Folding table brace lock assembly

Abstract

A folding table brace lock assembly includes a clip base, a spring leaf, and a tube retainer. The clip base is attached to an underside of a table. The clip base has a slat between a closed rear end and an open front end. The slat forms a clip chamfer at the open front end. The spring leaf is mounted on the clip base at a mounted end and attached to the tube retainer at a free end. The tube retainer forms a retainer chamfer and a barb. The barb points inward to the closed rear end. As a table leg bar separates the clip chamfer and the retainer chamfer, the spring leaf flexes outward. As the bar passes the barb and contacts the closed rear end, the spring leaf flexes back, releasably trapping the leg bar between the slat, the spring leaf, the barb, and the closed rear end.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A table brace lock assembly comprising: 
 a spring leaf and a tube retainer;    the spring leaf having a mounted end, a free end, and at least one bend between the mounted end and the free end;    the mounted end being mounted on an underside of the table and forming a closed rear end;    the at least one bend displacing the free end from the underside of the table;    the free end pointing toward an open front end; and    the tube retainer being arranged at the free end;    wherein a table brace bar entering the open front end between the table and the tube retainer causes the spring leaf to flex outward, allowing the table brace bar to pass enough of the tube retainer so as to contact the closed rear end, thereby allowing the spring leaf to flex back, releasably trapping the table brace bar between the closed rear end and the tube retainer.    
     
     
         2 . The lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tube retainer is formed by a ripple at the free end.  
     
     
         3 . The lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tube retainer is attached to the spring leaf.  
     
     
         4 . The lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tube retainer forms a retainer chamfer.  
     
     
         5 . The lock assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tube retainer forms a barb.  
     
     
         6 . A table brace lock assembly comprising: 
 a clip base,    a spring leaf, and    a tube retainer;    the clip base having an open front end and a closed rear end opposite the open front end;    the spring leaf having a mounted end and a free end;    the mounted end being mounted on the clip base at the closed rear end so that the free end points toward the open front end;    the tube retainer being arranged at the free end;    wherein a table brace bar entering the open front end between the clip base and the tube retainer causes the spring leaf to flex outward, allowing the table brace bar to pass enough of the tube retainer so as to contact the closed rear end, thereby allowing the spring leaf to flex back, releasably trapping the table brace bar between the clip base, the spring leaf, and the tube retainer.    
     
     
         7 . The lock assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tube retainer is formed by a ripple at the free end.  
     
     
         8 . The lock assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tube retainer is attached to the spring leaf.  
     
     
         9 . The lock assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tube retainer forms a retainer chamfer.  
     
     
         10 . The lock assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the tube retainer forms a barb.  
     
     
         11 . A table brace lock assembly comprising: 
 a clip base,    a spring leaf, and    a tube retainer;    the clip base having a topside, a bottom side, an open front end, a closed rear end opposite the open front end, a slat between the closed rear end and the open front end, and a clip chamfer forming a top leading edge on the slat at the open front end; the spring leaf having a mounted end and a free end;    the mounted end being mounted on the clip base at the closed rear end along the bottom side whereby the free end points toward the open front end;    the tube retainer forming a bottom leading edge; and, the tube retainer being arranged at the free end so that the bottom leading edge is towards the open front end;    wherein a table leg bar entering the open front end between the top leading edge and the bottom leading edge slides along the clip chamfer and the tube retainer, causing the spring leaf to flex outward and allowing the table leg bar to pass enough of the tube retainer so as to contact the closed rear end, thereby allowing the spring leaf to flex back, releasably trapping the table leg bar between the slat, the spring leaf, the tube retainer, and the closed rear end.    
     
     
         12 . The lock assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tube retainer is formed by a ripple at the free end.  
     
     
         13 . The lock assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tube retainer is attached to the spring leaf.  
     
     
         14 . The lock assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tube retainer has a retainer chamfer forming the bottom leading edge; and 
 wherein the table leg bar entering the open front end between the top leading edge and the bottom leading edge slides along the clip chamfer and the retainer chamfer.    
     
     
         15 . The lock assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tube retainer forms a barb pointing inward to the closed rear end; and 
 wherein the table leg bar passes the barb before contacting the closed rear end, thereby allowing the spring leaf to flex back, releasably trapping the table leg bar between the slat, the spring leaf, the barb, and the closed rear end.