What is this design feature for?

[Packard]

I am drinking coffee at Starbucks now (real coffee—black with no milk or sugar). [big grin]

The small two-top table I am sitting at, and all the rest in the room, have the posts shown in the photo below.

The two opposing posts are about 3/8” in diameter and about 1-1/2” long. They are welded to a 2” diameter post that puts the table top at 29”. The disks welded onto the ends are about 1” in diameter and about 1/4” thick.  They are welded onto the post that attaches the base at the bottom and the mounting plate at the top.  The posts are about 3” below the mounting plate the is used to attach the wood table top.

I am trying to figure out what purpose those posts serve.  (Hang an umbrella underneath??  Too little height.

The construction is rather robust, which I suppose is a clue.  But I remain clueless. 

I don’t think an overview of the table will help much, but will add a shot of that too.

Overview:

 

[Svar]

The answer is literally on the chair on your second picture - hanger for bag or backpack.

 

[Packard]

Well, it works fine for that application.  But I am fairly certain that my using it today like that is the first time it has been done at this location.

I will check with the store manager if this is actually the intended purpose.

 

[rvieceli]

Fairly common purse/bag/pack hook  [big grin]

Having it on the table pedestal keeps it accessible for the owner and out of reach for snatch and run thieves.  [sad]

Ron

 

[woodbutcherbower]

99.9999999999% of people who walk in there will never even notice those. It's only guys like us. I'm sure we've all sat in fancy restaurants, looking around at stuff, thinking 'Wow. The mitres on those baseboards are terrible' .......

 

[Chainring]

Same thing as hooks under a bar. Mostly, women use them for purses or other bags.

 

[ChuckM]

The hooks will cause a lot of people (esp. older and forgetful ones) to lose something if they use them. I, for one, will not feel comfortable if I leave something important out of sight or not in physical contact with me while having a drink or meal in a public place.

Just ask anyone who ever worked in a Lost & Found office, and you can't believe what things the public could leave behind.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

99.9999999999% of people who walk in there will never even notice those. It's only guys like us. I'm sure we've all sat in fancy restaurants, looking around at stuff, thinking 'Wow. The mitres on those baseboards are terrible' .......

It doesn't have to be fancy, though it does seem like it's worse to see in an expensive place. It used to drive my daughter nuts  [big grin] when I did it....and now she is just as bad as I am. The last one was a big ugly seam in a Corian counter top.

To stay on-topic, Yes those purse/bag hooks are pretty common around here.

 

[rst]

My wife and frequently sit at the bar of restaurants we regularly visit.  It is often faster to be seated and we like interacting with the the servers.  My wife especially likes having somewhere other than the back of her chair as she generally carries a small purse and it would be easy for her phone to be picked. 

 

[PaulMarcel]

In Mexico City, a restaurant I love brings by a short coat rack for your bag and places it next to the table out of the server's way. So much nicer than a pile on the floor or on the back of a chair. Also, lots of visibility and convenience

 

[Packard]

Over the back of your chair is an invitation to thieves.

Mexico City is home to the world’s best pickpockets.  Under the table might add a layer of protection.

Under your table is only for things that you have to have with you to drive off.  So a bag that has your car keys under the table ensures that you don’t drive off without the bag.

I showed the store manager the photo with my bag hanging.  She said, “Huh.  I think you are right”. 

I asked her if she ever saw anyone using it like that and she said “no”. But one of the baristas said she had seen it once.

It appears to be an underutilized feature.

So congrats to Svar for figuring it out (and to me for asking the question).

 

[Cheese]

If you ever go to the Virgin Islands you'd use that backpack/purse holder in an instant or you would soon learn to...guaranteed.

Because of the insect problems they have in THE most beautiful part of the world  [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up], the typical terracotta tile floor they have in restaurants is washed daily/hourly with bleach to eliminate the bugs. I'm assuming cock roaches are the issue as they are an issue on sailboats.  [eek]

So ANYTHING placed on the floor will absorb the bleach because the terracotta tile also absorbs the bleach. So bring in a dark blue item, place it on the floor for safe keeping and leave with a bleached white/yellow item.  [crying]

Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[ChuckM]

Over the back of your chair is an invitation to thieves.

Mexico City is home to the world’s best pickpockets.  Under the table might add a layer of protection.

Under your table is only for things that you have to have with you to drive off.  So a bag that has your car keys under the table ensures that you don’t drive off without the bag.

I showed the store manager the photo with my bag hanging.  She said, “Huh.  I think you are right”. 

I asked her if she ever saw anyone using it like that and she said “no”. But one of the baristas said she had seen it once.

It appears to be an underutilized feature.

So congrats to Svar for figuring it out (and to me for asking the question).

Car keys. One time at a tool store I moonlighted, we found a set of house and car keys left behind at the cashiers. We kept the keys till we closed but no one came forward to claim them until the next day when someone called and asked about his missing fob. His wife had the other set of fob when he drove away with her in the passenger seat after forgetting about his keys.

 

[bobtskutter]

99.9999999999% of people who walk in there will never even notice those. It's only guys like us. I'm sure we've all sat in fancy restaurants, looking around at stuff, thinking 'Wow. The mitres on those baseboards are terrible' .......

My wife timed 4seconds before I said those "these chairs look good" (in reference to lounge chairs in the local StarBucks).

Sure as anything I'd be leaving a chunk of my right knee cap on those hooks under the table.

Bob

 

[Packard]

Over the back of your chair is an invitation to thieves.

Mexico City is home to the world’s best pickpockets.  Under the table might add a layer of protection.

Under your table is only for things that you have to have with you to drive off.  So a bag that has your car keys under the table ensures that you don’t drive off without the bag.

I showed the store manager the photo with my bag hanging.  She said, “Huh.  I think you are right”. 

I asked her if she ever saw anyone using it like that and she said “no”. But one of the baristas said she had seen it once.

It appears to be an underutilized feature.

So congrats to Svar for figuring it out (and to me for asking the question).

Car keys. One time at a tool store I moonlighted, we found a set of house and car keys left behind at the cashiers. We kept the keys till we closed but no one came forward to claim them until the next day when someone called and asked about his missing fob. His wife had the other set of fob when he drove away with her in the passenger seat after forgetting about his keys.

I used to live a block away from the local Ducati dealership. I was walking my dog and he picked up a set of car keys. 

So I walked into the dealership and yelled out, “Anyone lose a set of car keys?  If I can just figure out which car it goes to, I can get a free car.  What does a Ferrari look like.”

A guy came up to me with an oh-my-god-what-did-I-do look on his face.  I returned his keys and he pointed to his car.  “That’s what a Ferrari looks like, and I’m glad it is still there.  Thanks.”

 

[Packard]

99.9999999999% of people who walk in there will never even notice those. It's only guys like us. I'm sure we've all sat in fancy restaurants, looking around at stuff, thinking 'Wow. The mitres on those baseboards are terrible' .......

My wife timed 4seconds before I said those "these chairs look good" (in reference to lounge chairs in the local StarBucks).

Sure as anything I'd be leaving a chunk of my right knee cap on those hooks under the table.

Bob

You would have to be at least 6’ 2” or more before that is an issue.  And people over 6’ 2” have long ago learned to watch for obstacles. 

Happily, I have not that infirmity, and my knees are safe.

 

[leakyroof]

99.9999999999% of people who walk in there will never even notice those. It's only guys like us. I'm sure we've all sat in fancy restaurants, looking around at stuff, thinking 'Wow. The mitres on those baseboards are terrible' .......

  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]  Soooo true...