US2084786A - Refectory table - Google Patents

Description

W. P. YOW

June 22, 1937.

REFECTORY TABLE Filed April 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 22, 1937. w. P. Yow 2,084,786

REFECTORY TABLE Filed April 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tion 5 below the main top I.

Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STAT mitt PT HQE REFECTORY TABLE Carolina Application April 18, 1935, Serial No. 17,083

10 Claims.

This invention relates to refectory tables and more particularly to tables of the type in which the main table top is rigidly secured to the table frame.

The end or extension sections of such a table are normally located below the main. top and are usually brought into operative position by sliding the end sections outwardly, lifting them into alinement with the main top, and then moving them inwardly a short distance to engage some form of supporting structure. Such constructions are open to the objection that an extension section may be inadvertently moved outwardly to clear the supporting structure, thus permitting it to drop below the level of the table top. Furthermore, there must be some substantial clearance to permit the lifting and inward movement of an extension into operative position, and these clearance spaces make it difficult, and more usually impossible, to provide a rigid sup port for the extension.

An object of this invention is to provide a refectory table construction which eliminates the stated objectionable features. An object is to provide a refectory table in which the extension end or end sections are rigidly supported in exact alinement with the main tab-1e top and are locked against accidental displacement. Further objects are to provide a refectory table having an extension top fixed to a pair of slides, and a cam device mounted on the end frame of the table for forcing the slides into firm engagement with the lower surface of the main table top.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary central section through one end of a table embodying the invention, the extension being shown in raised or operative position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the extension in position beneath the main table p;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections taken on lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Hg. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, as seen from below, of one of the extension slides.

In the drawings, the reference numeral l identifies the main table top which is rigidly secured to a frame comprising side rails 2 and end rails 3, the top being spaced from the side rails by strips 4 to provide space for stowing the extension sec- Only one end of the table is shown, but it is to be understood that the illustrated construction may be duplicated at the opposite end of the table. The end rail 3 and a cross-rail 6 have alined pairs of slots l for receiving the downwardly turned legs of angle bars 8 which constitute extension slides to which the top section 5 is secured by screws 9. Angle bar slides are preferred to wooden slides since they will not warp or shrink, and for the further advantage that the guide slots i may be economically formed in the ends rails by a single saw cut. The inner ends IE! of the slides 8 are bent at right angles to form stops which engage the inner face of cross rail 8 to limit the outward movement of the extension 5. Spring strips ii are welded to the slides 8 near their inner ends, the strips being of angular form and of such size and location as to engage the cross-rail 5 to force the slides 8 into firm engagement with the lower face of the main top I when the end section 5 is fully extended.

The end section is supported in raised position by a cam device which, as shown, preferably takes the form of a rod 12 of wide inverted U-shape which is pivotally mounted on the inner face of end rail 3 by brackets H3. The cam rod is actuated by a strap it which is slidably mounted on the top section 5 by a bracket IS, the outer end of the strap being turned down to form a handle it. The strap passes through an apertured plate ii that is welded to the cam rod l2, and its inner end is bent to approximately U-form. The outward leg l8 of the bent end is inclined to ride upwardly upon the plate l? when the strap i4 is drawn out, thus forcing the inner leg i9 upwardly to engage the face of the plate ii. The inclined portion 18 will exert pressure against the cam rod E2 to break the clamping engagement when the handle I5 is pushed in, and, when the cam rod is turned somewhat from the position shown in Fig. l, the strap l4 slides through plate IT. A bumper or guide strip 26 is fixed to the main top I to deflect the strap i4 downward if it should tend to ride over the'cross-rail ii. A recess 2! or other convenient means for grasping the extension 5 is provided at the lower face of this top section.

Assuming that the table is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, the extension 5 is brought in position as a portion of the table top by drawing out the extension until the stops E0 of slides 8 engage the cross-rails 6. The strap I4 is moved outwardly to some extent by this operation, and slides through the plate ll. This motion of the strap i4 is then continued by pulling upon the handle i5, thus carrying the strap end 89 into engagement with plate ii and turning the cam rod l2 upwardly to force the slides 3 firmly against the lower face of the main top i. It is not necessary to resort to a slight inward movement of the extension 5 to bring the top sections into close engagement as the extension 5 moves substantially vertically when the cam rod [2 forces the slides upwardly. If desired, the edge of the main top may be undercut slightly and the meeting edge of the extension correspondingly shaped for close engagement.

The extension is rigidly held in exact alinement with the main top section. There is no possibility of an inadvertent collapse of the extension as the handle it must be deliberately forced inwardly by a substantial amount before the inclined section I8 engages the cam rod E2 to release the slides from clamped engagement with the top l.

Although the Wooden portions of the table may warp or shrink, it is not necessary to provide special means to compensate for such changes. As shown in Fig. 1, the brackets E3 of the cam rod are preferably so positioned that the clamping engagement is obtained before the cam rod reaches vertical position. This provides some latitude for subsequent warping or shrinking of the end rails and does not affect the security of the locking of the extension 5 in raised position. The weight placed on the extension 5 has no tendency to release the cam rod l2, and the frictional engagement of rod 5 2 and slides 3 prevents accidental release of the cam rod.

It is to be noted that no damage will result if the handle it is drawn outwardly when the table is closed. Such outward movement is limited by shoulders M on strap M, see Fig. 2,

and therefore the strap cannot be moved to such an extent as to bring the end l9 into engagement with the cam rod I2, Fig. 3. It is therefore impossible to lock the extension in closed position.

While I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that many changes may be made in the design and relative location of the several parts without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a refectory table, a main top rigidly secured to and having an end portion spacedl above a frame, said frame including side rails and a slotted end rail, an extension normally positioned between said end section and said frame, slides secured to said extension and extending through the slots of said end rail to support said extension for sliding movement into position to aline with said main top, a cam rod pivotally mounted upon said frame, and operating means carried by said extension for actuating said cam rod to engage both slides to clamp the same against the lower face of said main top.

2. In a refectory table, a main top supported on a frame comprising side rails and an end rail, means spaced from the end rail and cooperating therewith to form slideways, a pair of slides in said slideways, an extension top secured to the outer ends of the slides, a rod of wide and inverted U-form pivoted on said frame for clamping said slides against said main top, and means carried by said extension for actuating said. rod.

3. In a refectory table, a supporting structure for an extension top, said structure comprising a pair of slides for carrying the extension, a cam rod of generally U-f'orm, means for pivotally supporting the ends of said cam rod upon the end rail of the table to engage both of said slides to force the same upwardly, and operating means for said cam rod.

4. In a refectory table, the combination with a main top secured to and having an end section spaced above a frame, and an extension top section normally positioned between said main top and said frame, of slides secured to said extension and guided by said frame, a cam rod having end portions pivoted upon said frame and a central portion movable into and out of position to clamp said slides against said main top, and means operable to move said cam rod into clamping position.

'5. A refectory table comprising a frame having side and end rails, a top secured to and having its end portions spaced above said frame, a crossrail spaced from one end rail, said cross-rail and adjacent end rail having alined slideways, a pair of slid-es movable in said slideways, an extension top secured to the outer ends of said slides, spring means for forcing the inner ends of said slides against said top when said extension is drawn out, cam means on said frame for forcing the intermediate portions of said slides against said top, and means for longitudinal sliding movement mounted on said extension for operating said cam means.

6. A table as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means is a cam rod of wide and inverted U form, and means pivotally mounting said cam rod on the end rail of the frame.

7. A refectory table of the type in which an extension is carried by slides mounted in the end rail of the table, and means for supporting the extension in alinement with the main table top, characterized by the fact that said supporting means comprises a cam rod of approximately U- shape having its end portions pivotally mounted on the table frame, and means carried by said extension for actuating said cam rod to clamp said slides against the main table top.

8. In a refectory table, a frame having side and end rails, a main top, an extension secured to slides movably mounted in an end rail, and means for clamping said slides to the main top when said extension is in outer position; said means comprising a cam rod pivoted on said frame for engagement with both of said slides, and a strap slidably carried by said extension and having a bent inner end for engagement with said cam rod.

9. A table as claimed in claim 8, wherein said clamping means includes an apertured plate secured to said cam rod, and said strap extends through said apertured plate and has an inclined section adjacent said bent inner end, said inclined section and bent end forming an approximately U-shaped end section for fitting about said cam rod.

16. In a refectory table, a frame having side rails and an end rail, a cross rail spaced from the end rail, a main top secured to said side rails and spaced above the several rails, a pair of slideways comprising alined saw kerf cuts extending downwardly from the upper surfaces of said end and cross rails, metal angle bars having the vertical legs thereof positioned in the respective slideways and the horizontal legs thereof slidable upon the upper surfaces of the cross and end rails, the inner ends of the vertical legs being bent over to form stops, for engaging the cross rail to limit outward movement of the angle bars, a top extension secured to said angle bars, means on said frame to support the top extension at the level of the main top when the top extension is moved outwardly for use, and springs secured to the horizontal legs of the angle bars adjacent the inner ends thereof for engagement with the top surface of said cross rail to force the said inner ends of the angle bars towards the main top.

WILLIAM P. vow.

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