Flip top removable table system

• US 5,354,027 A
• Filed: 04/26/1994
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Falcon Products Inc. (Commercial Furniture Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Falcon Products Inc. (Commercial Furniture Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cox, Lewis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Eugenia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHROCK, ALLAN
• Application Number:
  US08/233,227
• Time in Patent Office: 168 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.1, 248/188.2, 248/291, 108/1, 108/150, 108/157, 108/160, 108/115, 108/3
• US Class Current: 248/292.14
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0025 Hinge for pivotable, single column table top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0815 the resilient force of the elastic locking means acting in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/12 Stowable tables with detachable top leaves

Abstract

A mechanism for attaching a tabletop to at least one vertical support that permits movement of the tabletop with respect to the vertical support consisting of a top plate and a bottom plate, the top plate attachable to the tabletop and the bottom plate being attachable to the vertical support. The two plates are connected by a hinge mechanism that allows movement of the top from a horizontal to a vertical position and also allows the top to be removed from the vertical support for storage. The mechanism has easily operated, releasable locking means for holding the top plate to the bottom plate when the tabletop is in a horizontal position.

Claims

1. A mechanism for permitting movement of a planar tabletop with respect to at least one vertical support, comprising:

a top plate, said top plate having a base, a front wall, a first side and a second side, each of said first and second sides having an open-mouth pivot groove and an open-mouth arcuate guide channel formed in it, said front including at least one plunger assembly for locking said top plate to a bottom plate in a horizontal position of said table top, said plunger assembly having a plunger housing mounted to said top plate along the front wall thereof and a plunger biased to extend outwardly of said housing;

a bottom plate having a base, a front, a pair of sides, said front having a seat for engaging said plunger, said pair of sides having means for pivotally engaging said top plate, a stud protruding from each of said sides, each of said studs being positioned to engage said arcuate guide channel in the side of said top plate to provide alignment and stability when said top plate is lowered to a superimposed position over said bottom plate; and

means for attaching said bottom plate to said at least one vertical support.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said plunger assembly further includes a handle apparatus, said handle apparatus being connected to said plunger so as to permit movement of said handle to retract said plunger within said plunger housing.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said plunger assembly includes a spring positioned within said housing and adapted to bias said plunger outwardly from said plunger housing.

4. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said seat comprises a member depending from the base of said bottom plate, said depending member having a receiving means associated with it, said receiving means being aligned with said plunger in the horizontal position of said table top so as to receive said plunger and lock said table top in its horizontal position.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said means for pivotally engaging said top plate further include at least one projection extending outwardly from a side of said bottom plate, said projection being engaged in said pivot groove of said top plate to permit rotational movement about said projection.

6. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said means for pivotally engaging said top plate comprise a hinge pin extending horizontally along the length of said base plate, said hinge pin including ends which project outwardly from at least one side of said base plate, the projecting end of said hinge pin being received in the pivot groove of said top plate.

7. A device for attaching a tabletop to a vertical support, said device permitting the tabletop to be tilted vertically relative to and to be removed from the vertical support, comprising:

a top plate, said top plate having a base, a front first side, a second side, and a front, each of said first and second sides having an open-mouth arcuate guide channel and an open-mouth pivot groove formed in it, a handle mounted on the front of said top plate;

a plunger assembly mounted to said top plate, said plunger assembly including a housing, a plunger cooperatively connected to said handle, and a spring for biasing said plunger outwardly of said plunger housing;

a base plate, said base plate having at least one side and a front, said at least one side having a stud extending outwardly therefrom, the stud being engaged by the arcuate groove in said top plate, and a hinge assembly for removably engaging said top plate, said hinge assembly including an extension extending outwardly from the side wall of said base plate, said extension being engageable in the pivot groove in said top plate, said front having a receiving means for accepting the plunger of said plunger assembly when said top plate is superimposed over said bottom plate; and

means for attaching said base plate to a vertical support.