US236197A - yalley - Google Patents

Description

J. N. VALLEY.- Fglding Table.

No. 236,197. Patented'lan. 4,1881.

N. PETERs. PNOTO-UTHDYGRAPHER WASHINGTOM Dv Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. VALLEY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING TABLE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 236,197, dated January 4, 1881.

Application filed November 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. VALLEY, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, light, and easily-manipulated table, so constructed that its legs may be conveniently folded upon the under side of its top, in order that it may occupy a small compass when not in use or during transportation, and when desired may be immediately unfolded, braced, and ready for use.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the various parts, as will I be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved folding table in position for use, with its top horizontal and partly in section to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a plan of the under side of the same when folded. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional details representingend and side views-the construction of the hinge connecting the legs to the table-top.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

A is the top of the table, having attached to its under side a central cross cleat or board, B, and two end cleats or boards, 0, parallel with the cleat B.

D are the legs, rigidly interconnected at their upper ends in pairs by the boards E, and having screwed into their upper ends the threaded shanks of angle-hooks F, by which they are pivoted to cast-metal lugs G, which latter have a horizontally-projecting extension, g, with a vertical small shoulder or toe, g, on its end. To hinge each pair of legs to the top A, the hooks F are first adjusted to bring their horizontal arms in juxtaposition to each other at suitable and equal distances from the extreme upper ends of the legs D. The lugs Gare then put on the hooks F and clamped in their proper positions by securing to the top A the cleat 0, (previously out out, as in Fig. 4, to receive the.lug,) the toes g preventing them from being slid out of place. The cleat (l is curved at c to a radius equalto the distance from the center of the pivot to the extreme end of the leg D, so that the cleat 0 will rest directly on the latter as well as be supported by the pivots when the table is unfolded. The legs are braced in position for use by the braces H, pivoted together at their inner ends to and between two lugs, b, of the central cleat, B, and provided at their outer ends with jaws h, fitted to grasp the lower end of the board E, and locking the legs automatically when the latter are swung into the vertical position by the elastic force of the spiral springs I, each of which is attached, with one end in a socket or hole, h, to the brace, and with the other end to the-under side of the top A. The holes or sockets h are to receive the springs in order that the latter shall not be in the way of folding the braces H upon the top A.

In stead of the spiral springs I, other springs, such as those shown in dotted lines I in Fig. 1, may be used, acting upon the under side of the braces H.

To fold the table it is only necessary to depress the braces H until the boards E get out of the jaws h, and then swing the legs in direction of arrow 2. To unfold, the legs are swung in the opposite direction until locked in the jaws h.

I do not claim, broadly, the combination, with the hinged legs of a folding table, of pivoted spring-braces having end jaws to lock the legs in the upright position, for that, I am aware, was known before; butI claim only the peculiar construction of the parts when in such combination.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent v 1. The combination, with the top A, having the end cleats, U, and central cleat, B, with lugs b b, of the folding legs D, provided with connecting-pieces E, braces H, pivoted together between the lugs b and provided with the sockets h and jaws hyand spiral springs I, arranged in said socket-s at one end and secured to the cleat B at their opposite ends, the whole constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The lug Gr, having the horizontal extension 9, with toe g, in combination with the cleat O and top A, to serve as hinging-point for the leg, substantially as specified.

JOHN N. VALLEY.

Witnesses A. W. ALMQVIST, G. SEDGWIGK.

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