US2162298A - Table - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1939. LEY 2,162,298

TABLE Filed July 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l I H Cacleianilflailfy,

June 13, 1939. A BAILEY 2,162,298.

TABLE Filed July 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in tables, and has for an object to provide a table wherein the top is formed of a plurality of leaves or segments that'may be quickly 5 raised and locked in their raised condition and wherein the same may also be quickly lowered to an inclined position, so that the table will not occupy as much room as when the top is in open position.

10 One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a table consisting of a standard or pillar, to which is hinged a plurality of leaves that go to make up the top and wherein a rack and pinion is associated with the leaves, so that with a few turns of the pinion, the leaves may be swung, upwardly to provide the fiat table top, or when the table is not to be used, the leaves may likewise be quickly lowered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a table including a standard, to the upper end of which are hinged the segmental parts of the top, certain of the segments being operated by a rack and pinion and these segments, in turn, lifting the remaining segments.

25 Still another object of theinvention is to provide a table wherein means are provided on the under surface of some of the leaves that will extend out beyond and above the plane of the same, so that any magazines or papers on the 30 table may be placed in these supporting means when the table leaves are lowered. 7

Still another object of the invention is to.provide a hollow pillar in which a rackv and pinion may be situated, the rack, in turn, being secured 35 to a guide bar that travels within slots in the pillar, which guide bar, through a collar and arms, is connected with the leaves or segments, so that but little energy is needed to elevate the leaves to thus open the table.

40 With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and novel features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully explained and pointed out in the claim.

Referring now to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my improved table showing the top in its opened position;

50 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1,. showing the rack pinion for elevating the table top;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the elevating eaves (long leaves), showing the same in their folded or dropped position;

55 Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through what I term the short leaves, these also being in their folded or dropped position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the standard or pillar, showing the elevating means and the method of attaching the -'5 standard to the feet;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 5, showing the rack and pinion and disk for elevating the leaves of the table;

Fig. '7 is a further enlarged transverse sectional. view through the disk and its associated mechanism for raising the leaves of the table; Fig. 8 is a similar transverse section to Fig. '7, but taken above the sliding collar or sleeve, which fits about the standard and is used in connection with elevating the leaves of the table;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the sliding collar or sleeve on a line with the cross bar to which the rack is attached;

Fig. 10 is a face view of the register disk used for locking the leaves in elevated or folded position;

Fig. 11 is a detailed bottom face View of one of the long elevating leaves showing the ex- 5 tension bar, bracket and hinged formation; and

Fig. 12 is a similar detailed bottom face view of one of the shorter leaves showing the book or magazine rack swung to its opened position ready for use.

Referring now more especially to the several views, and for the moment to Figs. 1, 2, and 5,

there is shown my improved table, comprising the base or pedestal I! having the outwardly extending feet 2, which may be of wood or metal and of any desired shape or configuration.

In Fig. 5, there is shown the manner in which the standard or pillar 3 is secured. to the base, it being provided with a small peripheral flange 4, which may be screwed into the base, as at 5, although other means of attaching this standard or pillar to the base might be employed.

The standard 3 is preferably formed of tubular metal and may be brass, chromium, or one of the cheaper metals with a covering of nickel plate, so as to present a pleasing appearance.

In the opposite sides of the standard 3 are out two vertical slots 6 and l, which extend from a point 8 just below the top to a point just above the base, as at 9.

Positioned in the standard near the bottom of the slot is a cross shaft I t, on which is mounted a pinion l5, which, in turn, meshes and is used to drive the rack 56, which is fitted inside one of the slots 1 in the standard 3, as may be seen in The'lower end 21 of the rack "5 may move between the guide pins 22. It will be noticed that the lower end of the rack is always below the lower end of the slot 1, so that the rack will be prevented from being forced out through the slot 1 at this point.

Also secured on the standard 3, as may be seen in Fig. 7, is a disk 23, in which there are a plurality of depressions 24, into which will fit a spring detent 25 positioned on the adjacent surface of the revolvable operating disk 26, which is provided with the convenient handle 21. This operating disk 26 is pinned, as at 28, to the aforementioned cross shaft I0, on which is mounted the pinion l5, which drives the rack 16.

Thus, a rotation of the disk 26 by the handle 21 will elevate or lower the rack, depending on the direction of rotation, while the spring detent engaging in one of the peripheral depressions 24 of the disk 23 will securely hold the rack in the position to which it has been elevated or lowered.

Having explained the standard, rack, cross bar, and pinion, reference will now be made to the leaves or segments of the table that form the top, after which the connecting means with the collar or sleeve for elevating these leaves by a movement of the rack will be set out.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 11, there are shown what I term, for the sake of convenience, the long leaves 29, 30, 3|, and 32, while the short leaves 33, 34, 35, and 3B are shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 12.

All these leaves are hinged to the octagonal central top portion 31, which is securely mounted at the upper end of the standard 3, as shown in Fig. 5. These short and long leaves, when assembled flat, form the complete top, as shown in Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as the long leaves are similar, a short description of one will be a description of all.

Referring to Fig. 11, the leaf 29 has the semicircular outer edge 38 and then tapers inwardly towards its inner end 39. The edges along the tapered portion bevel slightly outwardly, as at 4|, while across the under surface may be spotwelded the lifting bar 42, that extends out beyond the opposite side edges of this leaf. The outer edge 38 may be rolled to form a bead of pleasing appearance and for strengthening purposes. There may also be seen the bracket 43, to which one of the elevating arms (later described) is to be connected.

The inner end 39 of the leaf is formed with curled eyes 44, as may be seen in Figs. 3 and 11, and these, in turn, will cooperate with the rolled eyes 45 formed on the perimeter of the central top portion 31. It might be mentioned here that both the short and long leaves will have these hinged formations on their inner ends to, in turn, cooperate with the hinged formations about the perimeter of the portion 31, so that these leaves may all swing downwardly and upwardly from the portion 31 as a pivotal point.

It will also be understood that any desirable hinge formation may be used to pivotally connect the leaves to the central supporting portion 31.

Referring now to the shorter leaves, as illustrated in Fig. 12, it will be seen that rather than having a semi-circular outer edge, they have the angular outer edges, as shown at 46, while the opposite sides extend inwardly, as at 41, to the inner end 48, which is provided with the aforementioned hinge construction 49. In this instance, the side edges 41 bevel slightly inwardly, as at 41', so that when the shorter and longer leaves are in the raised position, the bevelled edges will cooperate to make a relatively tight fit, thus assuring a smooth top surface to the table.

Also, it will be noticed in Fig. 12 that I provide a small rack, comprising the two hooks 50 mounted on a bar 5| and provided with a rigid cross piece 52. The bar 5| is attached to the underside of the leaf 36, as at 53. There is further a small latch member 54 that may be rotated, so that when the latch member is not over the cross bar 52, the same may be swung upwardly and out of the way, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4, the latch member 54 holding the hooks in either of their two positions.

The purposes of these hooks are that in case there are magazines or newspapers on the table when it is desired to lower the leaves, rather than looking for a new place for them, these hooks may be swung downwardly, as shown in Fig. 12, and the magazines or books may be then held in these hooks. I have only shown one of these racks, but it will be understood that these may be positioned on the other short leaves in a similar manner.

Having thus described the leaves that make up the table top, reference is now made to the aforementioned sleeve or collar 20.

It will be seen in Fig. 5 that near the top of the collar 20 is formed a circumferential groove 55, in which will be pivotally secured the inner ends of the elevating arms 56, the arms having an eyelet 51 formed in the ends, so that a ring 58 may be placed through these eyelets, the ring, in turn, fitting within the groove 55 to thus pivotally secure the arms to the collar.

The outer end of each arm is pivotally secured to a bracket similar to the bracket 43, shown in Fig. 11.

Thus, as the collar or sleeve is elevated, it will force these arms 56 upwardly and, naturally, outwardly to, in turn, elevate the leaves 29, 3B, 3!, and 32, while the lifting bars 42 on the respective long leaves will engage the under surface of the short leaves to cause all the leaves to elevate at the same time.

The operation is exceedingly simple. Supposing the leaves are in their lower position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4., and it is desired to elevate them to the position shown in Fig. 2, the small handle 21 on the operating disk 2% will be grasped and the disk rotated to rotate the pinion l5 to elevate the rack 16, which is connected to the cross bar IS. The cross bar slides within the slots 6 and 1, and as it is connected with the collar, the rack elevates the collar while the collar, in turn, through the arms 56, will elevate the longer leaves and they, through the lifting bars 42, will elevate the shorter leaves, all in unison.

After rotating the pinion to elevate the leaves to horizontal position, the spring detent will engage one of the notches 24 and the table leaves will now be held in their open or raised position.

To lower the table, the operating disk will be turned in the opposite direction to allow the collar to descend and, in turn, to permit the leaves to fold downwardly.

When the leaves are in their lower position, the hooks 50 may be swung downwardly to hold any papers or magazines.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a table that will be particularly useful in apartments and other rooms wherein space is at a premium. It will also be appreciated that to open the table is but the matter of a moment, as a few turns of the pinion will elevate the leaves to their horizontal position.

Many slight changes might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A pressed metal table including a standard having a fixed base, a plurality of segmental sections hinged to a plate to form the table top, certain of the segments provided with outwardly extending projections on their under surfaces to raise the remainder of said segments, the said segments that are provided with the outwardly extending means also having pivotal arms, the standard provided with vertical slots, a collar on said standard, a cross bar connected to the collar, said cross bar riding in said slots and the lower ends of said arms connected to said collar, rack and pinion means mounted in the standard and the rack connected to said cross bar, a handle connected indirectly with said pinion whereby an operation of said handle will elevate and lower all of said segments, and means on the standard for cooperation with the handle for locking the handle and thereby the pinion to thus hold the segments in a desired position.

CARLETON A. DAILEY.

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