Latch assembly with remote release

Abstract

A latch assembly connecting a leg of a table to a table top comprises a housing assembly comprising a housing and a cover, a pivot mounted on the housing and pivotable between an upright position and a pivoted position, wherein the pivot defines an upright slot and a pivoted position slot, a remote release mechanism located remote from the pivot outside the housing assembly and movable from a first position to a second position, and a slider connected to the remote release mechanism and movable in response to movement of the remote release mechanism. When the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing assembly in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.

1 . A latch assembly for a table comprising, in combination:
 a housing assembly comprising a housing and a cover;   a pivot mounted on the housing and pivotable between an upright position and a pivoted position, wherein the pivot defines an upright slot and a pivoted position slot;   a remote release mechanism located remote from the pivot outside the housing assembly and movable from a first position to a second position; and   a slider operatively connected to the remote release mechanism and movable in response to movement of the remote release mechanism;   wherein when the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing assembly in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.   
   
   
       2 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a handle pivotable from a first position to a second position;
 wherein when the handle is in the first position the pivot is locked in one of the upright position and the pivoted position, and when the handle is moved to the second position the pivot is movable between the upright position and the pivoted position.   
   
   
       3 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a table top and a leg to support the table top in combination with the latch assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The latch assembly of  claim 3  wherein the housing is mounted to a bottom of the table top and the cover is attached to the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  wherein the slider has a tapered end and a wing projection; and
 when the remote release mechanism is in the first position the pivot is locked with respect to the housing in the upright position when the tapered end wedges against the pivot at the upright slot, and the pivot is in the pivoted position when the wing projection engages the pivot at the pivoted position slot, and   when the remote release mechanism is moved to the second position the pivot is rotatable with respect to the housing between the upright position and the pivoted position.   
   
   
       6 . The latch assembly of  claim 5  wherein the slider has an under pivot segment which cooperates with the end of the slider to hold the pivot in the upright position. 
   
   
       7 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pivot abuts against the cover at the pivoted position. 
   
   
       8 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  wherein the handle has at least one projection engaging a corresponding opening in the slider so that rotation of the handle urges the slider to move. 
   
   
       9 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a compression spring biasing the slider into engagement with the pivot. 
   
   
       10 . The latch assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a cable assembly operatively connecting the remote release mechanism to the slider. 
   
   
       11 . The latch assembly of  claim 10  wherein the cable assembly comprises a cable attached to a catch and to the slider. 
   
   
       12 . The latch assembly of  claim 11  wherein the catch is slidable between the first position and the second position. 
   
   
       13 . The latch assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a table top and at least two legs to support the table top with each leg having a corresponding leg latch assembly, and the cable assembly comprises a pair of cables with each cable connected at one end to the catch.