US1976140A - Furniture - Google Patents

Description

06%. 9, 1934. PAUL 1,976,140

FURNITURE Filed June 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gd. 9, 1334 3 w P 1,976,140

FURN ITURE Filed June 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 9, 1934. D. w. PAUL 1,976,140

FURNITURE Filed June 8, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 5 l l I 1 r//////// /Z1' ///s/ 1' \\XA \x l 2 l 5+ 25 1o 2* 5% B5 20AM? Nom Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

My invention relates to furniture and particularly to collapsible tables, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by reason of which the supporting legs for the collapsed tabletop are autcmaticaily moved into operative supporting position when the sections of the table top are straightened out into alignment with each other. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a construction of this type in which the sections of the table top when folded together provide a casing within which the supporting legs together with the operative means for the legs are enclosed and concealed.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of parts comprising two body members hingedly connected together at their adjacent side edges, with two legs pivotaily mounted on each member adjacent to its ends, each arranged to swing into position along the face of the member so as to be confined within the limits of said member, means being provided for swin ing the legs into confined position when the body members are folded together and for swinging the legs into supporting position with respect to the body members when the members are swung into alignment with each other. t issue of the objects of my invention to provide an improved form of operating means for the legs of a device of this character comprising operating members moved longitudinally of the hingedly connected sections as said sections re swung into or out of alignment with each other and connected with the legs at points spaced from their pivotal mountings for giving the legs a swinging movement longitudinallyof the sections into or out of operative supporting position.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide improved operating means of this type comprising two cross levers pivotallyconnected-tm gether at intermediate points and movably connected at their ends with the hinged sections so as to be given a changedangular positionwith respect to each other and with respect to their cooperating parts as the sections are swung into and out of alignment with each other. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide improved connections between such pivotally connected levers and the supporting legs for causing said legs to swing into and out of supporting position in the desired timed relation.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means bywhich I have accomplished my several objects are illus-' trated in the drawings and are hereinafter speci ficahy described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in. the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a bottom face view of my improved article of furniture in the form of a table, with the sections of the table top in alignment with each other;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the parts as shown in Fig. 1 but with one section of the table top swung at a slight angle with respect to the other section, and with the legs and other parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical cross sections taken at lines 33 and 4l respectively in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom face view of one of the sections of my table, with the other one of said sections swung at an angle with respect thereto and broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 6 is an end view of my improved table with the sections folded together;

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross section taken at line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a. view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of construction;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of operating means for the supporting legs;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section taken at line 10--10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross section through portions of the two sections of my improved table showing the changed position of the operating lever and the associated parts when the sections are folded together; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section taken at line 1212 of Fig. 9.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same 9 reference characters, 20 and 21 indicate frames pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges by means of hinges 22, said frames 20 and 21 being provided with table top members 23 and 24 respectively of any approved type. In the arrangement shown, legs 25, 26, 2'7 and 28 are pivotally mounted upon the sections at the outer corners thereof upon transversely disposed axes so as to be adapted to swing inwardly against the face of the table top member, each of said legs being of such length as to be received within the framework when the sections are folded together. In the arrangement shown, the legs are mounted in position by means of U-clips 29, but it will be understood that the legs might be otherwise mounted.

Upon each of the sections 20 and 21, I have provided a slideway 30 in the form of a channel or split tube extending longitudinally of the sec tion, being firmly secured in position by means of rivets 31 in spaced position therealong. Alongside each of the slideways 30, I have provided a second slideway 32 in the form of a rod in position parallel to the slideway 30.

Upon the slideways 30 and 32, I have provided slide blocks 33 made up of sheet metal and arranged to have free movement longitudinally of the slideways. As is best shown in Fig. 3, the slide block 33 is connected with the slide- Way by means of headed bolts 34 which have undercut engagement with the slideways 30. In the construction illustrated, one end of the slide block 33 is bent into the form of a loop 35 about the rod 32. The arrangement is such that the slide blocks are readily movable longitudinally of the sections but are held very strongly against angular movement with respect to the slideways.

Each of the slide blocks 33 is connected by means of a link 36 with one of the supporting legs, such link being pivotally connected with both of such parts, the arrangement being such that upon movement of any one of the slide blocks 33 longitudinally of the section the corresponding one of the supporting legs is swung into or out of supporting position with respect to the section. A leaf spring 37 is provided in connection with each of the legs in position to be engaged by the leg at the end of its swinging movement toward the face of the table top so as to provide a slight yielding resistance with respect to the completion of the movement of the leg toward the table top.

Operating links or levers 38 and 39 are provided which in the construction shown are pivotally connected together by means of a rivet 40 at their middle points. Each of the levers 38 and 39 is provided at each of its ends with a U-shaped clip 41 which is pivotally connected with the lever by means of a rivet 42. The legs of each of the clips 41 are at such spaced relation as to fit down over the loop portions 35 of the slide blocks 33, such legs of the clips 41 being provided with openings for mounting the clips so as to be readily slidable upon the rods 32. In this manner, each end of each of the levers 38 and 39 is both slidably and pivotally connected with one of the sections of the table top, the arrangement being such that the ends of the levers are slidabl longitudinally of the sections.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, each of the levers 38 and 39 stands in oblique position with respect to the sections of the table top when such sections are in alignment with each other, the arrangement being such that when one-of the sections is given a swinging movement with respect to the other section as shown in Fig. 2, the levers 38 and 39 are free to move away from the bottom faces of the sections for permitting such swinging movement, one or both of the ends of each or" said levers being adapted to slide longitudinally of the section with which it is connected for accommodating the changed distance between the rods 32. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the right hand end of the lever 39 is shown as being in the same position longitudinally of the section as that illustrated in Fig. l, the levers 38 and 39 having changed their angular relation to each other by reason of sliding movement of the left hand end of the lever 38 toward the left. It will be understood that either or both of the slide blocks 33 might have been given movement longitudinally of the sections in lieu of the movement of only one of such slide blocks as shown in the drawings. As will be readily understood, as the distance between the rods 32 decreases in the operation of folding the sections together, the slide block 33 at the left in Fig. 5 is given a movement to the limit of its movement toward the left for carrying the leg 26 into engagement with the top member 23. Upon continued swinging movement of the sections toward their completely folded condition, the slide block 33 at the right in Fig. 5 will sooner or later be given a movement toward the right for carrying the leg 25 also to its position against the face of the top member 23. The arrangement is such that when the sections 20 and 21 reach their completely folded position as shown in Fig. 6, the supporting legs will all have been swung into position between the sections so as to be completely enclosed within the casing provided by the sections. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, a fastening clip 43 of any approved type carried by the section 21 is adapted by engagement with a pin 44 carried by the section 20 to hold the sections releasably in such folded condition. As is best shown in Fig. "I, when the sections are in alignment with each other, the levers 38 and 39 bear at their middle points against the side bars of the framework of the sections serving to reenforce the structure for preventing one section from sagging with respect to the other, Fig. '7, of course, being in inverted position.

Upon the middle portion of each of the slide ways 30, I have provided a shield 45 for holding the slideway firmly in position and serving as a stop for the slide blocks 33 for limiting their inward movement. Springs l6 upon the rods 32 serve to hold the slide blocks 33 yieldingly in their innermost position with respect to each other, serving thus to assist in holding the parts in position as shown in Fig. 1. For further assuring that the table shall not be collapsed accidentally while in use, I have provided a slide bar 47 upon the section 20 adapted by engagement with the section 21 to lock the sections in their aligned position.

Referring now to Fig. 8, which shows a modified form of construction, a slide bar 48 is shown substituted for the split tube or slideway 30. Such bar 48 is mounted in position in spaced relation to the top member 23, being held in such spaced relation by means of washers 49 mounted upon the securing rivets 50. In the arrangement here shown a modified form of slide block 51 is shown, such slide block 51 being provided with'short tongues 52 struck from the metal of the device and bent downwardly and inwardly about the edges of the slide bar 43 for mounting the slide block effectively in movable position. The slide block 51 is otherwise the same as the slide block 33, and similar reference characters are accordingly employed in connection therewith.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, which show a modified form of operative connections between the sections and the support ing legs, corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters as are above desig nated in connection with Figs. 1 to 8. In the arrangement shown in said Figs. 9 to 12, square shafts 53 are employed in lieu of the slide bars of Fig. 1, such shafts 53 being mounted in position longitudinally of the table sections in the same manner as are the rods 32, brackets 54 being provided at the middle portions of the shafts for reenforcing and bracing the shafts.

In the'arrangement as shown in Fig. 9, supporting legs 55, 56, 5'7 and 58 are provided each fixedly mounted upon a short shaft 59 revolublv mo1mted in a bracket 60, the arrangement being such that the legs are adapted to swing on transversely extending axes in paths laterally spaced with respect to each other so that each of the legs is adapted to swing inwardly into position against the face of the table top of the section upon which it is mounted. Each of the shafts 59 in the arrangement shownv is connected with the adjacent longitudinally extending shaft 53 by means of bevel gears 61, the arrangement being such that upon a partial rotation of the shaft 53 on either of the sections the supporting legs mounted on that section are swung into or out of supporting position, depending upon the direction of rotation of said shaft 53.

Upon each of the shafts 53, I have provided a slide clip 62 in the form of a yoke which is adapted to move longitudinally of the shaft, but is rotated positively therewith. Such clips 62 upon the spaced shafts 53 as shown in Fig. 9 are connected together by means of a link or lever 63 which is pivotally connected at its ends with said clips by means of rivets 64. The arrangement is such that when the sections are in alignment with each other as shown in Fig. 10 the link or lever 63 engages the longitudinally extending bars of the frames 20 and 21, serving to brace the table top sections in their aligned position. In such position of the sections, the supporting legs are held in operative supporting position. When the sections are given an angular movement with respect to each other for folding them together, the slide blocks or clips 62 are moved longitudinally of the shafts 53 as said shafts approach each other in the movement of the sections, serving to swing the link 63 more nearly into position longitudinally of the sections, and serving to swing the clips 62 about the axes of the shafts 53. In such swinging movement of the clips, the clip at the left in Fig. 10 is swung in counterclockwise direction, while the clip at the right in said figure is swung in clockwise direction with respect to the respective sections. Such rocking movements of the shafts 53 serve to swing the supporting legs toward the face of the table top, the arrangement being such that when the sections are brought into parallel folded position with respect to each other the legs are folded against the faces of the table top sections.

For holding the link or lever 63 normally in the position as shown in Fig. 9, I have provided coiled springs 65 upon the shafts between the clips 62 and the bevel gears 61.

While I prefer to employ the construction as shown in my drawings and as above described, it will be understood that my invention is not limited thereto except so far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture, comprising in comion two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs -lly mounted on each of said sections and arranged to swing toward and from the sections paths in laterally spaced relation to each other, two levers each movably connected at its ends with s sections in such manner as to enable its ends to move longitudinally of the sections and arranged so as to stand in crossed relationship to each other with each lever in oblique position with respect to the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other, and connections between each of said levers and two of said legs arranged so that the movement of one section into and out of alignment with the other section causes said legs to swing into and out of porting position with respect to the sections. 2. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on said sections at diagonally opposite corners, two rigid links at opposite sides of the article of furniture each pivotally connected with one of said legs, and a third rigid link extending transversely of the article of furniture in oblique position both transversely and longitudinally of the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other connected at its ends with said two links and also connected with both of said sections with its ends movable longitudinally of the respective sections adapted to hold the legs in supporting position when the sections are in alignment with each other and to cause the legs to swing into retracted position along the inner faces of the sections when the sections are folded together. Y

3. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on said sections at diagonally opposite corners, slide blocks mounted on said sections so as to move longitudinally thereof, a link pivotally connecting each of said slide blocks with one of said legs, and a lever pivotally connected with said slide blocks at points spaced from the axis upon which said sections are pivotally connected together adapted when the sections are swung into alignment with each other to cause said legs to swing into supporting position with respect to the sections and adapted when the sections are folded together to cause the legs to swing into position between said sections.

4. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected .1

together along their adjacent side edges, a leg pivotally mounted on each of said sections, a rod mounted on each of said sections longitudinally of the section, a lever having its opposite ends slidably mounted on said rods and arranged to stand in oblique position with respect to the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other and adapted to have a sliding move ment along the rods and a rotary movement with respect to the axes of said rods when the sec- 1;

tions are folded together, and means actuated by the movement of said lever with respect to its associated parts adapted to cause said legs to swing into supporting position with respect to the sections when said sections are swung into alignment with each other and to swing into position between the sections when said sections are folded together.

5. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on said sections at diagonally opposite corners, a slideway mounted on each of said sections inspaced relation to the axis upon which said sections are pivotally connected together, slide blocks mounted on said slideway so as to move freely therealong, a lever pivotally connected at its ends to said slide'blocks and arranged so that said slide blocks are moved longitudinally of the slideways and said lever is given a partial rotation with respect to the slide blocks about an axis extending longitudinally of the lever when said sections are swung into and out of alignment with each other, and means connected with said legs and actuated by the swing into position between the sections when the sections are folded together.

6. An art'cle of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs pivot-ally mounted on each of said sections and arranged to swing toward and from the section in pat s in laterally spaced relation to each other, a snoeway mounted on each of said sections in spaced relation to the axis upon which said sections are pivotally connected together, slide blocks mounted on said slldeway so as to move freely therealong, two levers in crossed relationship to each other and pivotally connected together at intermediate points and each pivotally connected at its ends to two of said slide blocks so that said slide blocks are moved longitudinally of the slideways and each of the levers is given angular movement with resoect to the connected slide blocks when said sections are swung into and out of alignment with each other, and means connected with said legs and actuated by the movement of said levers with respect to their associated parts adapted to cause said legs to swing into supporting position with respect to the sections when said sections are swung into alignment with each other and to swing into position between the sections when the sections are folded together.

'7. An article of furinture, comprising in combination to body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on said sections at diagonally opposite corners, a slideway in he form of a channel fixedly secured on the face of each of said sections longitudinally of the section, slide blocks having undercut engagement with said channeled slideways so as to be movable readily along the slideways but so as to be held against swinging movement with respect thereto, a lever pivotally connected at its ends to said slide blocks and arranged to stand in oblique position with respect to the sections when the sections are in alignment with ach other and to cause said slide blocks to move along the slideways when the sections are swung out of alignment with each other, and links pivotally connected with said slide blocks and said legs respectively adapted when said slide blocks are moved longitudinally of the sections to cause said legs to swing with respect to the sections whereby the legs are moved into supporting position respect to the sections when said sections are swung into alignment with each oth and are swung into position between the sections when the sections are folded together.

8. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their acent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on said sections at diagonally opposite corners, a s 'deway fixedly secured on the face of each of said sections longitudinally the eof, a rod mounted on each of said sections in parallel spaced relation to the slideway thereon, a slide block mounted on the slideway and rod on each section so as to move readily longitudinally thereof but so as to be held strongly against swinging movement with respect thereto, a lever slidably mounted at its ends on said rods so as to pivot about the axes of the rods and having an operative connection at each end with one of said slide blocks for giving said slide blocks movements longitudinally of the sections, and. links pivotally connected at their ends with said slide blocks and said legs for causing said legs to swing with respect to the sections when said slide blocks are moved longitudinally of the sections, the arrangement being such that said legs are caused to swing into operative supporting position with respect to the sections when the sections are moved into alignment with each other and to swing into position between the sections when the sections are folded together.

9. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along the r adjacent side edges, a leg pivotally mounted on each of said sections, a lever movably connected at its ends with said sections in such manner as to enable its ends to move longitudinally of the sections and arranged so as to stand in oblique position with respect to the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other, connections between said legs and the ends of said lever adapted when said sections are swung into alignment with each other to cause said legs to swing into supporting position with respect to the sections and adapted when the sections are folded together to cause said legs to swing into position between the sections, and yielding means adapted at the start of the swinging movement of the sections out of their folded condition to give said legs an initial movement toward supporting position.

1o. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on each of said sections and arranged to swing toward and from the section inpaths in laterally spaced relation to each other, two levers each movably connected at its ends with said sections in such manner as to enable its ends to move longitudinally of the sections and arranged so as to stand in crossed relationship to each other with each lever in oblique position with respect to the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other, connections between each of said levers and two of said legs arranged so that the movement of one section into and out of alignment with the other section causes said legs to swing into and out of supporting position with respect to the section and yielding means tending to hold said levers in the angled position with respect to each other corresponding to the unfolded condition of the device serving thus to assist in holding the legs in operative supporting position.

11. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, a leg pivotally mounted on each of said sections, a rod mounted on each of said sections longitudinally of the section, a lever having its opposite ends slidably mounted on said rods and arranged to stand in oblique position with respect to the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other and adapted to have a sliding movement along the rods and a rotary movement with respect to the axes of said rods when the sections are folded together, and means actuated by the rotary movement of said lever about the axes of said rods for causing said legs to swing into operative supporting position with respect to the sections when said sections are moved into alignment with each other and to swing into position between said sections when the sections are folded together.

12. An articl of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, a shaft revolubly mounted at each end of each of said sections transversely thereof, a supporting leg fixedly mounted on each of said shafts so as to swing into and out of supporting position as said shaft is rotated, and means actuated by the movement of said sections into alignment with each other for rotating said shafts for carrying the legs into operative supporting position and actuated by the movement of the parts when said sections are folded together for moving the legs into position between the sections.

13. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, a shaft revolubly mounted at each end of each of said sections transversely thereof, a supporting leg fixedly mounted on each of said shafts so as to swing into and out of supporting position as said shaft is rotated, blocks slidably mounted on said sections, lever means connected with said sections and with said blocks adapted to give said blocks sliding movements along the sections as said sections are moved into and out of alignment with each other, and operative connections between said blocks and said shafts adapted when said sections are moved into alignment with each other to rotate said shafts for carrying said legs into operative supporting position and adapted when said sections are folded together to rotate said shafts for moving the legs into position between the sections.

i l. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, a shaft revolubly mounted in transverse position at each end of each of said sections, a leg fixedly mounted on each of said shafts adapted by rotary movement of the shaft to be swung into and out of operative supporting position with respect to the section, a rod revolubly mounted on each of said sections longitudinally thereof, bevel gears connecting the rod on each of said sections with the shafts on said section whereby upon a rotation of said rod through approximately 90 in one direction the legs on said shafts are swung in unison into operative supporting position and upon a reverse rotation of the rod are swung in unison into position against the face of the section, and a lever having its opposite ends slidably connected with said rods and arranged to stand in oblique position with respect to the sections when said sections are in alignment with each other and to extend longitudinally of the rods in approximately 90 turned position with respect to the axes of said rods when the sections are folded together, the connection between said lever and said rods being such that said rods are given a rotary movement with said lever with respect to the sections for swinging said legs into and out of operative supporting position when said sections are swung into and out of alignment with each other.

15. In a table, the combination of a top comprising two sections pivotally connected together at their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on each of said sections on axes at right angles to the axis on which said sections are pivotally connected together and each adapted to be folded longitudinally of the section on which it is mounted into position along the bottom face of the section, a block slidable longitudinally on one of said sections, connections between one of said legs and said block serving to give said block a movement longitudinally of the section when said one leg is swung longitudinally of the section to its operative supporting position, and other connections between said block and a second leg serving when said one leg is swung to operative supporting position to swing said second leg also to operative supporting position.

16. In a table, the combination of a top comprising two sections pivotally connected together at their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on each of said sections on axes at right angles to the axis on which said sections are pivotally connected together and each adapted to be folded longitudinally of the section, on which it is mounted into position along the bottom face of the section, blocks slidably connected with said sections on the bottom faces of the sections and movable longitudinally thereof, and connections between each of said blocks and two of said legs adapted when the sections are swung into alignment with each other to give the block a movement longitudinally of the section upon which it is mounted and adapted at the same time to swing both of the legs connected with said block longitudinally of the section to their operative supporting positions.

17. In a table, the combination of a top comprising two sections pivotally connected together at their adjacent side edges, two legs pivotally mounted on each of said sections on axes at right angles to the axis on which said sections are pivotally connected together and each adapted to be folded longitudinally of the section on which it is mounted into position along the bottom face of the section, a lever, and means connecting said lever with two of said legs with both of said sections adapted when said sections are swung into alignment with each other to give said lever a swinging movement longitudinally of the sections and adapted thereby to swing said legs longitudinally of the sections into operative supporting position.

18. In a table, the combination of a top comprising two comparatively narrow sections pivotally connected together at their inner side edges, two legs of substantially the same length as that of said sections pivotally mounted adjacent to the outer edge of each of said sections on axes positioned transversely of the sections so as to swing longitudinally of the section into position along the bottom face of the section, and operative connections between said legs and said sections adapted when said sections are folded together to give said legs swinging movements toward said sections during the first part of the folding operation for causing the legs on each section to clear the other section inthe folding operation so as to be enclosed between the sections.

19. An article of furniture, comprising in combination two body sections pivotally connected together along their adjacent side edges, legs pivotally mounted on said sections respectively at diagonally opposite corners of the device for swinging longitudinally of the respective sections, a lever movably connected with both of said sections adapted when said sections are folded together transversely to be swung by its engagement with the sections into substantially longitudinal position with respect to the sections, and connections between said legs and the respective end portions of said lever adapted upon movement of one section into and out of alignment with the other section to cause said legs to swing into and out of supporting position with respect to said sections.

DONALD W. PAUL.

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