US3420571A - Collapsible combination chair and table - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1969 J. c. MOORE 3,420,571

COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE Filed June 12, 1967 I Sheet FIGZ INVENTOR JAMES c. MOORE AT TO RN EY J; c. MOORE Jan. 7, 1969 COLLA PSIBLE COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE Sheet Filed June 12, 1967 INVENTOR JAMES C. MOORE BY% 1w ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,42 0,57 l Patented Jan. 7, 1969 3,420,571 COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE James C. Moore, 1011 Lawndale, Detroit, Mich. 48209 Filed June 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,324 U.S. Cl. 297124 Int. Cl. A47b 85/04; A47b 85/02 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible combination chair and table, that is readily convertible to a chair only, which is foldable to facilitate convenient storage and handling.

Background 07 the invention Summary of the invention This invention comprises a seat pivotally supported on a foldable base having thereon an upwardly extending side rail with a laterally disposed arm. A leg pivoted on the laterally disposed arm has both an extended and a retracted position. A back is pivotally suspended from the leg, and supported in a fixed position relative to the seat, when the leg is retracted and the device is erected to serve only as a chair. The back is swingable into contact with the laterally disposed arm which supports the back in a horizontal position when the leg is extended, thereby adapting the device for use as a combined chair and table.

Brief description of the invention FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view showing the applicants combination chair and table erected to serve as a chair only.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view, taken substantially on plane 22 in FIGURE 1, showing structural details of the applicants invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view showing the applicants device erected to serve as a combination chair and table.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view showing the applicants combination chair and table fully collapsed.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 55 in FIGURE 1, showing the hinged attachment between the U-shaped leg and the foldable base FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 6-6 in FIGURE 1, showing the retractable locking pin 46 engaged in the tubular member 14 of the base 10.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section view, taken substantially on plane 7-7 in FIGURE 1, showing the retainer clip 36 provided on the U-shaped leg 30.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section view taken substantially on plane *8-8 in FIGURE 3 showing the slidable attachment between the seat 16 and the upwardly disposed side rail 24.

FIGURE 9 is an enlanged fragmentary section view, taken on plane 9 in FIGURE 3, showing the locking tab 42 on the lateral arm 26 engaged in the pocket 40.

Description 09 the preferred embodiment construction For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawing in which numeral 10- designates a foldable base comprising a pair of pivoted tubular members 12 and 14. A seat v16 on the foldable base 10 is pivotally attached at 18 to one of the tubular members '12. The seat 16 has on each side thereof a downwardly disposed slot 20 for reception of the other tubular member 14 of the base 10. A handle 22 is provided on the read edge of the seat 16 to facilitate collapsing and carrying the unit.

An upwardly extending tubular side rail 24 on the base 10 has an inwardly projecting lateral arm 26 with a downwardly disposed terminus 27. A bracket 28 on the seat 16 has a clip 29 pivotally mounted thereon and slidably engaged on the side rail 24. A U-shaped leg 30 is :pivotally supported on a rod 32 extending through the side rail 24 and the downwardly disposed terminus 28 on the lateral arm 26. A hinge 34 connects the U- shaped leg 30 to the tubular member 12 of the base 10.

A retainer clip 36 is provided on the U-shaped leg 30 for holdably engaging the tubular member 14 of the base 10. A back 38 is pivotally suspended from the upper end of the U-shaped leg 30, and provided with a centrally disposed pocket 40 for reception of a locking tab 42 on the lateral arm 26. An operator lever 44 is pivoted on the U-shaped leg 30 for retracting a locking pin 46 engagable in an opening 48 in the tubular member 14 of the foldable base 10. A leaf spring 50 under the operator lever 44 yieldably holds the locking pin 46 in the opening 48.

The preceding discussion completes a description of the structural details of the applicants invention herein disclosed; however, to facilitate a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, a discussion is immediately hereinafter directed to the manner in which the device operates to accomplish its intended function.

Operation In practice, if it is desired to erect the applicants compacted device, as shown in FIGURE 4, for use as a chair only, a downward push is applied to the rear edge of the seat 16. The foldable base 10 thereupon opens, and the seat 16 assumes a horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 1. When the device is thus erected,

' the back 38 is supported at the proper angle relative to the seat 16 by the rod 32, as shown in FIGURE 1.

If it is desired to convert the device to a combined chair and table, the handle 22 on the seat 16 is grasped and lifted, thereby folding the :base 10 so as to bring the tubular members 12 and 14 in close proximity. The operator lever 44 is then moved to the broken line position 60 shown in FIGURE 6 thereby withdrawing the locking pin 48 from the opening 48 in the tubular member .14. The U-shaped leg 30 may then be moved to the extended position shown in FIGURE 3.

As the leg 30 moves toward its extended position, the back 3-8 is swung upwardly in a counterclockwise direction until it makes contact with the lateral arm 26. As the leg 30 approaches its fully extended position, the locking tab 42 engages the pocket 40 thereby holdably securing the back 38. To collapse the device, it is merely necessary to grasp the U-shaped leg 30 and move it toward the base 10.

This movement disengages the locking tab 42, and enables the back 38 to be retracted :by rotating it in a clockwise direction to the position shown in FIGURE 1. The leg 30 may then be brought into lateral alignment with the tubular member 14 on the base 10, and seated in the retainer clip 36. In this position, the locking pin 46 automatically engages the opening 48 in the tubular member 14, thereby holding the device in a compacted condition for convenient storage and handling.

Based upon the foregoing discussion, the applicant is of the opinion that his invention has fulfilled a longfelt need in the field of collapsible furniture, and that he has accordingly made a valuable contribution to the related art. However, while the invention was described with reference to the structural details of a single embodiment, it will be appreciated by those familiar with the art, that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other practical adaptations.

Therefore, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

-1. A collapsible combination chair and table comprising a foldable base having at least two pivoted members, a seat supported by the base and pivotally attached to one of the base members, a side rail on the other base member having thereon a lateral arm, means slidably attaching the seat to the side rail, a leg pivotally connected to the lateral arm, hinge means connecting the leg to the base providing both an extended and a retracted position for the leg, a back pivotally suspended from the leg, and means for supporting the back in a fixed position relative to the seat, such back being swingable upwardly so as to be supported by the lateral arm when the leg is moved to its extended position thereby adapting the structure to serve as a combination chair and table.

2. The collapsible combination chair and table of claim 1 having in addition thereto means for dctachably securing the back to the lateral arm when the leg is in an extended position.

3. The collapsible combination chair and table of claim 1 having in addition thereto means for holdably positioning the leg relative to the foldable base when the leg is in a retracted position, and the structure thereby adapted to serve only as a chair.

4. The collapsible combination chair and table of claim 1 having in addition thereto a means for detachably locking the leg to a member of the foldable base when the leg is in a retracted position, and the structure thereby adapted to serve only as a chair.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,937,886 12/1933 Grose 2 97l24 1,951,960 3/1934 Anduaga 297-124 2,550,811 5/1951 Herbert 297-124 3,361,470 1/1968 Gustin et a1. 297-124 FOREIGN PATENTS 535,288 10/ 1931 Germany. 781,523 2/1935 France.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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