Folding table and hinge assembly therefor
AssigneeLive Edge Design Inc.
InventorsJohn Lore, Katie Mcilveen, Peter Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a hinge assembly including a first hinge member connectable to a leg of a table. The hinge assembly includes a second hinge member hingedly coupled to the first hinge member. The second hinge member includes an outer flange connectable an underside of a tabletop of the table. The second hinge member includes an angled member coupled to the outer flange thereof. A brace which is triangular in side profile, is formed by the angled member and a portion of the tabletop coupled thereto. The hinge assembly may include a locking mechanism which selectively couples together the hinge members. The locking mechanism is configured to self-tighten as the first hinge member is moved towards the second hinge member.
Claims20
A hinge assembly comprising:
- a first hinge member;
- a second hinge member hingedly coupled to the first hinge member;
- and
- a locking mechanism which selectively couples together the hinge members, wherein the locking mechanism includes a female member which couples to the first hinge member, wherein the locking mechanism includes a male member which pivotally couples to the second hinge member and selectively engages with the female member, with movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member being inhibited thereby, wherein the locking mechanism includes a coil spring which exerts a first spring force at least in part in a locking direction when the locking mechanism is in a locked position, thereby promoting engagement of the male member with the female member, wherein the coil spring exerts a second spring force at least in part in an unlocking direction when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position, thereby inhibiting engagement of the male member with the female member, and wherein the coil spring exerts a maximum spring force when the male member is between the unlocked position and the locked position.
A hinge assembly comprising:
- a first hinge member;
- a second hinge member hingedly coupled to the first hinge member;
- and
- a locking mechanism which selectively couples together the hinge members, wherein the locking mechanism includes a female member which couples to the first hinge member, wherein the locking mechanism includes a male member which pivotally couples to the second hinge member and selectively engages with the female member, with movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member being inhibited thereby, and wherein the male member comprises a hook which tapers from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, with movement of the hook from an unlocked position towards a locked position spring-biasing the hook towards the female member and functioning to increasingly wedge the hook into the female member.
A hinge assembly comprising:
- a first hinge member;
- a second hinge member hingedly coupled to the first hinge member;
- and
- a locking mechanism which selectively couples together the hinge members, wherein the locking mechanism includes a female member which couples to the first hinge member, wherein the locking mechanism includes a male member which pivotally couples to the second hinge member and selectively engages with the female member, with movement of the first hinge member relative to the second hinge member being inhibited thereby, wherein the male member is rotatable from an unlocked position, in which the male member is spaced from the female member, to a locked position, in which the male member selectively engages with the female member, and wherein the locking mechanism includes a coil spring which is most stretched, extended and/or elongate in between said locked and unlocked positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.