US1080437A - Foldable table structure. - Google Patents

Description

V. J. GRIESHEIMER. FOLDABLB TABLE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FXLED APR. 22, 1912.

1,080,437. y Patented 1360.2, 1913.

' furor/nu,

VALENTINE J. GRIESHEIMER, OF CHILLICOTHE, OHIO.

FOLDABLE TABLE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 22, 1912.

atentetl D ec. 2, 19] 3.

sei-iai No. 692,430.

T0 all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, V.\m1N'iiNn J. Gainsiinimrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Table Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to foldable table structure and is particularly directed to the provision of an improvement in that class of tables which are readily adjustable to vary the general conformation of the table top from a square, rectangular or general circular and oval fo-rmation to slightly analogous forms.

My improvement is designed to provide such a structure of table top formation that the table top may be enlarged or decreased as regards superficial area by a simple manipulation thereof and in the effectuatio-n of these results, my invention is particularly efficient because of the fact that the adjustable structure is peculiarly formed to retain a maximum degree of strength and rigidity.

Various features of my invention and the resultant advantages thereof, will he more fully set forth at length in the folle-wing specification referring` to the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table top structure modeled in conformity to my improvement, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the structure sho-wn in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 1s a detail of the rim and hinge structure constituting one of the essentials of my inven tion, Fig. 11 is a detail showing my improved form of brace structure for the foldable leaves of my table, Fig. 5 is a detail showing one of the locking elements for maintaining the said leaves in folded position, and, Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6d@ of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the ar rows and showing a combined brace and latch struct-ure.

In the drawings, the table structure is shown as comprising a central standard 1 upon which is mounted a center piece 2 preferably having a plurality of radial brace elements 3, Il, 5 and 6 which are connected to a rim element 7 extending entirely around the table and rigidly mounted thereon, being determinately disposed within the external edge of the center piece 2. At intervals, the rim is provided with hinges S which in turn support supplemental leaves t) preferably having brace elements 1() designed to aline with the brace elements 3, l-, 5 and 6 of the center piece 2. These hinge elements are, however, connected to the supplemental leaves by cross pieces 11 which preferably extend beyond the inner edges of the supplemental leaves, as shown in Figs. Lland It will, ,of course, be understood that these cross pieces 11 are rigidly secured to the supplemental leaf structure and to one leaf of each hinge, serving as the only means of connection between the center piece and the supplemental leaves.

From the structure thus far described, it will be apparent that there is provided a center piece and supplemental leaves which are capable of assuming two positions, either a raised or a folded position. In the raised position the cross pieces 11 tit firmly against the outer sides of the cross rim 7 and the inner edge'of the supplemental leaves tit firmly against the outer edges of the center piece 2. Thus, it will be seen that there is formed an L-shaped or interlocking joint structure, which makes for a great degree of rigidity. These supplemental leaves are maintained in raised position by means of pivoted brace elements 12 which are desirably pivoted at their inner ends as at 13, one upon each of the radial braces 3, 1-, 5 and G and which are adapted to he swung into position of alinement with the radial brace ele-ments 3, Ll, 5 and G and with the members 10, in which position they span the joint bctween the supplemental leaves and the center piece of the table. Extending laterally from one side of each of the radial brace elements is a pin 111 which is adapted to coact with a pierced metallic dependent member 15 to support each brace element 12 in juxtaposition to the point where it spans the said joint. In addition, adjacent to each brace element 12 and in the arc described by the dependent member 15 during the swinging of the brace element 12, is a hook member 16 which is adapted to enter the aperture of such dependent member and maintain the swinging brace element in inoperative position. Thus, it will be seen, that the dependent member serves when the brace is in normal position by coaction with the pin 141 to increase the rigidity of such brace and more firmly prevent collapse of the supplemental leaf. Also, it is operative when the brace is in inoperative position to maintain such position of the brace.

The means for locking each supplemental leaf in folded position, preferably comprises a resilient rod 17 mounted at one end upon the rim 7 and extending inwardly an appreciable distance, being preferably provided with a downward extension 18 to facilitate manipulation thereof. This rod member 17 is preferably provided with a loop or hook formation as at 19 which is capable of a latching action in connection with a pin 20. ln other words, the swinging` of the supplemental leaf into folded position, will cause the pin to contact with the loop described and force it ontwardly and slightly upwardly about the point of support of the resilient rod 17 until such pin has moved into position within such loop. The outward movement of the loop is limited by staple 2].. 1t will be understood that a latch structure identical to this, may be provided for each supple` mental loop.

From the description, it will be apparent that I have provided ay structure of table which is readily manipulative to vary its general appearance and which, regardless of the varied form, presents a rigid construction due partially to the interlocking rim formation and partially to the peculiar form of brace elements in the nature of swinging brace members provided with an intermediate support of a simple nature.

' Furthermore, the latch structure is such that the leaves may be readily folded and will au'- tomatically lock in position, although the length and general formation of the resilient loop arms greatly facilitates releasefof these supplemental elements for the purpose of extension.

lVhat I claim, is-

Foldable table structure comprising a center piece, a plurality of supplemental leaves, a plurality of swinging braces pivoted to the center piece, pins disposed ntermediate the ends of said swinging elements on said center' piece, and a locking loopr carried by each of said braces for fitting through said pins and adapted to resist the downward movement of the supplemental leaves of said foldable table structure.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VALENTNE J. GRIESHEIMER.

`Witnesses F Loro lRwIN,

J W. (lanterna, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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