US2575725A - Combination table and shelves - Google Patents

Description

20, 6' w McKAY COMBINATION TABLE AND SHELVES Y Filed April 15, 194? 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 g i-umlr-llli INVENTOR GEORGE W, M KAY ATTORNEY Nov. 20, '1951 G. w. MCKAY 2,575,725

COMBINATION TABLE AND SHELVES Filed April 15, 194'. s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEORGE w. MCKAY IIIIIIIIII- ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 MKAY 2,575,725

COMBINATION TABLE AND SHELVES Filed April 15, 1947 '3 Sheet-Shaet 3 E5 Hul "Hi k wil i l mull:

INVENTOR v GEORGE W; M KAY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED PATENT QFFICE Y COlWBmATION TABLE SHELVES' 2 George W. McKay, ltcrtlandporeg ,1 Application April 15, 1947, Serial No. 741,556 H I This invention relates to combination tables and shelves and is an improvement over my pending application, Serial 672,129, which has become abandoned.

The primary object of the invention is toprovide a mechanism for raising and lowering the shelves within the table.

A further object of the invention. is to provide a crank mechanism for rotating cable drums forv raising and lowering the shelves wherein an adjustable brake is incorporated for holding the shelves at any desired elevation depending upon the amount of objectsbeing supported by the shelves.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a crank handle on the raising and lowering mechanism that can be folded out of the way when not in use.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my newand improved combination table and shelves, illustrating the shelves in lowered position within the table and the leaves of the table folded down.

Figure 2 is a side view of the table and shelves showing one leaf of the table in raised position,

and the shelves in elevated position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectionaldetail taken on line 3-3 of Figure 10. i

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the crank handle for operating the raising and lowering mechanism, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the same taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration. 7

Figure 6 is a sectional end view of the table and shelves taken on line 6-45 of Figure2, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end view illustrating the operating handle in folded position.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 99 of Figure 8 illustrating the brake associated with the raising and lowering mecha- The combination table and shelves compriseend legs I and 2, sides 3 which are spaced apart by the spacing members 4, thus providing spaces 3 Claims. (014312-284;

5. A top 6 is fixed to the upper ends of the legs I and 2 and-has table leaves I hingedly mounted thereto atB. Curved shape braces 9 are pivotally mounted to the underside of the leaves I at I and operate in the spaces at the ends of the table. -The-braces 9 pass through openings II formed in the members I of the legs.

Cross pins I2 bridge theopenings I I with which the notched ends I3 of the braces 9 engage when the leaves I are raised. The braces 9 are curved as illustrated taking the dotted position within spaces 5 when the leaves are folded.

The shelf member C operates in a central opening in the top 6 of the tableand consists of the end members I4 between which are mounted the shelves I5. The uppermost of shelves I'5 forms a top to fit in and close the central opening in the top 6 when the shelves are lowered and the lowermost shelf fits in the opening in alignment with the top 6 to close said opening and form part=-of the-top when the shelves are raised, as seen in Figures 1, 2, and 6. The end members I I are guided up and down between the guides I6, which are fixedly secured to the insides of the legs I and 2, best illustrated in Figures 3 and 6. A cross shaft I] is journalled at I8 between the end legs of the table and cable drums I9 and 20- are secured thereto. Also secured to shaft I1 is a brake drum 3| of a brake means 2I, and a ratchet wheel-22.

Cross members 23 are secured to the lower ends of the end members I4 of the shelf member C as by bolts 24, and at opposite ends of these cross members are pulleys 25. Cables 26 each have one end anchored. to the table at the inside of end legs I and 2 above the pulleys 25. From the anchoring pointsfl the cables 26 extend downwardly under and around the pulleys 25 and thence up .to the drums I9 and 20 respectively, to which the opposite ends are anchored to wind on and unwind therefrom. When the shaft I1 is revolved by the crank 28 the drums will be revolved thus raising and lowering the end members I4 of the cabinet.

Dishes and supplies can be stored on the shelves I5 of the cabinet when raised, as illustrated in Figure 2. A brake band 29 is anchored at 30 to the leg I of the tableand passes around the brake drum 3| fixed to the cross shaft I2 to retard-and hold the shaft stationary and the shelf member C in any desired vertically adjusted position. A bracket 32 is fixedly mounted to the leg I by any'suitable fastening means 35, and has the bolt 33 forming part of the brake band 29 passing therethrough and held by the wing nut 34. The

wing nut 34 adjusts the friction of the brake band 29 about the drum 3|, the friction being regulated according to the weight of the dishes and supplies contained within the cabinet.

The ratchet wheel 22 and pawl are provided. to prevent an operator rotating the cable drums l9 and 20 in the wrong direction when starting to raise the shelf member 0. 36 indicates a pawl formed at the upper end of a bar 31, the latter having slots 39 through which screws 38 pass. whereby to retain the bar and pawl "in slidable position against one of the guides l6.

Referring to Fig. 10 it will be noted the lower end of the bar 31 is formed withrai-foot-ll -which partially extended below the top 6 and between the upper portions of the fixed spaced vertical guides IS in any adjusted or raised position, to maintain the shelf member C steady at all times in conjunction with the raising and lowering means or cables and winding means thereof.

When the lower end 4! of the end members 14 is removed from the foot 40 of the bar 31 the spring 48 elevates the pawl 36 out of alignment with the ratchet wheel 35. This permits the shaft H to "be rotated in either direction to adjust the position of the shelf member or lower it until its top is in the table opening and level table formed with an opening in its top and When the shelf member C is in its lowermost position the end 4| of the member 14 will :depress the foot 40, and correspondingly the bar 31, thus engaging the pawl '36 with :the ratchet wheel 22. This prevents the operator from rotating the shaft .and drums in the wrong direction when starting .to elevate the shelf member CHfrom .:a lowered position :to a :raised position above the table. .It is obvious thisarrangementgis a safeguard against 1unreeling and tangling the cables. I have illustrated a .handle arrangement that canv be folded out of the way .and it consists of ahollow ;hub .42 having slots 4.3;formed therein. The hubAZfits over the end of the cross .shaft I] and a pin 44 :is .anchoredin the endof said shaft working within. the slots 43. When the handle is in position .forgrotating the shaft If! it is in the position :illustrated inFigures .4 and 5. The hub .42 beingpnshed towardsthe leg I of thetable and the .cross pin 44 coming to the ends 45 of the slots .43. This holds the hub '42 inxalignment with the shaft 1.1 .so that vthe handle 28 .canbe manipulated by the operator to :rotate the shaft 11 and the drums l9 and ;20 to raise-orlower the cabinet. 3

When .the shelf member isnotbeingraised or lowered the .hub I2 is pulled :out until the ends of pin 44 reach the ends :41 of the slots 43. at which time the :hub will pivot from the pin to the positionillustrated in Figures .1 and :8 allowing thehandle -46 to hang down against :the end of the leg I. I will now describe the operation hi :my new and improved table and shelves. The leaves 1 are ordinarily folded down as illustrated ;in figure 1. These leaves can be brought up :to the position shown in Figure .6. The operator then grasps the handle of ' thecrank 2,8 .andaligns the hub 62 with the shaft I] after which the shaft can be rotated only in one direction. This :is due to the pawl 36 being engagement with the ratchet wheel 22, when starting ;to elevate the table. As the shelf t-member C starts upwardly the cables 2%, which form a saddle for the lower end of the cabinet, will wind up on the drums I9 and v21], thus elevating the shelf member above the table. Due to the brake arrangement, the crank can be released at any time, the brake holding the shelf member in adjusted position.

The brake is effective to hold the, shelf member 0 stationary and firm at any partially elevated or lowered position when raised or lowered, or at its extreme upper position when the lowermost shelf i is in the central opening in the top 6 of the table in horizontalalignment with top =6 to close said opening and form part of the complete top as seen in Figure 6. Thelower portions of theupright end or side members l4 remain provided at opposite ends with vertical guides, ashelf member, including a top and bottom shelf to fit in the opening in the top of the table, and ends which iitinandslidein-the guides, pulleys at .each sidesof theiower ends of the endsba-shaft mounted :between the ends *of the :table, drums mounted on the shaft, cables each having :one of ftheiraends secured .to the ends of the table abovexthe pulleys and :trailed aroundthe pulleys and their opposite ends trailed aroundthe drums, abrake drum and ratc'hetwheel mounted .on the shaft, .a "brake band trailed around the "brake drum, .a spring-actuated pawl normally out :of engagement with the ratchet wheel, the pawl having a projection with which one of the ends of the shelfmember engages when-the topshelf is lowered in the opening in the top of the table, to pull the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent further rotation of the :drums in-the 'same direction andnnwinding and tang li-ng of the cables, while permitting reversal of the drums and winding of the cables to raise the shelves.

2. A combined table and shelves as defined in claim 1, wherein one end of the brakeband is anchored to one'end of the table and means are provided on said table end and the other end of the brake band to adjustably anchor the'latter end of the brake band to regulate the friction between the brake band and the brake drum to hold the shelves in adjusted position when extended above the table.

3. A combined table and shelves comprising a table formed in its top with an opening, spaced apart end and side sections for the table, a Shelf member, including end uprights, a top and shelves, operating in the opening in the top of the table, *said latter top and the lowest s'helf closing said opening in alignment with the top of the table when the shelf member is in'raised and lowered positions, a cross bar secured to the lower portion of each of the end uprights, pulleys secured at the ends of the cross bars, a shaft journalled in and extending between the ends of the table, a pair of drums secured to the shaftycables trailed intermediately around the pulleys with-one-of their ends secured to the table above the pulleys and their opposite ends anchored 'to :and trailed around the drums .to raise or lower the :shelf member, a brake drum .fixed tozthe ishafit, a :brake band engaged around the brake drum and anchored at its ends to the table, means for regulating the frictional engagement of the brake band :with the drum to sustain the shelf member in adjusted position whenpro'jected above the table top, means cooperative between the table. :shelfzmember and shaft and operable for preventing further rotation of the shaft in 5 the same direction when the shelf member is lowered and the top shelf thereof is in the opening in the top of the table, and manual means for rotating the shaft against the friction of the brake band and elevating the shelf member.

GEORGE W. McKAY.

REFERENCES CITED Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Thierkoff June 26, 1900 Gunn Sept. 12, 1922 Bryant Apr. 20, 1937 Cory Mar. 7, 1944 Giralt July 20, 1948

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