US2220896A - Ironing table - Google Patents

Description

C. FLAG STAD Nov. 12, 1940.

IRONING' TABLE Filed Sept. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I15 E Come Fmasrm;

Nov. 12, 1940. c. FLAGSTAD IRONING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1958 Nov. 12, 1940.. c. FLAGSTAD IRONING TABLE Filed Sept. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Comeu. Fmqano Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible ironing tables, and the primary object is to provide a table which may be readily set up for use or collapsed into a compact form when not in use. Another object is to provide a table which will be extremely rigid when set up and will be effectively supported and braced at a plurality of points in order to prevent any semblance of rocking or wobbling motions. A further obm ject is to provide a table of this kind in which the operations of setting up or taking down may be readily carried out by manipulation of a single, conveniently reached handle portion of the supporting framework.

1 These and other more specific objects of the invention will be made apparent in the course of the following detailed specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view, looking at the underside of the table, and showing the parts in their set up conditions ready for use.

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view looking downwardly on the table.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a table employing a slightly modified bracing and collapsing frame assembly.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation showing another bracing and collapsing frame assembly.

Fig. 6 is a similar view and showing still another form of bracing and collapsing frame.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation, showing only the table, the rear leg. frame and onepossible modiiication of the spreader frame assembly for said rear leg frame.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing another form of spreader frame.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of bracing and collapsing frame. removed from the table assembly.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view in cross section showing the connection between the front leg frame and bracing frame.

Reference will now be made to the drawings by reference characters, and the invention described in detail. As a matter of convenience in the description the terms board or ironing board are employed generally to indicate the flat elements upon which the actual work of ironing takes place, and irrespective of what material it may be made, while the term ironing table" is used to indicate the entire assembly of the board and the supporting legs and framework therefor.

The ironing board A is of the usual form, and

is supported, in erected position, by a rear supporting leg frame B and front supporting leg frame 0. Extended between these leg frames B and C is a connecting frame D and extended between the leg frames (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) isabracing and collapsing or operating frame E. Also connected with the rear leg frame B is a spreader frame F, the function of which will hereinafter be made apparent.

The rear leg frame B comprises a pair of spaced leg bars I. and II which are pivotally attached at I! to short lugs turned downwardly from a strap ll secured crosswise to the underside of the board A adjacent its rear end. These leg bars II and II spread or diverge slightly toward their 1 lower ends to give the board better lateral stability. The front leg frame C also comprises a pair of leg bars I and II which are pivoted at It to a strap ll secured transversely to the underside strap I3, and these leg bars converge forwardly and downwardly and are secured rigidly together toform a supporting foot I8. The connecting frame D is formed of an elongated loop of heavy wire or rod, the ends of which are pivotally connected at I! to the rear leg bars Ill and II and the forwardly converging sides of which are pivotally connected by their bight portion 20 to the foot I! of the front leg frame C. The foregoing arrangement is such that the connectlng frame D will serve to hold'the leg frames B and C against spreading beyond their normal angular positions and so that the leg frames will rigidly support the board A both transversely and from front to rear. At the same time these leg frames B and C may, when the table is lifted 30 from the floor, fold forwardly and lie flatly against the underside of the board to permit storage thereof in small space.

As the table is folded it is desirable that the rear leg bars II and II, which normally diverge. 40 toward their lower ends as stated, be drawn together somewhat in order that they will lie substantially parallel with, and inwardly of. the longer lateral margins of the board A. The spreader frame F is provided for automatically adjusting the rear leg bars in this manner, and this frame comprises an upwardly disposed, substantially U-shaped yoke member 2| which has its upper extremities pivotally attached, at 22, to the underside of the board A at transversely spaced and aligned points located just rearwardly of the axis upon which the leg bars l0 and I I pivot. This yoke member II thus may hang downwardly behind the leg bars or may swing forwardly therewith to lie flatly against the underside of the board asthe leg frames are folded. Connecting link bars 23 complete the spreader frame assembly and one bar is pivotally connected at 24 to each leg bar |l-|| and is extended upwardly and inwardly and pivotally connected at 25 to the lower bight portion of the yoke member. As a result of this arrangement, and particularly of the location of the pivotal points 22 rearwardly of the pivotal points l2 of the rear leg frame, the link bars 23 will exert a spreading motion transversely on the leg bars l0 and II as they reach an erected position causing these legs to spread as desired. Then as the legs are folded the link bars 23 exert a pullingmotion sufficient to draw the leg bars together and cause them to lie parallel and inwardly of the longer edges of the board and thus prevent these legs from forming projections beyond the sides of the board.

For the purpose of collapsing or folding the table, and also for further bracing the leg frames, I provide the folding and bracing frame E comprising a handle frame 26 of U-shaped formation which has its frontal ends pivotally connected at 21 to the underside of the board A at transversely spaced points forwardly of the strap ll carrying the front leg frame C. The side arms 28 of the handle frame 26 converge forwardly to some extent and pass either inwardly of the front leg bars l4 and I5 or outwardly thereof, while the bight portion or cross member 29 of the frame extends rearwardly and downwardly and is located between the front and rear leg frames. The bars 30 are pivotally connected at'their frontal ends at 3| to the rear portions of the side arms 23 and extend in rearwardly diverging relationship to the rear leg bars l0 and II to which they are pivoted at 32 on transverse axes as shown. Adjacent their frontal ends the side arms 23 carry cam elements 33 (Figs. 1, 2, and 10) which have downwardly opening notches 34 adapted to engage a cross rod 35 extended rigidly between the front leg bars [4 and I5 at an appropriate level.

The construction and arrangement of this frame assembly E is such that, when it is in extended position with the'handle frame 26 substantially aligned with the tie bars 30, the cam elements 33 will have engaged their notches 34 with the cross rod 35, and the frame will now brace the leg frames B and 0 against collapsing movement. Ihe notches 34 are angularly formed as indicated 'at 35, in such manner that as they engage the rod 35 they will have a camming action suflicient to exert a rearward pressure on the rear leg frame B and stretch the connecting frame D to a taut condition. At the same time the frontal end of the board A' will be braced rearwardly to the front leg frame C by the forward portion of the frame 26 (from this leg frame to the pivots 21) and the entire assembly will be completely rigid even before any weight may be brought to bear on the board. This effect will overcome the annoying tendency of the board to slightly settle when weight is applied, as at present occurs.

To fold or collapse the table it is now only necessary to grasp the cross member 29 and pull it rearwardly and toward the board A, and this action will break the alignment of the frame E, withdraw the cam elements 33 from engagement with the cross rod 35, and cause the leg frames B and C (together with the frame F) to fold forwardly as heretofore described. In this process the handle frame 26 folds flatly against the underside of the board A while the tie' bars 30 jack knife forwardly and also come to rest flatly against the board. The forwardly converging Dosition of the frame side to arms 23, together with the corresponding extension of the tie bars 30, allow the rear leg bars l0 and II to spread and move together, as described, without interference and the angular positioning of the pivotal points 3| adjust themselves to proper relative movement with respect to the folding movements of these leg bars as the setting up or collapsing action takes place.

An important feature of my invention, additional to the initial rigidity afforded to the structure by the expansive action of the frame E, lies in the fact that the arrangement of this frame allows the table to be folded simply by lifting its rear end with one hand while grasping the cross member 29 with the other and pulling upwardly and rearwardly as pointed out. In this connection the open" arrangement of the spreader frame F, formed by the use of a yoke member 2| as described, provides space or passageway (G in Fig. 1) through which the hand may be placed to reach the cross member 29. Thus it is possible to perform all operations of setting up, looking, unlocking and collapsing the table from the rear.

As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the yoke member 2| may also be made in two pieces 2 la and 2) which are pivoted to the board A as described, but which are crossed and pivotally connected at their lower portions at 31 and form oppositely extended end portions 38 to which the bars 23 are connected, and from which these bars extend to the rear leg bars l3 and H. In either casethe passageway G, necessary for reaching and operating the frame E, is provided and the spreading action of the leg bars l0 and II will be carried out in the manner set forth.

The frame E, as shown in Fig. 9, may also be of. two part construction as regards the handle portion 26 thereof, and in this case will have the two side arm members 28a and 28b joined at their rear ends by a pivot rod 39 which replaces the pivots 3|. A wooden handle 40 may be placed over the rod 39 for operating the frame- This view also indicates the angularity of the side bars and of the extended tie bars 30, necessary to permit the folding action of the leg bars l0 and II.

In lieu of the releasable connection (represented by the cam element 33) between the frame E and the front leg frame C, I may actually pivot this frame to the front leg frame as shown in Fig. 4. Here the frame E is substantially as described, comprising the handleframe 26 and tie bars 30 pivotally connected at 3| and connected at 32 to the rear leg bars Ill and II but the forward connection 21 to the underside of the board A is somewhat different in that it involves the use of short links 4| pivotally connected to the board at 21 and to the frontal ends of the frame E by pins 42 which work in slots 43 in the links. This arrangement is now necessary in order to allow the front leg frame C to fold, since in this assembly the cross rod 35 is actually and not releasably connected to the frame. The assembly serves the same bracing function as that heretofore described, and in the erected condition the pins 42 will bear at the ends of the slots 43 to brace the board forwardly of the front leg frame connection. The frame portion 28 may have small stop ears 44 extended to overlie the frontal ends of the tie bars 30 and limit the'setting up action as clearly evident, and it will be quite apparent that when the cross member 29 is grasped and pulled upwardly and rearwardly the table will be readily folded in the manner previously described.

The frame E may also be terminated and pivotally connected at its frontal extremity to the front leg frame C as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the connection to the board A forwardly of the front leg frame dispensed with. In this case theframe E will still, of course, serve to fold or unfold the leg frames B and C, and to rigidly support the same, but the forward support afforded by the pivotal connections 21 will be eliminated. The frame E itself comprises the handle frame 26 and tie bars 30 pivotally connected at 3| and at 32 to the rear leg bars, and the pivotal connection between the frame E and the front leg frame C may be coaxial with the pivots It as in Fig. 5, or it may be dropped down to the point 45 as in Fig. 6. In either case the frame may be manipulated in described manner for setting up or collapsing the table.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, front and rear leg frames for supporting the board, a connecting device between the leg frames, an upwardly collapsible articulated frame extending between the rear leg frame and the board in a forwardly and upwardly inclined position, the said articulated frame being pivotally connected to the rear leg frame and board and including a rearwardly disposed cross member acting as a handle for collapsing the frame as a unit, and a spreader frame connected between the board and the rear leg frame and including an upper member pivoted to the board and having spaced side portions so shaped to afford access to said cross member from the rear, and link bars pivotally connected between the lower portion of said upper member and the rear leg frame.

2. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, front and rear leg frames for supporting the-board, a connecting device between the leg frames, an upwardly collapsible articulated frame extending between the rear leg frame and the board in a forwardly and upwardly inclined position, the said articulated frame being pivotally connected to the rear leg frame and board and including a rearwardly disposed cross member acting as a handle for collapsing the frame as a unit, and a spreader frame connected between the board and th rear leg frame and operative to spread said leg frame as it is moved to board supporting position, the said spreader frame including a substantially U-shaped yoke member having its side portions spread apart to afford access therebetween to the cross member, and links pivotally connected between the rear leg frame and said yoke member and spaced apart transversely on the latter to define a handle portion for manipulating said spreader frame.

3. A collapsible ironing table comprising an ironing board, front and rear leg frames for supporting the board, a connecting device between tile leg lrallles, an upwardly collapsible articulated frame extending between the rear leg frame and the board in a forwardly and upwardl) inclined position, the said articulated frame being pivotally connected to the rear leg frame and board and including a rearwardly disposed cross memoer acting as a handle for collapsing the frame as a unit, and a spreader frame connected between the board and the rear leg frame and operative to spread said leg frame as it is moved to board supporting position, the said spreader frame including a U-shaped member having transversely spaced legs affording access to the said cross member and a portion extending substantially transversely to serve as a handle for manipulating the rear leg frame.

4. Acollapsibleironing table comprising an ironing board, front and rear collapsible leg members for supporting the board, means for releasably securing the front leg member in' board supporting position, an articulated collapsible frame for releasably securing the rear leg member in board supporting position, the said frame comprising a substantially U-shaped forwardmember having forwardly and upwardly extending side arms pivotally mounted and braced against forward displacement, the said forward member also including a rearwardly disposed and transversely extending rigid bight portion adapted to serve as a handle for manipulating the frame, and side members pivotally connected to the outer sides of the said substantially U-shaped forward member at points spaced forwardly of the bight portion thereof, the rear ends of the side members being pivotally connected to the rear leg member to support the same in an .extended position of the frame.

5. Acollapsibleironing table comprising an ironing board, front and rear leg frames for supporting the board, a connecting device between the leg frames, an upwardly collapsible articulated frame extending between the rear leg fram and a forward support, and a spreader frame connected between the board and the rear leg frame and operative to spread said leg frame as it is moved to board supporting position, the said spreader frame including a substantially U- shaped member having transversely spaced side portions defining an opening through which access may be had from the rear of the board to the articulated frame for manipulating the same.

CORNELL FLAGSTAD.

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