US1692930A - Foldable service board - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1928.

E. W. CUMMINGS FOLDABLE SERVICE BOARD Filed June 1'7, 1925 y gzafia Gummy Patented Nov. 27, 19 28.

UNITED STATES 1,692,930 PATENT OFFICE.

EARLE W. CUMMINGS, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SANTA BARBARA LUMBER COMPANY, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, A .COR-

PORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

FOLDABLE SERVICE BOARD,

Application filed June 17, 1925. Serial No. 37,704.

This invention relates to built in kitchen furniture adapted. for folding up between the studding of the wall when not in use, particularly such items as tables, chairs, or ironing boards, the chief difference between the'three itemsmentioned being the size or shape of the horizontal or service board and its distance from the floor.

The object of the invention is to provide a service board of the character mentioned which will be more rigid than thepresent boards when extended or unfolded, which will in the case of a seat be provided with a rigid back brought out from thew all automatically upon unfolding the seat, also in such a seat the provision of a space for a cushion between the back and seat when folded within the wall space, also in such a device the provision of means preventing the abrading of the finished surfaces through the act of folding the article, and finally a simplification of the members insuring the device freedom from getting out of order.

In" the drawings hereto my preferred construction is shown, Figure 1 being an elevation of the extended or unfolded board projecting from its cabinet, the latter being shown in vertical section, Figure 2 a broken fragment of one upper corner of the folding back as seen from within the cabinet looking out,'Figure 3 a similar view-of thelower corner of'the folding strut in relation to the cabinet frame, and Figure 4 is a detached view of one of the spring hinges 20 of Figure 1.

In further detaill represents thestudding of a building wall, 2 the plaster, 3 my cabinet frame set within the studding space and having a casing 4 on the forward side overlapping the plaster.

The frame proper 3 is rectangular, the bottom piece being denoted by the numeral 3' and the sides by the numeral 3 and transversely extending across the opening formed by the frame is a piece 5 positioned somewhat below the center of the frame.

Hinged to this transverse partition 5 by a hinge or hinges 6 is the service board proper7.

This board 7 may, as'suggested, be of any shape or size, but is here represented as a seat and it is shown when extended as forming slightly less than a right angle with the vertical portion of the frame 4 above the seat.

The slight angular arrangement is desir- 1 able when the board is used as a seat tho when used as a table it is not desirable, but this featureis controlled by the length of the strut or brace 8 which supports the board, it being merely necessary to have this of the proper length to produce either a perfectly level or slightly angular board as desired.

The strut 8 preferably takesthe form of a panelled frame with the panel indicated at 8' and it is hinged at 9 preferably by a piano hinge to a smaller panelled frame 10 whose panel is indicated at 10, whilethe smaller frame is permanently secured to the under side of the service board 7. The service board is adapted to fold up on its plvotal point 6 to nicely fit within the frame while preferably projecti'ng'slightly beyond the casing 4 thereof as indicated by the dotted line of folded position 11 and is thus retained by a suitable latch 12 operated by the knob 13 engaging the latch plate 14.

The strut 8 supports the shelf or service board when unfolded by its lower edge engaging a groove 15 out along the rear edge of the lower frame member 3 and when in this position it should be noted that the forward or finished side of the panelled strut board is free of contact with the lower trans- *ted guides oneon each vertical frame member.

3 as indicated at 16 each of which is engaged by a trunnion bracket 17 secured to the upper side of the strut board.

These trunnions do not take the weight of the table, that being cared for by the lower end of the strut in groove 15 as described, but the trunnions and slot insure the proper upward and outward travel of the lower end of the strutin folding the device yet maintaining the clearance mentioned, the folded position of the lower end being indicated by the dotted position 18.

When the board or seat 7 is brought down ,into horizontal extension it draws out into position aback rest 19 hinged at 20 at its lower end to a cross brace 21 secured across the top of the board 7. v

The hinges 20 are spring hinges with. their spring tension exerted to force the upper end of the panel19 forwardly as indicated by the small arrow just above the hinge, and the upper end of the panel 19 is guided in its forward movement by a pair of grooved plates 22 one secured flush to each side wall 3 of the frame and engaged each by a trunnion bracket 23 (similar to the trunnion brackets 17) secured at opposite ends of a transverse brace 24 in turn secured across the back of the panel 19.

The slots or grooves in the plates 22 are formed substantially as indicated so that in unfolding the boardTthe spring hinges first throw the panel 19 forwardly in the groove, then as the-board 7 is lowered it draws the panel downwardly and seats the trunnions 23 snugly in the downwardly extending terminals. 25 of the groove.

The mounting of the panel 19 on the cross brace or clea-t 21 provides a space between the panel 19 andseat/Z'for a cushion as dotted at 26 and which cushion if used is held snugly between the panel 19 and board 7 when the device is folded to the dotted position. with the trunnion 23 forced to the rear end of the groove" in plate 22'.

- The extreme rear of the frame is usually closed by a panel 27 nailed to the frame so as to presenta finished article ready for insertion in a wall.

I. claim: i

v 1. In a wall recess cupboard having front and rear walls and a bottom, a service board hinged to the cupboard to fold vertically within thesame and to outfold downwardly to substantially horizontal extension therefrom, a panel strut hinged to the underside of the outfolded board extending angularly therefrom into the lower part of the cupboard free of the front wall of the cupboard and resting at its lower edge against'an abutment formed on the bottom of the cabinet.

2. In a device of the character described a cupboard forming frame adapted for insertion vertically in awall, a service board hinged at one end to fold vertically within the cupboard and to unfold downwardly to substantially horizontal position, a panel strut 3. In a device ofthecharacter described, a. cupboard forming frame adapted for insertion vertically in a wall and including an outer casing therefor, a service board hinged at one end to fold vertically within the cupboard and to unfold downwardly to substantially horizontal position, apanel. strut hinged to the under side ofthe unfolded board and extending angularly therefrom into bracing position within the lower part of the cupboard and a guide adapted to positively guide the lower end of the panel strut from such a bracing position to a position substantially flush with the outer face of the cupboard frame upon folding said board withinthe cupboard. and said guide being further adapted to maintain a clearance between the face of the panel strut and the upper edge of the lower transverse casing of-the frame structure.

4;. In a folding wall seat of the character described adapted to fold up within a recess and to outfold in substantially horizontal extension therefrom, a panel back support foldable with the seat and hinged to the same at the lower edge of the panel, spring means urging the upper end of the panel in a forward direction, means within the recess guiding and limiting theforward movementof the panel and lockingthesame against backward movement when the seat isoutfolded.

5. In a folding wallseatof the character described adapted to fold up within a recess, a panel back resiliently hinged. to theseat and spaced therefrom so as to .be adapted to automatically clamp a cushion between the seat and back upon folding theseat.

EARLE'W. CUMMINGS.

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