Table construction having retractile top portion

Aug. 19, 1958 f. hafekost et al 2,848,291

TABLE CONSTRUCTION HAVING RETRACTILE TOP PORTION

Filed Aug. 15. 1955

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Aug. 19, 1958

F. HAFEKOST ETAL

2,848,291

TABLE CONSTRUCTION HAVING RETRACTILE TOP PORTION

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Sheets-Sheet 2

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Aug. 19, 1958

F. HAFEKOST ETAL

2,848,291

TABLE CONSTRUCTION HAVING RETRACTILE TOP PORTION

Filed Aug. 15. 1955

Sheets-Sheet 3

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United States Patent Office

2,848,291

Patented Aug. 19, 1958

2,848,291

TABLE CONSTRUCTION HAVING RETRACTILE TOP PORTION

Frederick Hafekost, Mohawk Trail, N. J., and Leo Edelson, Mamaroneck, N. Y., assignors to Steel Slides, Inc., New Rochelle, N. Y., a corporation of New York

Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,479

Claims. (Cl. 311—54)

This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to tables of the disappearing or roll-up type having a longitudinally flexible but transversely rigid table top which is adapted when not in use to be moved out of sight into some suitable housing, such as a cabinet or within a wall.

So-called disappearing or roll-up tables have been heretofore suggested employing collapsible extension arms beneath such a flexible table top, the latter at one extremity being secured to the outer slide elements of the extension arms, the inner elements thereof being fixedly and horizontally mounted. When it is desired to make use of the rolled-up table, one extremity of the flexible table top is grasped and pulled away from a housing which mounts the aforementioned inner slide elements whereby the extension arms are extended and the flexible table top is pulled thereover. Suitable leg elements are usually provided for the extremity of the flexible table top which is pulled away from the housing. However, the extension arms heretofore employed in such construction have been undesirably wide and, for example, usually made of wood. They usually consist of a plurality of elongated slide elements which are situated along and beneath the opposite -margins of the flexible table top. Such prior slide elements are transversely across the tops thereof relatively wide, particularly those of the wooden variety. Since it is mandatory that a horizontal supporting means be provided beneath the flexible table top to support same when the latter is extended, the extension arms must be so conformed and in such an attitude that when extended the top edges thereof are substantially in a horizontal line for supporting the undersurface of the table top. This makes it necessary to mount such extension arms in such a way that they all are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table top. An inner slide element of such prior art extension arms normally is, as aforementioned, fixedly and horizontally secured to a suitable housing or mounting and normally is the one closest to the longitudinal centerline of the flexible table top and hence the one farthest removed from its respective side edge of the table top. Consequently, the outer slide element of each extension arm is substantially closer to such side edge of the table top which is the cause of a substantial disadvantage in that when the table top is extended for use, there is an inadequate support for the table top in the region of the slide elements which are closest to the longitudinal centerline of the table. For example, near the mounting for the inner slide elements. Pressure, say of the elbow near the edge of the table top, will cause the latter to pivot about the extension arm and thus to upset tableware thereon.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage.

The invention in one aspect is constituted by a table construction generally similar to that above described with the exception of the use of relatively very narrow extension arms of a particular configuration, such as that shown in U. S. Patent 2,712,972, granted to Morris Manson and Frederick Hafekost. The two horizontal extension arms, by virtue of their transversely narrow character, can be mounted respectively extremely close to the two opposite margins of the table top and when in a fully extended condition even the inner extension arm is sufficiently close to the edge of the table top to prevent the tipping thereof or the pivoting thereof about such extension arm responsive to downward pressure on the table top.

The above and further objects of the present invention will more fully appear from the detailed description given below when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application. It is understood, however that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and do not define the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of roll-up table embodying the present invention, such table being in an extended condition;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the table shown in Fig. 1 in a rolled up condition;

Fig. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view of a flexible table top which can be employed in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of another form of table embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a pair of extension arms employed in the present invention for supporting the flexible table top;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the extension arms of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of the lowermost extension arm shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an end view of bracket means for securing an extension arm to its mounting in the present invention; and.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the bracket means shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, particularly to Fig. 1, the novel table construction in one form thereof is constituted by a cabinet-like housing 20 which may be provided with pull drawers 21 and 22 of conventional construction which are housed within the cabinet. Along the upper margin 20« of the front of the cabinet 20 there is provided a slot-like aperture 23 which extends across the front face of the cabinet for the purpose of receviing and permitting the pulling out of a flexible table top 24, the outer extremity 24 of which is suitably connected to a pair of legs 25 and 26. Such legs are in. turn rigidly secured to a crossbar 27 having handles thereupon 28 and 29 to facilitate the pulling out and pushing in of the flexible table through such slot-like orifice. Such outer extremity 24α of the table top 24 may be suitably secured to the crossbar 27.

The flexible table top 24 is flexible only longitudinally and not transversely, as is well illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a top surface element 30 of suitable flexible sheet material, such as plastic, is shown reinforced on the undersurface thereof by a plurality of transversely extending rib elements, such as 31, 32 and 33. The longitudinally extending adjacent upper edges, such as 34 and 35, of such rib elements are close to one another whereas the corresponding lower longitudinal edges thereof, such as 36 and 37, are separated due to the inverted wedge-like spacing between the adjacent rib elements thereby facilitating longitudinal flexing. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to a table top having this particular construction, any table top being suitable, which is of sheet-like conformation and is flexible longitudinally but substantially rigid transversely.

In order to hold the crossbar 27 in proper attitude with

2,848,291 respect to the housing 20, and in order to provide adequate stability to the extendable table top thereby to avoid the defects aforementioned, a pair of elongated and relatively narrow extension arms 38 and 39 are employed for interconnecting the housing 20 with the aforementioned crossbar 27. The extension arms 38 and 39 are shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 7 and are similar to those disclosed in the aforementioned U. S. Patent 2,712,972. For example, the extension arm 38 consists of a plurality of slide elements 40-46, inclusive, and the extension arm 39 consists of a similar number of slide elements 47-53 inclusive.

Referring to Fig. 7, the slide-element 48 is shown in cross-section and consists of a channel member 54 having a floor and sides, said sides forming a base portion 55 and a flared portion 56 adapted for nesting with a base portion 57 of the next adjacent slide element 47. A pair of outwardly directed primary flanges 58 and 59 are secured respectively along the opposite edges of said flared portion 56 and a pair of exteriorly accessible subchannel members 60 and 61 are positioned next to and along respective of said primary flanges. A pair of interiorly accessible subchannel members 62 and 63 are positioned next to and along respective of said first-mentioned subchannel members and are conformed to receive in longitudinal sliding engagement respective primary flanges 64 and 65 of the aforementioned next adjacent slide element 47.

The invention is not limited to the use of this particular form of slide element, it being possible to employ such an element wherein the channel member 54 is in effect turned inside out and is interposed between the opposite pairs of the subchannel members, such as 60, 61. Alternatively, there can be eliminated from such slide elements the channel member, such as 54, and the primary flanges 58 and 59 can be suitably connected, for example, by a metallic strip coplanar therewith.

Considering the extension arm 39 alone, there are seven subelements thereof, namely, the seven slide elements 47-53. Despite the substantial number of such slide elements, the transverse dimension of the extension arm is relatively very small, as is well shown in Fig. 7, which makes it possible for all of the slide elements to be relatively very close to their respective side edges 246, 24c of the flexible table top when the latter is fully extended or pulled out of its housing, as shown in Fig. 1.

However, at least one of the slide elements of each extension arm must be further away from its side edge as compared to the distance of the slide element at the g, opposite extremity thereof when the extension arm is extended. For example, referring to Figs. 5 and 7, the slide element 47 comprises the inner slide element inasmuch as it is secured to a suitable mounting 66 within ___________ ______________ _ _____________ ~ the housing 20, such slide element being so secured by 55 pair of such hook means 70, 73 it being possible to secure brackets 67 and 68 to be more fully described herein- ' ' ' .........

after. Thus slide element 53 comprises the outer slide element of the extension arm 39 by virtue of the fact that it, when the arm is fully extended, is outermost with side edges 246, 24c, and thus the slide elements 40 and 47 will be the farthest removed from such edges.

However, by virtue of the relatively small transverse dimension of the extension arms 38 and 39, the distance between a side edges, for example 246, and the farthest slide element 40 is substantially closer than heretofore attained.

In one form of the invention, the uppermost longitudinal edge 53a of the extension arm 53 and the uppermost longitudinal edge 46α of the extension arm 46 may be positioned substantially directly vertically beneath their respective table top side edges 24c and 246 in which event the maximum distance between such side edges and the respective inner slide elements 47 and 40 will be substantially equal to the transverse dimension of the extension arm as shown in Fig. 7 which will be relatively small. The stability of the table top 24 fully extended under these conditions is satisfactory and in the absence of extreme pressure upon the edges thereof in the region of the farthest extension arm will not result in the tipping of the table top.

However, it may be desired to locate such extension arms substantially more closely to the longitudinal centerline 69 thereby creating a substantial distance between ²⁵ each of the side edges and even the outer of such slide elements, such as 46 and 53. This will result in an even greater distance between such side edges and the inner slide elements and may result in instability of such table top in the absence of suitable means to remedy this. ³⁰ Such means comprise connecting or hook means having subelements located respectively upon the extension arms and the undersurface of the table whereby the undersurface of the table, in response to the pulling out of the table top, is caused to be hooked or connected to both of ³⁵ the extension arms thereby overcoming the above-mentioned defect and providing adequate stability for the table to prevent the extended table top from pivoting about either one of the extension arms in response to pressure along a margin thereof.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown such an example of a single hook means 70 consisting of subelements 71 and 72. Subelement 71 comprises a hook secured as by welding, for example, to the inner extremity of slide element 50 and positioned for coacting with the subelement 72 45 of eyelet configuration. That is, subelement 72 is in the form of a downwardly extending arm (Fig. 7) having a perforation 72α for receiving finger 71α of the hook 71. The subelement or eyelet 72 is secured by any suitable means to the undersurface 24d of the table top 24.. Ό There are employed at least one pair of such hook means, namely, for interconnecting the table top 24 with both of the extension arms. The other hook means of the pair thereof here employed are shown in Fig. 6 at 73. The invention is not limited to the employment of a single a hook, such as 71, to each of the slide elements (except the inner one where it is.normally not necessary). The eyelets 72 are suitably spaced upon the undersurface of the flexible table top to coact with their respecreVect to'the h^s^lo'anTai^is outermost with re- 60 five hooks 71 in response to the pulling out or extending r ⁰ . _TT fiolvlA frtrt hqhqIIv f/Λ tfc fnllv MrtPflflAil rnrinifinn spect to a longitudinal centerline 69 (Fig. 5). However, as employed herein, the term “inner slide element refers to the one secured to the fixed mounting 66 whether it be the closest or the farthest one with respect to such longitudinal centerline, and the term “outer slide element” refers to the one farthest removed from the housing 29 when the extension arm is fully extended.

As is well shown in Fig. 5, the slide elements 46 and can be positioned most closely to the side edges 246 70 ture of channels, the mounts, of which are facing one and 24c, respectively of the table top 24 whereas the slide elements 40 and 47 are farthest removed therefrom.

Of course, this arrangement may be reversed and the slide elements 46 and 53 may be secured to the mounting 66, if desired, and hence be the closest ones tP such 75 in Fig. 2, of the table top usually to its fully extended condition as shown in Fig. 1. When the table top is pushed inwardly to house same within the cabinet 20, the eyelets 72 disengage themselves from their respective hooks 71.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the flexible table top 24 is received, when it is pushed inwardly for housing purposes, by a pair of U-shaped guide elements 74 and 75 which in transverse cross-section also are of U-shaped configuration, such guide elements thus being in the naanother as is well shown in Fig. 1. The length of each such guide element is thus preferably about equal to the length of the table top 24 whereby such table top is guided to and held in its inoperative position, as shown

2,848,391

It is, of course, understood that the outer slide elements 46 and 53 are suitably secured to the crossbar 27.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is substantially identical to that described above with the exception that the U-shaped guide elements 74 and 75 are eliminated and in lieu thereof the table top 24 is wound up upon a drum 76 which, if desired, may have resilient means, such as coil spring 77, associated with shaft 78 thereof for aiding in winding up the flexible table top when desired. Suitable limit stops may be employed for holding the table to any desired degree of extension without springing back under the influence of such spring. A horizontal guide roll 79 mounted upon a shaft 80 is provided above the drum 76 for guiding the table top by a rolling action thereby to enable the pulling out and the winding up of such top.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the bracket means will now be described for mounting the inner of the slide elements, such as 40 and 47. As shown-in Fig. 3 lor arm 39, there preferably are two brackets 67 and 68 which are secured to the mounting 66. The latter preferably comprises a rigid element of substantial thickness, for example, of wood, having a passage 81 therethrough through which passes a bolt 82 which secures, for example, the bracket 67 thereto. A similar bolt secures bracket 68.

In order to insure freedom from binding and facilitate the extension and contraction of the extension arms 38 and 39, we have found it desirable to permit some longitudinal play in such arms relative to mounting 66 which can be accomplished by forming somewhat elongated slots, such as 83 (Fig. 9), in each of the brackets 67 and 68. The bolt 82 passes through such slot. The major axis of the slots extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 69 of the table top and hence the presence of such a slot in each bracket permits the extension arms some relatively small but adequate swinging motion about a vertical axis which can be, for example, the axis of the bolt 82 or bolt 84 coacting with bracket 68.

Referring to Fig. 8, the means for associating the brackets 67 with the mounting 66 will now be described. In view of the frequent longitudinal shifting of the bracket 67 because of the elongated slot 83, suitable wear resisting means are provided, particularly where the mounting 66 is of wood, in order to prevent dederioration by wear of the upper surface thereof. To this end a bottom wear plate 85 is interposed between lower surface 67α of lowermost arm 676 of bracket 67 and element 66. A washer 86 having a central tubular portion 87 is positioned above the bottom plate 85, the tubular portion 87 being coaxial with the passage 81 and positioned for receiving the bolt 82. The washer 86 comprises a flange upon the tubular portion 87 and extends well over the upper surface of such arm 676, as is well shown in Fig. 5. Thus frequent transverse shiftingof the brackets 67 and 68 will not damage the mounting 66.

The invention is not limited to the employment of a cabinet-like housing 20 and it is understood that the flexible table top can be housed when fully contracted by any suitable housing. For example, a slot-like aperture may be cut in the wall of a room and suitable guide means may be provided behind the wall for the table top, a suitable mounting also being provided for supporting the extension arms 38 and 39. Also in certain forms of the invention, it is not mandatory to employ guide elements, such as 74 and 75, or a wind-up drum, such as 76.