US2660501A - Combination table leg and table top retainer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1953 c. P. MOLLA COMBINATION TABLE LEG AND TABLE TOP RETAINER Filed April 23, 1952 INVENTOR CHHRLES P. MOLLH Arron Y Patented Nov. 24, 1953 COMBINATION TABLE LEG AND TABLE TOP RETAINER Charles P. Molla, New Hyde Park, N. Y. Application April 23, 195.2, Serial No. 283,915

4 Claims.

This invention relates to leg constructions for metal furniture. More particularly, the invention deals with a detachable leg structure for use in conjunction with knockdown metal furniture, wherein the leg member includes upwardly extending end portions which protrude above the upper surface of the table frame to engage peripheral edges of a table top in retaining said top in alinement on the frame and against shifting or displacement thereon.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one corner portion of a table frame showing the upper end portion of a leg member with the table top indicated in dot and dash lines, the lower portion of the leg member being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of construction.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, I have indicated at III part of a rectangular frame of a table top, the frame being of angleiron cross-sectional form, in other words, is defined by a depending peripheral wall II and a horizontal wall [2, the

wall I2 being cut, as seen at [3, where the wall I2 of one side portion I4 joins another side or end portion I5 of the frame, at the corner I6.

In spaced relation to the corner I6, but adjacent said corner, the depending wall II of the frame I0 has, on each of the portions I4, I5, a rectangular aperture II, note Fig. 3, to receive the square shank I8 of a coupling bolt I9, the square shank I8 also passing through a rectangular aperture in the upwardly extending parts 2| of a leg member 22.

The arrangement of the aperture 20 in the parts 2| is such as to dispose said parts in an outwardly extending angular position and to contract the lower end portions of the parts 2| in forming the usual supporting foot of the leg member, not shown, the latter being formed by simply shaping the parts 2| to form a suitable support. In other words, the leg member is preferably formed from a single strip of metal of the same width and thickness throughout and this strip has the diverging upper end portions,

the terminal ends 23 of which protrude above the upper surface of the horizontal part I2 of the frame and these protruding ends form lugs or flanges which engage peripheral edges of a table top 24, as clearly noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing in retaining the table top against shifting or displacement on the frame I0. In the construction shown, the table top is illustrated as being composed of glass, but this top can be composed of any suitable material.

A nut 25 is mounted on the threaded portion 26 of each bolt I9 to securely clamp the leg member 22 to the frame III.

In Fig. of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification and, in this figure, I 0' represents the table top frame having the angularly disposed walls H and I2 and at I9 is shown a bolt, similar to the bolt I9. At 22 is shown a leg member having an extending retainer .end 23, similar to the end 23. However, the leg member 22 differs from the leg member 22 in that the part 2| thereof is oifset inwardly, as indicated at 2'! in close proximity to the lower edge of the Wall I I. In other 'words, the leg member may be said to have an angular, or substantially L-shaped, upper portion 28 in which the frame it seats.

7 In constructing metal table members of the character described, it has been customary to weld or otherwise fix to a table frame cleats or retainer plates for retaining a tabletop against shifting or displacement from the table frame. This operation entails expense to the construction of the cleats, as Well as the expense of attaching such cleats to the frame. It will thus be seen that, with my improved leg construction, a material saving is effected in not only dispensing with the use of the retaining cleats but also in dispensing with the labor and operations essential to the use thereof. The leg members have been made detachable and the same operations are performed in attaching the present leg members, as with other types of leg members and this one operation automatically provides, by virtue of the extensions 23, 23' on the leg members, the means for retaining the table top against shifting or displacement from the table frame.

It wi l also be apparent that, by virtue of the angular mounting of the leg members, the leg members are kept substantially within the environment of the table frame and have the required bracing effect to provide a sturdy support for the table. In this connection, it will be under stood that the lower end portions of the leg members, or the feet thereof, will be substantially within boundaries of the corner portion 16.

In this connection, it will also be apparent that the angularity of the leg members, as noted in Fig. 2, will depend entirely upon the height of the table under construction. Some of these tables are of the low type, such as coffee and cocktail tables; whereas, others are higher and used for other purposes.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A table structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular table top frame having angularly disposed sides of angleiron cross-sectional form, said sides intersecting to form a corner, said sides defining perpendicular peripheral walls and horizontal upper walls, the perpendicular walls of the frame, adjacent, but spaced, from said corner having angular apertures, a leg member having spaced upper ends, said spaced ends having apertures angular in form to correspond with and register with the angular apertures of the perpendicular walls bolts for coupling the leg member with the table frame, said bolts having angular shanks conforming with the apertures of said leg member and frame to key the leg member on the frame and against displacement therefrom, and the apertured end portions of said leg member having parts extending above the upper surface of the horizontal upper walls of the table frame to form table top retaining cleats.

2. A table structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular table top frame having angularly disposed sides of angleiron cross-sectional form, said sides intersecting to form a corner, said sides defining perpendicular peripheral walls and horizontal upper walls, the perpendicular Walls of the frame, adjacent, but spaced, from said corner having angular apertures, a leg member having spaced upper ends, said spaced ends having apertures angular in form to correspond With and register with the angular apertures of the perpendicular walls, bolts for coupling the leg member with the table frame, said bolts having angular shanks conforming with the apertures of said leg member and frame to key the leg member on the frame and against displacement therefrom, the apertured end portions of said leg member having parts extending above the upper surface of the horizontal upper walls of the table frame to form table top retaining cleats, and said leg member extending outwardly and angularly with respect to the corner of the table frame.

3. A table structure of the character described, comprising a rectangular table top frame having angularly disposed sides of angleiron cross-sec tional form, said sides intersecting to form a corner, said sides defining perpendicular peripheral walls and horizontal upper walls, the perpendicular Walls of the frame, adjacent, but spaced, from said corner having angular apertures, a leg member having spaced upper ends, said spaced ends having apertures angular in form to correspond with and register with the angular apertures of the perpendicular walls, bolts for coupling the leg member with the table frame, said bolts having angular shanks conforming with the apertures of said leg member and frame to key the leg member on the frame and against displacement therefrom, the apertured end portions of said leg member having parts extending above the upper surface of the horizontal upper walls of the table frame to form table top retaining cleats, said leg member extending outwardly and angularly with respect to the corner of the table frame, and said end portions of the leg member being offset beneath and adjacent the perpendicular walls to form seats for the table frame.

4. In knockdown metal furniture, a table frame having angularly disposed wall portions of angleiron cross sectional form, said wall portions intersecting in a corner, each Wall portion having a. horizontal top wall part and a depending outer wall part, a leg member having upwardly diverging end portions arranged upon the outer wall parts of said wall portions in spaced relation to said corner, means passed through said end portions of said leg members and said outer Wall parts of the table frame for securing and keying the leg members to the frame, and said diverging end portions protruding in terminal ends extending above the upper surface of the top wall parts to form means for retaining a table top against shifting displacement on the top wall parts of said frame.

CHARLES P. MOLLA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 714,981 Wells Dec. 2, 1902 889,600 Graumiller et al. June 2, 1908 1,188,613 Block June 27, 1916 1,422,613 Ogden July 11, 1922 1,854,777 Bales Apr. 19, 1932 2,003,241 Brown May 28, 1935 2,310,904 Bales Feb. 9, 1943 2,522,096 Cooke Sept. 12, 1950 2,591,797 Exline et al. Apr, 8, 1952 3; Q1 U, AiAgMmi

Images