Patent Publication Number: US-3879084-A

Title: Table

Description:
United States Patent 1 1 Jones 1 1 TABLE [76] Inventor: Ferris E. Jones. 943 Millbury.  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 297/174; 108/48; 108/150:  
  248/1885; 297/158 [51] Int. Cl A47b 37/00:,F16m 11/24 [58] Field of Search 297/157. 158. 6: 248/351.  
 1 1 Apr. 22, 1975 Davidson 248/1886 Blount 108/48 Primary Enuminer-James T. McCall Attorney. Agent. or FirmBoniard 1. Brown [57] ABSTRACT A table having a top mounted on a base with a lower lateral portion rigidly secured to a supporting structure above floor level to provide a clearance space below the base for ease of cleaning the floor beneath the table. The base carries a pedestal which may be extended downwardly into contact with the floor to support the table on the floor during normal use of the table and retracted upwardly from the floor for cleaning. The table is described in connection with a dining nook or booth wherein the table supporting structure is a cushioned bench seat for persons using the table.  
 14 Claims. 6 Drawing Figures TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to furniture and more particularly to a novel table which is supported in such a way as to facilitate cleaning the floor below the table.  
 2. Discussion of the Prior Art As will appear from the ensuing description. the improved table of the invention may be utilized for a variety of applications. The primary application of the table. however. is in a dining nook or booth. The table will be described in connection with this application.  
  A typical dining nook or booth has a table and a cushioned bench type seat of angular or arcuate shape extending about the table. In most cases. the table is supported on the floor by means of a base resting on or fastened to the floor. This base thus obstructs the floor space below the table and complicates the task of SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a fixed table arrangement which provides a clear floor space below the table for ease of cleaning. To this end. the table has a base with an upright portion supporting the table top and a portion extending laterally from the upright portion toward and rigidly fixed to a supporting structure above floor level. The bottom or lower end of the base is spaced above the floor to provide a clear floor space below the base for ease of cleaning.  
  According to an important feature of the invention. the base carries a pedestal which may be extended downwardly from the base into contact with the floor to support the table on the floor during normal use. The pedestal is retractable upwardly from the floor for cleaning.  
  In the described embodiment. the table supporting structure is the bench seat of a dining nook or booth. The adjustable table pedestal is biased to its upper retracted position by a spring and is locked in its lower or extended table supporting position by a locking device. such as a bayonet lock.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of a dining nook or booth embodying a table according to the invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a top plan view. on reduced scale. of the nook;  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view. partly in section. of the table base showing its retractable pedestal in extended. table supporting position;  
  FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the pedestal retracted for cleaning;  
 FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3; and  
  FIG. 6 is a top plan view ofa dining nook with a modified table arrangement.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-5. there is illustrated a dining nook or booth I0 embodying an improved table I2 according to the invention. Nook I0 has a generally L shaped bench seat l4 extending about two sides of the table. This seat has a bottom frame 16 resting on or secured to the floor l8. and seat and back rest cushions 20. 22 mounted on the base. Seat frame 16 has front and rear walls 24. 26.  
  Table I2 has a base 28 with an upright portion 30 and a mounting portion 32 extending laterally from the upright portion. The particular table base shown is fabricated from a box channel. and has an L shape. One leg of this channel forms the upright base portion 30. The other channel leg extends from the lower end of the upright leg and forms the lateral. mounting base portion 32.  
  The table base 28 is rigidly attached to the bench seat frame I6. which thus provides a supporting structure for the table. above the level of the floor I8 to provide a clearance space between the floor and base as shown. To this end. the lateral mounting portion or leg 32 of the base extends through the front frame wall 24 to the rear frame wall 26. The leg 32 is attached to and vertically supported by an angle 34 fastened to the front wall. The rear end of the base leg 32 is attached by a mounting bracket 36 to the rear seat frame wall 26.  
  The table top 38 is secured to the upper end of the upright table base leg 30. Telescopically slidable in the leg 30 is a pedestal 40 having a rubber foot 42 or the like at its lower end. Pedestal 40 is extendable downwardly from the table base 28 to its lower extended position of FIG. 3. wherein the pedestal foot 40 rests on the floor 18 to support the table on the floor in normal use. The upper end of the pedestal is bent at right angles to form an arm 44 which extends laterally through a bayonet slot 46 in the upright base leg 30 to provide a bayonet lock for locking the pedestal in its extended table supporting position. The pedestal foot 40 is threaded on the pedestal for height adjustment to establish firm contact of the foot with the floor.  
  When the floor I8 is to be cleaned. the pedestal lock 44, 46 is released and the pedestal 40 is retracted upwardly to its upper position of FIG. 4. A spring 48 urges the pedestal to this retracted position.  
  The table top 38 may be any shape. In FIGS. 1-5. for example. the top is rectangular. and the table is attached to an end of the bench seat 14. In FIG. 6. the table is square and supported at the center or corner of the seat.  
 What is claimed as new in support of letters patent is:  
  I. A table to be attached above floor level to a supporting structure. comprising:  
 a supporting base including a normally upright portion. and a mounting portion extending laterally of said upright portion for attachment to said supporting structure;  
 a table top secured to the upper end of said upright base portion.  
 a pedestal mounted on said upright base portion for downward extension to a lower extended position wherein said pedestal projects below the lower end of upright portion for supporting contact with the floor and upward retraction to an elevated retracted position wherein said pedestal is disposed to clear the floor for cleaning under the table. and means for retaining said pedestal in its lower extended position.  
 2. A table according to claim I wherein:  
 said base comprises an L-shaped base member. one leg of which comprises said upright base and the other leg of which extends at right angles from the lower end of said one leg and comprises said lateral mounting portion.  
 3. A table according to claim 1 wherein:  
 said pedestal retaining means comprises means for locking said pedestal in extended position.  
 4. A table according to claim 3 including:  
 a spring for urging said pedestal to retracted position.  
 5. A table according to claim 4 wherein:  
 said base comprises an L-shaped base member. one leg of which comprises said upright base and the other leg of which extends at right angles from the lower end of said one leg and comprises said lateral mounting portion.  
 6. A table according to claim 5 wherein:  
 said pedestal locking means comprises a bayonet lock.  
 7. In combination:  
 a supporting structure rising above floor level.  
 a table including a supporting base having an upright portion whose lower end is located a distance above floor level. and a mounting portion extending later-all from said upright portion toward and rigidly secured to said supporting structure to provide a clearance space below said base. said base comprises an L-shaped base member. one leg of which comprises said upright base and the other leg of which extends at right angles from the lower end of said one leg and comprises said lateral mounting portion.  
 a pedestal mounted on said upright base portion for downward extension to a lower extended position wherein said pedestal projects below the lower end of upright portion for supporting contact with the floor and upward retraction to an elevated retracted position wherein said pedestal is disposed to clear the floor for cleaning under the table, and  
 means for retaining said pedestal in its lower extended position.  
 8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein:  
 said supporting structure comprises the bench seat of a dining nook or booth.  
 9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein:  
 said base comprises an L-shaped base member, one leg of which comprises said upright base and the other leg of which extends at right angles from the lower end of said one leg and comprises said lateral mounting portion.  
 10. The combination according to claim 7 wherein:  
 said pedestal retaining means comprises means for locking said pedestal in extended position.  
 1]. The combination according to claim 10 including:  
 a spring for urging said pedestal to retracted position.  
 12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein:  
 said base comprises an L-shaped base member. one leg of which comprises said upright base and the other leg of which extends at right angles from the lower end of said one leg and comprises said lateral mounting portion.  
 13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein:  
 said pedestal locking means comprises a bayonet lock.  
 14. The combination according to claim l3 wherein:  
 said supporting structure comprises the bench seat of a dining nook or booth.  
  i 1 i k