Folding Table Base

This invention relates generally to folding tables, and in particular to a folding table base for easily folding and unfolding table legs that latch open.

Tables and chairs are supported by legs that extend from a base. Some table and/or chairs include foldable legs. Folding legs take up less room and facilitate storage of the table or chair when it is not being used. Prior folding tables include a base having two foldable arms extending therefrom. The arms include a pair of legs extending from each of the arms. Each arm is foldable between a horizontal (closed) position and a vertical (open) position. These arms are traditionally locked into a vertical position by folding braces that include two members joined by a pivot point. These braces extend between the bottom of the table and each arm. When the arms are in the vertical position, the braces are straight and form an angle with respect to the bottom of the table. Generally this angle is about 45 degrees. The legs of the table are locked into the vertical position by sliding a collar down over each folding brace such that the two members can not pivot with respect to each other. To close the legs of this prior table, the collar is moved upward so each brace can bend at the pivot point approximately 90 degrees, thus allowing each arm to fold from the vertical position to the horizontal position. These types of folding tables are awkward to fold and unfold and often require more than one person to manipulate. In addition, these prior folding tables are prone to pinching fingers during set-up and take-down. Many prior folding tables are also wobbly, unstable and lack aesthetic appeal.

Therefore, a need exists for a folding table that is sturdy in construction, easy to manipulate and compact when folded to facilitate easy storage.

A folding table base is provided which includes a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the bottom of a table. A hinge plate is hingedly connected to the side of the mounting plate. The hinge plate is adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position. A leg is secured to the hinge plate and extends generally orthogonal thereto. A latching mechanism is secured to the bottom of the table. The latching mechanism includes a latch mounting plate and a pull latch. The pull latch being slidably mounted on the latch mounting plate such that the pull latch is operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latching mechanism engages the hinge plate when the pull latch is in the latched position and disengages the hinge plate when the pull latch is in the unlatched position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a folding table base according to the present invention in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the folding table base in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adjustable leg according to the present invention having a first section and a second section;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a latching mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a leg attached to the folding table base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the adjustable leg of FIG. 3 attached to the folding table base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 5 showing the leg attached to the folding table base;

FIG. 8a is a side view of a hinge plate for use with the folding table base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8b a front view of the hinge plate of FIG. 8a;

FIG. 9a is a top view of a pull latch for use with the latching mechanism of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9b is a end view of the pull latch of FIG. 9a;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the second section of the adjustable leg of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the first section of the adjustable leg of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12a is a top view of a hinge for use with the folding table base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12b is a end view of the hinge of FIG. 12a;

FIG. 13a is a perspective view of a pair of adjustable legs and a table for use with the folding table base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13b is a side view of a spring tab for use with the adjustable leg of FIGS. 3 and 6;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a hinge plate for use with the folding table base of FIG. 15;

FIG. 15 is a top view of a folding table base including the hinge plate of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a rod for use with the hinge plate of FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 17a is a side view of a vertically and laterally adjustable leg in a first position; and

FIG. 17b is a side view of the vertically and laterally adjustable leg of FIG. 17a in a second position.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a folding table base 10. The base 10 includes a mounting plate 12 and a hinge plate 14. The mounting plate 12 is adapted to be secured to the bottom of a table (such as the table 13 shown in FIG. 13a) by fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, etc. The hinge plate 14 is pivotally connected to a side 16 of the mounting plate 12 by a hinge 20, best illustrated in FIGS. 12a and 12b. The hinge 20 is secured to the mounting plate 12 by welding, riveting, fastening, etc. The hinge plate 14 is adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position. Typically, the first position corresponds to a horizontal position or coplanar (in relation to the base plate 12) and the second position corresponds to a vertical position (in relation to the base plate 12). Returning to FIG. 1, a leg 18 is secured to the hinge plate 14 and extends generally orthogonal thereto. The leg 18 can be secured to the hinge plate 14 by welding, riveting, fastening, etc.

A latching mechanism 30 is also secured to the bottom of the table. The latching mechanism 30 can be secured by fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, etc. The latching mechanism 30 includes latch mounting plates 32 and 33 and a pull latch 34, best illustrated in FIGS. 9a and 9b. The pull latch 34 being slidably mounted on the latch mounting plates 32 and 33 such that the pull latch 34 is operable between a latched position 36 and an unlatched position 38. (The pull latch 34 is shown in the unlatched position 38 in phantom).

Referring again to FIG. 1, the pull latch 34 includes a handle portion 40 and two locking members 42 and 44. The locking members 42 and 44 are disposed at respective ends of the handle portion 40 and extend generally orthogonal thereto. The latching mechanism 30 engages the hinge plate 14 when the pull latch 34 is in the latched position and disengages the hinge plate 14 when the pull latch 34 is in the unlatched position. The locking members 42 and 44 of the latching mechanism 30 engage the hinge plate 14 at two displaced locations on the hinge plate. This insures that the hinge plate 14 is securely latched in the horizontal (open) position by the latching mechanism 30. Thus, the leg 18 is securely and stablely extended in a vertical (open) position. Pulling the pull latch 34 to the unlatched position 38 disengages the latching mechanism 30 from the hinge plate 14 allowing the leg 18 to be folded from a vertical position, illustrated in FIG. 1, to a horizontal position, illustrated in FIG. 2. At that point, the pull latch 34 can be released which will return the pull latch 34 to the latched position 36, as illustrated in FIG. 2. This allows for easily folding the table into a compact, easy to store unit.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment where the latch mounting plates 32 and 33 each comprise a pair of angle mounts 54a and 54b. Each angle mount 54 is identical in construction, as illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b. Each angle mount is secured to the bottom of the table by one or more fasteners (not shown) such as nails, screws, bolts, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pull latch 34 is slidably mounted between a first pair of angle mounts 54a, 54b (comprising first latch mounting plate 32) and a second pair of angle mounts 54a, 54b (comprising second latch mounting plate 33). Fasteners 56a,b(e.g., bolts) are inserted through holes 58a,b in a first angle mount 54a while corresponding fasteners 57a,b (e.g., nuts) are secured to the ends of the fasteners 56a,b protruding out of the corresponding holes 58a,b in a second angle mount 54b.

In one embodiment, the pull latch 34 is biased in the latched position by springs 46 and 48. The springs 46 and 48 are located in generally rectangular openings 50 and 51, respectively. The opening 50 and 51 are located in the respective locking members 42 and 44 of the pull latch 34. In this embodiment, a fastener 56a is inserted through a hole 58a in a first angle mount 54a of latch mounting plate 32, and through a sleeve 59a disposed in an opening 52. The fastener extends out of the corresponding hole 58a in a second angle mount 54b and a corresponding fastener 57a is secured to the end thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Likewise, a fastener 56b is inserted through a hole 58b in the first angle mount 54a of latch mounting plate 32, and through a sleeve 59b disposed in the opening 50. The fastener extends out of the corresponding hole 58b in the second angle mount 54b and a corresponding fastener 57b is secured to the end thereof. Similarly, a fastener 56c is inserted through a hole 58c in a first angle mount 54a of latch mounting plate 33, and through a sleeve 59c disposed in an opening 53. The fastener extends out of the corresponding hole 58c in a second angle mount 54b and a corresponding fastener 57c is secured to the end thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Likewise, a fastener 56d is inserted through a hole 58d in the first angle mount 54a of latch mounting plate 33, and through a sleeve 59d disposed in the opening 51. The fastener extends out of the corresponding hole 58d in the second angle mount 54b and a corresponding fastener 57d is secured to the end thereof.

The spring 46 is inserted in the generally rectangular opening 50 between the front 50a of the opening 50 and the fastener 56b. Similarly, the spring 48 is inserted in the generally rectangular opening 51 between the front 51a of the opening 51 and the fastener 56d. Therefore, when the pull latch 34 is pulled from the latched position 36 to the unlatched position 38, the springs 46 and 48 are compressed between the fronts 50a, 51a of the openings 50, 51 and the respective bolts 56b,d. Releasing the pull latch 34 allows the springs 46, 48 to uncompressed, thus moving the pull latch 34 from the unlatched position 38 to the latched position 36, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment where the leg 18 includes a foot 70 secured to a distal end 72 of the leg 18. The foot 70 is generally orthogonal to the leg 18. In one aspect, the foot 70 is tubular, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In another aspect, the foot 70 is a flat plate (not illustrated). FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the leg 18 and its attachment to the hinge plate 14 of the folding table base 10.

FIGS. 3 and 6 illustrate still another embodiment where the leg is telescopicly adjustable. In this embodiment, a leg 18' includes a first tubular section 60 and a second tubular section 62 which is slidably disposed within the first tubular section 60. The second tubular section 62 is secured to the hinge plate 14 and extends generally orthogonal thereto. A foot 71 is secured to the distal end 72 of the first tubular section 60. The first tubular section 60 has a plurality of holes 65 disposed therethrough. The second tubular section 62 has a plurality of holes 66 disposed therethrough. The leg 18' is secured in a particular position by a pin 64 inserted through one pair of aligned holes 65 and 66. FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the second section 62 while FIG. 11 illustrates the first section 60 of the adjustable leg 18'.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the leg 18' is secured in place by a spring tab 74, as illustrated in FIG. 13a. The spring tab 74 is secured to the first section 60 by welding, fastening, etc. The spring tab 74 is bent at its tip, as illustrated in FIG. 13b, such that when one pair of holes 65 and 66 are aligned, the tip of spring tab 74 will protrude into the holes 65 and 66 thus locking the first and second section 60 and 62 in place.

In a further embodiment (not shown), another folding table base 10 is secured to the bottom of the table. In this way, the table has two folding table bases 10 disposed on respective ends of the table for easily folding legs 18 from a closed position to an open position where the legs 18 are stablely locked. After use of the table, the legs 18 can be easily folded to a closed position which facilitates easy storage of the table.

FIGS. 14-15 illustrate another embodiment where the folding table base 10 includes a leg sliding mechanism 190 mechanically secured to the bottom of a table. In one aspect of this embodiment, the leg sliding mechanism 190 is mechanically secured to the bottom of the table by fasteners. In another aspect of this embodiment, the leg sliding mechanism 190 is mechanically secured to the bottom of the table by being secured to a hinge plate 114 that is pivotally connected to a side 116 of a mounting plate 112 by a hinge 120. The hinge 120 is secured to the mounting plate 112 by welding, riveting, fastening, etc. The mounting plate 12 is secured to the bottom of the table by fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, etc. The hinge plate 114 is adapted to pivot between a first position and a second position, as detailed above with respect to hinge plate 14. The leg sliding mechanism 190 includes a leg 118 extending generally orthogonal thereto. The leg sliding mechanism 190 is adapted to slide between a first position and a second position such that the leg 118 is laterally adjustable with respect to the table. A locking mechanism 163 secures the leg sliding mechanism in a particular position.

In still another aspect of this embodiment, the leg 118 is secured to a leg plate 175 and extends generally orthogonal thereto. The leg 118 is secured to the leg plate 175 by, for example, welding. The leg plate 175 is secured to a pair of hollow pipes 178a and 178b by, for example, welding. A pair of rods 180a and 180b are disposed in the hollow pipes 178a and 178b, respectively. The hollow pipes 178a,b slide back and forth on the rods 180a,b so the leg 118 can be adjusted laterally (front to back with respect to the table). This allows the legs 118 to be moved laterally away from where a person sits so the legs 118 do not hit the person's legs. The rods 180a,b are secured between angle mounts 184a and 184b by fasteners 186. The rods 180a,b are identical in construction, as illustrated in FIG. 16, and include fastener receptacles 184.

In a further aspect of this embodiment, the locking mechanism 163 comprises a pair of pins 164a,b. In this aspect, the hollow pipes 178a,b each have a plurality of holes 165 disposed therethrough. The rods 180a,b each have a plurality of holes 166 disposed therethrough. The hollow pipes 178a,b are secured in a particular position by inserting the pins 164a,b through one pair of aligned holes 165 and 166. Alternatively, the locking mechanism 163 comprises a pair of spring tabs (not shown) that operate essentially as described above in relation to spring tab 74.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the legs 118 each include a foot like the foot 70 illustrated in FIG. 5. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the legs 118 are each adjustable, like the leg 18' illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6.

In still another aspect of this embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17a and 17b, the vertically adjustable legs 118' each include a laterally adjustable foot 171. The laterally adjustable foot 171 includes a foot sleeve 195, a foot tube 196 and a foot lock 197. The foot sleeve 195 slides back and forth on the foot tube 196. The foot sleeve 195 is locked in a particular position on the foot tube 196 by the foot lock 197. In one aspect, the foot lock 197 comprises a spring tab that operates essentially as described above in relation to spring tab 74. In another aspect, the foot lock 197 comprises a pin (not shown) that operates essentially as described above in relation to pin 64. Therefore, when the legs 118' are moved laterally away from the user, the stability of the table is maintained by moving each leg tube 196 laterally toward the user, and vice versa.

With the exception of the lateral movement of the leg 118, the operation of the hinge plate 114 is the same as the hinge plate 14 described above. Therefore, a detailed description of how the latching mechanism interacts with the hinge plate 114, etc. has been omitted.

Other aspects, features, advantages and modifications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying this invention. All such aspects, features, advantages and modifications of the present invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.