U.S. patent number 3,680,942 [Application Number 05/101,058] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-01 for drawer mounted expansible table.
Invention is credited to Donald A. Davis.
United States Patent |
3,680,942 |
Davis |
August 1, 1972 |
DRAWER MOUNTED EXPANSIBLE TABLE
Abstract
An expansible table stored in the drawer of a cabinet or the
like, with the table comprising a plurality of interconnected table
sections which can be folded for storing within the drawer and
expanded for use. The table includes cleat members which can be
pivoted for supporting the table when expanded, and is further
provided with folding legs carried by the cleat members and adapted
to be folded to a vertical support position when the table is
expanded.
Inventors: |
Davis; Donald A. (Winchester,
MA) |
Family
ID: |
22282888 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/101,058 |
Filed: |
December 23, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/317.3;
108/48; 108/93; 108/167; 108/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
83/045 (20130101); A47B 88/919 (20170101); A47B
5/00 (20130101); A47B 3/083 (20130101); A47B
88/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
3/00 (20060101); A47B 5/00 (20060101); A47B
88/00 (20060101); A47B 3/083 (20060101); A47b
088/00 (); A47b 005/00 (); A47b 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/317,277,221 ;311/61
;108/48,78,79,93,99,100,112,113 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Claims
I claim:
1. An expansible table stored in the drawer of a cabinet or the
like and adapted to be moved from a collapsed position contained
wholly within the drawer when the latter is closed to an open,
expanded position when said drawer is withdrawn, comprising
a. a drawer adapted to be moved to an inner position stored within
said cabinet to an outer position substantially withdrawn from said
cabinet but still supported thereby in contilevered relation, said
drawer including rigidly interconnected top and side walls;
b. a plurality of pivotally interconnected table sections with one
of said sections being pivotally connected to the front end of said
top wall of said drawer, said sections being adapted to collapse
within the confines of said drawer when the same is closed and to
expand when the drawer is open;
c. at least one cleat member pivotally connected to one of said
table sections and extending parallel to said one table section
when said table is collapsed within said drawer, said cleat member
being adapted to be pivoted, when said drawer is moved to an outer
position and said table sections are unfolded to a generally
coplanar position, to a support position extending substantially
under the adjacent table sections for supporting the same in such
coplanar position, and
d. folding leg means pivotally connected to the underside of said
cleat member and adapted to be folded to a support position
engaging the surface supporting said table when the latter is
expanded.
2. The expansible table of claim 1 wherein there are six pivotally
interconnected table sections, with three of such sections being
relatively long, with reference to the longitudinal dimension of
the table when fully expanded, and alternately spaced, with the
remaining three sections being relatively narrow and alternately
spaced between said relatively long sections, the three relatively
long sections when stored within said cabinet drawer being disposed
in parallel relationship with each other, and said three relatively
narrower table sections likewise being parallel to each other when
the table is collapsed and stored within said drawer.
3. The expansible table of claim 2 wherein said one cleat member is
pivotally connected to one of said relatively narrow table sections
generally intermediate the length of the table when expanded, and a
second cleat member pivotally connected to the relatively narrow
table section disposed outwardly of said table section mounting
said first cleat member when the table is in an expanded position,
said second cleat member being adapted to be pivoted from a
position parallel to the table section mounting the same when the
table is collapsed to a diagonal support position extending
substantially under the adjacent table sections for supporting the
same when said table is expanded.
4. The expansible table of claim 3 further including folding leg
means pivotally connected to the underside of said second cleat
member, each of said legs being mounted on the associated cleat
member by means of a bracket mounted relatively adjacent the
opposed ends of said cleat members, at least certain said brackets
being mounted on opposed sides of the longitudinal center line of
the associated said cleat member thereby to permit the folding of
said legs to a collapsed position contiguous said cleat member and
wholly within the confines thereof to facilitate folding and
storing of the table.
5. The expansible table of claim 1 wherein said pivoted connections
between the several table sections and between said one table
section and said top wall of said drawer comprises a spring mounted
detent carried by one of said pivotally connected members and a
cylindrical sleeve carried by the other for receiving said detent,
with said detent being adapted to be retracted from said
cylindrical sleeve to permit this assembly of the pivotal
connections.
6. The expansible table of claim 1 wherein said pivotal connections
between the several table sections and between said one table
section and the front end of said top wall of said drawer comprise
continuous hinges mounted on the adjacent end of said sections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates as indicated to an expansible table
and more particularly to a table which is mounted on a drawer of a
cabinet or the like for movement between a collapsed position
within such cabinet in which it occupies very little storage space
and an expanded position extending outwardly from the cabinet in
which it provides a substantial table top surface.
Tables which extend and fold away are of course desirable from the
standpoint of conserving much needed space, and tables of this type
have taken on many forms in the past. By way of example but not
limitation, reference is directed to U.S. Pats. Nos. 1,532,996;
2,672,384 and 3,072,453 which show tables that can be folded away
and stored in an article of furniture, such as a cabinet or the
like.
Prior tables of this type have not been wholly satisfactory for a
number of reasons. Frequently, the mechanism employed either for
folding the table or for supporting the same when expanded, or
both, is relatively complex and thus costly. A further problem
presented in prior art arrangements is the provision of
sufficiently strong support means when the table is expanded
without greatly sacrificing much needed space when the table is
folded or collapsed. Leg support is of course a common method of
supporting the table when open, but with a multi-section table the
space required for leg storage presents a problem. As a result, the
table when expanded is frequently supported only at its hinged and
outer ends, thereby leaving the intermediate sections without firm
support. Where the table sections are numerous and/or the table is
used to support relatively heavy objects when open, a lack of firm
support may present limitations on the use of the table
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above in mind, the primary object of the present invention
is to provide an expansible table mounted on a cabinet drawer and
adapted to be quickly and easily moved between a collapsed, stored
position in the cabinet to an extended, open position. The folding
and unfolding of the table can be effected without the need for
tools or other equipment. Although the table of the present
invention can be used in essentially any environment where space is
of considerable importance, the table can be used to particular
advantage in environments such as scientific laboratories and the
like. With construction costs continually increasing, laboratory
space is becoming correspondingly more expensive and tables
constructed in accordance with the present invention permit maximum
utilization of available floor space when the tables are collapsed
and stored.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an expansible
table the design of which permits the table to require a minimum of
space when collapsed but which when expanded provides a table of
substantial size and work surface.
A further, more specific object of the present invention is to
provide an expansible table in which the supporting legs when
folded and stored require a minimum of space but which can be
pivoted to a position generally diagonal to the table sections when
expanded, thereby giving the table firm support in the intermediate
portions thereof as well as at its hinged and open ends.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
table which is highly attractive yet inexpensive to manufacture,
and which can be provided with a top surface adaptable to the
conditions of use. In scientific laboratories, for example, the
table sections are preferably provided with a chemically resistant
top surface.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the
following description proceeds with particular reference to the
application drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 comprises a top plan view of the invention with the table
shown in an open or fully expanded position, and the legs being
positioned to provide maximum support;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the table when in its FIG. 1
expanded position;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the table in a collapsed
position, and further showing in dash lines the sequence in which
the table is unfolded to an expanded position;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to the FIG. 3, showing an
alternative hinging arrangement;
FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1 showing
the preferred form of pivotal connection between the table
sections;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention, illustrating the table in a collapsed position, and
further showing in dash lines the manner in which the table is
unfolded to an expanded position;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the alternative embodiment of
FIG. 6 with the table being shown in an open or fully expanded
position, and
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, with the table
shown in an open or fully expanded position, and the legs, shown in
dash lines, being positioned to provide maximum support.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, where like parts are indicated by
like reference numerals, the table of the present invention is
generally indicated at 10 and the construction thereof is best
shown in FIG. 3. The table 10 is mounted on a drawer generally
indicated at 12 which comprises rigidly interconnected back wall
14, side walls 16 and 18, and top wall 20. The drawer 12 is
horizontally slidably mounted in cabinet 22 or movement from an
inner position stored within said cabinet to an outer position
substantially withdrawn from said cabinet but still supported
thereby in cantilevered relation as shown in FIG. 2. The manner in
which the drawer is slidably mounted in the cabinet forms no part
of the present invention and can comprise, for example the drawer
mounting arrangement shown in pending application Ser. No. 76,505 ,
filed Sept. 29, 1970, in the name of Donald A Davis and Anthony
Galluzzo.
The folding section of the table illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 are six
in number and are indicated at 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34,
respectively. The first table section 24 is pivotally connected by
means of pins 36 to the outer end of the top wall 20 of drawer 12.
Similarly, the second table section 26 is pivotally connected by
pins 38 to the adjacent end of table section 24, the third section
28 is pivotally connected by pins 40 to the adjacent end of table
section 26, the fourth section 30 is pivotally connected by pins 42
to the adjacent end of third section 28, the fifth table section 32
is pivotally connected by pins 44 to the adjacent end of table
section 30, and the sixth table section 34 is pivotally connected
by pins 46 to the adjacent end of table section 32. It will be
noted that the alternate sections 26, 30 and 34 generally
correspond in length (the dimension from left to right as viewed in
FIGS. 1 and 2), as do the alternate sections 24, 28 and 32. Such
dimensional relationship permits compact folding of the table, as
can best be seen in FIG. 3, with each respective group of three
sections being disposed in parallel relation.
Referring to FIG. 1, each table section is formed with an edge 50
which may be of hard wood material and rabbited or otherwise
rigidly secured to the adjacent portion of the table section as
shown at 52 in FIG. 3. Normally, plywood material, due to its
availability and cost, is employed for the main body portion of the
table sections, and the plywood is preferably covered throughout
with a chemically resistant plastic laminate material well known in
the art. A highly attractive yet durable and resistant top table
surface is thus provided.
It will further be noted that the table sections at their adjoining
ends are laterally offset 50 to accommodate the pivotal connections
therebetween. In this manner, each table section can be pivoted
relative to the adjacent section without interference between
adjacent sections.
Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated therein such preferred
form of pivotal connection between the several table sections, with
FIG. 5 illustrating the pivotal connection between the table
sections 24 and 26. A pin 38 is resiliently mounted in the exposed
edge of the section 26, with the pin including a base collar 60
which is slidable within a cylindrical sleeve 62 mounted in an
opening 64 in the table section 26. A coil spring 66 is seated
against the base collar and 64 biases the pin 38 outwardly, as
shown in FIG. 5.
A pin receiving sleeve 68 is mounted in an opening 70 provided
therefor in the edge portion 50 of table section 24, thereby
permitting pivotal movement of the second table section 26 relative
to the first table section 24 about the longitudinal axis of the
pin 28. The resiliently biased pin connection between adjacent
sections permit quick assembly of the sections and disassembly
thereof in the event one or more sections are desired to be
removed. In lieu of the pivotal connections shown in FIG. 5, the
adjoining edges of the several table sections may comprise a
continuous planar surface, and the edges connected by continuous
hinges of the type shown in 71 in FIG. 4.
A first cleat member 80 is contiguous and pivotally connected to
the relatively short third table section 28 by pivot pin 82. The
cleat member 80 can be rotated from its stored position as shown in
FIG. 3, in which the cleat member 80 is oriented parallel to the
third section 28 and wholly within the confines thereof, to a
support position shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1, in which the
cleat member 80 extends generally diagonally to the table sections
26, 28 and 30. In such support position, the cleat member 80
extends substantially beneath both adjacent sections 26 and 30 for
firm support of the same when the legs are folded to support
position, as will be hereinafter described.
A second cleat member 84 is pivotally connected to the relatively
short table section 32 by pivot pin 86. The cleat member 84 can be
rotated from its stored position as shown in FIG. 3 in which the
cleat member 84 is oriented generally parallel to the table section
32 to the support position shown in FIG. 1, in which the cleat
member 84, shown in phantom, extends generally diagonally to the
table sections 30, 32 and 34 and substantially beneath the
relatively long table sections 30 and 34.
Each cleat member 80 and 84 has mounted on the underside thereof a
pair of brackets 90 and 92. Legs 94 and 96, respectively, are
pivotally mounted by pins commonly designated at 98 to the brackets
90 and 92 on each cleat member for folding movement between a
folded position as shown in FIG. 3, and a vertical support position
as shown in FIG. 2. The direction of folding of the legs 94 and 96
is shown in dash lines in FIG. 2.
It will be noted that the brackets 90 and 92 are mounted on the
cleat member 84 on either side of a longitudinal plane through the
pin 86. In this manner the legs can be folded to a position
contiguous the cleat member 84 when the table is collapsed, as
shown in FIG. 3. The brackets 90 and 92 on cleat member 80 are
similarly mounted although the space requirements when the table is
collapsed are such as to require some overlap of the legs, as shown
in FIG. 3. The space between the sections 26 and 30 when the table
is collapsed and stored defines the available area in which the
legs are received when folded.
The bottom of each leg 94 and 96 is preferably provided with an
adjusting foot commonly designated at 100 for vertically leveling
the legs for uniform support of the table when in its expanded
position.
To move the table to an open position, the drawer 12 is withdrawn
from its closed, stored position to the cantilevered position
thereof shown in FIG. 2. The sections are then unfolded in the
sequence shown in FIG. 3 until the table sections are horizontally
disposed, as shown in FIG. 2. The cleat members 80 and 84 are
thereafter rotated to their FIG. 1 position wherein they extend
generally diagonally under the adjacent table sections. The legs 94
and 96 are then folded downwardly into their FIG. 2 vertical
position thereby supporting the table in its fully open
position.
To fold or collapse the table, the reverse procedure is followed,
with the sections when folded assuming the position as shown in
FIG. 3. When in such position, the drawer can be closed and the
table thus completely concealed. The table can be supported in
collapsed position within the drawer by any suitable means, for
example, by a hook and eye mounted respectively on the cabinet and
the adjacent edge of one of the table sections. Alternatively, the
table can be supported when stored by the releasable pin
arrangement used to pivotally connect the table sections, shown in
FIG. 5. The pin can be mounted on the cabinet wall and an opening
therefor formed in the adjacent edges of the table section 26. The
pins can be depressed until the drawer is positioned so as to align
the openings with the pins, and the latter thereafter released.
It will further be noted that the table section 24 forms the front
of the cabinet drawer when the latter is collapsed and stored.
It will be understood that the dimensions of the table may vary
considerably. By way of example, the table illustrated in the
preferred embodiment has a length of approximately five feet,
approximately three times greater than the depth of the drawer in
which such table is stored, and a width of approximately two and
one-half feet. It will thus be seen that the table when opened
provides an extensive working surface which is firmly supported and
thus capable of sustaining fairly heavy loading.
Referring now to the second or alternative embodiment as shown in
FIGS. 6-8, the expansible table indicated generally at 200 is again
adapted to be moved from a collapsed position within drawer 202 to
an expanded generally horizontal position. The drawer 202 includes
rigidly interconnected back wall 204, side walls 206 and 208 and
top wall 210. The drawer is horizontally, slidably received in a
cabinet in the same manner as above described in connection with
the FIGS. 1-5 form of the invention.
The folding sections of the table 200 comprise first, second and
third table sections indicated at 220, 222, and 224, respectively.
The first table section 200 is pivotally connected by means of
continuous hinge 228 to the outer end of top wall 210. Similarly,
the intermediate table section 222 is pivotally connected by hinge
230 to the adjacent end of the first table section 220, and the
third table section 224 is pivotally connected by hinge 232 to the
adjacent end of the intermediate section 222.
A cleat member 240 is pivotally connected to the first table
section 220 by a pivot pin 242. The cleat member 240 can be rotated
from its stored position shown in FIG. 6 in which the cleat member
is oriented parallel and wholly within the confines of the first
table section 220, to a position shown in FIG. 8, in which the
cleat member 240, shown in dash lines in this figure, is angularly
inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the expanded
table.
It will be noted that when the cleat member is in its dash line
position, the member extends beneath the adjacent table sections
222 and 224.
A pair of brackets 250 and 252 are fixedly mounted on the underside
of cleat member 240 on either side of a longitudinal plane through
the pin 242 of the cleat member. Legs 254 and 256 are pivotally
mounted by pins commonly designated at 258, FIG. 7, to the brackets
250 and 252 for folding movement between their stored position, as
shown in FIG. 6, and their vertical support position as shown in
FIG. 7. The direction of folding of the legs is shown in dash lines
in FIG. 7.
The bottom of each leg is preferably provided with an adjusting
foot commonly designated at 260 for leveling the legs for uniform
support of the table.
To move the table 200 to an open position, the drawer 202 is
withdrawn from the cabinet and the table sections unfolded to their
FIG. 7 position, with the sequence of such unfolding being shown in
FIG. 6 in dash lines. The cleat member 240 is thereafter rotated to
its FIG. 8 position wherein it extends beneath all three table
sections. The legs 254 and 256 are then folded downwardly into
their FIG. 7 position thereby supporting the table in its fully
open position. To fold or collapse the table, the reverse procedure
is followed.
It will thus be seen that in both forms of the invention the table
is simple in construction and can be folded and unfolded quickly
and easily. The provision of a pivotally mounted cleat member or
members permits the table to be collapsed with a maximum
conservation of space while at the same time providing firm support
for the table sections when the table is expanded.
* * * * *