US2380379A - Table - Google Patents

Description

July 3 1945- c. w. ATTWOOD TABLE 2 Sheet$-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4. 1942 INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. ATTWOO'D ATTORNEYS July 31, 1945.' c. w. ATTWOOD TABLE Filed NOV. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES W.ATTWOOD ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 31, 1945 TABLE Charles W. Attwood, Wayn Mich. Application November 4, 1942, Serial No. 464,408

8Clalms.

This invention relates to tables or the like, and has for its principal object the quick building of a table or similar article of furniture of light, strong. skeleton framework with ready fastening of the framing and supporting members in desired positions. 1

Another object of my invention is the formation of a table or the like with its legs and framingv members substantially rectangular metal channel members having one side open to form a continuous slot, with means adiustably mounted in the slotted faces for securing the component members to each other, as well as for quickly positioning the table top, drawer slides, partitions, etc. in accurate alignment.

A further obiect of my invention is the provision of improved means whereby tables and like articles of furniture may be erected more quickly and easily than is now possible, with the expenditure of less effort and time in the field. and without the necessity of drilling or forming the component members. In fact the only tool necessary to be used, after the channel members have been cut to proper length in the shop, is a wrench, while a saw is also necessary ifthe channel members have to be cut in the field.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel channeled supporting member for tables and the like, preferably square-formed with rounded corners having one side open to form a continuous slot throughout its length. the side walls'of the slot being formed of inturned flanges forming clamping ridges to provide grips for tying together and bridging'the opposite sides L of the slot by a grooved nut, thereby completing the hollow squareat points where bolting is done and concentrated load is applied.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of screw-threaded holding means for gripping the clamping ridges of such channel members at any point along their entire length, with provision for readily introducing such holding means into the interior of the channeled member through such slot, quickly adjusting the position of the holding members within the slots whenever desired. and maintenance of the holding members in selected positions as long as'desired.

other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein similar reference numerals desig- In the drawings:

Figure iis a perspective view showing a table I constructed in accordance with myinvention. with the table top removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 4, and showing a table similar to that shown in Figure 1 prior to the mounting of drawer slide supports, and additionally showing the table top and bracing ins-ans connecting the lower portions of the table egs.

Figure 8 is a composite perspective view showing one of my improved screw threaded holding means with its parts separated and an enlarged section of the slotted channel supporting members with which the holding means cooperates.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one corner of the table illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 0-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 isan end elevation of a sli htly modifled table construction wherein the table top may be secured in various tilted positions. v

Figure '1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the table shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line H of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings. numeral ll designates the legs. il longitudinal front and rear frame members. and it the side frame members,

of the supporting framework structure for my improved table or similar piece of furniture.

These members It, It and II are of identical hollow rectan ular material. herein shown as squareformed with rounded corners and with one face thereof slotted throughout the entire length of the material. Such channel member is best shown in perspective in Flaurea'S and 4.

The side walls of the slot are formed, of in-.

turned flanges ll. herein termed clamping ridges? with their free edgea'beveled to impart a sharpened or pointed cross section to facilitate securance of clamping nuts II in various selected hate similar 'partsthroughout the several views. 5

positions along the flanges i8. Oneotthe clamping nuts is is shown in perspective, with parts broken away, in Figure 3, and such nut is nor--v rower than the slot in the channeled members to permit ready insertion of the nut through the slot when properly turned. The length of the nut ll. however. is greater than the distance between the clamping ridges it, so that after the nut is inserted in the channel, it can be maintained in position simply by turning the nut at right angles to the slot, so that its ends underhang and are retained by the flanges it. The face oi the nut hardened teeth or serrations B which, when the nut is drawn up tight, bite into the beveled extremities of the flanges It to assist in retaining the nut in desired position by positively looking it against longitudinal sliding movement along the flanges.

A spring Ii is preferably secured to and pro- ,lects from the opposite or bottom face of the nut I l, being large enough indiameter to allow the stem of the bolt I! to pass freely therethrough, as shown in Figure 5- The spring is compressed against the wall of the channel member opposite the slotted wall thereof when the nut is in place, friction being thus imposed on the nut to' temporarily hold it against sliding in the channel due'to its own weight, or as the result of vibration prior to its securance by turning the bolt home. This will be seen to enable .the placing of the nuts in advance, even in vertically arranged .channel members, without danger of' displacement, while the parts to be may be secured in place at any time simply by thrusting the complementar bolt positions is into the previously positioned nuts and tightening the same. The length of the nut is substantially equal to the distance between the side webs of the channel members.

one bracket ll, substantially as shown in Figure 4,

the supporting frame work for my improved table can be readily and rigidly assembled into substantially the shape shown in Figure 1. The adiustable feet I! may be secured at the lower extremities of each leg III, as best shown in Figure 2.

Such feet' may comprise right-angled brackets havingthe upstanding flange apertured to receive ,a bolt 18 and a horizontal flange-apertured to receive a oastor or formed with trally depressed portion to facilitate easy sliding of the table along a floor. The bolts l8 thread a rounded ceninto slotted nuts ll positioned within the legs ill adjacent their lower extremities. Similar right 1 angled flanges ll may be secured at any desired I heights upon the legs ill to support leg braces II jasshowninl lgurez.

' Diagonally opposite. corners of'the nuts are rounded, substantially as shown at "C, so that the nut may be readily turned from the initial position of insertion; to its position of use, as by a quarter turn clockwise. At this point further] rotation of the nut is prevented by the unreduced corners,,which thus assist in holding the-nut against turning as the bolt is being tightened, and also insure proper alignment of the slots 'IIA with the clamping ridges ll during the initial positioning of the nuts. Th bolts is may be of conventional or any desired type.

In assembling my improved table, the legs and framing member are cut to predetermined lengths, preferably in the. factory, and the side members I: are first secured to the opposite ends of the-front and rear longitudinal members ll,

forming the top rectangular table frame, to which the legs II are afterward assembled. As best .ahown in Figure 4. the bracket members I I and I. are flrst secured by two bolts It to the opposite endsof the front and rear longitudinal members,- which extend the full length of the table framing to the edge of th bracket members and over thetop end of the legs, one bolt is passing through aperture of bracket l1 and one bolt ll passing through aligned apertures in brackets l1 and II, after which the side members I! are attached to bracket II by means of two bolts ll, thus forming a rectangular top frame of four structural members with the two bracket memhers I! and is projecting downward at each corher having one hole in bracket ll onlyvand one hole formed b3 the aligned holes of i1 and I8 to which the legs can be attached at any time. This provides two bolts, for stiffness, in each of the three structural members meeting at the corner, and the legs is can be dismantled, when desired. for at, handling or storage, by removing formed of channeled material identical with that of the legs and framing members, substantially Should it be desired to secure a shelf upon such braces Il, brackets 22 may b secured at any desired} positions within the slotted face of the braces II with the upper flange of the brackets 22 bent parallel withv the lower securing flange thereof,- and apertured to permit the passage of a :crew' or bolt to fasten the shelf upon the braces 40' Drawer slidesmaybe positioned at any desired points along the longitudinal frame members ll,

- and as best shown in Figure 1, one side of the preferably secured to the upstanding flange of the channel member I! can be utilized for positioning one drawer slide, while'a cross member, as '23, secured intermediate the ends of the longitudinal frame members I I. The cross member 28 is formed of channel material identical with that of the legs and framing members. and has its slotted face arranged toward the side member I! carrying the other drawer slide. As best shown in Figures 5 and 8, the drawer slides may comprise right angled brackets 2|,- with one flange thereof secured through apertures 18. The lower flanges of the opposite drawer slides extend'toward each other and their upper surfacesare engaged by the upper flanges of the short right-angled members 2 0 secured adjacent the rear corners of the sides of the drawer 21.

To restrain tilting of the drawer during sliding movement, a small right angled bracket 28 is members 28' withfts upper face clearing but in close proximity to the lower face of the drawer slide 24.

The table top 20 may be firmly secured to the side and longitudinal framing members, if desired, and as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, rightangled brackets 30 are'arranged in the slotted faces of the framing members wherever desired. The brackets 30 are apertured to permit the passage of bolts It through the upstanding flanges of the brackets to thread into suitably positioned slotted nuts it within the framing members, while the horizontal flange of each bracket 30 is apertured to receive a securing implement, such as wood screw 3| turned into the lower face of the table top.

In Figures 6 to 8, another method of fastening the table top to the framing members is shown so as to permit tilting of the table top to various adjusted positions.

As best shown in Figure '7, the table to! 290 is secured to the forward longitudinal framing member H by hinges 32, whereby the rear extremity of the table top may be tilted substantially as shown in dotted lines in Figures 6 and 7. A pair of slotted guides 33 are preferably secured to the under side of the table top 290, as by having their upper extremities pivoted upon brackets 3t secured to the table tops while bolts 35 extend through the slots in the guides 33. The bolts 35 are carried by brackets 36 secured in desired posi- '1 bolts I8 passing through the apertured of each bracket 86 and threading into slotted nut ll positioned within the side framing members. Wing nuts 31 or the like are preferably threaded upon the .bolts 35 to clamp tions by upper flang the slotted guides 33 in various positions tohold the table top 290 at desired angles of tilt.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A table comprising leg and fram members of identical material, said material consisting of substantially square-formed channel members having slots in one face extending from end to end of the material, means for securing said leg and frame members to each other without deformation of either, comprising apertured brackets engaging the slotted faces of a plurality of said members, said brackets being arranged in 1 pairs, the members of each pair having register,-

ing openings and one member of each pair having a right angle bend and having one of its anguiarly disposed portions arranged at right angles to the other bracket of said pair and apertured, bolts extending through said apertures and said slots, and nuts arranged within said channel members and threading with said bolts said pairs of brackets being located at the junction of a leg and said frame members and being fixed to and thereby fixing together the said leg and the frame members.

2. A table comprising leg and frame members of identical material, said material consisting of substantially square-formed channel members having slots in one face extending from end to end of the material, inturned flanges forming side walls for said slots, means for securing said leg and frame members to each other without deformation of either, comprising apertured brack ets engaging the slotted faces of a plurality of said members, said brackets being arranged in pairs, the members of each pair having registering openings and one member of each pair having a right angle bend and'having one of its angularly disposed portions arranged at right angles to the other bracket of said pair and apertured. bolts extending through said apertures and said slots, and nuts having slots on their front faces spaced to fit over said inturned flanges said nuts being threaded over said bolts said pairs of brackets being located at the junction of a leg and said frame members and being fixed to and thereby fixing together the said leg and the frame members.

3. A table comprising leg and frame members of identical material, said material consisting of substantially square-formed channel members having slots in one face extending from end to end of the material, smooth inturned flanges on opposite sides of said slots bevelled at their free edges, means for securing said leg and frame members to each other without deformation of either, comprising apertured brackets engaging the slotted faces of a plurality bolts extending slots, and nuts within the channel members having slots on their front faces spaced to fit over said inturned flanges and initially slidable freely over smooth surfaces of the inturned flanges and formed with hardened teeth to bite into th bevelled edges of said flanges when said bolts are tightened to secure the nuts in tight fixed engagement with said flanges, whereby movement of the nuts in any direction is prevented.

- CHARLES W. A'I'IWOOD.

of said members, through said apertures and said

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