Rotatable leg construction for reversible table tops

July 1, 1952 g. e. doty 2,602,012

ROTATABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION FOR REVERSIBLE TABLE TOPS

Filed Nov. 3, 1949 2 SHEETS—SHEET 1

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July 1, 1952 _G. _{E DOTY} 2,602,012

ROTATABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION FOR REVERSIBLE TABLE TOPS

Filed Nov. 3, 1949

SHEETS—SHEET 2

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Patented July 1, 1952

2,602,012

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,602,012

ROTATABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION FOR REVERSIBLE TABLE TOPS George E. Doty, Winnetka, III, Application November 3,1949, Serial No, 125,334

Claim. (Cl,

The present invention relates to furniture constructions and more particularly to improvements in tables and similar furniture.

Tables with inlaid surfaces or veneered surfaces frequently become marred or blemished in ordi- 5 nary use, which necessitates the reflnishing of the surface or discarding of the table. Other tables have surfaces that are suitable for some occasions but are out of place on others.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to 10 provide a table with a reversible top which may be quickly reversed without the aid of tools.

It is another object to provide a furniture joint which enables the legs of a table to be easily removed from one side and installed on the other. 15

A further object is to provide a joint that will hold the assembled parts together securely and rigidly.

Another object is to provide means for holding the elements of a table assembled, which means 20 enhance the appearance of the table and increase its utility.

It is a further object to provide a table with a reversible top which is economical to manufacture and which may be shipped or stored in 25 knock-down condition.

It is another object to provide a furniture construction in which a part of the means connecting the assembled elements is visible on the surface of the furniture and which is an oma- 39 mental feature of the design thereof.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features, as will be fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and 35 claim appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts—

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled 40 table constructed in accordance with this invention:

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the table similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and showing an under plate in position; 45

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4—4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a 50 modification of the invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 6—6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 1—1 of Fig. 6; 55

311—114) . ·.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 9—9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section taken on the line 10—10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-section of the invention as applied to a table having a single supporting member.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the top surface of a table top is indicated at !2, the under surface at 14, the edges at 16 and the legs or supporting members at 18.:.. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the top and under surfaces of the table top are provided with identical aligned, recessed portions 20 and 22 which are in substantial alignment with the legs

18. Plates 24 are positioned in the recessed portions 20 of the top surface 12. These plates completely fill the recessed portions and have their top surfaces flush with that of the table top. The plates may be bronze, plastic or any suitable material and may be embossed, colored or otherwise ornamented. While the plates illustrated are substantially square, they may be rectangular, circular or any desired shape and may be used for coasters or similar purposes.

The table top is provided with openings 26 which pass through the recessed portions 20 and 22 and are in alignment with the legs [8. The under surfaces of plates 24 are provided with threaded sockets 28 which extend into the openings. The tops of legs 18 are provided with concentrically positioned screws 30 which are threaded for engagement with sockets 28. The screws may be secured to the legs in any manner and, in the case of wooden legs, the screws may have a wood screw end 32 which may be screwed into the ends of the legs.

The relatively broad contact surfaces of plates 24 enable the legs to be tightly screwed into sockets 28 and the tops of the legs to be held rigidly against the under surface of the table top. Where a square leg is used and its top surface extends beyond the under recessed portion 22 when being turned, a spacer 34 may be used to prevent the top of the leg from engaging the under surface 14 of the table top and thereby marring it. As shown in Fig. 3, the spacer may be a washer or it may be an under plate, such as shown at 23 in Fig. 2, which is similar to top plate 24 and which completely fills the under recessed portion; an opening is provided for accommodating screw 30. Plate 23 provides a larger abutting surface for the end of the leg and, also, prevents the end of

2,602,012 the leg from contacting the under surface of the table when it is screwed into its socket. Similarly, where a round leg is used which has a diameter greater than that of the offset portion, a spacer will prevent the under surface from being damaged.

The top surface and under surface of the table may have different finishes or decorations, and the top may be easily reversed when desired by merely unscrewing the legs and reversing the positions of the top plates and legs.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a modification of the invention in which the top plates 24 and bottom plates 36 extend to the corners of the table and are connected by side members 33. Recessed portions are provided in edges of the table top to accommodate the side members so that they are flush with the table edge. The corner piece can also be formed in two pieces with the bottom plate or spacer as a separate member from top plate 24 and its depending flanges or side members 38. The table top is provided with slots 40 extending from the edges to points in alignment with the legs to accommodate the socket 28 on the under face of plate 24, The corner pieces form protective, as well as ornamental, guards which securely hold the legs i8 when the screws 30 are tightened in sockets 28. To reverse the table top, it is merely necessary to unscrew the legs and slip off the corner pieces which are then turned over and the legs installed on the opposite side of the table top.

Where the legs of· the table are not positioned at the corners of the table top, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a plate similar to the corner piece shown in Figs. 5,6 and-7 may be used by eliminating one of the side members 38. The remaining side member is positioned in a recessed portion of the table edge with its surface flush with that of the table edge. A variation is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 where the bottom plate is eliminated and a spacer 34 similar to that shown in Fig. 3 is used. The side member 38 may have an inwardly extending flange 42 which does not extend as far as the bottom plate shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The table top may be readily reversed by unscrewing the legs and removing the top plates, which are installed on the opposite side, as are the legs. Slots 40 permit sockets 28 to be moved outwardly as the plates are removed.

A table having a single supporting member 44 is shown in Fig. 11 and is provided with a base 46. The construction is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and, in addition, the base 46 may be reversed in a manner similar to the table top. The base has recessed portions 48 in its top and under surface to accommodate plate 54. The threads in screw 50 and socket 52 are the opposite of those in screws 30 and sockets 28 in the upper end of the supporting member 44 so that rotation of member 44 in one direction will tighten it with respect to both the base 46 and the top. Plate 24 may be of any size and shape and provides an ornamental place on which a coffeepot or potted plant may be placed without marring the finish of the table top. As in the previously described embodiments, if the crosssection of the supporting member is such that it can be screwed tightly to the table top without extending beyond the recessed portion.in the under surface !4 of the table top, the spacer 34 or an under plate may be omitted since the top of the supporting member will not mar the portions of the under surface that will be exposed when the table top is reversed, the same being true of the reversible base.

^; It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim.