Combination table and folding chair

Feb. 3, 1959

C. R. NICHOLS, JR., ET AL

2,871,920

COMBINATION TABLE AND FOLDING CHAIR

Filed April 22, 1955

Sheets-Sheet I

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Feb. 3, 1959 c. r. nichols, jr., etal 2,871,920

COMBINATION TABLE AND FOLDING CHAIR '

Filed April 22, 1955 ⁴ Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEYS'

Feb. 3, 1959 c. r. nichols, jr„ etal 2,871,920

COMBINATION TABLE AND FOLDING CHAIR

Filed April 22, 1955 ⁴ Sheets-Sheet 3

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INVENTOR

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ATTORNEYC

C. R. NICHOLS, JR., ET AL 2,871,920

COMBINATION TABLE AND FOLDING CHAIR

Feb. 3, 1959

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2,871,920

Patented Feb. 3, 1959

United States Patent Office

2,871,920

COMBINATION TABLE AND FOLDING CHAIR Charles R. Nichols, Jr., and Joseph A. Arsenault, Gardner, Mass.

Application April 22,1955, Serial No. 503,068

Claims. (Cl. 155—123)

This invention relates to a combination table and folding chair assembly and particularly to improved chair mounting and folding mechanism.

The invention is primarily intended for incorporation into the table and folding chair assembly used for baby feeding and play units. In the present invention the chair is suspended within an opening in the top of the table and can be folded in such manner that the back of the chair fills the opening in the table top with the front surface of the chair back flush with the table top. Mechanism for accomplishing this and for maintaining the chair in either suspended or folded condition will be hereinafter described.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a table and folding chair assembly wherein the chair is suspended in an opening in the top of the table by novel mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel table and folding chair assembly wherein the chair is suspended in an opening in the table top and when folded bottom of the table top showing a modified seat support bar retaining arrangement;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation showing how the seat support bars are retained in folded condition in the Figure 10 embodiment;

Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the chair seat bottom according to a further embodiment of the invention wherein the pivots are on the end of a reenforcing strip;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of the support mechanism of the embodiment of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary front view of the step arrangement according to a further embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a table 10 comprises a substantially square frame 11 within which is secured a top 12 as by resting on a ledge 13 and fitting into a groove 14 all around the frame. Usually frame 11 is of wood and table top 12 is a rigid but thin sheet of wood or hard fibre board having a smooth level upper surface 15 painted a desired color. Usually the frame comprises four side boards nailed together.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a generally rectangular opening 16 is provided entering from the center of the back edge of the table top.

Referring to Figure 2, four legs 17 are provided at the table corners. Each leg is mounted on a pivot 18 between an L-shaped bracket 19 secured to one inside board of the frame and a pivot block 21 secured within the adjacent corner inside board of the frame, so that when the 30 legs are folded they lie within the confines of frame 11 and are held there by friction at pivot 18. When extended the legs 17 are held straight by latch pivot links 22. The two rear legs are shorter than the two front ... .... ... „ ,_____ legs, here by about an inch, so that when legs 17 are the front surface of the chair back lies within and sub- ³³ unfolded the table top 12 inclines slightwardly toward the stantially flush with the top surface of the table.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel chair folding assembly wherein pivotally connected back and seat panels are oppositely rocked through different angles when folding and unfolding.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel chair suspension and folding mechanism wherein the suspension linkage latches the folded chair seat and back panels in inoperative position.

It is a further object to provide a novel folding chair suspension wherein a support bar of the suspension functions as a latch element of the folded assembly.

A further object is to provide in a chair suspending and folding mechanism novel support bar latching mechanisms.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a table and chair assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the folded assembly of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary side elevations partly in section showing the unfolding of the chair from its Figure 1 position toward the position where the child may be seated;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing details of the chair supporting and holding linkage;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing the detachable foot rest panel; -

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the chair back panel;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view at the juncture of the suspension with the chair seat panel;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the rear for a purpose to be described.

A foldable chair assembly is suspended from the table within opening 16. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, two similar L-shaped brackets 23 extend along the underside 40 of table top 12 on opposite sides of opening 16. One arm 24 of each bracket is fixed to table top 12, as by rivets 25. The other arms 26 of the brackets are parallel and formed with elongated slots 27 having two identical spaced notches 28 and 29 toward the rear.

Pivoted at 31 to the front ends of bracket arms 26 are identical seat support bars 32, each formed with a notch 33 just below the pivot, and with two spaced notches 34 and 35 at their lower ends. As shown in Figure 2, bars 32 are formed with oppositely inclined sections 36 and 5θ below that with parallel foot rest support positions 37 in which notches 34 and 35 are located.

Above sections 36, each bar 32 is formed with an edge notch 38 and an opening 39, for a purpose to appear.

Forwardly of the front edge of opening 16 in the table top two U-shaped brackets 41 are secured to the underside of the table top as by rivets 42. Pivoted at 43 to the inner legs 44 of these brackets are generally parallel bars 45 each of which have an outwardly inclined section 46 adjacent the pivot 43 and is pivoted at its lower end on pivot stud 47 mounted in a bracket 48 fixed upon the underside of a chair seat panel 49.

Two rear hinges 51 connect seat panel 49 to a flat seat back panel 52. A rigid transverse metal bar 53 is secured across the rear side of back panel 52 as by rivets 54 and opposed integral lugs 55 project into slots 27 where they are slidably disposed. When lugs 55 are disposed in either notch pairs 28 or 29 they support the seat back 52 in two different angular inclinations to suit the comfort of the child.

Pivot studs 47 each have a shank portion 56 outwardly of bars 45 and an enlarged head 57, so that when the chair is in unfolded condition the notches 38 of bars 32

2,871,820 may fnctionally fit over stud shanks 56 (Figure 5) to help support the front edge of the seat panel.

Referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that outer leg 58 of each bracket 41 is formed on its inner side with a latching shoulder projection 59'above a' smooth camming surface 61, this projection and' surface formation preferably· being made by a simple stamping operation wherein the lower end of leg 58 is bent out and the'projection formed at the same time. As shown in Figure 6, each shoulder 59 is located substantially in line with the straight lower· section of the adjacent bar 45.

The purpose of notches 34, 35 is to detachably mount a foot rest panel 62 which (Figure 7) has spaced lugs 63 fitting into the notches. The panel 62 functions to hold the lower ends-of bars-32 rigidly together when the parts are in the Figure 5 position, but is removed from the assembly when the parts are being folded toward the Figure 2 position.

Referring to.Figures 1 and 2 wherein the chair unit is folded to provide a substantially continuous top for the table, the seat back panel 52 which is preferably of the same material and thickness as table top 12 and has its flat front surface 64 painted the same color as the surface 15 of top 12j lies within and substantially fills the opening 16 so that surfaces 15 and 64 are substantially continuous.

Figure 2 shows that in this condition of the parts, each stud 47 has its cylindrical shank 56 disposed in notch 33 of arm 32 and the short leverage arm between pivot 31 and notch 33 provides a strong holding force there. At its lower end each bar 32 seats on shoulder 59. As bar 32 is pivoted toward folded position it encounters surface 61 and cams in to slip under shoulder 59, this being permitted by the resiliency of long bar 32. It will further be noted that the inclined sections 46 of folded bars 45 underlie 35 the rear corners of chair seat panel 49 to provide a positive holding action there. Also in this position of the parts the lugs 55 are in the forward part of slots 27 (Figure 3).

. The major holding force which keeps the chair folded 40 in-the Figure 2 position is exerted by bars 32 in association with studs 47, and the shoulders 59 latch bars 32 to maintain that force.

In-placing the assembly in operative condition, the legs 17 are first folded down.

Referring now to Figures 3-5, the chair unfolding action is shown. The first step is to move the outer ends of bars .32 toward each other to clear shoulders 59 and then swing them downward. This permits studs 47 to leave notches 33, allows the seat panel 49 to swing coun- ⁵⁰terclockwise on hinges 51 (Figure 3) with bars 45 swinging counterclockwise about pivots 43. As shown in Figures 3-5, seat panel 49 swings through about 180° whereas bars 45 swing through about half that angle. _L

As the seat panel swings about hinges 51 and moves 55 slots 79 down with bars 45, the hinge connection at 51 starts displacement of the chair back panel 52 out of table top opening 16, panel 52 effectively pivoting clockwise on lugs 55 which may slide and rock in slot 27 to permit the unfolding of the chair panels.

It is preferable during the operation to maintain lugs 55 in the forward part of slots 27 while rocking panel 52, at the same time exerting rearward pressure on the part of panel 52 now projecting above the table top. When the parts approach the Figure 5 position, back 65 panel 52 is rocked about hinges 51 to locate lugs 55 in either notch set 28 or 29 according to the desired tilt and this holds the back panel in position particularly when the child’s weight is on the seat.

In the chair unfolded condition, bars 32 are rocked 70 down until notches 38 slip frictionally over stud shanks 56 so that the front edge of seat panel 49 is supported by the linkage bars 32 and 45. The chair unit is thus suspended from three points on the table, lugs 55 and pivots 31 and 43. Hue engagement of bar notches 38 and studs 75 .10 holds the entire chair unit against any further swinging about the pivots and the coaction of the bars 45 and 32 and seat back panel 52 provides a rigid well braced seat unit that once in the Figure 5 position undergoes no movement relative to the table top. The introduction of foot panel 62 further braces the chair assembly.

When it is desired to fold the chair assembly back into the Figure 2 position, the foot rest panel 62 is removed. Then arms 32 are swung upwardly to disengage them from studs 47, and the panels 49 and 52 are reversely swung oppositely to the foregoing described unfolding operation with lugs 55 leaving the notches 28 or 29 and sliding forwardly in slots 27 during such action. It is important to first disengage lugs 55 from the slot notches and slide the lugs forwardly in slots 27 before attempting to fold the seat panels to avoid binding the parts. Then the bars 32 with notches 33 engaged with studs 47 are latched behind shoulders 59 to maintain the assembly folded with surface 64 of back panel 52 which has moved up to fill opening 16 flush with and the same color as table top surface 15.

We have therefore provided a novel table and folding chair assembly wherein special suspension and holding linkage provides for opposite rocking of the chair seat and back panels during folding and unfolding and wherein the front surface of the seat back panel becomes when folded flush with the table top whereby only the front surface of the seat back panel need be painted.

The back rest panel 52 may be located to adequately position the child on the seat 49, and in the unfolded ^o0 assembly the table top 12 slopes back toward opening 16 so that spilled liquids and the like will gravitate toward the opening. The linkage is so disposed that the child cannot disconnect it when seated on the unfolded chair, , his weight on. the seat helping prevent such action, and ’ there are no joints in which the child’s fingers can be pinched.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, instead of having the separate brackets 41 of Figure 2 for retaining the seat support bars 32 in folded condition, those brackets are re¹ placed by a length of stiff metal strip 70 riveted or otherwise fixed to table top 12 as at 71. The outer ends of strip 70 are curved down and around to provide a generally U-shaped projection 73, one end being shown in Figure 11, and the bars 45 are here pivoted to the inner leg of this projection at 74. The free outer legs 75 of the projection 73 act as spring latches coacting with the folded up bars-32 to retain them up against the table top when the parts are in the Figure 2 position. Strip 70 also reenforces the table top and strengthens the assembly.

With reference to Figures 12 and 13, the brackets 48 and associated pivot studs 47 are replaced by a single length of metal strap 76 secured along the bottom of the chair seat panel as rivets 77 and having reduced integral pivot spurs 78 projecting at opposite ends through short ----- 79 in the lower ends of bars 45, and spurs 78 are also adapted to seat in notches 38 of bars 32 when the seat is in the Figure 5 condition. The slight lost motion permitted spurs 78 and slots 79 aids in permitting smooth folding of the linkage. Strap 76 rigidly reenforces the seat structure and since it is a substantial duplicate of the bar 53 these two parts require only a single inventory item and this reduces manufacturing costs.

In the embodiment of Figures 13 and 14 the lower ends of seat support bars 32 are tied together somewhat more firmly than in the earlier embodiment. Here a stiff metal plate 80 has right angled end flanges 81 which are bent inwardly at their lower ends to form a short horizontal section 82 and then downwardly to provide a pivot support section 83 on which the wooden step block 84 is pivoted at 85. At its upper end each flange 81 is provided with an inwardly projecting detent that fits with an aperture 87 in the associated seat support bar 32.

As shown in Figure 14 each bar 32 at its lower end passes between flange 81 and the end of block 84 and slidably passes through a slot 89 in the horizontal flange

2,871,920 section 82. The lower end of each bar 32 is slightly outwardly pre-bowed, because this has been found to provide an improved holding action between the detent and aperture arrangement at 86, 87 in the assembly.. The foot rest assembly braces the seat support bars in the assembly. The foot rest assembly is removable by squeezing the lower ends of bars 32 toward each other to displace the detents and then sliding it downwardly, but it need not be removed when folded since the block 84 may pivot out of the way.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.