US2205274A - Extension table - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1940. wc. RAsTEr'rER ExTENsIoN TABLE Filed May 12. 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ORNEY.

June 18, 1940. w. c. RATET'l-En. 2,205,274

\ EXTENSION TABLE Filed May 12, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 2 j/ZZWW/ MVENTOR f BY I 4 ATTO'RNEY.

Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED; STATES 2,205,274 EXTENSION'TABLE: Wiuiamo. Rastetter, Fort Wayne. Ind. Applicatipn May 12,1938, serial No. 207,554

1 Claim.

This invention relates to extension tables of that type in which the length of the table is increased by positioning an additional top section or leaf between the main top sections of the table,

.5 and concealing the leaf when not in use lbeneath the main top sections. n

An object of the invention is-A to construct a table having-main top sections providedwitha supporting structure therefor, adapted to be extended, and an additional top section'or Vleaf having foldable parts, said leaf being pivotally supported in connection with the main sections,

20 an easily operated locking means for securing together the main .top sections afterthe additional leaf is in folded position and the main .top sections are contracted. l

And a further object of the invention is to construct the side frame members of the supporting structure for the main table topsections so as to constitute sliding connections for the two main sections whereby to permit said sections to be extended. t f

Other objects and ,advantages o'f the invention appear in the following description. An illustrative embodiment ofthe invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. l is a top plan View of a table embodying the invention as it appears in contracted position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the main top sections fully extended and the additional folding top section in folded position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing avertical 40 section on the line 3-3 of Fig-2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the .additional addiextending movement of the main sections and for supporting the additional topsection, and also Another object of the invention is-to provide and in position the main and additional Vtop sections in operative. position, showing also the means for limiting theshowing the mechanism for locking the main sec-` tions together when in contracted position; and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the overlapping side members and their connecting. slide, the transverse section-being on the line 8.-"-8A Figs. 3, 4, 5, '7 and 8 are drawn-to comparatively larger scale than the other gures.

' Extensible table sections The `illustrative embodiment ofthe invention consists of two extensible main top sections I and 2 including a supporting .structure constituted of a frame 3 provided with legs li that preferably j are secured to said frame at their upper ends y upon pivots 5 to permit folding of the legs Within the frame. The sides of the frameare formed of overlapping inner and outer side members 6 and l respectively that overlap each other and have relative sliding movement. vUpon the inner face of eachouter side member adjacent its innermost end is secured a corresponding` guide-plate 8p, the upper edge of which has an inturned horizontal flange Sl that has sliding movement in al longitudinal groove IIJ made in the outer \face of the corresponding inner side member 6. n has an extension I I that underlies the lower vface of the inner side member 6 and is provided with' an upstanding flange I2 that has sliding movement in alongitudinal groove I3 made in the bottom of the inner side member I5. The upper flange 9 when positioned in the groove I0 prevents relativev vertical play of the side members while the flange I2 preventslateral play thereof. Thus., the side members are permitted to have relative longitudinal movement and are heldin proper operating position throughout their slidbers are held snugly and firmly together with their exposed outer faces ush.

Folding topsectzon The main sections I'and 2 are connected together by means of a coupling rodv I6 that extendsloosely through brackets I'I securedv respectively upon the under faces of the panels forming the tops of said :main sections, and has longitudinal sliding movement in said brackets limited by stops I8 onthe ends of said rod which have contact with the corresponding brackets when the main sections are fully extended.

Upon the coupling rod i6 is pivotally mounted an additional top secticnl constituted of a leaf formed of two parts 2li and 2| connected together by hinges 22. eUpon 4the undersurface of the section 2l are secured brackets23 through which the coupling rod I6 loosely extends. The leaf has pivotal movement upon the coupling rod-and is prevented from having longitudinal movement relative thereto by shoulders 24 on the rod that abut the adjacent faces of the brackets 23 in opposite directions. Thus, when the main sections are parted to the fullest extent permitted, by contact ofthe stops I8 with the brackets I1,

the leaf is then held midway between and spaced of the folding leaf I 9, and corresponding dowel pins 25 that project from the opposite side of the folding leaf are arranged to be received in corresponding sockets 26 in the adjacent edge of the main section 2, when the top sections are allIalined in a common plane and contracted into compact operating position, thus to maintain an uniform'top surface for the table.

A stationary rest 21 consisting of a bentbar is secured to the undersurface of one of the main top sections, the lower end of said rest being so positioned" as to extend beneath the part 20 of the.

. folding leaf thereby to sustain the leaf in a derlsponding side members S and 1.

nite position when folded, and also to guide the part 2B of said leaf during its unfolding movement to insure elevation of the outer end of the part -20 sufficiently to clear the `tops of thecorre- Thus, unfolding of the leaf in moving it to its operating position is unobstructed. Also, to the underfaces of the; tops of the mainysections I and 2 are secured stationary supports 28 that project suiiiciently from the corresponding tops as to underlie the corresponding edges of the part 2U of the leaf when said4 leaf has been placed in operative position. between the main top sectionsand said ing` movement of the mam sections 1s sufc1ent Ofi 7 engaged by said latch upon folding of the leaf and movement of said top main sections into contractedposition, thus securing [the main sections.

sections are contracted against the leaf. When f the main sections are moved apart tothe extent limited bythe stops IB on the coupling rod I6, ithe leaf is held upon the coupling rod midway between the main sections clear of said supports so that folding movement of the lleaf is then unobstructed Vby said supports. The limited partalso asv to permit complete withdrawal of the dowelz pins from the corresponding vsockets inwhicli they engage so that folding of theleaflis unobstructed by said dowel pins.

` Locking 'mechanism` To prevent unintentional extension or parting of the main, sections from their contracted position there is provided a spring-restrained latch 29 pivotally supported beneath the inner edge.

of one 4of the main top sections, which latch is provided with an operating rod 3i) the outer end' of which underlies the outer edge; of the `corresponding main top section where it may conveniently be reached by the operator. v

A stationary lug 3 I` is secured to th'eunderface of the opposite top section, adjacent the `inner edge thereof opposite the latch 29, and becomes together `vviththe inner edges of their tops abutting eachrother.

Operation In operating the invention, assuming the main sections are in contracted position and `secured together by the latch mechanism, the tops of the main sections thenA afford a continuous area that extends in a single plane limited to the extent of the upper surfaces of the main sections. When itis desired to increase the top surface of the the main top sections, to permit tilting movement of the leaf I9 upon the coupling rod I6. The operator, then, by applying downward pressure upon the hinged end of the part 2| causes upward movement'of the opposite ends4 of the parts -20 and 2| of the leaf, and the part 20 is guided by the rest 2l upwardly to such extent that it passes over and onto the adjacent side members B and 'I' (Fig. 4). When the unfolding movement of the leaf is completed it assumes a position between the main top sections in a common plane therewith and then the ends of the two parts ofthe leaf rest upon the corresponding side members. The main sections then are moved toward each other into position against the sides of the unfolded leaf, whereupon the supports 28 become projected beneath'the part 2D of the leaf, and the dowel pins are projected into the corresponding sockets 26 provided therefor, and the leaf retains its support from the rod IB. Thus, the unfolded leaf is sustained in operating positonwith its-top surface extending in a common plane with the top surfaces of the main sections. lv"In this manner an enlargement of the useful upper surface of the table is effected.

In order to contract the table, the main sections are first4 parted to their fullest extent, then the leaf is folded to the position indicated in Fig. 3,- and subsequentlythe main sections are moved into-their com-plete' contracted position, whereupon the.x folded leaf is completely concealed beneath the topfof themain sections and is held supportediupon the coupling rodr I6 and the rest 2'IL Variations from the particular construction above disclosed may readily be made by exercise of engineeringv skill without 'departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, and the following claim is intended to be inclusive of such variations.

WhatI claim is: Inglan-extension tab-1e having opposed main top sections separable for the reception therebetween of anextensionleaf, 'side frame memberssecured to the ,underfaces vof said sections at the sides thereof` each .having an undercut shoulderand an extending portion that overlaps the corre-` held snugly and'firmlytogether with their exposedouter faces flush, and means to lock said top sections tion.

WILLIAM C. RASTE'FIER.

Atogether when incontracted posi-y

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