Folding table mechanism
AssigneeHowe Furniture Corporation
InventorNiels Diffrient
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for folding the T-leg of a table is contained within a tubular housing carried by the end of the pedestal portion of the leg. Spring-loaded cams at each end of the housing slide in slotted frames mounted to the underside of the table. A locking shoulder at one end of each slot retains its cam in a locking position and a lever associated with each cam unlocks it and allows the leg to fold.
Claims12
In a table having a top with an under surface, at least one leg, and a mechanism for folding said leg between an upright position supporting said table top and a storage position substantially parallel with, and alongside, said under surface, the improvement wherein said folding mechanism comprises:
- first and second spaced, substantially parallel, mounting frames carried by the under surface of said table top on opposite sides of said leg, said first frame defining a first slot therein and said second frame defining a second slot therein, said slots having aligned locking shoulders;
- a tubular housing carried by said leg having first and second ends and extending substantially between said first and second frames;
- a cross rod carried by said leg within said housing and having a first end terminating at said first mounting frame and a second end terminating at said second mounting frame;
- first and second locking cams carried by the respective first and second ends of said cross rod and positioned in the respective first and second slots for rotation therein between a locking position engaging a respective locking shoulder and a release position wherein each of said cams is slidable in its respective slot;
- means mounted within said tubular housing for resiliently urging each of said cams into its locking position;
- release means for rotating said cross rod and lifting both of said cams out of their locking positions;
- and
- means for pivoting said leg into its storage position while sliding said cams within their respective slots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.