Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Foldinc~ tables, seats and other collapsible furniture
pieces are very popular in toda~ls society. Apartment living
has created a demand for space saving devices, and increased
leisure time activi-ties like picnics and sports, have increased
the need for ~ightweight, s-to~able furniture. Conventional
folding furniture of all sizes and types are available which
utilize various collapsible and folding support structures. How-
ever, high cost, clumsy appearance, awkwardness of operation,
instability, and many other deficiencies render known existing
devides less than satis~actory.
Typically con~entional folding tables have four legspivotally mounted at their upper ends to the underside of four
corners of a square table top. Each leg pivots to a position
within a recess in the table top when the table is in the stor-
age or collapsed position. To erect the table top to its open
or operable position, each leg is separately manuall~ pivoted
to a position at right angles to the top. Slide bar or spring
operated locking devices maintain the legs in upright position.
The underside of the folded table does not present a smooth
appearance and the recessed legs remain exposed as a hazard to
catch objects. The opening procedure is clumsy and time con-
suming, with the possibility of pinching the user's fingers
in the mechanism.
Similarly, conventional folding chairs, like folding
bridge chairs, do not present a smooth appearance when in the
collapsed position, and lie less than flat. Stacking of co-
lapsed chairs is inhibited and slow because of the bulging
contoun of the folded structure. The legs of the folded chair
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prot~ude and present ha~ards and a cluttered appeaxance.
Conventional TV-snack and tray-tables t~pically com-
prise t~o interlocking inverted "U"-shaped leg elements hinged
together at their ~iddles to support a tray-like -top snapped
into position on the horizontal crosspieces of the spread
skeletal framework. To collapse the device, the tray top
is unsnapped, the leg pieces are folded against each other,
and the tray is re-snapped to hang loosely down from one of
tne crossbars along the collapsed leg structure. Even when
a stacking rack is used, the legs protrude as appendages and
present a hazard and a cluttered appearance in the sborage
position. The assembly~disassembly procedure is cumbersome,
and typical tray-table arrangement is unst~ble when open.
Because the tray top itself serves as the means to lock the
table in open position there is rîsk that the structure will
collapse when a load is applied should the tray not be
securely snapped to the crosspieces.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention overcomes the àbove-mentioned deficien-
cies of conventional devices by providing a simple, lightweight,collapsible supporting structure that is easily operable
and also presents a pleasing appearance both in the open and
collapsed state.
An important object of the invention is the provision
of an improved rigid, lightweight, portable table, snack tray,
stool or the like, which is collapsible for compact storage.
Another object of the invention is to provide a support
device employing a collapsi~le column made up of articulated
sùpport elements which abut and brace against one another
to provide better resistance to downward lorces.
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~ related objec-t oE -the invention is to pxovide a
collapsible support device which is easily assembled and
disassembled~
Another object of the invention is -to provide a fold-
ing support device which has a pleasant aesthetic appearance
in both the open and collapsed positions.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
lightweight collapsible support device which can be inexpen-
sively manufactured.
A still further object of the invention involves the
production of a folding support device having a minimum
number of different parts, especially in its simplest form
the provision of only three different parts: a top; a base;
and an articulated support element, a plurality of which can
be used cooperatively to make up a collapsible columnar
support to interconnect the top and the base.
A still further related object of the invention is the
manufacture of a folding table or stool in which all components
can be assembled into the finished product by merely snapping
the parts into place.
Another object of the invention is the provision of
a folding support device with improved locking means to lock
the device into an open, or extended, and a closed, or
collapsed, position.
The ~oregoing and other objectives and advantages of
the invention are achieved by a device which comprises a fold-
ing support device utilizing a collapsible column support means
to maintain the positional relationship of a weight receiving
support surface, such as a table or stool top, to a flat base
30 member. The collapsible column comprises a plurality of
interengagable articulated support elements extending
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between -the base and top. The elements are movable in con-
cert -to fold about hln~es or pivots intermecliate their ends
to position -the device in either a collapsed position wherein
the elements and base are folded against the top, or in an
open position wherein -the top is rigidly supported above the
base by the assembled column. Locking means is provided to
maintain the assembled column in rigid open position in order
that the weight receiving support surface can carry its load.
In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the
top is provided with a peripheral downwardly-projecting flange
to form a recess into which the folded articulated elements
of the column and the base member can be received when the
device is placed in the collapsed state. This gives a neat
closed appearance and makes for convenient transportation~
storage and stacking. In a preferred application of this
invention! means are provided to lock the structure in its
collapsed positipn; thereby keeping the device in a compact
storage position and eliminating the nuisance of partially
protruding appendages.
Significant advantages of the invention arise out of
the preferred use of articulated elements comprisin~ flat
panel pieces hinged end-to-end in pivotal relationship. One
free end of each of said elements is preferably pivotally
connected to the top at locations equidistant from the center
point of the top, and the other free end of each of said
elements is connected to the base at locations equidistant
from the center point of the ~ase member. Advantageous
results are obtainable if the panels are identically shaped and
hinged at the midpoints of the articulated elements, with the
hinged ends of the panel being shorter than the ends which
are connected to the top and base. This arrangement
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permits the articulated elements -to Eold over -themselves
about their mid-points, presenting an assembled column which
may be vie~ed as two truncatea pyramidal sections joined
together at their apexes with panels of adjacent ar-ticulated
support elements bracing against one another. mhe cen-tral
indentation Q~ the column provides signi~icant stability to
the assembled support device. Exertion of a downward force
by the supported load drives adjacent column panel members
against each other to provide upward resistance.
The preferred use of a central support column with its
axis coinciding with an axis drawn from the center of the top
to the center of the base provides increased stabili-ty over
conventional devices, especially for embodiments of the inven-
tion employing a wide base member. A large flat base structure
discourages tipping which is a common fault of typically
available tray tables.
A preferred means for locking the support device in
the open position utilizes lateral edge ribs on the articulated
panel pieces with interlocking interengaging ribs of adjacent
panel pieces at the mid-point of the column. This interlock-
ing feature .LS preferably a stepped angled portion on resilient
rib ends so that adjacent rib ends can be snapped into over-
lapping relationship. The ribs are preferably staggered
between upper panels and lower panels so that the angled lower
end of an upper panel rib overlaps and interengages with the
mating angled upper end of an adjacent lower panel rib. Com-
bining the centrally indented column arrangement with the
interlocking rib arrangement provides for mutual bracing of
the panels of the column and locking of the column when it is
in the assembled load bearing position. The panels preferably
are also provided with holes or handles to permit manual
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gripping for rapid disassembly.
~n advantage over conventional devices is obtained
through use of a means for locking the support device in the
closed or collapsed position. This locking means can be
conveniently furnished by an intermating flange arrangemen-t
disposed with a male member on one panel of one articulated
support member and a female member on a similar portion of the
other panel of the articulated support member, positioned for
interengagement when the support member is folded into
collapsed position.
In summary, according to one broad aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a folding table, stool or like
support device comprising a top, a base and collapsible column
means interconnecting the top and the base, the column means
comprising more than two articulated support elements each
comprising a first member having two spaced side edges and
being pivotally connected at an upper end to the top and a
second member having two spaced side edges and being pivotally
connected at a lower end to the base, the first and second
members being hingedly interconnected for pivoting outwardly
with respect to a central axis extending through the top and
the base to a collapsed position with the top adjacent the base
and for pivoting inwardly with respect to the central axis to
an over-centre upright positiQn in which the side edges of each
articulated support element are in engagement over a major
part, including at the hinge portion, of the length of the
articulated support element with the side edges of the adjacent
articulated support elements thereby to provide mutual support
to maintain them in the upright position.
According to another broad aspect of the invention,
there is provided a folding table, stool or like support device
comprising a top, a base and collapsible column means
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interconnecting the top and the base, the column means compris-
ing more than two articulated support elements each comprising
a first member having two spaced side edges and being
pivotally connected at an upper end to the top and a second
member having two spaced side edges and being pivotally
connected at a lower end to the base, the first and second
members being hingedly interconnected for pivoting outwardly
with respect to a central axis extending through the top and
the base to a collapsed position with the top adjacent the base
and for pivoting inwardly with respect to the central axis to
an over-centre upright position in which the side edges of each
articulated support element are in engagement at least at the
hinge portion with the side edge of the adjacent articulated
support elements thereby to provide mutual support to maintain
them in the upright position and in which the first and second
members are formed as an integral plastics element having a
web formed at their junction and serving as the hinged inter-
connection.
The invention will now be described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible furni-
ture device incorporating features of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the folding
device of Figure 1, in partial cutaway, showing the device with
the collapsible column structure in open assembled position,
and in broken lines in a position intermediate the open and
collapsed state;
Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of
Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along line 4-4 of
Figure 2;
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Fiyure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged
scale, taken along line 5-5 oE Figure 3;
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Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken
along line 6-6 of Figure 2;
Figure 7 is an enlarged view illustrating de-tails oE
means for locking the hinge in the extended position in the
structure of Figure 2;
Figure 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the lock-
ing means of E`igures 2 and 7 when the parts are in the broken
line position of Figure 2;
Figure 9 is an enlarged plan view of the device in
an inverted position, showing the furniture device of
Figure 1 in the collapsed conaition, in partial cutaway;
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line
10-10 of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a second embodi-
ment of the present invention incorporating certain additional
features;
Figure 12 is an inverted plan view of the furniture
device illustrated in Figure 11, showing the same in its
collapsed position.
Figure 13 is an elevational view illustrating one
articulated support member of the device of Figure 11; and
Figure 14 is an inverted perspective view of the top
of the device shown in Figure 11 separated from the remaining
structure.
DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For purposes of illustration, the invention in its
preferred form is embodied in a folding snack table, though
the same advantages and features are readily adaptable for
use in a collapsible stool or other portable support device.
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Referring first to Figure lt the inVentiQn prefera-
bl~ utilizes parts made of molded plastic material. In
general, these parts comprise a collapsible column 10, and
base 16 on which the column is mounted and an elevated sup-
port surface such as a table top 14 which is in turn
supported by the column. A locking means maintains the table
in an open, load-supporting position. In the preferred
embodiments, the column 10 is collapsible so that the base
16 and folded column structure 10 nest within a recess in
the top 14.
The collapsible column supporting structure 10 is
comprised of a plurality of articulated support elemen-ts 12
which are pivotally fastened to the top 14 and base 16,
respectively, by means of pivotal mounting means 28.
As shown best in Figure 2, the articulated support
elements 12 are preferably in the form of a pair of identical
trapezoidally shaped panels 20a and 20b. Each panel has
parallel end edges 24 and 26 and nonparallel side edges 27
which are preferably of equal length. The edges 24 abut
one another and are hinged together along a line 22. The
ends 24 are preEerably shorter than the ends 26 which are
pivotally mounted on the top 14 and base 16. This construc-
tian per~its folding of the panels 20a and 20b about their
respective midpoints 22 so that they can assume the position
shown in full lines with their side edge surfaces in contact
with the surfaces of adjoining support elements to provide
bracing against a downward load exerted when a weight is
applied to top 14.
As can be seen from Figures 1, 3 and 4, in the illus-
trated embodiment, three articulated elements 12 each comprised
of panels 20a and 20b, make up the collapsible columnar
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structure 10. The ends 26a and 26b of the panels arepivotally secured to the top 1~ and base 16, respectively, at
points which are generally equidistant from the cen-ter of
-the top and base respectively.
In the illustrated embodiment shown in -the figures
as indicated above, the panels 20a and 20b have a generally
trapezoidal shape. Figure 6 shows a detail of the hinged
joint between panels. Although other means of hinging the
panels may be employed, it is preferred that the panels are
secured together by a thin flexible web of material 22a which
may be formed integra~ly with the panels during the molding
process.
The pivotal mounting means 28 is best shown in Figure
5. Rod-like portions 36 molded on the ends 26 of panels 20
are snap-fittable within resilient flanges 38 molded onto
the top and base. The flanges fit around the rod-like portions
36 to form sockets as shown at 37 permitting the panels to
freely pivot.
The way in which the parts move from the extended or
open position to the collapsed position can be visualized
~rom inspection of Figure 2, wherein the column is shown par-
tially collapsed in broken lines. In ~oing from the open
position shown in full lines in Figure 2 to the closed posi-
tion, the articulated support elements 12 pivot outwardly
about hinges 22a, progressively collapsing panels 20a and 20b
into adjoining face-to-face relationship, one panel folding
flat against the other. In this position~ as shown in Figures
9 and 10, the base 16, the elements forming the column and
the top all fit together to form a very compact structure.
30 To extend the device to the full upright, open position shown
in solid lines in Figure 2, the top and base are separated
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whereby planar members 20a and 20b swing apart fr~m each
other about hin~es 22a. The angle between panels 20a and
20b is gradually increased -through 180, to an obtuse angle
position at which the side edges 27 oE -the panels of adjacent
support elements 12 abu-t each other presenting an assembled
column 10 ~tith indented middle.
To maintain the table in a rigid, upright position,
locking means are provided in conjunction with means providing
for mutual support of the panels of the support elements 12.
As can best be seen in Figure 4, one edge 27 of each panel is
beyeled as shown at 45 in the drawing. The opposite edge of
the panel is provided with a flange having a surface which is
shaped to ma-te ~gainst the beveled surface 45 of an adjacent
panel. In the drawings, the flanges of the uppermost panels
are identified by the number 46a and the ribs of the lowermost
panels being identified by the number 46b in Figures 2 through
4, 7 and 8. In addition, the flange on an upper panel of
each articulated element is immediately above a beveled surface
on the lower panel of the articulated element. As the panels
swing into the upright position shown in full lines in Figure
2 the surfaces on -the flanges 46a and 46_ move into interfit-
ting and bearin~ relationship with the beveled surfaces 45
on the immediately adjacent panels 45, thereby supporting
the top and the load imposed on the structure.
To lock the column in the ùpright position, the column
locking means, generally indicated at 44, preferably comprises
steps 48 molded integrally with the ends of the lower and
upper ends of flanges 46a and 46b respectively. As shown in
Figure 3, one of these steps is mounted on the upper end of
the flange of the lower panel of one articulated element and
the other step is mounted on the lower end of the flange of
the upper panel of -the next adjacent articulated element.
Sufficient "give" or resilience is provided in the structure
so that as -the articula-ted elements are swun~ into the
uprigh-t or column forming position the backs of -the steps
ride up and over one another until the panels are in inter-
fi-tting relationship at which point the steps are in mating
and locking relationship in which the facing surfaces as
shown at 48a and 48b are in contact with one another and
prevent unintentional folding of the elements of the column
to the collapsed position. To release the locking means,
the panels of the articulated elements are moved in a direc-
tion axially of the column by applying separating force to
the top and the base at points adjacent the lockin~ means
so as to effect separation of the steps. As soon as the
steps are separated, the panels can be easily swung outwardly
and the table parts moved to the collapsed position.
Upon reference to Fi.gures 3, 9 and 10 it can be
seen that in the preferred embodiment the base 16 is dimen-
sioned so as to be slightly smaller in plan view t.han the
top 14. ~ shown particularly in Fi~ures 9 and 10, when in
the collapsed position, the top is provided with a down
turned flange or wall 50 so as to provide a relatively shallow
recess 54 within which the base 16 and the articulated
elements 12 fit when these elements are in the folded posi-
tion. To this end, the length of the panels of the articulated
elements must be short enough so that they do not extend
beyond and strike the flange 50 when collapsed.
Preferably, locking means are provided for holding
the base and the articulated panels in the collapsed position
so that the device does not accidentally unfold when being
carried a~out or otherwise not in use. To this end~ openings
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52 are prefer~bly moldecl into the faces of the panels 20aand 20_. These openings are preferably surrounded by
flanges 60 and 62. Around the edges of -the flanges, inter-
Eitting detent ribs or projecti.ons best shown a-t 63 and 64 in
Figure 10 are molded. The flanges are formed of a suffici-
ently resilient material so that when the panels are
collapsed the detent ribs snap over one another and lock the
panels in the collapsed position. Unlocking is readily
accomplished by grasping the base and the top and pulling
them apart.
A rim 66 (Figure 1) may be added to the periphery of
the upper support surface of top 14 in a snack table embodi-
ment to serve as a means to prevent items, such as drinking
glasses and dishes, from slipping off the top. Likewise,
a stool may have a cushioned or contoured upper surface (not
shown) in the top 14 to provide for a more comfortable seating
platform.
Figures 11-14 illustrate a modified form of table
incorporating the features of the invention. In Figure 11,
the table is provided with a rotatable top 68 and planar
panel members 20a and ~0_ are extended by -the addition of
projecting support struts 70a and 70_. In Figure 11, a
bearing channel 72 is disposed on a bearing positioning disc
74. The bearing channel 72 carries a plurality o~ bearings
76, of any suitable bearing material such as metal, glass or
plastic. Top 68 (Figure 14) is modified for attachment to the
disc 74 by means of a threaded boss 78 onto which a
lock washer is placed for movable mountin~ with respect to
said disc 74, and is well adapted to carry a load placed on it
in "lazy susan" fashion. The addition of projection wing
struts 70a and 70b increases the stability of the entire
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structure. Means for locking the` assambly in collapsed con-
diti~n are preferably provided. This may comprise -the flanges
60 and 62 surrounding openings 52. ~lterna-tively, a bolt
may be passed through a central opening in base 16 and threaded
in-to boss 78. Base 16 and bearing positioning disc 74 may
be identically formed so as to minimize the number of
different parts to be molded,
Figure 12 shows the struts 70 and planar members 20
with the panels 20a and b and struts 70 folded flat against
the recess 54 within the rotatable top 68.
A modified hinge structure is shown in Figure 13
wherein hinge pins 22' are employed~
Furniture constructed in accordance with the inven-
tion is preferably formed of impact-resistant moldable
plastic materials, although other materials and forming
techniques may be employed. By use of the invention, light-
weight furniture having a variety of uses and which may be
stored away in a relatively small amount of space when not
in use, may be readily provided. Cost of production and
assembly of components is quite low inasmuch as the parts
may be formed using conventional injection molding or other
commonly employed moIding techniques. Furniture incorporat-
ing the invention has a pleasing, modern functional appear-
ance, is easily cleaned and may be molded in a variety of
colors or with attractive designs formed on its top, if
desired. By way of example, furniture formed according to
the invention may, by ~ay of example, have a wood grained or
smoke gray or brown finish, or formed of a transparent material.
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