Folding picnic table

R. WELLS

FOLDING PICNIC TABLE

Oct 26, 1948.

Filed Sept. 26, 1946

2,452,169

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Robert Wejtfa.

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R. WELLS

FOLDING PICNIC TABLE

Oct 26, 1948.

Filed Sept. 26, 1946

2,452,169

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Robert

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Oct 26, 1948.

Filed Sept. 26, 1946

R. WELLES

FOLDING PICNIC TABLE

2,452,169

Sheets-Sheet 3

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Attorneys

Patented Oct. 26, 1948

2,452,169

OFFICE

UNITED STATES PATENT

2,452,169 FOLDING PICNIC TABLE Robert Wells, Kankakee, Ill.

Application September 26,1946, Serial No. 699,538 (Cl. 155—123)

Claims.

• i^nven^^on relates to a folding picnic table, including in a single foldable assembly a table and seats or benches on opposite sides thereof, adapted to be compactly folded for storage, transportation or shipment, and to be readily extended for use in the form of a rigid structure embodying all the elements of three separate pieces customarily employed, including the table and seats upon opposite long sides thereof in the form of benches.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple arrangement by which the supporting legs for the table and the supporting legs for the seats or benches are foldable simultaneously to a collapsed position in compact form, and then the seats or benches are foldable under the table top, so as to form a foldable structure having opposite flat sides of relatively thin dimensions, retaining the folding parts therein and readily connected, so as to maintain its folded position or condition, so as to be readily moved to the desired location for setting the same up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide separable seats or benches and table top having foldable legs and supporting structures in which the legs of the table are slidable when extended with the legs of the seats, so as to dispose the same in alignment for forming a rigid supporting structure for the table top and seats and in proper relation, with the seats or benches located at opposite sides of the table top in planes below the latter for seating persons at opposite sides of the table and capable of being readily held firmly in upright, positions to form a rigid structure when set up, but adapted to be easily and quickly folded into compact relation when desired and when not in use.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully heieinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings f nrming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a foldable picnic table and seats or benches set up for use.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device in extended position for use.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the table and seats in extended positions as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the parts with the legs collapsed and the table top and seats in a single plane prior to folding.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line

5—5 of Figure 4 and showing in dotted lines, the seats folded over on the top and supporting legs thereof, in inverted position, and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the device in folded condition.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which ike reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the table top 10 is provided with foldable legs II, of which two are provided morticed or otherwise secured rigidly to the central portions of transversely arranged bars 12 of rectangular cross-section slidably mounted beneath the table top 10, which is also of elongated rectangular form. The legs II are set toward the inner edges of the transverse ters 12 which are of square cross-section or thicker than the legs and hinged at spaced points near their ends as at 13 to slidable blocks 14 forming slides rabbeted at their side edges to engage similarly rabbeted bars or tracks 15 arranged in spaced parallel pairs,of forming guide-ways, the rabbeted portions of which underlie the rabbeted portions of the slides 14 in reverse arrangement as shown at 16 and retain the legs and bars 12 in slidable connection with the table top 10 for movement in. and out longitudinally thereof, limited at their inner ends by transverse stop members I T which like the guide strips 15 are suitably secured to the bottom of the table top. The slides 14 are at the outer ends of the guide-ways when the legs 11 are folded against the underside of the top 10, but when extended to positions perpendicular to the table top, that is upright for supporting the same, the slides 14 are disposed against 35 the transverse end pieces or stop members 17, and are retained in this position by providing the bars 12 near the ends thereof with eccentrically pivoted keepers or blocks 18 having pins 19 for turning them to enter notches 20 at the inner 40 edges of the , guide strips 15 outwardly of their intermediate points, to hold the legs erect in supporting position. The legs H which are preferably shaped as shown, to provide clearance at the sides, are transversely hinged or pivoted as 45 indicated at 22 near the upper ends and adjacent reduced or recessed portions of the legs 11 to brace stnps ^23 having bevelled ends 24 to fit against the bottom surface of the table top 10 and hinged thereto as,indicated at 25 to brace the legs in up50 right supporting positions. The elongated rectangular seats or benches 26, are flat strips of rectangular form narrower than or but half the width of the table top 10 are adapted to move into the same plane with the table top when ar55 ranged for folding and into planes below the same,

2.462,169 when folded thereagainst with the legs, thereby permitting the same to swing in opposite directions or arcs inwardly over and against the legs, cross-bars and intermediate sections 42 at the sections 44, when the device is folded into compact form, so as to present the seat 26 and the table top 10 at opposite sides of the folded structure whereby the legs and intermediate folding, structures, are disposed, to. lie therebetween, thereby presenting fiat surfaces upon opposite sides when the structure is folded. When the device is in folded condition, as shown in Figures 5’and 6 of the drawings, the inner edges of the seats; 28'will come together in alignment and the outer edges.thereof will align with the outer edges or long’ sides of the table top 10 and they may be held- in this relation in any suitable manner, as by means of U-shaped pins 45 having bent ends 46 engaging sockets 47 in the ends of the seat 26 intermediately of the width thereof, and atispacedi points; of the-width of the table top l u invalignment therewith in parallel relation. This holds the structure compactly folded and against separation: .

Assuming that the structure is folded m the manner shown in. Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the retainers or connecting members 45 are disengaged and: ih order to-set up; the table in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, , the seats 26 are swung outwardly in the opposite direction of the arrows in Figure 5 from the dotted line position, to the solid line position shown therein and also; disclosed in Figure 4 with the legs and connections thereof lying flat against the > bottom surfaces of the table top 10 and seats 26. In this position, the slides 14 will he at the outer end's of the guideways or grooves between the guide strips- 15. outwardly in opposite directions at' opposite ends of the table and table top 10, and due to- the legs 27 being shorter than the legs I I and; the legs being connected at their inner or lower ends by the base pieces 42 and 44, the latter will move into spaced parallel relation as shown· in Figure 4 upon opposite sides of the 45 pivoted bars 37 which are arranged transversely of the seats; the sliding outwardly of the slides 14 and- cross-bars 12 permitting the upper ends of the legs to-move outwardly and compensate for the difference in length of the legs. The legs are 50 then moved' to upright erecting positions to set up the table and seats by swinging the same upwardly and outwardly perpendicular to the table top and seats, thereby lowering the seats with respect to-the table, considered in the set-up position or in the inverted'folded position, raising the seats-in spaced parallel relation-to the table top in a common plane with each other and in spaced parallel relation insofar as the plane thereof is consigned¹ relative to the plane of the table top. This disposes-the seats below the table top, and of course, the folding may be accomplished in the reverse action or the extension of the table and seats or benches may be accomplished by downward swinging while supporting the table top in an elevated position, or the reverse of that described. When thus erected; the keepers 18 are swung on their pivots to engage the recesses or notches 20 and retain the legs upright. This is „„ more convenient ana yreieneu, furthered by swinging the bars or keepers 37 to t-be fnidine- nosition as shown by 70 theposition shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, to the folding position, as shown oy _{of 33 between}. _the guides 35, so that the legs 11 of the table and also the· legs 2T of the seats, are effectively braced in this position to form a rigid sustaining structure.

for seating the occupants of the table in the manner shown in Figures 3,4 and 5, and 1 and 2 of the drawings, respectively. These seats 26 which are as long as the table top, are supported by similar formed legs 27 compared to the table legs 11 but shorter, though similarly shaped and recessed at the sides and fixed to transverse top members or bars 28 by mortise and tenon joints or otherwise. the.same as the legs 1I are fastened, to the cross-bars 12, and extending across: the: : seats 26, that is at the inner sides of the bars 30 which are of square cross-section or rectangular., and wider and thicker than the thickness of the legs 27. While this construction with respect to; the cross-members 12 and 28 relative tn the.legs 1I and 27 respectively, is preferred, and has advantages which will be hereinafter, pointed' out;, the construction thereof is optional. The crossbars 28 are pivoted or hinged adjacent the ends thereof and on their inner sides, as indicated at 29; that is at spaced points, to-spaced parallel longitudinal strips 30 and transverse strips 31 therebetween, suitably secured to the bottom of the: seat strips or boards' 26. These structures are located at opposite ends of the seats- 26, the same as; the hinge connections are located at opposite ends of the'table top 10 and also hinged to: the legs 27 in spaced relation to their upper ends as. at 32, are brace strips or bars 33 corresponding to the braces 23' but shorter and having;· oppositely bevelled or: tapered ends &lt;34 disposed to. lie in vertical planes when the legs are upright: and the braces diagonally disposed in outwardly-inclined' positions as more particularly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, when the device is:-erected. These ends are designed to operate between spaced; guide strips' 35 secured tothe. bottom of the seat 26 spaced apart upon opposite; sides of the- longitudinal and; transverse centers thereof; to.be engaged by the rounded ends . Sfcof pivotedkeeper bars, 37?intermediately- pivoted as at 38: to the bottom, of the seats 26, for positioning: transversely of the seats when the device is: folded: and longitudinally thereof to engage the inner ends of the braces 33 when the device ¹is erected; to serve as stops bracing the legs in upright'positions together with the braces 33, the same as the stops or transverse members I7^: and the hinges 25:iimit the movement of the legs II and braces 23 to set up positions. Also, if desired; the tegs 11 and 27' may be fastened to the cross-bars 12 and 28, in addition to the mortice and&lt; tenon connections or irrespective thereof, as indicated at 39, by cross-pins 40 and/or dowel pins, preferably tapered as at 41, as shown or otherwise. Of course, the cross members may be formed integral with the legs if desired.

Ih order that the entire table may be connected in a single foldable structure, the legs are hingedly connected, consisting of intermediate floor or ground engaging base bars 42 similarly secured to the lower ends of the legs 11 ol the table intermediate their ends· and having; their outer ends pivoted or hinged as at 43 to the inner ends of transverse base members 44 similarly secured to the lower ends of the legs 27 so as tofold¹ inwardly under or over the table top, depending upon whether the latter¹ is disposed uppermost or as more convenient and preferred, lowermost m t-----------~ the arcs and arrows in Figure 5 of the drawings. It should be noted that the hinges 43 are disposed at the outer faces of the hinged sections or base it¹!*&lt;5»S5 » saswii if-«· —*

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2,452,168 _A. 5 than the legs II, will result in dropping of the seats 26 in proper relation upon opposite sides of the longitudinal edges of the table top, in conjunction with the shorter braces 33 of the seats with respect to the braces 23 of the table top and the rigid spacing means 37 provided between the braces 33 of the seats. In other words, the sliding connections of the legs or supporting structures of the table compensate for the differences m lengths of the legs so that the lower connected ends of the latter are always in the same plane and move in the same radius or arc or substantially so, to maintain the structure intact. In folding, the parts 18 and 37 are merely moved to the opposite or disengaged positions, when the latter can swing in, to dispose the hinges 53 in alignment with the abutting or co-acting outer edges of the table top IQ and the inner edges of the seats 26 so that the latter can swing inwardly over and against the intermediate folded structure of the table top 10, in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, compactly folded to occupy a minimum of space for storage, transportation or shipment, or tying the same on the runningboard or in the trunk-rack of a car or rear compartment thereof, depending upon the length of the table. The fasteners «5 are then inserted in position in the sockets 47 to connect the table ^ai^{d Seats and secure} them in folded relation Attention is also directed to the fact that by reaf?ⁿ,^{of cross}-^{bars 12} and 28 being wider or thicker than the legs 27, these cross-bars will ?^eJT® ^{as contact} members when the parts are folded as shown in Figures 5 and 6, to maintain ηΧ,Τ/ ^{m connec}fi°n or engagement, mstea,d of permitting the folded structure or legs to be shifted between the table top and seats when hv^ep^de?^Ce/^S/^C2^ded· ^{This end is also} facilitated nr von^{taCt the seats with the} Pivoted blocks or keepers 18 secured to the outer faces of the cross-bars 12 so that when the legs 11 are swun? inwardly against the bottom surface of the table top, they will accommodate the thickness of the strips 30 and lie therebetween in contact with the undersurfaces of the seats 26 when folded Thus movement of the pivoted leg structures’will be prevented when the device is folded _an™^{6 ir}-the foregoing ^{there has} been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to _ be understood that minor changes m the details of construction, combinafntuu ^aiT^ansement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.