Claims
- 1. A collapsible bench or horizontal support having a top, comprising:
- leg means including at least one leg extending longitudinally of the underside of said top and pivotally connected at one end portion to one end portion of said underside for vertical pivoting movement of the leg other end portion about a horizontal axis toward and away from said underside;
- brace rod means including an elongated rod extending longitudinally of said underside and pivotally connected at one end portion to said underside in spaced relation with respect to the connected end of said leg for vertical pivoting movement of the rod other end portion about a horizontal axis toward and away from said underside,
- said rod other end portion having an aperture;
- link and bracket means interconnecting said leg means and said brace rod means with each other and with said underside for simultaneously pivoting said other end portions of said leg and said brace rod in opposing directions toward a downwardly converging juxtaposed position in response to movement of said rod other end portion away from said underside; and,
- locking means including an outstanding lock pin secured to said leg other end portion for entering the rod aperture and connecting said leg with said brace rod at their convergent position for forming a load bearing structure.
- 2. Collapsible folding leg and brace structure for a bench or the like having a bench top, comprising:
- a pair of bench legs having upper and lower end portions;
- bench leg bracket means pivotally connecting the upper end portions of said pair of bench legs to the underside of one end portion of said bench top on transversely aligned inclined axes for disposing the longitudinal axes of said pair of bench legs when erected in downward lateral and longitudinal diverging relation relative to said bench top,
- each leg of said pair of bench legs having a fixed collar surrounding its lower end portion;
- an upstanding lock pin supported by each said fixed collar;
- a brace rod projecting longitudinally of said bench between said pair of bench legs and having one end pivotally connected with said underside for vertical movement of its other end portion toward and away from said top one end portion,
- the brace rod other end portion having a cross bar provided with an aperture in its respective ends for receiving said lock pins in a bench leg erected locking action; and,
- link and track bracket means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said brace rod with the upper end portions of said pair of bench legs and with said underside for pivoting said pair of bench legs from an erected position to a parallel stored position against said underside and vice versa by vertical movement of said brace rod.
- 3. The leg and brace structure according to claim 2 in which said link and track bracket means includes:
- a track bracket connected with said underside between said bench leg bracket means and the pivotal connection of said brace rod with said underside;
- a strut pivotally connected at one end with said brace rod and
- slidably connected at its other end with said track bracket; and,
- link means extending between and pivotally connecting the upper end portions of said pair of bench legs with said strut.
- 4. The leg and brace structure according to claim 3 in which said track bracket includes:
- at least one depending bracket leg extending longitudinally along said underside and having a longitudinally extending transverse slot generally inclined with respect to the plane of said underside; and,
- a strut pin connected with said other end of said strut and slidably received by the track bracket slot.
- 5. The leg and brace structure according to claim 4 in which said link means further includes:
- a pair of links extending between and pivotally connected with said strut and the respective leg of said pair of bench legs.
- 6. The leg and brace structure according to claim 5 in which each link of said pair of links comprises a turnbuckle.
- 7. The leg and brace structure according to claim 5 in which said pair of bench legs are tubular and further including:
- an extension leg telescopically received by each said bench leg; and,
- rotatable collar means surrounding the depending portion of each said bench leg,
- each said rotatable collar means including a lug projecting inwardly through the wall of the respective said bench leg for supporting said extension leg in a telescoped position.
- 8. The leg and brace structure according to claim 7 in which
- each said extension leg is provided with a coextensive longitudinal slot slidably receiving said collar lug,
- each said extension leg further having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart lateral slots communicating with the longitudinal slot for receiving said collar lug; and,
- spring means surrounding the depending end portion of each said bench leg for biasing said collar lug into one of the extension leg lateral slots.
- 9. The leg and brace structure according to claim 8 in which each end portion of said underside is provided with said folding leg and brace structure and each said fixed collar is provided with a lateral upwardly open hook recess and further including:
- a step rail coextensive with and normally supported by marginal edge portions of said bench top,
- said step rail having a J-shaped hook portion for engaging said hook recesses in step rail supporting relation when said bench legs are erected; and,
- fastener means securing said step rail to the respective said bench leg when in step forming position.
- 10. A collapsible bench or horizontal support having a top, comprising:
- leg means including at least one leg extending longitudinally of the underside of said top and pivotally connected at one end portion to one end portion of said underside for vertical pivoting movement of the leg other end portion about a horizontal axis toward and away from said underside,
- said leg having a lug-like extension on its said other end portion;
- brace rod means including an elongated rod extending longitudinally of said underside and pivotally connected at one end portion to said underside in spaced relation with respect to the connected end of said leg for vertical pivoting movement of the rod other end portion about a horizontal axis toward and away from said underside;
- link and bracket means interconnecting said leg means and said brace rod means with each other and with said underside for simultaneously pivoting said other end portions of said leg and said brace rod in opposing directions toward a downwardly converging juxtaposed position in response to movement of said rod other end portion away from said underside; and,
- locking means including a lock pin on said brace rod other end portion for engaging the lug-like extension and connecting said leg with said brace rod at their convergent position for forming a load bearing structure.
- 11. Collapsible folding leg and brace structure for a bench or the like having a bench top, comprising:
- a pair of bench legs having upper and lower end portions;
- bench leg bracket means pivotally connecting the upper end portions of said pair of bench legs to the underside of one end portion of said bench top on transversely aligned inclined axes for disposing the longitudinal axes of said pair of bench legs when erected in downward lateral and longitudinal diverging relation relative to said bench top,
- each leg of said pair of bench legs having a lug-like extension on its lower end portion;
- a brace rod projecting longitudinally of said bench between said pair of bench legs and having one end pivotally connected with said underside for vertical movement of its other end portion toward and away from said top one end portion,
- the brace rod other end portion having a cross bar provided with a lock pin at its respective ends for engaging said lug-like extensions in a bench leg erected locking action; and,
- link and track bracket means pivotally connecting an intermediate portion of said brace rod with the upper end portions of said pair of bench legs and with said underside for pivoting said pair of bench legs from an erected position ot a parallel stored position against said underside and vice versa by vertical movement of said brace rod.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 870,159, filed Jan. 17, 1978 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
870159 |
Jan 1978 |
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