US3094080A - Collapsible desk for beds - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1963 w. R. SHANNON 3,094,080 1 COLLAPSIBLE DESK FOR BEDS Filed March 13, 1961 INVEN TOR. WILL/4M A. 5'HA/V/V0/V BY P Afro/may United States Patent Oflice 3,094,080 Patented June 18, 1963 3,094,080 COLLAPSIBLE DESK FOR BEDS William R. Shannon, St. Paul, Minn. (23 SE. 6th Ave., Faribault, Minn.)

Filed Mar. 13, 1961, Se1'. No. 95,160 1 Claim. (Cl. 108-129) This invention relates generally to desks, and pertains more particularly to a collapsible desk for use in conjunction with a bed or similar supporting article.

Students and others are frequently troubled with space problems, particularly where they must study in the same room in which they sleep. Resort to foldable tables having four legs, such as card tables, have only partially solved these problems, for in many instances insufficient space remains for a person to move about the room when such a table has been erected. Besides, the folding of four legs is relatively time consuming and a nuisance where regular use is to be made of a table so equipped. Consequently, a need exists for a table or desk that will occupy little more space than already exists in a room.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a desk that will occupy but little additional space in a room that is already rather crowded with furniture. More specifically, the invention has for an aim the provision of a desk that will overlie a bed throughout most of its usable area.

Another object is to provide a desk of the foregoing type that can be easily adjusted to the particular height of the bed, whereby a level writing surface can be provided.

A further object is to provide a desk that is readily collapsible for convenient and compact storage thereof when not needed.

A still further object is to provide a desk that can be carried about when circumstances so dictate. In this regard, it is planned that at times a desk will have to be taken with the user, such as when the student visits another student (for joint study.

Yet another object is to provide a desk that is exceptionally sturdy when erected so as to furnish a firm writing surface.

Still another object is to provide a desk that will be inexpensive to manufacture, therebyencouraging its widespread use by those living in congested quarters.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an end view taken from the foot of a conventional bed illustrating my collapsible desk in a supported relationship therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the desk in actual use;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the desk constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, one of the collapsible leg units being shown in a folded condition, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one leg unit in an exploded condition so as to depict with greater clarity the construction thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, it will be observed that a conventional bed has been pictured in FIGURES 1 and 2, this bed having the usual foot and head boards with their associated posts and legs. Also appearing in these two views is a spread 12 that covers the bed.

The invention itself has been generally denoted by the vide a curved or arcuate recess labeled 22.

While the free edge 18 is supported by the bed 10, the other edge 20 is supported by a pair of corresponding log units denoted in their entirety by the reference numerals 24, 26. Each of the leg units 24, 26 comprises a rod element 28 having a pair of generally parallel portions 30, 32. Integral with the portion 32 is an angularly oriented portion 34. The upper ends of the portions 30, 34 are inturned to provide transversely directed portions 36. At an angle somewhat less than is an ofiset auxiliary U-shaped section comprised of converging portions 38 and a bight or connecting portion 40. It will be understood that the rod-like element 28 in each instance is formed of a single piece of material, such as steel, which is readily bent into the configuration that has been shown.

Inasmuch as the two leg units 24, 26 are to be collapsible or folded with respect to the panel 16, these leg units are pivotally connected to the underside of the panel 16 by a plurality of U-shaped hinge clips 42. As can be seen in FIGURE 4, each of the two clips 42 there shown have outwardly issuing ears with an aperture 43 in each ear. From FIGURE 3, it can be seen that the clips 42 for each of the leg units 24, 26 are attached to the underside of the panel 16 by means of a plurality of screws 44.

The divergence of the leg units 24, 26 with respect to each other, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, is derived by having the portions 38 at somewhat less than 90 with respect to the general plane of the portions 30, 32 and 34. It will be appreciated that the leg units, owing especially to their divergence, provide a firm support for the panel 16 adjacent its edge 20.

Continuing with the description of the leg units 24, 26, it is to be noted that these leg units further include a lower rod element 46 comprised of parallel portions 48 and a rubber covered bight or foot portion 50. The spacing between the portions 48 of each element 46 is substantially the same as the spacing between the portions 30, 32 of the upper element 28.

The element 46 of each leg unit 24, 26 is to be clamped to the corresponding element 28 in a preferred telescopic relation. To accomplish this, a plate 52 is welded to the portions 30, 32 as easily seen in FIGURE 4. This plate 52 in each situation carries a bolt or threaded stud 54 that is spot welded to the plate 52. The stud 54 for each plate 52 is designed to project through an aperture 56 in a cooperable plate 58, the plate 58 having grooves or channels 60 for partially encircling the rod portions 48 of the lower element 46. By reason of a wing nut 62 threadable on the stud 54 of each unit 24, 26 the plates 52 and 58 may be drawn toward each other so as to clamp therebetween the rod portions 30, 32 with the rod portions 48. It Will be readily understood that the clamping action may be effected after the element 46 for each leg unit has been properly extended with respect to the portions 30, 32 for the height of the particular bed 10* for which the desk 14 is to be associated.

Having presented the above information, the use of my collapsible desk 14 should be easily understood. Briefly, however, the student or other user of the desk 14 will adjust the leg units 24, 26 for the particular height of the bed 10 or other article, as alluded to in the preceding paragraph. This can be readily accomplished with the edge 18 resting on the top of the bed 10 substantially as depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2. With the edge 18 so supported, then the wing nuts 62 for each leg unit can be loosened so as to permit the rod element 46 of each leg unit to be telescopically moved with respect to the grooves 60 'of the plate 58. When the proper degree of projection or extension exists, then the wing nuts 62 are tightened and left in a tightened conditions for all subsequent uses with the same bed 10.

When the desk is to be stored, one only has to fold each leg unit 24, 26 into the confronting relationship shown of the leg unit 24 in FIGURE 3. Both leg units 24, 26 are not shown in a folded condition in this view for the simple reason that the difference in positions reveals in a better manner the construction of these leg units. To complete the folding operation that has been inaugurated in FIGURE 3, one only has to pivot the other leg unit 26 into an overlying relationship with the already folded leg unit 24. It will be noted that when so folded, owing to the recess 22, the desk 14 can be readily carried from place to place. However, when the desk is erected, the recess 22 permits the student or user to position himself closer to the center of the desk than would otherwise be possible. Thus, it will be recognized that the recess 22 fulfills a dual purpose.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the desk 14 will find especial utility where very little room exists for employing a conventional table. It is to be particularly observed that the panel 16 is maintained in a relatively firm condition by reason of the support 18 on the bed itself. This support is augmented by virtue of the leg units 24, 26 so that the entire panel 16 is kept at the proper elevation and also in a condition that will resist movement during actual use, the resistance to movement being supplemented by the divergence of the leg units 24, 26 as they appear in FIGURE 2.

In practice, suitable swivel clamps or the like would be fastened to the underside of the of the panel 16 and would engage the portions 40 in order to maintain the leg units 24, 26 in a fixed, downwardly projecting position during use. Likewise, similar clamps would be used for engaging one portion 48 (or other portion) of each leg unit to hold the leg units in a folded condition when not is use. However, for the sake of drawing simplicity these clamps have been omitted.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claim is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed:

A collapsible desk of the character described comprising a panel member providing a generally flat writing surface, said member having one free edge for resting on a bed, a pair of telescoping leg units each including a first element hingedly connected to the underside of said panel member adjacent the opposite edge thereof and pivotal into one downwardly projecting position, each first element having a pair of generally parallel spaced portions, each leg unit further including a second element having a pair of generally parallel portions spaced substantially the same distance apart as the parallel portions of said first element, said legs being adapted to have substantially point contact with the floor subjacent said opposite edge of said panel member for pivotal movement, and respective means for clamping the adjacent parallel portions of the first and second elements of each leg unit together to adjust the height of said opposite edge to substantially that of said one edge, said respective clamping means including a first plate extending between the parallel portions of each first element, a second plate overlying the parallel portions of each second element, and a threaded element and nut for urging each of said first and second plates toward each other to clamp the corresponding parallel portions of said leg units together and thereby adjust the height of said opposite edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 623,143 Doty Apr. 18, 1889 561,779 Feely June 9, 1896 590,872 Allen Sept. 28, 1897 1,208,885 Alderman et al. Dec. 19, 1916 1,599,247 Ridabock Sept. 7, 1926 7 1,709,928 Whitney Apr. 23, 1929 1,924,945 Klotz Aug. 29, 1933 2,323,423 Schmidt et al. July 6, 1943 2,426,573 Alderfer Aug. 26, 1947 2,493,170 Stiff et al. Jan. 3, 1950 2,630,360 McGinley Mar. 3, 1953 2,845,316 Bailey July 29, 1958 2,977,169 Geller Mar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 911,066 France June 27, 1946 527,853 Belgium Apr. 30, 1954

Images