Table

Dec. 12, 1944.

C. F. CREAGER

TABLE

2,364,604

Filed March 1, 1943

Sheets-Sheet 1

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C.F. CREAGER

Attorney

Dec. 12, 1944.

C. F. CREAGER

TABLE

2,364,604

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3twentor

C. F. CREAGER attorney

C. F. CREAGER

2,364,604

TABLE

Filed March 1, 1943

Sheets-Sheet 3

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3nventor

C. F. CREAGER attorney

Patented Dec. 12, 1944

2,364,604

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,364,604

TABLE

Chester F. Creager, York, Pa.

' Application March 1, 1943, Serial No. 477,493

Claims. (01,312—163)

This invention relates to tables of the type commonly designated as party table or game and card tables, and more particularly to an arrangement of sliding drawers in the table top.

While such tables are ordinarily provided with folding legs, such construction is not essential to the present invention. The top of the present table is fol-med as a hollow housing to receive on each side a sliding drawer in which may be deposited game pieces or. implements, supplies and the like, and also for receiving at each corner a sliding member disposed diagonally relatively to the table. Each of the sliding members is provided with a receptacle for a glass or tumbler and also has a detachably mounted ash tray. The sliding members are so disposed as to be conveniently accessible and yet afford maximum space at the table side for the player and not obstruct or interfere with his free movement.

An object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of adjustment of such tables, so that they will not only be more convenient in use, of strong and sturdy construction and pleasing appearance, easily adjusted and unlikely to get out of order.

Another object of the invention is to provide angularly disposed members retractible within the table top, which, when extended, will be most conveniently positioned for use as retainers for beverage glasses and cigars and cigarettes or deposit of ashes within an ash tray carried thereby.

Another Object of the invention is to provide an improved table in which the drawers and slides are so arranged within the table top that drawers and slides of maximum size may be employed without interference with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved manually operable mechanism for actuating the angularly disposed sliding members so as to automatically project the sliding members from their retarded position within the table top.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the ash trays upon the reciprocable sliding members.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved table embodying assemblies of identical, interchangeable parts which facilitates standardization of manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists’ of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an inverted plan view of one corner of a table constructed according to the present invention, with the bottom section removed and 5 showing the diagonal member in position within the table top;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2—2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken 10 on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the diagonal member in extended position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one corner of the table showing the diagonally disposed slide mem15 ber in extended position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 5, showing the ash tray in one of its extended positions;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 6, showing the ash tray in another posi20 tion; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 8—8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the top of the table is of shallow, box-like construction comprising 25 a cover board I I of comparatively thin material preferably, although not necessarily, of ply-wood, and a bottom board 12. These spaced cover and bottom boards 11 and 12 are separated by members 13 arranged around the four side edges of 3G the table top.

The marginal edges of the members i f, 12 and 13 may be enclosed or protected by finishing strips 14, which are arranged around the sides c.f the table top as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

₃₅ Each corner of the table top is rounded as shown in Fig. 1, and mounted in each corner is a sliding member 21 which is diagonally disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the sides of the table top.

Each slide 21 comprises a main body having a bottom 22, upstanding sides 23, formed with outwardly projecting flanges 24, and an arcuate front composed of two- sections 25 and 26, the section 25 being fo'rmed rigid with the main 45 body portion of the member 21.

The flanges 24 of the slide are disposed in grooves or slots 31, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arcuate front section 26 is the front part of a drawer 27 slidably mounted within the slide 50 2(, said slide being formed with a compartment 28 (Fig. 2) for receiving the drawer 27. The drawer 27 constitutes an ash tray.

Pivotally mounted as at 29, to the front 26 of the drawer 27, is a member 30 adapted to 85 receive a cigar, cigarette, or the like, in well

2,364,604 known manner, when said member is in the extended position shown in Fig. 7.

The bottom 22 of the slide 21 is formed with an opening 32 for receiving a receptacle 33. Around the opening 32, the bottom has a flange, indicated at 34, Figs. 2 and 8, and the receptacle 33 has an outwardly extending flange 35 around its upper edge adapted to rest on the flange 34 when the slide 21 is in the extended position shown in Figs. 5 and 8, whereby said receptacle is supported from the bottom of the member 21. The receptacle 33 is adapted to provide means for holding a beverage glass or tumbler (not shown).

Mounted on the bottom 22 is a leaf spring 36 which underlies the receptacle 33 in the manner shown best in Fig. 1.

When the slide 2 i is moved outwardly of the table top from the position shown in Fig..6 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the receptacle 33 drops down by its own weight from the position: shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 8.

When .the·slide 21 is being slid inwardly of the table top from the extended position shown in Fig.. 5 to the ,closed position shown in Fig. 1, the spring 36 acts as a cam and urges the receptacle .33 upwardly so that when the slide 21 has completed its inward movement the receptacle 33 will be disposed in the position therein shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted within the table top and arranged along each side of the slide 21 are coil springs 38 (see Fig. 1).

One end of each spring 38 is secured to the slide 21, as at 39. The other end of each spring 38 is secured to the table structure 13 at the point 40.

When the slide 21 is disposed within the table top the springs 38 are extended and under tension.

A latching mechanism is provided for retaining the slide 21 in closed position in the table top, said latching mechanism being adapted to release the slide 21 when it is desired to have the same in the extended position shown in Fig. 5.

A latch member 4 i is fixed to· the inner end of the slide 21, and a latch member 42 is pivotally •mounted, as at 43,.on the under face of the cover board II.

The latch 42 has two arms 44 and 45. The arm 44 has a hook-shaped end adapted to engage the hook-shaped end of the latch 41 when the slide 21 is in retracted position in the table top. A coil spring 46 has one end secured to the arm 44, and its other end secured to a pin 47 depending from the underside of the table top II. The spring 46 is adapted to pull the latch 42 in the direction in which the extremity of the arm 44 is in the path of movement of the latch 41.

For operating the latch 42, an actuator 48 is provided. This actuator comprises a rod slidably mounted in brackets 49 mounted on the underside of the cover board 11. The inner end of the actuator is formed with a depending portion 50 adapted to engage the arm 45 of the latch 42. Carried by the rod 48 is a cross bar 51. This bar has an end of a coil spring 52 fixed to one projecting portion thereof, the other end of said spring being connected to a pin 53 fixed to the table top structure. The spring 52 is arranged substantially in parallel.relationship to the actuator 48, so as to tend to pull the actuator outwardly of the table top. The outward movement of the . actuator 48 is limited when the bar 51 en gages a stop pin 54 fixed to the underside of the cover plate 11.

The outer end 55 of the actuator terminates in an opening 56 formed in the finishing strip 14. β Also within the opening 56 is a push button 57 (see Fig. 3) adapted to be moved inwardly in order to operate the actuator 48.

When the button 57 is pushed inwardly, the actuator 48 is moved inwardly, and the inner end 10 50 thereof forces the latch 42 to swing on the pivot 43, thereby disconnecting the hook-shaped end of the latch arm 44 from the hook-shaped end of the latch 41. The moment the latch is released the springs 38 pull the slide 21 outwardly 15 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position 'shown in Mg. 4.

Fixed to the underside of the cover board 11 adjacent to each spring 38, are stops 59. These stops are.adapted to be engaged by pins 60 mount20 ed on laterally extending portions 61 of the slide 2I., so. as to limit the outward movement-of said slide.

The-.outer.end of each portion-61 is formed with a fiat surface 62 adapted to bear against the sur_i25 face of a guide member 63 fixed in the table top, :as:shown best in Figs. 1 and 4.

The ash tray drawer 27 is movable independently with respect to the slide 21. That is to say, when desired the drawer 27 can be disposed in an 30 extended position when the slide 21 is in either a closed position as shown in Mgs. 6 and 7, or in the extended position shown in Mg. 5.

The slide 21 has a top 64 formed with an opening 65 which is disposed above the drawer 27 &lt;85 when the latter is disposed in closed position, as shown in Fig. 5.