Leg connector assembly

Claim 2

A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and comprising a front tab having a leg portion projecting from the plate and a front lip portion integral with the leg portion and generally parallel with and spaced from the plate, a pair of spaced-apart parallel side tabs spaced from said front tab and each having a leg portion projecting from the plate in the same direction as the leg portion of the front tab, and each having a lip portion integral with the leg portion and generally parallel with and spaced from the plate, said leg portions of said side tabs having inside surfaces facing respectivEly toward each other; said lip portions of said side tabs extending toward each other and having a substantial space therebetween, and said front lip portion projecting toward said space; said connector plate in said space bounded by said tabs, presenting a substantially flat smooth surface; a flat mounting plate adapted to have a leg connected thereto, said mounting plate including a front edge, and a pair of parallel side edges spaced apart the same distance as said facing inside surfaces of said leg portions of said side tabs; said mounting plate being rigidly connectable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along said flat smooth surface of said connector plate with said front edge facing said front tab and said side edges generally aligned with said side tabs, to a connected position in which said front edge engages said leg portion of said front tab, said side edges engage the respective inside surfaces of the leg portions of said side tabs, and said lip portions of the tabs extend across and engage portions of said mounting plate adjacent said edges; stop means including ends of the legs of said side tabs and edges of said mounting plate to limit the distance said mounting can be driven in a direction toward said front tab; and means securing said plates against relative movement from said connected position.

Claim 3

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said connector plate is peripherally larger than said mounting plate and has flange portions disposed outwardly of the periphery of the mounting plate; said flange portions having fastener receiving openings formed therein; and fasteners extending through said openings and securing said connector plate to an article of furniture.

Claim 4

An assembly according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said fasteners is immediately adjacent each of said tabs.

Claim 5

An assembly according to claim 1 which further includes an elongated leg secured to aid mounting plate within the region bounded by said front edge and said side edges.

Claim 6

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate has a dome shaped protuberance therein within the region bounded by said front and side edges, said protuberance projecting away from said connector plate; said elongated leg has a tubular upper end of an inside diameter slightly smaller than said protuberance; and said upper end of said leg is welded to said protuberance.

Claim 7

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate further includes a pair of guide edges extending inwardly respectively at an angle to said side edges to guide said side edges into position between said leg portions during movement of said mounting plate toward said connected position.

Claim 8

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate has a second pair of parallel side edges remote from said front edge, and said connector plate has a second pair of spaced-apart parallel side tabs remote from said front tab; said second tabs including spaced-apart parallel leg portions with facing surfaces, and lips extending respectively toward each other; said second side edges being so spaced apart and arranged that, with said plates in said connected position said second side edges engage said facing surfaces of the leg portions of said second tabs, and said lips of said second tabs extend across and engage portions of said mounting plate adjacent said second side edges.

Claim 9

An assembly according to claim 7 wherein a generally U-shaped leg brace is secured to said leg at a location spaced from said mounting plate, said leg brace including a first upper portion secured to said mounting plate closely adjacent one edge of said second pair of edges, and a second upper portion secured to said mounting plate closely adjacent the other edge of said second pair of edges.

Claim 10

An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first and second portions of said leg brace are welded to said mounting plate.

Claim 11

An assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second pair of side edges, and said second pair of side tabs are each spaced apart a distance substantially greater than said first mentioned pair of side edges and side tabs.

Claim 12

An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said mounting plate includes a pair of guide edges extending inwardly respectively at an angle to said second side edges to guide said second side edges into position between said leg portions of said second tabs during movement of said mounting plate toward said connected position.

Claim 13

A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a generally flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and having a plurality of spaced-apart struck out retaining tabs formed therein at locations spaced inwardly of the marginal side edges of the plate, each of said tabs including a leg portion extending from the plate and terminating at a lip generally parallel to the plane of the plate; said plurality of tabs including a front tab adjacent one end of the plate having its lip extending toward the other end of the plate, a first pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and substantially spaced apart, and their respective lips facing toward each other, a second pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between said first legs, said legs of said second pair of tabs being parallel with the legs of said first pair of tabs and being located between said first tabs and said other end of the plate, the respective lips of said second tabs facing toward each other; said tabs bounding an area of said plate presenting a smooth unobstructed surface; a generally flat integral mounting plate including a front edge, a first pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said first pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate, and a second pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said second pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate; said mounting plate being a force fit in said tabs and being securable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along a path including the smooth surface of the connector plate to a seated position in which said edges of the mounting plate engage under the respective lips of the tabs; said connector plate having fastener receiving openings formed herein outside the path of travel of said mounting plate during movement to its seated position; and means to secure said mounting plate to said connector plate against movement in a direction away from said front tab.

Claim 14

A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a generally flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and having a plurality of spaced-apart struck out retaining tabs formed therein at locations spaced inwardly of the marginal side edges of the plate, each of said tabs including a leg portion extending from the plate and terminating at a lip generally parallel to the plane of the plate; said plurality of tabs including a front tab adjacent one end of the plate having its lip extending toward the other end of the plate, a first pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and substantially spaced apart, and their respective lips facing toward each other, a second pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between said first legs, said legs of said second pair of tabs being parallel with the legs of said first pair of tabs and being located between said first tabs and said other end of the plate, the respective lips of said second tabs facing toward each other; said tabs bounding an area of said plate presenting a smooth unobstructed surface; a generally flat integral mounting plate including a front edge, a first pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said first pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate, and a second pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said second pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate; said mounting plate being a force fit in said tabs and being securable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along a path including the smooth surface of the connector plate to a seated position in which said edges of the mounting plate engage under the respective lips of the tabs; said connector plate having fastener receiving openings formed herein outside the path of travel of said mounting plate during movement to its seated position; and means to secure said mounting plate to said connector plate against movement in a direction away from said front tab.

Claim 15

An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said connector plate is of generally trapezoidal configuration and is secured to an article of furniture adjacent a corner thereof.

Claim 16

An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said mounting plate has a bulbous protuberance formed therein at a location within the bounds of said front edge and first pair of side edges; and said assembly further comprises an elongated leg secured to said protuberance.

Claim 17

An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said leg is welded to said protuberance.

Claim 18

An assembly according to claim 14 and further comprising a U-shaped leg brace secured to an intermediate portion of said elongated leg, said brace having upper ends welded to said mounting plate in close proximity to the respective ones of said second pair of side edges.