Adjustable adapter assembly

A method of securing a framework coupled to a console to a deck comprising the steps of:

• connecting a housing member to a framework coupled to a console, said housing member having a first pair of parallel walls and a second pair of parallel walls, said first pair of parallel walls having laterally aligned elongate first slots and said second pair of parallel walls having laterally aligned elongate second slots;
• placing a clasping mechanism inside said housing member, said clasping mechanism having a shank portion, finger members extending from said shank portion, and a locking ring coupled to said finger members, said shank portion being disposed inside of said housing member between said first and second pairs of parallel walls and having first and second threaded bores laterally extending through said shank portion in a mutually orthogonal relationship;
• extending a first threaded bolt through said first slots and said first threaded bore;
• extending a second threaded bolt through said second slots and said second threaded bore;
• and
• engaging said clasping mechanism over an anchoring fixture mounted on an anchoring surface, said anchoring fixture having a part for engagement by said finger members.

An apparatus for securing a leg of a framework to a mushroom-shaped anchoring fixture mounted on a deck and having an annular rim, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing member coupled to said leg, said housing member having a first pair of parallel walls and a second pair of parallel walls, said first pair of parallel walls having laterally aligned elongate first slots and said second pair of parallel walls having laterally aligned elongate second slots;
• a clasping mechanism having
• i) a shank portion, said shank portion being disposed inside said housing member between said first and second pairs of parallel walls and having first and second threaded bores laterally extending through said shank portion in a mutually orthogonal relationship,
• ii) a plurality of finger members hingeably coupled to and extending from said shank portion, said finger members having hook portions suitable for engaging the annular rim of said anchoring fixture,
• iii) a plurality of spacer members extending from said shank portion and interdigitally alternately disposed between said finger members, said spacer members arranged to allow the annular rim of said anchoring fixture to fit therebetween,
• iv) a locking ring coupled to said finger members, said locking ring being displaceable to an open position on said finger members to rotate each finger member in an outwardly diverging rotational displacement for receiving and being positioned about the annular rim of said anchoring fixture, and said locking ring being displaceable to a closed position on said finger members to rotate each finger member in an inwardly converging rotational displacement for engaging the annular rim of said anchoring fixture, and
• v) a spring-biased detent mechanism abutting said locking ring for holding said locking ring in said closed position and configured to release said locking ring from said closed position when said detent mechanism is manually depressed and said locking ring is raised above said detent mechanism;
• a first bolt extending through said first slots in said housing member and threadably engaging said first threaded bore in said shank portion to allow selective lateral displacements of said clasping mechanism;
• and
• a second bolt extending through said second slots in said housing member and threadably engaging said second threaded bore in said shank portion to allow selective lateral displacements of said clasping mechanism in directions orthogonal to said lateral displacements allowed by said first bolt.