US2619394A - Latch connector for sectional table tops - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1952 J. A. MAHR LATCH CONNECTOR FOR SECTIONAL TABLE TOPS Filed Oct. 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. f J'u/z'us 1 74M Nov. 25, 1952 J. A. MAHR 2,619,394

LATCH CONNECTOR FOR szcnomu. TABLE TOPS v Filed Oct. 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I 4/114; M/FaAr Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH CONNECTOR FOR SECTIONAL TABLE TOPS 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in tables and more particularly to a latch mechanism for connecting two or more tables to form a single table comprising detachably connected table sections.

While the invention is intended for general use to detachably connect tables having rectangular tops, it is especially well adapted for connecting tables of the type disclosed and broadly claimed in my pending application for United States Letters Patent filed November 5, 1948, under Serial No. 58,424.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel mechanism for rigidly and detachably connecting two or more tables end to end, side by side, or end to side, so that the tops thereof are smooth and in the same plane without gaps therebetween.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices, hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal, substantially central section, showing two tables detachably connected end to end by two of my improved latches, and also showing at the outer end of the tables, on each side thereof, one of the units of one of the latches;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table tops, as shown in Fig. 1, with the leg frames sectioned on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of the invention as shown in Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line l l of Fig. 3 and turned right side up, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view principally in section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view showing two tables connected side by side, some parts being removed; and

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 8, except that the tables are connected end to side.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown two tables 5, each having folding leg frames 6 identical with the leg frames shown in the pending application for Letters Patent heretofore referred to.

Each table 5 has a rectangular top I which rests on a rectangular frame 8 made of side angle bars 9, and end angle bars It). The frame 8 further includes a pair of laterally spaced cross-tie angle bars II rigidly secured at their ends to the side bars 9. The table top I is secured to the frame 8 by a plurality of clips I2 which overlap the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 9, I9 and II. These clips I2 are secured by screws I3 to the table top i. The leg frames 6 are pivoted to the angle bars I i, as indicated at I4. It is important to note that the vertical flanges of the end angle bars I9 are turned downwardly, and their outer faces are flush with the end edges of the table top I.

The latch mechanism includes, at each end of the frame 3, a cam finger I5, and a lever I5 having near its outer end portion, a shoulder IT. The cam finger I5 is rigidly secured to one of the side angle bars 9 and extends outwardly thereof under the table top 7. The lever I6 is pivoted to an outwardly projecting ear I8 rigidly secured to the other side angle bar 9 for swinging movement in the plane of the frame 8. The lever I6 outwardly of its shoulder I1 is upwardly inclined to afford a hand hold I9 by which the lever may be manipulated. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the two cam fingers I5 and the two levers I6, at the abutting ends of the two tables 5, are diagonally opposite each other so that there is a cam finger I5 and a lever I6 on each side of the table tops I. By swinging the levers I6 toward the cam fingers I5, they pass thereunder and their shoulders I7 engage the convex back edges of the cam fingers I5 and draw the two table tops I toward each other and clamp the adjacent ends thereof and the respective end angle bars 8 together.

In addition to the cam fingers I5 and levers I5, the two table tops 1 are further detachably connected by dowel pins 29. One of these dowel pins 29 is secured to the downturned flange of each end angle bar II) on each table top I and projects outwardly thereof. The dowel pins 29 on adjacent ends of the two table tops 1 extend through holes 2 I in the downturned flanges of the end angle bars I9, Figs. 2 and 3. Obviously, the dowel pins 29 positively hold the two table tops I against relative movement in all directions except endwise movement to separate said table tops. The two dowel pins 20 on adjacent ends of the table tops 1 are diagonally opposite one another.

In some types of tables, the rectangular frame may be dispensed with and in lieu thereof, only end angle bars, and short side angle bars are used, secured to the table tops I by screws, not shown.

It is evident that any number of tables may be connected end to end, side to side, o end to side to form a single table.

Referring now to the arrangement of the tables as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein parts that correspond to like parts in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, are given the same reference numerals followed by a prime In Fig. 2, the table tops 1 can only be connected end to end and in order that the table tops can be connected side by side, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or end to side in addition to being connected end to end, there is added to the frame 8 of each table top I an extension 22 on eachside thereof. Each frame extension 22 is formed by an angle bar and includes a longitudinal member 23 and inturned members 24. The downturned flanges of the longitudinal members 23 are flush with the longitudinal edges of the table tops 1' and the inturned members 24 extend to the frameside angle bars 9'. To the inturned members 24 of each frame extension 22 are secured to the one a cam flnger25 and to the other a lever 26. The cam fingers 25 and the lever '26 are identical with cam fingers l5 and the levers 16.

To connect the two table tops 1 side -byside, as shown in Fig. -6, the cam fingers 25 and the levers 26 on the adjacent sides of the table tops I are used. In connecting'the two table tops 'l,

as shown in Fig. 'I, wherein'one end of one of oneof the table tops 'l' isconnected to one of the sides of the other table top 1, a-combination of the cam fingers |5'25 and levers l6*26 is used.

The dowel pins on the longitudinal member-'23 are designated by the numeral 28. It is not thought necessary to show the holes in-the longitudinal member-23 for thedowel pins 28.

The drawings illustrate a commercial "form of the invention, but it will be understood that the invention described is capable of certain modifications as to details of construction and arr-angementof parts within the-scope of theinvention herein disclosed.

What'I claim is:

Two tables having rectangular tops, a pair of latches connecting the tables with their tops in edgewise abutting engagement, said latches .be-

ing under the-table tops and spanning the joint therebetween, said latches including a pair of cam fingers that extend in opposite directions transversely of the tables-and fixed at their-inner ends one relative to each table top, said cam fingersexcept at their fixed ends being spaced below the table tops and parallel thereto, the

4 back edges of the cam fingers being curved outwardly toward said joint and affording cams, said latches further including a pair of cars fixed, one relative to each table top opposite the cam fingers, and a pair of levers pivoted one to each ear for swinging movement between the table tops and the cam fingers, the levers at their outer end portions being downwardly offset to afford shoulders engageable with the cams during swinging of the levers over the cam fingers to draw the tables toward each other, the offset end portions of the levers outwardly of the shoulders afford- .inghand holds.

bar being turned inwardly and the other downwardly, a table top on each of the frames and secured-thereto, said table top extending outwardly of the frame side bars, the endsof each table top being flush with the outer faces of the downturned flanges ofthe end angle bars, and Ya pair of latches connecting the two tables in endwise abutting engagement, each latch including an ear, a lever pivoted at one end portion to the ear and a cam finger having a convex edge, the outer end portion of the lever being bent downwardly to afford a shoulder engageable .withthe convex edge of the cam finger, said lever outwardly of its shoulder being bent upwardly, each side bar having at one end portion one of the ears and at its other end portion one of the cam fingers,-the ears and the cam fingers on each of the two side bars being in reverse order, the ears and the cam fingers being securedto the outturned flanges of the side bars on the under sides thereof and projecting outwardly thereof, said levers being between the ears and the table top and the levers,.when in engagement with the cam fingers,.being between said fingers and the table Number Name Date 964,996 Mathes July 19,1910 1,014,217 Goehstet a1 Jan. 9, 1912 1,351,736 Bear Sept. '7, 1920 2,481,350 Rosenberg Sept. 6, 1949

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