Counterbalancing tabletop construction

Claim 2

A table having a top assemblY mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mechanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said frame members, said bar being secured at one end to one of the two assemblies and having its opposite end secured to an adjustment element, a second adjustment element being in juxtaposition relative to said firstmentioned adjustment element and being fixed to the other of the two assemblies, and means operatively interconnecting said first and second adjustment elements and limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said first adjustment element relative to said second adjustment element as said top assembly is pivoted in either direction about said axis.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which said first adjustment element comprises at least one vertical pivot plate secured to said opposite end of said bar, said second adjustment element comprising a stop plate secured to said other of said assemblies and parallel with said pivot plate.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 in which said stop plate is provided with a recess terminating at its ends in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, said means comprising at least one stop member secured to said pivot plate and projecting horizontally therefrom into said recess for engagement with said stop shoulders as said top assembly is pivoted in opposite directions.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 in which said stop member is movably secured to said pivot plate for adjustment in a circumferential direction into any of a variety of selected positions.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3 in which a pair of said stop members are provided, said members being spaced apart within said recess.

Claim 7

A table having a top assembly mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mechanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said members, said bar being secured at one end to a pair of spaced vertical pivot plates, a vertical stop plate disposed between said pivot plates and provided with a recess terminating in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, and at least one stop member extending between said pivot plates and secured thereto, said stop member extending through said recess for engagement with at least one of said shoulders.

Claim 8

A table having a top assembly mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mechanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said members, said bar being secured at one end to a pair of spaced vertical pivot plates, a vertical stop plate disposed between said pivot plates and provided with a recess terminating in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, and at least one stop member extending between said pivot plates and secured thereto, said stop member extending through said recess for engagement with at least one of said shoulders.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 6 in which said stop member is movably secured to said pivot plates for adjustment in a circumferential direction into any of a variety of positions relative thereto.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 7 in which said stop member comprises a bolt extending through aligned arcuate slots in said pivot plates, said bolt being securable in any of a variety of positions along the length of said slots.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 6 in which a pair of said stop members are provided, said members being spaced apart within said recess.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 9 in which said stop members are movably secured to said pivot plates for adjustment towards and away from each other into any of a variety of selected relative positions.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 10 in which each of said pivot plates is provided with a pair of spaced circumferentially elongated slots, the slots of the respective plates being in paired alignment, said stop members comprising a pair of bolts extending through said slots and securable in any of a variety of relative positions therein for abutment with the stop shoulders of said stop plate.

Claim 14

A table having a top assembly mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mEchanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said frame members, said bar being secured at one end to one of the two assemblies and having its opposite end secured to an adjustment element, a second adjustment element being in juxtaposition relative to said first-mentioned adjustment element and being fixed to the other of the two assemblies, and means operatively interconnecting said first and second adjustment elements and limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said first adjustment element relative to said second adjustment element as said top assembly is pivoted about said axis, said first adjustment element comprising at least one vertical pivotal plate secured to said opposite end of said bar and said second adjustment element comprising a stop plate secured to said other of said assemblies and parallel with said pivot plate, said stop plate being provided with a recess terminating at its ends in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, said means comprising at least one bolt secured to said pivot plate and projecting horizontally therefrom into said recess for engagement with said stop shoulders as said top assembly is pivoted in opposite directions, said bolt extending through an arcuate slot in said pivot plate and being movably secured to said pivot plate for circumferential adjustment into any of a variety of selected positions along the length of said slot.

Claim 15

A table having a top assembly mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mEchanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said frame members, said bar being secured at one end to one of the two assemblies and having its opposite end secured to an adjustment element, a second adjustment element being in juxtaposition relative to said first-mentioned adjustment element and being fixed to the other of the two assemblies, and means operatively interconnecting said first and second adjustment elements and limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said first adjustment element relative to said second adjustment element as said top assembly is pivoted about said axis, said first adjustment element comprising at least one vertical pivotal plate secured to said opposite end of said bar and said second adjustment element comprising a stop plate secured to said other of said assemblies and parallel with said pivot plate, said stop plate being provided with a recess terminating at its ends in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, said means comprising at least one bolt secured to said pivot plate and projecting horizontally therefrom into said recess for engagement with said stop shoulders as said top assembly is pivoted in opposite directions, said bolt extending through an arcuate slot in said pivot plate and being movably secured to said pivot plate for circumferential adjustment into any of a variety of selected positions along the length of said slot.

Claim 16

A table having a top assembly mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mechanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said frame members, said bar being secured at one end to one of the two assemblies and having its opposite end secured to an adjustment element, a second adjustment element being in juxtaposition relative to said first-mentioned adjustment element and being fixed to the other of the two assemblies, and means operatively interconnecting said first and second adjustment elements and limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said first adjustment element relative to said second adjustment element as said top assembly is pivoted about said axis, said stop plate being provided with a recess terminating at its ends in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, said means comprising a pair of stop members secured to said pivot plate and projecting horizontally therefrom into said recess for engagement with said stop shoulders as said top assembly is pivoted in opposite directions, said stop members being spaced apart within said recess and being movably secured to said pivot plate for adjustment in circumferential directions into any of a variety of selected positions.

Claim 17

A table having a top assembly mounted upon a frame assembly for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot line extending between a pair of upstanding frame members of said frame assembly, wherein the improvement comprises a counterbalancing mechanism including a generally horizontal torsion bar extending along said pivot line between said frame members, said bar being secured at one end to one of the two assemblies and having its opposite end secured to an adjustment element, a second adjustment element being in juxtaposition relative to said first-mentioned adjustment element and being fixed to the other of the two assemblies, and means operatively interconnecting said first and second adjustment elements and limiting the extent of pivotal movement of said first adjustment element relative to said second adjustment element as said top assembly is pivoted about said axis, said stop plate being provided with a recess terminating at its ends in a pair of circumferentially spaced stop shoulders, said means comprising a pair of stop members secured to said pivot plate and projecting horizontally therefrom into said recess for engagement with said stop shoulders as said top assembly is pivoted in opposite directions, said stop members being spaced apart within said recess and being movably secured to said pivot plate for adjustment in circumferential directions into any of a variety of selected positions.

Claim 18

The structure of claim 13 in which said pivot plate is provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced arcuate slots, each of said stop members comprising a bolt extending through one of said slots and being securable in any of a variety of positions along the length thereof.