US2769650A - Table leg mounting bracket and latch structure therefor - Google Patents

Description

C. O. LARSON Nov. 6, 1956 TABLE LEG MOUNTING BRACKET AND LATCH STRUCTURE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1955 &

away 0f%07z Jami C. O. LARSON TABLE LEG MOUNTING BRACKET AND LATCH STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J4 Carrka @[amwz %m) United States Patent TABLE LEG MGUNTIN G BRACKET AND LATCH STRUCTURE THEREFOR Charles 0. Larson, Sterling, Ill; Application February 18, 1953, Serial No. 337,509 6 Claims. (Cl. 287.14)

The present invention relates to a novel folding leg and bracket structure adapted to be connected with the under surface of a flat support such as a table top, and more particularly to a novel folding leg and bracket structure constructed in a manner so that a leg may be folded to move from a vertical supporting position to a folded position against the inner surface of the support or table top.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure of the above described type whereby a leg may be securely locked in either a supporting or folding position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure of the above described type whereby the leg may be folded from the vertical supporting position to a position against the under surface of the table top and securely locked in either of said positions without need for manipulating any clamping means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure of the above described type whereby the leg in the supporting position may be adjusted to compensate for uneven floors or the like while still being securely locked in said supporting position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken 22 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 through 6 are fragmentary side elevational views illustrating the operation of the novel folding leg structure of this invention;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank used to form the novel bracket shown in Figures 1 through 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another form of the novel structure of this invention;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figures 10 through 12 are fragmentary side elevational views showing the operation of the structure illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing how the leg may be adjusted to compensate for uneven floors or the like; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 1414 of Figure 13.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 through 7 and includes a bracket 16 and a leg 18.

The bracket 16 is preferably constructed from the integral sheet metal blank 20 shown in Figure 7. The

along the line blank is folded to provide the bracket with a pairof spaced vertically disposed side plates 22 and 24 which are adapted to receive the leg therebetween. One vertical 2,769,650 Patented Nov. 6, 1955 end of the bracket remains open while the opposite vertical end is closed by the end wall 26 joining the side plates along their adjacent vertically disposed edges. A mounting flange 28 extends horizontally from the upper edge of the side plate 22 and a similar mounting flange 30 extends horizontally from the upper edge of the side plate 24. These mounting flanges are provided with a plurality of apertures for receiving screws or the like 32 whereby the bracket may be mounted directly to the under surface of a flat support such as a table top 34..

Each of the side plates is provided with a generally centrally located slot having an upper vertical slot portion 36., and a lower slot portion 38 extending diagonally downwardly away from the closed end of the bracket. It will be, appreciated that when the blank 20 shown in Figure 7 i olded to form the bracket the slot portions 36; and 38 in each side plate will align with each other. Each of the side plates is provided with a second slot 40 which is vertically disposed and opens at the bottom edge of the side plate. In addition, each side plate is provided with an enlarged or cut-away portion at the bottom h eof an at the op si e f th ack t, w h basal r cu -a y po o is ed t p o ide a e tic l y di posed edg 2- ds 4 is j e t s up end by a horizontally disposed edge 43 which servesas an upper stopwhen leg 18 is in the folded position as shown in Fig. 6. It will be understood that when the blank is fo ded. int ils final rm the slots 40 will alig wi h each other and the vertical edges 42 will likewise align with each ot er- As shown best in Figure 2 a bolt or pin 44 extends through the leg 18 and into the slot provided by slot portions 36 and 38 A wing nut 46 is threaded on the end of the bolt for the purpose to be described hereinbelow. A' second bolt or pin 48 extends through the leg and is positioned to enter the slots 40 when the leg is in the vertical supporting position or lie along edge 42 and edge 33 when the leg is in its folded position. A wing nut 50 may also be provided for this bolt if desired.

Referring particularly to Figure 3 it is seen that when the leg 18 is in its vertical supporting position the upper flat end of the leg 18 is disposed in the common plane of the mounting flanges 28 and 30 and hence abuts the under surface of the table top 34.

It should be further noted that the bolt or pin 44 is positioned in the leg an equal distance from the flat upper end of the leg and from the outer vertical edge 52 of the leg 15 so that this edge 52 abuts the end wall 26 of the bracket, Furthermore, the bolt 44 is spaced from the other longitudinal vertical edge 54 of leg 13 the same distance as from the flat top surface of the leg 18 so that when the leg is in its folded position (shown in Fig. 6 the edge 54 abuts the under surface of the table top the end wall 26 of the and the flat top of the leg abuts bracket. By this particular arrangement of the bolt 44 the leg is locked against pivotal movement when in either the open supporting position or the folded position.

Inorder to insure that the leg is securely locked in the desired position the bolt or pin 48 is positioned so that it enters the slots 40 in the side plates of the bracket when the leg is in the open supporting position, and the bolt 48 engages the vertical edges 42 of the notches in the side plates and abuts against the horizontal edge 43 when the leg is in the folded position. In order to accomplish this it will be understood that the vertical edges 42 and the edges of the slots 40 are spaced from the vertical center lines of the slot portions 36 substantially equal distances. The folding leg structure described above may be operated as follows: with the leg in the position shown in Figure 3, a downward pulling action causes the leg to move downwardly until the pin 44 enters the diagonal lower slot portion 38, at which time the bolt 48 will emerge from the slots 40. It should be noted that the lengths of the slot portions 36 and the slots 40 are sufficient to space the flat top of the leg from the under surface of the table top whereby the leg may be pivoted wihout interference from the table top. After the leg has been moved downwardly as described, further movement causes the bolt 44 to slide down the diagonal solt portions 38 until the leg is spaced sufficiently from the end wall 26 of the bracket to permit the leg to be folded to a position substantially parallel with the table top. The leg is then advanced toward the under surface of the table top and this action causes the bolt 44 to reenter the vertical slot portions 36 and the bolt 48 to engage the vertical edges 42, as shown in Figure 6. In either the supporting or folded position the leg is securely locked against pivotal movement by engagement of the leg with the table top and bracket end wall and by engagement of the bolt 48 with either the edges of the slots 40 or the edges 42 and 43. If desired, the wing nuts 46 and 50 may be tightened to clamp the side plates against the leg. However, it is found that with the novel arrangement described herein it is unnecessary to tighten the wing nuts in order to lockv the leg in the desired position.

Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 8 through 14, it will be seen that a bracket 56 has been provided having spaced side plates 58 and 60 adapted to receive the upper end'portion of the leg 62 therebetween. Mounting flanges 64 and 66 extend horizontally from the upper edges of'the side plates for securing the bracket to the under surface of the table top or the like 34. It is understood, of course, that suitable means such as screws 68 passing through apertures in the flanges 64 and 66 may be used to mount the bracket to the table top.

The side plate 58 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed and vertically aligned elongated slots 74 and 76. Similarly the plate 60 is provided with an elongated slot 70 which aligns with the slot 74 in plate 58, and a second elongated slot 72 which aligns with the slot 76 in plate 58 when the plates are assembled on leg 62. As shown in Fig. 9, a bolt 78 extends through an aperture in the'leg 62 and into the aligned slots 70 and 74 and a second bolt 80 extends through an aperture in the leg 62 "and into the aligned slots 72 and 76.

As shown best in Figures and 12, the upper bolt 78 is spaced an equal distance from the upper fiat edge or top 'of the leg 62 and from the vertical or longitudinal extending edge 82 of the leg whereby the top of the leg abuts the under surface of the table top when the leg is in the open position and the edge 82 of the leg abuts the under surface of the table top when the leg is in its folded position as shown in Fig. 12. The upper ends of the slots 70 and 74 are positioned to permit the leg to be moved against the under surface of the table top in the manner described. When the leg is in the open position, the lower bolt 80 enters the slots 72 and 76 and locks the leg against pivotal movement.

When the leg 62 is to be moved from the open position, shown in Figure 10, to the folded position, shown in Figure 12, it is first pulled downwardly until the bolt 78 rests on the bottoms of the slots 70 and 74 as shown in Figure 11. It should be noted that the length of the slots 70 and 74 is sufficient to permit the bolt 80 to emerge from the bottoms of the slots 72 and 76 as shown in Figure 11. In order to permit the leg to be folded, the bottoms of the side plates are rounded as shown. The radius 84 of the rounded bottoms of the side plates (see Fig. 11) is substantially equal to the distance between the center of the bolt 78 and the nearest edge of the bolt 80 so that as the leg is pivoted, the bolt 80 rides along the curved bottom edge of the side plates. The curved bottom edges of the side plates 58 and 60 merge with the vertical edges 86 and 88 which are spaced from the vertical center line of the plates a distance substantially equal to the above mentioned radius 84 so that the leg will be locked in a folded position substantially parallel to the under surface of the table top by engagement of the bolt with one of these vertical edges as shown in Figure 12. Preferably the vertical edges 86 and 88 (see Fig. 11) merge with notches 90 and 92 (see Fig. 12) in the side plates. These notches 90 and 92 limit the upw-ard movement of the leg. It will be understood that by forming the side plates in the manner shown a single structure is provided which will enable the leg to be pivoted either toward the right or toward the left as desired.

In cases where the novel leg and bracket structure of this invention is used to support a table it will be understood that any desired number of brackets and legs may be secured to the under surface of the table top. In many cases where a plurality of legs are used to support a table top it is found that uneven floors cause one leg to be suspended whereby an unstable support is obtained. With the novel structure of this invention the effective length of the legs may be adjusted in the manner shown in Figures 13 and 14. In order to adjust the length of a leg it is merely necessary to pull the leg downwardly until its top is spaced from the under surface of the table. The leg may then be locked in position by tightening down on wing nuts 94 and 96 (see Fig. 9) threaded onto the ends of the bolts 78 and 80. If desired a spacing block 98 may be inserted between the under surface of the table top and the top end of the leg so that the load on the table is transmitted directly to the leg. The various slots in the side plates 58 and 60 are formed long enough to permit this adjustment of length. It should beparticularly noted that the slots 72 and 76 are formed long enough so that the bolt 80 remains therein to lock the leg against pivotal movement even after the leg has been spaced downwardly from the table top as shown in Fig ures 13 and 14. While the adjustment of the length of the leg has been described with particular reference to the embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 it will be understood that the same adjustment may be made with the leg shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 through 7. V

From the above description it will be noted that the present invention has provided a novel combination bracket and leg structure which is of simple construc= tion and may be easily and economically manufactured. In addition, it is seen that this novel structure provides a foldable leg which is securely locked against pivotal movement without the need for tightening down on the wing nuts on the bolts. Furthermore, it is seen that with the novel structure of this invention the legs may be adjusted for different lengths while at the same time being securely locked against pivotal movement.

While two preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it is obvious that numerous structural details may be changed in the illustrated structures without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination a bracket having a pair of spaced side plates adapted to be attached to a planar support to extend normally thereto, means for securing said side plates to theunder surface of said support, a leg having an upper end portion shaped to be slidably disposed between said spaced side plates, each of said side plates having vertically disposed elongated closed slots formed therein and disposed normal to the plane of said support, said closed slots being formed centrally of the lateral marginal edges of each of said plates, each plate having an additional elongated open slot spaced from and disposed in line with the closed slot of each of said plates, said open slots of each plate having the outer ends opening onto the lower marginal edge of each of said plates, a pair of spaced bolts normally,

disposed in said aligned closed and openslots, said bolts passing through theupper central portion of said legand being spaced" apart such that when the upper bolt isat the upper end of the upper closed slot the lower bolt will be atthe upper end of the lower open slot and when the upper bolt is at thelower end-of its slot, the lower bolt will be disposed wholly beyond the open end of the lower open slot, and the lower walls of each plate beginning with the outer open end of said open slrots curving arcuael y outwardly in opposite directions from each adjacent wall of said open end of said open slot and then extending substantially parallel to and directed away from said open slot toward the opposite end of said plate and forming on opposite marginal sides of said plate in equally spaced relation from the walls of said closed slots a pair of notches spaced laterally and equally from and in line with the upper end of said closed slots, said notches being open at their bottom portions and in position to receive the lower bolt therein.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the bolts has one end provided with a head overlying the marginal Walls of the associated slot and notches with which said bolt cooperates, the opposite end of each of said bolts being threaded, and fastening means engaging said threaded ends and pressing against the marginal walls of the associated slots and notches.

3. In combination a planar support, a leg to be pivotally fastened thereto, a pair of sheet metal plates having their upper ends bent normally to the remainder of said plates and having means for attachment in spaced relation to the underside of said planar support whereby the main portions of said sheet metal plates are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said leg, each of said parallel spaced apart portions of said sheet metal plates being formed to provide centrally and longitudinally thereof a pair of slots comprising an inner closed elongated slot and an outer open ended slot, the open ended slot being spaced from and aligned with the closed slot, the outer edges of said open ended slot curving outwardly oppositely in arcuate fashion and thence in a direction parallel with and spaced from a longitudinal axis passing centrally through said aligned slots, and said marginal parallel portions of each of said plates terminating opposite and aligned with the innermost end of said elongated closed slots and providing thereat a pair of spaced notches on opposite sides of said plate and equidistantly disposed from the longitudinal axes of said aligned slots, said leg having a pair of holes centrally therethrough spaced apart the distance between the inner ends of said closed and said open ended slots, a pair of elongated bolts extending through said open ended slots and said closed slots and through said holes, said bolts at one end being provided with heads having a greater diameter then said slots and the other end thereof being threaded, and fasteners threaded on said bolts.

4. A bracket for use with a support member having an under surface and a folding leg comprising a pair of spaced apart plates, means for securing said plates to the under surface of the support member with the plates disposed substantially perpendicular to the under surface, said plates being positioned to receive therebetween the upper end of the leg, each 'of said plates having an elongated closed slot formed therein having at least a portion thereof disposed perpendicular to the under surface of the support member, said closed slots receiving a first bolt passing therethrough and through an aperture in the leg, each of said plates having an elongated open slot communicating with an edge thereof disposed away from the support member, the longitudinal axis of said open slots being disposed perpendicular to said under surface and aligned with the longitudinal axis of said portions of said closed slots, said open slots receiving a second bolt passing therethrough and through an aperture in the leg when the leg is in the extended supporting position; each of said plates having atnotch formed on one side thereof; saidnotches each including an edge disposed perpendicular to theunder' surface of the sup port member and an edge disposed parallel to the under surface of said support member, said first bolt being disposed at the ends of said closed slotsdisposed toward the under surface and said second bolt being disposed atthe ends of said open slots disposedtoward the under surface when the leg is in operativesupporting position, said first bolt and said second bolt being movable away from the under surfacein their respective slots until said second bolt emerges from said open slots whereby to permit said leg to be moved to a folded position touching and underlying the under surface with the longitudinal axis of the leg substantially parallel to the under surface, said first bolt being disposed at the end of said closed slots disposed toward the under surface and the second b'olt being disposed at the junction of the edges of said notches when the leg is in the folded inoperative position.

5. A bracket for use with a support member having an under surface and a folding leg comprising a pair of spaced side plates, means for securing said side plates to the under surface of the support member with the plates disposed substantially perpendicular to the under surface, said plates being positioned to receive therebetween the upper ends of the leg, each of said side plates having vertically disposed elongated closed slots formed therein and disposed normal to the plane of said support, said closed slots being formed centrally of the lateral marginal edges of each of said plates, each plate having an additional elongated open slot spaced from and disposed in line with the closed slot of each of said plates, said open slots of each plate having the outer ends opening onto the lower marginal edge of each of said plates, said aligned closed and open slots being adapted to receive a pair of spaced bolts passing through said plate and spaced apart such that when the upper bolt is at the upper end of the closed slot the lower bolt will be at the upper end of the lower open slot and when the upper bolt is at the lower end of its slot the lower bolt will be disposed wholly beyond the open end of the lower open slot, and the lower wall of each plate beginning with the outer open end of said open slots curving arcuately outwardly in opposite directions from each adjacent wall of said open end of said open slot and then extending substantially parallel to and directed away from said open slot toward the opposite end of said plate and forming on opposite marginal sides of said plate in equally spaced relation from the walls of said closed slots a pair of notches spaced laterally and equally from and in line with the upper end of said closed slots, said notches being open at their lower portions and in position to receive a lower bolt therein.

6. A bracket for use with a support member having an under surface and a folding leg, comprising a pair of sheet metal plates having the upper ends. bent normally to said plates and having means for attachment in spaced relation to the under surface whereby the main portions of said metal plates are spaced apart a distance substantially to the thickness of the leg, each of said parallel spaced apart portions of said sheet metal plates being formed to provide centrally and longitudinally thereof a pair of slots comprising an inner closed elongated slot and an outer open ended slot, the open ended slot being spaced from and aligned with the closed slot, the outer edges of said open ended slots curving outwardly oppositely in arcuate fashion and thence in a direction parallel with and spaced from a longitudinal axis passing centrally through said aligned slots, and said marginal parallel portions of each of said plates terminating opposite and aligned with the innermost of said elongated closed slots and providing thereat a pair of spaced notches on opposite sides of said plate and equidistantly disposed 'closed and said open ended slots and adapted to receive a pair of elongated bolts extending through said open 5 ended slots and said closed slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lovell Mar. 11, 1873 Erdman Dec. 15, 1914 Kromendy June 27, 1916 Bauer Aug. 25, 1931 Harman Apr. 26,1932 Mitchell June 4, 1935 Ralson May 28, 19 40 Shaffer July 3, 195 1 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1895 France June 4, 1930

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