Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TABLE AND IMPROVED HINGE MECHANISM
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to
tables having folding or ~'drop~ leaves and in particular
to an improved hinge mechanism for use in connection
therewith.
Background of the Prior Art
Tables and table services having folding or
"drop" leaves have long been known in the prior art. The
most common of these prior art systems is the type having
a simple hinge leaf arrangement which allows the leaf to
be raised to a horizontal position flush with the table
top to provide a useable table surface of the desired
width. When the table is not in use the leaves can be
"dropped" or lowered to a vertical position at the sides
of the table below the surface thereof, to provide for
more compact storage. A slide bar arrangement such as the
one shown in U. S. Patent 3,437,058 issued to Bue has been
used to hold the leaves in their horizontal position.
One application of a table with leaves is in the
hotel field where a small table placed on castors and
having such leaves is of great value as a room service
table. These tables are used for carrying prepared meals
from the kitchen to the hotel guest's room and are used as
dining tables. Folding drop leaves are provided so that
the room service table will be narrow enough to conveni-
ently pass through doorways, halls and elevators, while
still providing a conveniently large dining surface. Such
a table is described in detail in the U. S. Patent cited
above.
The present invention improves over the prior
art by providing a folding leaf table having hinge means
which permit the leaves to be placed in a perpendicular
and upward orientation with respect to the table surface
so as to provide "sidewalls" for the table top which would
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help contain the articles placed on the table surface. In
the case of a room service table, where the table is
mobile, having the leaves in such an orientation helps
]prevent the prepared food from falling off the sides of
the table as it was wheeled down the corridors of a hotel.
Further, tables according to the present invention have
guard means located on the undersides of the leaves so
that when the leaves are in the above-described orienta-
tion, the guards will serve to protect walls and corners
of the hotel corridors from damage when the table acci-
dentally brushes against them.
Brief Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present inven-
tion, there is provided a table including a wheeled
support, a table top, an extension leaf for the table top,
and means hingeing the leaf to the table top for movement
from a first position aligned with the table to second and
third positions oppositely orthogonal to the top, includ-
ing means operable to maintain the leaf in each of the
first and second positions.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a locking hinge for enabling
pivotal movement of a table leaf with respect to a table
top from a first position, aligned with the table top, to
second and third positions oppositely orthogonal to the
table top, and for locking che leaf in each of the first
and second positions. The locking hinge includes the
combination of a pivot member having a mounting surface
for securement below a table top near an edge thereof so
that the pivot member extends in part beyond the edge, a
slide member having a mounting surface for securement
below a leaf to be hinged to the table top along the edge,
so as to extend beyond an edge of the leaf toward the
pivot member, a resilient means urging the slide member
toward the pivot member, the pivot means including a pivot
pin having an axis for alignment with the edge of the
table top below the mounting surface, and having depending
walls and a cross member extending therebetween to define
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a channel extending orthogonally to the mounting surface,
and the slide member comprising an elongated tongue
adapted to be slidably received in the channel, and in-
cluding an elongated slot for traversal by the pin.
Various advantages and features of novelty which
characterize the i~vention are pointed out with particu-
larity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part
hereof. However, for a better understanding of the inven-
tion, its advantages, and objects attained by its use,
reference should be made to the drawings which form a
further part hereof and to the accompanying descriptive
matter, in which are illustrated and described certain
preferred embodiments of the invention.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawing
In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a view in perspec-
tive of a room service table incorporating the present
invention;
FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation of a room ser-
vice table incorporating the invention, with its top
tilted into a storage position;
FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the same
table as seen from right to left of FIGURE 2, showing the
storage position in solid lines and the use position in
broken lines;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view as seen generally
from the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3, with the top tilted to the
use position;
FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of some
of the parts making up a locking hinge according to the
invention;
FIGURE 6 is a sectional view as seen from the
lines 6-6 of FIGURE 2, to a larger scale, showing the
parts in a first position;
FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of the structure of
FIGURE 6; and
FIGURES 8 and 9 are views like FIGURE 6 showing
the parts in other positions.
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Description of the Preferred Embodiment
A table according to the invention as shown in
perspective in FIGURE 1 comprises a wheel support 10, a
table top 11 tiltably secured to support 10 by a suitable
mlechanism and a pair of extension leaves 13 and 14 secured
to the opposite edges 15 and 16 of top 11 by locking
hinges 17, 17A, 17B, and 17C.
Support 10, as shown in greater detail in
FIGURES 2-3, includes a pair of posts 100, 101 inter-
connected by a cross member 102. A pair of longitudinalrails 103 and 104 are secured below top 11 in any suitable
fashion. A tilting mechanism of the type shown in U. S.
Patent 3,437,058 issued to Bue is used to permit movement
of top 11 from a horizontal use position to a vertical
storage position. Rails 103 and 104 are provided with
shaped elongated slots 105. A rod 106 is secured at the
tops of post 100 and 101 to extend laterally beyond and
into slots 105. Arms 107 and 110 are pivoted to rails 103
and 104 at 111 and 112, and the posts 100 and 101 at 113
and 114, all respectively. The distance between pivots
111 and 113 is greater than the distance from pivot 113 to
the upper end of slot 105 as seen in FIGURE 3, so that
when the table top is tilted in the direction of arrow
114, slots 105 move past rod 106, until the rod finally
settles in a notch 116 at the end of the slot.
In the storage position of the parts shown in
solid lines in FIGU~E 3, first ends of slots 105 rest on
rod 106. When the parts are tilted in the direction of
arrow 116, slots 105 slide on rod 106, until the rod
finally seats in notches 116 at the second ends of the
slots: the geometry of the mechanism prevents further
tilting of the table from the horizontal use position
shown in broken lines in FIGURE 3. For resetting the
table to its storage position the top is slightly lifted,
to enable movement of rod 106 out of notches 116.
Extension leaves 13 and 14 are attached to table
top 11 by four identical locking hinges 17, 17A, 17B, 17C.
The details of hinge 17 are shown in FIGURES~5-7. Hinge
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17 comprises a pivot member 20, a slide member 21, a pivot
pin 22, and an extension spring 23. Member 20 includes a
plate 24 having a flat mounting surface 25. The outer
ledge 26 of member 20 is turned away from surface 25 as a
beveled lip 27.
A pair of laterally spaced walls 30 and 31 ex-
tend transversely away from mounting surface 25, and are
joined at a site spaced from the mounting plate by a cross
member 32. Walls 30 and 31 extend longitudinally beyond
lip 27, and are provided with aligned holes 33, 34 to
receive pivot pin 22. Plate 24, walls 30 and 31, and
cross member 32 define a longitudinal channel 35, of known
transverse dimensions extending parallel and orthogonal to
the mounting surface.
Slide member 21 comprises a mounting plate 40
having a mounting surface 41. A tongue 43 extends trans-
versely away from mounting surface 41, and extends longi-
tudinally beyond plate 40. Tongue 43 has working edges 44
and 45, and is provided with a stop shoulder 46 and a
longitudinal slot 47 extending between closed ends 50 and
51, for traversal by pin 22. A further pin 52 extends
from tongue 43 at a site remote from slot 47, and spring
23 engages pins 22 and 52 at its ends, to draw members 20
and 21 toward one another, the assembly being secured by
cotter pins 53 and 54.
A spaced pair of hinges 17 as shown in detail in
FIGURES 5-8 are installed at each edge of the table, with
pins 22 parallel to the edge and channels 35 perpendicular
thereto. Mounting plate 24 is secured under the table top
by fasteners 55, in such a position that surface 25 and
lip 27 project beyond the edges 15 and 16. Member 21 is
secured under the extension leaf by fasteners 56 so that
when the edges of the top and leaf are in abutment tongue
43 is received in channel 35 with shoulder 46 engaging
cross member 32 and pin 22 passing through hole 33, slot
47, and hole 34. If the table top and leaf are of the
same thickness, surfaces 25 and 41 are coplanar. Spring
23 is secured at the ends to pins 22 and 52, and cotter
pins 53 and 54 are inserted.
2 ~ S
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As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a rub rail 57
is secured to the under surface of each leaf by fasteners
60, being formed to pass over the pair of hinges 17, 17A
or 17B, 17C for each leaf. These rub rails, which may be
constructed from straps of steel or other protective
material, function as guards for protecting both the
hinges and any walls or other objects which might be
contacted by the table in motion.
Operation
In the arrangement of parts shown in FIGURES 6
and 7 and at the right of FIGURE 2, leaf 13 is resiliently
urged into edge-to-edge contact with top 11 by springs 23,
and pivotal movement of the leaf about pivot pins 22 is
prevented by contact of tongue edges 44 with plates 24 and
tongue edges 45 with cross members 32.
If it is desired to drop leaf 13, the leaf is
drawn to the right, extending spring 23, until pin 22
engages the end 50 of slot 47. Tongue surfaces 44 and 45
are now clear of channel 35 and the leaf is enabled to
pivot downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 9.
Springs 23 need not be strong enough to support the weight
of the leaf, which can simply hang on pins 22. Restora-
tion of leaf 13 to its extended position is accomplished
simply by pivoting the leaf upwardly, until tongues 43 can
enter channels 35, the operation then being completed with
the assistance of springs 32, and the leaf being guided
into position by engagement of lips 27 with the undersur-
face of the leaf.
When it is desired to move leaf 13 into the
"side rail" position shown in FIGURE 8, the leaf is first
drawn outwardly as directed above to release tongues 43
from channels 35, then pivoted upwardly to the desired
position, and then allowed to settle until its edge con-
tacts the projecting portions of plates 24. Here the
force of springs 23 is acting to hold the leaf against
plate 24. Ends 50 of tongues 43 are now lower than plates
24 and cross members 32, so that edges 44 of the tongues
prevent movement of the leaf about pins 22 in either
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direction. This position of leaf 14 is shown at the left
in FIGURES 1 and 2, and both leaves are in this position
in FIGURE 4. FIGURE 1 also illustrates leaf 13 in phantom
]ines in the upward position. It is clear that rub rails
35 are the most lateral portions of the table, and prevent
contact of hinges 17 with walls, doorframes, and other
surfaces past which the table is being moved. To remove
the leaf from this position, it is lifted slightly until
surface 44 disengages cross member 32, and may then be
pivoted into any other desired position.
It should be understood that the present inven-
tion may be suitable for use in connection with any
table-like surface where drop-leaves are desirable. Of
particular interest is its use in connection with Room
Service tables used in hotels for delivery of food to
hotel rooms.
One of the requisites for room service tables is
that they occupy minimum space when not in use: for this
purpose table 11 is arranged to tilt into a vertical
storage position. FIGURES 2 and 3 show that top 11 can be
tilted into the storage position regardless of the posi-
tions of leaves 13 and 14, although the relative position
of FIGURE 3 is that in which the least storage space for
the table is required. In addition, as a room service
table, the ability to fold the leaves upwardly, as in
FIGURE 3, is of significant aid in maintaining plates on
the table when the table is rapidly wheeled down hotel
corridors. The rub rails 57 further aid in protecting the
corridor walls from sustaining extensive damage of the
type which would otherwise be caused by scraping of the
hinges along the wall when wheeled down a corridor.
Numerous characteristics and advantanges of the
invention have been set forth in the foregoing descrip-
tion, together with details of the structure and function
of the invention; the novel features thereof are pointed
out in the appended claims. The disclosure, however, is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,
especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of
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parts, within the principle of the invention, to the full
extent intended by the broad general meaning of the terms
in which the appended claims are expressed.
