Removable leg assembly

• US 4,852,837 A
• Filed: 08/02/1985
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fisher Price Incorporated (Mattel Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merten, Barry, Kamman, Gordon W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US06/762,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188, 248/188.1, 248/188.3, 248/188.4, 248/188.8, 248/412, 248/411, 248/316.2, 248/316.3, 248/151, 248/244, 248/245, 108/156, 108/107, 403/370, 403/374, 403/317
• US Class Current: 248/188
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2013/022 with detachable connection of a tubular leg
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7056 Threaded actuator

Abstract

A detachable leg assembly for an object includes a substantially cylindrical leg having a recess adjacent a first end thereof and a tapered leg-receiving chamber, larger than the cross-sectional area of the leg, having a locking projection on one wall thereof adapted to engage the recess when the leg is positioned in the chamber; a wedge-shaped holding member adapted, when positioned within the chamber, to substantially fill the space between the leg and the wall of the chamber; and means for anchoring the holding member in position.

Claims

1. A leg assembly for an object comprising:

a leg receiving chamber in said object;

a projection attached to said chamber;

a leg having a first end disposed within said chamber;

a recess formed in said leg adjacent the first end of said leg and engaging said projection;

a wedge disposed at least partially within said chamber for securing said leg therein with said recess engaging said projection; and

means for fixing said wedge within said chamber.

2. The leg assembly of claim 1 wherein said leg receiving chamber is characterized by a substantially oval cross-section having a first end having a radius of curvature matching the leg and a second end having a larger radius of curvature.

4. The leg assembly of claim 1 wherein said wedge comprises a tapered curved wedge having an inner concave surface matching the surface of said leg and an outer convex surface matching the inner surface of said chamber.

6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said projection comprises a generally cylindrical post attached at one end to said first end of said chamber.

3. A leg assembly for an object comprising:

a leg receiving chamber in said object;

a projection extending into said chamber;

a leg having a first end disposed within said chamber;

a recess formed in said leg and engaging said projection;

a wedge disposed at least partially within said chamber for securing said leg therein;

a boss attached to said wedge; and

means for anchoring said boss adjacent said chamber.

5. A leg assembly for an object comprising:

a leg receiving chamber in said object;

a projection extending into said chamber;

a leg having a first end disposed within said chamber;

a recess formed in said leg and engaging said projection;

a curved wedge having a curved surface portion engaging said chamber and a plurality of spaced apart ribs attached at one end to said surface portion and engaging said leg at the opposite end; and

means for fixing said wedge within said chamber.

7. Components for forming a leg assembly for an object comprising, in combination:

an elongated leg having a recess formed adjacent one end thereof;

a leg receiving chamber in said object adapted to loosely receive said leg;

a locking projection attached to said chamber adapted to engage said recess;

a locking wedge adapted to fit within said chamber for securing said leg therein in locking relationship with said projection; and

means for securing said wedge at least partially within said chamber adjacent said leg.

8. The components for forming a leg assembly according to claim 7 wherein said leg receiving chamber is characterized by a substantially oval cross-section having a first end having a radius of curvature matching the leg and a second end having a larger radius of curvature.

10. The components for forming a leg assembly according to claim 7 wherein said wedge comprises a tapered curved wedge having an inner concave surface matching the surface of said leg and an outer convex surface matching the inner surface of said chamber.

9. Components for forming a leg assembly for an object comprising, in combination:

an elongated leg having a recess formed adjacent one end thereof;

a leg receiving chamber in said object adapted to loosely receive said leg;

a locking projection within said chamber adapted to engage said recess;

a locking wedge adapted to fit within said chamber for securing said leg therein in locking relationship with said projection;

a boss attached to said wedge; and

means for anchoring said boss adjacent said chamber.

11. Components for forming a leg assembly for an object comprising, in combination:

an elongated leg having a recess formed adjacent one end thereof;

a leg receiving chamber in said object adapted to loosely receive said leg;

a locking projection within said chamber adapted to engage said recess;

a locking wedge comprising an outer convex curved surface portion engaging said chamber and a plurality of spaced apart ribs attached at one end to said surface portion and having concave opposite ends engaging said legs; and

means for securing said wedge at least partially within said chamber adjacent said leg.

12. A detachable leg assembly for an object comprising:

a substantially cylindrical leg having a recess adjacent a first end thereof;

a generally frustoconical leg receiving chamber formed in said object having a locking projection on one wall thereof adapated to engage said recess when said leg is positioned in said chamber; and

a wedge-shaped anchoring member positioned within said chamber and substantially filling the space between said leg and the wall of said chamber; and

means for anchoring said holding member in place within said chamber.

13. The leg assembly of claim 12 wherein said leg receiving chamber is characterized by a substantially oval cross-section having a first end having a radius of curvature matching the leg and a second end having a larger radius of curvature.

15. The leg assembly of claim 12 wherein said wedge comprises a tapered curved wedge having an inner concave surface matching the surface of said leg and an outer convex surface matching the inner surface of said chamber.

14. A detachable leg assembly for an object comprising:

a substantially cylindrical leg having a recess adjacent a first end thereof;

a generally frustoconical leg receiving chamber formed in said object having a locking projection on one wall thereof adapted to engage said recess when said leg is positioned in said chamber;

a wedge-shaped anchoring member positioned within said chamber and substantially filling the space between said leg and the wall of said chamber;

a boss attached to said wedge; and

means for anchoring said boss adjacent said chamber.

16. A detachable leg assembly for an object comprising:

a substantially cylindrical leg having a recess adjacent a first end thereof;

a generally frustoconical leg receiving chamber formed in said object having a locking projection on one wall thereof adapted to engage said recess when said leg is positioned in said chamber;

a wedge comprising an outer convex curved surface portion engaging said chamber and a plurality of spaced apart ribs attached at one end to said surface portion and having concave opposite ends engaging said legs; and

means for anchoring said holding member in place within said chamber.