US3443530A

US3443530A - Furniture fastener

Info

Publication number: US3443530A
Application number: US651557A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond T Carlson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-07-06
Filing date: 1967-07-06
Publication date: 1969-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-13

Description

R. T. CARLSON I 3,443,530

FURNITURE ,FASTENER May 13, 1969 Filed July 6, 1967 Sheet FIG.2

INVENTOR RAYMOND I CARLSON BY M /f y.

ATTORNEY May 13, 1969 R. T. CARLSON v 3,443,530-

I FURNITURE FASTENER Sheet 3 012 Filed July.6, 1967 INVENTOR RAYMOND T CARLSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,443,530 FURNITURE FASTENER Raymond T. Carlson, Lookout Mountain, Ga. (Lookout Mountain, Tenn. 37350) Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 520,266,

Jan. 12, 1966. This application July 6, 1967, Ser.

Int. Cl. A47b 3/06; A47c 7/00 US. Cl. 108156 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting means for attaching table legs to table tops includes a plate and a leg having a bolt in its upper end. Means are provided permitting any degree of rotational adjustment of the leg for alignment with decorative members or supports to be inserted into leg holes.

Background 07 the invention This is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 520,266, filed Jan. 12, 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to supports for furniture and more particularly relates to novel means for fastening legs or support members to the furniture to be supported.

Modern practices make it possible to offer furniture for considerably lower prices where the furniture can be dis-- assembled for shipping and warehousing and then reassembled at point of sale. At the present time, this practice is in widespread use, but only for the simpler furniture designs. Where more "sophisticated furniture is involved, such as tables including decorative members or stretchers in addition to the usual legs, their reassembly is of such complexity as to minimize or eliminate the cost savings sought by the dissasembled or knock-down shipping. This may be explained in the following manner.

The quickest and most economical Way of attaching legs to tabletops in the reassembly procedure is through the use of screw type fittings .whereby the table legs are simply screwed to the table top. However, where decorative members or stretchers extend between the table legs, the table legs contain apertures for receiving these stretchers and they, therefore, must be more or less precisely aligned in a rotational manner in order to permit proper mounting of the decorative stretchers.

Some attempts have been made to permit rotational adjustability of furniture legs, while at the same time utilizing screw type fittings; these attempts have been totally unsatisfactory to date. In certain instances, the unsatisfactory nature of such approaches is due to the fact that the procedure involves a trial and error method of assembly and disassembly until the proper positioning of the legs is secured. This is time-consuming, adds to the ultimate cost of the piece of furniture, and also adds to the sales resistance on the part of the retailers and purchasers. Other approaches have been unsatisfactory in that the range of adjustability is inadequate to meet the need without the same trial and error approach just discussed. This, of course, says nothing of the wear which occurs in the members due to repeated attempts of assembly. Futrhermore, the retailers have no desire to be bothered with furniture which is likely to be highly frustrating in reassembly. In still other arrangements, the use of hollow legs is mandatory, and the tightening of the securing screw places a strain of such nature on the hollow leg member that a tendency to split the seam therein exists. Generally speaking, this pressure is applied by means of a rubber insert which tends to harden with age. Experience has shown that where such connections are used, the rubber 3,443,530 Patented May 13, 1969 tends to shrink so that the joints ultimately become loose and unsatisfactory.

According to the present invention, it has now been found that it is possible to achieve all the advantages of knock-down construction with furniture of sophisticated and complex design utilizing any desired number of decorative members or stretchers. Through the use of the invention it becomes possible to apply the knock-down principle to much higher quality furniture, thereby making such furniture available to the public at considerably reduced prices.

According to this invention, the furniture legs are attached to the furniture top by means of a simple screw connection which provides rigid attachment therebetween while at the same time permitting any degree of rotational adjustment for easy alignment of the legs to permit proper and secure mounting of the decorative members or stretchers. This permits easy and rapid assembly of the furniture so that its complexity of design is no deterrant to the retailer. Indeed, the possibility of offering highquality furniture at the reductions in prices provided by the knock-down feature makes furniture utilizing the support arrangement of this invention highly attractive to both retailers and to the purchasing public.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved and unique means of demountably attaching legs to furniture.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved means for assembling demountable furniture.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved means for connecting the legs to the furniture structure by means of a simple screw type connection providing rigid axial connection therebetween, and, at the same time, providing for circumferential leg adjustability.

It is another object of the invention to provide a connecting device permitting demountable attachment of legs to furniture tops by means of an adjustable screw connection which is simple and inexpensive and susceptible of being utilized by unskilled labor.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a unique means for connecting table legs to furniture utilizing a low cost stamped mounting elements of a simple nature.

Summary of the invention According to this invention a fastening device is provided for attachment of a furniture leg to a table top part whereby the rotational position of the leg is selectively adjustable by continued turning in order to control the final position of the leg without in any way lessening the rigid interconnection between the leg and the table top. This is accomplished by the fastening means employed, which contemplates a first mounting means including a bolt mounted in the leg with a bolt head or nut thereon, and a second mounting means including a mounting plate adapted to receive the bolt with the nut thereon, and means permitting maintaining a tight connection even though turning continues.

Detailed description of the invention The various aspects of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a table of a type Whose knock-down construction is made feasible by the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section showing one method of attaching the legs to the table top according to the invention and also showing a decorative member afiixed to a leg;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the table leg and its associated mounting plate immediately prior to mounting;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing another mounting plate of this invention adapted so that the leg will not tend to travel out of the slot;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section of the mounting plate of FIGURE 4;

In FIGURE 6 in cross section, is shown a different modification of a plate similar to that of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a top view showing the Tinnerman connector to receive the screw aflixed to the furniture leg;

FIGURE 8 shows a top leg portion having a bolt head which also fits the mounting plate of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the table of FIGURE 1 showing one of the legs being rocked or pivoted in the manner of this invention to facilitate assembly of the legs and stretcher or decorative elements; and

FIGURE 10 is an exploded view of a mounting plate constructed according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a table generally indicated at 10 which is of the so-called coffee table type having a top 12 and legs 14. The appearance and attractiveness of the table are enhanced by decorative members or

stretchers

16 and 18 and

decorativemembers

20 and 22. The rear side of the table is, of course, provided with equivalent decorative members. According to the invention, the table is demountable so that the legs 14 and

decorative members

16, 18 and 20 may be easily and readily detached. The decorative member 22 remains attached to the table inasmuch as it does not interfere with the knock-down packaging of the entire assembly.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, one manner of connecting legs 14 to top 12 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown. A mounting plate indicated generally at 24 is removably secured to the underside of the table top 12. The mounting plate 24 may be of any suitable design, and, for example, may be comprised of a main body section having the various features to be described hereinafter. Moreover, merely for purposes of illustration, and in no way intending to limit the scope of this invention, the embodiments illustrated in the drawings will be described. Mounting plate 24 is provided with oppositely extending longitudinal flanges 28 and to secure the same to the underside of top 12 by any suitable means, such as screws passing through openings and 46 in flange 30 and a suitable easily removable means such as a wing screw passing through aperture in flange 28. The mounting plate may have a flat, smooth bottom 38, or in the alternative may have a central projecting portion 39 as shown, with centrally positioned lateral slot 32 extending therethrough, for a purpose presently to be discussed. Flange 28 is provided with built-up corner section 53 proximate the junction of leg 27 and flange 28, or in the alternative, a pair of built-up sections at opposite corners may be provided, about which mounting plate 24 is pivoted in a manner to be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Referring in more detail to FIGURE 3 we see that the mounting plate 24 is provided with a main body section 26 and longitudinally extending

coplaner flanges

28 and 30 integrally connected to the main body section by perpendicularly oriented side legs 27. The legs 27 serve to space the main body member 26 from the under surface of the table top to which the mounting plate is removably attached. A screw opening 46 is provided along a peripheral longitudinal edge of flange 30 near its corner. The opening 46 has a keyhole configuration comprising a narrowing slot-like end having its Wide portion 72 at the flange 30 edge and narrowing into a circular terminal end 70, A second opening is formed intermediate the sides of flange 30 proximate the side opposite to the One in which the peripheral open ended keyhole-shaped aperture 46 is formed. The opening 45 comprises a slot-like end 74 and a larger diameter circular inward end 76. In the mounted position screws having head dimensions greater than the circular terminal end 70 and slot 46 will be positioned thereinto to fixedly hold the mounted plate 24 in place. Upon a desire to mount or demount leg 14, the screws will be loosened, but not removed, and plate 24 will be turned until the screws are positioned over enlarged sections 72 and 76 to permit passage of plate 24 thereover, Opening 50 receives a wing headed screw 48 to permit easy manual manipulation and thus facilitate partial removal of the same to enable easy mounting plate maneuverability.

Thus, as shown in FIGURE 3, the plate includes a main central body member 26 having stepped longitudinally

elevated flanges

28 and 30 integrally formed thereto and the main central body member being provided with a central transversely extending slot 32. The central transversely extending slot 32 terminates centrally of member 26. Also, surface 36 of mounting plate 2 4 is provided with a centrally disposed depressed portion 40 formed symmertically about the terminating end of transverse slot 32. It should, of course, be appreciated that depression 40 may be of any geometric configuration for complementary receipt of an oppositely formed integral projection carried by the table legs, or a washer in the event that leg 14 is not provided with a complementary projection. The purpose of the complementary depression and projection or washer will be explained hereinafter.

The central lateral slot 32 receives a hanger bolt 62 mounted in the end of table leg 14. Threadedly engaged to screw 62, see FIGURE 3, is a flexible means comprisinga bowed spring 54. As shown in FIGURE 7 spring member 54 is provided with a pair of parallel slits 55 between which are disposed upwardly extending

spring fingers

56 and 58. The fingers 5658 terminate in semi-circular cut-away ends 60. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the end of bolt 62 is screw threadedly received in the cutaway ends 60.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the relative relationship between bolt 62 and spring member 54 and mounting plate 24. As shown, spring member 54 is rotatably received between the under surface of table top 12 and main body member 26 of mounting plate 24. Spring member 54 thereby provides a flexible mounting as the upper end of leg 14 engages the outer surface 36 of main body member 24 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter. As the leg 14 is rotated, the bolt 62 draws the spring fingers 56-58 of the spring member 54 downwardly to provide a rigid and tight axial connection between the leg 14 and the mounting plate 24 while, at the same time, permitting continuous rotational adjustment. Since spring member 54 is rotatable on the surface 40 of the mounting plate even after it is tightened, it follows that the leg 14 is capable of selective rotational repositioning after the spring 54 has been threaded tightly around screw 62 of leg 14. This permits appropriate alignment of the opening in the legs to receive the stretchers or

decorative members

16 and 18.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the mounting plate 24 is fixedly positioned to the under surface of table top 12 with protuberances 53 being sandwiched between flange 28 and the under surface of table top 12 in the manner shown. Flange 30 of the mounting plate is secured to the table top 12 by means of wood screws 44. At the same time, the aperture 50 of flange 28 may be provided with a wing headed screw 48 to facilitate manual manipulation of partial removal of the same. In the event that a wing headed screw is utilized, it should be appreciated that a suitable receiving thread means should be provided. This may be done in any of the conventional and well known procedures, and, accordingly, further comments are not warranted. Suitable wood screws are received in the slotted portion 74 of aperture 45 and the terminal circular portion of opening 46 in flange 30.

In the knock-down condition, all three screws of mounting plate 24 are in position in the table top in substantially the position shown by FIGURE 2, and the screw in either

opening

45 or 46 is tightened sufficiently to hold the mounting plate 24 in position against pivotal or rotational movement about the wing headed screw 48. At the time the table is to be assembled, the screw holding the mounting plate in this locked position may be loosened slightly to permit rotational movement of the mounting plate about the wing nut 48, until the point :where the opening 76 and the wide portion of slot 72 will allow the mounting plate to be lifted over the heads of the mounting screw therein received is reached. At this point, the entire mounting plate may be shifted or slid so as to permit rocking motion about projections 53 as shown in FIGURE 9.

The leg 14 has preferably already been mounted on the mounting plate 24 prior to the time that the mounting screws are loosened to permit movement of the mounting plate. After the screws have been thus loosened and the mounting plate moved in the manner described, the leg 14 may be pivoted to permit appropriate mounting of the stretcher or

decorative members

16 or 18. After this has been accomplished, leg 14 may be moved so that mounting plate 24 is pivoted about projections 53' and is rotate-d to bring the mounting screw in opening 45 into its locking position within the narrow slot 74. In like manner, the cooperating mounting screw for opening 46 will be positioned into circular terminal 70; All screws may then be tightened to secure the leg in its final position.

While this arangement necessitates some rotational movement of the leg after the stretcher or decorative member is in position, it should be appreciated that the amount of such movement is quite small, and has been found not to interfere with effective assembly of the stretcher members.

By the use of the novel mounting apparatus of this invention, the decorative members or

stretchers

16 and 18 are held in apertures in tight relationship to the legs without the necessity for helical end springs in the stretcher receiving leg holes. By the expediency of this invention the legs 14 can be positioned relative to the stretcher members to eliminate the need for springs. *The final position of the plates may be flush with the table top or slightly canted. In either case, there is sufiicient spring action to maintain the stretcher members in plate, and at the same time, a rigid axial connection between the legs and table top is provided.

Referring now to FIGURE 10 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the invention which comprises a mounting plate 24 having substantially the same design as that shown in FIGURE 3 with slight modifications made therein. Primarily, as can be seen in FIGURE 10, one corner of

flanges

28 and 30 is chamfered in order to provide for easy pivoting and increased movement of the mounting plate. In addition, projecting tabs 53 have been eliminated from the embodiment shown in FIGURE 9. Lastly, the centrally depressed dished section 40a is shown. Dished section 4011 projects out of the under surface 38 of the mounting plate to provide a non-biting seat about which bowed spring means 54 may freely rotate. In this manner, a substantially limitless amount of circumferential positioning of leg 14 is permitted irrespective of the rigid connection of leg 14 to mounting plate 24.

In operation, for either of the embodiments disclosed, the spring means 54, with its concave arcuate section facing toward the leg is threadedly engaged about bolt 62 of leg member 14 in a manner as shown in FIGURE 3. With the spring nut positioned about the end hanger bolt 62 of leg 14, the bolt will then be inserted into slot 32 of the mounting plate 24. Bolt 62 will be channeled along transverse extending slot 32 until it abuts the terminal portion thereof. A downward pull is then exerted upon leg 14 and at the same time a clock-wise rotational turning torque provided. In this manner, leg 14 will assume a rigid position relative to mounting plate 24. Along these lines the end of the screw 62 is received in a suitable recess 73 in the table top 12. As shown by FIGURE 3 leg 14 is provided with an integrally formed circular projection 41, which upon leg 14 being secured to the mounting plate will be complementarily received within dished depression 40 or 40a of FIGURES 3 or 10. In the alternative, should leg 14 not be provided with a circular projection 41, a washer 41a, see FIGURE 10, will be received about hanger bolt 62 prior to the threaded engagement of spring nut 54, and thus assume a complementary reception within the depression 40 or 40a. The washer 4111 or circular projection 41 prevents outward movement of the leg 14, along slot 32, upon a rotational tightening torque being applied thereto. By the complementary receipt of the integral projection or washer within the dished depression, a rotative tightening or repositioning force can be exerted on leg 14 without any lateral movement thereof along slot 32. After leg 14 has assumed a rigid axial position upon mounting plate 24, it is selectively adjusted to the desired rotational position to align the leg apertures for receipt of the

decorative spreaders

16 and 18. It should be appreciated that by having the bowed spring nut 54 freely movable about the dished projection 39a of FIG- URE 10 or the surface 38-39 of the mounting plate of FIGURE 2, that virtually unlimited rotational movement of leg 14 is permitted even though the leg has assumed a rigid positioning to the mounting late.

After the leg 14 has been axially rigidly secured to mounting plate 24, mounting screws provided for

openings

45 and 46 are loosened, and the wing nut or wood screw provided for aperture 50 of flange 28 is partially un screwed. Using the leg 14 as a lever, see FIGURE 9, the mounting plate 24 can then be rotated to position the mounting screws in

apertures

45 and 46 to positions 76 and 72 respectively and thus permit removal of the mounting plate therefrom. The mounting plate may then be rocked and to this end the champered edge of flange 28 may be utilized, to thereby permit insertion of the spreader or decorative member. The mounting plate can then be repositioned so that the mounting screws for

openings

45 and 46 are respectively positioned about slot 72 and circular opening 70 to prevent removal thereabout. The

appropriate wood screws and wing nuts may then be tightened to both resiliently hold the stretcher and to rigidly mount the leg on the under surface of the table.

The embodiment described thus far is the subject of my prior application Ser. No. 520,266. The purpose of the present invention is to include the embodiment of FIG- URES 4, 5, and 6. With the operation still in mind, the embodiment of the mounting plate illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6 is now described. In this embodiment the main body section is again designated 26 and the lateral slot is 32. However, considering the slot as extending from the front toward the back, the

flanges

28a and 30a are at the front and back of the mounting plate instead of along the sides as in the plate of FIGURE 3. The legs 27a, as in FIGURE 3, serve to space the main body member 26 from the under surface of the table top. Since the flange 28a is at the front of the mounting plate, slot 32 is widened at its mouth, as shown, in order to more readily receive a bolt, or screw head such as spring nut 54, aflixed to bolt 62 in leg 14.

The salient feature of the embodiments in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 is that in the main body member 26 there is provided a retaining seat for the spring nut or other bolt head. In the embodiments of FIGURES 3 and 10 the leg was provided with a circular projection 41, or a washer 41a, which seats within depressions 40 or 40a of the plate. The function of leg projections 41 and 41a is to prevent the leg from edging out during continued turning. In the embodiment of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 this function is accomplished by a different means. The nut or bolt head in this case retainably seats in the mounting plate. This seating is accomplished in one instance by the provision of a substantially circular ridge, preferably two concentric horseshoe-shaped

ridges

80 and 82, which can be seen in FIGURE 4. Two ridges accommodate both large and small bolt heads. Preferably the front open ends of the horse-shoe shaped ridges are tapered so that the head easily clears their front ends. In the cross section in FIGURE 5, it can be seen the horseshoe-shaped seat projects higher at the front than it does at the back. In other words this substantially circular projection is such that a line touching its front and rear top surfaces is not parallel to a line through the front and rear bottom plate surfaces, but rather forms a slight angle therewith, sufficient to cause bolt head on rotation of the leg to travel toward the back of the slot. This bolt head seat is formed out of the undersurface 38 of the mounting plate as was dished section 40a. This undersurface when depressed forms the projection on the top side which forms the seat. The nut or bolt head seats rather than the leg projections or washers. As shown in FIGURE 6, this seat can also be formed by increasing the thickness of the mounting plate 24 toward its front 86. Again relative to a line through the base of the seat, a line through the top surfaces slopes from the slot opening 84 toward the rear of the slot 88. This seat therefore presents the outer movement of the leg along slot 32 upon tightening, without the need for the washer or circular projection on the leg. Either a fixed nut or the resilient nut can be used with the embodiment of FIGURES 4, and 6. However only the spring nut will be used with the mounting plate of FIGURES 3 and 10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the device of this invention is simple in construction, capable of manufacture by inexpensive manufacturing procedures, and susceptible of use by even the most unskilled assemblers who need have no knowledge whatsoever of the nature of the connection. The device makes feasible styl ized relatively complex furniture in a knock-down form, thereby reducing shipping and warehousing costs and permitting the offering of such furniture at prices marketedly below those previously necessary for furniture of equal quality.

It should be appreciated that the fastening devices of this invention are no more expensive or more complicated than currently existing fastening means, and yet provide a rigid axial connection while at the same time permitting unlimited rotational positioning of a furniture leg to resiliently hold decorative stretchers between table legs without the need of individual mounting springs. This reduces costs and simplifies and facilitates reassembly of the knock-down furniture. The additional unlimited degree of adjustability completely eliminates the necessity for experimentation or prior experience on reassembly so that reassembly is even further expedited. The mounting plates may be securely fastened to the table top at the factory so that the reassembler has a minimum of parts to reassemble and it is not necessary to completely remove the mounting screws.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. For example in lieu of spring nut 54 a screw or bolt having a fixed head spaced to seat in seat 82 can be employed. The bolt can have a round head 90 as shown in FIGURE 7, or a square head. This form is particularly suited for lighter, less expensive furniture. If a round or hexagonal head screw is used it will be set at a preadjusted height such that it just clears the front end of the projection so that in a sense it snaps into its seat. Preferably the screw or bolt will have a cone-shaped head. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Thus it will be obvious that the connecting means of this invention lends itself not only to the use of stretchers and decorative members such as 18 and 20, but to shelves as well. For example night stands and cotfee tables can be provided with drawers and shelves carried by the legs and runners.

What is claimed is:

1. In a table having a top and demountable legs for supporting said top, fastening means comprising, a first mounting means including a bolt having one end mounted in the upper end of a table leg, the other end having a head or nut thereon, and a second mounting means adapted to be secured to the undersurface of a table top, including a mounting plate, body members extending upwardly to hold said mounting plate away from the undersurface so that the bolt head fits therebetween, the mounting plate being provided with a transversely extending slot having an open end adapted to accept the first mounting means and terminating in a closed end near the center of the mounting plate, and seating means integrally formed in said plate and adapted to receive the leg and bolt mounting member, said seating means being at least one formed concentric projection extending upwardly symmetrically about the closed end portion of the slot and shaped to restrain outward movement of the first mounting means toward the slot opening.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the seating means is in the form of concentric horseshoe-shaped ridges in the top surface of the mounting plate, small bolt heads seating in the inner horseshoe-shaped ridge, larger heads seating in the outer horseshoe-shaped ridge.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the front open endse of the horseshoe-shaped ridges are tapered so that a bolt head easily clears their front ends when the first mounting means is inserted in the second mounting means.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first mounting means includes a leg with a bolt having a fixed head so spaced that it seats in said retaining seat to maintain a rigid connection during continued turning.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein to form the seating means the mounting plate surface on each side of the transverse slot is provided with a sloping projection such that relative to a line through the base of the plate, a line through the top surface of the projection slopes from the slot opening toward the closed end of the slot, providing a retaining seat for the bolt head.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first mounting means includes a leg having an upwardly directed cylindrical boss of reduced diameter formed thereon, said bolt fixedly projecting centrally of said cylindrical boss, and wherein the seating means in the second mounting means is in the form of a centrally depressed dished section projecting upwardly out of the undersurface of the mounting plate, the lower surface of said dished depression receiving said cylindrical boss of said leg therewithin, the upper projecting surface providing a non-biting seat on which a resilient spring may rotate.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said first mounting means includes a freely rotatable resilient spring means permitting said first mounting means a considerable and continuous angle of rotational adjustment.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the mounting plate body members are laterally opposed apertured flanged leg supporting members integrally formed thereto for spacing said mounting plate from the underside of said table top, said resilient spring means having opposed fingers forming an aperture for receipt of said bolt and being rotatably freely carried upon the other side of said mounting plate adapted to receive said leg projecting boss, said leg being centrally positioned thereunto irrespective of any circumferential repositioning thereof by the cooperation of said leg boss and said plate depression.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein legs are provided with apertures for receipt of decorative stretchers therewithin, such that the apertures of adjacent legs are circumferentially alignable by rotation thereof, and said second mounting means is pivotable about one of said flanged support legs to permit insertion of said decorative stretchers within said aligned apertures.

10. The combination of claim 6 wherein the mounting plate body members are laterally flanged leg supporting members integrally formed thereto for spacing said mounting plate from the underside of said top, one of said flanges provided with escape type screw apertures permitting said mounting means to be pivoted about the other flange, the outer surface of said mounting plate adapted to be abutted by said leg, said resilient spring means having opposed aperture defining fingers for receipt of said bolt, said resilient spring being freely rotatable upon the other side of said mounting plate adapted to be abutted.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said lateral flanges of said second mounting means are provided with a projection to enable pivoting thereof about the undersurface of said table.

References Cite UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain. France.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.