US2484768A - Catch construction for ironing tables - Google Patents

Description

OGL 11, 1949 o. A. VAN PELT CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR IRONING TABLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 194e ct. 1l, 1949.l o. A. 'VAN FELT CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR IRONING TABLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 Octll, 1949- o. A. VAN PELT CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR IRONING TABLES I5 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 Patented Oct. 1l, 1949 UNITE; STATS i'i'i'ENT OFFICE CATCH CNSTRUCTIN' FOR IRONIN G TABLES' @liver A. lian Pelt, Gallen, Mich., assigner to Van Pelt Mfg. C0., Galion, Mich.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing tables, and more particularly, to that type of ironing table whose supporting legs are conveniently capable of being collectively moved from inoperative positions, i. e., substantially parallel andjuxtaposed relation to the table top, to operative positions, whereupon they will serve to rmly and securely support said top, at proper height, for ironing usage, and by the same token, may, when desired, be as convcni 'itly collectively moved or returned to inopcra positions, hence, providing for compact ess i.' permitting storage of the table inA limited ot. -of-theivay space.

The principal desideratum of the invention resides in providing the movable interconnected legs of the ironing table with catch or lockingm'eans of the semi-automatic operational character; automatically operative with movement of said legs into supporting relation to the top to engage and positively secure them against further, and especially, undesired movement, and when so wanted by the table user, capableoi being manually disengaged from thn legs by such user to release them and allow their free return movement to inoperative or folded relation,- ship to the table top-all without need of the user changing or modifying his or her normal ironing position adjacent one or either side of the top.

Moreover, it is an object of my inventionto provide the table leg catch or locking means with a; sturdy, simple and operationally dependable device'for imparting movement thereto, whereby the same, as and when desired by a user, canbe actuated to impart movement to said means foreffecting its positive disengagement from an adjacent portion of the previously locked or secured legs, thus permitting the latter to be moved into inoperative or folded relation to the table top; the said device being so constructed, mounted and arranged with respect to the table top as to. absolutely avoid interference with proper and satisfactory ironing usage of the table by its user, and also, permit its quick andl convenient engagement by said user for catch or lock release operation from a point at either side of the table without his or her changing positions.

rIhe foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritorious teachings of my invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in thefollowing detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingait being understood that the particular form, of the invention presented herein is a pre oise and what is now consideredl to be the best mode of embodying its principles', but that modifications and changes may be made in specific embodiments Without departing from its essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved' ironing tableA in a set-up oroperative position, with a portion of its top broken away and shown`l in section to illustrate catch means.

Figure 2 is a similar view in which theiron-ing' table legs are shown in a partially folded or partially inoperative' position.

Figure 3 is a rear end' elevation of the ironing table with a part of its rearsupporting leg structure broken away.

Figure l isA a fragmentary horizontal' section taken on the line- 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the improved catch means' inthe pivotal'. mounting of the forward table legV on the table top and in which` said catch means is shown in an operative position- Figure 6 is a viewsimilar to Figure 5, in whichA the catch means is shown in an inoperative pos-i'- tion whereby to release table supporting legIl structures for folding to inoperative positions, andA Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detaill in longitudinal section illustra-ting the catch means construction and itsV mounting; said catch means being shown iny an operative position.

Referring in.A detail to the drawings, the improved ironing table', generally, consists of altopits underside through welding or other suitable means, and transversely reinforced by channel bars or pieces 8 arranged in longitudinallyspaced relation adjacent its under side and secured' thereto by welding orother means'comparatively' near its rearwardandforward ends. The chan nelbars, it will-be noted, havefappropriate portions of their sides recessedsothat they straddle or saddle engage overand across adjacent por-v tions of the channel strips or ribs l. Also, it is to be noted that the intermediate channel rib 1 is made of two sections, one of which corresponds in shape to the outer strips, While the other and forwardly arranged one I is of substantially cross-sectionally U-shaped formation, the purpose of which will be hereinafter apparent, To effect an additional reinforcing of the top l, more especially, to rigidify its outer marginal and near marginal portions, as well as to eliminate -buckling thereof under stress, a channel (crosssectionally U-shaped) stripv 9 is joined, through welding or other connection, to the under side of its flat sheet-like body adjacent and about its edges. The opposite ends of the spaced transverse reinforcing bars 8 are suitably flanged, as indicated at 8', and joined to adjacent portions of the lower side of the stripping 9, thus, effecting a bracing and reinforcing interconnection between said bars and stripping for further strengthening of the table top.

The rear leg supporting structure 2, hereinafter identified as the rear leg, comprises two corresponding lengths of channel metal Il, preferably substantially U-shaped4 in cross-section, whose lower portions are outwardly obliqued in the manner shown in Figure 3 and provided with suitable feet II, and whose upper ends are pivoted, as at I2, to the outer depending leg portions of U-shaped strap-brackets I3 xed to the lower sides of that bar 8 nearer the rearward end of the top I in opposed relationship. The strap-brackets I3, as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, are obliquely positioned with respect to said bar 8, and so, the inner and adjacent legged ends thereof extend rearwardly -of their outer ends, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

The top-rear leg truss arms 6 are formed with relatively angled extremities, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the lower of which are i'lxedly connected at I4, to corresponding intermediate portions of the channel metal leg lengths I0, and the upper thereof, pivotally connected at I5, to the rearwardly extended or offset depending leg portions of the U-shaped strap-brackets I3 (see drawing Figures 1 and 4). Thus, the truss arms 6 will function to materially strengthen the rear leg 2, particularly, at those times when stresses are directed thereto'frorn the top I, as during usage of the board.

Describing now, the forward supporting leg structure 3, hereinafter referred to as the forward leg, this comprises a length of suitable rod or bar metal stock triangularly or V-shaped (see Figure 3). The upper and wider end of said leg is pivotally connected by spaced brackets I6, to the lower flat side of the bar 8 nearer to the forward end of the top I, and its lower and reduced or tapered end is equipped with a suitable foot Il', for an obvious purpose. Attention is here directed to the fact that the length of the forward leg 3 is such that when the same is pivoted to its operative or supporting position along with the rear leg 2, as shown in Figure 1 of the draw`v ings, the talble top I ywill be supported in a horizontal plane.

In order that the rear and forward legs 2 and 3 will :be eiectually and properly spaced and relatively braced at and throughout those times when they are arranged in their operative or supporting positions, I provide to my improved construction, an oblique longitudinally disposed rear and forward leg brace hereinbefore identified by the reference character 4. Said brace consists of a transversely of the under side thereof and has its' length of suitable rod or bar metal stock of V- shape formation. The free ends, i. e., the wider portion of the brace, are pivoted at I8, to inter mediate portions of the relatively inner sides of the rear leg lengths I0, preferably, in proximity to the points of fixed connection of the truss arms 8 thereto, and the remaining reduced end of the same embraces the lower end portion of the table forward leg 3 and is pivoted thereto lby a fitting I9 fixed thereon. The length of the rear-forward leg brace is such that when the rear and forward table legs are swung to their respective operative or supporting positions, they will be allowed to assume those, or approximately those angular positions illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Thus, stability of support for the table top I will be afforded the construction, particularly to the extent that the rear and forward legs, when so positioned, will be prevented from having undesired shifting, folding cr collapsing movement, and moreover, the catch means or leg and brace locking device, hereinafter more fully described, will be assured of positive operation.

The heretofore referred to top-rear leg brace 5, is made of a length of rod or bar metal stock bent into substantially V-shape formation. Said brace is of a length somewhat less than that of the brace 4 and it is oppositely obliqued longitudinally of the table assembly, having the free ends of its wider and rearwardly disposed extremity pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of the relatively inner sides of the rear leg lengths IB adjacent the aforesaid pivotal conn nection of the brace I thereto and by the same connection I8.

The remaining and reduced end of the toprear leg brace is slidably engaged or confined between the dat lower side of the hereinbefore described cross-sectionally U-shape rib I and an elongated guide bracket 28, secured thereto. As will be seen upon reference to Figures 2 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, the bracket 28 extends longitudinally of the rib l1I substantially' throughout its length and is parallel thereto, hence, providing the slidably engaged end of the brace 5 with an effectual slideway. It will, therefore, be understood that with collective pivotal movement of the legs 2 and 3, by reason of their interconne-ction through the brace 4, like move-v ment will be imparted to the brace 5, causing its free end to slide over and between the lower flat side of the ri 'I' and its bracket 2i).

To effect releasable locking of the aforesaid free and reduced end of the brace 5 in its operative position, to wit, the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and thus, lock or retain the rear and forward table legs 2 and 3, interconnected by the brace 4, in their respective operating positions (supporting the tabel top I) a channel metal constructed catch, generally identified at 2 I, is mounted on the inner end portion of the flat lower side of the rib I in proximity to the near transverse channel bar 8. The catch 2l is pivoted to a winged bracket 22, riveted or otherwise connected to said bar 8, as at 23, and is normally retained in an operative or engaging position, by a coiled spring 24 on its pivot. Portions of the sides of the catch are complementally recessed, at Z5, for engagement, at times, over the adjacent reduced end of the brace 5, and its remaining end portion fixedly receives an operating rod 26 therethrough, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. The operating rod, whose length is slightly less than the width of the table top I, is disposed assesses 5. opposite end por-tions movelbly received through the-vertical guide slots otangle brackets 21 fixed to appropriate under side portions of said top near its respective opposite sides. Because of the length of` the operating rod"26`, its opposite ends, as above stated, are arranged i'n proximity to the opposite sides of the top l, readily and con,- veniently engaged by av user ofthe table, when so required; as, forexample, when such user desires to manually move or pivot the catch l to disengage it from the reduced end of the brace preparatory to folding or pivotally returning the table legs 2 and il to their inoperative positions (see Figures 5 and 6).

Ifdesired, suitable handles, knobs, etc. (not shown)` can be provided to the ends of the operating Vrod 216 to facilitate its engagement and operation.

In usage of my improved ironing table, to 1arrange the same in a set-up or usable position, the top l is preferably,though not necessarily, stood on end (rear end), whereupon the free end of the -iorwardleg 3 maybey conveniently eng-aged and swung downwardly and outwardly. Such motion will effect collective movement of the rear leg 2 and the aforesaid braces 4 and 5, causing them to move. into the relationship shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Asrthe free endof the brace 5 slides longitudinally rearwardly of the under side of the table top lv between the rib 'l1' and the elongated guide Ibracket 23,11'. will engage the adjacent end of the; spring brace,` catch Zi' and will lockingly enter into, the recesses; 2:5 in its sides, With the free end of the brace 5, thus'lockingly engaged bythe catch, it is manifesty that the same` and the interconnected rear and forward table legs 2 and 3 will be positively locked in set-up or operative relation to the table top l land that the ironing table is now ready for use.

To eiect Afolding or collapsing ofv my improved ironing table, la user of the same, without changing his or her position adjacent either side of the top l, need merely engage the particularly adjacent end of the vertically movably mounted operating rod 26 and to thereupon impart an upward thrust to the same. Such upward thrusting of said end of the operating rod 26, obviously, lwill eiect pivotal movement of the spring brace catch 2li in a direction which will cause its disengagement from the adjacent `free end of the previously engaged brace 5, i. e., the recesses 25 in the opposite sides of the spring pressed pivotal catch 2l will be removed or disengaged from the transversal free end of said brace 5. At this time, the user imparts a rearwardly directed push to the table top l, thus, causing the interconnected legs 2 and 3 to be collectively swung or pivoted in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and the rear leg-top brace 5 to be slid forwardly and longitudinally of the top l between the rib 'l' and the elongated guide bracket 2li. The start of this folding or collapsing movement, and particularly, the start of the forward longitudinal movement of the brace 5, lis well shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. If desired, and for convenience of the user, the tabletop may now 'be vstood on end (preferably the rear end) and the interconnected pivotal legs then swung into their completely folded relationship to the lunderside of the table top l, i. e., into substantial parallelism thereto. Concurrently therewith, it will be understood land appreciated that the braces 4 and 5 will also be moved to their completely folded or inoperative positions in substantial parallelism lto the under side of the table top.

ironing table constructed in accordance with my invention will, as may be readily appreelated' by- Workers skilled in this particular art, render dependa-ble :and satista-ctory service to a user of the same. The construction of its legs and the relative bracingHof the same provide-'for a maximum deg-ree -ofstability ofironing table construction capable oi most satisfactorily withstanding the normal stresses and even the abnormal stresses incident to usage thereof. Because ofthe construction and arrangement ofthe catch means for securing thebrace 5 in its operative posi-tion, it willv also be understood and `appr-eciated that a user is enabled to conveniently and quick-1ymanually release such lcatch means Without the necessity of changing or modifying his'or her position adjacent either side of the ironing table top; this being accomplished merely' 'by 'the usery engaging the particularly adjacent end of the operating rod 26' andthrusting or moving lthe saine upwardly through ther vertical guide slots or the bracket 2l" (see Figure 6 of the idnawirngs)l to bring about pivotall movement or swinging of the catch 2|* in a direction to be disengaged from the adjacent and previously locked free endlof the brace '5.-l Incidentally. the rear leeewpbrad@ 5,. functions more 0r less, in the `arait-v `da kel@ locking device or means for the pivotally mounted rear and forward legs '2 and 3 respectively, `which are interconnected by :the brace hereinbefore described, and so, are yassured of relative collective moi/ement in `a manner to positively effect their positioning, as shown in ligurev l of the girl-rawings,vv ijor setting-up, of the ironing table.

I claim:

liv.4 In` combination with anr ironing'. table top and for-yard and rearward interconnect-ed legs, pli-voted. to the normally under side of the top,I and a substantially \l-shaped bracepivotally connested at' one end to one of said legsl having its remaining and free end movable longitudinally of said under side of the top; a r-ib secured to and disposed longitudinally of an `intermediate portion of the under side of the top and slidably receiving said free end of the V-shaped brace thereover, a guide bracket disposed longitudinally of said rib and connected thereto at its opposite ends, said guide bracket, between its opposite ends, being spaced from and substantially parallel to the adjacent and normally under side of the rib, the free end of said V-shaped brace being slidably confined between said rib and guide bracket, a catch consisting of a body of channeled material pivotally mounted intermediately of its opposite ends on said under side of the rib in proximity to one end of said guide bracket and disposed longitudinally of said rib and guide bracket, one of the end portions of the catch body being straddlingly engageable over a portion of the under and opposite sides of said rib and the remaining end portion of said catch body being straddlingly engageable o-ver another portion of the under and opposite sides of said rib and over the adjacent end portion of said guide bracket, spring means engaging the catch body for normally retaining the remaining end portion thereof in straddling engagement over the rib and the guide bracket, said remaining end portion of the catch body having its opposite sides complementally rearwardly curved and said opposite sides having angularly disposed and upwardly opening recesses formed therein in proximity to the rearwardly curved sides of the remaining end portion of said catch body adapted, at times, to engage over the free end of said 7 V-shaped brace and retain thesametherein in bearing engagement with an adjacent portion of the under side of said rib and against sliding movement longitudinally of the rib and the guide bracket.

2. In combination With an ironing table top and forward and rearward interconnected legs pivoted to the normally under side of the top and a substantially V-shaped brace pivotally connected at one end to one of said legs having its remaining and free end movable longitudinally of said under side of the top; a rib secured to and disposed longitudinally of an intermediate portion of the underside of the top slidably receiving said free end of the V-shaped brace thereover, a guide bracket disposed longitudinally of saidv rib and connected thereto at its opposite ends, said guide bracket, between its opposite ends, being spaced from and substantially parallel to the adjacent normally under side of the rib, the free end of said V-shaped brace being slidably confined between said rib and guide 1 bracket, a catch consisting of a body of channeled material pivotally mounted intermediately of its opposite ends on the under side of the rib in proximity to one end of said guide bracket and disposed longitudinally of said rib and guide bracket, one of the end portions of the catch body being straddlingly engageable over a portion of the under and opposite sides of said rib and the remaining end portion of said catch body being straddlingly engageable over another portion of the under and opposite sides of said rib and over the adjacent end portion of said guide bracket, spring means engaging the catch body for normally retaining the remaining end portion of the same in said straddling engagement over the rib and guide bracket, said remaining end portion of the catch body having its opposite sides complementally rearwardly curved, and the opposite sides of the catch body having angularly disposed and upwardly opening recesses formed therein in proximity to the rearwardly curved sides of the remaining end portion of said catch body adapted, .at times, to engage over the free end of said V-shaped brace and retain the same therein and in bearing engagement with an adjacent portion of the under side of said rib against sliding movement longitudinally of the rib and the guide bracket, a transversely disposed rod xedly connected to said rst mentioned end portion of the catch body and extending for distances beyond the same into proximity to the opposite sides of the table top, and brackets connected to portions of the under side of the table top and dis-posed at substantially right angles thereto, each of said brackets having longitudinally disposed slots formed therein receiving adjacent portions of said rod therethrough.

OLIVER A. VAN PELT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 345,620 Cotton July 13, 18864 479,301 Parmelee July 419, 1892 700,054 Knapp May 13, 1902 827,673 Swart July 31, 1906 1,203,783 Reischmann Nov. 7, 1916 1,277,395 DiCroce Sept. 3, 1918 1,895,290 Lobel Jan. 24, 1933 2,235,883 John Mar. 25, 1941 2,332,927 Miller Oct. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,653 Canada Apr. 19, 1881

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