US3140133A

US3140133A - Portable bar

Info

Publication number: US3140133A
Application number: US167005A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Kraft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-01-18
Filing date: 1962-01-18
Publication date: 1964-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-07

Description

United States Patent l() 3,140,133 PORTABLE BAR James J. Kraft, Natick, Mass. J. J. Kraft Mfg. Co., 168 Riverside Ave., Medford, Mass.) Filed Jan. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 167,005 6 Claims. (Cl. S12-140.2)

The present inventionrelates to a foldable or collapsible counter. More particularly the present invention relates to a foldable counter adapted for use as a portable bar or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable or collapsible counter adapted for use as a portable bar or the like, which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, compact, easy to store, transport, and set up. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable bar or the like which may be opened in an accordion-like fashion from a compact, closed position to an open position having a multiplicity of spacious shelves. A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bar which may be mass produced from easily made and inexpensive components. One further object of the present invention is to provide a design for a counter of the type described which may be fabricated in a variety of sizes and of a variety of materials.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a counter of the type described which is attractive in appearance, which, if desired, may be formed with improved constructional features such as concealed seams and the like.

These and other objects of the present invention may be more clearly understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the front of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when fully opened.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when fully opened;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the rear of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when partially closed or folded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, somewhat more closed than in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing one half of the bar fully closed; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the front of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the invention in a fully closed position.

The present invention is designed to be fabricated of plywood, resin impregnated Wood panels or like material, together with standard type hardware, such as hinges and casters.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the bar is formed with a counter 1, facing surface 2, ends 3 and shelves 4. In an unfolded position the counter 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 lies in a horizontal plane. The facing surface 2 lies in a vertical plane, with this facing surface 2 extending downwardly from the forward edge of the counter 1. The ends 3 are positioned at the ends of the facing surface 2 and extend downwardly from and normal to the counter 1. The shelves 4 are positioned parallel and in spaced relation to the counter 1, with the shelves extending rearwardly from the facing surface.

The facing surface 2 is formed of two pairs of facing panels 5. Each facing panel is vertically oriented and is hinged at its adjacent side edge 6 to the other panel 5 forming the pair. Preferably these panels are hinged by means of concealed hinges so that these hinges may not be seen from the front of the bar as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Each pair of facing panels are secured to a center facing strip with the innermost vertical edges 7 of each pair hinged preferably to the strip 8 by concealed hinges.

V 3,140,133 Patented July 7, 1964 The facing surface 2 may be folded from the position illustrated in FIG. 6 through the stages illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

The counter 1 comprises a center counter panel 9 and two end panels 10, hinged to thecenter counter panel 9 along adjacent edges 12. The center counter panel 9 is secured to the top of and is normal to a center panel 13. The center panel 13 is secured to the rear surface of and is normal to the center facing strip 8.

At the outermost side edges of the end panels forming the facing surface are end panels 17. These end panels 17 are pivotally hinged, preferably by concealed hinges along adjacent edges 18 to the panels 5. The end panels and facing panels 5 are preferably of the same height. The end panels 17 are adapted to fold from an unfolded position in which they are normal to the facing panel to a folded position in which they are substantially parallel and facing the facing panels 5.

The shelves 4 comprise upper shelves 15 and lower shelves 16. Upper shelves 15 are hinged along one edge 20 to the inner surface 19 of the end panels 17. These upper shelves 15 are adapted to fold from a folded position in which they are in face to face relation to the inner s urface 19 of the end panels to an unfolded position in which they are parallel with the unfolded position of the counter 1. The edges of the shelves 15 opposite the hinged shelves are engageable with the counter panel by suitable means, such as a lock or the like.

The lower shelves 16 are pivotally hinged along one edge to the center panel 13 by suitable hinge means. These lower shelves are adapted to fold from an unfolded position parallel to the unfolded counter to a folded position parallel to and adjacent the center panel 13, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In the arrangement illustrated, the center facing strip S should be Wider than the thickness of the center panel 13 by the thickness of the lower shelves and facing panels, so that in its folded position these components can be flat behind the center facing strip. Preferably the end panels 17 are cut on their upper portion along a bias 22, terminating below the end counter panels 10. If desired, locks for securing the end panels 17 to the end counter panels 10 may be provided for use when the bar is in its unfolded position. The center panel 13 may be provided with a cut-out section 25 adapted to permit articles to be moved more readily from one section to another.

The bar may be made portable by a plurality of casters 26 secured in pairs to the bottom edges of the end panels and center panel.

What is claimed is:

l. A foldable portable counter or bar comprising,

a plurality of pairs of vertically oriented facing panels with the panels within each pair hinged together along vertical adjacent edges,

means hinging at least two of said pairs along vertical edges of said facing panels -to a common center portion,

whereby said plurality of pairs of panels are adapted to form a continuous facing surface in an unfolded position and a plurality of substantially parallel panels in a folded position,

a center panel extending vertically and rearwardly from said center portion and secured thereto,

end panels pivotally hinged to the outer-most edges of the outer-most of said facing panels,

and a counter comprising a center counter panel and a pair of end counter panels hinged to said center counter panel at adjacent edges,

said center counter panel secured over said center portion with said end counter panels adapted to extend over said end panels and rearwardly from said facing panels when said counter is in an unfolded position.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 having shelves,

a plurality of upper shelves and lower shelves,

pivotally secured to said end panels and center panel and adapted to be moved from a folded position parallel with said center panel to an unfolded position parallel and in spaced relation to said counter when said counter is unfolded.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2,

wherein said shelves project rearwardly in an unfolded position from said facing surface,

said upper shelves are pivotally secured to said end panels, and said lower shelves are pivotally secured to said center panel.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said center panel is formed with a cut-out section in its upper portion above said upper shelves in an unfolded position.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said center panel and said end panels are provided with casters.

6. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said facing panels, said end panels and said center panel are all of substantially the same width.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,913,387 Hayward June 13, 1933

Claims

1. A FOLDABLE PORTABLE COUNTER OR BAR COMPRISING, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF VERTICALLY ORIENTED FACING PANELS WITH THE PANELS WITHIN EACH PAIR HINGED TOGETHER ALONG VERTICAL ADJACENT EDGES, MEANS HINGING AT LEAST TWO OF SAID PAIRS ALONG VERTICAL EDGES OF SAID FACING PANELS TO A COMMON CENTER PORTION, WHEREBY SAID PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF PANELS ARE ADAPTED TO FORM A CONTINUOUS FACING SURFACE IN AN UNFOLDED POSITION AND A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PANELS IN A FOLDED POSITION, A CENTER PANEL EXTENDING VERTICALLY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID CENTER PORTION AND SECURED THERETO, END PANELS PIVOTALLY HINGED TO THE OUTER-MOST EDGES OF THE OUTER-MOST OF SAID FACING PANELS, AND A COUNTER COMPRISING A CENTER COUNTER PANEL AND A PAIR OF END COUNTER PANELS HINGED TO SAID CENTER COUNTER PANEL AT ADJACENT EDGES, SAID CENTER COUNTER PANEL SECURED OVER SAID CENTER PORTION WITH SAID END COUNTER PANELS ADAPTED TO EXTEND OVER SAID END PANELS AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID FACING PANELS WHEN SAID COUNTER IS IN AN UNFOLDED POSITION.