US2111616A - Refectory table - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 Al i REFEGTORY TABLE Charles L. Creech, Jr., Winston-Salem, N. C.

ApplicatibnOctober 18, 1934, Serial No. 748,856 2 Claims. (01. 311-56) This invention relates to a refectory table.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a construction in a refectory table which includes themain table top and atop extension that normally is nestable or socketed below the main top and in a space provided between the main top and the frame adjacent an end thereof, which construction does not require the extension top to be pulled out from its nested position appreciably beyond the main top, elevated and then returned toward its nested position but in an elevated relation to its initial movement and into abutting relation with the main top toform a continuation oran extension thereof, but which construction merely requires the pulling out of extension top to the full length of its extended movement and then the elevation thereof, thereby eliminating the return travel and elevation-movement heretofore common in the art of refectory tables. a

The chief feature of the invention consists in the provision of certain so-called hardware by which the table top extensionmay be elevated into the plane of the table top upon being extended from the nested or socketed position to the full extent of the extended movement and maintained in elevated relation.

The present invention is illustrated herein as of three difierent types.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the table, the legs being shown in section and the table being equipped with the necessary elements to comprise a refectory construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on broken line 22 of Fig. l and in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 1 and 2 in the right hand portion show the top extension in the elevated and extended position forming a continuation-oi the main top of the table and the left hand portion of said figures illustrate a similar top extension in the nested or socketed position. v

3 isa bottom plan view of a modified form of the invention, wherein a common control is associated with the individual hardware car-.

ried by each of the slide bars of the extension top.

i is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form of hardware similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and of the individually operable type, the extension being shown in the extended and table top continuation forming position;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of the invention illustrating a simplified adjustable form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 65 of Fig. 5, and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 5 of the form of the invention illustrated in smaller scale in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and of a modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 9 is a View taken atrig ht angles thereto of the adjustably mounted bracket.

' Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 5 of a modified form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 and 5.

Fig. 11 is a View taken at right angles thereto of the adjustably mounted bracket.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the right end of Fig. 2. i

In the drawings It indicates a main top of a table. A frame comprises pair of side rails H and two end rails 52. With the present form of the invention, an individual leg-construction and mounting are illustrated, and herein the leg is indicated by the numeral 13, the anchoring bolt by the numeral it, the adjacent rail connecting member by the numeral l5, and the locking nut by the numeral it. This corner construction is standard in. table constructions. Any other corner construction, however, may be substituted therefor without departing from the broader features of the invention.

The top edges of the rails are spaced from the bottom plane of the top by a depth at least equal to the thickness of the table top extension ll. These extensions are commercially known as slides. Obviously, the tops of the legs terminate in spaced relation to the top to permit freedom of slide movement.

The means for securing the frame to the top includes four L-shaped, in cross section, blocks 3, each of which has a portion iii that lies outside of the side rail and a portion 213 that lies between the same and the table top and spaces the rail from the top. Screwsv 2i secure the blocks 18 to the table top and any suitable means secures the rails to the blocks. In this manner the frame, consisting of the legs and the end and side rails, are secured in relatively spaced relation to the table top and provide'an open space at each end of the table for nesting the slide or top extension l'i between the top and the frame and beneath the top;

To mask the anchoring blocks which are suitably secured to the side rails and for ornamentation in forming an unbroken or non-gap surface between the two extension slides when nested, and for bridging the space therebetween, are the auxiliary rails 22 secured to the top as at 23. The opposite ends of these rails 22 as at 22a may serve asv stops for the rear edges of the extension slides when in nested relation.

Any other suitable method of mounting the table top upon the frame work and providing open spaces at the ends of the frame immediately beneath the top for nesting the slides may be employed without departing from the broader features of this invention.

Extending from one auxiliary side rail 22 to the other is an elongated member 24, the same being secured to the table top as at 25. Portions 26 of the member 24, in depth, are approximately only the thickness of the top extension, or in other Words, the depth of the opening between the frame and the main top. The auxiliary rails 22 mask the ends of the member 24 at the extensions 26. lhe member 24 inwardly of the extensions 28 is of greater depth and includes spaced slots 27.

These slots 21 accommodate the slide bars. Herein a pair of slide bars 28 is provided for each top extension and is suitably secured thereto as at EU. The slide bars for each extension are offset relative to the bars for the other extension and the width of the slot 2'! in the bar guiding member 2A is double the width of the slides for two bar accommodation. The slots 21 in depth are considerably deeper than the depth of the bars.

Each bar near its free end carries an inclined member or block 38 which engages the bottom of the recess 27 and causes the slide in its extending movement to be automatically elevated until the full extending movement is obtained. Near the end of the extending movement certain hardware, the specific subject matter of the invention, automatically becomes operable to elevate the top extension into the same plane as the table top at the end of the extending movement and to thereafter support the same in such plane until subsequently manually and positively released.

Each bar intermediate its ends includes an inclined block 3! which has one edge 32 adapted to serve as a stop by engaging the inside of the end rail l2 when the slide is extended.

In alignment with each slide bar and near the free end thereof when the extension top is nested and secured to the table top, is an inclined block 33 which serves to force downwardly the rear or free end of the slide bar and also serves more or less as a stop to prevent upward tilting of the extension top in the initial extending movement thereof. In other words, the end of the bar must first clear the inclined member 33 before relatively great tilting or elevating movement in the extending movement of the extension top is possible. This prevents marring of the top extension.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, one, and the preferred individual form, of the automatically operable and manually releasible hardware for elevating without retraction of the extension top, illustrated. In said figures, the slide bar is recessed as at 3 3 and suitably secured therein, is a base plate 35. Said base plate has a tongue struck therefrom to lie within the confines of the recess 34. Said tongue serves as an anchorage for spring 31 secured .as at 38 to a depending arm 35? of a member which is pivoted as at 23 on said plate. The member 39 has a depending extension All which is adapted to engage the bottom edge of a notch 42 in an end rail l2, as shown clearly in the right hand portion of Fig. 2, to maintain the slide extension I! in position as an extension or continuation of the main top H).

The spring 3'! permits the cam like head 43 of the member 39 to ride under a locking plate 44, suitably secured at 45 in countersunk relation upon the bottom of the table top. The countersunk portion communicates with the elongated slot 46 which is provided to permit tilting movement of the member 39. A rod 41 is suitably secured to the member 39 as at 48 and is slidably mounted in a groove 49 formed in the face of the slide bar bearing or the slide. The rod 41 carries at its free and outer end, a pull ring or similar device 50.

The underface of each table top extension is provided with a finger grip or groove 5|. The operation is as follows:--

The slide is engaged by gripping the same at 5! and is pulled outwardly to remove the slide from its nested position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at the left, and as it is moved outwardly, the block 36 engaging in the slot 21, elevates the slide so that the movement is more or less. in an inclined plane directed upwardly into the plane of the main table top. Near the immediate end of the extension movement, the depending portion 4| of the hardware, engages the bottom surface of the slot 42 in the end rail l2. When thus engaged, the top extension is maintained in table top extension-forming position. When it is desired to nest the extension, the two pull rings 58 are engaged which tilt the members 39 from their supporting position, permitting the extension to drop downwardly and thereafter inward movement of the extension will nest the same beneath the table top.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at the end of the extending movement, the upper portion 43 of member 39 having the notch 52 therein, through the influence of spring 37, serves to receive the edge of plate 54 to further lock the extended leaf in the elevated position.

The plate 35 has struck from it a stop 53 which limits tilting movement of member 39 under the influence of spring 31.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of the invention is illustrated and in said figure, numerals of the one hundred seriesv are utilized. In this form of the invention, the additional sustaining means, such as the plate 43, cam portion 33 and notch 52 of the member 39, are omitted.

In Fig. 3 a still further modified form of the invention is illustrated and the same may be utilized with either form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 4. In this form of the invention a single pull member is provided to simultaneously actuate both of the automatic mechanisms embodying the hardware, the subject matter of th specific invention disclosed herein.

In this form of the invention, the two members 239 and 243 are connected by a rod 269, in turn connected as at 25! to a red 24? slidably supported as at 2 29 and terminating in a pull ring 25 In this. arrangement, the plates 235 are positioned in recesses upon adjacent faces of the slide bars and face each other while Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a. reverse arrangement.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated a simplified adjustable form of the invention. Similar numerals of the 300 series indicate similar parts. The table top is indicated by the numeral 310, the extension top leaf by the numeral 3", the slide by the numeral 328, the notch therein by the numeral 334, the supporting plate by the numeral 335, the support member by the numeral 3 pivoted to the plate 335 at 340 and connected to trip rod or means 347 at 343 and tensi-oned by spring 331 connected to plate 335 at 336 and to member 3 at 338. Rod 34'! is nested in channel 349.

The end rail M2 is slotted at 342 to accommodate the slide bar 328. Rail SIZ supports in juxtaposition to each slot 342 an angle plate 300 secured thereto by screws 30! in offset, parallel, inclined slots 302. Thus, angle plate 300 can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to insure certainty of support for the lower end of member 34L The adjustable support shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is to be expressly understood, may be sub-- stituted for the direct engagement of the sup port member upon the bottom of the notch in the frame structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inelusive.

In Figs. 8 and 9,the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is shown associated with the adjustably mounted bracket. Numerals of the 400 series indicate parts similar to those similarly indicated in Figs. l, 5 and 6. y

In Figs. 10 and 11, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 is shown associated With the adjustably mounted bracket. Numerals of the 500 series indicate parts similar to those similarly indicated in Figs. 1, 2, '1, 5 and 6.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in great detail in the foregoing, the same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character. These several modifications thus illustrated and described, as well as those specifically mentioned in addition thereto and as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, are all believed to be within the broad scope of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:-

1. In a refectory table having an extension slide, slide supporting mechanism for sustaining a slide in extended and aligned position adjacent a main top including a member pivotally connected to the slide and having a supporting portion, means normally constraining said member into supporting position, a stop for limiting the pivotal movement of said member to the supporting position, and means operatively associated with the member for manually tilting said member in opposition to the constraining movement, said member being automatically tiltable in the movement of the slide in one direction and being manually tiltable to permit movement of the slide in the opposite direction, an adjustably supported angle member upon which the supporting portion of said pivotal member rests, and a stop for the supporting mechanism adjacent the adjustable angle for limiting slide movement.

2. In an extension table having a main top, a supporting slotted frame therefor, and an extension top nestable in the frame slot below the main top, in combination a pair of substantially straight parallel bars secured at their outer ends to the underface of the said extension top having their inner ends free of frame engagement, a'nested catch in the underface of the main top adjacent the frame and in substantial registration with each bar, an integral combintion latch and extension top support pivotally carried by the arm and normally constrained toward support position and automatically movable into frame engagement therefor where the extension top is fully extended and into latch and catch engagement, stop means limiting the extension movement, and manually operable means for tilting said latch and support in opposition to the constraint for releasing and lowering the extension top preliminary to nesting thereof.

CHARLES L. CREECH, JR.

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