapted to retain the hinge in a fixed position when its 20 leaves are fully extended as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

Distanced equally from the hinge 41 are hinged clips 49-50 acting as stops for the clasp when moved in either direction. 5

In operation, the table being erected as in Figure 1, and it is desired to fold it into the position shown in Figures '4 and 6, the clasp 48 is moved to clear the hinge 41; then the bars 43-44 are raised, the legs moved inwardly at their upper ends, causing the pins 39 to travel in the slots until substantially parallel with the braces 21-28, all these several parts being folded against the under side of the plates 15-16, which are then turned on their hinges 20, forming a housing as indicated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a table of readily collapsible or extensible nature has been disclosed in its preferred embodiment, but it is manifest that minor changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A table comprising two fiat plates having border frames, their side elements being longitudinally slotted in their inner surfaces, hinges connecting said frames at the adjacent edges of the plates, legs having pins movable in the frame slots, a bar extending longitudinally between the 50 bottom of said legs, said bar consisting of two hingedly connected sections adapted to fold upwardly, a clasp movable over the bar hinge thereby to render it rigid, and pairs of braces hinged at their upper ends to the juxtaposed border frames and at their lower ends to said legs, said legs, braces and bar being foldable closely against said plates within the spaceincluded in said border frames when the table is collapsed.

2. A folding table comprising a pair of equal plates constituting the table top, a border frame on the under side of each plate, the side elements of each frame having longitudinal grooves in their inner surfaces, pairs of legs having pins movable in the grooves, hinges connecting said plates carried by said frames, cross members between each pair of legs at their upper ends, other cross members connecting the legs at their lower ends,"

braces normally diagonally disposed between the juxtaposed frame elements and the lower cross members, a two part bar connecting longitudinally, between said lower cross members, the parts of said bar being hinged together, and means slidable 7 on said bar to render the bar hinge rigid when in one position and allow the bar to fold on its hinge when in another position, all of said legs, braces and connections being housed in the space when the table is folded.

HENRY SCHULZ.

between said plates within said border frame 10

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