Richard A Souder

US Patent:

54798671, Jan 2, 1996

Filed:

Oct 12, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/134655

Inventors:

Bruce D. Blevins - Bristol TN
Richard A. Souder - Bluff City TN

International Classification:

A47B 5700

US Classification:

108 94

Abstract:

A rotary table for supporting items within an enclosure includes a base having a planar top surface, a central through hole, and a radially extending circumferential flange, and a bearing retainer having a central through hole and an array of barrel-shaped recesses defined therein, arranged on plural concentric circles. Each of the recesses loosely contains a captive ball which partly protrudes from both top and bottom ends of the recess, each ball bearing against the top surface of the base. A rotatable plate is supported by the balls, and retained with respect to the base by a central post that extends downwardly through the central holes in both the retainer and the base. The ball retainer and the base have similar polar arrays of reinforcing ribs, to provide a strong but lightweight unit.