Folding table mechanism

Claim 1

In a table having a top with an under surface, at least one leg, and a mechanism for folding said leg between an upright position supporting said table top and a storage position substantially parallel with, and alongside, said under surface, the improvement wherein said folding mechanism comprises: first and second spaced, substantially parallel, mounting frames carried by the under surface of said table top on opposite sides of said leg, said first frame defining a first slot therein and said second frame defining a second slot therein, said slots having aligned locking shoulders; a tubular housing carried by said leg having first and second ends and extending substantially between said first and second frames; a cross rod carried by said leg within said housing and having a first end terminating at said first mounting frame and a second end terminating at said second mounting frame; first and second locking cams carried by the respective first and second ends of said cross rod and positioned in the respective first and second slots for rotation therein between a locking position engaging a respective locking shoulder and a release position wherein each of said cams is slidable in its respective slot; means mounted within said tubular housing for resiliently urging each of said cams into its locking position; release means for rotating said cross rod and lifting both of said cams out of their locking positions; and means for pivoting said leg into its storage position while sliding said cams within their respective slots.