Extensible And Retractable Support

Abstract

An extensible and retractable support mountable under a horizontal supporting structure, such as a counter top, table top, chair seat, or the like, and adapted, when extended, to hold a drinking glass, or other article. The extensible and retractable support includes a horizontal guide means adapted to be secured under the supporting structure inwardly of an outer edge thereof. A horizontal supporting member is slidable horizontally in the guide means between a retracted position beneath the supporting structure and an extended position wherein the supporting member projects outwardly beyond the outer edge of the supporting structure, the projecting portion of the supporting member being provided with an opening therethrough having an axis which is upright in both the extended and retracted positions of the support. A stirrup is pivotally mounted on the supporting member for gravity induced movement into a position below the opening when the supporting member is in its extended position, whereby a drinking glass, or other article, placed in the opening is seatable on the stirrup. The stirrup is pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it is aligned with the supporting member and is insertable into the guide means, whereby the stirrup is retractable into the guide means in response to movement of the supporting member into its retracted position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to an extensible and retractable support and, more particularly, to a support of this nature which is capable of holding a drinking glass, or other article, when in its extended condition, the support being concealed when retracted.

My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,497,076 and 3,637,184 disclose extensible and retractable supports of the general nature to which the present invention relates.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an extensible and retractable support which is mountable under a horizontal supporting structure, such as a table top, a counter top, a chair seat, or the like, and which is adapted to hold a drinking glass, or other article, when in its extended condition. However, the support is not limited to mounting under a supporting structure, but may be used elsewhere.

The invention may be summarized as including, and an important object of the invention is to provide an extensible and retractable support which includes: horizontal guide means; means for attaching the guide means to a supporting structure; a horizontal supporting member disposed in and carried by the guide means and slidable horizontally therein between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the supporting member projects outwardly; the supporting member being provided with an opening therethrough having an axis which is upright in both the extended and the retracted positions of the supporting member, the opening being located outwardly beyond the guide means in the extended position of the supporting member; a stirrup pivotally mounted on the supporting member for gravity induced movement into a position below the opening when the supporting member is in its extended position, whereby an article placed in the opening is seatable on the stirrup; and the stirrup being pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it is aligned with the supporting member and insertable into the guide means, whereby the stirrup is retractable into the guide means in response to movement of the supporting member into its retracted position.

Another object is to provide an extensible and retractable support wherein the stirrup is U shaped and is pivotally connected to the supporting member by a pivot means providing a horizontal pivot axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the supporting member between its extended and retracted positions.

Another object is to provide a guide means comprising horizontally spaced, parallel horizontal channels facing laterally inwardly toward each other, and to provide a supporting member comprising a flat plate having horizontally spaced, parallel edges respectively disposed in the channels.

Still another object is to provide the stirrup with a handle accessible when the stirrup is in its aligned position and usable to extend and retract the supporting member and the stirrup.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table having several of the extensible and retractable supports of the invention installed under the top thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chair having one of the extensible and retractable supports of the invention installed under the seat thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in section and partially in elevation, taken as indicated by the arrowed line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view, with parts broken away, of the extensible and retractable support of the invention in its retracted condition; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the support in its extended condition.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the drawings, the extensible and retractable support of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. In each instance, the support 10 is mounted under a horizontal supporting structure 12 inwardly of an outer edge 14 thereof, although it may be used in other settings. In its retracted condition, each support 10 is disposed completely under the supporting structure 12, as best shown in FIG. 3, while, in its extended condition, the support is adapted to hold a drinking glass, or other article, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the horizontal supporting structure 12 is a table top and, in FIG. 2, it is a chair seat. However, it will be understood that the extensible and retractable support 10 of the invention may be used with any supporting structure under which it can be mounted, or with other structures.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawings, the extensible and retractable support 10 of the invention includes a horizontal guide means 16 for a supporting member 18 which is horizontally slidable between a retracted position, FIGS. 1 to 4, and an extended position, FIG. 5. The guide means 16 is adapted to be positioned under the supporting structure 12 inwardly of the outer edge 14 thereof, as best shown in FIG. 3, and the supporting member 18, when retracted, is withdrawn into the guide means 16 and conpletely under the supporting structure 12, as also best shown in FIG. 3.

In the construction illustrated, the guide means 16 includes two horizontally spaced, parallel horizontal channels 20 facing laterally inwardly toward each other, and the supporting member 18 comprises a flat plate having horizontally spaced, parallel edges 22 extending along a portion of the plate, the edges respectively slidable in the channels 20. The two channels 20 are interconnected by an integral upper wall 24 of the guide means 16, which upper wall is suitably secured to the under side of the supporting structure 12. For example, the upper wall 24 may be secured by means of countersunk screws 26, FIG. 3 through openings 27, FIGS. 4 and 5, formed in the wall to facilitate attachment.

The horizontal supporting member 18 is provided adjacent a forward or outer end of reduced horizontal dimension with a circular opening 28 the axis of which is substantially vertical in both the extended and retracted positions of the supporting member. The opening 28 is of a size to receive a drinking glass, not shown, although it may be of a size and shape to receive any desired article. It will be understood that when the supporting member 18 is in its extended position, FIG. 5, the opening 28 is spaced outwardly from the outer edge 14 of the supporting structure 12 so that a drinking glass, or other article, may be placed in the opening 28 clear of the outer edge of the supporting structure. Movement of the supporting member 18 beyond its extended and retracted positions is prevented by a stop pin 30 carried by the supporting member and engageable with the ends of a horizontal slot 32 in one of the channels 20, the pin being slidable along the slot.

The extensible and retractable support 10 of the invention includes a U-shaped stirrup 34 connected to the supporting member 18 by transverse horizontal pivots 36 the axis of which lies on the diameter of the opening 28 which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the supporting member between its extended and retracted positions. The stirrup 34 is capable of gravity induced movement downwardly into a position below the opening 28 when the supporting member 18 is in its extended position, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, a drinking glass, or other article, placed in the opening 28 is seatable on the stirrup 34, which then supports the article outwardly of the outer edge 14 of the supporting structure 12.

The stirrup 34 is pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it is aligned with the supporting member 18, as shown in FIG. 4. The outer end of the supporting member 18 and the stirrup 34 have complementary configurations so that the stirrup forms, in effect, an outward extension of the supporting member 18 when the stirrup is in its upwardly retracted position. The thickness of the arms of the stirrup 34 is substantially the same as that of the supporting member 18, and outer edges 35 of the stirrup are alignable with the edges 22 of the supporting member so that, when the supporting member is retracted into the guide means 16, the stirrup 34 is also retracted thereinto, as best shown in FIG. 4 the outer edges 35 also being slidable in the channels 20. In effect, the stirrup 34, when in its upwardly retracted position, constitutes the extreme outer or forward end portion of a horizontal slide member which comprises the supporting member 18 and the stirrup. The stirrup 34 is provided thereon with a handle, such as a knob 38, by means of which the stirrup may be pivoted upwardly into its retracted position, and by means of which the supporting member 18 and the stirrup may be retracted and extended.

Thus, the present invention provides an extensible and retractable support 10 which is concealed when not in use, but which may be withdrawn readily to receive a drinking glass, or other article, disposed within the opening 28 and seated on the stirrup 34, which are important features of the invention.

While the support 10 has been disclosed as mountable under a supporting structure, it will be understood that it may be used in other locations as well.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appearing hereinafter.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extensible and retractable support, the combination of:

a horizontal guide means;

b means for attaching said guide means to a supporting structure;

c a horizontal slide member, including a horizontal supporting member, disposed in and carried by said guide means and slidable horizontally therein between a retracted position within said guide means and an extended position wherein a reduced-width outer end portion of said supporting member projects outwardly beyond said guide means;

d said reduced-width portion of said supporting member being provided with an opening therethrough having an axis which is upright in both the extended and the retracted positions of said slide member, said opening being located outwardly beyond said guide means in the extended position of said slide member;

e said slide member including a stirrup pivotally mounted on said reduced-width portion of said supporting member for gravity induced movement into a position below said opening when said slide member is in its extended position, whereby an article placed in said opening is seatable on said stirrup; and

f said stirrup being pivotable upwardly into a retracted position wherein it is aligned with said supporting member and constitutes the extreme outer end portion of said slide member and is insertable into said guide means, whereby said stirrup is retractable into said guide means along with said supporting member in response to movement of said slide member into its retracted position.

2. An extensible and retractable support according to claim 1 wherein said stirrup is U shaped and embraces and is pivotally connected to said reduced-width portion of said supporting member by a pivot means providing a horizontal pivot axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said slide member between its extended and retracted positions.

3. An extensible and retractible support as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means comprises horizontally spaced, parallel horizontal channels facing laterally inwardly toward each other, and wherein each of said supporting member and said stirrup have horizontally spaced, parallel edges respectively disposed in said channels in said retracted positions of said stirrup and said slide member.

4. An extensible and retractable support according to claim 3 wherein said guide means includes an upper wall interconnecting said channels and attachable to the under side of a horizontal supporting structure.

5. An extensible and retractable support as defined in claim 3 wherein said stirrup is provided with a handle accessible, when said stirrup is in said aligned position, for extending and retracting said slide member, comprising said supporting member and said stirrup.