# US 2019/0166986 A1 · Easy Fold Locking Mechanisms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166986 A1 - Document ID: US20190166986A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/270,384 - Filed: 2019-02-07 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-12 - Assignees: Medal Sports (Taiwan) Corporation - Applicants: Medal Sports (Taiwan) Corporation - Inventors: Kevin Chunhao Tsai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166986A1 ## CPC - A47B 3/0913: {the strut being of two parts slidable relative to one another, e.g. telescopic struts} - A47B 3/0818: {with manually actuated locking means (A47B3/083, A47B3/087 and A47B3/091 take precedence)} - A47B 3/0912: {the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another} - A47B 25/00: Card tables; Tables for other games - A47B 37/00: Tables adapted for other particular purposes {(glass cutting tables C03B33/03)} - A63F 7/0612: {Basketball} - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a support system for a gaming table including a first support bar of a gaming-table support, a second support bar of a gaming-table support, a third support bar of a gaming-table support, and a gaming-table support locking apparatus. The third support bar has an arcuate shape and is in a pivotable connection with the second support bar. The gaming-table support locking apparatus includes a first locking bar and a second locking bar. The second locking bar is configured to be in one of two states of being: a first state that allows the third support bar to rotate with respect to the second support bar; and a second state that prevents the third support bar to rotate with respect to the second support bar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support system for a gaming table comprising: a first support bar of a gaming-table support; a second support bar of a gaming-table support attached to the first support bar and substantially perpendicular to the first support bar; a third support bar of a gaming-table support attached to the second support bar, the third support bar having an arcuate shape and in a pivotable connection with the second support bar; and a gaming-table support locking apparatus attached to the third support bar and the first support bar, wherein the gaming-table support locking apparatus includes: a first locking bar; a second locking bar connected to the first locking bar, wherein the second locking bar is configured to be in one of two states of being: a first state that allows the third support bar to rotate with respect to the second support bar; and a second state that prevents the third support bar to rotate with respect to the second support bar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support system of claim 1 further comprising a safety latch disposed on the second support bar, wherein the latch is configured to engage the third support bar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The support system of claim 2, wherein the safety latch includes a fastener configured to engage with a window on the third support bar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The support system of claim 2, wherein the safety latch is elongated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The support system of claim 1, wherein the second support bar is configured to engage the ground. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The support system of claim 1, wherein the third support bar is attached to a fourth support bar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The support system of claim 1, wherein the first locking bar is telescopically engaged with the second locking bar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The support system of claim 7, wherein the second locking bar defines a window, and the first locking bar includes a button configured to be in one of two states of being: a locked state that prevents the first locking bar to move telescopically with the second locking bar, wherein the button in engaged with the window, and wherein the button extends beyond the window; and a freed state that allows the first locking bar to move telescopically with the second locking bar and wherein the button is not engaged with the window. ### Claim 9 A gaming-table apparatus comprising: two side support panels, wherein each of the two side support panels include: a first support bar of a gaming-table support; a second support bar of a gaming-table support attached to the first support bar and substantially perpendicular to the first support bar; a third support bar of a gaming-table support attached to the second support bar, the third support bar having an arcuate shape and in a pivotable connection with the second support bar; a gaming-table support locking apparatus attached to the third support bar and the first support bar, wherein the gaming-table support locking apparatus includes: a first locking bar; a second locking bar connected to the first locking bar, wherein the second locking bar is configured to be in one of two states of being: a first state that allows the third support bar to rotate with respect to the second support bar; and a second state that prevents the third support bar to rotate with respect to the second support bar; and a backboard panel disposed between two side support panels and including at least one hinged basketball rim. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The gaming-table apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a safety latch disposed on the second support bar, wherein the latch is configured to engage the third support bar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gaming-table apparatus of claim 10, wherein the safety latch includes a fastener configured to engage with a window on the third support bar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The gaming-table apparatus of claim 10, wherein the safety latch is elongated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The gaming-table apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second support bar is configured to engage the ground. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The gaming-table apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third support bar is attached to a fourth support bar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The support system of claim 9, wherein the first locking bar is telescopically engaged with the second locking bar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The support system of claim 15, wherein the second locking bar defines a window, and the first locking bar includes a button configured to be in one of two states of being: a locked state that prevents the first locking bar to move telescopically with the second locking bar, wherein the button in engaged with the window, and wherein the button extends beyond the window; and a freed state that allows the first locking bar to move telescopically with the second locking bar and wherein the button is not engaged with the window. ### Claim 17 A gaming-table apparatus comprising: two side support panels, wherein each of the two side support panels includes: a first bar of a gaming-table support; a second bar of the gaming-table support; and a gaming-table support locking apparatus, wherein the gaming-table support locking apparatus comprises: a first hinge bar defining a tab notch, a second hinge bar defining a window, and a tab connector connected to the second hinge bar and configured to permit the second hinge bar in one of two states of being: a locked state that prevents rotation of the first hinge bar relative the second hinge bar, and an unlocked state that permits rotation of the first hinge bar relative the second hinge bar; and a backboard panel, disposed between the two side support panels and including at least one hinged basketball rim. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tab connector comprises a base configured for arrangement within the window formed by the second hinge bar, wherein the base is pivotably-connected to the second hinge bar within the window. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tab connector comprises a locking section defined by a locking section height that extends from the base and through both of the window formed by the second hinge bar and the tab notch formed by the first hinge bar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tab connector comprises a release section defined by a release section height that extends from the base and through the window formed by the second hinge bar. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the pivotable connection of the base relative the second hinge bar permits the tab connector to be arranged relative the second hinge bar in one of the two states of being. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein when the second hinge bar is in the locked state, the locking section height of the locking section extends through both of the window formed by the second hinge bar and the tab notch formed by the first bar. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein when the second hinge bar is in the unlocked state, the locking section height of the locking section does not extend through the tab notch formed by the first hinge bar. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second hinge bar is rotatably connected to the first hinge bar by a riveted lap joint. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar have rectangular profiles. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar are comprised of rigid material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the rigid material is one of a rigid plastic and metal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tab connector has a rectangular profile. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tab connector is comprised of a flexible material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the flexible material is one of a flexible plastic and rubber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The apparatus claim 17, wherein when the second hinge bar is in the locked state, the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar are aligned to form a straight line. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tab connector is a different color than the first hinge bar and the second hinge bar such that the tab connector may be readily identifiable. ### Claim 33 A gaming table apparatus comprising: two side support panels, wherein each of the two side support panels include: a first support bar; a second support bar; a locking mechanism attached to at least one of the support bars, the locking mechanism including: a first locking bar; and a second locking bar connected to the first locking bar, wherein the second locking bar is configured to be in one of two states of being: a first state that allows the second support bar to rotate with respect to the first support bar; and a second state that prevents the second support bar to rotate with respect to the first support bar; a backboard panel disposed between the two side support panels; a cross bar disposed between the two side support panels; and a return net disposed between the two side support panels, the return net including a first portion connected to the backboard panel and a second portion connected to the cross bar. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The gaming table apparatus of claim 33, wherein the backboard panel includes at least one rim. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The gaming table apparatus of claim 33, wherein the backboard panel includes a scoreboard. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The gaming table apparatus of claim 33, wherein the return net has a downward slope that extends toward the floor as it extends away from the backboard panel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The gaming table apparatus of claim 33, wherein each side support panel includes a side boundary net. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The gaming table apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first locking bar and the second locking bar are composed of a rigid material. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The gaming table apparatus of claim 38, wherein the rigid material is one of a rigid plastic and metal. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) The gaming table apparatus of claim 33, wherein when the second locking bar is in the second state, the first locking bar and the second locking bar align to form a straight line.