LATCH ASSEMBLY WITH REMOTE RELEASE
A latch assembly connecting a leg of a table to a table top comprises a housing assembly comprising a housing and a cover, a pivot mounted on the housing and pivotable between an upright position and a pivoted position, wherein the pivot defines an upright slot and a pivoted position slot, a remote release mechanism located remote from the pivot outside the housing assembly and movable from a first position to a second position, and a slider connected to the remote release mechanism and movable in response to movement of the remote release mechanism. When the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing assembly in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/833,251, filed on Apr. 27, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to improvements in latch assemblies, and more particularly to improvements in latch assemblies used with tables flippable with respect to their legs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTables with table tops and legs are widely used in corporate and institutional settings. The table tops of such tables often are flippable between an upright position and a pivoted position, and are particularly suitable in places where the position of the table is frequently changed, such as hotels and conference center meeting rooms. Table tops in a pivoted position are often at right angles to the upright position and therefore take up less space, reducing the area needed for storage. A latch assembly can be provided which locks the table top in either the pivoted position or upright position. One problem that has been seen with flippable table tops is that the latch assembly is less rigid than desired. Such latch assemblies may be loose and subject to rattling and wobbling. Moreover, latch assemblies may not be rigidly secured at both the upright and pivoted positions. Further, access to the latch assembly allowing movement of the table top or legs between the upright and pivoted positions may be restricted or in a difficult to access position on the table top. It would be highly desirable to have a low cost latch assembly which is rigid, easy to access and which is lockable at both the upright position and the pivoted position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with a first aspect, a latch assembly for a table comprises a housing assembly having a housing and a cover, a pivot mounted on the housing and pivotable between an upright position and a pivoted position, wherein the pivot defines an upright slot and a pivoted position slot, a remote release mechanism located remote from the pivot outside the housing assembly and movable from a first position to a second position, and a slider connected to the remote release mechanism and movable in response to movement of the remote release mechanism. When the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing assembly in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology of latch assemblies. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, low cost latch assembly. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the latch assembly as disclosed here, including, for example, the specific dimensions of the remote release mechanism, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to enhance visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity of illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation illustrated in the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSIt will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved latch assembly disclosed here. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred features and embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to a latch assembly particularly suitable top for use with a table having a flippable table top mounted on a pair of legs. Other embodiments suitable top for other applications, such as a table top having folding legs, will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.
Referring now to the drawings,
Thus, operation of the handle 20 (or the remote release mechanism 72 discussed below) causes the handle projections 38 to urge the slider 22 to translate so that the tapered end 32 disengages the tapered slot 35 in the pivot flange 40. This frees the pivot 18 to pivot from the upright position to the pivoted position. Preferably the pivot 18 has a curved surface 77 which guides the wing projections 37 of the slider to enter the pivoted position slot 36 as the pivot moves to the pivoted position. Release of the handle from the second position urges the handle to return to the first position. However, the handle cannot do so until the slider is free to move again. This occurs once the slider projections 37 have entered the pivoted position slot 36. The projections 37 cooperate with the cover to hold the pivot in the pivoted position.
In
Sliding of the catch 73 from the first position to the second position overcomes the force of the spring 24 and, in a manner similar to movement of the handle, urges the slider 22 to translate so that the tapered end 32 disengages the tapered slot 35 in the pivot flange 40. See
The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
Claims
1. A latch assembly for a table comprising, in combination:
- a housing assembly comprising a housing and a cover;
- a pivot mounted on the housing and pivotable between an upright position and a pivoted position, wherein the pivot defines an upright slot and a pivoted position slot;
- a remote release mechanism located remote from the pivot outside the housing assembly and movable from a first position to a second position; and
- a slider operatively connected to the remote release mechanism and movable in response to movement of the remote release mechanism;
- wherein when the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing assembly in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.
2. The latch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a handle pivotable from a first position to a second position;
- wherein when the handle is in the first position the pivot is locked in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the handle is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.
3. The latch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a table top and a leg to support the table top in combination with the latch assembly.
4. The latch assembly of claim 3 wherein the housing is mounted to a bottom of the table top and the cover is attached to the housing.
5. The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the slider has a tapered end and a wing projection; and
- when the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing in the upright position when the tapered end wedges against the pivot at the upright slot, and the pivot is in the pivoted position when the wing projection engages the pivot at the pivoted position slot, and
- when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is rotatable with respect to the housing between the upright position and the pivoted position.
6. The latch assembly of claim 5 wherein the slider has an under pivot segment which cooperates with the end of the slider to hold the pivot in the upright position.
7. The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivot abuts against the cover at the pivoted position.
8. The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle has at least one projection engaging a corresponding opening in the slider so that rotation of the handle urges the slider to move.
9. The latch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a compression spring biasing the slider into engagement with the pivot.
10. The latch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cable assembly operatively connecting the remote release mechanism to the slider.
11. The latch assembly of claim 10 wherein the cable assembly comprises a cable attached to a catch and to the slider.
12. The latch assembly of claim 11 wherein the catch is slidable between the first position and the second position.
13. The latch assembly of claim 12 further comprising a table top and at least two legs to support the table top with each leg having a corresponding leg latch assembly, and the cable assembly comprises a pair of cables with each cable connected at one end to the catch.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 31, 2008
Inventors: Paul Koning (Holland, MI), Matthew Ruster (Holland, MI), Jack Nyenhuis (Jenison, MI)
Application Number: 12/058,795
International Classification: A47B 3/00 (20060101);