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US 11,767,867 B2Granted
Pivoting joint for wooden furniture
OwnerClark Davis, Paul Schmidtinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motion control and lock mechanism for wooden furniture such as a climbing triangle is provided. The lock mechanism provides secure stop against further motion and holds the furniture in the open or closed position. The lock mechanism is easily fabricated with a CNC router while cutting plywood furniture panels.
Claims20
A piece of furniture comprising:
- a first furniture member;
- a second furniture member;
- a joint connecting the first furniture member and the second furniture member and allowing relative motion between the first furniture member and the second furniture member, the joint comprising a lock mechanism comprising:
- a pin extending from the first furniture member;
- a slot formed in the second furniture member, the slot comprising:
- a travel section extending between a first position and a second position;
- a first finger formed along the travel section, the first finger comprising an end disposed adjacent the first position;
- wherein the slot does not penetrate through the second furniture member such that a layer of material spans a bottom of the slot and connects the first finger to the second furniture member;
- wherein the pin moves through the slot travel section in a travel path between the first position and the second position during relative motion between the first furniture member and the second furniture member;
- wherein the first finger end extends into the pin travel path;
- and
- wherein movement of the pin towards the first position elastically bends the first finger.
9 more elements
A piece of furniture comprising:
- a first furniture member;
- a second furniture member;
- a pivot joint connecting the first furniture member and the second furniture member and allowing relative pivotal motion between the first furniture member and the second furniture member;
- a lock mechanism comprising:
- a pin attached to and extending from the first furniture member;
- a slot formed in the second furniture member, the slot comprising:
- a travel section extending between a first position and a second position;
- a first slot end at the first position;
- a first slot relief section;
- wherein the first slot relief section is offset from the travel section and is connected to the first slot end so that a first finger is formed between the travel section and the first relief section;
- wherein the second furniture member is made from wood, and wherein the slot does not penetrate through the wood such that a layer of wood spans a bottom of the slot;
- wherein the pin moves through the slot travel section in a travel path between the first position and the second position during pivoting motion between the first furniture member and the second furniture member;
- wherein the first finger extends into the travel path;
- wherein movement of the pin towards the first position elastically bends the first finger;
- wherein positioning the pin at the first position allows the first finger to unbend elastically;
- and
- wherein the first finger holds the pin in the first position.
14 more elements
A piece of furniture comprising:
- a first furniture member;
- a second furniture member;
- a pivot joint connecting the first furniture member and the second furniture member and allowing relative pivotal motion between the first furniture member and the second furniture member;
- a lock mechanism comprising:
- a pin attached to and extending from the first furniture member;
- a slot formed in the second furniture member, the slot comprising:
- a travel section extending between a first position and a second position;
- a first finger formed along the travel section, the first finger comprising an end disposed adjacent the first position;
- wherein the pin moves through the slot travel section in a travel path between the first position and the second position during pivoting motion between the first furniture member and the second furniture member;
- wherein the first finger end extends into the pin travel path;
- and
- wherein movement of the pin towards the first position elastically bends the first finger;
- and
- wherein the second furniture member is made from wood, and wherein the slot does not penetrate through the wood such that a layer of wood spans a bottom of the slot, and wherein the second furniture member is manufactured in a first configuration wherein the first finger is attached to the layer of wood and wherein initial movement of the pin to the first position breaks the finger free from the layer of wood and allows for subsequent elastic bending of the first finger.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.