US2868599A - Portable folding table - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1959 v. ROGGIO 7 2,868,599

PORTABLE FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 12, 1957 INVENTOR VICTOR Rosan ATTORNEY United States PDRTABLE FOLDING TABLE ,Victor Roggio, Villanova, Pa.

Application December 12, 1957, Serial No. 702,387

3 Claims. 01. 311-90) detachably securedtogether and thereby adapted to be fully expanded from a compact folded unit to conjointly serve as a single table and then detached from one another to serve as two separate tables.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide such a table having a pair of sections secured together so that they may be quickly detached from one another while the table is folded into a compact unit, and then'f ully expanded to serve as two separate tables.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent more fully hereinafter, it being understood, of course, that the-invention consists inthe general combination, construction, location and relative arrangeinent of parts, all as described in detail in the following specification, as shownin the accompanyingdrawings and I as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of an exemplary table constructed in accordance with and embodying theprinciples of the present invention, the table being shown folded into a portable, compact unit.

Figure 2 is aperspe'ctive view of the table of Figure 1, the table being shown fully expanded and the sections thereof attached to one another and conjointly serving as a single table.

Figures 3 and 4 are elevations showing the sections of the table detached from one another and serving as two separate tables.

FigureS is a longitudinal section through the folded up, compact table unit, the leg frames being shown sandwiched between the table top members.

Figure 6 is a vertical section between the meeting ends of the table top members.

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective fragmentary bottom views of the meeting end portions of the table top members.

Referring to the drawing, the exemplary foldable table constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention comprises a pair of pivotally quick detachably connected sections respectively des ignated A and B.

The table section A comprises a light gauge sheet metal table top that is of rectangular shape, and which has a depending skirt extending about its outer periphery including opposite side skirt sections 11 and 12 and opposite end skirt sections 13 and 14. This table top is fitted with a pair of tubular leg frames 15 and 16 of generally U shape, the corresponding upper extremities of each leg frame being flattened and secured respectively to the skirt sections 11 and 12, as at 17 -17. Each leg frame is secured against spreading under load by a pair of foldatent O aasasss Patented Jan, 13, 1:95?)

27 and 28, foldab le corner braces 29, and a handle 31?.

The end skirt sections 14 and 26 are disposed at an acute angle respectively to the table tops 10 and 22, in consequence of which, when the table sections A and B are fully expanded, the skirt sections aforesaid are disposed respectively in planes that diverge downwardly from the meeting edges of the table tops 10 and 22.

The corner of the table top 10 where the skirt sections 12 and .14 meet is fitted with a sheet metal hinge part that has a main body 31 and a pair of lateral extensions 32 and 33. The main body 31 and the lateral extensions 32 are disposed under the table top 10, respectively in side abutting relation to the skirt sections 14 and 12, while the lateral extension 33 projects outwardly from under the skirt section 14 and terminates in an area 34 that is turned back upon itself and wrapped about an axially fixed pin 35 which extends toward the opposite side of the unit.

The corner of the table top 10 where the skirt sections 11 and 14 meet is fitted with a sheet metal hinge part that has a main body 36 and a pair of lateral extensions 32 and 33. The main body 31 and the lateral extension 37 are disposed under the table top 10, respectively in side abutting relation to the skirt sections 14 and 11, while the lateral extension 38 projects outwardly from under the skirt section 14 and terminates in an area that is turned back upon itself to form a pin receiving barrel 39.

Slidably fitted into the barrel 39 is a combination hinge and latch pin that has a main body portion 40, a reduced diameter nose 41 and a reduced diameter stem 42 which mounts a finger pull knob 43. The barrel 39 is internally t fitted with a bushing 44 and with a coil compression spring 45 that is wrapped about the stem 42; Normally, the

,spring 45 operates to bias the knob 43 into abutting engagement with the bushing 44, in consequence of which thenose 41 and a substantial portion of the main body 40 of the latch pin project from the barrel 39 toward the opposite side of the unit, the latch organization being such that by pulling upon the knob 43the nose 41 of the latchpin may be fully retracted into the barrel 3? against the influence of the spring 45. t

The corners of the table top 22 where the skirt section 26 meets the skirt sections 23 and 24 are provided respectively with a pair of essentially identical sheet metal hinge parts, each of which has a main body 48 and a pair of lateral extensions 49 and 50. The main body 48 and the lateral extension 49 are disposed under the table top 22, respectively in side abutting relation to skirt section 26 and the associated skirt section 23 or 24, while the lateral extension 50 projects outwardly from under the skirt section 26 and terminates in an area that is turned back upon itself to form a pin receiving barrel 51. Preferably, the four hinge parts store said are secured in place by spot welding,

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 6, normally the pins 35 and 40 are accommodated respectively by the pin receiving barrels 5151 and disposed with their axes coincident with the line of intersection of a vertically ex tending plane intervening the meeting ends of the table tops 10 and 22 and a horizontally extending plane at the level of the narrow lower edges of the skirts extending about the table tops 10 and 22.

As shown in Figure 2, the table sections A and B conjointly serve as a single table, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, these sections are detached from one another and serve as two separate tables. This change is effected by first pulling upon the knob 43 to thereby fully retract the nose 41 of the latch pin into the associated pin receiving barrel 51 against the influence of the compression coil spring 45, whereupon the meeting ends of the table tops 1t and 22 are separated to move the latch pin laterally out of alignment with theaccommodating barrel 51. Then the table sections A and B are shifted horizontally relative to one another to disengage the pin 35 from its accommodating barrel 51. Of course, to reunite the table sections A and B, the precedure outline hereinabove is reversed.

To fold the table into a portable, compact unit, first the several corner braces 18 and the leg frames 1:3 and 16 are folded up close under the table top and thereby disposed entirely within the confines of the skirt extending about the table top ll). Then the several corner braces 29 and the leg frames 27 and 28 are folded up close under the table top 22 and thereby disposed entirely Within the confines of the skirt extending about the table top 22. Now the table sections A and B, folded in the manner aforesaid, are swung about the axis of the pins 35 and 40 and suitably secured together, as by a hook 52 and a pin 53. In this fully folded up condition of the unit, the skirts extending about the table tops 10 and 22 conjointly form the outer peripherally extending wall of a case within which are fully enclosed the several corner braces 18 and 29 and the several leg frames 15, 16, 27, and 28. 'Of course, to fully expand the unit and set it up again, the procedure outlined hereinabove is reversed, or, optionally, the table sections A and B are separated, fully expanded while separated and then reunited while fully expanded. Referring particularly to Figure 1, separation of the table sections A and B is effected by retracting the nose 41.

of the latch pin into the associated barrel 51, laterally displacing the latch pin from the line of its accommodating barrel, and then lifting the table section B to thereby disengage the pin 35 from its accommodating barrel 51.

It will be understood that the foldable table of the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles of the invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as 'well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A foldable table comprising a pair of independent table sections each having a unitary sheet metal table top including a skirt extending about and depending therefrom, tubular metal support legs and means securing the latter in underlying relationship to said table top, and hinge means secured to said skirt for pivotally quickdetachably securing said table sections together and positioning said table tops in coplanar end-to-end abutting relation so that they conjointly form a single continuous table top, each of said support legs and securing means therefor being foldable with the confines of the associated skirt close up under the overlying table top, said securing hinge means including a pair of hinges having a common axis disposed in parallel spaced relation to, and directly below, said abutting table top ends, the skirts depending respectively from the abutting ends of the table tops being disposed in downwardly diverging planes,

each of said hinges being provided with a pair of hinge parts that are rigidly secured respectively to said diverging skirts and quick-detach'ably secured to one another, whereby said table sections are separable for serving as independent self-supporting tables, and whereby when said table sections are secured by said hinge means and when said support legs are folded within the associated skirt said table sections are foldableabout said hinges into parallel planar relationship with the table top skirts t MAAA A A a in engagement about their periphery to form a lightweight, portable, and compact unit.

2. A foldable table as defined in claim 1 wherein the pair of hinges are disposed in axially spaced relation, said pair of hinges are provided respectively with a pair of pins that project inwardly toward one another, and a pair of pin receiving barrels, one of said pins is axially fixed and the other yieldably shiftable axially and thereby retractible from its accommodating barrel to thereby effect separation of the associated hinge parts independently of relative shifting movement of said table sections, and,

after retraction of said pin in the manner aforesaid, said table sections may be shifted relative to one another to thereby elfect separation of said axially fixed pin from its accompanying barrel and separation of the associated hinge parts.

3. A foldable table as defined in claim 2 wherein the axially shiftable pin is slidably fitted into the hinge part I that mounts the same, spring pressed toward the axially fixed pin, and fully retractible into said hinge part against the influence of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 581,871 Sharp et al May 4, 1897 653,851 Smith July 17, 1900 2,644,192 McClellan July 7, 1953 2,704,236 Mahr Mar. 15, 1955 2,763,889 Bednarski Sept. 25, 1956

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