Table with folding support

Abstract

A table includes a table top with an underside and a support attached to the underside of the table top. The support is rotatable between a stored position and an extended position and extends generally away from the table top when the support is in the extended position and substantially lays against the underside of the table top when the support is in the stored position. A tab is carried by the support. A latch is positioned on the underside of the table top and includes a catch shiftable between an obstructing position and a withdrawn position. The catch includes a locking surface adapted to releasably engage the tab to secure the support in the extended position.

1 . A table comprising: 
 a table top with an underside;    a support attached to the underside of the table top and rotatable between a stored position and an extended position, the support extending generally away from the table top when the support is in the extended position and substantially laying against the underside of the table top when the support is in the stored position;    a tab carried by the support; and    a latch positioned on the underside of the table top and including a catch shiftable between an obstructing position and a withdrawn position, the catch including a locking surface releasably engageable with the tab when the support is in the extended position and the catch is in the obstructing position to releasably secure the support in the extended position.    
   
   
       2 . The table of  claim 1 , the catch being biased to the obstructing position, the catch further comprising a cam surface, wherein the tab is adapted to cam against the cam surface as the support is rotated from the stored position to the extended position to shift the catch from the obstructing position to the withdrawn position.  
   
   
       3 . The table of  claim 1 , the support including a cross member, wherein the tab is attached to the cross member and is engageable with the catch during rotation of the support.  
   
   
       4 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket disposed on the underside of the table top, the mounting bracket including a stop surface, wherein the tab is confined between the stop surface of the mounting bracket and the locking surface of the latch when the support is in the extended position.  
   
   
       5 . The table of  claim 1 , the latch further comprising a pivot lever, the lever adapted to shift the catch between the obstructing position and the withdrawn position upon pivoting of the lever.  
   
   
       6 . The table of  claim 1 , the latch further comprising a shift lever moveable longitudinally, the shift lever adapted to shift the catch between the obstructing position and the withdrawn position upon longitudinal movement of the shift lever.  
   
   
       7 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate disposed on the underside of the table top opposite from the locking surface of the latch, a gap being defined between the plate and the locking surface, wherein the tab is confined in the gap when the support is in the extended position.  
   
   
       8 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a casing about at least a portion of the support.  
   
   
       9 . The table of  claim 8 , the casing further comprising at least one slot, the support moveable through the slot as the support is moved between the extended position and the stored position.  
   
   
       10 . The table of  claim 9 , the slot further comprising a slot stop, wherein when the support is in the extended position, the leg is adjacent the slot stop such that the support cannot rotate past the extended position.  
   
   
       11 . The table of  claim 8 , the casing further comprising a stop surface, the support including a second tab extending outward, wherein when the support is in the extended position, the second tab bears against the stop surface such that the support cannot rotate past the extended position.  
   
   
       12 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising U-brackets to rotatably secure the cross member to the table top.  
   
   
       13 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame extending along the front side and the back side of the table and adapted to provide strength to the table top, the frame comprising a first rail and a second rail.  
   
   
       14 . The table of  claim 13 , the first rail and the second rail each comprising an opening, the support comprising end portions rotatably disposed inside the openings such that the support is rotatable within the frame.  
   
   
       15 . The table of  claim 1 , the table further comprising a receiver located on the underside of the table top, the receiver configured to secure the support in the stored position.  
   
   
       16 . The table of  claim 1 , the latch further comprising a handle pivotably connected to the catch, the handle including a lip and a cam, the catch moveable longitudinally by rotation of the lip about the cam.  
   
   
       17 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein an angle of the support relative to the table top is greater than 90° when the support is in the extended position.  
   
   
       18 . A table comprising: 
 a table top having an underside;    a support attached to the underside of the table top and shiftable between a stored position and an extended position;    a tab carried by the support; and    a releasable latch positioned on the underside of the table top and adapted to engage the tab to secure the support in the extended position.    
   
   
       19 . The table of  claim 18 , wherein the latch is automatically shiftable between an obstructing position and a withdrawn position in response to movement of the support toward the extended position.  
   
   
       20 . The table of  claim 19 , the latch including a cam surface, wherein the tab is adapted to cam against the cam surface of the latch to shift it to the retracted position as the support is rotated to the extended position.  
   
   
       21 . The table of  claim 18 , the support further including an axle, wherein the support is rotatable about the axle having a pivot axis.  
   
   
       22 . The table of  claim 21 , wherein the tab is carried by the axle.  
   
   
       23 . The table of  claim 21 , wherein the tab comprises a recess formed in the axle.  
   
   
       24 . The table of  claim 18 , wherein the latch is biased toward the obstructing position.  
   
   
       25 . The table of  claim 18 , wherein the latch includes a handle disposed in a housing.  
   
   
       26 . The table of  claim 25 , wherein the handle is pivotable about an axis.  
   
   
       27 . The table of  claim 25 , wherein the handle retracts linearly.  
   
   
       28 . A table comprising: 
 a table top having an underside;    a support attached to the underside of the table top and rotatable between a stored position and an extended position;    a first tab carried by the support;    a second tab carried by the support; and    a latch secured to the table top and including a catch having a locking surface, the catch shiftable between an obstructing position and a withdrawn position;    wherein in the extended position, the first tab is secured between the table top and the locking surface of the catch, and the second tab bears against a stop surface.    
   
   
       29 . The table of  claim 28 , further comprising a casing mounted to the underside of the table top and including the stop surface against which the second tab bears while in the extended position, the first tab and the second tab rotatable within the casing.  
   
   
       30 . The table of  claim 29 , the casing further including at least one slot, wherein the support is moveable through the slot between the extended position and the stored position.  
   
   
       31 . The table of  claim 30 , the slot including a slot stop, wherein the support bears against the slot stop when the support is in the extended position.  
   
   
       32 . The table of  claim 28 , further comprising a spring that biases the catch to the obstructing position.  
   
   
       33 . The table of  claim 28 , the table top further comprising a recess, wherein the second tab is moveable within the recess between the extended position and the stored position.  
   
   
       34 . A table comprising: 
 a table top having an underside;    a support attached to the underside of the table top and shiftable between a stored position and an extended position;    a shiftable latch positioned on the underside of the table top and engageable with the support to releasably secure the support in the extended position.    
   
   
       35 . The table of  claim 34 , the support further comprising a slot, the shiftable latch engageable with the slot to releasably secure the support in the extended position.  
   
   
       36 . The table of  claim 34 , the support further comprising a tab, the shiftable latch engageable with the tab to releasably secure the support in the extended position.