Folding structure

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding structure provided with a lock structure for the folding leg stud, which is capable of releasing the respective locked state by pressing the lock lever being in almost the same standby position even when the leg stud is deployed or folded. In this folding structure, even when the lock device as described above is used, the leg stud is allowed for compact storage without taking much space and thus a highly reliable folding structure can be provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A folding structure comprising: 
 a supporting bracket fixed on the basal plate such as a top board or a seat board, and provided with a leg stud rotatably mounted at one end thereon;    a lock lever rotatably supported at the other end of the supporting bracket, provided with a locking portion formed of a lock pin at one end and an operating strip at the other end, and urged in the locking direction; and    a locking cam strip fixed to the leg stud so that the locking portion is always in contact therewith;    the locking cam strip further comprising: 
 a fold lock receiving portion formed in the position where the locking portion engages in a standby position in which the operating strip is disposed between the folded leg stud and the basal plate when the leg stud is folded, and  
 a deployment lock receiving portion provided in the position away from the fold lock receiving portion by the angle corresponding to the angle between the deployed position and the folded position of the leg stud about a fulcrum at which the leg stud is rotatably attached, and formed in the position where the locking portion engages when the leg stud is deployed with the operating strip taking almost the same position as the standby position which is taken when the leg stud is being folded;  
   wherein the respective locking state is released by pressing the lock lever in the standby position toward the basal plate when the leg stud is in the deployed position and in the folded position.    
     
     
         2 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the locking cam strip is formed on a side plate of the cam bracket secured to the leg stud, and wherein the cam strip comprises a passage section to which the locking portion comes into the space between the locking cam strip and the leg stud when folding the leg stud, and a fold lock receiving portion recessed in the passage section for engaging the locking portion.  
     
     
         3 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the supporting bracket is formed at the end thereof with a recessed locking portion stopper that comes in alignment with the fold lock receiving portion displaced when the leg stud is folded for rotatably supporting the locking portion.  
     
     
         4 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein the supporting bracket is formed with a deployment stopper at one end thereof for determining the deployed position of the leg stud by being brought into contact with the leg stud when the leg stud is deployed.  
     
     
         5 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the supporting bracket is formed with a fold stopper at the lowest edge thereof for determining the folded position of the leg stud by being brought into contact with the leg stud when the leg stud is folded.  
     
     
         6 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of leg studs provided on both end portions of the folding structure comprises a pair of supporting leg portions and a horizontal member for connecting the supporting leg portions, and wherein each horizontal member is formed in such a manner that the sides to which the supporting portions are connected move closer to the basal plate when the leg stud is folded, so that the supporting leg portions are disposed in the positions closer to the basal plate with respect to the horizontal member when the let stud is folded.  
     
     
         7 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of leg studs provided in the both end portions of the folding structure each comprises a pair of supporting leg portions and the horizontal member for connecting the supporting leg portions, and are adapted to be folded in such a manner that the supporting leg portions of the opposed leg studs are placed one on another, and wherein only one of the horizontal members is formed in such a manner that the sides to which the supporting leg portions are connected move closer to the basal plate when the leg stud is folded so that the supporting leg portions are disposed closer to the basal plate with respect to the horizontal member when the leg stud is folded, and wherein the supporting leg portions on the side of the other horizontal member are disposed so as to be superimposed on the supporting leg portions on one side.  
     
     
         8 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the horizontal member is obliquely inclined at both ends thereof and the supporting leg portions are secured at the ends thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A folding structure as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of leg studs provided on both end portions of the folding structure comprises a pair of supporting leg portions and a horizontal member for connecting the supporting leg portions, and wherein the horizontal member is formed with a stand stopper which is brought into contact with a basal plate portion of the supporting bracket fixed on the basal plate when the let stud is deployed.