Folding leg mechanism

A folding leg mechanism for a table, comprising an elongate leg;

• means for pivotally attaching the leg to the underside of a table for swinging movement between a downwardly disposed, extended position and a folded, retracted position in which the leg lies substantially adjacent to the underside of the table;
• longitudinal slot means in the leg, said slot means extending at least through one side of the leg and being in substantially longitudinal alignment along the leg with the pivot axis about which the leg swings;
• a pin extending outwardly through said slot means for movement longitudinally therealong;
• spring means associated with said pin so as to apply a continuous force on the pin in a direction toward the end of said leg which is pivotally attached to said table;
• a trackway positioned at the side of the leg from which said pin extends, so that the pin rides on and along the trackway as the leg swings between its retracted and its extended positions;
• abutment means with which a lateral side of said leg makes contact when it is moved to its extended position, said abutment means being positioned so that said leg must move beyond a position in which its longitudinal axis is normal to the table top when being extended and will engage a lateral side of said leg after said leg has swung at least slightly beyond the point at which it is normal to the underside of the table;
• and upwardly extending, pin-receiving recess means in said trackway positioned so that said pin will enter the recess means under the force of said spring means as the leg makes contact with the abutment means, the longitudinal centerline of said recess means being substantially normal to the table, whereby when the pin enters the recess means, a wedging action is produced between the pin, a side of the recess means that confronts said abutment, and a side of said slot means that confronts said side of the recess means, which action urges the leg against said abutment means and locks it in position against any further movement about its pivotal connection to the table.