Patent ID: 7823231
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
1. A structure for a piece of furniture, the structure comprising: a fixed part configured to be placed on a floor surface; and a pivoting part distant from the floor surface, wherein the pivoting part comprises an essentially flat frame hinged to the fixed part by a transverse pivot pin ( 5 ), the frame pivotable between an essentially vertical raised position and an essentially horizontal lowered position, said pivoting part further comprising i) a leg ( 22 ) able to be in contact on the floor surface when the frame is in the lowered position, ii) a guide ( 20 ) which is affixed to said frame and receiving the leg ( 22 ) so that the leg ( 22 ) is slidable at a right angle to said frame ( 4 ), iii) an actuating means ( 24 ) connecting the leg to said fixed part, to move the leg between an extended position when said pivoting part is in the lowered position a free end of the leg is standing on the surface and to a withdrawn position when the frame is in the raised position, and iv) a limit-of-travel and collapsed-prevention stop ( 35 ) carried by the frame, wherein, the actuating means comprises a member ( 25 ) pivoting on the frame and having a first arm ( 27 ) connected to the leg ( 22 ) by a first link ( 29 ) and a second arm ( 28 ) connected to the fixed part by a second link ( 32 ), a first pivoting pin ( 26 ) connects the member ( 25 ) on the frame, a second pivoting pin ( 31 ) connects the first arm ( 27 ) and the first link ( 29 ) and a third pivoting pin ( 30 ) connects the first link ( 29 ) and the at least one leg ( 22 ), the first pivoting pin ( 26 ) is under a third pivoting pin ( 30 ) with respect to the frame, the first pivoting pin ( 26 ) and the third pivoting pin ( 30 ) are one over the other at a distance with respect of the frame, the second pivoting pin ( 31 ) passes slightly beyond a position of alignment of the first pivoting pin ( 26 ) and the third pivoting pin ( 30 ), when the leg is in the extended position, and the pivoting pin ( 31 ) is stopped by the limit-of-travel and collapse prevention stop ( 35 ) to produce a toggle action of the first arm ( 27 ) and the first link ( 29 ) when the leg is in the extended position in contact on said floor surface in order to avoid sliding movement of the leg toward the retracted position.