Picnic table and chair combination

Oct. 29, 1957

R. F. NIMMO

2,811,197

PICNIC TABLE AND CHAIR COMBINATION

Filed Feb. 13, 1957

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Oct. 29, 1957

R. F. NIMMO

2,811,197

PICNIC TABLE AND CHAIR COMBINATION

Filed Feb. 13, 1957

Sheets-Sheet 2

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Oct. 29, 1957 r. _F. nimmo 2,811,197

PICNIC TABLE AND 'CHAIR COMBINATION Filed Feb. 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3

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United States Patent Office

2,811,197

Patented Oct. 29, 1957

2,811,197

PICNIC TABLE AND CHAIR COMBINATION Ray F. Nimmo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Application February 13,1957, Serial No. 639,948

Claims. (CI. 155—124)

The present invention, relates to foldable picnic tables and has for an object to provide a combination seat and table group, which, when not in use, may be folded into a compact traveling unit which, may be placed in the trunk of an automobile for ease of transportation to· and from the picnic area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picnic table of the foldable type wherein all of the components are physically connected, when in use and during storage or transportation whereby components cannot be misplaced or lost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unit easy to assemble, set up and extremely economical in construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed, out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective: view of the frame assembly of a foldable picnic table constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a foldable picnic table constructed in accordance, with thepresent invention in the erected position.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the table of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the table of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the table of Figure 2 in folded condition.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the table of Figure 2 in folded condition.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of tire hinged connection of the upper portions of the end members with the locating rod.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hinged connection of the lower portions of the end members showing their pivotal connection with the locating struts.

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9—9 in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the hinged connection of a table top to the table frame.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the swivel connection of a seat to the table framp

Referring more particularly to the drawings and for the moment to Figure 1, 20 and 21 designate foldable members of an end support. Each member has a table top support 22, 23, an intermediate support 24, 25, a base 26, 27 and a seat support 28, 29. The free ends of the supports 22, 23 may be bent to define downturned necks 30, 31. Two of the above described units are joined by a locating rod 32 over which slides a pair of sleeves 33 and 33^a. The upper portions of the foldable members 20, 21 are hinged to the sleeves 33 and 33^a by hinges 34, 35 one plate of each of which is secured to the sleeve and the other plate of each of which is secured to one of the flown turned necks 30 and 31. As best seen in Figure 8 the lower portions of the foldable members 20, 21 are hinged together by hinges 36, 37 one plate- of each of which is secured to the bottom portion of the intermediate support 24, 25 while the other plate, is pivoted to a crimped end 38 of one member 39 of a telescopic support brace, the other member of the brace is pivoted-at 41 to· a plate 42. secured to the locating rod 32. The hinge, plates are placed to permit the members to travel inwardly of the rod 32 so that the seat supports 28, 29 are outermost when the table is in the position shown in Figure 6; The telescopic support braces 39, 40· may be locked, in· the extended position by pins 43, passing, through, selective openings in the members 39, 40.

Since the structure of Figure 1 is constructed the same at each.end, the lower left hand end has been described in detail and is identical to the upper right hand end whose corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numeral with the exponent a added thereto.

The table tops 44, 45 are rectangular and extend beyond the end supports. These table tops 44, 45 are joined to the support foldable members 20 and 21 (see Figure 10) by a sleeve 46 secured to the members 20, 21 upon which is carried: a collar 47 having an upstanding projection 47 A which rotatably receives a swivel pin 48 carried by-bracket 44B having, its shaft 48A rotatably journaled in the projection 47A. The swivel pin 48 is connected'to permit the table top to pivot about a pin which is: secured: at each end- in an angle bracket 51 secured in slots 44A and 45Aof the table tops 44, 45; The tops 44; 45 may partake of two movements simultaneously by rotating about pivot pin.48B, swivel shaft 48A and rotating about the sleeve 46:

The seats 52, 53, as best seen in Figure 11, are secured for swivel and pivotal movement to the seat support 28, 29, as by a sleeve 54 over which rotates a collar 54A haying a lug 54B for rotatably journaling the shaft of a swivel pin 54C which in turn is· connected by a pin 54E, about which the same pivots, secured in plates: 54D rigidly retained in the slots 52A. and 53A by screws or the like. These connections permit, of rotary movement of the seats 54, 55.

When it is desired to erect the table from the position of Figure 6 to that of Figure 2, the two sleeves 33 and 33^a are grasped and slid toward the ends of the locating rod 32 and the telescopic sections 39, 40 are extended until the hinged adjacent pairs of foldable members 20, 21 assume the position of Figure 1. The pins 43 are then inserted through the telescopic strut sections locking the same in position and holding the unit in assembled condition. The table tops 44, 45 are then rotated through an arc of the order of 270 degrees so that they rest upon the table top supports 22, 23.

During the erection of the table the collars 54A have rotated from the horizontal to the vertical plane and rotated about the axis of the pivot pin 54E to place the seats 52, 53 in their positions upon the seat supports 28, 29 as best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

The reverse procedure just described is employed to fold the table into a compact unit for transportation. Starting with the removal of the pins 43 the sleeves 33 and 33^a are urged toward the center of rod 32 after the table tops 44 and 45 have been rotated 270 degrees to clear the top of the unit. The foldable pairs of members 20 and 21 fold inwardly to the position shown in Figures 5 and 6.

While I have illustrated the form of invention as being made of tubing, solid or sheet materials may be employed so long as the relationship of the elements set out is preserved. The preferred embodiment is made of aluminum tubing and has either plastic or wooden seats and table tops although I do not restrict myself to these materials.

Although I have disclosed herein the best form of the

2,811,197 invention known to me at this time, I reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.