US2996278A - Collapsible table and chair - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 15, 1961 E. lORlO COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND CHAIR Filed March 16, 1959 INVENTOR. ETTORE IOR-IO BY ATTO/PAZV United This invention relates to improvements in collapsible furniture and more particularly to folding chairs, tables, and the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a chair or table which is of simple construction and which can be readily folded to occupy a small space when not in use.

A further object is to provide a structure which facilitates collapsing and expanding the furniture.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair of FIG. 1 in upright expanded position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation in partially folded position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a link construction employed in the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of another chair illustrating a modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a slide member employed in the modification of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a chair 20 having a pair of crossed legs 22, 24 on each side. The crossed legs are pivotally held with respect to each other by rivets 26. To the top ends of legs 22 are pivotally secured the rear ends of seat brace bars 28 and to the parallel upright rear or back bars 30 by rivets 31. The bars 30 are formed into a flat rigid structure by crossbars '32 and 34 which connect bars 30 and by a longitudinally extending back plate 36. The upper and forward ends of legs 24 are pivotally engaged with the lower free ends of curved side arms 38 by crank pins 44. The upper ends of the arms 38 are pivotally attached to intermediate points on bars 30 by rivets 40. The doubly bent crank pins 44 serve to pivotally attach arms 38 and legs 24 to forward ends of seat brace bars 28 carrying seat slats 42.

Each crank pin 44, as best shown in FIG. 4, has a central shank 46 with two oppositely directed fingers 48 at opposite ends. The fingers have threaded ends 49 adapted to receive nuts 50 thereon.

Each pair of legs 22 and 24 are joined near their lower ends by brace bars 43, 45. A crossbar 52 is provided to support the seat brace bars 28 when the chair is in a set up condition, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. This crossbar is connected between the upper ends of legs 24.

To collapse the chair from its set-up position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the back of the chair is pivoted forwardly as clearly shown in FIG. 3. The seat braces 28 are lifted oif of crossbars 52 and are pivoted rearwardly on the crank .tates Patent 0 2 ,996,278 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 pins as indicated by arrow A. At the same time the legs are collapsed by spreading apart their upper and lower ends as indicated by arrows B. In the fully collapsed condition, the shank of each pin is disposed substantially parallel to the seat braces 28 with the forward ends of the braces disposed inwardly or rearwardly of the forward ends of arms 38. When the chair is set up, the shanks of the pins are substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 1, with the forward ends of the seat braces disposed ahead of the forward ends of the arms 38.

The crank pins 44 serve to facilitate opening and closing the collapsing and setting up of the chair and when the chair is set up these crank pins serve as locking means to prevent collapsing of the chair.

In FIGS. 5-7 is shown a modification of the invention in which the crossbar 52 is provided with two resilient slidably mounted lifts 54. Each of the lifts has a pair of steps 56 and 58 formed thereon. The lifts have openings 53 and can be moved along the bar 52 so as to hold the seat brace bars in two different elevated positions depending on whether the brace bars rest on the upper step 56 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or upon the lower step 58 of each lift.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

\A folding article of furniture, comprising two pairs of crossed legs, the legs of each pair being pivotally connected to each other at an intermediate point between their ends, a pair of brace bars disposed parallel to each other and pivotally secured at one end to an upper end of one leg of each pair of legs, a pair of crank pins, the upper end of each of the other legs of each pair of legs being pivotally secured to one end of each crank pin, the other end of each crank pin being pivotally engaged in the other end of each of the brace bars, said brace bars carrying a plurality of parallel slats, there being a crossbar connecting the upper ends of each of said other legs for supporting said brace bars thereon, said crossbar carrying a pair of slidable sleeve-like lifts for adjustably elevating said brace bars and slats, each of said lifts being a resilient member having an upper double stepped surface adapted to support said brace bars on one or another of said steps in different elevated positions with respect to the crossbar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 891,143 Burns June 16, 1908 1,339,262 Kade May 4, 1920 1,401,027 Adler Dec. 20, 1921 1,724,220 Puccia Aug. 13, 1929 1,979,562 Morgan Nov. 6, 1934 2,247,236 Johannsen June 24, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,587 Belgium May 15, 1951 1,082,689 France June 23, 1954

Images