US3166029A

US3166029A - Folding table

Info

Publication number: US3166029A
Application number: US212425A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hugh C Acton
Original assignee: Hugh C Acton
Current assignee: Steelcase Inc
Priority date: 1962-07-25
Filing date: 1962-07-25
Publication date: 1965-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1965 H. c. AcroN 3,156,029

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l ff@ if Vv/V/ /g /Jj fg/ G) Cf/ Jan. l19, 1965 H. c. ACTON 3,166,029

FOLDING TABLE y Filed July 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /Vz/ 6.' /ScaW BY 22.aA w. 3M

i77ax/vz/ Jan. 19, 1965 H. c. AcToN 3,166,029

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,165,029 FIJDING TABLE Hugh C. Acton, S82 Brookside, Birmingham, Mich. Filed duly 25, 1962, Sor. No. 212,425. '10 Claims. tCl. `1l8 l24) This invention relates to folding tables and is particularly concerned with folding tables having rotatable sup,

port legs associated with a pedestal type table support.

It is a primary object of this invention to providey a folding table that utilizesV a pedestal support hingedly connected to the table top underside and arranged to be collapsed against the table top underside for storage purposes.

' It is still another object of this invention to provide a folding table that can be constructed from a minimum of commercially available, relatively inexpensive elements arranged in a novel manner so as to provide a lfunctional yet extremely ornamental furniture piece in either its erected or collapsed condition. Y

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from a reading of the following description and a consideration of the relateddrawings wherein: v I

FIG. 1 is a perspective View, with parts broken away and shown in section, of one form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view, taken Ialong the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is another enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view, taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view, taken along the Iline lll-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view, taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a folding table emf-y bodying a modified form of this invention, the table being shown in its collapsed position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the FIG. 6 table in erected position; Y

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of another modified form of table embodyingl this invention showing the table in collapsed condition;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the table shown i in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view taken alongv the line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

The several forms of folding tables shown in thedrawings are each provided with a folding pedestal-type support that may be collapsed so as to permit the tables Yso f* ldd ce enseres aan. is, ressunderside of the table-top ZI, adjacent each end thereof, is a hinge plate or strip 24. Hinge plate 24 is welded at each of its ends to one leaf 25a (see FIG. 2) of a hinge that has its other leaf 25b welded to the rigiditying frame 22. Welded or otherwise'xedly secured to the outer side of the hinge plate 24is the outer tube 26 or" the pair of

tubes

26, 27 formingthe pedestal support 2li. FIG. 4 shows the welded connection 28 that Y fixes the outer tube 26 to the hinge strap 2li. From FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 it is clear that the upper end of outer tube 26 has a circumferentially extending slot 29 therein that extends over an arc of approximately ninety degrees (90). `This slot 29 is to provide for swinging movement of the swing arm 31 that is fixed to the inner tube 27 so as to project radially therefrom. Swing arm 31 may project throughthe inner tube 27 and be welded to the interior of the tube 27 as shown at 32` in FIG. 4,V The outer end of swing arm'l is adapted `to be frictionally Y engaged by a snap cat chr33 that is also welded to the frame 22.. From FIG. 3 itl will be noted that the snap catch 33has a pair of spring `arms 34each of which has an abutment ridge't, The arms 34 are cammed apart when the outer en d o f the swing armA 31 is moved into latching engagement with the catch 33. The lower end of the outer tubey 26v is slotted to receive the cross bar 3'7 that provides the pedestal foot. The cross barl 37 canr be anchored to the pedestal outer tube 26 by weld ingl 38 or any other attachment means as clearly shown une. 5-

From the foregoing it is believed to be clear that when the table T isin its erected position, as shown in FIG. 1, that the engagement of the outer end of the swing arm 3lin the catch 33 will anchor the pedestal Ztl in its erected vertical position. To collapse the table T it is merely necessary to rotate the swing arm 31 clockwise (FIG.V 1) through an arc of about ninety degrees (90). When swing arm 31 is disengaged from the snap catch 33 then the pedestal 26B can be swung up against the underside of the table 21 as indicated by the arrowed arcs 4d. Snap catches 41 can be provided to. latchingly retain the pedesn tal cross bars 37 in their collapsed position against the underside ofthe table top 21.

As the. pedestals 2i! at opposite ends of the table 'E are identical a .detailed description of only one pedestal has beenV given. The underside vfratrie 22; on table top 2liV can mount spaced bumpers or cushion strips 42 that` facilitate stacking of the collapsed table without damage thereto. l

Intheform ofgthis invention` shown in FIGS; 6-8 the. table topA SI` of table Tf isV connected to one leaf of a hinge strip 52 while the other leaf of the hinge. strip is weld.-v

to be stored in a decorative, space conserving condition.

Common to each of the several forms of folding tables disclosed is the hingedly mounted Vpedestal support that includes a pair of relatively rotatable, concentrically ar-V Looking first at the form of this invention lshown inI FIGS. 1-5, it will be noted that a table T is disclosed having a'pair o-f longitudinally spaced, pedestal-type vsupports Ztlthat are adapted `to support thetable top 21 in a table erected position. Support 20 may he folded against the underside of the table top 21 when the table is to be.` collapsed. Tabletop 21 has a rigidifying, rectangular-ly The.

shaped frame 22 depending fromV its underside. frame Z2 may be formed from angle type stockas Clearly shown in FIG. 2. Extending. across the width of the,r

ed o r otherwise secured to the upper end of the innerl tube f 531 of the conntric tubepedestal support 54. The upper.

` S5 mayhave va foot bar SSlconnected thereto in `the sarne manner as shown in FIG. 8. Foot bar 58 has end ,extensions 58a. The underside of the tabletoplSl `can'have a U-shapedrhandle 59gmounted thereonlto facilitate rotation. of the tabletop on its hinged support.

It; is thought to be clear from FIGS. 6 and 7 that when.`

v the ,tableV T is in .itscollapsed position yshown inFIG.j'6.

FIG. 6, it is obvious that the table T may be placed against a wall or the like and used as a decorative screen, particularly if the table top 51 is formed with a decorative design, The minimum space required for a collapsed table of this type is a particular advantage if a large number of tables of this type have toY be collapsed and stored'between use. I

To erect the table T it is merely necessary to grip the handle 59 and swing the table top 51 to a horizontal position after which the rotatable lower cross bar 58 may be swung through a ninety degree arc -to the position Vshown in FIG. 7. In the FIG. 7 position the upper cross bar 56, which is fixedly attached to the lower cross bar 58 by the outer tube 55,`will lock the tabletop 51 in its horizontal position. The handle 59 is of the ksame height as the hinge strap 52 so it nests in the space in cross bar 5S formerly occupied by the hinge strap 52. From the foregoing description it is obvious that it is a simple operation to either erect or collapse this folding table.

The Vform of the invention shown in FIGS. 9-11 is more or less a combination of the previously described Ytwo forms of tables T and T. The table T." shown in FIGS. 9-11 is preferably formed with a relatively large size table top 71 that-has one leaf of a hinge strip 72 connected across its underside. The other leaf of the hinge strip 72 is connected at spaced points along its length to the upper ends of the pedestal supports`73 and 74'which are identical. pair of concentrically arranged tubes or pipes 75 and '76. The outer tube 76 iswelded at 77 to the hinge strip 72. The outer tube 76 (see FIG. 11) is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed, ninety degree (90) arcuate slots The pedestals 73 and V74 are formed from a 73 for a purpose that will become apparent hereafter.

Extending through the slots 78 and through the upper end of the inner tube 75 is an upper cross bar 79. Cross bar 79 is formed with upstanding feet 79aat its opposite ends. These feet are arranged to seat against the underside of the table top 71 when the table top 71 is moved to its erected horizontal position shown in broken lines in FIG. l0. The cross bar 79 can be xed'to the upper end 0f inner tube 75 by welding 82 or any other type of conventional attachment meansf. The lower end of inner tube 75 is slotted to receive a lower cross bar 83 and the same kind of welded connection 82 can be used to anchorthe lower cross bar 831 to the lower end of tube 75 as is shown in FIG. l1 for anchoring the upper cross barV 79 to the inner tube 75. It is thought to be obvious that the hinge strip 72 should preferably extend across the middle of thetable top underside as shown if the pedestal supports 73, 74 are'to be substantially centered with respect to the table top area. Obviously an olf-center relationship can also be used with the structure herein disclosed. The lower cross bar 83 can-be formed with legs 83a also and then the same bar element can be used for boththe upper and lower cross bars.

r Erection of the table T shown in FIGS. 9-11 is similar f Vto the procedure used to erect the table T' shown in FIGS; 6 8.l First the handle 81 projecting from the underside of table top 71, is grasped and the table top 71rpivoted about the hinge strip 72 to a horizontal position. Theny either .the upper or lower cross bars 79 or83 canfbe turned through aninety degree (90) arc and the upper cross bars 79 will then be positioned to extend transversely across the hinge axis so as to support'the table topin its hori- Vzontal position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 10.. i Y `I claim:

1.A folding table comprising a table top, a.V hingeV mechanism connected to the underside of the tabletop'at about the center thereof, a pedestal support for the table top having itsupper end connected to said hinge mechanism, said pedestal support comprisingaypair 'of concentrically arranged, relatively` rotatable, tubes withthe upper end of one of said tubes being XedIy-connected to said hinge mechanism, a cross bar projecting radially fromY and tixedly connected to the upper end of the other i of said tubes and arranged to rotate through a substantial angle of approximately ninety degrees beneath the table top, and a cross bar mounted on the lower end of said pedestal support, said table top being rota-table about said hinge mechanism from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

2. A folding table comprising a table top, a hinge mechanism connected to the underside of the table top at about the center thereof, a pedestal support for the table top having its upper end connected to said hinge mechanism, said pedestal support comprising a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable, tubes with the upper end of one of said tubes being xedly connected to said hinge mechanism, a cross ybar projecting radially from and xediy connected to the upper end of the other of said tubes and arranged to rotate through av substantial angle, and a cross bar mounted on the lower end of said pedestal support, said table top :being rotatable about said hinge mechanism from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

3. A folding table comprising a ytable top, a `hinge mechanism connected to the underside of the table top at about the center't-hereof, a pedestal support for the table tophaving its upper end connected to said hinge mechanism, said pedestal support comprising a of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable, tubes with the .upper end of one of said tubes being xedly connected to said hinge mechanism, a cross bar projecting radially from and iixedly connected Vto the upper end of the other of said tubes and arranged to rotate through a substantial angle, and a cross bar mounted on the. lower end of said pedestal support. t

4. A folding table comprising a table top, a pair of hinge mechanisms connected to the underside of the table top at spaced apart locations, a pedestal support connected to each of said hinge mechanisms, said pedestal supports each comprising a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable tubes, one of said tubes having the upper end ixedly connected to the associated hinge mechanism and the other of said tubes'having the upper end piroyvided with a radially extending cross bar arranged to be 5. A lfolding table comprising a table top,` a pair of*` hinge mechanisms connected to the underside of the table top at spacedapart locations, a pedestal support connected to each of said hinge mechanisms, said pedestal supportsV each comprising a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable tubes, one of said tubes having Vthe upper end lixedly connected to the associated hinge mechanism and the other of said tubes having the upper end provided with aradially extending cross bar arranged to be swung between a position extending transversely of the table top to a position extending longitudinally of the tabletop, and a cross bar xedly connected to the bottom end of each of said pedestal supports, said pedestal supports being swingable into a position adjacent the table top underside.

6, A Ifolding table comprising a table top yhaving aV v hinge strip having one leaf fastened to and extending across the central portion of the table top underside, a pedestal ysupport .for said table top comprising a pair of Vconcentrically arranged, relatively rotatable tubes w-ith the upper end of one of said tubes ixedly connected to the; movable leaf of said hinge mechanism-the, upperend ofthe other tube having a cross bar ixedly connectedthereto and arranged to extend radially therefrom andto swing circumferentially around said .pedestal support through a limited arc, and a cross bar xedly connected to atleast 911e Of said tubes at'the lower end thereof and arrangedy sneaoao to be swung between positions parallel to and transverse to said hinge strip.

7. A folding table compris-ing a table top having a hinge strip having one 'leaf fastened to and extending across the central portion of the table top underside, a pedestal support for said table top comprising a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable tubes with the upper end of one of said tubes xedly connected to the movable leaf of said hinge mechanism, the upper end of the other tube having a cross bar tixedly connected thereto and arranged to extend radially therefrom and to swing circumferentially around said pedestal support through a limited arc, and a cross rbar iixedly connected to each of said tubes at the lower end thereof and arranged to be swung between positions `parallel and transverse to one another.

8. A folding table comprising a table top hav-ing a hinge strip havingone leaf fastened to and extending across the central portion of the table top underside, a pedestal support for said table top comprising a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable tubes with the upper end of one of said tubes xedly connected to the movable leaf of said hinge mechanism, the upper end of the other tube having a cross bar xedly connected thereto and arranged to extend radially therefrom and to swing circumferentially around said pedestal support through a limited arc, and a cross bar xedly connected to each of said tubes at the lower end thereof and arranged to be swung between positions parallel and transverse to one another, said cross bars at the lower end of the tubes being arranged to nest in one another when they are in parallel positions.

9. A folding table vcomprising a table top having a hinge strip having one leaf `fastened to and extending across the central portion of the table top underside, a pedestal support for said table top comprising a pair of concentrically arranged, relatively rotatable tubes with the upper end of one of said tubes iixedly connected to the movable leaf of said hinge mechanism, the upper end of the other tube having a cross bar tixedly connected thereto and arranged to extend radially therefrom and to swing circumferentiaily around said pedestal support through a limited arc, a cross bar ixedly connected to each of said tubes at the lower end thereof` and arranged to be swung between positions parallel and transverse to one another, said cross :bars at the lower end of the tubes being arranged .to nest in one another when they are in parallel positions, and a handle attached to the underside of said table top to facilitate pivoted movement of the table top about the hinge strip xed to the upper end of the pedestal support.

10. A folding tab-le comprising a table top, a hinge strip fixed to its underside and extending across the centrad portion thereof, a pair of spaced apart pedestal sup- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,402,174 Nichols et al. Ian. 3, 1932 2,567,593 Bemis Sept. 11, 1951 2,791,477 Wesbecher May 7, 1957 2,873,156 Botnick Feb. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,127 Canada Mar. 22, 1955

Claims

1. A FOLDING TABLE COMPRISING A TABLE TOP, A HINGE MECHANISM CONNECTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TABLE TOP AT ABOUT THE CENTER THEREOF, A PEDESTAL SUPPORT FOR THE TABLE TOP HAVING ITS UPPER END CONNECTED TO SAID HINGE MECHANISM, SAID PEDESTAL SUPPORT COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED, RELATIVELY ROTATABLE, TUBES WITH THE UPPER END OF ONE OF SAID TUBES BEING FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HINGE MECHANISM, A CROSS BAR PROJECTING RADIALLY FROM AND FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF THE OTHER OF SAID TUBES AND ARRANGED TO ROTATE THROUGH A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY NINETY DEGREES BENEATH THE TABLE TOP, AND A CROSS BAR MOUNTED ON THE LOWER END OF SAID PEDESTAL SUPPORT, SAID TABLE TOP BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID HINGE MECHANISM FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION.