US2353892A - Combination table and bench construction - Google Patents

Description

y & 9 J. c. HIGGENS 2,353,892

COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 11} 1942 Patented July 18, 1944 e is 2,353,892-

' C OMBINATIONTABLE AND BENCH Q j I CONSTRUCTION v Joseph onig in ohieagb, Ill. a A H ;'fAiinli etiepuly1i,1942;seh nef rsaecs 3-= A -,5 Glaims. (cuss-12er- 'f x Thisinventionrelates to improvements in furskilled in the art to whi'chit appertainsfI-have niturepand has for an object,' to providea cominthe accompanying drawing'and the detailed binationf tablean'd bench construction wherein description based thereupon, set out one e'mbo'di the benches, when not in use, may be convenientment of my invention. 1y noveid or swung, to out of-the -way positions .5 In the drawing: H i under the table topand within the table frame Figure l is'a side elevation of my improved in s ibstantially nesting relation to the, latter, table with one of the benchesremoved and the hence, affording table 'by-pas'sing Convenience t ertbe h a a g n p ti p s asiwe'll as effecting material space "conservation. Figure 2 is an end elevation of my improved 1 Moreover, it is an object of the invention a to in table wherein one of the benches is shown in'an provide, a table of the stated character which, operative position and the other thereof in an w thm v me t 95 93 2 l p iv pqsiinoperative or out-of-the-way' position, and tions will'insure' ther'etention of such benches u 3 is an enlarged (f tarydetai inl'ffixed relation to the tabl and c in section,taken on the line 3- 3 (Jr-Figure 2, piedjwill steady or secure th table against 1111- i looking in the direction in which the arrows desirablesh ifting, tipping'oroverturning. f PQ I 'rflno'ther object or the, invention is to provide Having more particular'reierence'to the draw novel forms of supporting frames for the table ing,'in which like characters of reference will b h fth Same ng p m pffa brication designate corresponding" parts throughout, the fp b tmn t mi m if a t table construction comprisesrelatively sp'aced'end penditure and of being'movably connected to the Supporting f s, generally indicated by t hu table frame or legs without linkage or, similar meral r p}; of ppr pr e i ng d attac hinges, r p i es 1 over and connected to said frames, and ben'che'sl "A further of the nve t n iS OlPIOvide generally designated'by'the-numeral'3; connected table supporting franies (end 'frai nes) so .cont0 e i ner opposite sides of the su'pfib t striicted as to receive and uniformly distribute frames Lin a'mann'er hereinafter described.'"Ihe table applied l oads 'anol stressestherethroughout ab end pporting frames l' and'the benches andtotransmit such received stresses through it Will be Obsrvd, a o lfrespondmg C011- mjnimumsized basal or supporting surfac [enstruction. Inconsequence, referencewillbe heregaging portions a to in r i imu o wear '3'0 inafter made to one of each thereof and such and tear upon a supporting surface, i'. e., a fl r reference will suffice for the others. qr thelike; engaged thereby. j w e The endirame I is preferably made of meta Itis also an objectofthe invention to protubing, consis ng of relatively bpbOS d g 1 vide bench supporting frames: of such construc- 'tions '4, the outer sides of which are upright, as tion as to produce surface engaging basal por 35 shown Fig r d the imlltsides 2 3 "of 'a'm'inimurn' area or size without sacrifice and inwardlydisposed as at 5 havingthe" integral offthe all-ir'npor'tant feature of person or load intermediate portion flattened' and apertured as supper-t ng efliciency, hence, insuring aminimurn at 8 (see Figure '2). Bends are made' 'inthe of contact wear and tear upon a floor or other io'wer portionsof each of the legs '4 and provide 'sufraee'engaged thereby. I j in supporting surface 7 (floor) engaging means or A still further'object ofthe invention is w r feet, affording a minimum 7 of contacting area vide' benches for the table having their end 'sup ithr ivi r supp rtin s rface such'as a porting"frames so" constructed and connected floor or the like. Apertured, flattened and anto the companionate or adjacent enqflsupporting gularly disposed fingers '7 are formed on the up frames that such benches, when swung or moved per ends, or upright portions the legs 4." A to inoperative andsubst'antially nestingre'lati'on substantially V -shaped member affording obliquebetween the table frames will have their: their ly disposed-braces or'struts 9, 'havingangularly inwardly disposed porti'ons counter balance'd and formed and oppositely disposed apertured'fingers by reason thereof, will be oause'd'to positively re- I Hi onthe opposite ends of the'saine -arfdf'its'inmain in such relation and prevented from unde- '50 terniediate port on flattened and apertured'as at si rably moving or dropping away'therefrom. H is protided'the 'legsll,as is "also shown in the Other objects of the invention will be in part Figure 2. Boltsor like fastening devices l2 are obvious and in art pointed out hereinafter. passed through the juxtaposed apertured fingers In order that the invention and its mode of T and H) of the cornpanio'nate 1egs 4 and braces operation maybe readily understood by those 'Sinto engagement with adjacent portions oft-he length of the table top 2, is provided. The opposite ends of this bracing element I3 are formed with apertured and flattened outwardly extending fingers I3 arranged in juxtaposed relation to the relatively overlying apertured portions 80f,

the oblique sides 5 of the legs 4 and the braces or struts 9. Bolts or like fastening devices I4 are engaged through these overlying and juxtaposed apertured portions 8 and I I and fingers I3. Hence, a fixed and rigid connection will be effected between the end supporting frames I an the longitudinal bracing element I3.

To effect further rigidifying or bracing of the table construction, I may and preferably do provide a plurality of relatively opposed diagonally extending tubular bracing members I5, each of which have flattened apertured and angularly disposed fingers I5 provided upon their opposite ends. The upper ends of the bracing elements I5 are secured to portions of the underside of the table top 2 by engaging bolts or the like I6 through their adjacent apertured fingers I5 and with said top, as illustrated in Figure l. The remaining ends of the outermost of said bracing members I5 are preferably connected by the aforesaid connecting bolts I4 to the adjacent apertured portions 8 and II of the oblique sides 5 of the legs 4 and the bracing elements 9, while the lower and juxtaposed ends of the remaining bracing members I5 are fixedly connected to an intermediate portion of the longitudinal element I3 by passing a bolt I'I therethrough.

A transversely disposed horizontal supporting bracket I8 is arranged over the longitudinal element I3, and as shown in the Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, is fixedly connected thereto by engaging the aforesaid connecting bolt I'I therethrough. Resilient bumper blocks I9. made of rubber or other suitable material, are fixedly carried upon the upper side of the bracket I8 at its opposite extremities and serve a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The benches 3 each consist of relatively spaced supporting frames 20, preferably made from material corresponding to that of the table end supporting frames I. formed to provide substantially triangular bodies, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, including vertical outer sides or uprights, feet or surface en aging basal portions 2I and outwardly bowed substantially V-shaped inner side portions 22, the extremities or medial bends of which are adapted to be pivotally connected to appropriate portions of the legs 4 of the table supporting frames I, as hereinafter more fully described. Bench tops or seats 23, of lengths substantially corresponding to the length of the table top 2, are provided the thus paired bench supporting frames and are fixedly connected thereto by engaging bolts or similar fastening devices 24 through flattened and angularly disposed apertured fingers 20' on the upper extremities of the vertical portion and portion 22 of frame 20 with adjacent portions of the underside of the bench tops 23. Bracing members 25, consisting of lengths of tubular metal, are obliquely and longi- Said frames 20 are bent or tudinally disposed between the basal portions of each of the supporting frames 20 and the adjacent end portions of the top of the bench top or seat 23 being connected to such portions of the frames 20 and the top 23 by bolts or like fastening devices 26 passing through apertured angular fingers on the opposite ends of the same into fixed engagement with said frames and top 23. Additional supporting legs 21 may be and preferably are provided the intermediate portions of each of the benches 3 and, as will be observed upon reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, consist of substantially V-shaped tubular metal pieces of suitable heights or lengths, the free ends of which are formed with apertured and angularly disposed bracket fingers 28 contacted with adjacent portions of the underside of the bench top 23 and fixedly connected thereto by passing bolts or like fastening devices 29 through the same into engagement with adjacent portions of said bench top or seat23. .As will be understood, the lengths or heights of these supporting legs 2'! correspond to the heights or lengths of the bench supporting frames 20 for an obvious purpose.

As hereinbefore stated, the inner or substan-. tially V-shaped inner sides of the bench supporting frames 20 are pivotally connected to the outer sides of the legs of each of the table supporting frames I. To accomplish such connection, openings are formed in appropriate portions of the outer sides of said legs 4 and in the angled portions or bends of the bowed or substantially V- shaped sides 22 of the bench supporting frames. Spacer sleeves 30 and 30' are engaged through these respective openings, whereupon connecting bolts 3I are longitudinally passed through the sleeves and locked in relation thereto by means of nuts 32 turned on to their screw threaded shank portions, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing. By reason of this specific form of connection, it will be understood that substantially free pivotal movement of the bench supporting frames 20 with respect to the table supporting frames I will be permitted and, at the same time, that a maximum of firmness or stability will be afforded the pivotal connection.

Due to the fact that the supporting frames 20 of the several benches 3 are pivotally connected to the table supporting frames I in proximity to their respective lower portions, it will be observed thatwhen either or both said benches are swung to their inoperative or nested positions be-, tween the table frames, as shown in Figure 2, the inner marginal edge of the top or seat 23 of such bench or benches will be brought to rest upon (Q engage with the particularly adjacent bumper block I9 provided on the horizontal bracket I8; moreover, by reason of such specific location of .the pivotal connection between the bench supporting frames and the table supporting frames, the now outward portion or portions of said bench or benches will be over-balanced and in consequence, will be prevented from undesirably moving or dropping outwardly and downwardly tooperative positions. It Will be also understood and appreciated that when the table benches 3 have been moved or swung to their respective inoperative or out-of-the-way positions under the table top 2 and within its frame, a material conservation of space will be effected and too, greater table by-passing convenience will be afforded.

Obviously, when the table benches 3 have been moved or swung to their operative positions and are occupied or loaded, definite stabilizing of the table will be thereby effected and in consequence, undesirable shifting, tilting or even overturning of the thus stabilized or more firmly anchored table will be prevented. By the same token, it will be understood that an even and uniform distribution of those stresses applied to both the table top 2 and the bench tops 23 will be effected throughout their respective supporting frames; also, that the formation of the basal or feet portions of both the table frames and the bench frames is such that they will provide a minimum of contacting area with a receiving and supporting surface, i. e., a floor or the like, hence, reducing wear and tear upon the latter to a material extent.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of further modification, and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A table, including end frames and a top, benches substantially parallel to the opposite sides of said top, each comprising end supporting frames and a top of a length less than the distance between the end frames, each said end supporting frames having their inner sides substantially V-shaped with the angular extremities thereof extended beyond the adjacent sides of their respective tops, means pivotally inter-connecting said angular extremities with adjacent portions of the corresponding sides of said end frames, and other means on the table for receiving said benches, at times, and supporting them in substantially horizontal positions beneath the table top.

2. A table, including end frames and a top, benches substantially parallel to the opposite sides of said top each comprising end, supporting frames and a top of a length less than the distance between the end frames, the normally inner sides of each said end supporting frames being substantially V-shaped with the angular extremities outermost and disposed below their respective horizontal medial portions, means pivotally inter-connecting said end frames and end supporting frames adjacent said angular extremities of the inner sides of the end supporting frames and adjacent portions of said end frames, and means on the table beneath its top for receiving said benches, at times, and supporting them in substantially horizontal planes beneath the table top.

3. A tab-1e, including end frames and a top,

benches in proximity to the opposite sides of the end frames, each comprising supporting frames and a top of a length less than the distance between the end frames, portions of the normally inner sides of the supporting frames being outwardly bowed, and the outermost extremities of said bowed portions being arranged below the horizontal medial portions of said frames and disposed outwardly and beyond the bench top, means engaging the outermost extremities of said bowed portions pivotally connecting the same to portions of the end frame sides, and means on the table beneath its top engageable by the benches, at times, for supporting said benches in positions beneath the table top at substantially right angles to their normal positions.

4. A table, including end frames and a top,

'each end frame comprising relatively opposed legs, the lower portions of said legs being inwardly disposed and upwardly bent, a longitudinal bracing member beneath the table top connected to the upwardly bent and inwardly disposed portions of said legs, benches of lengths less than the distance between said end frames substantially parallel to the opposite sides of said top, means pivotally connecting portions of said benches to portions of said end frames at points below the horizontal medial portions of said benches, and means on said longitudinal bracing member engageable by the benches, at times, for supporting said benches in positions beneath the table top at substantially right angles to their normal positions.

5. A table, including end frames and a top, bracing means beneath the top connected to portions of the end frames between the opposite sides thereof, benches in proximity to the opposite sides of the end frames each comprising substantially U-shaped supporting frames and a top of a length less than the distance between said end frames, portions of the normally inner sides of the U-shaped supporting frames being disposed outwardly of and beyond their respective tops and pivotally connected to adjacent portions of the opposite sides of the end frames, and means on said bracing means lbelow the table top engageable 'by the benches, at times, for supporting said benches in positions beneath the table top at substantially right angles to their normal positions.

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