US2203394A - Folding bench and table construction - Google Patents

Description

June 1940- R. E. SCHIEBER FOLDING BENCH AND TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY WM 7%.

TTORNE Y5.

June 4, 1940. sc 2,203,394

FOLDING BENCH AND TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 2% e /Few A TTORNEYfi June 4, 1940. E. SCHIEBER 2,203,394

FOLDING BENCH AND TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 57 m *argnvi E C '1 11] l 2 I l l ll INVENTOR fiaieri ff 5vieiel7 A TTORNE Y5.

I Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BENCH AND TABLE CONSTRUCTION Robert E. Schieber, Detroit, Mich. Application July 5, 1938, Serial No. 217,490 6 Claims. (01. 311+1s) This invention relates to a table and bench structure adapted to be folded into a recess in the wall of a roomwhen not in use; and it embodies certain improvements on and additions to 5 the folding table structure disclosed and claimed in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 111,562, filed November 19, 1936, Patent No. 2,131,675, dated September 2'7, 1939.

In said co-pending application is disclosed a 10 table which may be folded into a wall recess in such a manner that the table top forms the closure member for the recess.

It is one object of the present: invention to provide a folding table of the type mentioned in 15 combination with one or more folding benches of similar character so that the complete unit of table and benches may be folded into a suitable wall-recess or recesses and form the closure members thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified leg supporting structure for a table or benchv of the type mentioned, and an improved form of leg folding mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide 25 improved means for securing a top of a table or bench to a support to facilitate folding of the table or bench.

Another object is to provide a folding table or bench adapted to fold into and from the clo- 30 sure member of the recess, in which the top of the table or bench closely flts the recess and in which means are provided to adjust the top relative to the recess.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the table and benches folded into a suitable wall recess;

40 Fig. '2 is a perspective view showing the table and benches in their operative position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the benche with parts broken away to show the interior con-.

struction; 45 Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 partially folded condition;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectiontaken on the line 4-4 of. Fig. 1 showing the bench in com- 50 pletely folded condition;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is' a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6; v 1 55 Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on an of Fig. 1 of one of the benches in a enlarged scale showing the hinge construction connecting the bench sections;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the bench taken on the line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the latching 5 mechanism at the inner end of the bench taken on the line lit-l0 of Fig. 3; and, I

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line ll-li of Fig. 10. a

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the 10 drawings it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention there is provided a folding table formed of a pair of sections l0 and ii pivotally secured together and a pair of benches operatively associated with the table and likewise 15 having a pair of top sections l2 and I3 pivotally secured together. The table and benches are secured at their inner ends to suitable recesses l4 and 15, respectively, preferably formed in the wall of a room, into which the table and benches may be folded when not in use. As best shown in Fig. 1 when the table and benches are folded the outer table top section II and the outer bench sections l3 form the closure members for. the recesses I4 and i5, respectively, and are of such size that they completely fill the recess openings. It is preferred to provide separate recesses for the table and benches in the manner shown, although it is apparent that if desired a single large recess may be provided and the '30 table and benches so arranged that their combined outer sections form a complete closure member therefor.

The particular table structure illustrated in the drawings is identical to that disclosed in my above 'mentioned co-pending' application to which reference may be had for further details of construction. It is suflicient to state here that the outer end of the table is supported by a suitable leg structure l6 having floor engaging -40 rollersl'l to the end that the entire weight of the table is supported by the rollers as it is folded into the wall recess. The inner end of the table is secured to the recess'by means including a strut l8 which enables the inner section to swing by a combined rectilinear and rotary movement from a horizontally operative .position to a vertical position within the recess with the outer edge of the section III adjacent-the top of the recess. Suitable means are provided for folding v the leg structure [6 into the plane of the table top section II as the table is folded into the recess. None of the above mentioned table structure per se relates to the present-invention and, as will become apparent, the table structure incopending application may be identical in con-.

stead of being of the form disclosed in applicant's struction to the novel folding bench structure hereinafter described, if so desired.

The details of the novel bench structure are best shown in Figs. 3 to 11, inclusive, and since the benches are identical in construction the description of one will sufllce for both. As shown best in Figs. 3 and 4 the bench sections I2 and I3 are provided at their adjacent ends with suitable hinge brackets 20 and 2I connected by a pintle 22 for pivotally connecting the sections together. It will be observed that the hinge brackets are so arranged that the pintle is disposed outwardly from the inner end of the top section I3 in order that it will not project above the top section I3 when the latter is folded into.

the recess in the manner shown in Fig. 5. This permits a proportioning of the outer table top to very closely fit the upper edge of the recess opening.

The recess I5 is preferably lined with sheet metal walls 28 and the front edges of the recesses are provided with finish strips or moldings 25. At the bottom of the recess there is provided a reinforcing piece 26 which overlies the sides, and rear of the lower portion of the recess and extends partially over the bottom of the recess as best shown in Fig. 7. Pivotally secured to the side portions of the pins 21 are a pair of blocks 28; and a T-shaped strut member 29, shown best in Fig. 6, has its arm 30 journalled in the blocks 28, respectively. A set screw 3| extends through each of the blocks 28 and engages a seat 32 carried by the member 26 for adjusting the height of the blocks 28. A second set screw 33 extends through an ear 34 formed on the member 26 and bears against the upper edge of the block 28 for locking it in adjusted position. The upper end of the strut 29 is provided with a yoke 35 the arms of which are pivotally secured to a suitable bracket 36 by means of pins 31,- which bracket is carried by the underside of the bench section I2 intermediate the ends of the section. The point of connection between the strut 29 and the top section I2 may be placed at any point intermediate the ends of the section I2 but preferably in abench construction of the type shown in this application it is placed relatively close to the inner end of the section I2 in the manner best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The inner end of the section I2 of the bench is provided with a bar 38 secured thereto by means of a U-shaped element 39 having its legs 40 welded orfotherwise permanently secured to the side flanges M of the bench top section. The bar 38 is provided with aligned bores 44 in its ends which carry pins 45 carrying rollers 46 which are adapted to engage behind a downwardly and outwardly inclined bar or track member 48, best shown in Hg. 7. The pins 45 are urged outwardly by means of helical springs 49 and under the influence of the springs are adapted to project through suitable openings 50 in the sheet metal casing 24 of the recess when the bench is in the operative position shown in Fig. 2 for maintaining the inner end of the bench section member 26 by handle 58 and the links are secured tot'he lever on opposite sides of the pivot 51 with the. result that when the handle is raised the pins 45 will be retracted from the openings 50 by means of the links 55 and the projections 52. A counterweight is secured to the underside of the bench section I2 adjacent its inner end to assist in raising the outer end of the section I2 when the bench is folded.

The outer end of the bench section I3 is provided with a leg structure 62 pivotally secured to the underside of the bench section by means of a suitable bracket 63. The leg structure 52 is provided with a pair of rollers 64 for engaging the floor and guiding the bench during folding movement into the recess. The bench structure is also provided with a leg structure 65 pivotally secured to the pintle 22 of the hinge connection between the sections I2 and I3. Suitable means are provided for positively maintaining the legs 62 and 65 in a substantially vertical position in all positions of and during movement of the bench into folded position in order that the legs may fold into the space between the bench sections when the bench is folded and yet will be held in vertical operative position when the bench is unfolded. This means comprises a bar 5'! pivotally connected at its inner end to a bracket 68 carried by the inner bench section I2. As best shown in Fig. 8 the pin 69 which connects bar 6'! and bracket 68 is positioned inwardly from the pintle 22 forming the hinge connection between the bench sections I2 and I3. The outer end of the bar 61 is provided with a pair of outwardly diverging bars III which are pivotally secured to the leg structure 62 by means of pins II while to the intermediate portion of the bar 61 is pivotally secured a pair of inwardly diverging bars 12 having their inner ends pivotally secured to the leg structure 65 by means of pins 74. As a result of this arrangement when the bench is folded the rotary movement of pin 69 relative to the hinge pintle 22 will cause the bar 61 to move rearwardly with respect to the bench section I3 and fold the leg structures 62 and 65 against the underside of the section I3. This folding movement occurs at such a rate during the movement of the bench sections into the recess that the leg structures 62 and 65 are maintained in substantially vertical position at all times. Since the leg structure 65 only engages the floor when the bench is in its operative position it is not provided with rollers but simply has a resilient foot 15 of rubber or the like.

A suitable latch means I8 of the type disclosed in detail in applicants co-pending application is provided at the upper end of the recess for latching the inner bench section against movement outwardly of the recess when the outer bench section I3 is positioned within the recess. This latch automatically releases upon outward swinging movement of the section I3.

The bench is provided with a key operated lock 19 which controls a pair of locking rods 80 which upon operation of the lock are pro- .iected through suitable openings in the side flanges of the bench top I3 into suitable openings 82 in the wall of the recess for locking the table in folded position.

One of the important features of the present invention resides in the particular arrangement of the table guiding track or rail 48. It will struction of the type disclosed in this applicalower end of the outer tion, as 'well as applicant's aforementioned copendingapplication, the weight of the inner top section inwardly of the point of connection between the top section and the supporting strut tends to cause upward buckling of the inner and outer sections and thereby assists in the table folding operation. It is for this reason in part that the supporting strut I8 on the table '15 connected adjacent the outer end of the inner table section III in the manner disclosed in greater detail in the aforementioned co-pending application. In the case of the bench, however, the reduced height makes it undesirable to connect the supporting strut 29 to the inner section [2 adjacent its outer end because in that event the strut and section- [2 would extend at too small an angle with respect to each other to enable the strut to perform a satisfactory supporting function. Moreover in the bench the intermediate leg structure 65 supports the outer end of the inner top section l2 and hence the outer end of that section need not be supported directly by the strut. However, when the strut is connected adjacent the inner end of the section I2 in the manner disclosed herein the amount of the inner top section I2 which lies inwardly of its point of connection with the strut 29 is relatively small and hence'its buckling effect is correspondingly less than in the case of the table. The counterweight 60 which is of substantial size and weight very greatly augments the buckling tendency, but it is found that the.buckling tendency is further augmented to a very great extent if the rail or track 48 extends downwardly and outwardly in the manner best shown in Fig. 7. This is due to the fact that the inner weighted end of the top section l2 tends to swing in an are about pins 31 which connect the strut 29 with the section i2. Accordingly, if the rail or track 48 extended vertically downward movements of the. inner end of the section [2 could only occur upon corresponding upward swinging movements of the strut 29. It will be understood that even in a table structure of the type disclosed in applicant's aforementioned co-pending application that the provision of a counterweight will augment the buckling tendency.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the means for independently adjusting the elevation of the arms 30 of the supporting strut 29 in a folding table or bench construction of the type here involved. It is highly advantageous to have the table or bench fit the wall recess as closely as possible. However, in ordinary building constructions minor variations in the dimensions and form of the walls and floors are unavoidable and, accordingly, it is necessary from a practical standpoint, if the table is to closely fit the recess, to provide means for raising either edge independently of the other in order to secure not only the proper elevating, but the proper alignment of the table or bench relative to the recess. In addition it will be noted that the rollers 64 on the outer leg structure 62 are independently adjustable with respect to the leg structure 62 to properly support the outer top section H with respect to the recess. Any suitable means for raising the leg structure 62 with respect to the rollers 64 may be utilized, such as by threading the stem on each wheel supporting yoke 86 into the lower end of the leg structure to the desired degree and locking it in adjusted position by means of a set screw 91 as shown in Fig. 4. Once the necessary adjustments are made for any given installation all that is necessary is that the inner latch means 45 be released to permit the initial buckling action of the sections whereupon the two sections are pushed into the wall. During this movement the sections are guided and supported entirely by their connections with the recess and the rollers 64 but they are so guided that the table sections will move automatically into the recess.

It will be understood that the herein described and illustrated bench structure may be utilized in a table by simply increasing its height and the dimensions of the parts to the necessary degree. Accordingly, in the claims, except where both a table and a bench are mentioned, the expression table construction or the like" is intended to apply to either a table or a bench constructed in the manner specified. While only one form of the invention is shown and described herein it is apparent that variations herein are available within the spirit of the invention and within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding table construction or the like, a supporting member, a pair of top sections pivoted together for folding movement from a position in a common plane with their edges in abutment to a substantially parallel overlapping relationship, the free edge of one .of said sections being connected to said member for swinging movement from a horizontal operative position to a vertical inoperative position with the edge which is pivoted to the other section uppermost, leg means pivoted to one of said sections adjacent the pivotally connected edges of said sections, a second leg means pivoted to the free edge of the outer section for supporting the same, floor engaging rollers on said second leg means, and means for positively maintaining both of said leg means in a substantially vertical position during folding movement and in all positions of said sections.

2. In a folding table construction or the like. a supporting member, a pair of top sections pivoted together for folding movement from a position in a common plane with their edges in abutment to a substantially parallel overlapping relationship, a strut pivoted at one end to said supporting member and at its opposite end to one of the top sections intermediate the free edge and the edge pivoted to the other section, a downwardly and outwardly directed track on said supporting member, means adjacent the free edge of said one section for engaging said track and holding said section against movement away from said supporting member, and means for supporting the free edge of said other section in all positions thereof.

3. In a folding table construction or the like, a supporting member, a pair of top sections pivoted together for folding movement from a position in a common plane with their edges in abutment to a substantially parallel overlapping relationship, a strut pivoted at one end to said supporting member and at its opposite end to one of the top sections intermediate the free edge and the edge pivoted to the other section, a downwardly directed track on said supporting member, means adjacent the free edge of said one section for engaging said track and holding said section against movement away from said supporting member, rolling means for supporting the free edge of said other section, and a counter-weight on the inner end of said one section for assisting in upthe free edge of one of said sections to said support for swinging movement from a. horizontal operative position to a substantially vertical inoperative position with the edge connected to the other section uppermost, said other sectionbeing of such a size that it will substantially fill the recess opening and form a closure therefor, and the axis of the pivotal connection between said sections being disposed below and outwardly of the inner end of the other section when said sections are unfolded whereby the pivotal connecting means will not project above the other section when the same is folded into the recess.

5. In a folding table construction or the like, a supporting member having a recess, a pair of top sections pivotedtogether for folding movement from a position in a common plane with their edges in abutment to a substantially parallel overlapping relationship, means connecting the free edge of one of said sections to said support for swinging movement from a horizontal operative position to a'substantially vertical inoperative position with the edge connected to the other section uppermost, said other section being of such a size that it will substantially fill the recess opening and form a closure therefor, said means connecting said one section to the support having adjusting mechanism to' vary the height and angular position of the sections when folded to conform to the recess.

6. In a folding table construction or the like,

a supporting member having a recess, a pair of top sections pivoted together for folding movement from aposition in a common horizontal plane with their edges in abutment to a substantially vertical and parallel overlapping relationship within said recess, a T-shaped strut having the ends of its arms pivotaliy secured to said supporting member on a common horizontal axis and having its stem pivotally secured to the innermost of the sections between the edge connected to the other section and the inner edge of the inner section, the axis of said last men g tioned pivotal connection being parallel to said horizontal axis, a downwardly directed track on v the supporting member, means adjacent the inner edge of said innermost section for operatively engaging said track whereby the section is guided for folding movement into a vertical position within the recess, and independent means for adjusting the elevation of each arm of the T- shaped strut with respect to the supporting member.

ROBERT E. SCHIEBER.

I C ERII FICATE v OF CORRECTIGN. Patent No. 2,2055%; June l 191p. ROBERT SCHIEBER.

It is hereby ertified that errnr appears in the printed. specificeition" I or the above hmbered patent requiring ctrreption as follnws: Page 1., first 8, for "September 27, 1959" reaa "September 27 1958- and that the said Letters Pt'ent ghoul'd bereaid. with this cOi'recfidn the re fiiW that the Same may cbnform to the record of'the case in the Patent Off1ce.

Signed and. sealed this 9th day of July,. A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdle', (Seal) Acti gcommigsioner pf Patents.

Images