US631750A - Fastening for table or other tops. - Google Patents

Description

No. 63!,750. Patented Aug. 22, I899. J. PLEUKHARP. FASTENING FOR TABLE 08 OTHER TOPS.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1898. (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.,

No. 631,750. Patented Aug. 22, I899.

v J. PI .EUKHARP. FASTENING FOR TABLE 0B R TOPS.

n filed (Applicatio Mar. 23. (No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrce.

JAMES PLEUKI'IARP, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PLEUKHARP MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,750, dated August 22, 1899 Application filed March 23, 1898. Serial No. 674,917. (No model.)

To wZZ wig/0122, zit may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES PLEUKHARP, a citizen of the United States, residing at C- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Table or other Tops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for fastening table and other tops; and it consists, essentially, of a hook, preferably made of :5 strap-iron or steel, adapted to be attached to the top and engage a groove in the table rim or frame, both the groove and hook having a specific construction to efliciently subserve the purpose of the invention and efiect the desired result.

The invention further consists of the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The method of fastening table and other tops usually adopted in practice at the presw cut time is to rigidly secure the top to the rim or frame by means of screws. When the table or other tops are applied, the grain of the rim on two sides runs at a right angle thereto, and as the fibers of the wood swell and shrink crosswise of the grain while remaining practically uniform along the same a great strain is brought to bear on the glue- 5 joints, which is resisted by the screws and often causes said joints to open and the top to warp out of shape. Further, theuse of wooden blocks attached to the table or other top and entering grooves in the adjacent rim is not satisfactory owing to the alteration of each block in swelling or shrinking and the liability of the same to pull out of the groove when the table is pulled sidewise by the rim. This form of construction is also disadvantageous because of the inability to secure the top in the position desired with any degree of assurance that it will stay andalso the expense attendant upon the use of such device. Further, in extensiontables as now constructed the top is often drawn by shrinkage overcome the numerous disadvantages hereinbefore encountered and provide means for fastening the top of a table or other piece of furniture to the rim, frame, or bottom part in such manner as to prevent checking or opening of the glue-joints and Warpage of the top by the alternate swelling and shrink- 6o ing of the wood and to hold the .said top at all times in a desired position in an economical manner.

With this and other objects and conveniences in view a preferred form of a device for attaining the desired end is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a piece of furniture tilted upwardly and looking toward the inner side and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line m m, Fig. 1, showing the parts inverted. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the fastening shown employed in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a part of an extension-table and another feature of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a section on the line y y of Fig. 4: in inverted position on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the said additional feature of the invention shown used in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a table or other top, which in both forms shown is applied to a rim or rail 2, constructed with an inwardly-opening groove 3 at a suitable elevation and extending outwardly at a slight o inclination, as clearly illustrated in the sections, Figs. 2 and 5.

The form of fastening which is employed in all the devices, irrespective of any additional features, consists of a strap-iron or 5' steel hook 4, having an inner-securing-fiange 5 with an aperture therein to receive a fastening-screw 6, which enters or is embedded in the table or other top and applied to the under side of the latter. At the outer ter- 10o mination of the said flange 5an angular neck I themselves ina transverse direction and pro- 7 is located, and from the latter a tongue 8 extends outwardly and is loosely fitted in the groove 3. The said tongue 8 is arranged at the same inclination as the groove 3 and is of less thickness than the groove, and when the flange 5 is positioned against the table or other top the neck 7 stands inward a predetermined distance from the adjacent edge or side of the rim or rail, so as to establish a space between the outer termination of the said tongue and the adjacent end wall of the groove and also between said neck and the adjacent part of the rail. This arrangement of the fastening compensates for the shrinkage or swelling of the parts with which it is used. This arrangement of the fastening-allows the swelling or shrinking parts to have. unimpeded action and to return to their nor-; mal position Without buckling or Warping. As a further beneficial auxiliary in preserv-f ing the original arrangement of the top and; the adjacent supporting rim or rail the groove; 3 and *tongue 8 have each the inclination thereof at an upward angle, and while this. variation from a true horizontal is very slighti it facilitates the purpose sought.

ber usedbeing determined by the dimensions of the table or other piece of furniture-to which they areapplied; also,-the size of the:

said fastenings willbe regulated proportionately tothe weight and general dimensions of the table or other piece of furniture on:

which they are used.

Under ordinary conditions the fastening previously set forth will be sufficient toattain the desired result; but in very long tables, and particularly extension-tables, it will be found necessary to hold the top rigidly to the rim at the opening for extension, and, as shown in Figs. 4c, 5, and 6,a fastening 9 is provided,-which is similar in all parts to the fastening 4, with the exception that the tongue 10 thereof is curved and along the-terminating edge has a-series of teeth 11, which bite into the wood of the rimor rail and are located within the groove. The fasteners 4 will slip or creep in the grooves 3 lengthwise of the latter and also automatically adjust portionately to the swelling and shrinkage of the wood of the connected parts, and the fastoners 9 will remain rigid and thereby hold the top in place at the openings for extensible purposes.

The inclination of the tongues of the fasteners and of the grooves will prevent separation of the said parts when the table is pulled sidewise by the rim, and also in the event of shrinkage of the wood in the top a tendency will always exist to draw the top down tighter to the rim or rail, thus aiding in'keeping the table-top straight.

The use of the fasteners requires less machine-work and smaller screws, thus materially reducing the cost of manufacture, besides-avoiding the annoyance and loss from the checking or opening of the joints.

While the preferred form of device has been described and particularly referred to, it is obviously apparent that many changes inthe proportions, dimensions, and minor de tails of construction and arrangement of'tlie several parts might be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantagesthereof. The fastenings are arranged at regular in; tervals and at predetermined points, the num- I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- The combination with an extensible table having a separable top and rails with upwardly-inclined grooves on the inner side thereof, of a series of fastening devices having securingfiangesattached to the said top, angular necks and upper tongues, the latter movably engaging the grooves in the rails at points away from the separable portion of said top,and other fastening devices of similar construction except the tongues which have a series of upwardly-extending independent spurs to'bite into the upper walls of the grooves, said latter fa-stenings being located adjacent to and on opposite sides of the joint in the separable top.

In testimony whereof -I afiix my signature in presence of two-witnesses.

JAMES PLEUKI'IARP.

Witnesses:

JOHN K. HENRY, F. B. MILLIGAN.

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