Extensible table

• US 6,742,461 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Continental Furniture Sendirian Berhad
• Original Assignee: Green Continental Furniture Sendirian Berhad
• Inventors: Sen, Lor Lean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,503
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 108/85, 108/86, 108/84, 108/87
• US Class Current: 108/86
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 1/02 with insertable leaves arranged in the centre and fixed frames

Abstract

An extensible table with its unextended tabletop formed by leaves that are slidably fixed on the supporting frame of the table. The sliding leaves are moved away from each other to reveal a hidden extension leaf that is raised by momentarily applying an initiating downward force. The extension leaf raises itself to the same level as the sliding leaves are to form an extended tabletop. The extension leaf is moved down to its original level by an applied downward force and allows for the sliding leaves to be slid toward each other to form the unextended tabletop. Latching is accomplished by a latching pin. The first end of the latching pin is in a pin housing. This allows the second end of the latching pin to move in the groove of the grooved block. A spring in the pin housing holds the second end of the pin in the grove.

Claims

1. A mechanism for raising and lowering panel to different heights, wherein the panel makes up the whole or part of a tabletop of a table, wherein the said tabletop is supported on supporting frame that is supported by upright supporting members on a horizontal support plane, wherein the said mechanism on its entirety is made up of a least one element comprising:

at least one first raising element having a compressed elastic member and having an upper end attached to a bottom of the panel and a lower end attached to the supporting frame;

a latching means comprising a latching pin, a pin housing and a grooved block, wherein;

the pin housing is attached to the bottom of the panel and the grooved block is attached to the supporting frame;

the latching pin has a first end and a second end and is bent into shape wherein axes of the first and second ends of the latching pin are parallel to each other but do not coincide with each other;

the first end of the latching pin fits in said pin housing, allowing the second end of the said latching pin to swivel about the pin housing;

the pin housing is attached to the bottom of the panel;

the second end of the latching pin is kept in the groove of said grooved block by means of a force applied to the latching pin by a compressed elastic member in the pin housing;

the groove has a closed-loop-shape;

the groove has depth that varies from deep to shallow as the closed-loop is traced along its entire length from a starting point and back to the starting point again; and

the second end of the latching pin moves in the groove as the panel moves up and down.