Locking mechanism for a folding table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285100-B2
Application number	US-202318513388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2023
Priority date	Jun 15, 2021
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

A foldable table may include a tabletop and legs that are movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. The tabletop may include a first section and a second section that are connected by a hinge assembly. A locking mechanism may be sized and configured to lock the hinge assembly in a fixed position. The locking mechanism may include a locking member, and the locking member may be a unitary, one-piece structure. The locking member may be rotatably connected to a connector of the hinge assembly. The locking member may be connected to a locking structure that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member may be sized and configured to bias the locking structure into the locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folding table comprising:
a tabletop including a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the tabletop movable between a folded position and an unfolded position;
a first bracket connected to the first portion of the tabletop, the first bracket including an outer surface and an engagement surface;
a second bracket connected to the second portion of the tabletop, the second bracket including an opening;
a connector connecting the first bracket and the second bracket;
a locking structure movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking structure sized and configured to lock the tabletop in a fixed position when the locking structure is in the locked position;
a locking member including a first portion connected to the connector and a second portion connected to the locking structure, the first portion and the second portion of the locking member connected by a connecting portion, the first portion, the second portion, and the connecting portion are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure; and
one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface, the support structures movable between a use position and a collapsed position.

2. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes one or more flanges;
wherein the outer surface of the first bracket is formed by a portion of the one or more of the flanges; and
wherein the engagement surface of the first bracket is formed by a portion of the one or more flanges.

3. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the locking member includes an engaging surface; and
wherein a user may apply a force to the engaging surface to unlock the locking mechanism.

4. The folding table of claim 3 , wherein the engaging surface of the locking member extends outwardly from the first portion of the locking member; and
wherein the first portion of the locking member rotates about the connector when a force is applied to the engaging surface.

5. The folding table of claim 3 , wherein when a force applied to the engaging surface rotates the locking member relative to the connector, the locking structure moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

6. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the locking member biases the locking structure into the locked position.

7. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion of the locking member includes an angled portion that is resiliently deformable.

8. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion of the locking member has a generally U-shaped configuration that is resiliently deformable to allow the locking structure to move between locked and unlocked positions.

9. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion of the locking member has a generally U-shaped configuration that is resiliently deformable to allow the locking structure to move between the locked and unlocked positions;
wherein the connecting portion of the locking member biases the locking structure into the locked position; and
wherein rotation of the first portion of the locking member moves the locking structure from the locked position to the unlocked position.

10. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the locking member is rotatably connected to the connector.

11. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the locking member is rotatably connected to the connector; and
wherein the second portion of the locking member is rotatably connected to the locking structure.

12. The folding table of claim 1 , wherein the locking structure engages the engagement surface in the locked position to lock the tabletop in the fixed position; and
wherein, when the locking structure is disengaged from the engagement surface, the tabletop is movable between the folded and unfolded positions.

13. The folding table of claim 1 , further comprising a release extending outwardly from the first portion of the locking member; and
wherein a force applied to the release rotates the first portion of the locking member and rotation of the first portion of the locking member causes the second portion of the locking member to move the locking structure from the locked position to the unlocked position.

14. The folding table of claim 1 , further comprising a release extending outwardly from the locking member; and
wherein the locking member is substantially disposed between one or more flanges of the first bracket and one or more flanges of the second bracket.

15. A folding table comprising:
a tabletop including a first portion and a second portion;
one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface, the support structures movable between a use position and a collapsed position;
a first bracket connected to the first portion of the tabletop, the first bracket including an engagement surface and a cam surface;
a second bracket connected to the second portion of the tabletop, the second bracket including an opening;
a connector connecting the first bracket and the second bracket;
a locking structure disposed within the opening in the second bracket, the locking structure movable between a locked position where the locking structure engages the engagement surface of the first bracket and an unlocked position where the locking structure is spaced apart from the engagement surface of the first bracket; and
a locking member comprising:
a first portion connected to the connector; and
a second portion connected to the locking structure;
wherein rotation of the first portion of the locking member about the connector causes the second portion of the locking member to move the locking structure between locked and unlocked positions.

16. The folding table of claim 15 , wherein the locking member biases the locking structure into the locked position.

17. The folding table of claim 15 , further comprising a release extending from the first portion of the locking member, the release sized and configured to rotate the first portion of the locking member about the connector when a user applies a force to the release.

18. The folding table of claim 15 , wherein the locking member is biased to move the locking structure from the unlocked position to the locked position; and
wherein when the tabletop is disposed in an unfolded position, the locking member is biased to lock the locking mechanism in the locked position.

19. The folding table of claim 15 , wherein the locking member includes a connecting portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the locking member, the connecting portion being resiliently deformable to allow the locking structure to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

20. A folding table comprising:
a tabletop including a first portion and a second portion;
a first bracket connected to the first portion of the tabletop, the first bracket including a cam surface and an engagement portion;
a second bracket connected to the second portion of the tabletop, the second bracket including an elongated opening;
a connector connecting the first bracket and the second bracket;
one or more support structures connected to the tabletop, the support structures sized and configured to support the tabletop above a surface; and
a locking mechanism sized and configured to lock the tabletop

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Olsen Brian

Classifications

• A47B2230/07

  Releasable locking means or connectors for fastening together parts of furniture · CPC title

• A47B2003/008

  the underframe parts being stored in recesses in the underside of the table top · CPC title

• A47B13/02

  Underframes · CPC title

• A47B3/002

  with foldable underframe · CPC title

• A47B3/10

  Travelling or trunk tables · CPC title