GB407558A - Improvements in and relating to pivoted joints - Google Patents

Abstract

407,558. Hinges; tables. WILSON, E. L., 94, Demesne Road, Wallington, Surrey, and WELLS, E. G., Temple Wood, South Park, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. May 10, 1933, No. 13649. [Class 65 (ii).] In a pivoted joint, particularly for attaching the leg to the top of a folding table, one member carries an axially-movable spring-influenced plunger or detent, while the other member has two or more spaced apertures, depressions or protuberances for engagement by the plunger, at least one of the apertures or their equivalent being such as to permit locking engagement of the plunger while with the remaining one or ones the plunger has only frictional or resilient engagement ; the leg is thus rigidly locked in one position until the plunger is released by hand, but it can be moved from other positions by reasonable force, the plunger yielding to permit the movement. In the form shown, a table leg 4 is mounted on a pin 3 which is supported in a U-shaped bracket 2 fixed to the frame 1 of the table top ; the top of the leg is provided with a pair of plates 5 with apertures to guide a plunger 10 which is pressed against the bracket 2 by a spring. The bracket is provided with a hole which the plunger can enter in the position shown, to lock the leg against movement until the plunger is withdrawn by the cam lever 13, and an aperture of smaller diameter for partial engagement by the nose of the plunger when the leg is folded, to hold the leg in that position against light pressure or its own weight ; the smaller aperture may be slightly elongated to allow some freedom in the folded position of the leg. The bracket 2 may be modified to allow the leg to fold diagonally across the table top. A small shelf 15 is pivoted to the table leg by a pin 18, and has a similar locking plunger 23, the plate 19 with which the plunger engages having in this case two resilient holding apertures, to allow the shelf to be held folded up or down, as well as a central locking hole. Any or all of the apertures may be countersunk to assist the engagement of the plunger. The apertures may be replaced by depressions or projections for engagement with a plunger of suitable form. In applications, such as to the supporting framework of a sun-blind, where a member is supported by two joints, one of these joints may be provided with means for positive locking in various positions while the other is arranged for resilient holding in these positions, so that the member does not move of itself when the locking means is released.