Drafting table

• US 4,099,469 A
• Filed: 04/22/1977
• Issued: 07/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert Fritschi
• Original Assignee: Albert Fritschi
• Inventors: Sahli, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US05/790,126
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 108/115, 108/116, 108/128, 108/1, 108/6, 108/4, 312/140.2, 312/231, 248/441, 248/460, 248/463, 248/464
• US Class Current: 108/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2003/0806 and the table top rotating around a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 27/00 Drawing desks or tables; Carriers for drawing-boards tables convertible to drawing desks A47B85/02; easels or stands for blackboards or the like A47B97/04; drawing-boards B43L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/00 Folding or stowable tables folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04

Abstract

A drafting table which can be folded together by simple manipulation so as to occupy very little space during packing, transportation, or storage. The table comprises two outriggers, two supporting columns, and a table plate. The supporting columns are each composed of two telescoped bars, and the outriggers are respectively pivotable about the inner of these bars.

Claims

1. An adjustable drafting table adapted to be stored in a collapsed, essentially planar configuration, comprising:

first and second, generally U-shaped table supports, each support including a generally horizontally disposed base member and a pair of spaced apart, upwardly protruding first and second support posts;

transverse means rigidly interconnecting upper ends of the first posts in relative, spaced apart positions;

means securing a table plate to the supports for pivotal movement of the plate relative to the supports about a horizontal axis between a first, substantially vertical position and a second position that is inclined from the vertical; and

adjustment means disposed within the first posts, connecting the upper ends of the first posts with corresponding lower ends of the first posts, and permitting relative vertical and relative pivotal movements about vertical axes between the upper ends and the lower ends of the first posts so that the U-shaped supports can be positioned in opposing and spaced apart relation to each other for supporting a portion of the table plate on the second posts while the U-shaped supports can be pivoted to substantially align the second posts with the first posts and the table plate can be pivoted into the vertical position for storage of the drafting table in a space saving configuration.

2. A drafting table according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment means comprises inner and outer tubular members, each such member defining one of the ends of the first posts, and ball bearing means disposed between the members permitting relative axial and rotational movements between the members.

3. A drafting table according to claim 2 including spring means disposed within the inner tubular members and biasing the transverse means away from the base members.

4. A drafting table according to claim 3 including means for activating the spring means to vary the distance between the transverse means and the base members.

5. A drafting table acccording to claim 1 including a spreader bar disposed between the second posts when the U-shaped supports are in their spaced apart, opposing positions, and means for removably securing the spreader bar to the second posts to maintain the latter in their spaced apart positions and to thereby regidify the drafting table.

6. An adjustable drafting table which is collapsible into an essentially planar configuration to facilitate the storage and shipment of the table while retaining the functional connections between components of the table, the table comprising:

a table plate, a transverse rail, and pivot means connecting the plate and the rail and permitting relative pivotal movements between the two about a substantially horizontal axis that is parallel to the plate and to the rail;

first and second, telescoping, spaced apart, upright support posts secured to the rail, each post including telescopingly engaged inner and outer tubular members, bearing means disposed between the members and permitting relative rotational and axial movements between the members, spring means disposed within the members, operatively connected with an end of each member, and exerting a force axially biasing the members apart;

outrigger means for each post, the outrigger means including a base member and an upright member defining a plate support surface;

means connecting one of the tubular members of each post to the rail and the other one of the tubular members to the base member so that the outrigger means is pivotable relative to the rail about a vertical axis;

means for adjusting the overall axial length of the tubular members so as to correspondingly adjust the distance between the plate and the base member; and

bracing means demountably attached to the upright members for maintaining the upright members in their spaced apart relationship when the drafting table is in use;

whereby the drafting table can be used by pivoting the outrigger means about the vertical axes of the posts to place the upright members in the spaced apart positions and the plate can be pivoted about said horizontal axis into an inclined position until the plate contacts the plate supporting surface of the upright members while the bracing means rigidifies the upright members and, therewith the drafting table in its usable position, and whereby further, the drafting table can be collapsed into its shipping and storage configuration by removing the bracing means, pivoting the outrigger means about said vertical axes until the outrigger means are in substantial alignment with each other and with the posts, and pivoting the plate about said horizontal axis until it too is in substantial, vertical alignment with the posts and the outrigger means.