Patent US3837437A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3635172A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3635172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Table with folding legs
Assignee: WILLIAM P DE SAUSSURE
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Filing: 1969-10-15
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1989-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A table with folding legs, each leg having a supporting member operable with a locking mechanism for retaining the leg in an extended and retracted position and each locking mechanism having a releasing device for disengaging the supporting member in order to retract the leg. The supporting member for each leg is pivotally connected to its respective leg at one end and has mounted at its other end detent means which engages a cam surface that is provided with a recess to receive the detent means to lock the leg in an extended position. A leaf spring maintains the detent means in contact with the cam surface as the supporting member moves with the folding leg and also retains the detent means in the recess when the leg is in a locked position. The releasing mechanism upon actuation lifts the detent means from the cam recess in opposition to the force applied by the leaf spring and allows the leg to be manually folded with the leaf spring remaining in contact with the supporting member to provide a retaining force to keep the leg in a folded position. For tables of normal height and of lengths less than 60 inches the legs are mounted such that for each pair of legs one leg will be folded one on top of the other with the first leg lying flush with the underportion of the table and the other leg lying directly on top of the first leg.
Inventors
- 👤 William P De Saussure
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:34
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B3/00; A47B3/08; A47B3/091; A47B3/0911; A47B3/0916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In a folding table, the combination of a leg pivotally mounted for movement between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, an arm having one end coupled to the leg for movement therewith and having detent means at its other end, retainer means on the table adapted to cooperate with said detent means to retain the leg in said second position, means urging said detent means and said retainer means into cooperating relation, the actuator means for releasing said detent means from said retainer means when said leg is in said second position to permit said leg to be moved to said first position, with said urging means retaining said leg in said first position, said actuator means including a rod rotatably mounted on the table, an actuator arm projecting outwardly from one end of the rod to a position adjacent said retaining means so that the actuator arm is movable into engagement with said detent means when the leg is in said second position, and an actuator plate attached to the rod for rotating the same to move the actuator arm into engagement with the detent means to disengage the latter from the retaining means and thereby enable the leg to be moved to said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a folding table, the combination of a leg pivotally mounted for movement between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, an arm having one end coupled to the leg for movement therewith and having detent means at its other end, retainer means on the table adapted to cooperate with said detent means to retain the leg in said second position, means urging said detent means and said retainer means into cooperating relation, the actuator means for releasing said detent means from said retainer means when said leg is in said second position to permit said leg to be moved to said first position, with said urging means retaining said leg in said first position, said actuator means including a rod rotatably mounted on the table, an actuator arm projecting outwardly from one end of the rod to a position adjacent said retaining means so that the actuator arm is movable into engagement with said detent means when the leg is in said second position, and an actuator plate attached to the rod for rotating the same to move the actuator arm into engagement with the detent means to disengage the latter from the retaining means and thereby enable the leg to be moved to said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
341 words
In a folding table having a top with corners the combination of a first leg pivotally mounted near one of said table corners for movement in a given plane between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, a second leg pivotally mounted near an adjacent corner of said table for movement in said given plane between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, the radial distances from said first and second legs to the respective pivot points therefore being different by an amount sufficient to enable one leg to be positioned on top of the other in such fashion that the two legs are substantially parallel with respect to both the underside of the table top and to each other, separate locking means for each of said legs, said locking means comprising an arm having one end coupled to the respective leg for movement therewith and having detent means at its other end, retainer means on said table adapted to cooperate with said detent means to retain said respective legs in said second position, means urging said detent means and said retainer means into cooperating relationship and actuator means for releasing said detent means from said retainer means when said respective legs are in said second position to permit said legs to be moved to said first position, said urging means retaining said legs in said first position, said actuator means including a rod rotatably mounted on the table, an actuator arm projecting outwardly from one end of the rod to a position adjacent said retaining means so that the actuator arm is movable into engagement with said detent means when the legs are in said second position, and an actuator plate attached to the rod for rotating the same to move the actuator arm into engagement with the detent means to disengage the latter from the retaining means and thereby enable the legs to be moved from said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
341 words
In a folding table having a top with corners the combination of a first leg pivotally mounted near one of said table corners for movement in a given plane between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, a second leg pivotally mounted near an adjacent corner of said table for movement in said given plane between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, the radial distances from said first and second legs to the respective pivot points therefore being different by an amount sufficient to enable one leg to be positioned on top of the other in such fashion that the two legs are substantially parallel with respect to both the underside of the table top and to each other, separate locking means for each of said legs, said locking means comprising an arm having one end coupled to the respective leg for movement therewith and having detent means at its other end, retainer means on said table adapted to cooperate with said detent means to retain said respective legs in said second position, means urging said detent means and said retainer means into cooperating relationship and actuator means for releasing said detent means from said retainer means when said respective legs are in said second position to permit said legs to be moved to said first position, said urging means retaining said legs in said first position, said actuator means including a rod rotatably mounted on the table, an actuator arm projecting outwardly from one end of the rod to a position adjacent said retaining means so that the actuator arm is movable into engagement with said detent means when the legs are in said second position, and an actuator plate attached to the rod for rotating the same to move the actuator arm into engagement with the detent means to disengage the latter from the retaining means and thereby enable the legs to be moved from said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a folding table, the combination of a leg pivotally mounted for movement between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, an arm having one end coupled to the leg for movement therewith and having detent means at its other end, retainer means on the table adapted to cooperate with said detent means to retain the leg in said second position, means urging said detent means and said retainer means into cooperating relation, and actuator means for releasing said detent means from said retainer means when said leg is in said second position to permit said leg to be moved to said first position, with said urging means retaining said leg in said first position, said actuator means including a rod rotatably mounted on the table for movement about its axis, a portion of the rod projecting to a position adjacent said retaining means forming an actuator arm, so that said portion is movable into engagement with said detent means when the leg is in said second position, and a manually operable means attached to the rod for rotating the same about its axis to move the actuator arm into engagement with the detent means to disengage the latter from the retaining means and therefore enable the leg to be moved to said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a folding table, the combination of a leg pivotally mounted for movement between a first position substantially parallel to the table and a second position substantially perpendicular to the table, an arm having one end coupled to the leg for movement therewith and having detent means at its other end, retainer means on the table adapted to cooperate with said detent means to retain the leg in said second position, means urging said detent means and said retainer means into cooperating relation, and actuator means for releasing said detent means from said retainer means when said leg is in said second position to permit said leg to be moved to said first position, with said urging means retaining said leg in said first position, said actuator means including a rod rotatably mounted on the table for movement about its axis, a portion of the rod projecting to a position adjacent said retaining means forming an actuator arm, so that said portion is movable into engagement with said detent means when the leg is in said second position, and a manually operable means attached to the rod for rotating the same about its axis to move the actuator arm into engagement with the detent means to disengage the latter from the retaining means and therefore enable the leg to be moved to said first position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |