US2468528A - Extension leaf table - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1949.

Filed July 12, 1946 J. C. L. VIEHMANN EXTENSION LEAF TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTO RN EY5 April 1949- J. c. L. VIEHMANN EXTENSION LEAF TABLE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1946 INVENTO R Jay/v 6'1. flaw/mm BYZ I ATTO RN EYS Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSION LEAF TABLE John C. L. Viehmann, Manhasset, N. Y. Application July 12, 1946, Serial No. 683,213

9 Claims.

My invention relates to an extension leaf table, and a means of constructing the same so as to achieve additional support for the extension leaves when they are in extended supportin position.

Extension leaf tables of the type here involved, that is to say, tables in which the extension leaves are mounted on the table so as to be housed beneath the fixed table top and extendable to a supporting position in abutting alignment with the tabletop, are well-known articles of manufacture and have proved exceedingly popular commercially. One of the prime difiiculties in constructing tables of this type has been the provision of suitable supporting means for the extension leaf when it is in its extended supporting position so that it will retain its alignment with the table top despite the application of weight thereto, either in the form cf articles supported thereby or the weight of people leaning thereon. Various methods have in the past been proposed to attain such support, but all of them are characterized by requiring relatively complicated structures which are both difficult to manufacture and extremely susceptible to damage.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a table construction in which positive and adequate support is provided for the extension leaf when it is in its extended supporting position,

which support is achieved by means of a simple structure which is at once both easy to manufacture and assemble and extremely sturdy.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a table in which the supporting means for the extension leaf simultaneously serves as its guiding means as the leaf is moved from its housed to its extended supporting position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a table construction in which the supporting and guiding means is so constructed and so coacts with the remainder of the table assembly that movement of the extension leaf from its housed to its extended supporting position is simply and positively achieved and controlled.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an extension leaf table as sought to be defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table having one extension leaf in its extended supporting position 2 and having the other extension leaf in its housed position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view of an end rail of the table showing the position of the extension leaf guiding and supporting means when the extension leaf is in its extended supporting position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the guiding and supporting means in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the end rail;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 except that the aperture in the end rail is provided at its lower surface with an anti-friction bearing;

Fig. 6 is a view of the table of Fig. 1 taken from underneath looking up; and

Fig. 7 is a view taken along the line 'l! of Fig. 6.

The table of my invention includes a fixed table top, generally designated A, beneath which is housed at least one extension leaf, generally designated B, which is movable from its housed position below the fixed tabletop A (right-hand leaf B of Fig. 1) to an extended supporting position in abutting alignment with the fixed table top A (left-hand extension leaf B of Figs. 1 and 7), in which latter position its upper surface, constitutes a substantially coplanar extension of the fixed tabletop A. The extension leaf B is guided in its motion between these two positions by at least one guiding and supporting means, here shown in the form of a slide bar, generally designated C, which is so shaped as to be slidable through an aperture D in an end rail E of the table.

The aperture D is formed with an upper constricted neck portion F which opens to the top of the end rail E and. a portion G of the slide bar C is so shaped as to be passable through the constricted neck portion F of the aperture D. This constricted portion G is so positioned on the slide bar C as to come into registration with the aperture D when the extension leaf is not in its extended supporting position, and preferably when the extension leaf B has been extended beyond its supporting position. That portion of the slide bar 0 which comes into registration with the orifice D when the extension leaf B is in its extendedsupporting position is of such a size as not to be passable through the constricted neck portion F of the aperture D. Consequently, once the extension leaf B has been raised above its housed position-which is accomplished by aligning the constricted body portion G of the slide bar C with the aperture D and in then raising the same cut of the aperture in which event the missing portion of the circle defines its constricted neck portion F. In so forming the aperture D, only a single boring or drilling operation is necessary to shape both the aperture D and the constricted neck portion F. Such an aperture D is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6.

For heavy duty, however, it may be found that the constricted neck portion F thus formed is insubstantial and the thin walls thereformed, particularly at its inner edges, may tend to become distorted, thus lessening the support afforded the extension leaf B. In such cases, the aperture D may be formed as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, where ilt assumes a keyhole shape in cross-section. More than one operation is necessary to form an aperture D of this shape and for that reason the previously described aperture shape is preferred where sufiicient support will be afforded thereby.

During the motion of the extension leaf B from its housed position to the position where the constricted body portion G of the slide bar comes within the aperture D, the slide bar C may carry the weight of the extension leaf B and may rest upon and slide over the bottom surface of the aperture D. In order to facilitate this sliding, the aperture illustrated in Fig. 5 is provided on its lower surface with a metal plate 34 within which is retained a plurality of ball bearings 36, thus defining an anti-friction bearing over which the slide bar C may slide, in this manner greatly facilitating the easeof manipulation of the extension leaf B.

By the construction as above described, I have formed an extension leaf table, the various elements of which may be manufactured and shaped in an exceedingly simple manner, these elements when assembled constituting a table of pleasing appearance which affords a maximum of support to the extension leaves B thereof when those leaves are in their extended supporting position. This support is provided at a point as close to the extension leaves B as it is possible to come and at the same time not have unsightly and dangerous projections from the table when the extension leaf B is in its housed position.

It will be apparent that many variations may be made in the details of construction of this table without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In an extension leaf table having a table body including an end rail, a table top, and supporting legs therefor, an extension leaf mounted on said table body so as to be movable to an extended supporting position in abutting alignment with the table top and to a contracted position under the table top, and a support for the extension leaf comprising a slide bar carrying said leaf and slidable in an aperture in said end rail, said aperture having a constricted neck portion open at the top of said rail and said slide bar having a constricted body portion extending from top to bottom thereof and completely passable through said constricted neck portion when the leaf is moved to an extended position in which said constricted body portion is in alignment with said neck portion, an unconstricted part of said slide bar larger than said neck portion resting on and being supported by the top of said rail on said constricted neck when the leaf is in abutting alignment with the table top.

2. In an extension leaf table having a table body including an end rail, a table top, and supporting legs therefor, an extension leaf mounted slidable in an aperture in said end rail, said aperture having a constricted neck portion open at the top of said rail, and said slide bar having a constricted body portion extending from top to bot- .tom thereof and completely passable through said constricted neck portion only when the leaf is moved to a position extended beyond its supporting position in which said constricted body portion is in alignment with said neck portion, an unconstricted part of said slide bar larger than said neck portion resting on and being supported by the top of said rail on said constricted neck when the leaf is in its supporting position in abutting alignment with the table top.

3. In an extension leaf table having a table body including an end rail, a table top, and sup porting legs therefor, an extension leaf mounted on said table body so as to be movable to an extended supporting position in abutting alignment with the table top and to a contracted position under the table top, and a support for the extension leaf comprlsing a slide bar carrying said leaf and slidable in an aperture in said end rail, said aperture having an anti-friction bearing on its lower surfaces and a constricted neck portion open at the top of said rail, and said slide bar being slidable over said anti-friction bearing and having a constricted body portion extending from top to bottom thereof and completely passable through said constricted neck portion only when the leaf is moved to a position extended beyond its supporting position in which said constricted body portion is in alignment with said neck portion, and unconstricted part of said slide bar larger than said neck portion resting on and being supported by the top of said rail on said constricted neck when the leaf is in its supporting position in abutting alignment with the table top.

4. The table of claim 3, in which said aperture is pf a keyhole shape in cross-section, said constricted neck portion of which extends to and is open at the top of said end rail and in which said slide bar is of a circular cross-section slightly less than that of the rounded part of said keyhole aperture except for a flattened portion of a width less than the width of said constricted neck portion, said flattened portion defining said constricted body portion.

5. The table of claim 3, in which said aperture is of a cross-section corresponding to a portion of a circle greater than a semi-circle but less than a full circle, the missing portion of the circle defining said constricted neck portion, and in which said slide bar comprises a metal tube of circular cross-section the diameter of which is less than the diameter of said aperture and greater than the width of said constricted neck portion, said constricted body portion of said slide bar having a width less than that of said constricted neck portion so as to be passable therethrough.

6. The table of claim 3, in which said aperture is of a keyhole shape in cross-section, said con stricted neck portion of which extends to and is open at th top of said end rail, and in which said slide bar is of a circular cross-section slightly less than that of the rounded part of said keyhole aperture except for a portion of a width less than the width of said constricted neck portion, said portion defining said constricted body portion, said slide bar carrying: a stop element which in cooperation with said table. been the extensibility of said. extension leaf to: position where the constricted portion of said barcomes into: registration. the con.- striated neck portion of said aperture.

'7. The table of claim 3:, in which the abutting surfacesv of. said extension leaf and said. table top are provided with interlocking portionssoshaped that the. said table top will; provide additional support for said. extension leaf when thetwo are in abutting alignment.

8'. In. an extension leaf table having a. table body including an end rail, a. tabletop, and sup porting legs therefor, an extension leafi on. said table body so as. to be movable. to; extended supporting position. in: abutting align-- ment with the table top and to a contracted position under the table top, and a support: for the extension leaf comprising a slide bar of generally circular cross-section carrying saidileai and slidable. in an aperture in said. end: said aperture having a constricted neck portion open at the top of said rail and: said slide bar having a flattened body; portion extending from; top to bottom. thereof and completelypassable through said: constricted neck portion when the leaf is moved to. an extended; position which said flattened body portion islin alignment with; said neck portion, an unfi'attened part of said slide bar larger than said neck portion resting on and being; supported by the top of said rail on said constricted neck: portion when the leaf is abutting, alignment withthe table top;

9;. In. an extension leaf table having a table body including an end rail, atable'top; and sup 8. porting-legs: therei'on an. extension. leaf mounted tm said table. body seas: to beimowable. to are extended supporting position abutting: alignment with the table top and: to a contracted position under the, tame top, and; a" support for the sio'n fear, comprising a slide-bar tire form. of a hollow metal tube of circular cross-section carrying; said least and. 'slidabie in an aperture in said end said aperture being. of. cmuia'r cross-section and having a. constricted. portion open,- at. the topoii said; andwsaid slide baihavmg; a flattained body portion extending from too tobottom. thereof and oompfetelypassithrough said constricted neck: :portion" when tl'releaiie'moveditoian extended position in which said flattened. body portion. is-

alienment wdtfi said neck: portion, an. un dattene'd part at said slide. bar" larger: than. said ne'clo portion resume on being-supported by thertonof sazidi r ioii said constricted. neckportion the lea i'is -in abutting alignment with the tameton.

REFERENCES (BITE!) The" following references are of record" in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES Number Name; l I

2301737 60 Lamnn Oct. 151. T935 Re=.19,'9'40' Creech- A191: 21", 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number com-lev Date 26 L064 Great 'B'ritain Mar; 1 0 4865614 oerman Nov. 1 9, 12

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