US2733971A - house - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1956 H. F. HOUSE 2,733,971

FOLDING TABLE HAVING HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15. 1954 HARRY/T HOUSE 'IIII'I'II'! "IIIIIII Attorney (w- Inventor Feb. 7, 1956 F. HOUSE Filed Jan. 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tig 5 NM 1 w l. 4 W31 35 u 26 I 1. L 1.

Inventor HARRYEHOUSE Arlorney Feb. 7, 1956 H. F. HOUSE 2,733,971

FOLDING TABLE HAVING HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Jan. 15, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 QM JGM,

Allurnqv 7 2,133,971 Patented Feb. '7, 1956 United States PatentOffice FOLDING TABLE HAVING HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS Harry F. House, Gardena, Calif. I Application January 15, 1954', Serial No. 404,240 1 Claim. (Cl. 31183) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tables and more particularly to a table of the folding leg type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a folding leg type table wherein construction is provided whereby the table can be extended to a full height or to a lowered coffee table height and retained in these positions without accidental variance.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a folding leg type table wherein unique latch means is provided for retaining the table in full height or at an intermediate height, these adjustments being capable without manual exertion.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a table structure which can be adjusted to various heights and which can also be adjusted so that the table top is disposed in a manner to serve as a fireplace screen if desired.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the table in full height and showing the top in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional and perspective view showing the latch means holding the table in full height position.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the table legs collapsed and the table top in a vertical position.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the table construction, showing the same in lowered position to serve as a coffee table.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective and sectional view showing the leg parts in cofiee table supported position.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view showing the latch means in a position for supporting the table in full height to position.

Figure 11 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view showing the latch member in extended position for supporting the leg members in coffee table height position.

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view through the pivotal connection of the legs.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view showing the pivotal connection of one of the legs to the table top.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 20 denotes a table top which may be of any suitable material and any desired shape and'this is reinforced by frame 21.

Numeral 22 denotes a leg assembly and this leg assembly is attached to a pair of boards or strips 23, 23, which bridge the frame 21 as suggested in Figure 5. The leg assembly 22 is made up of two pairs of leg constructions and each leg construction is made up of a pair of crossed legs 24, 25. The legs 24, 25 have outwardly diverged leg portions 24a, 25a, as shown in Figure 1.

Between medial portions of the leg constructions is interposed a spacer 26 through which a rod extends and this rod extends through the medial portions of the legs 24, 25 for pivotally connecting these legs together. The ends of the pin are provided with cap nuts 27 and the pin itself is denoted by numeral 28.

Secure-d to the table top strips 23 are channeled brackets 29 in which the upper ends of the long legs 24 are pivotally secured by pins 30. The legs 25 are somewhat shorter than the legs 24, the upper ends of the legs 25, as shown in Figure 1 being pivotally secured as at 31, inwardly of its ends to the adjacent end of a link 32, which in turn has its other end pivotally secured, as by pin 33 to a channeled bracket 34 secured to the corresponding table top strip 23.

As shown in Figure 1 and also in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, the upper end of each of the legs 25 (the short legs) has a latch structure generally referred to by numeral 35, secured thereto. Each of these latch members consists of a flanged right angularly formed body 36, one end defining a projecting lug 37 and the other end a rounded head 38, a portion of its perimeter being removed, as at 39 to define a pair of stop shoulders 40, 41. This end of the latch structure 35 is pivotally secured to the short leg 25, by bolt or pin 42.

A short pin projects from the upper end of the short leg 25 adjacent its end and projects into the reduced portion 39 of the rounded head 38 of the latch 35, as shown in Figure 9.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the table is completely collapsed and in this position, the table top may be used as a fireplace screen, or if desired stored in a limited space such as in a closet.

With the structure as shown in Figure 4, the legs are compactly folded and to set up the table, all that is necessary is to lift the lower edge of the table top and this will pivot the legs outwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, in which position of the legs, the latch structure 35 is rotated on its pin 42 so that it will overlap the adjacent end of the short link 32. The shoulder 40 of the latch head 38 will at this point contact the pin 43 and limit the movement of the latch structure. With the legs latched in this position, the table will assume the high position shown in Figure 1.

Should it be desired to convert the table to a coflfee table height, the latch structure 35 is rotated so that the lug 37 thereof will be disposed longitudinally of the leg 25. The leg assembly can then be pivoted while the table top is being depressed and until the lugs 37 engage the corresponding strips 23. Thus the legs will be stopped from further folding and the table top will be retained at a coffee table level. This eliminates the necessity of stop blocks or other structure complemental to the latch means 35.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A folding table construction comprising a table top, pairs of pivotally connected legs, each pair of legs con sisting of a long leg and a short leg, 2. link interconnecting each of the short legs with the table top, latch means between the link members and the short legs, said latch means being operative to hold the link members and the short legs in alignment and movable to serve as abutments against the underside of the table when the legs are partially folded and the table top depressed, said latch means comprising a pair of right angular bodies each having a rounded head at the outer end of one arm thereof, said heads each being pivoted to an upper References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 2,106,309 Sweeney Jan. 25, 1938 2,432,192 Gaudette Dec. 9, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 667,363 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1952

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