US3382819A - Combination lamp and table - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1968 DEUTSCH ET AL 3,382,819

COMBINATION LAMP AND TABLE Filed Nov. 1, 1966 W7. f u/n 1. 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,382,819 COMBINATION LAMP AND TABLE Martin I. Deutsch, New York, Norman Davidson, Forest Hills, and Julius A. Traum, New York, N.Y., assignors to Sheridan Industries Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 591,323 8 Claims. (Cl. 108-23) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A table and lamp combination suspended by chains from an overhead support wherein the height of the lamp and/or height of the table can be easily adjusted to a variety of difierent arrangements by changing the effective lengths of the suspension chains as connected to a common connector consisting of a hook assembly.

Generally speaking, it is desirable to adjust the height of a table as it enables such table to be used for a variety of different purposes. For example, if the table is to be used in conjunction with one or more persons sitting on an adjoining chair, there is an optimum desirable height for such table. On the other hand, if the table is to support a decorative article, it may be desirable to have such table at a higher or perhaps even lower level. Similarly, a lamp serves a number of functions and it is beneficial to be able to adjust the height of the lamp to different levels so that it, too, can be used for a variety of purposes. The present invention provides an unusually simple lamp and table combination which, however, permits full flexibility and adjustability of both table and lamp to impart to the combination unusual advantages not heretofore available.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved table and lamp combination having a large degree of flexibility to permit a correspondingly large variety of different arrangements.

Another object is the provision of a lamp and table combination wherein the height of the lamp and the height of the table can easily be adjusted relative to each other and relative to a fixed surface.

Another object is the provision of a lamp and table combination wherein the height of the lamp and table relative to each other and relative to a fixed surface can be easily adjusted by means of a junction member which supports the table and provides the means for defining the effective length of the lamp suspending chain.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the table and lamp combination in accordance with the invention in one particular arrangement thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another arrangement; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which the height of the lamp is adjusted.

Referring now to the drawings, combination 10 comprises a table 12 and a lamp 14 which is suspended from ceiling C by means of conventional swag lamp chain 16. As shown in the drawings, the effective length of swag lamp chain 16 is shorter than the free length thereof would be, the shortening being accomplished through the medium of a connector member, consisting for example of hook assembly 18.

Hook assembly 18 is provided with top hook 20 and bottom hook 22 adapted to supportingly engage individual links 24 of swag lamp chain 16. It will be apparent that ice by selecting particular links 24 for engagement with hooks 20 and 22, respectively, the effective length of swag lamp chain 16 can be varied as desired resulting in corresponding adjustment of the height for lamp 14. Hook assembly 18, it is thus seen, is adapted to connect any two links 24 of chain 16 without interfering either with the proper support for the lamp or with the electrical wiring 26 lead ing from the junction box at the ceiling to the lamp itself. In this letter connection, it will be noted that electrical wire 26 does not have any direct connection with the hook assembly 18.

Table 12 is held in suspended condition by means of suspending chains 28, similar in construction to the swag lamp chain and consisting therefore of a plurality of interconnected links 30. A plurality of hooks 32 are provided on table 12 for engagement with the suspending chains 28 at or near one end thereof, as may be desired. Table suspending chains 28 are supported at the other ends thereof by member 18, and for such purpose, member 18 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced lateral hooks 34, adapted to supportingly engage the links 30 of the table suspending chains28. It will be apparent that the height of table 12 can be adjusted be selecting the particular links on table suspending chains 28 for supporting engagement by hooks 34. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the uppermost links 30 of chains 28 are engaged with hooks 34 to provide the maximum effective length for the suspending chains. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the effective length of chains 28 is considerably smaller by virtue of the fact that the links 38 in engagement with hooks 34 are significantly distant from the uppermost links.

It will be readily seen that the arrangement described above provides for an infinite number of arrangements for the table and lamp combination. The arrangement in FIG. 1, for example, is desirable when the table is intended for use in connection with adjacent chains. The arrangement of FIG. 2, on the other hand, wherein the table is substantially higher than in FIG. 1 and in closer proximity to the lamp, can be used for supporting some decorative piece intended to be looked at but not touched. The foregoing construction also permits a table to be easily raised out of the way without having to be physically removed. Dozens of additional advantages and usages for the combination in accordance with the invention will easily come to mind merely by giving it a small amount of reflection.

From the above, it is noted that the instrumentality by which the great flexibility in accordance with the invention is obtainable is the member 18, the hook assembly. This hook assembly while performing a most crucial function need not be particularly large or of any unusual construction so long as it provides, in a convenient manner, the necessary number of link engaging means, both for adjusting the effective length of the swag lamp chain and of the table suspending chains. In this connection it should be noted that while, as shown, the number of hooks 34 corresponds to the number of suspending chains, it would be possible to reduce this number by utilizing the lower hook 22 in dual capacity by engaging therewith one of the links in swag lamp chain 16 as well as one of the links of one of the table suspending chains 28.

While we have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable lamp and table combination comprising:

a lamp;

a support chain for suspending said lamp;

a member in supporting engagement with selected spaced portions of said lamp support chain to vary the effective length thereof;

a table;

a plurality of table supporting chains in engagement with said table; and

cooperating means on said member and said table supporting chains for suspending said table supporting chains from said member at selected ones of a plurality of positions on said chains, whereby the relative level of said lamp and table is adjustable.

2. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 1,

wherein said member comprises a hook assembly having a plurality of hooks.

3. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 2,

wherein said spaced portions of the lamp support chain comprise two links spaced from each other, each of which is adapted to engage one of the hooks on said member, whereby the greater the space between said two links, the shorter the eifective length of the lamp support chain.

4. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 2,

wherein said cooperating means on said member and said table supporting chains comprise, respectively, the hooks on said member and the links on said chains.

5. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 4,

wherein said spaced portions of the lamp support chain comprise two links spaced from each other, each of which is adapted to engage one of the hooks on said member, whereby the greater the space between said two links, the shorter the effective length of the lamp support chain. 6. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 1,

wherein said member comprises a hook assembly having a top hook, a bottom hook, and a plurality of spaced side hooks. 7. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 6,

wherein said spaced portions of the lamp support chain comprise two links spaced from each other, the link closest from the lamp being engaged by said bottom hook and the link farthest from the lamp being engaged by said top hook, whereby the greater the space between said two links, the shorter the effective length of the lamp support chain. 8. An adjustable lamp and table combination in accordance with claim 7,

wherein said cooperating means comprise the side hooks on said member and the links on said table supporting chains.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,844,428 7/1958 Puntenney 108-23 FOREIGN PATENTS 232,797 4/1925 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

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