US2038143A - Folding bracket - Google Patents

Description

pril 2l, 1936. R, w, SWANiSON 2,038,143

FOLDING BRACKET Filed Oct. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor plil 2l, i936. R W. SWANSON 2,038,143

' I FoLDNG BRACKET Filed Oct. l5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vir, mi Kal/@ Inventor Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

mary object to provide a bracket of this char.

acter comprising novel means for locking said bracket in open or operative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a folding bracket of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views7 and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wall bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same in unfolded or operative position.

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation of the invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, showing the bracket in folded or inoperative position.

Figure 5 is a View in cross section through the lock, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, showing the brace as it approaches operative position.

Figure 'lis a perspective view of the upper end portion of the stationary member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustratedlcomprises a stationary -member I of angle iron having a plurality of holes or openings 2 therein for the passage of securing elements for mounting said member I on a Wall or other support. The stationary member I includes a thickened, offset upper end portion 3 having formed therein a step or recess 4.

Pivotally mounted, as at 5, on the portion 3 of the member I is a swinging member 6 which is also of angle iron. The member 6 is provided with a plurality of openings (not shown) for the passage of securing elements for mounting a table I or the like thereon.

Extending between the free ends of the members I and 6 is a brace which is designated generally by the reference numeral 8, said brace comprising a pair of links or sections 9 and I9 Which are pivotally connected, at their outer ends, to said members I and 6, as at II. The inner end portions of the 4brace sections 9 and I0 overlap and are pivotally connected, as at I2.

The inner end portion of the brace section 9 has formed integrally therewith an angular flange I3 which is engageable With the section I0 in a manner to provide a stop for limiting the swinging movement of the sections 9 and I0 relative to each other toward operative position. Formed integrally with the angular flange I3 is a pair of ears I4 between which a hook or latch I5 is pivotally mounted, said hook or latch being yieldingly urged toward operative or locking position by a spring I6. A portion of one edge of the brace section Ill is substantially beveled or rounded, as at I'I, (see Figure 5) in a manner to cause the latch I5 to ride over said member I 0 when the bracket is unfolded or opened. To facilitate this movement the hooked end of the latch I5 is substantially beveled or rounded, as at I8. The opposite edge of the section I0 has formed integrally therewith a beveled lip I9 with which the latch I5 is engageable for releasably locking the brace 8 in unfolded position.

It is thought that the operation of the bracket will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To open the bracket, the member 6 is, of course, swung upwardly to a position substantially .at right angles to the member I, thus unfolding the brace 8. When the sections 9 and I0 of the brace 8 reach substantially the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the latch I5 engages the beveled portion I1 of the section I9 and rides thereover. Then, when the brace 8 reaches substantially its unfolded position the latch I5, under impulsion by the spring I6, engages under the beveled lip I9 and the bracket is thus positively locked in open position. To fold the bracket it is only necessary to disengage the latch I 5 from the beveled lip I9 against the tension of the spring I6, after which the sections 9 and I0 may be broken or swung inwardly for permitting the member 6 to swing downwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The thickened portion 3 of the stationary member I materially strengthens or reinforces the bracket at a point which is usually subjected to severe strain.

It is believed that the many advantages of a folding bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

A brace including a. pair of sections pivotally connected at one end and, when unfolded, extending in overlapping relation toy each other, a bevlO eled lip on the inner end portion of one oaf the sections, an angular flange on the inner end portion of the other of said sections, said angular ange being engageable with said one section for limiting the movement of the sections toward unfolded position, ears projecting from the flange, and a spring actuated latch pivotally mounted between the ears and operatively engageable with the beveled lip for releasably locking the sections in unfolded position.

- RALPH W. SWANSON.

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