US3620492A

US3620492A - Leg connector assembly

Info

Publication number: US3620492A
Application number: US820543A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy E Jennings
Original assignee: Royal Seating Corp
Current assignee: Royal Seating Corp
Priority date: 1969-04-30
Filing date: 1969-04-30
Publication date: 1971-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-16

Abstract

A leg connector assembly to provide for rapid connection of legs to articles of furniture. A connector plate secured to the article has a front tab and pairs of side tabs to securely grip a mounting plate driven horizontally between the tabs. Stop means limit the distance the mounting plate can be driven into the connector plate. The locations of the connections of the leg and leg braces with the mounting plate provide superior strength.

Description

United States Patent Roy E. Jennings Temple, Tex.

Apr. 30, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971 Royal Seating Corporation Cameron, Tex.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee LEG CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 248/188 Int. Cl ..Fl6m 11/16 Field of Search 248/188.

References Clted UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1955 Becker superior strength.

2,744,804 5/1956 Reineman 248/1888 3,134,566 5/1964 Beene 248/1888 3,228,359 1/1966 Rich 248/1888 3,385,239 5/1968 Fossier et al 248/1888 Primary ExaminerMarion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Walter Kruger ABSTRACT: A leg connector assembly to provide for rapid connection of legs to articles of furniture. A connector plate secured to the article has a front tab and pairs of side tabs to securely grip a mounting plate driven horizontally between the tabs. Stop means limit the distance the mounting plate can be driven into the connector plate. The locations of the connections of the leg and leg braces with the mounting plate provide PATENTEnuuv 16 1971 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVEN TOR Roy E JE'NN/Nri5 A T TOR/V E K5 PATENTEDHUV 1 BYI 3.620.492

SHEET 2 0F 2 INVA'NTOI? BY Ro E. JEN/w les LEG CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a leg connector assembly to facilitate securing a leg to an article of furniture or the like, at a predetermined location on the article of furniture, with a minimum of tools, and by unskilled personnel.

More particularly, the invention relates to a leg connector assembly in which a connector plate is secured to an article of furniture, advantageously, school furniture, a mounting plate is secured to a leg which will support the article of furniture, and the leg is securely connected to the article of furniture by sliding the mounting plate along the connector plate and into engagement with projecting tabs on the connector plate. The mounting plate, and correspondingly the leg, are then fixed in position by inserting a threaded fastener through the two plates.

Charges for shipping articles, such as furniture, are based on weight as well as volume. In order to protect the article during shipment, it is necessary to package the furniture in a suitable protective carton. Where legs are preattached to the article of furniture, a substantial premium is paid for the large volume occupied by a carton encasing the preassembled furniture.

To maintain shipping charges at a minimum, it is customary to provide a connector arrangement which permits shipping of for example, a table top, with the legs disconnected from the top and to connect the legs to the top after the table is delivered. For economic reasons, it is however, necessary to provide for a durable connection of the table legs to the table, and rapid assembly by unskilled personnel.

The preferred characteristics of such a connector assembly are:

I. The connection between the leg and the article of fumiture must be strong and rigid.

2. The leg must be easy to connect to the article offurniture using only simple hand tools.

3. The connecting arrangement must be such that unskilled personnel can readily affect the connection.

4. Loose parts, which are frequently lost during shipping, must be maintained at a minimum.

5. The resulting connection must have all the strength characteristics of and appearance of a factory assembled connection.

6. The connector arrangement must have flexibility to provide for suitable bracing of the leg and to permit extending the leg at several different angles from the table or other article of furniture so the manufacturer can use the same connector assembly for several different leg arrangements and articles of furniture.

The connector assembly of this invention satisfies the requirements specified above by providing a connector assembly including a connector plate which is secured to the undersurface of the table or other article of furniture, and which is arranged to receive a mounting plate secured to the upper end of a supporting leg for the article of furniture. in the preferred embodiments to be subsequently described in detail, the connector plate is provided with a plurality of struck out tabs having inwardly projecting lips which receive and tightly grip the side edges and portions of a mounting plate adjacent the side edges, when the mounting plate is driven horizontally into position between the tabs. The leg-mounting plate assembly is secured to the connector plate against movement by the simple expedient ofa sheet metal screw extending through preformed openings in the respective plates.

Correspondingly, an object of this invention is to provide a leg connector assembly in which the usual supporting legs for an article of furniture or the like are quickly and securely connectable to the article of furniture using only simple hand tools to affect a strong rigid connection between the supporting legs and the article.

Another object is a leg connector assembly which includes a mounting plate with at least a front edge and a pair of side edges and to which a supporting leg is secured, and which also includes a connector plate secured to the article of furniture and having tabs with inwardly projecting lips to engage and securely retain the mounting plate along at least three of its side edges.

Another object is a connector plate and mounting plate arrangement in accordance with the immediately preceding object and wherein the connector plate further includes a second pair of side edges which cooperate with a second pair of tabs to secure the mounting plate to the connector plate at five separated locations along the edges of the mounting plate.

A further object is a connector plate and mounting plate assembly in which the connector plate tightly grips portions of the mounting plate immediately adjacent the region on the mounting plate where the supporting leg is connected.

A further object is a leg connector assembly in accordance with the immediately preceding object in which a brace member is connected to the leg at a location spaced from the mounting plate and in which the brace member has ends secured to the mounting plate at locations closely adjacent additional portions of the mounting plate which are tightly gripped by securing lips of the connector plate.

A still further object is a mounting plate having a protuberance or projection which has a surface, at least a portion of which is spherical, and in which the leg is tubular and has an inside diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the spherical portion of the protuberance, whereby, the end of the leg can be positioned against the protuberance at several different angles and can be readily welded to the protuberance at any one of the angles.

A still further object is a leg connector assembly including a connector plate and a mounting plate slidable horizontally into a locked or gripped position with the connector plate and in which fastener means for securing the connector plate to the article of furniture extend through openings in a flange portion of the connector plate located outside the path of travel of the mounting plate into connected position with the connector plate, whereby the fasteners need not be recessed into the connector plate and there is no danger of impeding the movement of the mounting plate to the connected position.

A still further object is a leg connector assembly in which side and front edges of a mounting plate are securely gripped by sliding or driving the mounting plate into position between front and side tabs of a connector plate, and in which the mounting plate also has guide edges to facilitate moving the mounting plate into the connected position.

A still further object is a mounting plate and connector plate in accordance with the immediately preceding object wherein stop edges of the mounting plate cooperate'with stop edges on the tabs of the connector plate to facilitate precisely locating the mounting plate on the connector plate.

Numerous other objects and features of this invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view in plan of the leg connector assembly connected to the underside of a corner of a table top, with the supporting leg and brace member shown in phantom lines for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a view, in section, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I with the support leg and brace member shown in solid lines. but with the view inverted to show the table top in its usual horizontal position with the leg extending downwardly;

FlG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1, but with the view inverted to show the top horizontal and the leg extending downwardly;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. I, with the view again inverted to show the top horizontal and the leg extending downwardly;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the connector plate of this invention;

H0. 6 is a bottom plan view showing the position of the mounting plate relative to the connector plate during the initial step of connecting the plates together, with the leg and brace eliminated for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing how the support leg can readily be secured to the bulbous protrusion of the mounting plate at several different angles.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a leg connector assembly 1 including a connector plate 2 secured to an article of furniture, for example,.the bottom surface 3 of a table top 4 adjacent a comer 5 of the top.

The connector assembly also includes a mounting plate 6 of heavy gage sheet steel to which is secured a table leg 7. Leg 7 is braced by a U-shaped brace member 8, having its lower central portion 8 secured to leg 7 at a location remote from plate 6 and its upper ends 9 and 10 secured to the mounting plate in spaced apart relation to each other. The lower end of leg 7 includes the usual tapered swaged section 11 and is provided with a foot or glide 12.

As shown at FIG. 5, connector plate 2 is formed from heavy gage sheet steel, is generally triangular in outline, and has a base edge 13 and

side edges

14 and 15 extending at right angles toward each other and which slope at an angle of 45 from base edge 13. Side edges 14 and I5 terminate at a short front edge 16 parallel with base edge 13.

Struck out from the metal of connector plate 2, at a location adjacent. yet spaced from front edges 16, is a front tab 17. As shown at FIGS. 2 and 5, front tab 17 is generally L-shaped and has a leg portion 18 projecting perpendicularly from lower surface 19 of the connector plate, and a front lip 20 extending inwardly of the plate perpendicularly from the lower end of theleg portion so lip 20 is parallel with the plane of connector plate 2. As shown at FIG. 2, leg 18 has an inside surface 21, and lip 20 has an inside or upper surface 22.

Also struck out from connector plate 2 (FIG. 5) are a first pair of side tabs and 26 which project in the same direction from surface 19 as tab 17; As shownat FIGS. 3 and 5, tab 25 has a leg portion 27 projecting perpendicularly from the plate and lip 28 projecting inwardly of the plate and integral with leg portion 27. Leg portion 27 has an inside surface 29, and lip portion 28 has an inside or upper surface 30.

Similarly, tab 26 has a leg portion 31 projecting perpendicularly from surface 19 of the plate and a lip 32 integral with and perpendicular to leg portion 31, and which projects inwardly toward lip 28 of tab 25. As shown at FIG. 3, leg 31 has an inside surface 33, and lip 32 has an upper or inside surface 34. As will be apparent with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5,

leg portions

27 and 31 of the tabs are parallel with each other and the inside surfaces 29 and 33 of the leg portions face toward each other.

Leg portions

27 and 31 are perpendicular to the plane ofleg portion 18 offront tab 17.

Also struck out from connector plate 2 are a second pair of

tabs

37 and 38.

Tabs

37 and 38 are each located respectively adjacent base corners 40 and 41 of the connector plate. As shown at FIG. 4 and 5, tab 37 has a leg portion 42 projecting perpendicularly from surface 19 of the connector plate and a lip 43 extending perpendicularly from leg 42 in a direction inwardly of connector plate 2 and parallel to surface 19 of the plate. As shown at FIG. 4, leg portion 42 has an inside surface 44 and lip 43 has an inside or upper surface 45. Similarly, tab

38 has a leg portion 46 projecting perpendicularly from surface 19 and a lip 47 projects perpendicularly from leg portion 46 and is parallel with surface 19. Leg 46 (FIG 4) has an inside surface 48 and lip 47 has an upper or inside surface 49.

With reference to FIG. 5, it will be noted that

tabs

25, 26, 37, and 38 are substantially identical, with the leg portions of each of the tabs of the same length, and the lip portions of these tabs of the same length and width. While the width of lip 20 of tab 17 is the same as the lips of the other tabs, its length is somewhat greater as is apparent from FIG. 5. The leg portion 18 of tab 17 is, however. of the same height as the leg portions of the other tabs. Correspondingly, it is apparent that the lips of the

tabs

17, 25, 26, 37 and 38 are coplanar with each other and lie in a plane parallel with, but spaced from the plane of connector plate 2. As is also apparent with reference to FIG. 5,

legs

42 and 46 of the

tabs

37 and 38 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to base edge 13 of the connector plate. It will also be apparent with reference to FIG. 5 that

tabs

37 and 38 are formed adjacent the base edge 13 of connector plate, whereas

tabs

25 and 26 are located between

tabs

37, 38 and front tab 17, but are offset in a direction toward the front tab.

As best seen at FIG. 6, mounting plate 6 is generally trapezoidal in outline configuration and has a base edge 51 and a front edge 52 parallel with the base edge. The sloping sides of mounting plate 6 are notched to provide a first pair of parallel side edges 53 and 54 which terminate at one end at aligned stop edges 55 and 56 and connect with forwardly facing guide edges 57 and 58, respectively at the other end. Side edges 53 and 54 are perpendicular to both base edge 51 and front edge 52, whereas stop edges 55 and 56 are aligned with each other and are parallel with base edge 51 and front edge 52.

Extending perpendicularly from base edge 51 are a second pair of side edges 59 and 60. Side edges 59 and 60 are parallel to each other and are also parallel with the first pair of side edges 53 and 54. Joining stop edge 55 with side edge 59 is a sloping guide edge 61. Similarly, a sloping guide edge 62 joining stop edge 56 with side edge 60.

Formed in the portion of mounting plate 6, bounded by side edges 53, 54 and front edge 52, is a bulbous protrusion 63, the outside surface of which has a generally spherical curvature. As shown at FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the spherical curvature of protrusion 63 is somewhat less than of semispherical extent.

The bulbous protrusion 63 provides for mounting tubular leg 7 on the mounting plate at different angles. In this regard,

it will be seen from FIG. 2that upper end edge 65 of tubular leg 7 engages outside surface 66 of the protrusion and is welded or brazed to the protrusion by welding or brazing material 67 between end edge 65 and the surface 66 of the protrusion. Such space for weld material between the end edge of the leg and the surface of the bulbous protrusion is provided for by making the base of protrusion 63 of slightly greater diameter than the inside diameter of leg 7 at end edge 65. With the protrusion so dimensioned, the end of the leg is normally spaced slightly below the Iowersurface 6 8 of mounting plate 6 and there is a slight generally V-shaped space between the end edge of the leg and the surface of the protuberance. This space provides a fillet to receive the welding material without difficulty and without modification of the end edge 65 of the leg. V

As shown at FIG. 7 in solid lines, the leg 7 extends at an angle to the plane of mounting plate 6. With the ,leg so inclined, the end edge 65 of the leg may contact the lower surface of the mounting plate at one point, namely point 70, but the remainder of the upper end of the leg will be spaced from the plane of the plate to provide a V-shaped fillet to receive the weld material. When the leg, shown in dotted lines at FIG. 7, and designated as 7' projects in a direction perpendicular to the plane of mounting plate 6, it is clear that a fillet 71 is available between the entire upper end edge 65' of the leg and the outside surface 66 of the bulbous protuberance.

Before proceeding with the details of the mode of assembly of the mounting plate 6 with the connector plate 2, the dimensional relationships between these portions of plates will be explained. With mounting plate 6 driven to its connected position with connector plate 2, as shown at FIG. I, it is seen that front edge 52 (FIG. 2) engages inside surface 21 of leg 18; side edge 53 (FIG. 3) engages the inside surface 29 of leg 27 and side edge 54 engages the inside surface 33 of leg 31; side edge 59 (FIG. 4) engages the inside surface 44 of leg 42, and side edge 60 engages the inside surface 48 of leg 46. In addition, it will be noticed that inside surface 22 of lip 20 (FIG. 2) engages the lower surface of mounting plate 6 adjacent front edge 52; inside surface 30 of lip 27 (FIG. 3) engages the lower surface of plate 6 adjacent side edge 53, and inside surface of 34 of lip 32 engages the lower surface of the mounting plate adjacent side edge 54; inside surface 49 of lip 47 (FIG. 4) engages the lower surface of the mounting plate adjacent side edge 60, and inside surface 45 of lip 43 engages the lower surface of the mounting plate adjacent side edge 59. While the distance between the inside surfaces of the several lips and the lower surface 19 of the connector plate is shown as equal to the thickness of mounting plate 6, this distance is in fact slightly less than the thickness of the mounting plate, so the several lips will be deformed elastically outwardly away from surface 19 when the mounting plate is driven into the connected position shown at FIG. 1.

With these dimensional relationships in mind, the mode of connecting the mounting plate to the connector plate will now be explained With reference to H6. 6, the mounting plate is first positioned relative to the connector plate by sliding the mounting plate along the connector plate in the direction of the arrow 72, so front edge 52 is positioned between

tabs

25 and 26. Such initial positioning is readily accomplished because of the action of the guide edges 57, 58 and 61, 62 which engage the respective legs of the first and second pair of tabs to guide the mounting plate into position between the tabs. After the plate is initially positioned, as shown at FIG. 6, it is forced toward the connected position of FIG. 1 by applying forces in the direction of arrow 72. During this phase of assembly, it may be necessary to lightly tap mounting plate 6 with a hammer, along edge 51 to force the plate into its connected position in which front edge 52 engages the inside surface 21 of leg 18 of tab 17. Advantageously, the distance between front edge 52 and base edge 51 is the same as the distance between the inside surface 21 of leg 18 and the base edge 13 of the connector plate. Hence, the workman installing the plate is apprised of the fact that the plate is driven fully into position when edges 13 and 51 are aligned. It is to be appreciated that driving plate 6 too far will bend leg 18 of front tab 17 and the connector assembly will be weakened. To further prevent driving mounting plate 6 too far, stop edges 55 and 56 of the mounting plate cooperate with

end edges

76 and 77, respectively of the legs of

side tabs

25 and 27. When stop edges 55 and 56 engage

end edges

76 and 77 there is substantial resistance to further movement of mounting plate 6 and the assembler is immediately aware that the plate is properly seated. Mounting plate 6 is so dimensioned that stop edges 55 and 56 engage

end edges

76 and 77 when front edge 52 engages leg 18 of front tab 17. After the mounting plate is driven into the connected position of FIG. 1, a sheet metal tapping screw 73 is threaded into the preformed openings 74 and 75 in the mounting plate and connector plate respectively. Advantageously, the distance from front edge 52 to opening 75 is slightly greater than the distance from the inside surface of leg 18 to opening 74 so inserting sheet metal screw 73 maintains a forward force on the plate, thereby maintaining front edge 52 in firm engagement with inside surface 21 of leg 18.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, it will be seen that the upper ends 9 and of brace member 8 are secured to mounting plate 6 at locations closely adjacent side edges 59 and 60 of the mounting plate. Advantageously, the ends 9 and 10 are welded to the mounting plate at a position as close as possible to the

respective lips

43 and 47 of the second pair of side tabs, without the weld material interfering with movement of the mounting plate to the connected position. By connecting the ends 9 and 10 of the brace member to the plate at locations closely adjacent the lips of the tabs, the portions of the plate to which these ends are attached is maintained substantially rigid and firmly gripped even though substantial forces act on the brace member when the table is loaded or jarred.

To facilitate driving the mounting plate 6 to its seated position with connector plate 2, the lower surface 19 of the connector plate is smooth and unobstructed along the path of travel of the mounting plate. To provide this smooth path, openings in connector plate 2 to receive fasteners 80-85, which secure the plate to table top 4, are all located outwardly of the front and side tabs in a flange or border portion 86 of the connector plate. lt will be observed however, with reference to H6. 5, that the fasteners are each located closely adjacent a tab to provide maximum strength.

In view of the foregoing explanation, it is apparent that applicant has provided a leg connector assembly in which the connector plate 2 is secured to the article of furniture at the factory and in which the leg 7, secured to the mounting plate 6 at the factory can easily be fixed to the connector plate by the simple expedient of driving the mounting plate into position and inserting the screw 73. The remarkable strength of this assembly is attributed to the clamping action of the tab lips, the location of leg connection within the bounds of front tab 17 and

side tabs

25, 26, and the securing of ends 9 and 10 of the brace member at locations closely adjacent the

respective side tabs

37 and 38.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is apparent that numerous changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and comprising a front tab having a leg portion projecting from the plate and a front lip portion integral with the leg portion and generally parallel with and spaced from the plate,

a pair of spaced-apart parallel side tabs spaced from said front tab and each having a leg portion projecting from the plate in the same direction as the leg portion of the front tab, and each having a lip portion integral with the leg portion and generally parallel with and spaced from the plate,

said leg portions of said side tabs having inside surfaces facing respectively toward each other;

said lip portions of said side tabs extending toward each other and having a substantial space therebetween, and said front lip portion projecting toward said space;

said connector plate in said space bounded by said tabs,

presenting a substantially flat smooth surface;

a flat mounting plate adapted to have a leg connected thereto, said mounting plate including a front edge, and a pair of parallel side edges spaced apart the same distance as said facing inside surfaces of said leg portions of said side tabs;

said mounting plate being rigidly connectable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along said flat smooth surface of said connector plate with said front edge facing said front tab and said side edges generally aligned with said side tabs, to a connected position in which said front edge engages said leg portion of said front tab, said side edges engage the respective inside surfaces of the leg portions of said side tabs, and said lip portions of the tabs extend across and engage portions of said mounting plate adjacent said edges;

stop means including ends of the legs of said side tabs and edges of said mounting plate to limit the distance said mounting can be driven in a direction toward said front tab; and

means securing said plates against relative movement from said connected position.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said connector plate is peripherally larger than said mounting plate and has flange portions disposed outwardly of the periphery of the mounting plate;

said flange portions having fastener receiving openings fonned therein; and

fasteners extending through said openings and securing said connector plate to an article of furniture.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said fasteners is immediately adjacent each of said tabs.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 which further includes an elongated leg secured to aid mounting plate within the region bounded by said front edge and said side edges.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate has a dome shaped protuberance therein within the region bounded by said front and side edges, said protuberance projecting away from said connector plate; said elongated leg has a tubular upper end of an inside diameter slightly smaller than said protuberance; and said upper end of said leg is welded to said protuberance. 6. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate further includes a pair of guide edges extending inwardly respectively at an angle to said side edges to guide said side edges into position between said leg portions during movement of said mounting plate toward said connected position. 7. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate has a second pair of parallel side edges remote from said front edge, and said connector plate has a second pair of spaced-apart parallel side tabs remote from said front tab; said second tabs including spaced-apart parallel leg portions with facing surfaces, and lips extending respectively toward each other; said second side edges being so spaced apart and arranged that, with said plates in said connected position said second side edges engage said facing surfaces of the leg portions of said second tabs, and said lips of said second tabs extend across and engage portions of said mounting plate adjacent said second side edges. 8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein a generally U-shaped leg brace is secured to said leg at a location spaced from said mounting plate, said leg brace including a first upper portion secured to said mounting plate closely adjacent one edge of said second pair of edges, and a second upper portion secured to said mounting plate closely adjacent the other edge of said second pair of edges. 9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first and second portions of said leg brace are welded to said mounting plate. l0. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second pair of side edges, and said second pair of side tabs are each spaced apart a distance substantially greater than said first mentioned pair of side edges and side tabs. 11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said mounting plate includes a pair of guide edges extending inwardly respectively at an angle to said second side edges to guide said second side edges into position between said leg portions of said second tabs during movement of said mounting plate toward said connected position. 12. A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a generally flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and having a plurality of spaced-apart struck out retaining tabs formed therein at locations spaced inwardly of the marginal side edges of substantially spaced apart, and their respectivelips facing toward each other,

a second pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between said first legs, said legs of said second pair of tabs being parallel with the legs of said first pair of tabs and being located between said first tabs and said other end of the plate, the respective lips of said second tabs facing toward each other; said tabs bounding an area of sald unobstructed surface;

a generally flat integral mounting plate including a front edge,

a first pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said first pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate, and

a second pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said second pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate;

said mounting plate being a force fit in said tabs and being securable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along a path including the smooth surface of the connector plate to a seated position in which said edges of the mounting plate engage under the respective lips of the tabs;

said connector plate having fastener receiving openings formed herein outside the path of travel of said mounting plate during movement to its seated position; and means to secure said mounting plate to said connector plate against movement in a direction away from said front tab.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said connector plate is of generally trapezoidal configuration and is secured to an article of furniture adjacent a corner thereof.

14. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said mounting plate has a bulbous protuberance formed therein at a location within the bounds of said front edge and first pair of side edges; and

said assembly further comprises an elongated leg secured to said protuberance.

15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said leg is welded to said protuberance.

16. An assembly according to claim 14 and further comprising a U-shaped leg brace secured to an intermediate portion of said elongated leg, said brace having upper ends welded to said mounting plate in close proximity to the respective ones of said second pair of side edges.

plate presenting a smooth

Claims

1. A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and comprising a front tab having a leg portion projecting from the plate and a front lip portion integral with the leg portion and generally parallel with and spaced from the plate, a pair of spaced-apart parallel side tabs spaced from said front tab and each having a leg portion projecting from the plate in the same direction as the leg portion of the front tab, and each having a lip portion integral with the leg portion and generally parallel with and spaced from the plate, said leg portions of said side tabs having inside surfaces facing respectivEly toward each other; said lip portions of said side tabs extending toward each other and having a substantial space therebetween, and said front lip portion projecting toward said space; said connector plate in said space bounded by said tabs, presenting a substantially flat smooth surface; a flat mounting plate adapted to have a leg connected thereto, said mounting plate including a front edge, and a pair of parallel side edges spaced apart the same distance as said facing inside surfaces of said leg portions of said side tabs; said mounting plate being rigidly connectable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along said flat smooth surface of said connector plate with said front edge facing said front tab and said side edges generally aligned with said side tabs, to a connected position in which said front edge engages said leg portion of said front tab, said side edges engage the respective inside surfaces of the leg portions of said side tabs, and said lip portions of the tabs extend across and engage portions of said mounting plate adjacent said edges; stop means including ends of the legs of said side tabs and edges of said mounting plate to limit the distance said mounting can be driven in a direction toward said front tab; and means securing said plates against relative movement from said connected position.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said connector plate is peripherally larger than said mounting plate and has flange portions disposed outwardly of the periphery of the mounting plate; said flange portions having fastener receiving openings formed therein; and fasteners extending through said openings and securing said connector plate to an article of furniture.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate has a dome shaped protuberance therein within the region bounded by said front and side edges, said protuberance projecting away from said connector plate; said elongated leg has a tubular upper end of an inside diameter slightly smaller than said protuberance; and said upper end of said leg is welded to said protuberance.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate further includes a pair of guide edges extending inwardly respectively at an angle to said side edges to guide said side edges into position between said leg portions during movement of said mounting plate toward said connected position.

7. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said mounting plate has a second pair of parallel side edges remote from said front edge, and said connector plate has a second pair of spaced-apart parallel side tabs remote from said front tab; said second tabs including spaced-apart parallel leg portions with facing surfaces, and lips extending respectively toward each other; said second side edges being so spaced apart and arranged that, with said plates in said connected position said second side edges engage said facing surfaces of the leg portions of said second tabs, and said lips of said second tabs extend across and engage portions of said mounting plate adjacent said second side edges.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein a generally U-shaped leg brace is secured to said leg at a location spaced from said mounting plate, said leg brace including a first upper portion secured to said mounting plate closely adjacent one edge of said second pair of edges, and a second upper portion secured to said mounting plate closely adjacent the other edge of said second pair of edges.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said first and second portions of said leg brace are welded to said mounting plate.

10. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second pair of side edges, and said second pair of side tabs are each spaced apart a distance substantially greater than said first mentioned pair of side edges and side tabs.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said mounting plate includes a pair of guide edges extending inwardly respectively at an angle to said second side edges to guide said second side edges into position between said leg portions of said second tabs during movement of said mounting plate toward said connected position.

12. A leg connector assembly for an article of furniture or the like comprising, in combination a generally flat connector plate of integral construction adapted to be secured to the article and having a plurality of spaced-apart struck out retaining tabs formed therein at locations spaced inwardly of the marginal side edges of the plate, each of said tabs including a leg portion extending from the plate and terminating at a lip generally parallel to the plane of the plate; said plurality of tabs including a front tab adjacent one end of the plate having its lip extending toward the other end of the plate, a first pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and substantially spaced apart, and their respective lips facing toward each other, a second pair of tabs having their respective legs parallel and spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing between said first legs, said legs of said second pair of tabs being parallel with the legs of said first pair of tabs and being located between said first tabs and said other end of the plate, the respective lips of said second tabs facing toward each other; said tabs bounding an area of said plate presenting a smooth unobstructed surface; a generally flat integral mounting plate including a front edge, a first pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said first pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate, and a second pair of parallel edges dimensioned to be received between and engage the legs of said second pair of tabs with the lips thereof extending inwardly of the mounting plate; said mounting plate being a force fit in said tabs and being securable to said connector plate by driving the mounting plate along a path including the smooth surface of the connector plate to a seated position in which said edges of the mounting plate engage under the respective lips of the tabs; said connector plate having fastener receiving openings formed herein outside the path of travel of said mounting plate during movement to its seated position; and means to secure said mounting plate to said connector plate against movement in a direction away from said front tab.

14. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said mounting plate has a bulbous protuberance formed therein at a location within the bounds of said front edge and first pair of side edges; and said assembly further comprises an elongated leg secured to said protuberance.