Locking mechanism for a folding table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9277808-B2
Application number	US-201414167905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Jan 29, 2013
Publication date	Mar 8, 2016
Grant date	Mar 8, 2016

Abstract

A foldable table may include a table top and legs that are movable between an extended position and a collapsed position. The table top may include a first section and a second section that are connected by a hinge assembly. A locking member may be sized and configured to lock the hinge assembly in a fixed position. Advantageously, moving the legs between the extended and collapsed positions may cause the locking mechanism to move between the locked and unlocked positions. Thus, when the legs are in the extended position and the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the table top may be secured in the unfolded position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking mechanism for a folding table comprising:
a table top including a first section and a second section that are capable of being folded and unfolded;
a support structure movable between a use position and a collapsed position relative to the table top;
a rotatable member connected to the table top, the rotatable member rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the table top;
a cross brace sized and configured to connect the rotatable member to the support structure, the rotatable member sized and configured to move between the first and second positions when the support structure is moved between the use and collapsed positions;
a first connecting member coupled to the rotatable member in a fixed position, the first connecting member moving with the rotation of the rotatable member;
a second connecting member pivotally connected to a second connector, the movement of the first connecting member moving the second connecting member; and
a locking member connected to the second connecting member, the locking member movable between a locked position to secure the folding table in a fixed position and an unlocked position to allow the table to be folded and unfolded.

2. The locking mechanism as in claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member is a cross member that is sized and configured to be disposed at least proximate a center portion of the folding table.

3. The locking mechanism as in claim 1 , wherein when the support structure is in the extended position and the locking member is in the locked position, the locking mechanism is sized and configured to secure the table in an unfolded position.

4. The locking mechanism as in claim 1 , wherein rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions moves the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions.

5. The locking mechanism as in claim 1 , wherein the cross brace is connected to the rotatable member in a fixed position so that movement of the cross brace between a collapsed position and an extended position causes rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions; and
wherein rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions causes the locking member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

6. The locking mechanism as in claim 1 , further comprising a hinge assembly pivotally connecting the first section and the second section of the table top, the rotatable member rotatably connected to the hinge assembly, the locking member engaging the hinge assembly in the locked position to prevent the hinge assembly from rotating, the locking member disengaged from the hinge assembly in the unlocked position to allow the hinge assembly to rotate.

7. The locking mechanism as in claim 6 , further comprising a first flange and a second flange of the hinge assembly, the rotatable member inserted through an opening in the first flange and the second flange.

8. The locking mechanism as in claim 7 wherein the first connecting member is at least partially disposed between the first and second flanges.

9. The locking mechanism as in claim 1 , wherein movement of the second connecting member moves the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions.

10. A locking mechanism for a fold-in-half table comprising:
a rotatable member sized and configured to be coupled to a support structure for a fold-in-half table, the support structure sized and configured to move between an extended position and a collapsed position;
a first connector connected to the rotatable member;
a second connector pivotally connected to the first connector; and
a locking member movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

11. The locking mechanism for a fold-in-half table as in claim 10 , further comprising:
a hinge assembly connected to the rotatable member, the fold-in-half table including a table top with a first portion and a second portion movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, the hinge assembly connecting the first portion and the second portion of the table top; and
a cross brace coupled to the support structure and the rotatable member, the cross brace movable between an extended position and a collapsed position.

12. The locking mechanism as in claim 11 , wherein when the support structure is moved between the extended and collapsed positions, the locking mechanism moves between the locked and unlocked positions; and
wherein when the support structure is in the extended position and the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the table top is secured in the unfolded position.

13. The locking mechanism as in claim 10 , further comprising a hinge assembly rotatably coupled to the rotatable member, the hinge assembly including two or more flanges, the first connector and the second connector being at least substantially disposed between the flanges of the locking mechanism.

14. The locking mechanism as in claim 10 , wherein the rotatable member is a cross member; and
wherein movement of the support structure between the extended and collapsed positions locks and unlocks the locking member.

15. The locking mechanism as in claim 10 wherein the locking member is connected to the second connector.

16. The locking mechanism as in claim 10 , wherein rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions causes the locking member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

17. A locking mechanism for a folding table comprising:
a table top including a first portion and a second portion that are capable of being folded and unfolded;
a support structure sized and configured to support the table top above a surface, the support structure movable between a use position and a collapsed position relative to the table top;
a rotatable member connected to the table top;
a cross brace connected to the support structure;
a first connecting member coupled to the rotatable member in a fixed position, the first connecting member moving with movement of the rotatable member;
a second connecting member pivotally connected to a first connecting member; and
a locking member connected to the second connecting member, the locking member movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

18. The locking mechanism as in claim 17 , wherein the cross brace is connected to the rotatable member and movement of the cross brace rotates the rotatable member.

19. The locking mechanism as in claim 17 , wherein the cross brace is connected to the rotatable member in a fixed position so that movement of the cross brace between a collapsed position and an extended position causes rotation of the rotatable member between a first position and a second position;
wherein the rotatable member, the first connecting member, the second connecting member, and the locking member are interconnected such that rotation of the rotatable member moves the first connecting member, the first connecting member moves the second connecting member, and the second connecting member moves the locking member; and
wherein rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions causes the locking member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

20. The locking mechanism of claim 19 , wherein rotation of the rotatable member between the first and second positions causes the locking member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Cai Jinlong
• Baik Kwang

Classifications

• Y10T74/20648

  Interrelated lever release · CPC title

• A47B3/0912 Primary

  the strut being of two parts foldable relative to one another · CPC title

• A47B13/00 Primary

  Details of tables or desks (drawers A47B88/00; feet for furniture in general A47B91/00) · CPC title

• A47B3/0818 Primary

  with manually actuated locking means (A47B3/083, A47B3/087 and A47B3/091 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47B3/087

  with struts supporting the legs · CPC title