US2772935A - Folding game table - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1956 Filed May 11, 1955 C. M. READ FOLDING GAME TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVHVTOR. Cums M. READ,

Arm/war.

Dec. 4, 1956 c. READ 2,772,935

FOLDING GAME TABLE Filed May 11, 1955 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0' .9. U- :3 INVENTOR.

& 'CLYDE M. READ,

E y L1 A M 3 I ATra/MEY Dec, 4, 1956 c. M. READ 2,772,935

' FOLDING GAME TABLE Filed May 11, 1955 s Shets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CLYDE M..RE AD, BY

A TTORNEY United States Patent FOLDING GAME TABLE Clyde M. Read, Miami Shores, Fla.-

Applicati'on May 11, 1955, Serial No. 507,541

1 Claim. (Cl. 31 1-89) This invention relates to folding tables and has particular reference to a table for use as a game board, such as ping-pong or other uses requiring a relatively large work surface.

The prime objector the invention is to provide al'foldingtable structure having relatively few parts andthat is extensible in a manner to provide a continuous flat surface corresponding generally to the size of the usual and well known ping-pong tables, and withthe construction being such as to permit the device to be folded into a relatively small compact unit requiring relatively little space for storage.

A further object resides in a table structure having the above named characteristics and "that may be economically manufactured, yet possessing the required stability for the purposes intended.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had tolthe accompanying drawingafwherein therefhasbeen illustratedthepreferred form of "the nevi-wand" whereindike -charac'tefs of "reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several f figures.

ln the drawings: i

Figure 1 "is an end "view or" a 'table 'c'ons'tructed in accrdance with the invention "and showndn'the'extended osition,

Figure '2 "is a top plan view of. the table in the extended position,

Figure 3' is aside'elev'ation oflthetableintheextended jpos'itio'n,

Figure 4 'is an enlarged fragmentary verticalsecti'on, taken stibsta'ntijally on line 44 "of Figure'Q,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tableinthefolded pos tion,

Figure 6 is a 'cjentral yeitical sectional view through the folded 'tablejillu'st'rate'd 'in Figure 5, and

l i'gure 7 is a fragmentaryfhorizontal section taken substantially o'nli ne'l' 77 'o f Figurei'a. v V

fkeferring i'specific'ally "to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a pedestal 'a's awholethat is ge'nerallygr ectangular in 'top plan view, and ,preferablyfformed V of wood or "any other de'sirat ile -'mfate rials The "pedestal embodies base members 6, and with each base {member carrying a ,pair of Spaced apart and preferablysquare p'erpendicula-rbars 7. The base mnibe'rB fand the bars l are spaced apart and fparallelwi theaeh"other adistance corresponding to an adequate su port "for fthe table. Ve'r'ticallys hiftablebetweemthe bars 7 are plunger bars "8 that extend "above the upper iends ofthe bars 7 "and are rigidly connected at their Uppenrids with'a relat'ively narrow 'andhorizontally arranged transverse center panel 9. The upperends *of the *ba1s 7 are rigidly connected together byfframe'members while each blocks 11." GuideiS'l-atesdlZ, together"withj-theif me 'men'ibers, "10, 'nrairitain the plungerfbars 8 in their -accurate tr'averse be'tween'thebars -7. The uppe'r ends "ice 2 of the plunger bars 8 maybe braced with respectto the panel 9 by any suitable angle brackets 13, whereby the panel 9 will be maintained against'twistingwith respect to the plungers. I

Means are'emplo'yed to elevate'the bars 8 comprising a cross shaft 14 carrying winding drums 15. The shaft 14 is journaled in companion bars 7 at opposite sides of the pedestal and a hand crank 16 is employed'torotate the shaft and the drums. Endless cables '17 are wrapped about the'drums 1 5 and are trained over upper grooved pulleys T18 and lower grooved'pulleys 19 and with the upper pul1eys 18 being rotatably supported upon one frame member 10, while the (lower pulleys "19 are rotatably supported upon the base members '6. The cables 17 intermediate theirlength are connected to the inner plates 12, whereby rotation of the shaft 14 and the drums 15 will resu'lt in the plunger bars and'their associated panel '9 being elevated or lowered. The'bars 7, at each end of the ;pedestal, are connected together by frame members 20.

Hingedly connected at opposite sides of the panel 9, as 'by hinge elements 21, "are relatively large leaf sections 22. The hinge elements 21 are connected with the leaf sections 22 through'the medium'of transversely extending reinforcing strips 23 carried by the underside of each leaf section 'a predetermined distance "inwardly from their inner ends. The spacing ofthe reinforcing strips 'inwardlyhas been calculated to causethe inner'endsof thefleaf sections 22, when inthe extended table forming position, to overlie 'thepanel9 an equal distance so that their'ends 'will be parallel and substantially abutting, having'only enough clearance to permit the hinged movement "of the leaf .sections to and from their extended position. Thus, with the table in the fully extended position/the leaf sections.22'wil1"be arrangedin a horizontal 'rnanner andparallel with respect to the panel9. 7

Means are provided whereby the'leaf sections 22 are shiftable in unison through an identical .arc'to be disposed either in the extended table forming position 'or in 'the foldedlposition, showninFigures 5 and 6, comprising fulcrum bars '24'that are arranged in pairs upon the opposite sides of thepedestal. Each'fulcrum bar 24 is pivotally supported at its lower end upon theblocks 11, as at 25, and at'their opposite endsarepivotally suppor'ted'to reinforcing strips 26, as at 27, rigidly connected withtheund'er -side ofeach leaf section 22. Thus, the fulcrum bars 24'swing in avertical plane with the leaf'sections 22 underthe influence of therise and'fall of the plunger barsS.

'The operation ofthe structure so "far described is.as follows:

Assuming the "table to be inthe fully .extendedposition, shown in Figure "3, it will clearly be apparent that pressure exerted in a downward direction upon either of the leaf members 22, ajfulcrum action "will be imparted through the fulcrum bars 24, causing theliinged end of'the "leaf-sections -torise upwardly carryingthe panel9'in anupward .directio'niand causingthe plunger bars 8 tolbe elevated. This initial action is'illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3. Itwillbe apparent that the upward movement of the panel '9'will ca'use'the'opposite-leaf section 22 to 'a'lso'fulcrum uponits associated fulcrum bars 24, imparting an identical shifting movement to'the opposite leaf and, when in the. fully folde'd position, each leaf section 22 will be disposed in "afperpendicular plane and with the fulcrum bars 24 'being slightly angled outwardly. Since the cables '17 and their associated drums and pulleys are freely movableg'the table may be shifted to "and from its folded position causing l the "cables to frely traverse their "respective drums and'pfilleys. :Wiihthetabledn thefolde d position, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, when it is desired to extend the leaf sections 22, the operator engages one leaf section, swinging it outwardly and upwardly, causing the fulcrum bars to swing outwardly and through their fulcrum connections, causing the panel 9 and its supporting plunger barsto shift downwardly to a point where the panel 9 rests upon the upper ends of the bars 7 and their associated frame 10, in which position the inner ends of the leaf sections 22 rest upon and overlie the panel 9, preventing further downward movement and positioning the leaf sections 22 in a horizontal plane, forming in effect a relatively long game table. The mechanism described will be capable of supporting the leaf sections in their extended position under normal usage. It may be desired of course that latch means be associated with the shaft 14, whereby to prevent accidental movement of the plunger bars 8, thus additionally supporting the table in its extended position against movement.

It has been found, however, that with a table having a length corresponding to the well known ping-pong tables, that there is always a tendency for pressure to be placed upon the outer ends of the leaf sections 22, causing the leaf sections to be depressed accidentally. To provide against such accidental shifting, there has been provided for each leaf section 22 a pair of prop legs 28 and with each pair of prop legs being connected together adjacent their outer ends by rods 29. The inner ends of each pair of prop legs are pivotally connected upon the reinforcing strips 26 through the medium of the pivotal connections 27 heretofore described with respect to the fulcrum bars 24. The legs 28 are manually swung to and from an angular prop position, shown more clearly in Figure 3 and, when in the prop position, serve to brace the leaf sections 22 against accidental downward movement. Batten strips 30 fixed to the under side of the leaf sections 22, adjacent their outer ends, carry spring clips 31 that have clipping engagement with the rods 29 when the prop legs 28 are shifted to an inactive or nested position to be maintained in such position throughout the folding of the table. It will thus be seen that when unusual weights are engaged upon the upper surface of the leaf sections 22, the operator swings each pair of prop legs 28 downwardly for engagement with the floor area and with the legs being angled outwardly from their pivots 27, thus providing a very effective brace against the accidental shifting of the table. Each prop leg 28 is preferably provided with rubber tips 32 that retard any tendency for the legs 28 to slide outwardly under the influence of excessive Weight upon the upper surface of the table. It will thus be seen that when the table is to be folded, the legs 28 are first swung upwardly to engage their respective spring clips 31, after which pressure upon either leaf section 22 will fulcrum the inner ends of the leaf sections upwardly together with the panel 9 and the associated plunger bars 8. The several prop legs and the fulcrum bars 24 are all fully nested adjacent the under-side of the leaf sections 22 when the table is fully folded and provides a very compact unit that may be easily shifted to a place of storage or shifted against a wall where it will employ relatively little space. While it has been pointed out that the table is quickly and easily folded by merely exerting pressure upon the outer ends of either leaf section, the operator may desire to fold the table through the medium of the shaft 14 and its associated drums and cables, whereby the plungers are caused to shift upwardly or downwardly as the case may be. Since the table is primarily adapted to be used as a game table for ping-pong or the like, the inner edges of each leaf section 22 have been notched, whereby the leaf sections, when in the extended position, form cylindrical openings for the reception of net supporting pegs 33 adjacent each side of the table and with the pegs 33 supporting a pingpong net 34. It will be obvious, of course, that the table is adaptable for many uses other than as a game table and, when employed for other purposes, such as a dining table, it becomes essential that the prop legs 28 be swung downwardly as a means to prevent the shifting of the leaf sections under the influence of persons leaning thereon or otherwise exerting unusual pressure, such as normally occurs upon a dining table. The structure may be readily adapted in various sizes, such as a cocktail table, in which case the pedestal and associated elements will be made in a size corresponding to the usual type of such a table. It is contemplated that the entire structure shall be formed exceptionally light in weight and with the several parts, including the bars 7 and the base members 6, shall be constructed in a manner to prevent any tendency to twist or weave in use. It is contemplated that the leaf sections 22 shall be constructed of plywood and the members 26 inpart rigidity thereto against any tendency to warp or flex,

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an extremely simple and novel construction has been provided whereby a relatively large table may be quickly and easily folded to a nested position having a relatively small size. The use of the fulcrum bars 24 in association with hingedly connected leaf sections presents a very novel construction that permits a single individual to easily shift the table to and from an extended position, since it becomes necessary to only actuate one leaf section in order to impart a corresponding movement to the opposite leaf section and with the leaf sections when in the fully folded position,will overlie the base members 6 to be parallel with each other.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within-the spirit of the invention as will be determined by the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A folding table that includes a rectangular pedestal having base members at opposite ends, each base member rigidly supporting a pair of spaced apart square bars that are parallel and vertically arranged and with the pairs of bars at the opposite ends of the pedestal being parallel, square plunger bars slid-able in a vertical plane between the pairs of bars, cross frame members at the upper and lower ends of the pedestal whereby to rigidly connect the pairs of bars, a rectangular panel member that is rigidly connected to the upper ends of the plunger bars along its longitudinal center line, a pair of relatively large leaf members that are hingedly connected to the opposite longitudinal edges of the panel, each of the leaf members being co-extensive in length and width, transverse strips fixed to the under side of the leaf members inwardly of their inner ends and with the strips constituting the point of connection for the hinge, the leaf members being swingable in a vertical plane from a horizontal table forming position to a folded position, the said leaf members when in table forming position having their inner ends in overlying and parallel relation to the panel whereby their inner ends terminate along the longitudinal center line of the panel, a pair of fulcrum bars disposed at opposite sides of the pedestal and with their lower ends being pivotally connected at each base member and their upper ends being pivotally connected with the under side of the leaf members intermediate and adjacent each side of the leaf members, the said leaf members swingable downwardly from their outer ends upon the fulcrum bars whereby to cause their inner ends to be elevated for elevating the said panel and its associated plunger bars through the medium of the hinge connection, the elevating of the panel and the plunger bars transmitting a similar movement to the opposite leaf member upon its associated fulcrum bars, the leaf members when in the fully folded position of the table being disposed in a vertical plane to be parallel to each other and parallel to the pedestal, the said fulcrum bars being angled outwardly from the pedestal in either position of the table and underlying the leaf members, a pair of brace legs for each leaf member and with each pair of brace legs being pivotally connected to the leaf members at the points of pivotal connection for the fulcrum bars, the said legs being swingable downwardly on their pivots when the leaf members are in table forming position to be outwardly angled and in floor engagement for bracing the leaf members against fulcrumed movement upon the fulcrum bars, the said legs adapted to be swung to nested position beneath the leaf members when the leaf members are to be shifted to a folded position and cable means carried by the pedestal and connected with each plunger bar whereby to mechanically shift the leaf members to and from a table forming position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images