Two-stage lock assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12458138-B2
Application number	US-202418420631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2024
Priority date	Jul 9, 2019
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A two-stage lock assembly comprising a multi-element lock tab configured for disposition in a lateral structure of a lock device. The multi-element lock tab may include a body that includes an end on which a first element and a second element are disposed. The first element may extend from the body farther than the second element to enable the first element to be introduced into a receiver prior to the second element. The multi-element lock tab may be configurable in a disengaged configuration in which the first element and the second element are not positioned in a receiver, a first engaged configuration in which the first element is positioned in the receiver and the second element is not, and a second engaged configuration in which the first and the second elements are positioned in the receiver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A table comprising:
a tabletop; a frame attached to the tabletop; and a leg assembly comprising:
a support element rotatably coupled to the frame;
a translation mechanism retained relative to the support element and the frame, the translation mechanism configured to translate along a portion of the support element as the support element rotates relative to the frame
a receiver disposed in the support element; and
a two-stage lock assembly including a multi-element lock tab, the multi-element lock tab comprising:
a body;
a first element; and
a second element;
wherein, in a disengaged configuration, the translation mechanism is not fixed relative to the support element;
wherein, in a first use configuration the support element is rotated away from the tabletop a first amount, the translation mechanism is fixed relative to the support element in a first position with the first element positioned in the receiver and the second element is not positioned in the receiver;
wherein, in a second use configuration the support element is rotated away from the tabletop a second amount, the translation mechanism is fixed relative to the support element in a second position with the first element and the second element positioned in the receiver;
wherein, in the first use configuration, the support element is rotated away from the tabletop a first angle of at least about seventy degrees; and
wherein, in the second use configuration, the support element is rotated away from the tabletop a second angle of at least about eighty degrees.

2 . The table of claim 1 , wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the leg assembly is disposed between an angle of about zero degrees to a first engagement angle at which the first element is introduced to the receiver;
wherein, in the first engaged configuration, the leg assembly is disposed at or between the first engagement angle and a second engagement angle; and wherein, in the second engaged configuration, the leg assembly is disposed at the second engagement angle.

3 . The table of claim 1 , wherein, in the first engaged configuration, the first element is disposed in the receiver and prevents an unintentional collapse of the tabletop when the lock assembly is not disposed in the second engaged configuration.

4 . The table of claim 2 , wherein the first engagement angle is between about 69 degrees and about 89 degrees; and
wherein the second engagement angle is between about 88 degrees and about 95 degrees.

5 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the multi-element lock tab is outwardly biased such that when the leg assembly is rotated to a first engagement angle, the first element is disposed in the receiver; and
wherein when the leg assembly is rotated to a second engagement angle, the second element is disposed in the receiver.

6 . The table of claim 1 , wherein in the first engaged configuration an opening in the leg assembly overlaps a lower portion of the receiver to enable the first element to move outwardly into the receiver.

7 . The table of claim 6 , wherein the opening includes a height that at least substantially corresponds to a height of at least a portion of the multi-element lock tab.

8 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the first element includes a first element height and the multi-element lock tab includes a second height; and
wherein the first element height is between about twenty-five percent (25%) and about fifty percent (50%) of the second height.

9 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the first element forms at least a portion of a first portion of an end; and
wherein the second element forms at least a portion of a second portion of the end, the first element and the second element disposed in a side-by-side configuration.

10 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the first element is disposed adjacent to the second element; and
wherein the first element is positioned on a lower portion or an upper portion of the end.

11 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the first element is positioned on a lower portion or an upper portion of the end.

12 . The table of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the end is sloped towards the first element, the sloped portion extending from a side of the body to the first element.

13 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the first element includes two protrusive features.

14 . The table of claim 1 , wherein the first element is spaced apart from the second element by a gap.

15 . A two-stage lock assembly configured to prevent structure collapse due to an insufficiently rotated leg assembly, the two-stage lock assembly comprising:
a multi-element lock tab configured for disposition in a lateral structure of a lock device, the multi-element lock tab including a body that includes an end on which a first element and a second element are disposed, wherein:
the multi-element lock tab is configurable in a disengaged configuration, a first engaged configuration, and a second engaged configuration;
the first element extends from the body farther than the second element to enable the first element to be introduced into a receiver prior to the second element; and
the disengaged configuration occurs when the first element and the second element are not positioned in the receiver, the first engaged configuration occurs when the first element is positioned in the receiver and the second element is not positioned in the receiver, and the second engaged configuration occurs when the first and the second elements are positioned in the receiver;
wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the leg is disposed between an angle of zero degrees to a first engagement angle of seventy degrees at which the first element is introduced to a receiver;
wherein, in the first engaged configuration, the leg is disposed at or between the first engagement angle and a second engagement angle of ninety degrees; and
wherein, in the second engaged configuration, the leg is disposed at the second engagement angle at which the second element enters the receiver.

16 . The two-stage lock assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the first element includes a first element height and the multi-element lock tab includes a second height; and the first element height is between about twenty-five percent (25%) and about fifty percent (50%) of the second height.

17 . The two-stage lock assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the first element makes up a first portion of the end; and the second element makes up a remaining part of the end, the first element disposed adjacent to the second element.

18 . The two-stage lock assembly of claim 17 , wherein:
the multi-element lock tab includes a top and a bottom; and the second element includes a portion of the end between the top and the first element and between the bottom and the first element, the first element and the second element disposed side-by-side.

19 . A table comprising:
a tabletop; a frame attached to the tabletop; and a leg assembly connected to the frame, the leg assembly comprising:
a support element rotatably coupled to the frame, the support element rotatable between a first position and a second position;
a translation mechanism translating along a portion of the support element as the support element rotates between the first position and the second position; and
a two-stage lock assembly including a lock tab with a first element and a second element, the two-stage lock assembly including a disengaged configuration in which the translation mechanism is not fixed rel

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Nye S Curtis

Classifications

• A47B3/087

  with struts supporting the legs · CPC title

• A47C11/00

  Benches not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A47C4/04

  Folding chairs with inflexible seats · CPC title

• A47B9/14

  with pins coacting with holes · CPC title

• A47B3/0915

  the strut having a linear sliding connection with the leg · CPC title