Patent ID: 6461002
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: F16M,G03B

Abstract:
A latching mechanism for a height-adjusting system, the latching mechanism comprising:a first housing comprising: a bottom surface with a central opening for accepting a height-adjusting rod; a brace mounted on the bottom surface adjacent to the central opening, the brace having a bracing surface substantially aligned with an edge of the central opening, the bracing surface adapted to brace the height-adjusting rod; first and second surfaces disposed on first and second sides of the first housing, respectively; and a third surface disposed on a third side of the first housing; an internal module slidably disposed within the first housing, the internal module comprising: a central portion having a first opening, the brace disposed within the first opening, the bracing surface of the brace facing towards a contact surface on the first opening; first and second tabs extending from first and second sides of the central portion, respectively, the first and second tabs disposed over the first and second surfaces, respectively; and a third tab extending from a third side of the central portion, the third tab disposed over the third surface; and a second housing capable of locking onto the first housing and at least partially covering the central portion, the second housing having a central opening corresponding to the central opening of the bottom surface of the first housing; wherein when the central portion is in a first position, the contact surface of the first opening is capable of pressing the height-adjusting rod against the bracing surface to latch the height-adjusting rod into position, and when the central portion is in a second position, the contact surface of the first opening is sufficiently spaced from the bracing surface to enable the height-adjusting rod to slide between the bracing surface and the contact surface.