U.S. patent number 3,894,496 [Application Number 05/398,309] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-15 for folding lawn chair table.
Invention is credited to James F. Phillips, Robert H. Shipley.
United States Patent |
3,894,496 |
Phillips , et al. |
July 15, 1975 |
Folding lawn chair table
Abstract
A table, supported at one end with a telescopically-adjustable
leg, is provided with a rotationally-adjustable clip means for
attachment to an arm or the side seat frame member. The novelty
thus allows attachment of a table to the side of a lawn chair or
lounge of any make at either arm rest or seat height.
Inventors: |
Phillips; James F. (Cleveland,
OH), Shipley; Robert H. (Cleveland, OH) |
Family
ID: |
23574892 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/398,309 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.11;
297/135 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
5/00 (20130101); A47C 7/68 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
7/62 (20060101); A47C 7/68 (20060101); A47B
5/00 (20060101); A47B 039/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/44,42,144,115,50,152 ;24/81BA ;297/135,170,160,188,194
;403/350,348,351,104,377,106,109,382 ;248/226D,226E,201,188.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McCall; James T.
Claims
What I now claim is:
1. A table assembly for use in association with a chair having a
seat and an arm disposed above the seat, said table assembly
comprising panel means having a top side for supporting an article,
leg means pivotally connected with a bottom side of said panel
means adjacent to a first edge portion of said panel means for
engaging a support surface at a location spaced apart from the
chair to partially support said panel means in a generally
horizontal orientation, said leg means being axially extendable
between a storage condition in which said leg means has a first
length, a first operating condition in which said leg means has a
second length which is longer than said first length and
corresponds to the distance between the chair seat and the support
surface, and a second operating condition in which said leg means
has a third length which is longer than said second length and
corresponds to the distance between the chair arm and the support
surface, first clip means adjacent to a second edge portion of said
panel means at a location spaced apart from said leg means for
engaging the chair seat when said leg means is in the first
operating condition to further support said panel means in a
horizontal orientation adjacent to the chair seat and for engaging
the chair arm when said leg means is in the second operating
condition to further support said panel means in a horizontal
orientation adjacent to the chair arm, said first clip means
including a longitudinally extending support member disposed
adjacent to said second edge portion of said panel means and a pair
of spaced apart clip elements connected to said support member for
engaging the chair seat at spaced apart locations when said leg
means is in the first operating condition and for engaging the
chair arm at spaced apart locations when said leg means is in the
second operating condition and single pivot means for pivotally
connecting said support member to said panel means and for enabling
said support member to pivot about a single axis extending
perpendicular to said second edge portion of said panel means to
enable said clip elements to engage spaced apart portions of the
chair seat regardless of the inclination of the chair seat when
said leg means is in the first operating condition and to enable
said clip elements to engage spaced apart portions of the chair arm
regardless of the inclination of the chair arm when said leg means
is in the second operating condition to keep the top of the table
level when said clip elements are in engagement with an inclined
chair seat and alternatively to keep the top of the table level
when said clip elements are in engagement with an inclined chair
arm.
Description
This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to patio
and garden furniture accessories.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a side
table for easy attachment to a lawn chair arm or seat.
Another object is to provide a table of any design, style and
finish suited to lawn furniture which has at one end a pivoting
telescoping leg and at the other end a rotationally adjustable
bracket that mounts two clips. The table is set against an arm of
the chair by engaging the clips.
The telescoping leg is folded out, extended to support the table
level from the ground and the telescoped position is locked by
turning the rotatable section of the leg. Finally, for leveling
front to back independent of the tilt of the side arm, the table is
simply turned level and the clip bracket tightened. The same
procedure is followed if it is desired to attach the table to the
side frame of the seat.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a table
of the type described that folds compactly for storage when not in
use.
Yet another object is to provide a construction of good appearance
that uses a minimum of material and hardware thereby making the
table attractive to a wide market.
A further object is to provide a simple telescoping leg locking
means that calls for no extra parts which spoil the clean
appearance of the leg, add to the cost, the nuisance of adjustment
and possibilities of corrosion.
These and other objects will become evident upon a study of the
following specification together with the accompanying drawing
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view partially exploded of the side
table, according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan section view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the side table in use, and an
alternate installation shown in dot-dash outline.
Tables presently in use with patio and lawn furniture are
unsatisfactory for one or more of the following reasons:
They are relatively costly, do not storage well or are a nuisance
in folding for storage, or used separately from the lawn chair
creating hazards and difficulty in leveling, particularly since
drinks or other liquids are usually placed thereon, as the parts
are subject to wear and corrosion, quickly spoiling the appearance
of the table and ultimately leading to nusiance repairs or discard
or the table is of one fixed height limiting its usefulness to
either a sitting-up position or to a lounging or lying position.
The present invention describes a table that is quickly set up or
dismounted, is completely rigid being firmly attached to the chair
and can be made to look well in harmony with any style of lawn
furniture.
Referring to the figures and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
table 10, according to the invention, comprises a table assembly
11, a clip-mounting bracket 12 and assembling hardware 13.
Table 11 is provided with a hinge 14 that pivots a telescoping leg
15. At the end of table 11 opposite to hinge 14 a bearing block 17
has a central bore 18. Clip means 12 shows a block 19 to which are
attached two clips 20. Further, block 19 is provided with a central
bore 21. A bolt 22a and a nut 22b secures block 19 against block 17
tightly after adjustment. It should be noted that a simple change
in this hardware makes the table easily adjustable if it is to be
moved from one chair to another or if the chair in use changes the
tilt of the side arms and/or the seat when the back is adjusted.
For this purpose, nut 22b is simply replaced by a winged nut.
Telescoping leg 15 comprises a slightly eliptical outer tube 16a
and a similar inner tube section 16b. With the long axes of the two
eliptical sections at 90.degree. to each other as seen in FIG. 2,
the sections easily slide on each other. A twist out of the
90.degree. orientation is sufficient to clamp the legs securely at
any point along its length.
Referring in particular to FIG. 3, a lawn chair 24 having side arms
25 and side seat supports 26 shows the invention in use. Clips 20
are snapped on to side support 26 and leg 15 is adjusted and locked
to support the table level in a left to right position. If support
26 is not level, table 11 is turned forcibly until it is level
front to back. Or as alternately described, the table is turned
freely and the winged nut tightened.
When removing the table for storage, leg 15 is turned into a flush
position where it is engaged by a clip 23.
Reference to the dot-dash outline in FIG. 3 makes obvious the
application of the invention to a side arm rest 25.
* * * * *