US3245364A - Table with hidden collapsing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Aril 12, 1966 A. WEINBERG TABLE WITH HIDDEN COLLAPSING MECHANISM 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 22, 1964 WWW ATTORNEYS.

April 12, 1966 A. WEINBERG TABLE WITH HIDDEN COLLAPSING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1964 l/VVE/VTO/F ARTHUR WE/NBERG &

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ()ffice Patented Apr. 12, 1966 3,245,364 TABLE WITH HIDDEN CQLLAPSING MECHANISM Arthur Weinberg, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Frederic Weinberg Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,771 Claims. (Cl. 108-125) This invention relates to a table with hidden collapsing mechanism and has as its principal objective the provision of a rigid table that has a unique collapsing mechanism which is hidden from view in ordinary use. The aforesaid collapsible mechanism cooperates with the legs of the table in such a manner that the assembled table possesses a rigidity approaching that on non-collapsing tables.

Over the years a variety of collapsible tables have been developed. Many of these tables operate through the utilization of a collapsible brace having one brace end secured to the table frame and the other end secured to a table leg. These prior tables have generally lacked rigidity in that they possess an undesirable degree of shiftability or play whenever a force having a sideward component is applied to the top of the table. Further, more, because of the foregoing, collapsible tables with the aforesaid brace arrangement have acquired a reputation, appearance wise, of being weak or lacking in rigidity. For this reason, collapsible tables with the aforesaid brace mechanism sometimes are objectionable in commercial applications. Instead, non-collapsible tables are utilized to convey the impression of strength. However, collapsible tables afford obvious advantages, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible table which will possess the rigidity and appearance of non-collapsible tables and yet which may be collapsed in as simple a manner as collapsible tables heretofore used.

-It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a collapsible table which will possess the rigidity of the non-collapsible tables.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible table which is rigid and yet can be simply collapsed in a simple, easy motion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible table wherein the collapsing mechanism is completely hidden from view.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a collapsible table with a hidden collapsing mechanism which includes a shiftable latch arm having a linger which can be seated within the leg of a table in the locked position thereof. The present invention contemplates the use of table legs which are preferably hollow and which possess a window in order to permit entry of the shiftable arm including the finger thereof. When the finger is seated tightly against the interior wall of a table leg, the leg will be held in a very rigid position by virtue of the angle and nature of contact between the seated finger and the window edge and corner of the interior wall of the table leg. Because the aforesaid shi-ftable latch arm is located immediately beneath the table surface and extends into the table leg, it is hidden from view by the usual peripheral skirt that extends downwardly from the table top. For this reason, the collapsible table of the present invention has the outward appearance of a non-collapsible table.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible table embodying the present invention in the fully open position and showing in phantom one leg brought to the collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the table of FIG. 1 with all legs in the fully extended position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail bottom plan view of one corner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view partly in section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along thelines 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the novel collapsing mechanism of the present invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at '10 in FIG. 1 a table embodying the present invention. The table of FIG. 1 has the outward appearance of a non-collapsible table and generally includes atable top 12 withlegs 14 extending therefrom. Aperipheral skirt 16 depends from the table top 1-2 along each of the four sides thereof. As generally illustrated in FIG. 2, each of thelegs 14 are preferably hollow and are pivotally secured by means ofhinges 18 to the undersuI-face 20 of each of theperipheral skirts 16 withcross struts 22 being provided for additional rigidity. Thelegs 14 each have acollapsing mechanism 24 associated therewith and each leg may be pivoted from the extended position of FIG. 1 to the collapsed phantom position of FIG. 1 against aparticular undersurface 20. The legs '14 are preferably of a magnetizable material such as steel so that the legs -14 may be each held in the collapsed position by virtue of the provision ofmagnets 26 that are essentially flush with the undersurt'ace 20. Of course, other detachable connections, such as, snap means or latch means may be utilized.

As shown in FIG. 7, thecollapsing mechanism 24 basically compriseslever 28 for causing shifting of thelatch arm 30 with the shifting movement of arm being controlled by Uashapedguide 32. The aforesaid collapsing mechanism is operatively associated withangle bracket 34 that is secured to thebottom surface 36 oftable top 12.

The attachment and operation oflever 28,latch arm 30,guide 32 andangle bracket 84 with respect to aleg 14 and thebottom surface 36 of table 10 is shown in considerable detail in FIG. 5. Thelever 28 basically comprisestabs 38 and 40 which are located in parallel planes that are connected by integralinclined piece 42. Thetab 38 functions as a grasping handle and thetab 40 has acam 44 formed thereon with an eccentrically locatedpin 46 with a threaded end extending therefrom.

Thelatch arm 30 has an opening 48 formed adjacent one end thereof and afinger 50 extending from the other end thereof. The opening 48 is sufiiciently large to receivecam 44 as illustrated in FIG. 5 with theeccentric pin 46 projecting beyond the opposing face oflatch arm 30. The eccentricity of thepin 46 accounts for the shiftability of thelatch arm 30 as will be discussed hereinafter. Thefinger 50 may be seated in a locked position within theleg 14 as shown in full line in FIG. 5.

The unlocked position of thelatch arm 30 including the outwardly extended position of thefinger 50 is shown in phantom in FIG. 5. Access to theinterior 52 of aleg 14 is permitted by provision of awindow 54 in theside 56 of thehollow leg 14. Theinterior 52 is further defined byside 58 which is parallel to theside 56, and byparallel sides 60 and 62. As shown in FIG. 5, thewindow 54 is formed closely adjacent tocorner 64 which marks the meeting of thesides 56 and 62.

Theangle bracket 34 is comprised ofperpendicular walls 66 and 68 with thewall 66 being secured tobottom surface 36 by means of fasteners 70 (FIG. Thewall 68 ofangle bracket 34 possesses a hole 72 which receives the threaded end of thepin 46. Thus,pin 46 may be secured in a position bynut 74 with alock washer 76 also being provided.

Theguide 32 is generally U-shaped and includeslegs 78 and 80 extending frombight 82. As indicated in FIG. 4,leg 78 ofguide 32 is welded towall 68 ofangle bracket 34 adjacent the top thereof withlower leg 36 also being welded to thewall 68. Thelatch arm 30 passes through theguide 32, and thus it is held closely adjacent but some what loosely with respect to thewall 68 so that shifting of thelatch arm 30 between locked and unlocked positions may occur.

The assembly of thelever 28, thelatch arm 30, and theguide 32 with respect to theangle bracket 34 is shown in FIG. 5. Thelever 28 and the latch arm 39 are coupled together by locating thecam 44 within opening 48 in thelatch arm 30 with thelatch arm 30 previously having been inserted within theguide 32. When this is done, the eccentrically locatedpin 46 may be received in hole 72 ofangle bracket 34. Thepin 46 is held in place by means ofnut 74 andlock washer 76.

The shifting of thelatch arm 30 between the locking 'full line position of FIG. 5 and the unlocked phantom po sition occurs through the manipulation of thelever 28 between the full line and phantom positions of FIG. 5. As shown in full line in FIG. 5, thelever 28 in the locked position will be in the outwardly extending position. In order to shift thelatch arm 30 outwardly, it is simply necessary to rotate thelever 28 inwardly for 180 to the phantom position of FIG. 5. When this occurs the major portion ofcam 44 is no longer located inwardly of thepin 46 as shown in FIG. 5 but is now located outwardly of thepin 46. This can occur only if thelatch arm 30 is shifted outwardly to the phantom position of FIG. 5 and is achieved through the aforesaid eccentric nature of thepin 46.

Thefinger 50 of thelatch arm 30 can be brought to the retracted locking full line position of FIG. 5 by simply returning thelever 28 to its inward position. When this is done, thefinger 50 is tightly seated against the confines of thecorner 64 of the interior of theleg 14 and particularly the combination of theside 62 of theleg 14 and an edge defining thewindow 54 shown in FIG. 5. The cam-like locking action of thefinger 50 causes theleg 14 to be held extremely rigidly in the extended position thereby approaching the rigidity of a non-collapsible leg.

As soon as thefinger 50 is unseated by a manipulation of thelever 28, theleg 14 may be pivoted in the direction ofarrows 84 of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 so that theleg 14 will be brought to a collapsed position closely adjacent the undersurface of the table 10. In this position, theleg 14 will come in contact with amagnet 26, and thus theleg 14 will be held in the collapsed position until it is desired to reassemble the table. This is simply done by bringing the leg to the extended position and rotating thelever 28 outwardly in order to seat thefinger 50 tightly within theinterior 52 of theleg 14 and more particularly againstcorner 64, with a camming action being achieved by virtue of the contact betweenfinger 50 andside 62, and between the long run 86 (FIG. 5) of the latch arm and edge 88 defining in part thewindow 54.

It is thus seen that theentire collapsing mechanism 24 is located closely adjacent thebottom surface 36 of thetable top 12. Furthermore, thelatch arm 30 and more particularly the finger thereof extend within theleg 14, and thus the entire collapsing mechanism is essentially hidden from view by the conventionalperipheral skirt 16. Thus, the table 10 has the outward appearance of a noncollapsible table, and yet it is collapsible. It is also extremely rigid because of the interaction of the A finger 59 of thelatch arm 30 and theinterior corner 64 of thehollow leg 14, and more particularly the contact; betweenfinger 50 andside 62, andlong run 86 andedge 38 defining thewindow 54. Furthermore, the collapsing or erection of table 10 is achieved with the simple flip or rotation of thelever 28.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

\Vhat is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a table comprising a table top with top and bottom surfaces, a peripheral skirt adjacent and along each side of said table top depending from said table top and having an undersurface, and a leg at each corner of said table, each of said legs being individually hinged to said skirt undersurface, the improvement comprising providing a plurality of individually collapsible mechanisms each associated with one of said legs and located closely ad jacent the undersurface of said table top, each said collapsing mechanism including a shiftable latch arm and lever means for driving said latch arm between locked and unlocked positions, said latch arm having a locking finger extending therefrom and being adapted to lockingly engage said associated table leg, whereby each of said table legs may be locked in assembled position by manipulation of said lever means of said associated mechanism to seat said locking finger in locking engagement, and whereby said table legs may be collapsed by unseating said locking finger through reverse manipulation of said lever means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said table legs has a window permitting said latch arm to extend therein with said latch arm being adapted to be seated in locking engagement with said table leg through said window.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said table legs is hollow with said window permitting said latch arm to have access to interior portions of said leg, and said locking finger engaging an edge of said window in the locked position of said latch arm.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said latch arm engages said window edge adjacent an interior corner of said leg.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said lever means and said latch arm are associated together.

6. The invention ofclaim 5 wherein said latch arm has a hole and wherein said lever means has a cam which is received in said hole.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said cam has an eccentrically located pin extending therefrom.

8. The invention of claim 7 including an angle bracket having first and second perpendicular walls, one of said bracket walls being secured to the bottom surface of said table top and the other of said bracket walls having an opening therein receiving said pin.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein a U-shaped guide is secured to said angle bracket, said guide loosely receiving said latch arm.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein a magnet is associated with said undersurface on each side of said table top and wherein said legs are of a magnetizable material whereby said legs are held against said undersurface when said legs are brought to a collapsed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,780 3/1915 Haskell 108-425 1,198,227 9/1916 Hinehey 292251.5 3,093,095 6/1963 Howe et a1 108----13l FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A TABLE COMPRISING A TABLE TOP WITH TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES, A PERIPHERAL SKIRT ADJACENT AND ALONG EACH SIDE OF SAID TABLE TOP DEPENDING FROM SAID TABLE TOP AND HAVING AN UNDERSURFACE, AND A LEG AT EACH CORNER OF SAID TABLE, EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING INDIVIDUALLY HINGED TO SAID SKIRT UNDERSURFACE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUALLY COLLAPSIBLE MECHANISMS EACH ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID LEGS AND LOCATED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID TABLE TOP, EACH SAID COLLAPSING MECHANISM INCLUDING A SHIFTABLE LATCH ARM AND LEVER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID LATCH ARM BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITIONS, SAID LATCH ARM HAVING A LOCKING FINGER EXTENDING THEREFROM AND BEING ADAPTED TO LOCKINGLY ENGAGE SAID ASSOCIATED TABLE LEG, WHEREBY EACH OF SAID TABLE LEGS MAY BE LOCKED IN ASSEMBLED POSITION BY MANIPULATION OF SAID LEVER MEANS OF SAID ASSOCIATED MECHANISM TO SEAT SAID LOCKING FINGER IN LOCKING ENGAGEMENT, AND WHEREBY SAID TABLE LEGS MAY BE COLLAPSED BY UNSEATING SAID LOCKING FINGER THROUGH REVERSE MANIPULATION OF SAID LEVER MEANS.

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