US3515077A - Slide assembly for extendable tables - Google Patents

Description

June Z, 1970 M. P. GLOWACKI SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDABLE TABLES 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l2, 1967 I5 IOb lOd 4 I5 IIb 5 3 Inventor June 2, 1970 M. P. GLowAcKI 3,515,077

y SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDABLE TABLES Filed June l2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

. FIG 4 I@ 'l z8 :Ph FEO? f n2 2| FlG. 62022 25 27 30a 30 27 25 4 350' 7 7, K 29u 23 7 \28\ 32 2(7 25 f k y` f v E ob E 27 0* 26 25 -Y Y 5'. 32 29 23 30C3o 2e 29@ 25 Inventor E N Mofrhew P. Glowocki By @MQW Attorney United States Patent O 3,515,077 SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDABLE TABLES Matthew P. Glowacki, 4447 N. Kenton, Chicago, Ill. 60630 Filed .lune 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,218 Int. Cl. A47b 1/02 U.S. Cl. S-89 16 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A slide assembly for an extendable table including a -pair of slide structures for allowing table portions to be separated from one another for placement of a table leaf between the table portions, each structure being a pair of inter-mating relatively sliding units, and lock means holding the units in locked non-slideable engagement with one another and whereby guide aligner means are provided on the table and leaf portions to intercouple the portions in correctly aligned relation with one another whereby each guide aligner means includes a pair of elements mounted on respective portions, the first mating element having a flat plate with corrugated lug portions for complemental alignment with a vertically extending slotted portion of the other mating element or the slide aligner means may comprise a pair of identically extruded and punched plate tab means, one of which is rotated 180 relative to the other for complemental interlocking with one another.

This invention relates to an improvement in slide assemblies for table and leaf portions attendant to increasing and decreasing the length of a table and in particular relates to a unique slide assembly which provides for intermating parts held together by fastening means which tend to separate each slide unit of the assembly from the other and wherein each slide element is provided with abutment means spaced longitudinally from one another to limit longitudinal movement of one slide unit with respect to the other and further comprehends guide means which permit the table leaf portions and the table portions to be properly aligned and nestle against one another. The invention, therefore, has for its objects, purposes and advantages the unique features o-f providing for a slide assembly comprising a pair of elements mounted on the under side of a pair of table portions for allowing movement of one table portion away from the other wherein the lower depending portion of each slide element has interm-ating portions provided with fastening means for urging the portions away from one another to allow for the engagement of one slide element with the other to prevent longitudinal movement of one element relative to the other and wherein there is provided separate guide and aligning means in the form of a pair of intermating guide and aligning elements which prevent horizontal movements of either the table portions or leaf portions relative to one another by .fastening the guide and aligner elements on the underside of the respective table and leaf portions, each of the guide and aligning elements having frictional engagement with the other whereby the guide and aligning means are permitted to have iiush engagement with the underside surface of the table and leaf portions.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extendable table including table and leaf portions for receiving the novel slide assembly and guide and aligning means;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

3,515,077. Patented June 2, 1970 flee FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of IFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken from the underside of the table and illustrating the novel guide and aligning means;

FIG. 7 is a sectional -view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. y6;

lFIG. 8 is a partial view of a modied form of the guide and aligning means on the underside of the table portion when the table is in the open position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a guide and aligning means in the table portion in the closed table position; and

FIG. 10 is a section taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFICATIONS With reference to the drawings and in particular with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5 there is shown an extendable type of table 1 having a top 2 mounted on a frame section 2a and 2b and having legs 3. The table top 2 is provided with table top sections or portions 4 and 5 which are interconnected with one another by extendable table slide assemblies 6 and 7 which are identical to one another and provide an opening for receiving the removable table top leaf portion or section 9. Each table slide assembly 6 and 7 has a pair of elongated slide plate structures 10 and 11 which extend longitudinally of the table, the slide plate structure 10- being connected to the table portion 4 and the slide plate structure 11 being connected to the table portion 5. The elongated slide plate structure 10 comprises a horizontally extending plate portion comprising a downturned end portion 10a, central ilap portion 10b and corner portion 10c which is connected to a depending downwardly vertically extending portion comprising vertical arm portion 10b connected to corner portion 10c and corner portion 10e connected to a horizontal portion 10f and having a junction portion 10g connecting with a bowed portion 10h which has a corner portion 10i connecting with a at horizontal portion 10]'. The slide element 10- is connected to the table portion 5 by the screw 14e which extends through an opening 15a in the raised protuberance or dimple 15. The slide element 11 is provided with a flat portion having a downturned end portion 11a, a central horizontal portion 11b and a corner section 11C which is connected to a downwardly extending portion 11d which lies against the portion 10b as does the corner portion 11e against the corner portion 10e and seats against the corner portion 10g and an outwardly bowed portion 11h is aligned with outwardly bowed portion 10h and provides a space 13 therebetween, the rounded lower portion 11i connecting the bowed portion 11hr with the corner portion 11j resting against the corner portion 11i and the horizontal at portion 11k slidingly mating with the end of 10j lying adjacent in upturned vertical ilange or on 11l connecting with 11k. The portions 10b through 10i generally project outwardly in the form of a bowed protuberance to complementally align themselves inwardly in the recessed portion formed by the portion 11]c through 11k. Normally the protuberance of the element 10 can slide relative to the recessed portion of the element 11 unless the screw lock or fastening means 12 has its threaded stem portion 11b, as turned by its wing portion 12a, extend through its journal portion 12c and into and against the concave side of the outwardly bowed portion 10h to force the element 10 to have its horizontal arm 10j, which has its end butting against upright iiange 111, to press the two elements 10 and 11 close together to prevent any relative reciprocal or sliding movement of one element with respect to the other. Thus -it is seen that the respective inter-embracing C-shaped portions of elements 10 and 11 that hang from their respective depending arm portions provide snug engagement between the elements 10 and 11 from a reciprocally sliding motion to a fixed relation by adjustment of the screw means 12 in its extension in the opening 13, the male and female parts of elements 10 and 11 in the C-shaped zones extending the entire length and being provided with limit or stop means 16, 17 and 18 to prevent separation of element 10 from element 11. The limit or stop member 16 is punched out of the belly or bowed portion 10h toward one of the element 10,v as viewed in FIG. 3, and projects outwardly as seen in FIG. for engagement with the edge 19 of the element 17 The element 11 carries towards its left end punched in U-shaped element 17 in the belly or bowed zone of bowed portion 11h which abuts or engages punched Vout protuberance or element 18 in the bowed portion 10h of the element and to the right of element 17 as viewed in FIG. 4. Thus the longitudinal motion of one element with respect to the other is limited and the elements 11 and 10 are prevented from separation from each other.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 there is provided guide and aligner means 20 which are disposed on the table and leaf portions apart from the extendable table slide assemblies 6 and 7. The guide means 20 includes a guide structure 21 which may be mounted on the undertable portion 4 or table leaf 9 and guide structure 22 which is mounted on the underside of table portion 5 or a leaf 9, each guide structure 21 and 22 being coupleable with one another as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The guide structure 21 is in the form of a plate having an inner plate flat portion 24 being provided with a pair of screw receiving means in the form of a protuberance that projects downwardly from the table in the form of round dimple- like structures 25, 25 provided with screw receiving holes 26, 26 for receiving therethorugh threaded screws 27, 27 which hold the plate portion 24 to the underside of the table or leaf portion. The plate 23 is further provided with a downwardly projecting plate vertical portion 28 connected to a lower flat portion 29 to define with portions 28 and 2-4 a generally Z-shaped plate 23. The plate portions 28 and 29 have punched thereout a pair of protuberances or elongated- like dimples 30, 30 each comprising an upright vertical portion 30a and a horizontal portion 30b in the portions 28 and 29 respectively. Each dimple 30 has a tapered portion 30C flanked by plate taper portions 29a, 29a of the plate portion. The complemental guiding structure 22 has a at plate portion 31 suspending a vertical plate portion 32 provided with a rectangular slot 33 to receive the pron-ged portion 29 of the aligner element 21. The tapered edges 29a, 29a of the pronged portion 29 guide the prong 29 which has a vertical extent approximate the vertical extent of the slot 33, through the slot 33. The tapered edges 30C, 30o of the dimples 30, 30 guide the dimples through the slot 31 and provide for a frictional engagement between the upper and lower walls of the slot 33. As particularly noticed in FIG. 7, the dished out portions or dimples 25 provide for a cavity between the aligner plate portions and the table portions or leaf portions to allow wood from the table or leaf portions to ll into the cavity as defined by the bell or dishedout portions 25 permitting the flats 23 and 31 of the respective elements 21 and 22 to be flush against the underside of the table portions 4 and 5 or the leaf portions 9- In FIGS. 8 through 10 there is shown a modified form of the aligner means as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, namely modified guide and aligning means 35 being provided with aligner and guide plates 36, 36. Each guide plate 36, 36' is identical to the other except that the guide plate 36 has been rotated 180 relative to the guide plate 36 to allow for their complemental interlocking engagement as shown in FIG. 9 and in FIG. 10. This identical construction is 4 easily noticed from reference to FIG. 8 and where like parts exist on the corresponding guide plate 36 or 36 they have been distinguished from one another by using a prime symbol. Each guide plate structure 36 or 36 has been punched or pressed out and comprises respective plate slots 37 and 37 having respective slot edges 37a, 37b and 37'a and 37b. These plate slots 37 and 37 divide each of the guide plates 36 and 36 into respective tabs 38 and 38 and 39 and 39', each having respective outer surfaces 38a and 38'a and inner surfaces 39a and 39a. Each guide plate 36 and 36' is provided with a pair of dimples or protuberances 40 and 40 complemental in structure to the protu-berance 25 of the earlier modification for storage of excess wood to permit flush engagement of the plates 36 and 36 against the underside of the table portions or leaf portions. The inner part of each tab 39 and 39 is provided with an upturned edge portion 42 or 42 for guiding the plates 36 and 36 into intercoupling relation. Each of the plates 36 and 36 is provided With a ' back plate portion 45 and 45 which carries the dimples or punched protuberances 40 and 40. It is thus seen in FIG. 8 that the separated plates 36 and 36 may be brought together as shown in FIG. 9 such that the tab portion 38 rides under and engages the tab portion 39a that has the upturned portion 42' and that the upturned tab portion 39a glides over and engages over the plate portion 38a as shown also in FIG. 10. Tapers 43 and 43', 44 and 44 on the respective plates 36 and 36 enable careful guiding interlocking relation between the plates 36 and 36 as their respective plate slots 37 and 37 cooperate for such careful intercouplin-g and sliding engagement alignment of the portions of said plates 36 and 36. The crimps 41 and 41 allow overlapping of the tab portions of the respective plates 36 and 36. Thus these plates are identical to one another but merely rotate to face one another and provide for accurate, simple and complete guiding aligning and inter-engaging or vcoupling with one another to permit proper alignment of the table portions 4 and 5 and the leaf portion or portions 9. It is to be noted that each of the punched-out separable protuberances or dimple-like structures 15 which receive the screws 14 for fastening the elements 10 and 11 to the table vary in elevation, the highest crowned dimple 15 being such to be as close to the end of the table or table portion it is secured to to permit the table edge portions that face one another to be deected upwardly so that when they are moved in adjacent relation to one another or when a leaf is placed between these table portions 4 and 5 any sagging of the table portion 4 with respect to the table portion 5 will be overcome by the fact that they are toed upward by the gradually increasing protuberances 15 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

It is thus seen that the invention provides for a table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions. The sliding assembly comprises a pair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements 10 and 11. Each slide element is longitudinally slidable relative to the other. One slide element 10 has a protruding mating portion (10j, 10g, 10h, and 10i), the other slide element 11 has a recessed mating portion (11e, 11j, 11g, 11h, 11i, 11j, 11k, and 111). The protruding portion is nestled within the recessed portion. Lateral movement limiting means are provided and include a pair of laterally opposed stops 10i and 11 'wherein one slide element portion has its stop 11l overlapping the stop 10]l of the other slide element portion. Laterally moveable means or spreader in the form of screw means 12 laterally move the mating portions 10 and 11 deflectingly away to cause stop 11! and 10j to engage one another to prevent longitudinal movement of one element 10 with respect to the other element 11.

The table arrangement is also provided with guide and aligner means which include a pair of aligner elements such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 or in alternate modication shown in FIGS. 8 through 10. The aligner elements of FIGS. 6 and 7 include a flat plate 21 having an elevated prong receivable in upright slotted plate 20. The modification shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 shows two identical aligner elements 36 and 36' one of which has been rotated 180 with respect to the other to present ilat and upturned portions opposing each other, the npturned portion being in the form of a prong to t over the at portion of the other aligner element.

What is claimed is:

1. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each being adapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide element being longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide element harving a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending protruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed mating portion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within said recessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideably guidable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateral movement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spaced apart lateral stops, one lateral stop vbeing constrained for lateral movement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop being constrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, one slide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of the other slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructing movement of one slide element relative to the other slide element to move one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinal reciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, and laterally movable means operatively associated with each of the mating portions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away from one another and said stops into engagement with one another, said recessed mating portion being generally an elongated U-shaped channel and said protruding mating portion being generally a U-shaped channel nestled in the U-shaped channel recessed mating portion, and one lateral stop being a free end leg ange of the U-shaped channel of the protruding mating portion and the other lateral stop being a flange connecting with a free end leg of the U-shaped channel of the recessed mating portion overlapping and spaced from the leg of the protruding mating portion.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and the lateral stop flange of the recessed mating portion being an uptumed end part thereof.

3. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each being adapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide element being longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending protruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed mating portion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within said recessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideably guideable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateral movement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spaced apart lateral stops, one lateral stop being constrained for lateral movement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop being constrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, one slide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of the other slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructing movement of one slide element relative to the other slide element to move one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinal reciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, and laterally movable means operatively associated with each of the mating portions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away from one another and said stops into engagement with one another, and said laterally movable means comprising a spreader element carried by one mating portion and engageable with the other mating portion for deflecting the other mating portion away from the one mating portion in moving the stop of the other mating portion into engagement with the stop of the mating portion to prevent relative longitudinal movement between each slide element, and said spreader element being screw means threadable through one mating portion and abutting the other mating portion.

4. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each being adapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide element being longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending protruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed mating portion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within said recessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideably guideable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateral movement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spaced apart lateral stops, one lateral stop being constrained for lateral movement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop being constrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, one slide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of the other slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructing movement of one slide element relative to the other slide element to move one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinal reciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, and laterally movable means operatively associated with each of the mating portions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away from one another and said stops into engagement with one another, and each mating portion having a part spaced apart from the other part to define a mating spreader space and said lateral movable means comprising a spreader element receivable in said space and cooperatively engageable with the mating portion parts for their detlecting separation from one another.

5. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each being adapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide element being longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending protruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed mating portion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within said recessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideably guideable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateral movement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spaced apart lateral stops, one lateral stop being constrained for lateral movement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop being constrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, one slide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of the other slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructing movement of one slide element relative to the other slide element to move one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinal reciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, and laterally movable means operatively associated with each of the mating portions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away from one another, and table portion guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the underside portions of opposed table edge portions attendant to in-line linking of the table portions,

said aligner means comprising a pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a generally fiat sided portion for engaging fiush with the respective underside table edge portion and fastening means for attaching said fiat sided portion to the underside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having prong connecting with the fiat sided portion and being spaced vertically away from the fiat sided portion, the other aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prong engaging surface for slideably receiving said prong in snug frictional engagement and holding said prong away from the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with the other, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral and elevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperative with the side elements to present a flush aligned table.

6. The invention according to claim and said fastening means including an embossment apertured to receive a table portion receiving fastener and having an away from table outwardly bowed portion to define a table material receiving dimple cavity attendant to entry of the fastener in the table portion to provide for iiush engagement of the flat sided portion with the underside table edge portion.

7. The invention according to claim S and said prong being provided with embossment means and said prong receiving part having a recessed part connecting with the fiat sided portion and spaced outwardly therefrom, the recessed portion defining said prong engaging surface and a second prong engaging surface to define a prong receiving slot, said second surface frictionally receiving said embossment means during clutching to prevent vertical movement of one aligner element relative to the other.

8. The invention according to claim 5 and said prong and a prong receiving part being in side by side relation and Idening a slot separating one another, each prong and part being connected with the fiat sided portion, the prong of the one element facing the prong receiving part of the other element and the prong of the other element facing the prong receiving .part of the one element in their assembled positions, each prong being stepped outwardly of its adjacent prong receiving part to slide over its opposed prong receiving part on the other aligner element for frictional clasping engagement of prong of the one element with the prong engaging surface of the prong receiving part of the other element.

9. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising a pair of intermating longitudinally extending slide elements including a first slide element adapted for connection with one table portion, said first slide element including a depending table element portion having a laterally extending protruding Imating portion including a stop flange, a second table slide element adapted for connection to the other table portion and slideably connected with the first slide element and including a downwardly extending depending portion having a laterally extending recessed mating portion having a stop flange adjacent the other stop flange, said protruding mating portion having an inwardly bowed section, and said recessed portion having an inwardly bowed section, each of the inwardly bowed sections defining therebetween a laterally extending spreader receiving space, and a spreader element having a portion thereof laterally eX- tendable in said space and cooperatively engageable with each of the bowed portions for urging each stop fiange into engagement with the other attendant to limiting sliding movement between each of the slide elements, and the bowed portion of the protruding mating portion having a longitudinally limiting slide end stop adapted for complemental engagement with the edge bowed portion of the recessed mating portion, and said bowed portion of the protruding mating portion having a pair of longi- -tudinally limiting slide stops spaced longitudinally apart from one another and extending into said space and said bowed portion of said recessed mating portion having a longitudinally limiting stop means extending into the space intermediate the stops for engagement with each longitudinally limiting stop of the protruding mating portion whereby the longitudinal limiting stops cooperate with the longitudinally limiting stop means to limit relative longitudinal motion in either direction of the one slide element relative to the other slide element.

10. Guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the underside portions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendant to in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprising a pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a fiat sided portion for engaging flush with the respective underside table edge portion and fastening means for attaching said fiat sided portion to the underside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having a prong connecting with the flat-sided .portion and being spaced vertically away from the fiat-sided portion, the other aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prong engaging surface for sli-deably receiving said prong in snug friction engagement and holding said prong away from the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with the other, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral and elevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present a flush aligned table, said prong being provided with embossment means and said prong receiving part having an apertured portion connecting with the fiat-sided portion and spaced outwardly therefrom, the apertured portion defining said prong engaging surface and a second prong engaging surface to define a prong receiving slot, said second surface frictionally receiving said embossment means during clutching to prevent vertical movement of one aligner element relative to the other, and said apertured portion having side portions defining said slot for limiting lateral movement of said aligner elements during clutching.

11. Guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the underside portions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendant to in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprising a pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a fiat-sided portion for engaging fiush with the respective underside table edge portion and fastening means for attaching said fiat-sided portion to the underside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having a prong connecting with the fiatsided portion and being spaced vertically away from the flat-sided portion, the other aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prong engaging surface for slideably receiving said prong in snug frictional engagement and holding said prong away from the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with the other, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral and elevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present a flush aligned table, said prong being provided with embossment means and said prong receiving part having an apertured portion connecting with the fiat-sided portion and spaced outwardly therefrom, the apertured portion defining said prong engaging surface and a second prong engaging surface to dene a prong receiving slot, said second surface frictionally receiving said embossment means during clutching to prevent vertical movement of one aligner element relative to the other, and said prong being tapered leading edge means for guidance of the prong into the slot.

12. Guide and aligner lmeans adapted for mounting on the underside portions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendant to in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprising a pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a fiat-sided portion for engaging flush with the respective underside table edge portion and fastening means for attaching said fiat-sided portion to the underside of the table edge portion, one

aligner element having a prong connecting with the flatsided portion and being spaced vertically away from the flat-sided portion, the other' aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prong engaging surface for slideably receiving said prong in snug frictional engagement and holding said prong away from the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with the other, each of said aligner elements having -means limiting lateral and elevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present a flush aligned table, and the prong and the prong receiving part being in side by side relation defining a thin slot separating one another, each prong and part being connected with the flatasided portion, the prong of the one element facing the prong receiving part of the other element and the prong of the other element facing the prong receiving part of the one element in their assembled positions, each prong being stepped outwardly of its adjacent prong receiving part to slide over its opposed prong receiving part on the other aligner element for frictional clasping engage-ment of prong of the one element with the prong engaging surface of the prong receiving part of the other element.

13. The invention according to claim 12 and each prong having a leading upturned edge portion provided for gliding and clearing of the prong over the prong receiving part.

14. The invention according to claim 12 and said prong and said prong receiving part of each aligner element adjacent said slot having leading tapered edges providing for proper guiding and aligning of the prongs and prong receiving parts, said slot allowing frictional overlapping engagement of the prongs and prong receiving parts of the aligner means.

15. Guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the underside portions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendant to in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprising a pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a flat-sided portion for engaging ush with the respective underside table edge portion and fastening means for attaching said flat-sided portion to the underside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having a prong connecting with the flatsided portion and being spaced vertically away from the flat-sided portion, the other aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prong engaging surface for slideably receiving said prong in snug frictional engagement and holding said prong away from the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with the other, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral and elevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present a flush aligned table, and said one aligner element comprising a generally flat flange having the table attaching portion being generally fiat for table undersurface attachment and defining said generally flat sided portion, said flange having a second flange portion connecting with the flat-sided portion and for extension beyond the table edge and comprising two forwardly extending separated laterally aligned tab portions, one tab portion being generally fiat and defining a second prong receiving part, the other tab portion having a forward generally horizontal and fiat portion defining said prong and having a rear outwardly vertically extending portion connecting said flat-sided portion for outwardly offsetting said prong for placement over said first named prong receiving part.

16. The invention according to claim 15 and said other aligner element being of identical construction to said one aligner element but oriented 180 about a vertical axis with respect to said one aligner element for mounting on the undersurface of an adjacent table portion to receive said one aligner element attendant to complemental interlocking of the tab portions of each of the aligner elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,204 2/1909 Dickson 10S-83 1,531,810 3/1925 Pelton 30S-3.6 1,692,618 10/1928 Bowers 30S-3.6 2,626,844 1/1953 Cooper 30S-3.6 2,712,972 7/ 1955 Manson et al 30S-3.6 2,844,430 7/1958 Bogar 30S-3.6 2,865,684 12/1958 Meyer et al 30S-3.6 3,042,468 7/1962 Rudow et al 108-83 3,084,639 4/1963 Manson 108-89 3,202,117 8/1965 Zimmerman 10S-89 3,215,475 11/1-965 Manson 30S-3.6 3,360,307 12/ 1967 Mutchnik et al. 30S-3.6

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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