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US 3,945,328 AGranted
Hinge lock mechanism for folding table leg
AssigneeKrueger Metal Products, Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Hendrickson, Richard J. Resch
Life of this patent
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AssigneeKrueger Metal Products, Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Hendrickson, Richard J. Resch
Estimating the term…
The crank arm of a hinge lock mechanism acts as an over-center latch for a folding leg when the leg is in its extended position perpendicular to the table top and also in its retracted position parallel to the table top. The crank arm is pivotally connected at one end to a support plate on the bottom of the table and is pivotally linked to a support arm on the folding leg. When the crank arm is rotated downwardly, it moves the folding leg far enough away from an apron or abutment so that the leg can be manually swung from its extended position to its retracted position and vice versa. The crank arm is subsequently rotated back to its upper limit in either case to latch the leg in position. The hinge lock mechanism is entirely hidden from view by aprons when the table is upright.
A table construction comprising a table top, an abutment attached to said table top, a leg, means for connecting said leg to said table top for movement between an extended position perpendicular to the table top and a retracted position parallel to the table top, said means including a crank arm, first pivot means connecting said crank arm to said abutment, a first link, second pivot means connecting said first link to said leg about which said leg can be pivoted from its extended to its retracted position and vice versa, and including a second link connected at one end to said second pivot means, a third pivot pivotally connecting said first link to said crank arm at a point spaced from said first pivot, and a fourth pivot connecting said second link to said abutment with said crank arm being movable between a first position in which said leg is secured against abutment and said second link is secured against movement and a second position in which said leg is free from said abutment and said second link is movable about said fourth pivot to afford movement of said leg between its extended and retracted positions.
A hinge lock mechanism for a folding table leg which is pivotable between an extended position perpendicular to the top of said table and a retracted position parallel to the top of said table, said hinge lock mechanism comprising a support arm rigidly attached to said leg near the top thereof and extending inwardly therefrom, a support plate rigidly attached to the bottom of said table near said leg and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent to said support arm, an abutment attached to the bottom of said table top near said leg, a crank arm pivotally attached to said support plate about a first pivot axis, a first link pivotally attached at one end to the inner end of said support arm about a second pivot axis and pivotally attached at the other end of said crank arm about a third pivot axis, and a second link pivotally attached at one end to said support arm and said first link about said second pivot axis and pivotally attached at the other end to said support plate about a fourth pivot axis, said pivot axes being so located that downward rotation of said crank arm moves said leg away from said abutment to a position in which the leg is sufficiently spaced from said abutment to be manually rotated from its extended position to its retracted position and vice versa, and upward rotation of said crank arm moves said leg toward said abutment and into contact with said abutment when the leg is in its extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.