Stowable table assembly with a tabletop locking mechanism
AssigneeBecker Automotive Design, Inc.
InventorsHoward Becker, Ronald Weaver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stowable table assembly comprising a hinge block, a tabletop, and a support carrying the tabletop. The support is pivotably attached to the hinge block for rotation about a hinge axis. The tabletop is thereby rotatable about the hinge axis between a use position and a stowing position. The tabletop is furthermore movable relative to the support. A releasable locking mechanism associated with the hinge block and the support prevents rotation of the tabletop unless the tabletop is in a predetermined position relative to the support. The locking mechanism is released in response to movement of the tabletop to the predetermined position thereby permitting the tabletop to be rotated toward its stowing position.
Claims14
A table assembly adapted to be stowed within a compartment, the table assembly comprising:
- a hinge block;
- a tabletop;
- a support carrying the tabletop, the support being pivotally attached to the hinge block for rotation about a hinge axis, the tabletop being thereby rotatable about the hinge axis between a use position and a stowing position, the tabletop being movable relative to the support;
- and
- a releasable locking mechanism operatively associated with the hinge block and the support for preventing rotation of the tabletop unless the tabletop is in a predetermined position relative to the support, the locking mechanism being released in response to movement of the tabletop to said predetermined position thereby permitting the tabletop to be rotated toward its stowing position.
A stowable table system comprising:
- a compartment defining an interior space;
- a hinge block within said compartment, said hinge block being vertically movable between a lower position and an upper position;
- a support hingedly attached to said hinge block, said support being pivotable about a hinge axis between a horizontal use position and a vertical stowing position;
- a tabletop mounted on said support for linear movement between first and second limit positions relative to said support;
- and
- a releasable locking mechanism operatively associated with said hinge block and said support for preventing pivoting of the support from its horizontal, use position unless the tabletop is at its second limit position, the locking mechanism being automatically released in response to movement of the tabletop to its second limit position thereby permitting the tabletop to be lifted and rotated to its vertical position for stowing in said compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.