US2618525A - Folding utility table with handle lock means - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18, 1952 Filed April 25, 1951 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING UTILITY TABLE WITH HANDLE LOCK MEANS William C. Panzer, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 25, 1951, Serial No. 222,830

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding utility table or the like which may be advantageously used for mounting a table model radio or televsion set, or may be used for setting in front of a television set for the purpose of serving refreshments while the television is being viewed, or for any other purpose for which a small, easily handled and compactly foldable table is suited.

In an important aspect, the present invention provides handle means for the table, forming a permanent part of the table, and interengaging releasable means between the handles and one of the foldable table sections so that, when in engaged position, the handles are effective as such and at the same time accidental folding or collapse of the table is prevented, the handles being readily releasable from engaging position to permit folding the table and may themselves be folded into the compass thereof, for convenience and compactness.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings-'- Figure 1 is a perspective .view showing the table in usable, open position, and with the handles engaged;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the table of Fig. 1 in the region of one of the handles;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, the handle being broken away and sectioned at one end for clearness of description;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Figure 5 is a .view, on the scale of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, of the upper end of the table in folded position.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in the drawings, the table here shown includes a pair of crossed legs l2 at each side of the table. The legs of each pair are mutually articulated as by a hinge rivet l3, so that the legs may be folded either to parallel relationship or may be open to X-form to support the table in usable position. Braces l4 may extend from each leg of a pair to the complementaiy leg of the other pair to strengthen the table. The legs may be economically formed of channel rolled sheet metal and the braces of flat strips.

At their upper ends, a leg of each pair is articulated, as by a, hinge rivet l5 with a hinge lug It fixedly secured on the inner face of a depending skirt ll of the adjacent table top section l8. The

other leg of offset pairs is similarly articulated to the hinge lug [6 of the complementary table top section l9. The table top sections are advantageously of sheet metal.

Table top sections l8 and [9 are articulated as by overlapping hinge ears 20 and a hinge rivet Eda passing through each pair of hinge ears 29 at each side of the table. Thus the table top, which is formed jointly by the table top sections l8 and [9, has an intermediate hinge which permits the table top to open and close along a line Ila extending centrally of the table top and connecting the planes of the pairs of X-shape legs at each side of the table.

More particularly following the present invention, a pair of arch shape handles 2| are provided, one at each side of the table at the sides where the legs are located, these handles desirably serving a two-fold purpose of providing lifting means for the table and also releasable locking means for preventing accidental folding or collapse of the table. They may serve still a third purpose of guarding against slipping of an article off the table. The handles as shown are conveniently each of flat sheet metal.

As here shown, each handle is articulated, at one end 2la, as by hinge rivet 22 with one of the table top sections, in this instance the section IS, the rivet 22 passing through the depending skirt ll of the sheet metal table top. The other end Zlb of the handle is free but is adapted to make releasable engagement with the table section l9, that is, on the opposite side of the table top hinge 29a. For this purpose, in this instance, the handle has its free end turned upon itself as at 23 to provide a hook which snugly receives the table top skirt [1, thus permitting lifting of the table by the handles, each of which is at such time secured at both ends to the table top.

To insure that lifting of the table by the handles shall not cause a folding movement of the table top sections on the hinge 26a and also to guard against any other accidental rotative movement of the handle and the table top section which would tend to collapse the table, interengaging means are provided between the free end of the handle and the table top skirt H to pre-- vent such relative rotative movement, such interengaging means being here illustrated by a lug or boss 24 on the skirt l'i projecting into the plane of the handle immediately adjacent the free end 2 lb of the handle and between that end and the hinge 20a. Thus, upon lifting of the table by the handles, abutment of the vertically extended face He of the handle free end 2lb with the vertically extended face 24a of the boss 24 inhibits relative rotative movement of the handle and table top and prevents accidental folding or collapse of the table.

When, however, it is desired to collapse or fold the table, for example, for storage purposes, as indicated in Fig. 5, the free end of the handle may be moved downwardly to free it from engagement with the skirt I? and thereupon the table top may be folded on the hinge 20a, the legs at this time folding to complete parallelism in a single plane for permitting the table top sections to fold to parallel relationship each in a plane closely adjacent to the plane of the legs. At this time also, the handles may be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein they are substantially within the compass of the parallel planesof the table top sections.

The inwardly turned hook portion 23 of the handle is desirably flared at its entrance end 23a to permit easy reception of the table top skirt 1'7, whereupon the hook tightly grips the skirt.

To provide ample room for the hand of the.

user, the handle is desirably longer than its height, as shown, and,to provide a desirable grip portion on the handle, as. well as for ornamentation, the upper end of the handle is shown scallopedas at 25.

The invention-is not intended to be limited to details of construction here shown for purposes of exemplification, and such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing therefrom.

The invention having been described, what is here claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, in a folding utility table or the like, including folding legs and a sheet metal sectioned folding top having an intermediate hinge, the top having a depending skirt, that improvement comprising, a pair of .4 arch-shape sheet metal handles each having one end pivoted to an edge of the table on one side of the hinge and having a second end for engagement under an edge of the table on the opposite side of said hinge, said second handle end being bent upon itself to form a hook snugly receiving the skirt of the table top, and said skirt having an embossment between the hinge and said second end and abutting said second end to prevent relative rotation of the handle and the top when the said second end is engaged therewith, said engagement being releasable by moving said second handle end downwardly to fold the table.

2. As an article of manufacture, in a folding utility table or the like including folding legs and a sectional top having an intermediate hinge, that improvement comprising, a pair of handles each having one end pivoted to an edge of the table on a section on one side of the hinge and having its other end for releasable engagement with an edge of the table on the section on the opposite side of said hinge, there beinginterengaging means on the handle and table for inhibiting relative rotative movement of the,

handle and table top when said engagement is effected.

WILLIAM C. PANZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe" file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,467 Johnson July 26, 1910 1,353,866 Vondree Sept. 28, 1920 1,709,540 Prichet Apr. 16, 1929 1,840,492 Duggan Jan. 12, 1932 1,930,176 Metzler Oct. 10, 1933 2,416,621 Gretschel Feb. 25, 1947

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