U.S. patent number 3,875,873 [Application Number 05/404,772] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-08 for table.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Frem Corporation. Invention is credited to Robert T. Howitt.
United States Patent |
3,875,873 |
Howitt |
April 8, 1975 |
Table
Abstract
A table having removable legs which are readily stored with the
top.
Inventors: |
Howitt; Robert T. (Leominster,
MA) |
Assignee: |
Frem Corporation (Worcester,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23600971 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/404,772 |
Filed: |
October 9, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/25; 248/151;
248/188; 108/156; 248/165 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
3/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
3/00 (20060101); A47B 3/06 (20060101); A47b
003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/25,153,156
;248/165,188,188.8,151,48 ;403/334,361,363 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
614,517 |
|
Dec 1960 |
|
IT |
|
475,275 |
|
Oct 1952 |
|
IT |
|
504,382 |
|
Jul 1954 |
|
CA |
|
1,131,884 |
|
Oct 1956 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Frazier; Roy D.
Assistant Examiner: Lyddane; William E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Blodgett; Norman S. Blodgett; Gerry
A.
Claims
The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new
and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A table, comprising:
a. a top injection molded of plastic and having a flat upper
surface, the top having at least three sockets extending downwardly
therefrom,
b. a plurality of legs, each one being adapted to fit tightly into
one of the sockets, and
c. a flange extending around the periphery of the top, the flange
having two apertures arranged on opposite sides and adapted to
receive the legs for storage, each aperture through the flange
being rectangular in shape and elongated in the horizontal
direction, the wall above the aperture being defined by inner and
an outer parallel surfaces, the wall below the aperture being also
defined by inner and outer parallel surfaces, the outer surface of
the wall above being coplanar with the inner surface of the wall
below, thereby facillitating molding of the top.
2. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein the legs are of generally
U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the legs can lie
side-by-side for storage in the apertures.
3. A table as recited in claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional shape
of each leg is made up of a straight web from each end of which
extends a straight leg lying at an obtuse angle to the web.
4. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the
top is defined by three generally gently-curved sides arranged in a
generally triangular configuration with circular segments joining
their ends, and wherein the said apertures are located in the
portion of the flange extending from two of the sides.
5. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper flat surface is
interrupted by a plurality of recesses, one of which is circular
and of a size to receive a drinking glass and another of which is
kidney-shaped to receive snacks.
6. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein each leg is provided with
an upper portion of reduced cross-sectional shape extending at a
substantial angle to the remainder, so that, when the upper portion
of each leg is in its socket, the legs extend in a non-parallel
manner to each other, spreading in the downward direction.
7. A table, comprising:
a. a top having a flat surface, the top being injection molded and
having at least three sockets extending downwardly therefrom,
b. a plurality of legs, each one being adapted to fit tightly into
one of the sockets, and
c. a flange extending around the periphery of the top, the flange
having two apertures arranged on opposite sides and adapted to
receive the legs for storage, the flat upper surface defining a
horizontal plane, each aperture having an upper edge and a lower
edge, the upper edge being entirely on one side of a vertical plane
passing through the aperture and the lower edge being entirely on
the other side of the vertical plane, thereby facillitating molding
of the top.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is common practice at social events to use small tables on which
the guests can place their glasses, plates, and other eating
materials. In the past, these small tables have been provided with
fixed legs that could be stored only with difficulty. Some have
been provided with hinged foldable legs that permit the legs to be
folded into the interior of a recess in the bottom of the table in
the manner similar to the well-known "card table." Because of the
intricate nature of the hinging mechanism, it is difficult to
provide an inexpensive table of this kind whose hinge has any
degree of durability. In other words, such a table is either
expensive or it becomes readily inoperative. Furthermore, because
such snack tables are often used outdoors and sometimes left there,
the prior art portable and storable tables have been subject to
rapid deterioration due to the attack of the elements. These and
other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been
obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.
It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide
a table all parts of which are adaptable to be formed inexpensively
of plastic by the injection molding process.
Another object of this invention is the provision of a table for
occasional use whose legs are removable. The connection of the legs
to the table being simple and rugged in construction.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an
occasional table having removable legs which are readily secured
and stored with the top.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a table
which is rugged in construction which can be readily formed of
inexpensive plastic material and which is capable of a long life of
useful service.
It is another object of the invention to provide a table that is
neatly stackable to a considerable height and occupy very little
space when stacked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the invention consists of a table having a top with a
flat horizontal surface and having at least three sockets extending
into the under side thereof. A plurality of legs is provided, each
one being formed to fit tightly into one of the sockets. A flange
extends around the periphery of the top, the flange having two
apertures arranged on opposite sides to receive the legs for
storage.
More specifically, the top and legs are fabricated by injection
molding from plastic. The legs are of generally U-shaped
cross-sectional configuration and, when stored, lie side-by-side in
the apertures in the flange. Each aperture is rectangular in shape
and elongated in the horizontal direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by
reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the principles of
the present invention, showing it in operative condition,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the table showing it in inoperative
or storage condition,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top of the table,
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the top taken on the line
IV--IV of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a leg, taken on the line
V--V of FIG. 6,
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the leg,
FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the leg taken on the line
VII--VII of FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a portion of the top,
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the top taken on the line
IX--IX of FIG. 3,
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the top taken on the line
X--X of FIG. 3, and
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a portion of the top as
viewed along the line XI--XI of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general
features of the invention, the table, indicated generally by the
reference numeral 10, is shown as consisting of a top 11 to which
are attached three legs 12, 13 and 14. FIG. 1 shows the table in
operative condition. The top 11 and the legs 12, 13, and 14 are
formed of plastic by the injection molding process. The top is
formed from low melt polypropylene and is provided with a deep
cylindrical recess 15 which is particularly adapted to receive a
drinking glass and with a large shallow recess 16 adapted to hold
food snacks.
In FIG. 2, the table is shown in inoperative condition, ready for
storage. The legs are shown in side-by-side relationship and held
in apertures in a flange which extends around the periphery of the
top, as will be described more fully hereinafter.
As is evident in FIG. 3, the top is generally defined by three
gently-curved sides 17, 18, and 19 arranged in a generally
triangular conformation with their ends joined by circular segments
21, 22, and 23. The top is provided with a downwardly-extending
flange 24 that extends entirely around the periphery and is
provided with windows or apertures 25 and 26 located in the sides
16 and 18, respectively. Located within the flange in the center of
the circular segment 23 (at the intersection of the sides 17 and
18) is located a socket 27. A similar socket 28 is associated with
the circular segment 22 at the intersection of the sides 18 and 19,
while a socket 29 is similarly associated with the circular segment
21 at the intersection of the sides 17 and 18. As has been stated,
the upper flat surface is interrupted by a plurality of recesses,
including a first cylindrical recess 15 which is fairly deep and of
a size to receive a drinking glass. The other recess 16 is
relatively large, is of kidney shape, and is adapted to receive
snacks or the like.
Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, which show the details of the
leg 12 (which is exactly similar to the legs 13 and 14), the leg is
formed from high impact polystyrene and is provided with an upper
portion 33 which has a reduced cross-sectional shape and extends at
a substantial angle to the remainder of the leg. This arrangement
assures that, when the upper portion of each leg is in its socket,
the legs extend in a non-parallel manner to each other, spreading
in the downward direction. In general, of course, the legs are of
U-shaped cross-section, as shown in FIG. 7, where the legs of the U
are shown as residing at a slight angle.
FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show some details of the table top 11. FIG.
8 is a plan view that shows clearly the relationship of the bottom
of the recess 15 to its adjacent socket 29. FIG. 9 shows another
view of the socket 27 and the recess 16. It particularly shows the
manner in which the socket 29 is tapered in the upper direction to
clamp tightly on the upper end 33 of a leg. In FIG. 10 is can be
seen that the bottom of the drinking glass recess 15 is on the same
horizontal level as the bottom of the edge 24. In FIG. 11 it can be
seen that the aperture 25 is rectangular in shape and is elongated
in the horizontal direction. The wall above the aperture 25 is
defined by an inner surface 34 (see FIG. 4) and an outer surface
35, the surface being spaced and parallel. The wall below the
aperture is also defined by an inner surface 36 (see FIG. 4) and an
outer surface 37. The outer surface 35 of the upper wall is
co-planar with the inner surface 36 of the lower wall. This allows
the table top to be withdrawn from an injection molding mold (while
still forming a window or aperture 25) without the use of expensive
and complicated side-action mechanisms or the like in the mold.
It can be seen, then, that the present invention involves a small,
inexpensive snack table that is resistant to erosion and
destruction, that is easily assembled and disassembled, and that
provides an excellent storage arrangement for the legs, so that
they do not become lost or mislaid. Use of injection-molded plastic
means that the table and, particularly the recesses 31 and 32, can
be readily washed and cleaned and that the colorful colors
available will be aesthetically pleasing.
It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and
construction of the invention without departing from the material
spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the
invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is
desired to include all such as properly come within the scope
claimed.
* * * * *