US3212463A

US3212463A - Folding table assembly

Info

Publication number: US3212463A
Application number: US273683A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arne H Anderson; Joseph E Wachtel
Original assignee: Hamilton Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: HAMILTON INDUSTRIES Inc; Hamilton Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1963-04-17
Filing date: 1963-04-17
Publication date: 1965-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-19

Description

Oct. 19, 1965 A. H. ANDERSON ETAL 3,212,463

FOLDING TABLE ASSEMBLY Filed April 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Ww x J QN. mwN NNW QN. @NL NN WN NW N. mw mm NN .\%N m mm, mw (v Q mw m f. mm, mm. L w S9/N i w@ Mw www wm wm /wm GW .n d

Oct. 19, 1965 A. H. ANDERSON ETAL 3,212,463

FOLDING TABLE ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17, 1965 Oct. 19, 1965 A. H. ANDERSON ETAL. 3,212,453

FOLDING TABLE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1v, 196s United States Patent O 3,212,463 FOLDING TABLE ASSEMBLY Arne H. Anderson, Manitowoc, and Joseph E. Wachtel,

Two Rivers, Wis., assignors to Hamilton Manufacturing Company, Two Rivers, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,683 11 Claims. (Cl. 108--113) This invention relates generally to iolding tables, and more particularly to a transversely ioldin-g table assembly.

l'Ille primary object of this invention is to provide a table .assembly which is transversely toldable between open and .closed positions, and Ihas novel means tor locking the assembly in the open position.

[t is another object to provide an assembly of the toregoing character, wherein the locking means. automatically engages when the .assembly is moved to the open position.

Still .another object is to provide an assembly of the toregoing character, wherein means is provided ttor releasing the locking means trom either side of the assembly without requiring a person to bend over or stoop to reach the releasing means.

A still further object is to provi-de an assembly of the foregoing character, wherein the locking means is at .a position on the assembly where it cannot interfere with individuals using the .assembly or be accidentally released.

Other objects and .advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction lwith the accompanying iigures of the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational View of a folding table assembly embodying the invention .and showing the assembly in its open position;

FIG. 2 is la sectional View of the assembly, taken on the line 2--t2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken on the line 6-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG l;

lFIG. 5 is a tragmentary side elevational view showing the assembly intermediate its open .and closed positions;

FIG. 6 is .a side elevational view showing the assembly .in its closed position;

FIG. 7 is 1an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. y2;

\FIG. 8 is .a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line `8 8 ot FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are further enlarged views of a portion of the assembly.

In general, the holding table assembly disclosed herein comprises .a unitary supporting .structure with table top sections removably secured thereto. The unitary supporting structure is arranged to support the table top sections -i-n horizontal endetoeend relation when the assembly is in its open position, and the table top sections are substantially vertically 'disposed in parallel planes when the assembly is in its closed position. 'The supporting structure includes at substantially the center of the assembly, two portions which move toward and away from each other upon movement of the assembly between its open and closed positions, and a loc-king mechanism embodying the invention is designed to releasibly lock these two portions together 'when the assembly is in its open position, thereby preventing movement of the assembly to the closed position.

'llhe locking mechanism comprises a rod secured to one of 4the portions and a catch mechanism secured to the other of the two portions. The catch mechanism is designed to :automatically engage and hold the rod upon movement of the .assembly to its open position. The catch mechanism includes a release handle which is easily acice cessible :and is arranged upon actuation, to cause the catch mechanism to release the rod so that the assembly may be moved toits closed position.

The unitary supporting structure comprises a pair of elongated aprons to which the table top sections are removably secured, a pair of end leg supports, ,and a center leg support. Each end leg support is pivotally connected to the outer end of one pair of aprons, 'and the center leg supp-ort is pivotally connected to the aprons at their adjacent ends, The center leg support comprises an upper portion which is pivotally connected to the aprons yand a lower portion which is slidably connected to the upper portion. 'Ilh'e upper land lower portions of the center leg support .are the previously mentioned relatively movable portions to which the open position locking mechanism is secured. Stretcher bars are located below the pairs of aprons .and each 'stretcher bar is pivotal-1y connected to one end leg support and to the upper portion of the center leg support. Equalizing means is also provided tor holding the center leg support in vertical position throughout movement of the assembly between its open and closed position, the equalizing means lbeing pivotally connected both to the aprons and to the lower portion of the center leg support.

In greater detail, the supporti-ng structure of the folding table ,assembly comprises two end leg supports 10, 11 (FIGS. 1, A3, 4 and 5) each comprising a of lfshaped table supporting members 1'2 and two cross braces i13 .and l14. 'Ilhe table supporting members 1-2 may be secured together 'in laterally spaced apart relation to leach other by the cross braces l13 and 14 las by welding. The cross brace 14 is substantially U-shaped and 'its two arms extend angularly outwardly in the general direction in the .adjacent corners of the assembly and in side-by-side relation to the horizontal lower portions of :the Ifshaped table supporting member 12. The ends of the members 12 and the cross brace 14 receive casters 16 which facilitate movement of the table :assembly on the oor when the lassembly is closed. The outturned portions of the members d2 and the outturned :arms of the cross brace 14 place adj-aoent casters 116 a substantial distance apart to provide greater stability when the assembly is both open and closed. The upper end of each table supporti-ng member 12 is provided with a cap member 17 in the form of an angle.

The supporting structure further comprises a center leg support y'18 which comprises .an upper portion 19 (FIG. 2) and a lower portion I20 which is movably connected to :the upper portion 19. The lower portion 20 comprises a pair of nprights 22 secured together by a lower cross brace 23, and the upper portion 19 comprises a pair of .tubular slide members 24 secured together by an upper cross brace 26. Each of the uprights 22 of the lower portion '20 is disposed within .a slide member 24 of the upper portion 119 in telescoping relation. The upper end of each of the slide members 24 is rigidly secured to a channel shaped cap member 27, and the lower end ot' each upright 22 is provided with a cup 28 preferably made of a material s-uch as plastic, These cups rest on the floor when lthe assembly is open and restrain unwanted rolling movement of vthe .assembly because of their im'ctional engagement with the door. The casters 1.6 of the end leg supports 10 and 11 may also be of the .type having a brake to prevent unwanted rolling movement of .the table assembly.

Two pairs of table top supporting means are also included in the supporting structure, the two pairs extending in horizontal end-to-end relation when the assembly is in the open position and substantially vertically when the assembly is in the closed position. Each pair of table top supporting means comprises two laterally spaced aprons 31 each having an angle cross section. The two aprons of each pair are pivotally connected at their outer ends to the upper ends of the table supporting members 12 and the cap members 17 of the end leg supports 10 and 11 by pins 32.- The four aprons 31 are also pivotally connected at their adjacent ends to the caps 27 of the center leg support 18 by pins 33.

The end leg supports 10 and 11 and the center leg support 18 are further interconnected intermediate the sides of the assembly by a pair of stretcher bars 34 (FIGS. l to The outer end of each stretcher bar 34 is pivotally connected by a pin l36 to a bracket 37 which is rigidly secured to the cross brace 13 of each end leg support. The bracket 37 on each cross brace 13 extends substantially horizontally in the direction of the center leg support 18. The inner end of each stretcher bar 34 is pivotally connected to the upper cross brace 26 of the center leg support 18. For this purpose, two brackets 38 are rigidly secured to the cross brace 26 and are pivotally connected to the stretcher bars 34 by pins 39. The bracket 38 at one side of the assembly is offset laterally of the table from the other bracket 38 and extends downwardly at an angle so that the inner ends of the stretcher bars cross each other. The brackets 37 and 3S are so positioned that the axes of the

pins

36 and 39 for each stretcher bar 34 substantially deiine a parallelograrn with the axes of the

pins

32 and 33 which pivotally connect the aprons 31 to the end and center leg supports.

The supporting structure further comprises equalizing means to maintain the center leg support 18 in substantially vertical position throughout movement of th-e assembly between the open and closed positions. For this purpose, two links 41 (FIGS. l, 4 and 5) are provided, each link 41 being connected between the lower portion 20 of the center leg support 18 and a pair of the aprons 31. The lower end of each link 41 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 42 (FIGS. 2 and 8) to a cylindrical rod retainer 43. The lower end of the retainer 43, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, is secured to the upper surface of the lower cross brace 23 of the lower portion 28 of the center leg support 18. From the cross brace 23, the links 41 extend upwardly and the links 41 slant longitudinally toward the respective ends of the assembly. The upper end of each link 41 is secured as by welding to a cross member 44 in the shape of an angle. The two cross members 44 extend laterally of the assembly between the pairs of aprons 31 (FIGS. 2 and 4) and are pivotal- 1y connected to the aprons 31 by means 'of pins 46, a pin 46 being secured to each end of the cross members 44 and extending .through a hole formed in the adjacent apron 31.

As the assembly is moved from its open position shown in FIG. l, through an intermediate position, shown in FIG. 5, t-o its closed position, shown in FIG. 6, the upper ends of the links 41 swing downwardly and inwardly relative to the upper rend of the center leg support, and the lower ends of the links 41 move downwardly. This causes .the lower portion 20 of the center leg support 18 to move downwardly relative to the upper portion 19 lof this center leg support 18. Further, the links 41 maintain the center leg support 18 in vertical position during opening and `closing movement, and the end leg supports 10 and 11 are similarly held in vertical positions due to the connections of the stretcher bars 34.

As shown in FIG. 2, one stretcher bar 34 and one link 41 is positioned on `each side of the longitudinal centerline of the assembly, and, on each side of the assembly, the stretcher bar 34 and the link 41 extend in opposite directions. By this arrangement, interference between the stretcher bars 34 and the link 41 is prevented during opening and closing movements.

Counterbalancing means (not shown) may be proon the rod S6 and functions as a lock nut.

vided if desired for assisting closing movement of the assembly and counterbalancing the weight of the assembly during opening movement. This means may comprise torsion springs on the pins 33 or coiled compression springs positioned within the slide members 24 and at the top of the uprights Z2 of the center leg support 18.

A table top section 47 is removably mounted -on top of each pair of aprons 31 of the supporting structure by means of screws 48 (FIG. 2) which extend through holes formed in the aprons 31 and are threaded into the undersurface of the table top sections 47. The adjacent ends of the table top sections 47 are spaced apart, the space between them, indicated by the numeral 45 (FIGS. l, 4 and 7), being suihcient to prevent a person from pinching his iingers when the assembly is opened. The supporting structure described herein is completely self supporting and operative in and of itself, and does not require the table top sections 47 to hold the parts .thereof together in operative relation. Therefore, a table top section 47 may be easily replaced if damaged.

Mechanism is provided for locking the assembly in the closed position, comprising a latch 51 and an arm 52 (FIGS. l, 5 and 6). The latch 51 is pivotally connected .to the pin 32 which connects one of the aprons 31 to a member 12 of an end leg support, and the arm 52 is secured to the latch 51 and engages the adjacent member 12. The arm 52 holds the latch 51 in substantially horizontal position during opening and closing movements of the assembly, and in position for a hook formed on the latch 51 to engage .the pin 32 at the opposite end and on the same side of the assembly when the assembly is in its closed position (FIGS. 4 and 6). To this end, the pin 32 which is engaged, extends outwardly a short distance from the side of the assembly.

In accordance with the invention, mechanism is also provided for locking the upper and lower portions of the center leg support 18 together in order to hold t-he assembly in its open position. This open position locking mechanism comprises the rod retainer 43, to which the equalizing links 41 are attached, and a rod 56 which is fastened to the upper end of the retainer 43. To fasten the rod 56 to the retainer 43, the lower end of the rod 56 is threaded into a tianged nut 57 which is secured as by welding to lthe rod retainer 43, and a second nut 58 is also threaded The rod 56 extends vertically upward from the retainer 43 and its length is such that its upper end i-s above the level of the cross brace 26 when the assembly is in its open position. Openings 59 (FIGS. 7 and 8) are formed through the. top and bottom sides of the upper cross brace 26, and the rod 56 extends through these openings 59 when the assembly is open. As the assembly is moved to its closed position, the lower cross brace 23 moves downwardly relative to the upper cross brace 26 and the rod 56 is vzvthdrawn from the openings 59 in the upper cross brace A catch mechanism ris secured to the upper cross brace 26 and is Iadapted to engage and hold the rod 56 when the assembly is open. This 4catch mechanism comprises a generally cylindrical catch housing 61 which is secured as by welding to the surface of the upper cross brace 26 and is coaxial with the openings 59 and with the rod 56. As is also the case with the rod retainer 43, the lower end of the catch housing 61 is provided with a semicircular shape to tit the circular cross brace to which it is secured.

A circular cap 62, which may be made of a plastic material, is positioned over the upper end of the catch housing 61.

A generally circular washer 63 (FIGS. 8 vto l0) is loosely mounted within the catch housing 61, the washer 63 being mounted by means of a tab portion 64 which extends radially outward and then downward. The tab.

portion 64 extends through an opening 66 in one side of the catch housing 61, the downwardly extending end of the tab portion 64 being on the outside of the catch housing 61, so that the washer 63 may pivot on the bottom edge of the opening 66. A circular hole 67 is formed at the center of the washer 63, which is large enough to receive the rod 56. As clearly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the hole 67 is countersunk from both sides of the washer 63.

The washer 63 is positioned within the catch housing 61 so that it is below the upper end of the rod 56 when the table is open, and the washer may be pivoted between a position where the axis of the lhole 67 is substantially coincident with the axis of the rod 56 and the housing 61, and a position where the axis of the hole 67 is noncoincident with the other two laxes. When they are substantially coincident, the rod 56 may be inserted into the hole 67 and moved freely of the washer 63 therein, and when they are substantially noncoincident, the margin of the hole 67 engages and holds the rod 56 against movement. The upper end of the rod 56 is sharpened or beveled somewhat so that it is self guiding into the hole 67, and also into the `openings 59 of the upper cross brace 26, as the assembly is opened.

A biasing means in the form of a coiled compression spring 68 (FIG. 8) is provided which urges .the portion of the washer 63 within the housing 61 downwardly, or counterclockwise, and, consequently, the hole 67 into a non coaxial relation with the rod 56. The spring 68 is positioned between the upper side of the washer 63 and a pin 69 which is secured in the catch housing 61. When the table is open and the rod 56 extends through the hole 67 'of the washer 63, the spring 68 urges the washer 63 in the countercloclcwise direction, as shown in FIG. 8, and causes the margin of the hole 67 to tightly engage the rod 56 and prevent downward movement of the rod 56.

To cause the washer 63 to release the rod 56 so that the `assembly may be moved to its closed position, a release in the form of an L-shaped hand lever 71 is provided. The lever 71 is pivotally fastened to the outside of the catch housing 61 by means of a pin 72 and two ears 73 which are secured in spaced apart relation to .the outside of the catch housing 61. A hole is formed through the lever 71 generally at its bend, and a pin 72 is rotatably mounted in this Ihole and is secured to the ears 73. The lower relatively short arm of the lever 71 extends through an opening 74 formed in the catch housing 61 between the ears 73, and the end of this arm of the lever 71 extends underneath the washer 63. The end of the lever 71 within the catch housing 61 is rounded ott so that it will slide easily on the undersurface of the washer 63. The ears 73 and the opening 74 are on the opposite side of the housing 61 from the opening 66 for the tab portion 64 of the washer 63, and the end of the lever 71 within the housing is adjacent the end of the washer 63 opposite the tab portion 64. The lever 71 extends upwardly into the space 45 between the table top sections 47, and its upper end is below the upper surface of the top sections 47 so that it cannot interfere with the use of the table. Further, the lever 71 is made from flat stock and it is twisted through an `angle of 90 adjacent its upper end as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, so that the upper end may be easily pushed or pulled and thereby caused to move laterally of the assembly within the space 45. Further, the rod S6 and the catch mechanism includ-ing the hand lever 71 are preferably mounted at substantially the longitudinal center line of the assembly so that the upper end of the lever 71 may be reached with equal ease from either side of the assembly.

When the assembly is in its closed position (FIG. 6) the two cross braces 23 and 26 of the center leg support are spaced a relatively large distance apart and the upper end of the rod 56 is spaced below the upper cross brace 26. Of course, the open position locking mechanism is not operative in this position of the assembly. When the assembly is moved from its closed to its open position, the lower cross brace 23 and the rod 56 move upwardly relative to the upper cross brace 26. An intermediate position of the assembly is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7. Final movement of the assembly to its open position causes the upper end of the rod 56 to pass through the openings 59 in the upper cross brace 26, into the catch housing 61, and through the hole 67 in the washer 63. The open position of the assembly is shown in full lines in FIGS. 7 and 8. Before the rod 56 engages the washer 63, the end of the washer 63 away from the tab portion 64 rests on the end of the lever 71 within the catch housing 61 and it is held in this position by the force of the spring 68. Upward movement of the rod 56 causes the beveled upper end of the rod 56 to engage and push the washer 63 upwardly until the axis of the rod 56 and the hole 67 are brought sufficiently close together for the rod 56 to pass through the hole 67. The force of the spring 68 thereafter holds the margin of the hole 67 in tight engagement with the rod 56 and prevents downward movement of the rod 56 until the catch mechanism is released. Such release is accomplished by manually pivoting the hand lever 71 to the dashed line portion shown in FIG. 8, which movement causes the round end of the lever 71 within the housing 61 to move upwardly and force the washer 63 to the position where the axis of the hole 67 is substantially aligned with the axis of the rod 56. In this position, the margin of the hole 67 disengages the rod 56 and permits the assembly to be moved toward its closed position.

Once the rod 56 has moved out ofthe hole 67 the hand lever 71 may be released, and a torsion spring 76 (FIG. 8) returns the lever 71 to its original position before it was manually pivoted. The torsion spring 76 is wound around the pin 72 `and its ends engage the lever 71 and the catch housing 61 such as to pivot the lever 71 in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 8. The lower edge of the lever 71 engages the lower edge of the opening 74 in the housing 61, which engagement limits the amount of clockwise pivotal movement of the lever 71.

From the foregoing, it is apparent .that a novel and useful open position locking mechanism for a folding table assembly has been provided. The mechanism automatically engages when the assembly is moved to its open position and it may be easily disengaged from either side of the assembly for movement to its closed position. Further, the mechanism is in an out-of-the-way posit-ion where it cannot interfere with persons using the assembly and where it cannot become accidentally disengaged.

I lclaim:

1. A folding table assembly comprising two end leg supports and a center leg support, a pair of table top sections pivotally connected to said end leg supports and to said center leg support, said table assembly being operable between open and closed positions, and said pai-r of table top sections being in horizontal end-to-end relation when said assembly is in said open position and said pair of table top sections Ibeing substantially vertical and parallel to each other when said assembly is in said closed position, said center leg support comprising two portions movable relative to each other `as said assembly is moved between said open and cl-osed positions, and means for locking said assembly in said open position, said locking means being mounted on said center leg support at substantially the center of said assembly 4and operable to releasibly lock said two portions of said center leg support together when said lassembly is in said open position to thereby prevent movement of said assembly to said closed position, and said locking means includes a release means located adjacent the top of said assembly, each of said two portions of said center leg support including a cross brace, and said locking mechanism comprising engageable parts respectively mounted on said cross braces substantially midway between the ends of said cross braces.

2. A foliding table assembly comprising two end leg supports and a center leg support, a pair of table top sections pivotally connected to said end leg supports and to said center leg support, said table assembly being operable between operi `and closed positions, and said pair of table top sections being in horizontal end-to-end relation when said assembly iis in said open position and said pair of table top sect-ions being substantially vertical and parallel to each other when said assembly is in said closed position, said center leg support comprising two portions movable relative to each other as said assembly is moved between said open and closed positions, and means for locking said assembly in said open position, said locking means being mounted on said center leg support at substantially the center of said assembly and operable to releasably lock said two portions of said center leg support together when said assembly is in said open position to thereby prevent movement of said assem-bly to said Closed position, and said locking means includes a release means located adjacent the top of said assembly, the adjacent ends of said pair of table top sections being spaced apart, and said release means comprising a hand lever which extends within said space between said adjacent ends of said .table top sections but below the upper surface of said table top sections.

3. A folding table assembly, comprising two end leg supports and a center leg support, a pair of table top sections pivotally connected to said end leg supports and to said center leg support, said assembly being operable between open and closed positions, and said pair of table top sections being in horizontal end-to-end relation when said assembly is in said open position and said pair of table top sections being substantially vertical and parallel to each other when said assembly is in said closed position, said center leg support comprising two portions movable relative to each other upon movement of the assembly between said open position and said closed position, and means for locking said assembly in said open position, said locking means comprising a rod secured to one of said portions of said center leg support and a catch mechanism secured to the other of said portions of said center leg support, said catch mechanism engaging and holding said rod when said assembly is at said operi position, said catch mechanism comprising a member having an openzing formed therethrough, said member being pivotally mounted and positioned such that said opening is substantially coincident with the axis of said rod and said rod extends through said opening when said assembly is in said open position, the margin of said opening engaging and holding said rod when the axis of said opening is noncoincident with lthe axis of said rod, said catch mechanism further comprising a hand lever for causing said member to release said rod, said hand lever being operable to engage said member and move said member to a position where its axis is substantially coincident with the axis of said rod, said hand lever being pivotally mounted, and one end of said hand lever engaging and moving said member, when said hand lever is pivoted, to release said rod.

4. A folding table assembly comprising two end leg supports and a center leg support, a pair of table top sections pivotally connected to said end and center leg supports, said assembly being operable between open and closed positions, and said table top sections being in horizontal end-to-end relation when said assembly is in said open position and said table top sections being substantially vertical and parallel to each other when said assembly is in said closed position, said center leg support comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being pivotally connected to said table top sections at their adjacent ends and said lower portion being movably connected to said upper portion, means pivotally connected to said lower portion of said center leg support and to at least one of said table top sections for causing said lower portion to move downwardly relative to said upper portion during said closing movement and upwardly relative to said upper portion during said opening movement, and means for locking said assembly in said open position comprising a rod secured to one of said upper and lower portions of said center leg support, and a releasable catch mechanism secured to the other of said upper and lower portions of said center leg support, said catch mechanism being adapted to engage and hold said rod when said assembly is in said open position, a space being provided between the adjacent ends of said table top sections, said lrod being secured to said lower portion of said center leg support and said catch mechanism being secured to said upper portion of said center leg support, and said catch mechanism including a lever which extends upwardly into said :space between the adjacent ends of said table top sections, said lever being operable to cause said catch mechanism to release said rod upon actuation.

5. A folding table .assembly as in claim 4, wherein said catch mechanism including said lever is located substantially along the longitudinal center line of said assembly.

6. A folding table assembly comprising two end leg supports and a center leg support, a pair of table top sections pivotally connected to said end and center leg supports said assembly being `operable between open and closed positions, and said table top sections being in horizontal end-to-eiid relation when said assembly is in said operi position and said t-able top sections being substantially vertical and parallel to each other when said assembly :is in said 4closed position, said center leg support comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being pivotally connected to said table top sections at their adjacent ends and said lower portion being movably connected to said upper portion, means pivotally connected to said lower portion of said center leg support and to at least one of said table top sections for causing said lower portion to move downwardly relative to said upper portion during said closing movement and upwardly relative to said upper portion during said opening movement, and means for locking said assembly in said operi position comprising a rod secured to one of said upper and lower portions of said center leg support, and a releasable catch mechanism secured to the other of said upper and lower portions of said center leg support, said catch mechanism being adapted to engage and hold said rod when said assembly is in said open position, said upper and lower portions of said center leg support respectively including upper and lower cross braces, and further including a retainer member secured to said lower cross brace, said means for causing said lower'portion to move relative to said upper portion being pivotally connected to said retainer member, and said rod being rigidly secured to said retainer member.

7. A folding table assembly as in claim 6, wherein said retainer member is secured to the upper surface of said cross brace, and said rod extends vertically upward from said retainer member.

8. A folding table -assembly comprising two end leg supports and a center leg support, a pair of table top sections pivotally connected to said end and center leg supports, said assembly being operable Ibetween open and closed positions, and said table top sections being in horizontal end-to-end relation when said assembly is in said open position and said tabletop sections being substantially vertical and parallel to each other when said assembly is .in said closed position, said center leg supportcomprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being pivotally connected to said table top sections at their adjacent ends and said lower portion being movably connected to said upper portion, means pivotally connected to said lower portion of said center leg support and to at least one of said table top sections for causing said lower portion to move downwardly relative to said upper portion during said closing movement and upwardly relative to said upper portion during said opening movement, and means for locking said assembly in said open position comprising an elongated rod secured to one of said -upper and lower portions of said center leg support, and a releasable catch mechanism secured to the other of said upper land lower portions of said center leg support, said catch mechanism being adapted to encircle and hold said rod when said assembly is in said open position, said upper and lower portions of said center leg support respectively including upper and lower cross braces, and said catch mechanism comprising a tubular member secured to said upper cross brace, and a washer mounted within said tubular member, said washer having a hole formed therein and being mounted for pivotal movement between one position where the axis of said rod and said opening are noncoincident and another position where said axes are substantially coincident, the margin of said opening when the rod is inserted therein engaging and holding said rod when said axis are noncoincident and said rod being freely movable in an axial direction when said axes are substantially coincident.

9. A folding table assembly as in -claim 8, wherein said washer is pivotally mounted by means including an outwardly extending tab formed on said washer, and said tubular member has an opening formed therein said tab extending outwardly through said opening and being seated on the lower edge of said opening.

10. A folding table assembly as in claim 8, wherein said tubular member is secured to the upper surface of said upper cross brace, and holes are formed through said upper cross brace substantially coaxially with said t-ubular member, and said rod is secured to said lower cross brace such that it is substantially coaxial with said holes and said tubular member, said rod extending through said holes and into said opening of said washer when said assembly is in said open position.

11. A folding table assembly as in claim 8, wherein said catch mechanism further includes biasing means between said washer and the outer end of said tubular member for urging said washer to a position where said axis of said opening and said rod are noncoincident.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,539 7/53 Thompson 108-113 2,764,460 9/56 Nelson 108-113 2,766,089 10/56 Nielsen 108-113 2,781,525 2/57 Bauer 10S-113 2,811,400 10/57 James 108-'113 2,907,598 10/59 Hart 248-355 2,914,135 11/59 Crouch 182-201 2,957,588 10/60 Muller 108-113 2,991,139 7/61 Fihe 108-113 2,992,043 7/ 61 Nelson 297-159 3,021,921 2/62 Poelvoorde 182-201 3,101,064 8/63 Kanzelberger 108-113 FOREIGN PATENTS 221,249 5/ 62 Austria.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A FOLDING TABLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING TWO END LEG SUPPORTS AND A CENTER LEG SUPPORT, A PAIR OF TABLE TOP SECTIONS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID END LEG SUPPORTS AND TO SAID CENTER LEG SUPPORT, SAID TABLE ASSEMBLY BEING OPERABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, AND SAID PAIR OF TABLE TOP SECTIONS BEING IN HORIZONTAL END-TO-END RELATION WHEN SAID ASSEMBLY IS IN SAID OPEN POSITION AND SAID PAIR OF TABLE TOP SECTIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AND PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WHEN SAID ASSEMBLY IS IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, SAID CENTER LEG SUPPORT COMPRISING TWO PORTIONS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AS SAID ASSEMBLY IS MOVED BETWEEN SAID OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID ASSEMBLY IN SAID OPEN POSITION, SAID LOCKING MEANS BEING