US3127170A - Children s play table - Google Patents

Description

Mardi 31, 1954 F. F. cAsTER 3,127,170

CHILDRENS PLAY TABLE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l BLM@ 4MM March 31, 1964 F CASTER CHILDRENS PLAY TABLE Filed Oct. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY MV Afin/myn United States Patent 3,127,170V CHILDRENS PLAY TABLE Forrest F. Caster, 2723 S. 37th St., Kansas City, Kans. Filed Oct. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 231,136 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-33) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in play equipment for children, and has particular reference to that class of play device comprising a table with a chair or seat attached thereto;

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a play table which is circular and having` a chair or seat attached` thereto `for rotation about the central vertical axis of the table, whereby a child in the seat may pull or push himself around .the table to gain ready access to any portion of the surface thereof. If desired, various types of toys may be permanently affixed to the table.

Another object is the provision of a play table of the character described having lnovel means for resisting rotation' of the seat and to hold it releasably at any angular position at which it may come to rest, whereby both to prevent too easy rotation which might be troublesome or annoyingto the child, and also to provide healthfulV exercise lfor the child in pushing or pulling the chair around the table.

Another object is the provision of a play table of the character described having means for adjusting the effectifve diameter of the Itable base, whereby -to prevent the table from being overturned by the weight of heavier children sitting in the seat.

A `still further object is the provision of a play table of the character described wherein the elevation of the seat and the table top are independently adjustable to adapt the device tor use by children of diierent ages and heights.

`Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efciency and dependability of operation, easy portability from place to place, and adaptability for use in a wide Variety of applications.

With these objects in view, as well as otherobjects which will appear in the course of the specication, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Y

FIG. l is aV central 'vertical sectional view of aY childrens play table embodying the present invention, with parts left in elevation,

Y FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line II-l-I of FIG. 1', withparts broken away, and' with the seat rotated slightly from the position shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an inverted plan fview of the device, with the supporting legs-shown in solid lines in their operative positions, and folded to their inoperative positions in dotted lines, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the -numeral 2 applies to a horizontally disposed table top which is circular and planar, and to the top of which may be secured toys 4 and one or more handles y'7, the purpose of which will be discussed hereinafter. The table top is supported above a planar, circular base 6, concentrically therewith, by a vertical standard `8. Said standard comprises a lower tubular member 10 having a llangeY 12 secured centrally to base 6 by screws 14, and anupper tubular member 16* having a ilange 18 at itseupperendsecured centrally to lthe lower face of the table top by screws 20. Tubular member 16 is telescoped 4for vertical sliding movement over tubular member 10, and is releasably secured thereto by a set screw 22, whereby the elevation of table -top 2 above base 6 may be adjusted.

Disposed in spaced relation below base `6, and being ICC concentric and of a diameter equal therewith, is a circular track member 24 formed of angle iron, the horizontal leg 26 of said angle iron forming a circular horizontal track, and the vertical leg 28 of said angle iron depending from said track. -Base `6 is supportedV above the track member by a plurality of brackets 30 spaced apartv angularly of the base. As shown, there are six such brackets spaced equally around the base. Each of said brackets is substantially L-shaped, being welded or otherwise affixed at their lower ends to track member 24 beneath track legh 26, and beingy aixed at their upper ends to base 6, as by screws 32. Each of said brackets includesl a pair of spaced apart vertical side walls 34l which extend substantially radially to the base.

A chair member 36 comprising a seat member 3'8 and aback 4tl/V is disposed so that a child seated therein is positioned for convenient access to table -top 2 and the toys thereon. Said chair is provided with a safety belt 42 for securing a child therein. Preferably the buckle 44 or other fastener for securing the safety bel-t is disposed behind the chair back l40 -s'o that the child will not have ready access thereto. The chair 36 -is supported for rotation about the 'vertical central axis of the table by means including a rod 46 extending radially to standard 8 intermediate table top 2 and base 6, said rod being secured at its outer end to chair seat 38 by screws 48, and being aflixed at its inner end to a circular collar 50 which -i`s rotatably mounted in a groove I52 formed peripherally in a sleeve 54 which is vertically slidable ion standard tube 116, and releasably secure-d thereon lby a set screw 56.

Secured to the bottom of chair seat 38 by a ange 58 and screws 60 is a depen-ding vertical tube 62. An L- shaped bar y64 has its vertical leg telescoped slidably Within ytube `62, and releasably secured therein by set screw 66. The horizontal leg of bar 64 extends inwardly to a point directly above track member 26, and has a horizontal T-head `68 aixed thereto. A cage 70 is ailixed to each end of said T-head, and a roller 72 is journalled rotatably in each of said cages. Said rollers have horizontal axes substantially radial tothe track, and roll on the upper horizontal surface of the track to further support seat B6. It will be' apparent that by :losening'set screws `56 yand 6'6, the elevation of seat 356 may be adjusted independently of the elevation `of table top 2. This is important since when adjusting the height of the table top for use by a child of any particular height, the corresponding adjustment of chair 36 which is`` then necessitated is almost never equal to the change of elevation of the table top. A guard plate 74 is `disposed horizontally directly beneath seat 38, in coplanar relation to the upper surface of base `6, being secured to bar f64 by suitable brackets 76. The inner edge of said guard plate is arcuate, being concentric with but spaced slightly outwardly from base 6, and the outer edge portion 78 of the guard plate is bent upwardly as shown. The purpose of the guard plate is to prevent any possibility that a child might extend his toes beneath theedge of base 16, where they might be pinched between rollers 72 and track 24. Y

A vertical bolt 80 is rigidly xed in base 6 in radially inwardly spaced relation from each of brackets 30 attaching track 24 to said base. Said bolts extend downwardly from said base, but to a lesser extent than brackets 30.l A rigid, elongated leg 82 is associated with each of said bolts, being provided adjacent one end thereof with a hole 84' (see FIGS. l and 2) loosely'engaged over said bolt. A helical compression spring 86 is disposed about said bolt, being compressed between said leg and a washer 88 secured on the lower end of said bolt by a nut 90. Leg 82 extends radially outwardly from bolt 80, extending beneath track member 24 in an outwardly and downwardly inclined direction, to a point spaced radially outwardly from the track member. Each leg is provided at its outer end with a wheel 92 journalled rotatably thereto on an axis transverse to the general extent of the leg. Intermediate its ends, each leg 82 is retained between the side walls 34 of the associated bracket 30, whereby pivoting of said leg on its bolt 80 is prevented. Also, a small clip 94 of inverted U-shape (see FIG. 1) is aixed to the upper surface of each leg S2 so as to engage the lower edge of leg 2S of the track member 24, so as to prevent longitudinal forces applied to leg 82 from being transmitted to bolt 80, and also to provide a fulcrum about which leg 82 may pivot in a vertical plane. However, each leg may when desired be pushed downwardly relative to track 24 to disengage it from bracket walls 34 and to disengage clip 94, whereupon said legs may be pivoted inwardly to an inoperative position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, disposed entirely within track 24. In this position the device is supported on floor 96 by track member 24 and the lower edges of bracket walls 32. When the legs are extended as shown in FIG. l and in solid lines in FIG. 3, the device is supported on the oor by wheels 92.

In use, a child secured in chair 36 by safety belt 42 may, if the chair and table top elevations have been properly set, propel himself around the table either by pushing with his feet against base 6, or by grasping the table edge or handle 7 with his hands, or both. In this manner he may gain ready access to any portion of the table, or to any of toys 4 thereon. He also greatly enjoys the merry-go-round sensation which he thereby creates. In propelling himself around the table, his weight is concentrated at a constantly changing point of the tables periphery. If legs 82 are extended, this shifting of his weight causes the legs closest to him to pivot in a vertical plane about clips 94 as fulcrum, the inner ends of said legs being forced downwardly against springs 86. At the same time, the opposite legs pivot in the opposite direction due to the lighter weight supported thereby. Thus the entire table structure, including track 24, is always sloped downwardly toward the child, regardless of the angular position of the chair. The chair is thus always supported on the lowest portion of the track, and movement of the chair requires an uphill movement of rollers 72 on the track. This action has several desirable results. Firstly, it provides a braking action tending to slow and stop the rotation of the chair once the motivating force has been released. Secondly, it tends to hold the chair in one position after it has stopped. Thirdly, it requires greater effort on the part of the child to rotate the seat, and thus supplies healthful exercise. While table top 2 of course tilts, the degree of tilting is not so great as to affect the utility of the table as such. The degree of tiling can be regulated either by using legs 82 of diiferent lengths, or by using springs 86 of different strengths. Wheels 92 permit the slight horizontal movement of the legs relative to the tioor which results from the lever action pivoting of said legs. However, since all of said wheels are disposed on relatively angled axes, they do not permit this device to be rolled generally over the door, and the device will remain substantially stationary in one position even with legs 82 extended as shown. Nevertheless, the device may be easily transferred from place to place by irst folding legs 82 to their inoperative positions as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, and turning the entire table on edge so that the circular edges of table top 2, base 6, and track 24 engage the floor. The entire device may then be trundled along like a wheelbarrow, using chair structure 36 as a handle.

For the tilting action described above to occur most effectively, it will be obvious that the fulcrums of legs 82, as provided by clips 94, should be closer to central standard 8 than the center of chair seat 38. However, the outward extension of legs 82 increases the effective diameter of the base, so that the weight of a heavier child will not tend to overturn the entire assembly. Where the child is of sufficiently light weight to preclude such overturning, or where the tilting action as described is not desired, the legs may be pivoted to their inoperative positions.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A childrens play table comprising:

a. a circular, generally planar base,

b. a standard secured centrally to said base and extending upwardly therefrom,

c. a circular table top secured to the upper end of said standard concentrically therewith,

d. a chair disposed adjacent the edge of said table top,

e. means supporting said chair adjacent the edge of said table top and mounted on said standard for free rotation about the axis thereof, whereby said chair may be rotated around the periphery of said table top f. a plurality of horizontally extending legs carried by said base, said legs being angularly spaced about the periphery of said base and extending substantially radially thereto, and being outwardly and downwardly inclined to engage the iloor at their outer ends to support said base,

g. means pivotally connecting each of said legs to said base for pivotal movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal transverse axis intermediate its ends,

means connecting the inner end of each of said legs to said base for vertical movement relative thereto, and

. resilient means yieldably resisting downward movement of the inner end of each of said legs relative to said base.

2. A childrens play table as recited in claim l with the addition of:

a. a floor engaging wheel carried rotatably at the outer end of each of said legs.

3. A childrens play table as recited in claim 1 with the addition of:

a. a lioor engaging wheel carried rotatably at the outer end of each of said legs, the axis of said wheel being horizontal and transverse to the longitudinal extent of said leg.

4. A childrens play table as recited in claim 1 wherein said legs are selectively movable from the position recited to an inoperative position wherein they are disposed entirely above the level of the lower face of said base, whereby said base is supported directly on the iloor.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 167,860 Slago et al. Sept. 30, 1952 853,666 Williams May 14, 1907 1,368,132 Gavlak Feb. 8, 1921 1,773,504 Stokes Aug. 19, 1930 2,507,980 Knapp May 16, 1950 2,512,057 Fowler June 20, 1950 2,785,735 Banks Mar. 19, 1957

Claims (1)

1. A CHILDREN''S PLAY TABLE COMPRISING: A. A CIRCULAR, GENERALLY PLANAR BASE, B. A STANDARD SECURED CENTRALLY TO SAID BASE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, C. A CIRCULAR TABLE TOP SECURED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID STANDARD CONCENTRICALLY THEREWITH, D. A CHAIR DISPOSED ADJACENT THE EDGE OF SAID TABLE TOP, E. MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CHAIR ADJACENT THE EDGE OF SAID TABLE TOP AND MOUNTED ON SAID STANDARD FOR FREE ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS THEREOF, WHEREBY SAID CHAIR MAY BE ROTATED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TABLE TOP,

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