Folding table with locking hinge

Claim 1

An improved lockable hinge for a folding table which includes a pair of table surface members, legs pivotally attached to the table surface members and hinge means connecting the table surface members along adjacent edges thereof for permitting folding of the table between a storage position in which the table surface members are generally vertically oriented, and a usable position in which the table surface members are generally horizontally positioned adjacent each other to define a table surface, with the hinge means comprising at least a pair of hinge plates attached respectively to the table surface members beneath their adjacent edges, means pivotally connecting said hinge plates, and a lock bar for selectively engaging the hinge plates to lock the table in intermediate and usable positions, wherein the improvement comprises means for suspending said lock bar beneath one of said table surface members with the lock bar positioned so that the hinge plate is between the lock bar and the adjacent edge of the table surface member and said lock bar is spaced from said adjacent edge and for permitting movement of said bar toward said hinge plate as the table is moved from its storage position, the hinge plate on said one table surface member having a recess formed in its edge for receiving said locking bar, the hinge plate on the other of said table surface members having a tab with a first edge positioned to engage said lock bar when the table reaches said intermediate position short of said usable position and a second edge positioned for engaging the lock bar when the table is in its usable position, said lock bar being spaced from said adjacent edge in all said table positions, and a handle attached to said lock bar extending away from said adjacent edges, whereby said handle can be actuated to remove the lock bar from the hinge plate recess to release the lock.