US3767152A - Tabletop clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A one-piece clamp for suspending articles such as handbags from a tabletop or for clipping tablecloths on the tabletop. The clamp has plate-like legs relatively positioned to form an L-shaped bracket, the legs of which may be folded to a flat configuration. Clamping pressure is supplied by a tongue connected to one of the legs and pressing against the underside of the tabletop.

Description

United States Patent 1 Killinger 1 TABLETOP CLAMP [76] Inventor: William J. Killinger, 4262 Lamont DTiLKFPEFlPfiLQhlQ c,

[22] Filed: June 28, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 267,011

[52] US. Cl. 248/226 E, 24/84 B [51] Int. Cl. A471 5/00 [58] Field of Search 248/226 R, 226 E,

248/205 R, 304, 308; 24/255, 81 B, 81 C, 84 B, 84 C, 84 R, 261 A, 261 B, 3 F, 243 AB,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,953,627 4/1934 Overholtz 24/81 B UX 3,304,042 2/1967 lvandick.... 248/226 E X 1,856,847 5/1932 Gates 248/226 E 2,172,787 9/1939 Brownell 24/81 C X 2,461,071 2/1949 Mettenleiter..... 24/84 B X 3,266,111 Abel 24/81 C 3,279,727 10/1966 Buttriss 24/81 B X 871,072 11/1907 Seidenopinner.. 24/81 C 1,955,476 4/1934 Torgersen 248/226 R X 1,751,198 3/1930 Franck 248/308 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 1,104,776 2/1968 Great Britain 248/308 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney-Roger S. Dybvig [57] ABSTRACT A one-piece clamp for suspending articles such as handbags from a tabletop or for clipping tablecloths on the tabletop. The clamp has plate-like legs relatively positioned to form an L-shaped bracket, the legs of which may be folded to a flat configuration. Clamping pressure is supplied by a tongue connected to one of the legs and pressing against the underside of the tabletop.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TABLETOP CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple clamp which may be used either for suspending articles from,or clipping articles to a tabletop, which may be made in one-piece from polypropylene or the like plastic material, which is easily clamped to a tabletop and removable therefrom, and which may be folded flat for convenience in carrying or storing.

A clamp in accordance with this invention is generally L-shaped, the legs of the L-shape being plate-like members, one of which is adapted to engage horizontally along the upper surface of a tabletop, the other of which extends vertically along a marginal edge of the tabletop. A pressure applying tongue confronting the horizontal leg is connected to the vertical leg along the lower edge of an aperture therein. The clamp may be mounted on the table with one hand by gripping the side edges of the vertical leg by the thumb and middle finger, respectively, while engaging the tongue by the index finger extended through the aperture to bias it into engagement with the underside of the tabletop.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the entire clamp is molded in one piece from a plastic material such as polypropylene and the tongue is molded so as initially to have a relaxed condition substantially in the plane of the leg to which it is connected whereupon, when bent out of its relaxed condition, it is self-biasing to apply pressure to the underside of the tabletop. Also the plate-like legs are pivotally connected together to permit the legs to be folded one against the other when the clamp is not in use, the legs being provided with cooperating snap fastener means whereupon the clamp may be carried or stored with the legs folded flat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop clamp in accordance with this invention shown with a pendant for the strap of a ladys handbag, the clamp being illustrated in a folded condition as it would be when stored or carried.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 1 unfolded or opened in preparation for clipping it to a tabletop.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp and pendant with the clamp clipped to a tabletop.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the clamp illustrated clipped to a tabletop as in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following description of this invention is in terms of the presently contemplated best use thereof, that is a clamp for a tabletop. It will be appreciated, however, that the clamp of this invention may be used for temporarily securing articles together or securing articles to members other than tabletops. To avoid a prolixity of terms, the terminology tabletop is used in the following description and claims although it is to be understood that this term is to be construed to apply to other members or articles to which the clamp of this invention may be advantageously applied. Furthermore, terms such as upper", lower, horizontal" and the like are used for convenience, it being understood that such terms are merely relative.

With reference to the drawing, a clamp in accordance with this invention is generally designated 10 and comprises afirst leg 12 and asecond leg 14. When engaged with atabletop 16, thelegs 12 and 14 are oriented in an L-shaped configuration, the confronting faces of thelegs 12 and 14 being relatively located at an included angle of substantially thefirst leg 12 engaging horizonally along the top of thetabletop 16 and thesecond leg 14 extending vertically along the side edge of the tabletop l6. Clamping pressure is pro vided by a generallyrectangular tongue 18 connected to alower margin 20 of a centrally locatedaperture 22 in thevertical leg 14. The particular usage of theclamp 10 illustrated in the drawing is for temporarily suspending a ladys handbag from thetabletop 16, the strap, designated 24, of the handbag extending through aring 26 of apendant 28 connected as by awire ring 30 to the lower end of thevertical leg 14.

Thefirst leg 12 and thesecond leg 14 are preferably formed by molding them in one piece from a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene, and are joined together by aweb 32 of the same material. Theweb 32 issufficiently thin that it permits thelegs 12 and 14 to be pivoted or folded toward one another whereupon the confronting faces thereof may be brought into substantial engagement as illustrated in FIG. 1. At such time thelegs 12 and 14 can be temporarily secured together at the sides opposite theweb 32 by cooperating interfitting means. As illustrated the interfitting means may consist of aball 34 integrally formed on the end of thefirst leg 12 adapted to be snapped into asocket 36 in aflange plate 38 integrally formed on the corresponding end of thesecond leg 14.

Thefirst leg 12 is a relatively stiff plate which, as known to those familiar with polypropylene plastics, can be made adequately stiff if on the order of a quarter of an inch thick. Optionally theleg 12 may have a uniform thickness or, for purposes of utility or design, one or both faces of theleg 12 could be recessed. In the drawing theplate 12 is shown to have arectangular recess 40 in its lower face. Therecess 40 could, for example, house a mirror (not shown) or it could receive a suitable rubber or the like sheet (not shown) for providing a better frictional grip to the tabletop. Theleg 14 is also a relatively stiff plate and thetongue 18 is substantially thinner than the body of theplate 14 so that thetongue 18 is relatively resilient. During the molding of theclamp 10, thetongue 18 is preferably located inside theaperture 22, with its outer face substantially coplanar with the inside face of thevertical leg 14. Such molding technique will cause thetongue 18 to be self-biasing thereby to apply pressure to the underside of the tabletop when theclamp 10 is mounted thereon.

In practice theplates 12 and 14 are preferably positioned relative to one another at an included angle of precisely 90 when in clamping position although a slightly smaller included angle might be satisfactory. If the included angle exceeds 90 the clamp would usually not be satisfactory because it would then have a tendency to slide off thetabletop 16. To obtain the proper included angle, theweb 32 extends along a horizontal pivot axis spaced from the outer edge of thehorizontal plate 12, whereupon anabutment surface 42 overhanging the tabletop is provided between theweb 32 and the outer edge of theplate 12. Theweb 32 is also connected to the inner edge of the top surface of theplate 14. The top surface of theplate 14 thus acts as a stop surface against which theabutment surface 42 engages when the parts are in clamping position. These two surfaces can be formed to any desired mating configuration which prevents theplate 12 from being pivoted relative to theplate 14 beyond an included angle of 90. For ease of manufacture, the mating surfaces are preferably planar, thesurface 42 being coplanar with the lower surface of theplate 12.

If theclamp 10 is to be used for suspending a lady's handbag from a tabletop, it may be carried around in folded flat condition as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theclamp 10 is preferably decorated to form an attractive accessory for the handbag. 1f the clamp is simply to be stored it would again most conveniently be folded flat. When it is to be used as a clamp or clip, theflange 38 may be bent to release theball 34 from thesocket 36. Then, by gripping the side edges of theplate 14 between the thumb and the middle finger, the free end of theleg 12 is first placed on the tabletop and thetongue 18 bent so that its free end is substantially parallel to theplate 12 by extending the index finger through thefinger access aperture 22. The pressure exerted by thetongue 18 against the table need be just sufficient to maintain the L-shaped configuration of thelegs 12 and 14. Accordingly, theclamp 10 may be removed from the tabletop merely by gripping it with one hand and pulling it laterally away.

Although the unitary one-piece construction illustrated in the drawing is preferred, it will be apparent that theweb 32 could be replaced by a piano hinge or hinges (not shown) and that thetongue 18 could be made from a relatively stiff material connected by a spring-biased hinge (not shown) of conventional construction to the face of theleg 14. it is important, however, that the vertical leg be shaped to provide finger access to the tongue through theleg 14.

Although the presently preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A clamp for a tabletop comprising a horizontal leg adapted to overlie a tabletop and extend beyond an edge of the tabletop, a vertical leg connected to said horizontal leg and having an upper surface abutted against a lower surface of said horizontal leg projecting beyond the edge of the tabletop, said horizontal and vertical legs being pivotally connected together about a horizontal axis whereby said legs may be folded together with their inside faces in substantial engagement, interfitting means on said legs for releasably maintaining said legs folded together, and bias means for applying pressure pivotally connected to said vertical leg and extending from said vertical leg to the underside of said tabletop in confronting relation to the horizontal leg, said vertical leg being shaped to provide finger access to said bias means.

2. A clamp for a tabletop comprising an L-shaped bracket having two legs abutting one another at an included angle of substantially one of said legs being apertured, a resilient tongue connected to a margin of the aperture in said one leg, said tongue being bendable into a position whereat its free end is substantially parallel to the other of said legs, whereupon said other of said legs may be positioned on one surface of a tabletop with said one of said legs extending along the edge of said tabletop and with said tongue engaging the opposite surface of said tabletop and applying pressure thereto for retaining said clamp in gripping relation to said tabletop, said legs and said tongue being molded in one piece from plastic, said legs being joined by a web permitting said legs to be pivoted relative to one another from said L-shaped bracket configuration to a flat configuration.

3. A clamp for a tabletop comprising a horizontal leg adapted to overlie a tabletop and extend beyond an edge of the tabletop, a vertical leg connected to said horizontal leg and having an upper surface abutted against a lower surface of said horizontal leg projecting beyond the edge of the tabletop, and bias means for applying pressure pivotally connected to said vertical leg and extending from said vertical leg to the underside of said tabletop in confronting relation to the horizontal leg, said vertical leg being apertured to permit finger access to said bias means, said bias means comprising a resilient tongue, the lower edge of which is connected to said vertical leg along the lower edge of the aperture therein, said horizontal leg, said vertical leg, and said tongue being formed in one piece, said horizontal leg and said vertical leg being pivotally connected together by a web extending along the lower face of said horizontal leg and the upper inside edge of said vertical leg.

Claims (3)

1. A clamp for a tabletop comprising a horizontal leg adapted to overlie a tabletop and extend beyond an edge of the tabletop, a vertical leg connected to said horizontal leg and having an upper surface abutted against a lower surface of said horizontal leg projecting beyond the edge of the tabletop, said horizontal and vertical legs being pivotally connected together about a horizontal axis whereby said legs may be folded together with their inside faces in substantial engagement, interfitting means on said legs for releasably maintaining said legs folded together, and bias means for applying pressure pivotally connected to said vertical leg and extending from said vertical leg to the underside of said tabletop in confronting relation to the horizontal leg, said vertical leg being shaped to provide finger access to said bias means.

2. A clamp for a tabletop comprising an L-shaped bracket having two legs abutting one another at an included angle of substantially 90*, one of said legs being apertured, a resilient tongue connected to a margin of the aperture in said one leg, said tongue being bendable into a position whereAt its free end is substantially parallel to the other of said legs, whereupon said other of said legs may be positioned on one surface of a tabletop with said one of said legs extending along the edge of said tabletop and with said tongue engaging the opposite surface of said tabletop and applying pressure thereto for retaining said clamp in gripping relation to said tabletop, said legs and said tongue being molded in one piece from plastic, said legs being joined by a web permitting said legs to be pivoted relative to one another from said L-shaped bracket configuration to a flat configuration.

3. A clamp for a tabletop comprising a horizontal leg adapted to overlie a tabletop and extend beyond an edge of the tabletop, a vertical leg connected to said horizontal leg and having an upper surface abutted against a lower surface of said horizontal leg projecting beyond the edge of the tabletop, and bias means for applying pressure pivotally connected to said vertical leg and extending from said vertical leg to the underside of said tabletop in confronting relation to the horizontal leg, said vertical leg being apertured to permit finger access to said bias means, said bias means comprising a resilient tongue, the lower edge of which is connected to said vertical leg along the lower edge of the aperture therein, said horizontal leg, said vertical leg, and said tongue being formed in one piece, said horizontal leg and said vertical leg being pivotally connected together by a web extending along the lower face of said horizontal leg and the upper inside edge of said vertical leg.

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