Table leg lock

• US 5,056,746 A
• Filed: 09/10/1990
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mid-America Gutter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mid-America Scale Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsons, Kermit, Bomgaars, Roger, Chabot, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US07/580,162
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 248/519, 248/158, 248/539, 248/511, 248/188.1, 248/188, 296/65.1, 296/63, 108/18, 108/44, 108/42, 403/361, 403/372, 403/329, 403/328, 52/297, 52/298
• 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 13/023 with a central column
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2013/022 with detachable connection of a tubular leg
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/248 of wire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

Abstract

A table leg lock having a spring clip carried by a plate for engaging an annular groove in the table leg. The spring clip when pulled laterally engages a pair of flanges to spread the clip for removal of the table leg. The leg lock has application when supported by a floor or connected to the underside of a table surface.

Claims

1. A lock for accommodating a table leg having an annular groove, said lock adapted for locking said leg against longitudinal movement relative to the lock, said lock comprising a plate having an inner surface adapted for mounting to a supporting surface and an outer surface, an opening in said plate for accommodating said table leg, a spring clip having a plurality of arcuate sections being shiftably carried by said plate, said clip being shiftable relative to said plate between a locking position wherein said arcuate sections protrude into said opening and an unlocked position wherein said arcuate sections are withdrawn from said opening, said arcuate sections being adapted for engagement with said table leg at its said groove when said clip is in its said locking position with the table leg extending into said plate opening.

2. The lock of claim 1 wherein said plate includes a pair of protrusions extending outwardly from its said outer surface and contacting said clip, said protrusions constituting camming means for urging said clip arcuate sections laterally outwardly to withdraw the sections from said opening.

3. The lock of claim 2 wherein said clip includes other sections for accommodating said protrusions when said clip is in its locking position, said clip having a pair of opposed legs located on opposite sides of said opening, said legs formed to constitute said arcuate sections, said clip further including a handle interconnecting said legs.

4. In combination, a table leg lock and a table leg, said table leg having a longitudinal tube, said tube having an annular groove formed therein, said lock including a plate having an opening therethrough for supportedly accommodating said table leg, latch means carried by said plate for preventing longitudinal shifting of said leg relative to said plate, said latch means engaging said leg fitted into said plate opening at said groove and being shiftable between a locked position in engagement with said leg and an unlocked position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said latch means includes a clip having portions substantially conforming to the periphery of said leg at said groove, said clip portions being inward of said opening for engagement within groove when said latch means is in its locked position, said clip portions being withdrawn from engagement with said groove when said latch means is shifted into its unlocked position.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said clip includes a pair of legs biased in facing alignment, each of said clip legs having said conforming clip portions and a camming part, each said camming part engaging a protrusion carried by said plate as said latch means is laterally shifted from its locked position to shift at least one of said clip portions on each leg from said leg groove.

7. The combination of claim 6 further including stop means carried by plate for contacting said latch means when said latch means is in its unlocked position.