US3005670A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 24, 1961 L SCHULTZ 3,005,670

FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4l FIG. 3 FIG. 4 3577 4337\ \/0 4Z 4 4 Il 22,

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l /4 INVENTOR la \A Il L L s AwREN-CE CHULTZ Z 7. 3538/ 3fm, 6// WLM AT TORNEYS Oct. 24, 1961 l.. `sci-lu LTZ FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Shes?I 2 .ATTORNEYS United States Patent O i 3,005,670 FOLDING TABLE Lawrence L. Schultz, 1809 Welland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Feb. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 10,896 3 Claims. (Cl. 311-89) This invention relates generally to tables and more particularly it relates to a folding table to be used for games such as table tennis or ping-pong, for dining or banquet use, and for any other purpose requiring a large flat useable surface.

-Previous constructions for'tables of the class described have been easily manufactured from heavy and bulky materials, and have therefore not been collapsible or portable; or if they have been of the collapsible type, they have been characterized by badly ridging joints and have generally not been strong and durable enough for satisfactory use. In light of the foregoing, an important object of this invention is the provision of a folding table of the class described which is constructed so as to be light in weight, but still strong and durable for its intended use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding table of the class described which may be folded compactly into a portable form so as to be quickly and easily removable from the location in which it has been used to a small storage space.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a folding table of the class described which, although it is foldable into a compact and portable form, is con structed so as to be free of ridges or slight differentiations in smoothness of its useable surface.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding table of the class described which is constructed so that a relatively thin light weight top may be placed thereon without affecting in any way the useable effectiveness thereof.

Further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a folding table of the class described which is reasonably simple in construction, may be economically manufactured and yet possesses the requisite stability for the vindication of its intended purpose. j

The above and still further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed speciiication, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a view in perspective showing my invention in its extended useable position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in bottom plan;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of my invention in its collapsed position;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a` greatly enlarged perspective view in section taken on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 2.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 represents my novel folding table in its entirety. The table 1 comprises a sectioned top represented generally by the reference numeral 2, and a plurality of foldable legs 3. The top 2 which is preferably constructed from any suitable thickness of plywood, Masonite or hard board, comprises a relatively narrow generally rectangular center section 4 having generally parallel end edges 5 and generally parallel side edges 6. The top 2 further comprises a pair of generally rectangular intermediate leaves 7 7 which are relatively wide with respect to the top center section 4. Each of the intermediate leaves 7 7' includes generally parallel outer and inner end edges 8-8, 9 9 respectively and genr l CC j p 3,005,670

Patented Oct. 24, 1961 erally parallel side edges 10-10'. The top 2 further comprises a pair of generally rectangular end leaves 11-11 which are also relatively wide with respect to the top center section 4, but slightly shorter than the intermediate leaves 7 7', as seen particularly in FIG. 4.

- Each ofthe end leaves 11f1-1' includes generally parallel outer and inner end edges 12-12, 13--13' respectively and generally parallel side edges 14-14. Each of the intermediate leaves 7-7' is hingedly jointed, by means carried thereby as will hereinafter be described, at its inner end edge 9 9' to one of the opposite end edges 5Y reference numeral 15 disposed in general parallelity with one another and in underlying engagement with the bottom surface 16 of said top 2. The supports 15 may be fabricated from any suitable material such as wood or metal, and are preferably, and as shown cross-sectionally rectangular, but of course may be constructed to any suitable cross-sectional configuration.

having square cut opposite ends 18. The center sections 17 are rigidly secured to the overlying top center section 4. Each of said supports 15 further comprises a pair of relatively long intermediate sections 19 each defining an outer end 20 and an inner end 21, and a pair of end sections 22 each defining an outer end 23 and an inner end 24. Each of the intermediate sections 19 is hingedly jointed at its inner end 21 to opposite ends 18 of said center section 17, and each of said end sections 22 is hingedly jointed at its inner end 24 to the outer end 20 of one of said intermediate sections 19. Each of the intermediate sections 19 is rigidly secured to a corresponding one of the overlying opposite intermediate top leaves 7-7, and each of the end sections 22 is rigidly secured to a corresponding one of the overlying .opposite end top leaves 11-11', as shown particularly in FIG. 2. All of said hinged joints are accomplished by means of the securement of a plurality of conventional hinges 25 secured to the bottom face 26 of the supports 15 by means of conventional fasteners 27. All of the support sections 17, 19, 22 of the supports 15 are transversely aligned with the respective corresponding sections17, 19, 22 of the other support 15.

A plurality of foldable legs, represented generally by the reference numeral 3, are provided for the purpose of supportingall of said leaves 7-7, 11-11, and the top center section 4 in open position and in general horizontal alignment with one another, as seen particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2. The legs 3 are hingedly secured to the table top 2 by conventional hinged brackets, represented in their entirety by the reference numeral 29, and not a specic part of this invention. A pair of the foldable legs 3 are hingedly secured in underlying relationship to each of the end leaves 11-11' of the top 2, as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. l showing them in their extended position and FIG. 2 showing them in their collapsed folded position.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 2-5, the table 1 is further provided with guide means, represented generally by the reference numeral 30, Which is rigidly secured to the bottom surface 16 of the top 2 adjacent each of the joints dened therein, the joints being represented generally by the reference numeral 31. The guide means 30 comprise groove defining strips 32 each Secured to the bottom Each of these sup` ports 15 comprises a relatively short center section 17- '3 surface 16 of the top 2 adjacent each of theredges 9, 9', 13, 13', the groove being represented by the reference numeral 34. The guide means 30 further comprise rib defining strips 3S,Y each secured in like manner to the top 2 adjacent the edges 5, 8, 8,V thereof, thev rib being represented by the reference numeral 37. Both of the vstrips 32, 35 are secured to the top 2 by conventional fasteners, represented by the reference numeral 38. The strips 32, 3S cooperate to rigidly connect the joints 31 together against vertical transverse displacements of they top sections 4, 7-,,'7', 11-11, with reference to other thereof when the top 2 is in the horizontally aligned open position, as seen particularly in FIGS. 1-2; For the purpose of accurately guiding each fof the rib defining strips 35 into and out of the grooves 34 defined by each of the strips` 32 during folding movements of the table 1, as will hereinafter be described, it is preferred that the open edges 39 of the groove defining strips 32 define a cam surface, represented by the reference numeral 40, and seen particularlyin FIG. 5.V Y v It is preferred that my invention be constructed with a depending rail strip, represented generally by the reference numeral 41, which is rigidly secured to the marginal edges 6, 10-10', 12V-12', 14-14, of the top 2, as seen particularly in FIGS. 1 3. The rail strips 41 comprise longitudinally sectioned side strips 42 and end strips 43` The side stripsl 42 define joints, represented generally by the reference numeral 44 which are alignable with the joints 31 in the top 2 and the joints 45 in the supports 15.

v Preferably, and as shown particularlyin FIGS.l l-3, the

the end support sections 22, with the supporting legs 3f folded thereunder, are' inwardly and downwardly foldable throughout approximately 180l wherein they are porsi.- tioned in general underlying relationship and in general parallelity with the adjacent intermediate leaves 7--7 and the intermediatek support sections 19. Then the corresponding adjacent end and intermediate leaves 11-11, 7-7 and the end and intermediate support sectionsy 22, 19, as foldedv in above said parallel relationship, are unitly downwardly and inwardly foldable throughoutA approximately 90 wherein they are disposed in general normality with the center top section 4, as seen partieularly in FIG. 3. For the purpose of providing clearance of the end leaves 11,-11 with respect to the hinges 25, 46 secured to' the top center section 4, the end leaves 11-11 are constructedl s o as to be slightly smaller in length than the intermediate leaves 7- 7 this being shown particularly in FIGS.Y 3-5 This invention has been thoroughlyA tested and found to be completely'satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that the same may be modified without departure from l' one another and in underlying engagement with said top,

each of said supports comprising a relatively short center section rigidly secured to said overlying top center section, a. pair of relatively long intermediate sections Veach hingedly jointed at its inner end to opposite ends of said center section and each being rigidlyV secured to a corresponding one of the overlying opposite intermediatetop leaves, and a pair of relatively long end sectionsV each hingedly jointed atV its inner end to the outer end of one of said intermediate sections and each being rigidly securedto a corresponding one of the overlying opposite end top leaves, all of said sections of each support being transversely aligned with the respective corresponding section of the other support, said table further comprising a plurality of foldable legs, a pair of said legs being hingedly secured in underlying relationship to each of said end leaves of said top for supporting all of said leaves in open position and in general horizontal alignment with one another, said end leavesand end support sections, with their supporting legs folded thereunder, being inwardly and downwardly foldable throughout approximately 180 wherein they are positioned in general underlying relationship and in general parallelism with said adjacent intermediate leaves and intermediate support sections, said corresponding adjacent end and intermediate leaves and end and intermediate support sections, as folded in said parallelrelationship, being'thereafter unitly downwardly and inwardly foldable throughout approximately wherein they are disposed in general normality with said center top section. Y Y

2. The structure defined in claim l in further combination with guide means rigidly secured to the underneath side of said sectioned top adjacent each of the joints defined therein, said guide means comprising a groove defining strip secured to one of the joint edges of all the joints of said top, and a rib dening strip secured to the other joint edge thereof, said strips cooperating to rigidly secure said joint edges together against vertical transverse displacement of said top sections with reference to other thereof when said top is in said horizontally aligned open position.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which one of said. strips defines a cam surface for accurately guiding said rib defining strip into and out of said groove dening strip during said folding of said table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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