US3031243A - Folding table - Google Patents

Description

E. CREVOI FOLDING TABLE April 24, 1962 Filed NOV. 1, 1960 INVENTOR. fawn/20 Cpevo/ ATTOIZNEV.

fates Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 66,658 Claims. (Cl. 31183) This invention relates to furniture and particularly to folding tables of small size and light weight which are well adapted for occasional use on lawns, terraces, porches and in homes, for supporting small objects.

The advantage of a folding table, which may be stored in a small space and quickly erected when needed, is well known and many types and designs of tables of this character have heretofore been suggested and placed in use.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide. a folding table having improved means to firmly support the table top when in use, and conveniently foldable when the tableis not in use.

Another object is to provide a table supporting frame comprising two substantially U-shaped members, pivoted together in theirside portions, and preferably formed from tubing or wire rods.

A further object is to provide a folding frame by which the top will be firmly retained and safely held, whether the table is folded or unfolded.

Still another object is to provide an all-metal construction of the supporting means, which may be easily and economically manufactured, and which is well adapted for productionin quantity.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the table in its erect position, taken from below;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the table in its folded condition, with its top side faced downward;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the erect table taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the folded table taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View ofone of the frame tracks, in its un-mounted condition.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawing there is seen the foldable table, that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral as it appears in its erect or unfolded condition.

The table top, broadly indicated by reference numeral 11, is preferably rectangular in shape, and, as heretofore stated, is fabricated of light gauge sheet material such as fiber, composition, plastic or metal, attractively painted, enameled, or otherwise decorated.

The top 11 has a depressed center section 14 of substantially rectangular configuration, which defines a peripheral rim 12 offset upwardly and outwardly through a shoulder, or abutment 13.

Reference numeral 15 indicates two spaced and parallel tracks, or guide bars, which extend the width of the top 11, with their ends 17 anchored on the underside of the peripheral rim 12.

The body portion of the track 15 is spaced downwardly of the depressed section 14 sufficiently to provide a slideway for the horizontal top portion 23 of the frame member 21.

The frame members 20 and 21 are U shaped in configuration and are preferably made of metal rod or tubing.

3,31,243 Patented Apr. 2 5, 1962 The side portions of the frame members are connected by pivot studs 24.

Reference numeral 18 indicates a stiffening rib extending the length of the track 15.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a tongue struck inwardly of the track 15, which receives and supports the horizontal top portion 22 of the frame member 20, and acts as a journaled pivot point joining the member 20 to the table top 11. The so held element 22 is nested between the tongue 19 and the table top shoulder 13.

The horizontal portion 23 of the frame member 21 is slidable the length of the tracks 15, between a first position, and seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, wherein it is nested between the end 16 of the track 15 and the table top shoulder 13, which acts as an abutment or lock to prevent transverse movement of the frame element 23 as long as there is any weight bearing on the table top 11, or even the weight of the top 11, itself.

The depth of the shoulder 13 and the clearance of the track end 16 is such that the table top 11 must be lifted slightly before the frame element 23 can clear the abutment 13 and be made to slide along the track 15.

When-the top 11 is intentionally raised so that the frame element 23 can enter the space between the depressed center section 14 and the track 15, the frame element may be simultaneously pivoted and slid to its folded position, illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4, wherein the portion 23 is moved transversely of the tracks 15 to take a position against the horizontal section 22 of the frame element 20.

When this is done, the two frame elements 20 and 21 are substantially parallel and the table top can be tilted to a vertical, or folded, condition wherein all the elements are parallel.

In its folded, or collapsed, condition the table top 11 is positioned flat against the frame elements 20 and 21 to form a compact unit for storage. When in its erect condition the weight of the top 11 is enough to lock the frame element 23 in position between the ends 16 of the tracks 15 and the shoulder 13 of the depressed top section 14.

No latches, pins, keys or similar retaining means are required.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foldable table, comprising in combination, a rigid sheet material top having a depressed central portion including a marginal shoulder which defines a peripheral rim; a guide track extending cross-wise of the underside of the top, having its ends anchored to the rim, the track being spaced from both the underside of the central portion and its marginal shoulder; a pair of U-shaped supports having their respective sides pivotally connected intermediate their ends, the horizontal portions of said supports being mounted through the track; means pivotally attaching the horizontal portion of one support to one end of the track at the shoulder, for swinging movement about an axis fixed with respect to the track, the horizontal portion of the second support element being pivotable about an axis movable lengthwise of the track between a first position wherein it is nested between the shoulder and track, to lock the table in its unfolded condition, and a second position next to the horizontal portion of the first support element and below the shoulder, wherein the table is in its folded condition with the sides and both supports in a plane parallel to the table top.

2. A foldable table, comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular rigid sheet material top having a substantially rectangular depressed central portion including a marginal shoulder which defines a peripheral rim; a guide track extending cross-wise of the underside of the top, having its ends anchored to the rim, the track being spaced from both the underside of the central portion and its marginal shoulder; a pair of U-shaped supports having their respective sides pivotally connected intermediate their ends, the horizontal portions of said supports being mounted through the track; means pivotally attaching the horizontal portion of one support to one end of the track at the shoulder, for swinging movement about an axis fixed with respect to the track, the horizontal portion of the second support being pivotable about an axis movable lengthwise of the track between a first position wherein it is nested between the shoulder and track, to lock the table in its unfolded condition, and a second position next to the horizontal portion of the first support and below the shoulder, wherein the table is in its folded condition with the sides of both supports in a plane parallel to the table top.

3. A foldable table, comprising in combination, a rigid sheet material top having a depressed central portion including a marginal shoulder which defines a peripheral rim; a pair of spaced and parallel guide tracks extending cross-wise of the top, having their ends anchored to the rim, the tracks being spaced from both the underside of the central portion and its marginal shoulder; a pair of U-shaped supports having their respective sides pivotally connected intermediate their ends, the horizontal portions of said supports being mounted across the tracks; means pivotally attaching the horizontal portion of one support to one end of the paired tracks, at the shoulder, for swinging movement about an axis fixed with respect to the tracks, the horizontal portion of the second support being pivotable about an axis movable lengthwise of the tracks between a first position, wherein it is nested between the shoulder and tracks, to lock the table in its unfolded condition, and a second position next to the horizontal portion of the first support and below the shoulder, wherein the table is in its folded condition with the sides of both supports in a plane parallel to the table top.

4. A foldable table, comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular rigid sheet material top having a substantially rectangular depressed central portion including a marginal shoulder which defines a peripheral rim; a pair of spaced and parallel guide tracks extending crosswise of the top, having their ends anchored to the rim, the tracks being spaced from both the underside of the central portion and its marginal shoulder; a pair of U- shaped supports having their respective sides pivotally connected intermediate their ends, the horizontal portions of said supports being mounted across the tracks; and means pivotally attaching the horizontal portion of one support to one end of the paired tracks, at the shoulder, for swinging movement about an axis fixed with respect to the tracks, the horizontal portion of the second support being pivotable about an axis movable lengthwise of the tracks, between a first position, wherein it is nested between the shoulder and tracks, to lock the table in its unfolded condition, and a second position, next to the horizontal portion of the first support and below the shoulder, wherein the table is in its folded condition with the sides of both supports in a plane parallel to the table top.

5. A foldable table, comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular rigid sheet material top having a substantially rectangular depressed central portion including a marginal shoulder which defines a peripheral rim; a pair of spaced and parallel guide tracks extending crosswise of the underside of the top and having their ends anchored to the rim, the tracks being spaced equally from both the underside of the central portion and its marginal shoulder, the tracks having aligned support retaining fingers at one end thereof; and a pair of U-shaped supports having their respective sides pivotally connected intermediate their ends to form an X shape; the horizontal portions of said supports being mounted across the tracks with the horizontal portion of one support pivotally engaged with the aligned retaining fingers for swinging movement about an axis fixed with respect to the tracks; the horizontal portion of the second support being pivotable about an axis movable lengthwise of the tracks between a first position, wherein it is spaced from the retaining fingers and nested between the shoulder and the far ends of the tracks, to lock the table in its unfolded condition, and a second position, next to the retaining fingers, wherein the table is in its folded condition with the sides of both supports in a plane parallel to the table top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 628,712 Hoshour July 11, 1899 2,114,912 Cox Apr. 19, 1938 2,215,131 Page Sept. 17, 1940 2,514,735 Wilson et al July 11, 1950 2,540,875 Genge Feb. 6, 1951 2,709,120 Tuttle May 24, 1955 2,947,588 Friedenreich Aug. 2, 1960

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