US2178940A - Desk leg and the like - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1939. E. RHODES DESK LEG AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 27, 1938 Gttbmegs Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED "STATES PATENT. OFFICE", I 2,178,940 it l g DESK LEG AND THE LIKE Ernest Rhodes, Herkimer, N. Y., assignor to Standard-Furniture Company, Herkimer, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 27, 1938, Serial-No. 247,975 4 Claims. (01. 45-137) This invention pertains to furniture made of wood, and more particularly to such elements as desk legs, having in view the provision of means whereby a non-splintering, relatively hard sur- 5 face is presented at at least one longitudinally extending corner or edge.

Desk legs produced from wood have heretofore been objectionable by reason of the fact that the corners or edges thereof when subjected to a blow or knock, say of a chair or the handle of a cleaning implement, or even ones shoe, are apt to splinter, producing slivers which oftentime contact and engage ones wearing apparel, particularly silk stockings, with destructive results.

Various means have heretofore been suggested for obviating such trouble, to wit: flexible buffer strips secured to the leg and exposed corner thereof, rubber pads likewise secured to the corner of the.-legs in line with the height of the average chair seat, and metallic elements formed from sheet metal and presenting rounded faces. The first two of these depend primarily upon the resiliency of the buffer and necessarily deteriorate with age, while the metallic structure projects beyond the contour lines of the leg proper and is otherwise objectionable.

The present invention produces a leg formed entirely from wood providing a non-splintering edge or corner (one or more), and at the same time ensures a pleasing contrast between the elements of which the desk leg is composed.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the desk leg embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing a slight modification of the elements which enter into the laminated leg.

In the-drawing, l0 and ii denote what maybe termed the main body portions of the leg, and

are formed of wood having the grain thereof running lengthwise .of such elements and consequently of the leg. These elements, as will be seen upon reference to the various Figures 1 to 3, are triangular in cross-section and located between them is an element denoted by i2 which is produced from end grain wood and is preferably interlocked with the elements 10 and H by splines or keys !3 and [4, respectively. These splines are formed of wood and the various elements or parts are secured together by proper ad- V II hesive and pressure, forming a laminated structure throughout. Y

The end grain element I2 is so disposed that the grain proper extends transversely of that of the body elements 10 and II, as is indicated by 5 the shading in Fig. 1, and has its exposed edges formed to produce the desired shape or contour of the leg. On the section 22, it will be seen that the exposed faces of the member. 12 lie in planes common with those of the adjacent faces 10 of the members l0 and II; whereas, as these elements taper off toward the lower end of the leg, the member I2 is rounded, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and it is this rounded hard surface l3 which is designed to receive the blows above ad- 15 verted to, and to resist the same.

The member I2 may be formed from a plurality of sections longitudinally considered, and will preferably extend throughout the full length of the leg. At its lower end it is inclined or tapered 20 outwardly so as to merge into the adjacent'fiat surfaces of the elements In and II. The lower end of the leg is shown as reduced or cut away to receive the ordinary metallic foot or socket piece commonly employed with high grade furniture. 25

It will be appreciated that the end grain element I2 is suported upon opposite sides and there is little or no tendency for it, to break away or splinter, as such an end grain material is hard and resists the impact of anything which may 80 ordinarily contact the same. Furthermore, it performs the function of protecting the adjacent edgesI Ior portions of the main body elements I0 and In Fig. 4, a slight modification is shown where- 35 in instead of employing the separate splines as H and 15 to assist in maintaining the integrity of the laminated structure, members Ill and II, comparable to 10 and H of the structure'above described, are formed with integral ribs I6 which fit into grooves formed in the end grain section or element 12. Under. all forms, the end grain of the insert is exposed at the corner of the leg, or adjacent thereto, and extendsinwardly at right 5 angles to the grain of the body portion of the leg proper, or may be said to extend horizontally with reference to the grain of the body proper, whereby a relatively hard non-splintering impact-resisting surface is produced. 50

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper portion of the member 12 is not rounded, but there is little danger of anything hitting such portion in a kneespace desk. When the leg is embodied in such an article of furniture, moreover, such portion is usually coincident with the desk.

A leg produced as above described ensures pleasing contrast between the main body elements and the element I2 when the wood is provided with the proper finish.

While the invention has been described as primarily applicable to a desk leg, and more particularly to a desk leg for a knee-hole type desk,

broa dly considered the leg may be used upon center drawer of the tables or other articles of furniture where proleast one edge of said end grain member extend grain of the body.

ing outwardly beyondthe adjacent edges of the body members.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a desk leg formed of wood with the grain of the body portion extending lengthwise thereof and having an insert of end grain wood, said insert being exposed at one corner of the leg and designed to absorb any ordinary blow or impact, the grain thereof extending transversely of that of the grain of the body proper and lying in a generally horizontal direction with reference thereto, whereby a relatively hard non-splintering impact-resisting surface is produced.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a desk leg formed of wood having the grain of the body portion thereof extending lengthwise or longitudinally of the body, and a corner impact-resisting element embedded in said body portion and exposed at one corner thereof at least, said element being of end grain wood and having its grain extending transversely of that of the grain of the body portion and lyingin a generally horizontal direction with reference thereto, whereby a relatively hard non-splintering impact-resisting surface-is produced.

ERNEST RHODES.

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