Patent ID: 6588717
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B63B,F16M

Abstract:
A planar assembly support comprising:a pillar assembly, which includes: a pillar comprised of a length of tube, for mounting furniture on an upper end thereof; an inner locking member for insertion into a lower end of the pillar, wherein the inner locking member has an outwardly protruding retaining ring at a lower portion thereof, so that when the inner locking member is inserted into the pillar by placing the lower portion of the pillar over the inner locking member, the lower end of the pillar rests on the outwardly protruding retaining ring; wherein the inner locking member has an outer screw thread disposed on the lower portion of the inner locking member below the outwardly protruding retaining ring; and wherein the inner locking member is fixedly assembled to the pillar so that the pillar and the inner locking member do not move relative to each other; an outer locking member having a collar portion which receives therein the pillar, with the inner locking member inserted in the pillar, the outer locking member including an inwardly protruding retaining ring and an outwardly extending flange, at a lower portion thereof; wherein, when the pillar with the inner locking member inserted therein is received by the outer locking member, the inwardly protruding retaining ring of the outer locking member extends inwardly some distance beyond the retaining ring of the inner locking member; and wherein the outer locking member is fixedly assembled to the pillar, with the inner locking member inserted in the pillar, so that the outer locking member, inner locking member and pillar do not move relative to each other; an essentially planar bed which removably receives the pillar assembly; wherein the bed is fixable on a mounting surface, and wherein the bed has a center hole provided with an inner screw thread which mates with the outer screw thread of the inner locking member of the pillar assembly; whereby the pillar assembly is removably attached to the bed by inserting the lower end into the bed and turning the pillar assembly in a screwing-on direction; and a mechanism for preventing the pillar assembly, when attached to the bed, from being inadvertently rotated in a screwing-off direction with respect to the bed, including: a plurality of indentations provided in the bottom of the outwardly extending flange of the outer locking member of the pillar assembly; a release member disposed in the bed, and having at least one protrusion disposed thereon, the at least one protrusion configured to extend upward from inside the bed, through an opening in the bed beneath the outer locking member flange, and mate with the plurality of indentations in the bottom of the flange of the outer locking member; wherein the release member can be operated by a user to selectively disengage the at least one protrusion from the indentations, thereby allowing the pillar assembly to be rotated in the screwing-off direction with respect to the bed.