US3447488A - Collapsible clothes support and table - Google Patents

Description

. June 3, 1969 D. LEHRMAN COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES SUPPORT AND TABLE Sheet Filed July 5, 1967 mm Mn R WHW E L I w w fl Q M B 4 a y w 4 5 v z z 7 j a N M v n a Arron 5m D. LEHRMAN June 3, 1969 COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES SUPPORT AND TABLE Sheet Filed July 5, I967 viii/Illa ll/ll/Il I'IIIIII! ill lllll Ill/Ill'll/l/lll United States Patent 3,447,488 COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES SUPPORT AND TABLE David Lehrman, Cheltenham, Pa., assignor to The Ironees Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 5, 1967, Ser. No. 651,177 Int. Cl. A47b 41/04, 35/00, 37/04 U.S. Cl. 108-28 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus providing a clothes support and work table, and more particularly, to apparatus providing both a clothes support and work table collapsible to a compact portable unit.

Movable self-supported clothes supports, which provide a generally horizontal bar for the hanging of items of clothing, have been found exceedingly useful by housewives and others. Such apparatus is useful as an adjunct to the efiicient performance of household chores such as ironing, and provide a convenient means whereby newly ironed articles of clothing can be immediately hung to avoid wrinkling. Known apparatus, such as that shown in Patent 2,576,067 provided for a support as an attachment for an ironing board, and self-standing sup ports may be placed alongside an ironing board so that ironed items may be immediately hung.

It has been found that the utility of a self-standing clothes support can be greatly increased by providing, in association with the caddy, a horizontal table member upon which non-hangable items, or items preferably folded immediately upon ironing, may be temporarily stored. Examples of such items are folded shirts, sheets, pillow cases or the like. A table member may also provide a repository for items prior to ironing. Moreover, the utility of clothes supports can be greatly increased if they are vertically adjustable, although vertically adjusltable supports are not, per se, new. Thus housewives are presented the option of ironing in a standing or seated position, and in either case, can place the sup port at their fingertips. If also collapsible to a flat position, the support affords the added advantage of ease of storage.

The present invention is an apparatus which provides all of the foregoing advantages, as well as the vadded advantage of adaptability for :use as a self-standing support only, as a support and work table, or as a self-supported work table only. Moreover, the work table of the apparatus can be moved to desired positions about the support without movement of the support itself.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus providing both a clothes support and work table.

It is another object of this invention to provide a selfstanding apparatus including a clothes support and work table.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus including a clothes support and work table which is collapsible to a flat position for storage.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an 3,447,488 Patented June 3, 1969 apparatus including a table movable to selected horizontal positions about the clothes support.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which can be used as a clothes support alone, as a clothes support and associated work table, or as a work table alone.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The foregoing and other objects may be achieved by an apparatus which in a preferred embodiment includes a base, an upright member coupled to the base, a horizontal arm secured to an upper portion of the upright member, and a table member pivotably secured to a medial portion of the upright member for pivoting thereabout.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is -a perspective view showing an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention showing in phantom various positions of the table.

FIGURE 3 is a side view, showing the apparatus in collapsed position for storage.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is seen in FIGURE 1 an apparatus designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus includes a base 12, which includes anti-friction means 14 for contacting a support surface. The anti-friction means 14 may take the form of caster wheels. Suflicient numbers of the antifriction means 14 are provided to make a stable support platform. An upright member designated generally by the reference numeral 16 is coupled to the base 12. The upright member 16 includes in a preferred embodiment telescoping segments 18 and 20. Pivotably secured to an upper end of the segment 20 is a notched valet arm 22.

A work table designated generally by the reference numeral 24 is coupled to the segment 18 of the upright member 16. The Work table 24 includes a flat and generally horizont-al table member 26. A hinge, to be more fully described later, secures one edge of the table member 26 to the segment 18. Pivoted to the table member 26 in the illustrated embodiment are depending leg members 28 and 30. The leg members 28 and 30 may be interconnected by tie rods, such as the rod 32, to form a pivotable leg unit. Collapsible braces 34 may be provided for the leg members 28 and 30, and the leg members are provided at their lower ends with an antifriction means 36, preferably caster wheels.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an exemplary arrangement whereby the upright member 16 can be made adjustable as to height. In FIGURE 4, the segments 18 and 20 are concentric tubular elements of circular cross-section. The segment 18 is provided with a series of vertically spaced detent openings 38. A flat spring member 42 is disposed within the segment 20, with its ends abutting the inside wall. A locking finger 44 is secured to a medial portion of the fiat spring member 42, and extends through a clearance opening 40- in the segment 30. In FIGURE 4, wherein the upright member 16 is locked in one of its selected positions, the locking finger 44 extends through the clearance opening 40 and a selected detent opening 38. Should it be desired to lengthen or shorten the upright member 16, pressure is placed on the rounded end of the locking finger 44 to remove it from the detent opening 38 and the segment 20 moved to its desired position. The flat spring member 42 will then urge the locking finger 44 through the proper detent opening to lock the segment against further relative movement.

As is evident from FIGURE 2, the work table 24 in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is rotatable for a full 360 about the upright member 16. A user of the apparatus can therefore position the clothes caddy defined by the base 12, upright member 16 and valet arm 22 as desired, and then rotate the work table 24 to the most convenient position. The saving in time and motion obtained by the user is self evident.

FIGURES and 6 illustrate a preferred arrangement whereby the work table 24 is pivotably coupled to the upright member 16. As seen in FIGURE 5, the segment 18 of the upright member 16 is of circular cross-section, and accordingly its outer diameter provides a pivot about which the work table 24 may rotate. A collar 46 encircles the segment 18 and is secured to the segment 18 at a fixed vertical position. It will be understood that the collar 46 may be a screw-operated split collar or the like, or a continuous collar permanently secured to the segment 18. The collar 48, which is secured to the table member 26 in a manner which will be described, rests on the collar 46, and is blocked by the collar 46 from downward movement. Thus, the collars 46 and 48 define hinge means coupling the table member 26 to the upright member 16 for movement in a horizontal plane. The anti-friction means 36 at the lower ends of the leg members 28 and 30 aid selective movement of the work table 24.

An important aspect of the present invention is the manner in which it is foldable to the exceedingly fiat configuration as shown in FIGURE 3. To this end, the valet arm 22 is provided with clevis 50. The pivot pin 52 joins the clevis 50 to an upper end of the segment 20. Thus, referring again to FIGURE 1, the valet arm 22 is movable from an operative position wherein it is disposed at right angles to the upright member 16, and generally horizontally, to a folded position seen in phantom in FIGURE 1 wherein it is disposed generally parallel to the segment 20 of the upright member 16. Obviously, means other than the clevis 50 and pivot pin 52 can be used to accomplish folding of the valet arm 22.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, there is seen an exemplary structure by which the work table 24 is coupled to the upright member 16 for movement between its generally horizontal operative position and a folded position parallel to the upright member 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the table member 26 is a relatively thin member constructed of Masonite, Formica or the like. The table member 26 is provided with an edge reinforcing member 54 of hollow tubular material. The edge reinforcing member 54 has a circular cross-section. Rigidly secured to the collar 48 by a weldment 56 is a cylindrical journal member 58, the outer diameter of which is complemental to the inner diameter of the edge reinforcing member 54. The journal member 58, as is evident from FIGURE 5, bridges a gap between opposing ends of the edge reinforcing member, and rests in the respective ends. Thus, the work table 24 is free to pivot about the axis provided by the journal member 58 to a position generally parallel with the upright member 16.

The manner in which the upright member 16 is coupled to the base 12 is best seen in FIGURES l and 3. The base 12 is provided with a clevis 60 and a pivot pin 62. The pivot pin 62 provides a generally horizontal axis to which the segment 18 of the upright member 16 is pivoted. Links 64 and 66, pivoted together at adjacent ends, and pivoted at their distal ends to the base 12 and segment 18 along horizontal axes, provide additional support for the up right member 16, as Well as means whereby the upright member may be locked in its operative position. A limit stop 68 and detent 70 may also be provided on the links to ensure positive locking of the upright member 16. The

structure may be further rigidified by laterally extending radius rods 72, pivoted to the segment 18 on the common horizontal pivot 74 best seen in FIGURE 3. The radius rods 72 may be provided at their distal ends with keyhole slots, not shown on the drawings, for engagement with flanged anchor posts 76 on the base 12. Thus, the upright member 16 may be rigidly held in upright disposition with respect to the base 12.

The flexibility and versatility of the present apparatus is now believed readily apparent. Thus, the apparatus can be used in any of three selected modes. Starting from the folded position, if only the utility afforded by a clothes caddy is desired, the upright member 16 can be rotated about the pivot pin 62 to its upright position, the segment 20 withdrawn from the segment 18 to provide the necessary height of the upright member, and the valet arm 22 rotated to its horizontal position. The Work table 24 may be left in its folded position parallel to the upright member 16. If only the work table is required, the upright member 16 may be unfolded as before, the work table 24 rotated to its generally horizontal position, and the leg members 28 and 30 from their folded positions in alignment with the work table to the downwardly extending position. The segment 20 may be left telescoped within the segment 18 to its fullest extent, and the valet arm 22 left in its folded position parallel to the upright member. In such position, the apparatus provides a table, rotatable to any desired horizontal position as in FIGURE 2. Although the illustrated embodiment incorporates the depending leg members 28 and 30, it should be understood that the applicants invention is not limited in this regard. Thus, a cantilever structure, without leg members 28 and 30, could also be used. In such a construction, any well-known lockable hinge could be used between the edge reinforcing member 54 and the collar 46. In its simpliest form such a hinge could take the form of a set screw between the edge reinforcing member 54 and the journal member 58. Finally, the apparatus may provide both a clothes caddy and a work table, as seen in FIG- URE 1. In this mode of operation, the apparatus would be unfolded as to provide the work table, and then the segment 20 would be extended with respect to the segment 18 as desired. Also, the valet arm 22 would be rotated to its generally horizontal position. It should be evident, therefore, that the simplicity and versatility of the present apparatus should be a clear advance in the art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific form's without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

I claim:

1. An appanatus providing a clothes support and table comprising a base member for contact with a support surface, an upright member coupled to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said upright memher being pivotably secured to said base member for pivoting between an operative position wherein it extends upwardly from said base member and a folded position wherein it is disposed generally parallel to said base member, a generally horizontally extending arm coupled to said upright member adjacent an upper end of said upright member, said arm being pivotably secured to said upright member for pivoting between a generally horizontal operative position and a folded position generally parallel to said upright member, a planar table member, hinge means pivotably coupling said table member to a medial portion of said upright member for pivoting in a generally horizontal plane to selected positions about said upright member, said hinge means including means for supporting said table member in a predetermined vertical position with respect to said upright member, and said table member being pivotably secured to said hinge means for pivoting between a generally horizontal operative position and a folded position generally parallel to said upright member.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said upright member comprising a pair of telescoping sections, said arm being coupled to one of said sections and said t-able member being coupled to the other, and means interengaging said sections for permitting selective adjustment of the height of said upright member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and leg means coupled to said table member and normally depending therefrom for contact with the support surface, said leg means being spaced from said upright member.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hinge means comprises a first collar coupled to said upright member, a second collar coupled to said table member, said upright member having a generally circular cross-section, and said second collar encircling said upright member above said first collar.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said base member and said leg means are provided .with rolling anti-friction means whereby said apparatus may be readily moved relative to said support surface and said table member readily rotated about said hinge means.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and a journal member fixed to said second collar, and means on said table member in sliding engagement with said journal member whereby said table member is pivotably secured to said hinge means.

7. An apparatus providing a clothes support and table, comprising a base member for contact with a support surface, an upright member coupled to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said upright member being pivotably secured to said base member for pivoting between an operative position wherein it extends upwardly from said base member and a folded position wherein it is disposed generally parallel to said base member, a generally horizontally extending arm coupled to said upright member adjacent an upper end of said up right member, said arm being pivotably secured to said upright member for pivoting between a generally horizontal operative position and a folded position generally parallel to said upright member, a planar table member, hinge means pivotably coupling said table member to a medial portion of said upright member for pivoting in a generally horizontal plane to selected positions about said upright member, said hinge means including means for supporting said table member in a predetermined vertical position with respect to said upright member, and leg means coupled to said table member and normally depending therefrom for contact with the support surface, said leg means being spaced from said upright member, said table member being pivotably secured to said hinge means for pivoting between a generally horizontal operative position and a folded position generally parallel to said upright member, said leg means being pivotably coupled to said table member for folding to a position generally parallel to said table member when said table member is in its folded position.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said base member and said leg means are provided with rolling anti-friction means whereby said apparatus may be readily moved relative to said support surface and said table member readily rotated about said hinge means, said hinge means comprising a first collar secured to said upright member, a second collar coupled to said table member, said upright member having a generally circular cross-section, and said second collar encircling said upright member above said first collar, and said upright member comprising a pair of telescoping sections, said arm being coupled to one of said sections and said table member being coupled to the other, and means interengaging said sections for permitting selective adjustment of the height of said upright member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,062 2/ 1950 Greenberg 108-50XR 2,675,926 4/1954 Simjian 211-123 XR 2,677,518 5/1954 Happy et al. 211-178 XR 2,743,146 4/1956 Wheeler 108-50 2,988,413 6/1961 Bergen 108-50 XR 3,071,253 1/1963 Walsh et al. 211-178 3,168,329 2/1965 Goldschmidt 211-178 XR BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 108-50; 211-178

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