US1961241A - Collapsible table - Google Patents

Description

s. c. M KENNEY 1,961,241 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l f7 &

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GOLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig i fi 4/ 5 5 a g iff Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES COLLAP SIBLE TABLE Guy 0. McKenney, Winooski, Vt., assignor to Porter Screen Company, Winooski, Vt., a corporation of Vermont Application February 11, 1933, Serial No. 656,270

14 Claims.

My invention relates to collapsible furniture and more particularly to a novel and efficient shelf for collapsible tables and the like.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a shelf so arranged in relation to the collapsible legs of a table or the like that the table may be readily and easily set up and may also be folded compactly to allow storage in a minimum space. A further object is to provide a shelf which affords a maximum amount of supporting space, which does not detract from the appearance of the article of furniture and which may be economically and durably constructed.

Other objects will be apparent from the drawings and from the following description:

A recommended embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an erected collapsible table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a collapsed table with the shelf folded upwardly;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a collapsed table with the shelf folded downwardly;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a table partially collapsed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one form of shelf;

Fig. 7 is a reduced plan view of Fig. 4 with the table top removed; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a collapsed table showing a different embodiment of shelf.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown for the purposes of illustration in Figs. 1

to I inclusive comprises a table top 1, two pairs of legs 2-2 and 3-3, which may be pivotally secured together by the crosspiece 4 so that the legs 3-3 can revolve about the crosspiece 4 as an axis. The legs 2-2 may be pivotally attached to the top as at 5. The shelf 6 may be pivotally secured to the legs 2-2 by the pivots or pins 7-7 which are preferably located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edges 26-26 of the legs 2-2 substantially equal to one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of the shelf 6. Pins 8-8 may be placed on the inner faces of the legs 3-3 to support the shelf in horizontal position when the table is in erect position.

By pivoting the shelf to the outer legs 2-2 and by placing the shelf supports 8-8 in the inner set of legs 3-3, when the table is collapsed by re volving the end 11 of the legs 3-3 downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, the shelf supports 8-8 are free from contact with any other part of the 001- lapsed table as shown in Fig. 7.

A stop 9 may be secured to the under face of the top to hold the upper ends 11 of the legs 3-3 in position when the table is erected, and additional stops, for example 10, may be properly located to allow the height of the table to be varied at the desire of the user. A hook 12 may be secured to the crosspiece 14 to cooperate with eyes 13-13 on the under surface of the top to lock the legs 3-3 in position behind the desired stop. Dowels or crosspieces 14, 15, 16 and 17 may be provided to reinforce the legs. The shelf 6 being pivoted between the outer legs 2-2 is wide enough at its pivoted end to substantially fill the space between said legs as shown in Fig. '7, while its free end must be narrow enough to fit between the inner legs 3-3 in an erected position. I have narrowed the shelf at 18-18 since by narrowing it at about such a point when the shelf is folded downwardly in collapsing the table (as shown in Figs. 1 and 7) the shelf lies substantially parallel to the legs 2-2. If the shelf were not thus narrowed to about the point 18 it would when folded downwardly contact the edges of the legs 3-3 between 18 and 19 in Fig. 4.

In the specific embodiment of the shelf shown in Fig. 6 a portion 21 is made thinner and longer than the edge portions 20-20. With such a shelf, by placing the pivot 7-7 midway between the crosspiece l5 and the crosspiece 4 the shelf may be folded either upwardly (as shown by the dotted position in Fig. 5) or downwardly (as shown by the full line position in Fig. 5). In the finally collapsed position the end portion 22-23 of the shelf will fit snugly over either the crosspiece 15 or the crosspiece 4 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively. It is evident, however, that it is not necessary to construct the shelf of two thicknesses since by making the 95 shelf from the pivot '7 to its free end of a length less than the distance between the pivot 7 and the edge 24 of the crosspiece 1 or the edge 25 of the crosspiece'15 the shelf will fold between the collapsed legs without coming in contact with either of said crosspieces.

It is also evident that either a shelf of one thickness or a shelf of two or more thicknesses may be extended on. either or both ends as shown in Fig. 8, thus giving a longer shelf than the one illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. By decreasing the diameter or thickness. of either one or both of the crosspieces 15 and 4 such an extended shelf of one thickness may be satisfactorily folded since the shelf will fit above such a crosspiece as shown in Fig. 8.

It will be noted that for the purposes of complete collapsibility it is preferred to locate the 5 pivots 77 near enough to the upper longitudinal edges 26-26 of the legs 22 so that in folding, as shown in Figs. 3, l and 8, the upper surface of the shelf will lie substantially parallel to the edges 2626 of the legs 22. If the pivots 7--7 are located at too great a distance from the edges 26-26 of the legs 2-2 the shelf 6 may not lie parallel in collapsed position to the edges 2626 of the legs 22. It will also be noted that by locating the pivots 7-7 at points on the respective outer legs 2-2 substantially equie distant from the crosspieces 4 and 15 and by making the shelf of the proper length and/or thickness, the shelf may be folded either upwardly or downwardly in collapsing the table.

A collapsible table and the like constructed in the manner described above provides a durable and economical table readily and easily set up or collapsed, which is provided with a shelf affording a maximum amount of supporting space which does not detract from the appearance of the table and which can be folded compactly for storage.

It should be understood that the present dis- ,closure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications legs need not be a crosspiece but may be in the and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims, for example, the inner pair of legs may be pivotally attached to the table top instead of the outer legs; the pivot 4 for the form of two individual pivots one for each set of cross legs without a connection between the two pivots; the pivot 7-7 need not be placed midway between the crosspieces 15 and 4; the "free end of the shelf may be supported in horizontal position by other than the disclosed means; the points of narrowing the free end of the shelf may be varied and the thinner portion of the two thickness type of shelf may be limitedto a distance equal to the distance 22-23 (Fig. 6)

or otherwise. I claim:

1. A collapsible table comprising a top, an in- ,,ner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotal- "ly secured to each other intermediate their ends,

a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to one of said pairs of legs, and means for sup- .7 porting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf being collapsible by swinging its free end upwardly toward the table top.

2. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs piv- "btally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs and means for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf being collapsible by swinging its free end upwardly toward the table top.

3. A collapsible table comprising a top, an

secured to the outer pair of legs, and means upon the inner pair of legs for supporting said inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf being collapsible by swinging its free end upwardly toward the table top.

4. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, and means for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf having its free end narrower than its pivoted end .to allow the shelf to fit between the inner pair of legs in erected position, said legs and shelf being so constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

5. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs and means upon the inner pair of legs for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf having its free end narrower than its pivoted end to allow the shelf to fit between the inner pair of legs both in erected and in collapsed position, said legs and shelf being so constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

6. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, and means for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf having its free end narrower than its pivoted end to allow the shelf to fit between the inner pair of legs both in erected and in collapsed position, said shelf having a diminished thickness adjacent its free end to allow the shelf to fit over the crosspiece between the intersections of the legs in collapsed position, said legs and shelf being so constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

7. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inher pair of legs andan outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, and means upon the inner pair of legs for supporting said I said legs and shelf being so constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially fiat against the under surface of the table top.

8. Acollapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally 'secured to the outer pair of legs, and means for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said pivotal connection between the shelf and the outer pair of legs being located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edge of said outer pair of legs equal to substantially one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of said shelf, said legs and shelf being so constructed and arranged that they may be collapsed to lie substantially fiat against the under surface of the table top.

9. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a crosspiece between the intersections of said pairs of legs, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, and means for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said pivotal connection between the shelf and the outer pair of legs being located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edge of said outer pair of legs equal to substantially one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of said shelf, said shelf having a length between said pivotal connection and the free end equal to or less than the distance between said pivotal connection and the nearest point on the crosspiece between the intersections of the two pairs of legs, said legs and shelf being so constructed and arranged that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

10. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other intermediate their ends, a crosspiece between the intersections of said pairs of legs, a pivotal connection between one of the pairs of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to theouter pair of legs, and means for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when said table is in erected position, said shelf having a length between said pivotal connection and the free end equal to or less than the distance between said pivotal connection and the nearest point on the crosspiece between the intersections of the two pairs of legs, said legs and shelf being so constructed and arranged that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

11. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other, a crosspiece between the intersections of said pairs of legs, a pivotal connection between the outer pair of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, and means upon the inner faces of the inner pair of legs for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when the table is in erected position, the pivotal connections between the shelf and said outer legs being located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edges of said outer legs equal to substantially one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of said shelf, said shelf having its free end narrower than its pivoted end for a distance sufficient to allow the shelf to fit between the inner pair of legs both in erected and in collapsed position, said shelf having its free end of a thickness not greater than the space between the crosspiece and the upper longitudinal edge of said outer legs so that the shelf can fit over said crosspiece in collapsed position, said legs and shelf being so arranged and constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the undersurface of the table top.

12. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other, a crosspiece between the intersections of said pair of legs, a pivotal connection between the outer pair of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, means upon the inner legs for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when the table is in erected position, and a crosspiece between the upper end of said outer pair of legs, said pivotal connections between the shelf and said outer legs being located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edges of said outer legs substantially equal to one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of said shelf, said pivotal connections being also located at points on the respective outer legs substantially equidistant from said crosspieces, said shelf having its free end narrower than its pivoted end for a distance sufficient to allow the shelf to fit between the inner pair of legs both in erected and in collapsed position, said shelf having its free end of a thickness not greater than the space between the crosspieces and the upper longitudinal edges of said outer legs, so that the shelf can be collapsed by folding either upwardly or downwardly and fit over either 'of said corsspieces in collapsed position, said legs and shelf being so arranged and constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

13. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other, a crosspiece between the intersections of said pairs of legs, a pivotal connection between one pair of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, and means upon the inner faces of the inner pair of legs for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when the table is in erected position, the pivotal connections between the shelf and said outer legs being located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edges of said outer legs equal to substantially one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of said shelf, said shelf having its free end narrower than its pivoted end for a distance sufficient to allow the shelf to fit between the inner pair of legs both in erected and in collapsed position, said shelf having its free end of a thickness not greater than the space between the crosspiece and the upper longitudinal edge of said outer legs so that the shelf can fit over said crosspiece in collapsed position, said legs and shelf being so arranged and constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially flat against the under surface of the table top.

14. A collapsible table comprising a top, an inner pair of legs and an outer pair of legs pivotally secured to each other, a crosspiece between the intersections of said pairs of legs, a pivotal connection between one pair of legs and the table top, a shelf pivotally secured to the outer pair of legs, means upon the inner legs for supporting said shelf in substantially horizontal position when the table is in erected position, and a crosspiece between the upper end of said outer pair of legs, said pivotal connections between the shelf and said outer legs being located at a distance from the upper longitudinal edges of said outer legs substantially equal to one-half the thickness of the thickest portion of said shelf, said pivotal connections being also located at points on the respective outer legs substantially equidistant folding either upwardly or downwardly and fit over either of said crosspieces in collapsed position, said legs and shelf being so arranged and constructed that they may be collapsed to lie substantially fiat against the under surface of the table top.

GUY 0. McKENNEY.

. CERTIFICATE OF GORRECTIQN.

Patent N0. 1,961,241. June 5, 1934.

GUY C. McKENNEY.

It is hereby cenifi-ed aha: error appears rr the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 141, claim 7, for "coliapsible" read enllapsed; page 3, line 194, ciaim 12 for "corsepieces read crosspieces; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of July, A. I), 1934,

Bryan M. Battey (Seal) Acting Commissioner 01 Patents.

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