US2318945A - Folding table latch - Google Patents

Description

U. K. JOHANNSEN FOLDING TABLE LATCH May 11, 1943.

Filed June 3, 1940 FIG- l2.

(/Do /y JOHAN/vang ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE LATCH AUdo K. Johannsen, Cortland, N. Y., assignor to The Brewer-Titchener Corporation, Cortland, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1940, Serial No. 338,470 4 Claims.` (Cl. 311-87) My invention broadly relates to a portable folding table and is more particularly directed to a-n improved leg latch for collapsible banqueting tables or the like, having a four-legged metal understructure in which mated legs are independently operable in pairs and adapted to compactly infold about companion guide linkages when not extended for use.

The complementary guide links herein resorted toY are preferably of a kind more explicitly defined in my prior PatentV No.V 2,075,778 issued March 30, -1937.- While such linkage has -been found wholly suitable for ordinary purposes, it has 4proved deficient in certain respects when erected tables of this type are being skidded lengthwise along a sustaining oor into end to end row formation for banqueting needs. Under such severe service there is a tendency to wedgingly lift an unloaded table board and thereby allow one pair of erected legs to initiate collapse. In order to obviate such behavior, I have now devised a releasable interlock thatl automatically follows up and positively retains the erected legs against unwanted skidding collapse.

Such leverized latch is further provided with cam means that actuates the latch to clear itself while the table legs are being manipulated.

The object of the present improvements is to provide for a sturdy but inherently light weight table of the character indicated in which the link guided leg ends shall under all conditions be latched against inadvertentl collapse after the respective legs have been brought into erected posi= tion.

Embodied herein are associated structural features such as effective foot pad means and other aspects designed to facilitate the economical manufacture and operation of the foldable table parts. Reference is had to the accompanyingone drawing sheet which is illustrative of a cer'- tain preferred exemplication, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1 represents an elevational end view of an erected folding table equipped with my improved devices, and Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 shows a side View of thegtable understructure i-n its fully collapsed positie-n.

Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, respectively detail in enlarged scale, different foldable linkage positions as seen from the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 depicts a fragmental sectional view along '1 -'lof Fig. 4. Y

Fig. 8 details a stamped latch lever, and Fig. 9 reveals a suitable iulcrum thereof as taken along 9-90fFiE.8. u

Figs. 10 and 11 respectively detail a domed foot pad shaped to embrace the floor contacting end of a table leg.

Fig. 12 cross-sectionally shows a corrugated moulding arranged to protect the board edge against abrasive action.

Referring more specifically to the drawing,l -I0 and II respectively designate one pair of interbraced mated legs fabricated to length from relatively thin angle iron stock, of which each free end may be telescopically embraced by an attached foot pad I2 of the kind that will presently be more explicitly described. When erected, each cross-sectionally angle shaped leg is placed cornerwise of the oblong table top I3 and respectively includes a side flange I5 and an inturned flange I9.

Said top may be made of plywood or the like laminated board material and have a moulding I4 tacked around the marginal edge thereof. The respective leg side anges I5 are each apertured contiguous to the upper leg ends for receiving a guide pivot I6 therethrough. A strap or a crosssectionally angle shaped rung or other hook engaging means I'I may be secured tothe upper region of a mated leg, preferably with one edge directed toward the other leg end. Additional lateral rigidity may be imparted by the use of a V tie strut I8 or the like reenforcement of which the apex may be braced to said rung and the divergent strut ends respectively affixed to a side flange of the mated table legs, as shown. Such interconnecting truss not only steadies the legs against spread but permits one of a pair of legs to be actuated by the manipulation of a mated leg, Each side flange of the several legs may further be provided with a brace link pivot 20 located between the guide pivot I6 and its leg foot.

. A skeletonized metal framework 2| (see Figs. 1 and 2) may be firmly secured beneath the elongated top I3 by flat headed rivets 3U so as to constitute laterally reenforced board structure. Such lboard understructure preferably comprises intersecting pairs of angle iron side and end rails formed into a hollow quadrilateral shape of which thesplaniform flange 22 is disposed to lie atwise against the board and the endless complementary or depending flange 23 extends outwardly from the Vtop board in an inset relation to the perimetric trim strip I4. In certain instances such elongated'understructure may likewise be applied to a round table top. The overall spacing of the erected legs is purposely confined well within the board edge and. arranged to comfortably clear the knees of persons closely seated around my table.

Referring now to the preferred mode of pivotally attaching each upper leg end to said framework, this may be accomplished by the use of companion links such as a relatively long brace link 24 and a relatively shorter guide link 25. The depending flange of each side rail of my framework is provided with complementary pairs of link pivots on which the guide link pivots 26 are located in close proximity to the respective rail ends. The companion brace link pivots such as 2l are spacedly interposed between said pivots 26. are respectively directed inwardlytoward a corresponding upper leg pivot I6 to fall into substantial alignment with an adjoining framework rail.

Each guide link when riveted to its rail by the pivot 2S may be kept away from the contiguous leg end by the use of a cylindrical spacer agency 28. The depending rail flange 23 may -be notched at 29 for the reception of said spacer in erected leg position. This notch permits the guide link 25 to fall into closer alignment with the framework rail, although such expedient is non-essential as far as present purposes are concerned.

When the leg pairs are collapsed, the several guide links extend outwardly away from their respective pivots 25 in the fashion represented in Fig. `3 and the leg side flanges i5 then fall into aligned registry upon a contiguous edge of the ehdlessframe rail 23. My table tcp is preferably of suicient length to provide for a clearance space between the foot endsof the non-overlap- .ping folded legs, Suchcollapsed tables may be compactly stacked .in regular order for storage or lot shipment. To protect painted or sprayed table legs against superficial injury, I preferably provide each leg side ange l5 with a cupped resilient buier 3| of rubber or the like material. As cross-sectionally indicated in Fig. 6l such outstanding buffer may be exteriorly secured by a countersunk rivet 32 and allows the next adjacent polished table top to cushioningly rest thereonin stacked I'latwise fashion Without scrufling.

When the table is to be extended for use, each pair of mated legs is independently manipulated into erected position and swings through the intermediate position represented in Fig. 6. 'I'he upper leg end is conjointly steered into place by the links 24 and 25. By pulling an erected leg end outwardly away from the flange 22, the corfrespondinfT spacer 28 becomes disengaged, which thereupon allows each leg pair to freely assume collapsed position.

Insetting up a row of such relatively long tables in end to end formation for banquet needs, they are after erection, likely to be skidded for some distance lengthwise of a floor. In order to obviate any partial leg collapse, I have found it expedient to provide for a leg retaining latch 33. Such releasable interlock may assume various configurations but is preferably devised as a trough shaped stamped lever of sheet metal that may be pivotally attached at 34 beneath the top board by a centralized fulcrum bracket 35 (see Fig. 8), said lever being longitudinally crooked to clear the collapsed rung I1 and its adjacent depending flange 23 as in Fig. 5. When serving mated legs, such common lever may terminate in a manipulative handle 35 and have an `undercut catch or hooked nose 3T disposed intermediate the lever ends. In erected leg position, said latch preferably engages the depending rung edge in In erected table position the guide links the Fig. 4 manner, there being a return spring 38 or the like means that releasably retains said latch in operative position. While engaged, the erected table legs cannot vbecome separated from the top I3 even should the floor contacting leg ends be skidded.

To release said latch, the handle 35 is deliberately rocked outwardly away from the rung Il. A pertinent feature of the present latch device resides in having the rounded edge of the angular rung I1 wipe in cam fashion along the irregular inner nose contour to rockingly actuate and automatically carry said lever against spring tension into its inoperative Fig. 5 position whereby to compactly stow the same within the collapsed leg confines. By raising either one of the mated legs Ill or Il, the rounded rung edge will again wipe unobstructedly in a reverse direction and allow the spring 38 to automatically throw the lever latch 31 into its engaged Fig. 4 position. It may be emphasized that in lieu of the rung I1, the same hooking result is to be had by a non-centralized latch lever when made to engage a substitute lug or stanchion carried by one of the mated table legs.

To further counteract the drag effect of a. skidded leg, it is preferred to trim each floor contacting leg end with an improved foot pad I2 preferably stamped from sheet metal to comprise a triangular base plate 40 that is crosssectionally dome shaped for smooth gliding contact along a hard floor at the minimum of fric-f tional drag. The respectivel plate edges may each be upturned into a leg gripping lip such as 4I (see Figs. 10 and 11), certain of which lips being permanently aixed to an embraced leg end.

As regards the corrugated wear moulding I4, its profile may be cross-sectionally shaped to provide for opposed partially closed marginal beads such as 42 and 43 that are interconnected by an integral bridge strip component 44 A(see Fig. l2). The respective bead edges are shown disposed in perpendicular relation. The edge of the bead 42 may lie ush with the upper face of the top board as shown, While the edge of the bead 43 is inset to extend beneath said board in an abutting relation to the bottom face thereof. The perforated bridge strip may be tightly and rapidly tacked in place by a series of drive screws 45. Said beads protect the board against abrasion when set up edgewise to facilitate folding of the table legs. If desired, a thin sheet of Masonite or other colored plastic laminate 46 may be applied as a veneer to decorate my table top.

` Other advantages inherent in the assembly of my foldable table improvements are believed apsaid structure and which several legs respectively have an upper end that is Vshiftable lengthwise of a board face, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion brace link respectively pivoted to each table leg and also to the board structure, said links being arranged to conjointly steer .an

upper leg end into and out of erected abutment with said face, hook engaging means secured to one such leg to move in unison therewith, latch lever means of which one end is pivotally mounted on the board structure in an interposed relation to the corresponding guide link and brace link board pivots, said lever in a region remote from its pivot being provided with a hook nose prole disposed to automatically latch said one leg against separation from its abutting board face, and means urging said lever into maintained contact with the hook engaging means and which hook engaging means serves to rock the lever counterwise to such urge alongside said board face when said leg is collapsed.

2. A collapsible table or the like adapted to unfold into erected position, said table comprising a top board structure, mated ioldable legs at opposite regions of said structure and which several legs respectively have an upper end that is shiftable lengthwise of and toward or away from a board face, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion brace link for each such leg, said links being respectively pivoted to the leg thereof and also to the board structure and arranged to conjointly steer an upper leg end toward said face into erected position, rung means interconnecting a pair of such mated legs, latch lever means of which one end is pivotally mounted on the board, said lever intermediate its ends being provided With a hook nose profile adapted to latch said pair cf rung interconnected legs against separation from the board face when erected thereon, and means urging said lever into maintained engagement with said rung means and which rung means serves to rock the lever counterwise to such urge into a position alongside said board face when the last named pair of legs are collapsed.

3. A collapsible table or the like adapted to manipulatively unfold into erected position, said table comprising a top board structure, mated foldable legs at opposite regions of said structure and which several legs respectively have an upper end that is shiftable lengthwise oi a board face, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion brace link for each such leg respectively pivoted to conjointly steer the upper leg end thereof toward said face into erected position, hook engaging means carriedby a foldable leg and which means is located inwardly from the leg pivot of its corresponding guide link, and a spring urged latch lever provided with a nosed profile disposed to automatically latch said hook engaging means when the corresponding steered upper leg end is brought into erected position, said hook engaging means upon being released serving to wipe lengthwise of said profile to positively actuate the lever against spring tension.

4. A collapsible table or the like adapted to manipulatively unfold into .erected position, said table comprising a top board structure, mated foldable legs at opposite regions of said structure and which legs respectively have an upper end that is shiftable lengthwise of a board face, a relatively short guide link and a longer companion brace link for each such leg respectively pivoted to conjointly steer an upper leg end thereof toward said face into erected position, rung means interconnecting a pair of such mated legs, and a longitudinally crooked latch lever pivoted to the board structure, said lever intermediate its ends being provided with a hook nose prole adapted to latch said pair of rung interconnected legs against separation from the board face when erected thereon, and means urging the lever into maintained engagement with said rung means and which rung means serves to carry the lever counterwise to such urge into a position alongside said board in an underlying relation to the rung means when the last named pair of legs are collapsed.

UDO K. JOHANNSEN.

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