U.S. patent number 3,923,356 [Application Number 05/481,301] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-02 for portable work or display table.
Invention is credited to P. J. Washburne.
United States Patent |
3,923,356 |
Washburne |
December 2, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Portable work or display table
Abstract
A portable work or display table comprising a case having a
bottom wall and side walls which mutually define a generally
rectangular compartment, a cover being hinged to one of the side
walls and closing the compartment. The bottom wall has a pair of
elongated spaced, parallel openings formed therein respectively
communicating with the compartment. First and second pairs of leg
members are provided with means for pivotally mounting the leg
members of each pair respectively adjacent their upper ends on a
wall of the case, each pair of leg members being respectively
pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of respective ones of the
openings so that each pair of leg members is pivotally movable
through the respective opening between a stored position in the
compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the
respective opening and being generally flush with the bottom wall,
and an extended position for supporting the case as a table.
Inventors: |
Washburne; P. J. (Wabash,
IN) |
Family
ID: |
23911427 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/481,301 |
Filed: |
June 20, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/241; 108/129;
312/244; 190/11; 312/351.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
3/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
3/10 (20060101); A47B 3/00 (20060101); A47B
003/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/244,240,241,255,231,233 ;248/439 ;190/11,12A,12R
;108/11,129,132,156,131,38 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
385,099 |
|
Dec 1932 |
|
UK |
|
309,093 |
|
1969 |
|
SW |
|
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Assistant Examiner: Dorner; Kenneth J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A portable work or display table comprising a case having a
bottom wall and side walls mutually defining a generally
rectangular compartment, a cover hinged to one of said side walls
for closing said compartment, said bottom wall having a pair of
elongated, spaced, parallel slots formed therein respectively
communicating with said compartment and respectively parallel with
and adjacent opposite ones of side wall, first and second pairs of
leg members each having upper and lower ends, means for pivotally
mounting said first pair of leg members respectively adjacent their
upper ends on one of said opposite side walls, the legs of said
first pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite
ends of the respective one slot, means for pivotally mounting the
second pair of leg members respectively adjacent their upper ends
on the other of said opposite side walls, the legs of said second
pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of
the other slot, the leg members of each pair being pivotally
movable through the respective slot between a stored position in
said compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the
respective slot and being generally flush with said bottom wall,
and an extended position for supporting said case as a table, the
leg members of each pair in the stored position thereof extending
in opposite directions and being in parallel, vertically overlapped
relation with respect to said cover and bottom wall, said mounting
means for each said leg member comprising a pin slidably received
in a slot in the respective one of said opposite side walls, each
of said last-named slots being generally perpendicular to said
bottom wall and having lower and upper ends, each of said pins
being adjacent said lower end of the respective last-named slot in
the stored position and adjacent the upper end in the extended
position of the respective leg member, said case having four
parallel, vertical extending openings formed therein, said openings
being respectively adjacent the ends of said first-named slots, the
upper end of each said last-named slot extending into a respective
opening, said upper ends of each of said leg members in the
extended position thereof being received in a respective opening
and being held thereby against collapse.
2. The table of claim 1 further comprising first detent means for
holding each of said leg members in its stored positions, and
second detent means for holding each of said leg members in its
extended position.
3. The table of claim 1 further comprising a pair of panels
respectively hinged to the two of said side walls which are
respectively joined to said one side wall, said panels being
hingedly movable between a stored position in said compartment in
generally overlapped relation and an extended position respectively
extending outwardly from said two side walls thereby to extend said
table.
4. The table of claim 3 wherein said panels in said extended
positions thereof respectively rest on and are supported by the
upper edges of said two side walls.
Description
This invention relates generally to portable tables. A principal
object of the present invention is to provide a portable work or
display table which, in its closed position, resembles a suitcase,
and which can be quickly and easily changed to its extended
table-folding position.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable
work or display table which is simple in design, and inexpensive to
manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in
operation.
These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the
following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown folded
up so to form a suitcase shaped enclosure.
FIG. 2 is an end view thereof shown partly in cross section.
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view thereof shown set up as a
display table, and as viewed on line 3--3 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view thereof taken on line 4--4 of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, shown set up as a display
table.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10
generally represents a portable work or display table wherein there
is a case 11 having a closeable cover 12 attached by hinges 13, and
which is securable by lock 14. A handle 15 allows easy carrying. A
chain or brace holds the cover in upright displaying position.
On the bottom wall 16 of the case, two long slots 17 each store a
pair of legs 18 which in a stored position are flush with wall 16
so that the case is attractive in appearance. Each leg is pivotable
about a pin 19 so the legs can swing out of the slots as shown by
arrows 20 in order to form a small table. Each pin is slidable in a
slot 21 so that after being pivoted outward, the leg can be pushed
upward into an end opening 22 so to hold the leg firmly and prevent
collapsing. A notch 23 on the legs snaps behind a leaf spring 24
thus securing it in locked position against spring 25.
To collapse the legs, they are each simply pulled so to disengage
from the end openings and are then pivoted back into slots 17.
Detents 26 lock the legs in stored position so they do not
accidentally pivot out.
A notch 27 at the end of the slots 17 is provided for a finger to
reach the leg end so to pivot it out of the slot.
The case includes a pair of flat panels 28 and 29 mounted on hinges
30 so to swing out of the case from a stored position A to an
extended position B. In extended position, they each rest across
the case end walls 31 so to be strong enough to support heavy
objects placed on the panels. Thus, when the panels are extended,
the device forms a display or work table.
The case includes compartments 32, 33, and 34 on top formed by
partitions 35.
A drawer 36 is slidable outwardly from a space formed between
bottom wall 16 and a central wall 37, the drawer having a pivotable
flush type pull handle 38. Compartments 39 are formed inside the
drawer by means of transverse partitions 40 which also serve as
shelves when the drawer is pulled out and stood on its end. As
suggested in FIG. 3, jar caps 41 can be secured to the undersides
of these shelves so jars 42 can be screwed on, in order to store
various items therein, such as nails, screws, or etc.
The device can include numerous other features such as a drawer
lock 43, case protective metal corners 44, etc.
The device would be ideal for use by home craftsmen and servicemen
to hold tools, and provide a work table, while for salesmen it
would carry and display products.
* * * * *