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US 12,285,100 B2Granted
Locking mechanism for a folding table
AssigneeLifetime Products, Inc.
InventorBrian Olsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable table may include a tabletop and legs that are movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. The tabletop may include a first section and a second section that are connected by a hinge assembly. A locking mechanism may be sized and configured to lock the hinge assembly in a fixed position. The locking mechanism may include a locking member, and the locking member may be a unitary, one-piece structure. The locking member may be rotatably connected to a connector of the hinge assembly. The locking member may be connected to a locking structure that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member may be sized and configured to bias the locking structure into the locked position.
Claims20
A folding table comprising:
- a tabletop including a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the tabletop movable between a folded position and an unfolded position;
- a first bracket connected to the first portion of the tabletop, the first bracket including an outer surface and an engagement surface;
- a second bracket connected to the second portion of the tabletop, the second bracket including an opening;
- a connector connecting the first bracket and the second bracket;
- a locking structure movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking structure sized and configured to lock the tabletop in a fixed position when the locking structure is in the locked position;
- a locking member including a first portion connected to the connector and a second portion connected to the locking structure, the first portion and the second portion of the locking member connected by a connecting portion, the first portion, the second portion, and the connecting portion are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure;
- and
- one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface, the support structures movable between a use position and a collapsed position.
5 more elements
A folding table comprising:
- a tabletop including a first portion and a second portion;
- one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface, the support structures movable between a use position and a collapsed position;
- a first bracket connected to the first portion of the tabletop, the first bracket including an engagement surface and a cam surface;
- a second bracket connected to the second portion of the tabletop, the second bracket including an opening;
- a connector connecting the first bracket and the second bracket;
- a locking structure disposed within the opening in the second bracket, the locking structure movable between a locked position where the locking structure engages the engagement surface of the first bracket and an unlocked position where the locking structure is spaced apart from the engagement surface of the first bracket;
- and
- a locking member comprising:
- a first portion connected to the connector;
- and
- a second portion connected to the locking structure;
- wherein rotation of the first portion of the locking member about the connector causes the second portion of the locking member to move the locking structure between locked and unlocked positions.
9 more elements
A folding table comprising:
- a tabletop including a first portion and a second portion;
- a first bracket connected to the first portion of the tabletop, the first bracket including a cam surface and an engagement portion;
- a second bracket connected to the second portion of the tabletop, the second bracket including an elongated opening;
- a connector connecting the first bracket and the second bracket;
- one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface;
- and
- a locking mechanism sized and configured to lock the tabletop in a fixed position, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a locking member including a first portion, a second portion, and a connecting portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, the first portion, the second portion, and the connecting portion integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure, the first portion of the locking member connected to the connector;
- and
- a locking structure disposed within the elongated opening in the second bracket, the locking structure connected to the second portion of the locking member, the locking structure movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.