Slide assembly for extension table

Claim 2

In a slide assembly for an extension table having a pair of slide members adapted to be individually fixed to permanent leaves of said table and a strap fixed to an end of one of the slide members to retain the slide members in a relatively loose fitting, free sliding relationship for movement between spaced positions wherein said leaves are alternately disposed adjacent to and remote from one another, said strap having a surface thereof arranged in a facing relationship to the other of said slide members, the improvement comprising: detent means arranged adjacent opposite ends of said other slide member for frictional engagement with said surface of said strap to force said slide members into a tight fitting relationship substantially only when said slide members are in either of said positions thereof, whereby to frictionally interfere with relative sliding movement of said slide members adjacent said positions while permitting free sliding movements of said slide members intermediate said positions.

Claim 3

In a slide assembly for an extension table having a pair of slide members adapted to be individually fixed to permanent leaves of said table; a U-shaped strap fixed to one of said slide members adjacent one end thereof to retain said slide members in a relatively loose fitting, free sliding relationship for movement between spaced retracted and extended positions for alternately positioning said leaves adjacent to and remote from one another; and a pair of stops formed adjacent opposite ends of the other of said slide members for alternately engaging opposite ends of said strap whereby to determine said spaced positions of said slide members, the improvement comprising: detent means formed on said other slide member intermediate said stops for frictional surface engagement with said strap substantially only when said slide members are in either of said positions thereof, whereby to frictionally interfere with relative sliding movement of said slide members adjacent said positions while permitting free sliding movements of said slide members intermediate said positions.

Claim 4

In a slide assembly for an extension table having a pair of slide members adapted to be individually fixed to permanent leaves of said table; a U-shaped strap fixed to one of said slide members adjacent one end thereof to retain said slide members in a relatively loose fitting, free sliding relationship for movement between spaced retracted and extended positions for alternately positioning said leaves adjacent to and remote from one another; and a pair of stops formed adjacent opposite ends of the other of said slide members for alternately engaging opposite ends of said strap whereby to determine said spaced positions of said slide members, the improvement comprising: detent means formed on said other slide member intermediate said stops for frictional surface engagement with said strap substantially only when said slide members are in either of said positions thereof, whereby to frictionally interfere with relative sliding movement of said slide members adjacent said positions while permitting free sliding movements of said slide members intermediate said positions.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 2, wherein one of said detent means is disposed in relative close proximity to one of said stops defining said retracted position and an other of said detent means is spaced through a relatively greater distance from the other of said stops defining said extended position in a direction lengthwise of said other slide member, whereby said other detent means is effective over a greater range of sliding movements of said slide members than said one detent means.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 3, wherein said detent means are punched from said other slide member, and each of said detent means includes a generally planer surface position arranged for frictional engagement with said strap and bounding surface portions, and facing ones of said bounding surface portions defining camming surfaces engageable by opposite ends of said strap in order to facilitate positioning of said strap in frictional engagement with planer surface portions.