US3797884A

US3797884A - Foldable table and seating structure

Info

Publication number: US3797884A
Application number: US00227135A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Gutierrez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-17
Filing date: 1972-02-17
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

A foldable table adapted to fold upwardly centrally thereof having as an improvement in connection therewith an attachable seating structure to provide seats co-extensive with said table at each side thereof, sand seating structure being foldable unitarily with said table and corresponding to the thickness thereof, being detachably secured thereto and being adjustable as to height compatible with the height of said table and being adjustable as to height independently of said table.

Description

Gutierrez [54] FOLDABLE TABLE AND SEATING STRUCTURE [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

Julian Gutierrez, 6233 Brookview Ave, Minneapolis, Minn. 55424 Feb. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,135

[52] U.S. Cl. 297/159, 108/113 [51] Int. Cl A471) 3/14 [58] Field of Search 108/111-113, 108/134, 37; 297/159, 157

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,954 12/1963 Kanitz 297/159 3,337,262 8/1967 Katzfey et a1 297/15'9 2.936.820 5/1960 Blink et a1. 297/159 2.878.859 3/1959 Howe et al 297/159 2.893.474 7/1959 Bobbish i 297/159 2.992.043 7/1961 Nelson 297/159 Mar. 19, 1974 3.055.705 9/1962 Wilson 297/159 3.099.480 7/1963 Wilson 3,511,532 5/1970 Tringali..... 3,715,143 2/1973 Gerken 297/159 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-G. O. Finch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Reif and Gregory 5 7 ABSTRACT A foldable table adapted to fold upwardly centrally thereof having as an improvement in connection therewith an attachableseating structure to provide seats co-extensive with said table at each side thereof,

sand seating structure being foldable unitarily with i 2 Claims, 27 Drawing Figures PATENIEB "AR 1 9 I974 SHEET 3 BF 8 PAIENTED MR 1 9 I974 sum 7 0r 8 In.n\ v

FOLDABLE TABLE AND SEATING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Various folding tables have been developed in the art embodying the use of adjacent or attendant seating structures.

The improvement herein is present in providing detachable seats for a folding table which unitarily fold with said table and which seats may bereadily removed from said table, which may be adjusted as to height corresponding to adjustments in height of the table and also independently thereof, and which may be folded with the table to have a height co-extensive therewith and a thickness corresponding therewith.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvement in a very simply arranged seating structure for attachment to and use with a foldable table of the type which is foldable upwardly centrally thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a seating structure in connection'with a foldable table, said seating structure to be used integrally with said table and to be readily detachable therefrom to permit the use of said table free of any seating structure or seat supporting structure.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a seating structure in connection with a folding table, said seating structure comprising brackets detachably secured to said table to removably support seats coextensive with said table and unitarily foldable therewith.

Stated generally the invention herein in connection with a table structure comprising a table foldable upwardly centrally thereof consists of a seating structure at each side of said table co-extensive therewith, each of said seating structures consisting of a pair of seating members, central seat supporting means consisting of a pair of interengaging members having relative axial movement with one of said interengaging members being hingedly secured to the adjacent end of said pair of seating members, the other of said interengaged members having a pair of links extending upwardly therefrom being pivotally secured to said seating members spaced somewhat from the adjacent ends thereof, a pair of support members adjacent each end of said seating members, each of said supporting members having a cross member disposed thereon, a holding member at the underside of each of said seating members adjacent the remote ends thereof adapted to slidingly receive said cross members of said supporting members and means removably securing said seat members to said table structure and said seat members being foldable unitarily with said table structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several view and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the structure herein;

FIG. 2 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 as indicated;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 as indicated;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 as indicated;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the structure therein being shown in a partially folded position;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1 as indicated;

FIG. 7 is a view in horizontal section of a detail of structure on an enlarged scale taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5 as indicated;

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation of the structure herein in folded position showing portions thereof in dotted line;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 in end elevation;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are companion broken views in end and is side elevation and in bottom plan showing a modification of a detail of structure;

FIG. 2 is a broken view in side elevation similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a modification;

FIG. 13 is a broken view in vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on line l3 of FIG. 12 showing alternate positions of portions thereof in dotted line;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 12 as indicated;

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are broken views in elevation taken as on line 15-15 of FIG. 13 showing alternate positions;

FIG. 18 is a view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on line 18-18 of FIG. 13 as indicated;

FIG. 19 is a view in vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on line 19-19 of FIG. 13 as indicated;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing a modification of the structure thereof;

FIG. 21 is a broken view in vertical section on an en-- larged scale taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20 as indicated;

FIG. 22 is a view in side elevation showing the seating structure of FIG. 12 in a partially removed condition;

FIG. 23 is a broken view similar to FIG. 14 showing another modification of the structure thereof;

FIG. 24 is a broken view in elevation taken on line 24-24 of FIG. 23 as indicated;

FIG. 25 is a broken view in perspective on an enlarged scale showing a detail of structure;

FIG. 26 is a broken view in vertical section on an enlarged scale showing a detail of structure; and

F IG. 27 is a view in perspective on an enlarged scale showing a detail of structure.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. l-9, a foldable table and seating structure 10 is shown. The table structure 12 thereof comprises a pair of top plate members 14 and 1S rectangular in plan in longitudinally spaced relation with each of said plate members having disposed thereunder opposed pairs of rails 18 and 20 adjacent either side edge portion thereof and extending lengthwise thereof. The adjacent ends of said rails are hingedly connected as at 22 and 24 here shown as overlapping extended porting members are

cross bars

40, 41 and 42. Consequently said bars -41 and said bars 41-42 respectively are linking

bars

45 and 46 rotatably connected at their respective ends to said cross bars.

In the particular embodiment here described,

bar members

49 and 50 respectively underlie the members 30-31 and 36-37 and extend outwardly of said table 12 at each side thereof. Said bar 49'is shown having unstanding

tubular members

52 and 53 at the ends thereof and integral therewith, said

members

52 and 53 having suitable supporting castors 54. The bar 501has upstanding terminal supporting

tubular members

56 and 57 suitably supported by castors 54. Carried at the upper ends of said supporting

members

52, 53, 56 and 57 respectively are cross bar or arm members 61-64.

The supporting

members

33 and 34 are self-standing as indicated in Fig. 4 having end caps or glides 58. Extending outwardly of said

members

33 and 34 are simply formed

brackets

68 and 69 as illustrated and having at each outer end thereof ground supported upstanding tubular members 71 and 72 and extending outwardly thereof are handle members 77.

Said tubular members 71 and 72 have inner

tubular members

73 and 74 which have free upward movement and said

members

73 and 74 carry

upper cross members

75 and 76 and said cross members carry

double plate hinges

78 and 79.

The seating structure at one side of said table 12 is indicated generally by 80 and is a mirror image of the seating structure 81 at the other side thereof which is.

described hereafter in further detail.

The seating structure 81 comprises a pair of elongated substantial rectangular plate like

members

85 and 86.

Said

seat members

85 and 86 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have-at their remote

end portions brackets

90 and 93 which will be suitably secured thereto and said brackets have downwardly angled oppositely extending open ended slotted

plate portions

91 and 94 to slidingly receive therein the

cross bars

62 and 64 as indicated in FIG. 2. r

A pair of depending

link members

97 and 98 have their upper ends pivoted to conventional bifurcated bracket members 96 suitably secured to the under side of said

seating members

85 and 86 as illustrated and the lower ends thereof are pivotally removably secured as by thumb screws 100 to the bifurcated ears 101 projecting oppositely from the lower portion of said tubuiar member 72.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and an alternative means is shown for the structure of the

brackets

90 and 93 wherein an open ended channel member such as channel member 105 receives the cross bar 62. Said channel member 105 comprises a pair of spaced

angled members

106 and 107 having retaining flanges as shown to receive and support therebetween said cross bars such as cross bar 62.

OPERATION The table and seating structure is shown in FIG. 1 in horizontal position for use. To be folded for storage purposes, the handle 77 is grasped by hand and raised. The torsion bars operate to have but little force required to raise the table upwardly centrally to the positions as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9. The links 97 and 98 r are of such length that the

seat members

85 and 86 are moved upwardly to reach the same height as that of the folded table with said seat members sliding upwardly of their supporting cross members as permitted by the

brackets

90 and 93 whereby in fully folded position the seating structure is. co-extensive in height with the height of said table 12 and the inner tubular member 74 is raised upwardly relative to said outer tubular member 72. The thickness of the folded seat structure is confined to and corresponds to the thickness of the table in folded condition. By removing the thumb screws 100 from the ears 101, the

seat members

85 and 86 may be lifted clear of the supporting seat structure for separate storage if desired or for ready replacement of said seat members.

MODIFICATION Referring to FIGS. 12-19, a modification of the above described structure is shown and elements of structure therein identical to those above described will be referred to or incorporated by reference in being indicated by like reference numerals.

The table structure 12 is here shown having a modified leg structure and in lieu of the leg members 30-31 and 36-37 which are supported by the

cross members

49 and 50, said table structure 12 in the embodiment here presented hasself-standing legs of which leg member 111 and its attendant structure is representative and which leg member is shown supported by castor 115.

Extending outwardly of said leg member 111 as at tendant structure is a bracket member 117.

Said bracket 117 comprises anarcuate or half round channel member 120 of some length disposed in mating engagement with the outer surface portion of the leg member 111 and is secured thereto by a nutted bolt 121. Said channel member has a plurality of apertures 122 therethrough and said leg member has a single aperture therethrough not here shown for alignment of apertures 122 therewith to receive said bolt 121 for vertical adjustment of said channel member relative to said leg member for height adjustment of the table. A

' cross member 124 shown asa straight tubular member extends outwardly off said channel member 120 and has at its extended end an upstanding tubular support or leg member 126 which has threaded upwardly into its lower end a height adjusting means 127 shown here as a leveling screw.

Said leg member 126 hasan inner tubular member 129 slidable therein with a plurality of apertures 130 extending through each of said members adapted to receive a nutted bolt 121 therethrough for relative height adjustment of said inner member 129. Said member l29c'arries cross bar 62 which isslidably receivable into the bracket member 90.

In connection with said castor 115, reference is had to FIGS. 15-17 wherein the stem portion 115A of said castor is shown carrying a pair of spacing collars 115B and 115C whereby the leg 111 may be supported by said castor in connection with said spacing collars at variousheights relative thereto as shown.

Referringto FIG. 14, extending outwardly of leg member which is representative of leg members modifying

leg members

33 and 34 is an adjustable bracket 132 shown in lieu of the

brackets

68 and 69. This bracket comprises a unitary cross member 134 which is like cross member 69 but which at its inner end is integral with a semi-round channel member 136 which mates with the outer side of the leg member 135 and is secured thereto through accommodating apertures by a nutted bolt 121 which may be disposed selectively through apertures 140 of said channel member to position said bracket at various heights relative to said leg 135. Said leg member is shown having a height adjusting screw 127 in connection therewith.

Said cross member 132 at its outer end has integral therewith a support or leg member 143 having a slidable inner tubular member 144 as shown at FIG. 14 and the same is like the member 72 but has a height adjusting screw 127 for adjustable support.

MODIFICATION Referring now to FIGS. 20-22, a modification is shown of the bracket structure 132 by the bracket structure 149 in which a curved channel member 150 is shown secured to the leg member 135 through accommodating apertures by nutted bolt 138. Additionally vertically spaced apertures 152 are provided in channel member 150 for height adjustment thereof relative to said leg 135. A tubular cross member 154 extends outwardly to an upstanding tubular supporting or leg member 155 integral therewith. Said tubular member 155 has an inner tubular member 156 slidably disposed therethrough carrying at its upper end cross bar 75 which forms a hinge pin for hinges 78 and at its lower end it has a height adjusting screw 127. Extending outwardly of said member 155 at the level of said cross member 154 is a handle 77. I

A collar 158 is disposed over said member 155 slidably thereof having a thumb type set screw threaded thereinto as shown in FIG. 22, the member 155 has an aperture 157 therethrough as has the inner tubular member 156 and when said tubular members are positioned as in FIG. 20, said apertures are in register. Said set screw 160 may be threaded inwardly to engage only the member 155 or it may be threaded'inwardly further to also engage the member 156 to hold the member 155 and member 156 in interlocked position. Said collar 158 has apertured ears 158A to have the

link member

97 and 98 thereto as by rivets 151.

Thus when it is desired to remove the

seats

85 and 86 the set screw 160 is withdrawn sufficiently to permit the removal of the collar 158 from the member 155 and the member 156 is fully withdrawn from said member 155. For folding the table and seating structure, the set screw is merely withdrawn from engagement with the member 156 to permit the relative sliding movement thereof as shown in FIG. 5.

MODIFICATION Referring now to FIGS. 23-27, a further modification is shown of the bracket structure 132 by the bracket structure in which a curved channel member 171 is mated with the outer side portion of the leg member 135 to be secured thereto by nutted bolt 121 disposed through an accommodating pair of apertures. A plurality of apertures 173 are provided in the channel member 171 for vertical adjustment of the channel member relative to said leg 135.

Extending outwardly of said channel member 171'are a pair of horizontal vertically spaced tubular members 175 which have secured to their extended ends an elongated plate member 178. Slidably disposed over said member 178 to be normally positioned at the bottom thereof is a channel shaped collar 180 as illustrated in FIG. 27 having apertured ears 181 projectng from the ends thereof as shown and a small rectangular boss 183 projecting forwardly thereof and said collar and-boss are tapped to receive a set screw 185. The

links

97 and 98 are pivoted to said ears 181. An angled support bracket 190 is provided having an upstanding wall 191 slotted to receive said boss 183 and having a lower body portion 192 extended to underlie said collar 180. Said wall 191 is apertured to receive said set screw and leveling screw 127 is threaded into and supports said bracket 190.

Slidably disposed over said plate member 178 to rest upon said collar 180 is channel sliding member 192 having a handle 77 extending outwardly thereof and having an upward ear like projection 194 apertured to have disposed therethrough the hinge bar 75.

Thus in raising the table seating structure into folded position, the set screw will be threaded into holding engagement with the plate member 178 and as the handle 79 is raised the same folding action is present as shown in FIG. 5.-

When it is desired to remove the seats from the table structure, the set screwis withdrawn from the plate member 178 and the collar 180. The bracket is then free for removal and the member 192 and the collar 180 slide free of the member 178 for removal which in effect is as what is shown in FIG. 22.

The detachable bracket members such as 117, 132, 149 and 170 are readily removed by removal of the bolt 121 and the table structure is usable free of any projecting members.

There have been provided a simple, efficient and effective seating structure in connection with a centrally upwardly foldable table structure.

It will or course be understood that various changes may be made in form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention herein which, generally stated, consists in an apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable seating structure in connection with a foldable table such as is hinged centrally transversely thereof to fold upwardly and having a central hinged support comprising a pair of central supporting legs and having a pair of supporting legs adjacent each end thereof, each pair of said supporting legs being disposed transversely of said table, having in combination a pair of brackets extending outwardly of each of said central supporting legs, said brackets each having secured at the outer ends thereof floor engaging supporting legs, I

said floor engaging legs each comprising a pair of vertically disposed interengaging members arranged and constructed to have relative vertical movethe adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members being respectively secured to said hinge means,

means in connection with the remote end portions of each'of said plate members respectively slidingly receiving and accommodating said cross members,

a pair of link members connecting the adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members with each of the lower of said interengaged members,

each pair of said link members being spaced apart at their points of attachment with said plate members and with regard to their respective lengths that when said table with seats are folded upwardly, said link members are arranged and adapted to elevate said plate members, and

said means comprising an elongated slotted bracket member disposed at the undersides of said plate members and having outer open ends to slidingly receive said cross members.

2. A foldable seating structure in connection with a foldable table such asis hinged centrally transversely thereof to fold upwardly and having a central hinged support comprising a pair of central supporting legs and having a pair of supporting legs adjacent each end thereof, each pair of said supporting legs being disposed transversely of said table, having in combination a pair of brackets extending outwardly of each of said central supporting legs, said brackets each having secured at the outer ends thereof floor engaging supporting legs,

said floor engaging legs each comprising a pair of vertically disposed interengaging members arranged and constructed to have relative vertical movement,

the upper of each of said interengaged members carrying hinge means,

said supporting legs adjacent each end of said table comprising upstanding supporting legs with each of said supporting legs having a cross member at the top thereof disposed in a direction transversely of said table,

a seat for each side of said table, each of said seats comprising a pair of elongated plate members,

the adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members being respectively secured to said hinge means,

means in connection with the remote end portions of each of said plate members respectively slidingly receiving and accommodating said cross members,

each pair of said link members being spaced apart at their points of attachment with said plate members and with regard to their respective lengths that when said table and seats are folded upwardly, said link members are arranged and adapted to elevate said plate members, and

said means comprising an elongated channel member disposed at the undersides of said plate members to slidingly receive said cross members.

Claims

1. A foldable seating structure in connection with a foldable table such as is hinged centrally transversely thereof to fold upwardly and having a central hinged support comprising a pair of central supporting legs and having a pair of supporting legs adjacent each end thereof, each pair of said supporting legs being disposed transversely of said table, having in combination a pair of brackets extending outwardly of each of said central supporting legs, said brackets each having secured at the outer ends thereof floor Engaging supporting legs, said floor engaging legs each comprising a pair of vertically disposed interengaging members arranged and constructed to have relative vertical movement, the upper of each of said interengaged members carrying hings means, said supporting legs adjacent each end of said table comprise upstanding supporting legs with each of said supporting legs having a cross member at the top thereof disposed in a direction transversely of said table, a seat for each side of said table, each of said seats comprising a pair of elongated plate members, the adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members being respectively secured to said hinge means, means in connection with the remote end portions of each of said plate members respectively slidingly receiving and accommodating said cross members, a pair of link members connecting the adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members with each of the lower of said interengaged members, each pair of said link members being spaced apart at their points of attachment with said plate members and with regard to their respective lengths that when said table with seats are folded upwardly, said link members are arranged and adapted to elevate said plate members, and said means comprising an elongated slotted bracket member disposed at the undersides of said plate members and having outer open ends to slidingly receive said cross members.

2. A foldable seating structure in connection with a foldable table such as is hinged centrally transversely thereof to fold upwardly and having a central hinged support comprising a pair of central supporting legs and having a pair of supporting legs adjacent each end thereof, each pair of said supporting legs being disposed transversely of said table, having in combination a pair of brackets extending outwardly of each of said central supporting legs, said brackets each having secured at the outer ends thereof floor engaging supporting legs, said floor engaging legs each comprising a pair of vertically disposed interengaging members arranged and constructed to have relative vertical movement, the upper of each of said interengaged members carrying hinge means, said supporting legs adjacent each end of said table comprising upstanding supporting legs with each of said supporting legs having a cross member at the top thereof disposed in a direction transversely of said table, a seat for each side of said table, each of said seats comprising a pair of elongated plate members, the adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members being respectively secured to said hinge means, means in connection with the remote end portions of each of said plate members respectively slidingly receiving and accommodating said cross members, a pair of link members connecting the adjacent ends of each pair of said plate members with each of the lower of said interengaged members, each pair of said link members being spaced apart at their points of attachment with said plate members and with regard to their respective lengths that when said table and seats are folded upwardly, said link members are arranged and adapted to elevate said plate members, and said means comprising an elongated channel member disposed at the undersides of said plate members to slidingly receive said cross members.