US3074770A

US3074770A - Foldable tables

Info

Publication number: US3074770A
Application number: US96753A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joos Eric
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-03-29
Filing date: 1961-03-20
Publication date: 1963-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-22
Also published as: GB916363A; DE1832137U

Description

Jan. 22, 1963 E. .1008 3,074,770

FOLDABLE TABLES Filed March 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1963 E. JOOS FOLDABLE TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1961 FIG 5 United States Patent 3,974,770 FQLDAELE TABLES Eric loos, Torggatan 37, Enkoping, Sweden Filed Mar. 2d, 1961, Ser. No. 96,753 Ciairns priority, application Sweden Mar. 29, 1960 '7 Qlaims. (Cl. Bill-90) This invention relates to foldable tables which are particularly suitable for use as camping tables.

In a foldable table according to this invention the table top is formed of two sections; each section has a joint flange extending perpendicularly away from the support surface of the table; a hingle interconnects the joint flanges so that the sections are foldable between an erected position in which they are in substantially the same plane and a folded position in which they are substantially parallel and form with the flanges a boxiike space; the table legs are stowable in the box-like space; a bar pivotally connected to the side of one section about two mutually perpendicular axes is swingable from a stowed position in one section over and beyond the ends of the joint flanges so that it contacts the side of the other section; and a locking device is operative to secure the free end of the bar to the side of the other section to hold the table top erected.

Preferably each section has a side flange which also extends perpendicularly away from the support surface of the table, and there is a gap between the ends of the joint flanges and the side flanges; the bar is then swingable into the gap from its stowed position.

The side flanges may be spaced slightly inwardly from the edge or" the table. Preferably however they are at the edge of the table, and so form peripheral flanges.

The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and how it may be performed is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an inverted plan of a partially erected camping table according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view in the direction of the arrows 2-42 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of an erected table; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View on an enlarged scale of another part of an erected table.

The rectangular camping table shown in FIGURE 1 has two rectangular

sheet metal sections

1 and 2 respectively, whose upper sides form the support surface of the table. A metal channel member 3 is fixed to the underside of and at periphery of the three outer sides I of each section, and the edge parts 4- of the three outer sides are bent over to overlie the webs 5 of the channel members. The channel members thus form an L-shaped eripheral flange; one of the arms of the flange extends perpendicularly to and away from the support surface of the table, while the second arm of the flange extends inwardly and is parallel with but spaced from the table top. The edge part of the fourth and inner side of each section is also bent over so as to form a joint flange 6, which also extends perpendicularly to and away from the table top and whose ends are spaced from the peripheral flanges by gaps 7. A hinge 8, which comprises two plane metal strips s or side members pivotally connected "ice along one edge (FIG. 3), interconnects the joint flanges 6, the strips being fixed to the surfaces of the joint flanges 6.

The

sections

1 and 2 are thus foldable between an erected position in which the

sections

1 and 2 are in substantially the same plane and a folded position in which they are substantially parallel and form with the peripheral and joint flanges a box-like space.

The sections it and 2 are held in their erected position by a pair of bars it connected respectively to the

sections

1 and 2 on opposite sides of the table. Each bar 10 is pivot-ally connected to a section about two mutually perpendicular axes; each pivotal connection comprises a short link 11 pivotally connected to the arms of the channel member 3 so that its axis is perpendicular to the table top, and the bar 1th is connected to the end of the link about an axis 18 parallel to the table top. Each bar lit is thus swingable from the stowed position shown in FIG. 1 over and beyond the ends of the joint flanges 6 into the gap 7 between the joint flanges 6 and aligned side flanges. The free end of each bar is secured to the side of the section 2 by a locking device 12, and in this way the tabie top is held erected. The reference numeral 18a identifies the vertical pivot axis of link 11, at right angles to axis 18.

The locking device 12 is shown in more detail in FIG- URE 4. It comprises a channel member 13 slidable within the channel member 3 which constitutes the peripheral flange over the free end of the bar. The channel member 13 is held within the peripheral flange by a pair of apertured lugs 14 upstanding from a plate 15, which as described later forms a mounting for a table leg. The end of the channel member 13 remote from the joint flange is bent at 16 so that it is engageable with the lug 14 remote from the joint flange s to prevent its sliding clear of the lugs 14. The opposite end of the channel member 13 is bent to form a handle 17, by means of which it maybe slid over and away from the free end of the bar It).

Each bar It is resilient, and in its unstressed condi tion is slightly curved (FIG. 1) so that it must be straightened against its resilient bias before the locking device 12 can be slid over its free end. When the locking device 12 is released by sliding the channel member 13 clear of the free end of the bar, the latter end springs inwardly out of the peripheral flange and clear of the device 12.

The table has four legs, each of which is pivotally connected to a corner of the table, so that when pivoting between the stowage position and erected position, it moves parallel to the joint flange 6.

As mentioned above in connection with the locking device ii, there is a fitting for each table leg in the form of a plate 15. The plates 15 are each secured to an outer corner of the underside of each section, and have in addition to the lugs 14 a third apertured lug 19, which is situated nearer the other corner of the section than the lugs 14. The

lugs

14 and 1% are formed by bending edges of the plate into a position substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The apertures in the lugs 14 are aligned with each other and are perpendicular to the joint flange 6, while the plane of the lug 19 is substantially perpendicular to the flange 6 so that the axis of its aperture is parallel to the flange 6. Each table leg comprises three

resilient legs

21, 22, and 23 having bentover ends 24; the bent-over ends 24 of the

rods

21 and 22 extend in opposite senses into and pivotally fit in the aligned apertures of the lugs 14; and the bent-over end 24 of the third rod 23 fits in the aperture of the third lug 1% so that it extends towards the other two lugs 14, the lug 19 thus in eflect constituting an abutment for the rod 23. The ends of the three rods remote from the lugs are held together against the resilient bias by a common foot 25. Since the rods are stressed when the leg is erected, the resilient bias of the rods holds the bent-over ends 24 in their respective apertures in the lugs.

In order to fold a leg from the erected position of FIGURE to the stowed or folded position of FIG. 1, the rod 23 is moved against its bias so that its end 24- is moved out of the aperture in the lug 19, and is then moved towards the

rods

21 and 22. The

rods

21 and 22 are then pivoted about the axis of the aligned apertures in the lugs li idownwardly towards the underside of the

section

1 or 2.

The third lug 19 of each plate 15 has an undercut part 25, in which the rod 22 of its associated table leg fits when the leg is in its stowage position. in order to fit the rod 22 in the part 26, it is forced against its bias towards the joint flange 6. Thus the undercut part 26 holds the leg in its stowage position.

When both the legs of a section are folded into their stowage positions, one leg lies above the other as shown in FIG. 1.

When the table is folded, each bar it) is held in its stowage position by means of a rod 21 of a table leg. Each bar has a doubly bent part 27 which, in the stowed position (FIG. 1), projects towards the rods of a leg, and in which there is a notch 23. The rod 21 of a table leg fits in the notch 28, and so latches the bar 19 in the stowed position.

Each bar it), when in its latched position, thus divides the box-like space into an inner and outer compartment respectively adjacent and remote from the joint flange 6. The legs, when in their stowed position, lit in the outer compartment, and the inner compartment is of a size such that folded stools may be stowed in it, as illustrated at S in FIG. 1.

One of the end peripheral flangesthat is the flanges parallel to the joint flange 6is fitted with a spring clip 31 for holding the sections together in the folded position.

A handle 32 for carrying the table when folded is attached to a peripheral flange.

The joint flanges 6 need not be formed in the manner described, namely by bending over the edge part of the

sections

1 and 2. For example the metal strips 9 of the hinge 8 may have outwardly extending flanges which are secured to the underside of the sections it and 2; in this case the metal strips constitute the joint flanges.

The bars it) may be latched in their stowed position by means of knobs fitted to the bars instead of the notched doubly bent parts 27 of the bars. In this case a rod of a table leg fits between the knob and the bar to hold the bar in its stowed position.

The locking device which secures the free end of a bar to the other section may be a spring clip.

What I claim is:

1. A rectangular foldable table comprising two sections forming a table support surface; an L-shaped peripheral flange around three of the sides of each section, one of the arms of said flange extending perpendicularly away from said support surface and the second of the arms of said flange extending inwardly and parallel with said support surface; a joint flange at the fourth edge of each of said sections extending perpendicularly away from said support surface; the ends of said joint flanges being spaced from said peripheral flanges by a gap; a hinge interconnecting said joint flanges so that said sections are foldable between an erected position in which said sections are in substantially the same plane and a folded position in which they are substantially parallel and form with said flanges a box-like space; table legs stowable in said box-like space; a short link pivotally connected to one of said sections about an axis perpendicular to said section; a bar pivotally connected to said link about an axis parallel to said one section, whereby said bar is swingable from a stowed position in said section, in which it divides said box-like space into an inner and outer compartment for respectively a folded stool and a pair of folded table legs, over said joint flanges into said gap; and a locking device operative to secure the free end of said bar to and within said peripheral flange of said other section.

2. A foldable table comprising (a) two equal rectangular table top forming plates, each having longitudinal and transverse edge flanges on the underside of said plates and a pair of foldable legs, adjacent longitudinal flanges being hingedly interconnected,

(b) said transverse edge flanges having an L-shaped cross-section with the tree leg of the flange extending inwards in spacedrelationship to the underside of the respective plate and parallel therewith,

(c) said adjacent flanges being at their top edges interconnected by a hinge extending along substantially the whole length of said adjacent longitudinal edge flanges,

(-d) said adjacent flanges terminating with their ends at a distance from the free legs of the adjacent transverse L-shaped edge flanges to form a gap,

(e) a slatlike locking bar at each aligned pair of said transverse edge flanges, said bar having a length substantially equal to the length of said plates and a height substantially equal to the inner height of said transverse L-shaped flanges,

(f) said bar being at one end connected to one of said transverse edge flanges by means of a pivot connection including a pivot pin perpendicular to said free leg of said transverse flange and to said plate, and a second pivot pin at right angles to said first pivot pin, said pivot connection being located at a distance from said adjacent edge flanges substantially equal to half the length of said bar whereby said bar may be moved into said gap and into engagernent of said pair of aligned transverse L-shaped edge flanges when the table is spread to lock said plates in their table top forming position,

(g) a locking device for securing said bar in its locking position,

(11) and means for locking said bar in a stowed position where it extends substantially longitudinally on the underside of the respective plate to which it is pivotally connected to divide the box space defined by the edge flanges into two compartments,

(i) said legs being disposed in their folded position in the outer of said compartments.

3. A foldable table as defined in claim 2 in which said transverse edge flanges and the longitudinal edge flanges opposite to said adjacent hinged longitudinal flanges include a channel member having one leg secured to the respective plate and the other leg forming the free leg of said L-shaped cross-section of said flange.

4. A foldable table as defined in claim 2, in which said hinge consists of two side members extending along the whole length of said adjacent longitudinal edge flanges and secured to said adjacent longitudinal flanges.

5. A folda'ble table as defined in claim 2, in which said pivot connection between said transverse edge flange and the end of said bar consists of a link pivotally mounted on a pin extending between the free leg of said transverse leg and said plate, said bar being connected to said link by means of a pivot pin extending in parallel relationship to said plate.

-6. A foldable table as defined in claim 2, in which said bars are of resilient material and have an initial curved length so that they must be bent against their resilient bias to their locking position within said transverse edge flanges.

5 7. A fold-able table as defined in claim 2, in which said locking device is operative to secure the free end of said bar to and within said transverse edge flange, said locking device comprising a channel member mounted in said edge flange and slidable over said free end of said bar to hold 5 the bar Within said L-shaped edge flange.

557,045 Baxter Mar. 24, 18%

6 Davis July 5, 1927 Malinowski Aug. 1, 1933 Graighead Nov. 22, 1938 Kovalchuk Apr. 7, 1942 Boyajian Mar. 18, 1958

Claims

1. A RECTANGULAR FOLDABLE TABLE COMPRISING TWO SECTIONS FORMING A TABLE SUPPORT SURFACE; AN L-SHAPED PERIPHERAL FLANGE AROUND THREE OF THE SIDES OF EACH SECTION, ONE OF THE ARMS OF SAID FLANGE EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT SURFACE AND THE SECOND OF THE ARMS OF SAID FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY AND PARALLEL WITH SAID SUPPORT SURFACE; A JOINT FLANGE AT THE FOURTH EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SECTIONS EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT SURFACE; THE ENDS OF SAID JOINT FLANGES BEING SPACED FROM SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGES BY A GAP; A HINGE INTERCONNECTING SAID JOINT FLANGES SO THAT SAID SECTIONS ARE FOLDABLE BETWEEN AN ERECTED POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECTIONS ARE IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AND A FOLDED POSITION IN WHICH THEY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND FORM WITH SAID FLANGES A BOX-LIKE SPACE; TABLE LEGS STOWABLE IN SAID BOX-LIKE SPACE; A SHORT LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID SECTIONS ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SECTION; A BAR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LINK ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID ONE SECTION, WHEREBY SAID BAR IS SWINGABLE FROM A STOWED POSITION IN SAID SECTION, IN WHICH IT DEVIDES SAID BOX-LIKE SPACE INTO AN INNER AND OUTER COMPARTMENT FOR RESPECTIVELY A FOLDED STOOL AND A PAIR OF FOLDED TABLE LEGS, OVER SAID JOINT FLANGES INTO SAID GAP; AND A LOCKING DEVICE OPERATIVE TO SECURE THE FREE END OF SAID BAR TO AND WITHIN SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGE OF SAID OTHER SECTION.