US4838181A — Table leg coupling assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 271 words

A table comprising: a table top having an underside; at least one table leg for supporting said table top, said table leg having a follow construction and including an stop structure fixedly mounted therein which has a central aperture and an abutment surface facing away from said mounting member; at least one coupling assembly including an elongated mounting member having a guideway said guideway including an elongate surface adapted to abuttingly engage one end of said leg in the support of said table top, said guideway further including a channel intermediately positioned along said elongated surface, said channel being defined by first and second intersecting passages, wherein said first passage is oriented substantially parallel with said elongated surface; and a locking means operable between said mounting member and said leg for releasably locking said leg to said mounting member to thereby facilitate lateral adjustment of said leg along said underside of said table top, said locking means providing infinite adjustment of said leg along said elongated surface; said locking means including a bolt and a nut, wherein said bolt includes a head and a threaded portion and is passed through said aperture of said top structure to extend axially through said leg, wherein said threaded portion is threadedly received in said nut, and wherein one of said head and nut is positioned within said first passage and the other of said head and nut is positioned adjacent said abutment surface of said stop, such that said head and bolt may be tightened to lock said table leg in a desired position along said guideway and loosened to permit infinite adjustment therealong.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 271 words

A table comprising: a table top having an underside; at least one table leg for supporting said table top, said table leg having a follow construction and including an stop structure fixedly mounted therein which has a central aperture and an abutment surface facing away from said mounting member; at least one coupling assembly including an elongated mounting member having a guideway said guideway including an elongate surface adapted to abuttingly engage one end of said leg in the support of said table top, said guideway further including a channel intermediately positioned along said elongated surface, said channel being defined by first and second intersecting passages, wherein said first passage is oriented substantially parallel with said elongated surface; and a locking means operable between said mounting member and said leg for releasably locking said leg to said mounting member to thereby facilitate lateral adjustment of said leg along said underside of said table top, said locking means providing infinite adjustment of said leg along said elongated surface; said locking means including a bolt and a nut, wherein said bolt includes a head and a threaded portion and is passed through said aperture of said top structure to extend axially through said leg, wherein said threaded portion is threadedly received in said nut, and wherein one of said head and nut is positioned within said first passage and the other of said head and nut is positioned adjacent said abutment surface of said stop, such that said head and bolt may be tightened to lock said table leg in a desired position along said guideway and loosened to permit infinite adjustment therealong.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The table of claim 1 in which said second passage is oriented substantially perpendicular to said first passage and forms therewith a substantially cross-shaped channel, wherein said first passage receives said nut and thereby precludes rotative and axial movement thereof, and said second passage receives said threaded portion therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 96 words

The table of claim 2 in which said mounting member is pivotally mounted to the underside of said table for movement between a pair of positions orienting the leg in either a supporting or collapsed position, and includes a pair of angularly offset recesses; and which further includes a lever having a dog adapted formatting receipt within said recesses so that when said dog is received within one of said recesses said leg is oriented in its supporting position and when received within the other of said recesses said leg is oriented in said collapsed position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The table of claim 3 further including a spring means for biasing said lever toward said leg such that said dog is moved into either of said recesses for locking engagement when aligned therewith.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 154 words

A table comprising: a table top having an underside; at least one table leg for supporting said table top; at least one coupling assembly including an elongated mounting member having a guideway, said mounting member being pivotally mounted to the underside of said table for movement between a pair of positions orienting the leg in either a supporting or collapsed position, and including a pair of angularly offset recesses; a locking means operable between said mounting member and said leg for releasably locking said leg to said mounting member to thereby facilitate lateral adjustment of said leg along said underside of said table top; and a lever having a dog adapted for mating receipt within said recesses so that when said dog is received within one of said recesses said leg is oriented in its supporting position and when received within the other of said recesses said leg is oriented in said collapsed position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 154 words

A table comprising: a table top having an underside; at least one table leg for supporting said table top; at least one coupling assembly including an elongated mounting member having a guideway, said mounting member being pivotally mounted to the underside of said table for movement between a pair of positions orienting the leg in either a supporting or collapsed position, and including a pair of angularly offset recesses; a locking means operable between said mounting member and said leg for releasably locking said leg to said mounting member to thereby facilitate lateral adjustment of said leg along said underside of said table top; and a lever having a dog adapted for mating receipt within said recesses so that when said dog is received within one of said recesses said leg is oriented in its supporting position and when received within the other of said recesses said leg is oriented in said collapsed position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The table of claim 5 further including a spring means for biasing said lever toward said leg such that said dog is moved into either of said recesses for locking engagement when aligned therewith.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The table of claim 5 in which said mounting member and said lever are each formed as elongate extruded members.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 175 words

A coupling assembly for movably coupling a table leg for lateral adjustment to the underside of a table top comprising: an elongated body mounted to the underside of said table, and including an elongated guideway adapted to engage and mount the table leg for supporting of the table top, said guideway having a channel extending longitudinally therealong; and a locking mechanism adapted to cooperate with said channel for releasably locking said leg to said guideway to thereby facilitate lateral adjustment of said leg along said guideway, said locking mechanism includes a bolt having a head and a threaded portion, and a nut threadedly receiving said threaded portion, wherein one of said head and nut is positioned within said channel such that it is precluded from rotative and axial movement, and the other of said head and nut is positioned adjacent and abutment fixedly mounted within the table leg, whereby said head and bolt may be tightened to lock the table leg in a desired position along said guideway and loosened to permit infinite adjustment therealong.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 175 words

A coupling assembly for movably coupling a table leg for lateral adjustment to the underside of a table top comprising: an elongated body mounted to the underside of said table, and including an elongated guideway adapted to engage and mount the table leg for supporting of the table top, said guideway having a channel extending longitudinally therealong; and a locking mechanism adapted to cooperate with said channel for releasably locking said leg to said guideway to thereby facilitate lateral adjustment of said leg along said guideway, said locking mechanism includes a bolt having a head and a threaded portion, and a nut threadedly receiving said threaded portion, wherein one of said head and nut is positioned within said channel such that it is precluded from rotative and axial movement, and the other of said head and nut is positioned adjacent and abutment fixedly mounted within the table leg, whereby said head and bolt may be tightened to lock the table leg in a desired position along said guideway and loosened to permit infinite adjustment therealong.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 69 words

The table of claim 8 in which said channel includes first and second intersecting passages wherein said first passage is oriented substantially parallel with said guideway and said second passage is oriented substantially perpendicular to said first passage and forms therewith a substantially cross-shaped channel, wherein said first passage receives said nut to thereby preclude rotative and axial movement thereof, and said second passage receives said threaded portion therein.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 144 words

A coupling assembly for movably coupling a table leg to a table top comprising: a base attached to the table top; a body, supporting the table leg, being pivotally mounted to said base for movement between a pair of positions orienting the leg in either a supporting or collapsed position, said body including a pair of angularly offset recesses; a lever pivotally mounted to said base and having a dog adapted for mating receipt within said recesses so that when said dog is received within one of said recesses said leg is locked in said supporting position and when received within the other of said recesses said leg is locked in said collapsed position; and a spring means for biasing said lever in a direction toward said body, whereby said dog is moved into either of said recesses for locking engagement when aligned therewith.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 144 words

A coupling assembly for movably coupling a table leg to a table top comprising: a base attached to the table top; a body, supporting the table leg, being pivotally mounted to said base for movement between a pair of positions orienting the leg in either a supporting or collapsed position, said body including a pair of angularly offset recesses; a lever pivotally mounted to said base and having a dog adapted for mating receipt within said recesses so that when said dog is received within one of said recesses said leg is locked in said supporting position and when received within the other of said recesses said leg is locked in said collapsed position; and a spring means for biasing said lever in a direction toward said body, whereby said dog is moved into either of said recesses for locking engagement when aligned therewith.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 78 words

The coupling assembly of claim 10 in which said lever includes a pair of arms interconnected into a substantially L-shaped configuration, wherein said dog comprises an extension of one of said arms from the point of interconnection, wherein the free end of one of said arms includes a pivot pin means for pivotally coupling said lever to said base, and wherein said other arm is adapted for manipulation by a user for releasing said lever from said recesses.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 70 words

The coupling assembly of claim 10 in which each said recess is substantially trough-shaped and is defined by a pair of sidewalls, wherein one of said side walls is aligned with the pivot axis of said body and the other of said sidewalls is oriented at an inclination to the first, and in which said dog includes a pair of opposed faces adapted to matingly engage said pair of sidewalls.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 45 words

The coupling assembly of claim 10 in which said base, said body, said lever and said spring means are all positioned and attached to an underside of the table top so that they are essentially hidden from ordinary observation when said table is in use.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-06-12	1992-12-12	1993-06-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-06-12	1996-12-12	1997-06-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-06-12	2000-12-12	2001-06-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Table leg coupling assembly

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