Collapsible leg assembly

Abstract

A collapsible leg assembly configured to elevate an object above a floor surface includes at least one pair of leg members, each of the leg members including an inner tubular member telescopically received within an outer tubular member; an attachment member operatively connecting a first of the outer tubular members to a second of the outer tubular members, thereby establishing a pivotal axis about which the leg members are capable of rotating relative to one another; and at least one pair of latching devices, each of the latching devices being configured to selectively prevent the relative sliding movement of one of the inner tubular members relative to its respective outer tubular member. In one or more embodiments, the attachment member and the pivotal axis defined thereby are disposed at a fixed location along the length of each of the outer tubular members between the first and second ends thereof.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible leg assembly configured to elevate an object above a floor surface, said collapsible leg assembly comprising:
 at least one pair of leg members, each of said leg members including an inner tubular member telescopically received within an outer tubular member; each of said inner tubular members having a first end that is pivotably coupled to said object about a respective rotational axis and a second, opposed end that is slidably disposed within an interior portion of its respective said outer tubular member, each of said outer tubular members having a first end that telescopically receives its respective said inner tubular member and a second, opposed end that is configured to be disposed proximate to said floor surface when said collapsible leg assembly is in an operative extended position;   an attachment member operatively connecting a first of said outer tubular members to a second of said outer tubular members, thereby establishing a pivotal axis about which said leg members are capable of rotating relative to one another, said attachment member and said pivotal axis defined thereby being disposed at a fixed location along the length of each of said outer tubular members between said first and second ends thereof; and   at least one pair of latching devices, each of said latching devices being configured to selectively prevent the relative sliding movement of one of said inner tubular members relative to its respective said outer tubular member;   wherein said rotational axes about which said first ends of said inner tubular members pivot are spaced apart by a generally constant distance as each of said leg members of said collapsible leg assembly is moved from a collapsed position to said operative extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting frame that includes a first elongated member configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of said object, a second elongated member laterally spaced apart from said first elongated member and configured to be coupled to said bottom surface of said object, and a pair of elongated rods, each having opposed longitudinal ends, and each said elongated rod being fixedly attached to said first end of a respective said inner tubular member, a first of said elongated rods being disposed between said first elongated member and said second elongated member with a respective said longitudinal end thereof being pivotably coupled to a respective said elongated member near a first end thereof, and a second of said elongated rods being longitudinally spaced apart from said first of said elongated rods, said second of said elongated rods being disposed between said first elongated member and said second elongated member with a respective said longitudinal end thereof being pivotably coupled to a respective said elongated member near a second end thereof. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second elongated members is in the form of a elongated bar and each of said opposed longitudinal ends of said elongated rods is pivotably coupled to each of said elongated bars by means of said opposed longitudinal ends of said elongated rods each being rotatably received within a respective aperture located in a side of each of said elongated bars. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latching devices is disengaged when said leg assembly is in a collapsed position so that each of said leg members is capable of being extended without requiring any manipulation of said latching devices. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said leg assembly is capable of being extended without requiring any mechanism thereon to be released or manipulated. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latching devices comprises an elongated strip bent at an approximately 180 degree angle, thereby forming a first strip portion that includes a detent, a second, opposed strip portion spaced apart from, and disposed generally parallel to the first strip portion, and a third strip portion having a semi-circular shape and connecting an end of the first strip portion to an end of the second strip portion, wherein each of said latching devices is configured to be released by means of a user applying a force to an outer surface of each said detent. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latching devices is structurally configured to displace a detent inwardly so as to disengage it from an aperture in said outer tubular member in response to an axial tensile force being applied to an actuation cable or wire operatively coupled thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latching devices comprises:
 an elongated strip bent at an approximately 90 degree angle, said elongated strip comprising a first strip portion that includes a detent, a second strip portion disposed at an approximately 90 degree angle with respect to said first strip portion and having an aperture disposed therein, and a third filleted strip portion connecting said first strip portion to said second strip portion;   a sleeve fixedly attached to said elongated strip adjacent to said third filleted strip portion;   a first rod disposed through said sleeve, the opposed longitudinal ends of said first rod being received within a first set of apertures in opposed sides of said inner tubular member;   a second rod spaced apart from said first rod, the opposed longitudinal ends of said second rod being received within a second set of apertures in opposed sides of said inner tubular member;   a spring having a first end and a second end, said first end of said spring being attached to said second rod so as to substantially prevent the movement thereof relative to said inner tubular member, and said second end of said spring being attached to an end of an actuation cable or wire, said actuation cable or wire passing through said aperture in said second strip portion; and   a cable stop disposed on said actuation cable or wire proximate to the location at which said actuation cable or wire is attached to said second end of said spring;   wherein, when an axial force is applied to said actuation cable or wire, said spring is elastically deformed and said cable stop contacts said second strip portion, thereby rotating said bent elongated strip about said first rod and releasing said detent from an aperture in said outer tubular member so as to enable the relative sliding movement of said inner tubular member relative to its respective said outer tubular member.   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latching devices comprises:
 an insert having a flanged end and one or more internal cavities circumscribed by a plurality of walls, said insert received within an interior of said inner tubular member;   an elongated strip formed from a resilient material, said elongated strip including a detent and being affixed to an inner surface of one of said plurality of walls of said insert, said detent passing through a first aperture in said one of said plurality of walls of said insert, a second aperture in said inner tubular member, and when said latching device is in an engaged position, a third aperture in said outer tubular member; and   an actuation cable or wire fixedly attached to said elongated strip at said detent, or proximate thereto, said actuation cable or wire being bent at an angle of between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 110 degrees within said insert and exiting said insert through a longitudinal end thereof;   wherein, when an axial force is applied to said actuation cable or wire, said elongated strip is elastically deformed and displaced inwardly, thereby releasing said detent from said third aperture in said outer tubular member so as to enable the relative sliding movement of said inner tubular member relative to its respective said outer tubular member.   
     
     
         11 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said outer tubular members comprises a plurality of apertures spaced apart along the length thereof, and each of said latching devices comprises a detent that is configured to individually engage with each of said plurality of apertures in said outer tubular member such that said leg assembly is capable of elevating said object at a plurality of predetermined heights above said floor. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cable or wire actuation system operatively coupled to each of said latching devices, said cable or wire actuation system being configured to simultaneously disengage each of said latching devices so that each of said leg members collapses in substantially the same manner. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said cable or wire actuation system comprises a first cable or wire operatively coupled to a first of said latching devices, a second cable or wire operatively coupled to a second of said latching devices, and a third cable or wire operatively coupled to both said first cable or wire and said second cable or wire, said third cable or wire being configured to simultaneously actuate each of said latching devices by means of said first and second cables or wires. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pair of leg members comprises two pairs of leg members laterally spaced apart from one another, the bottom ends of each set of said laterally spaced apart leg members both being connected to a base tubular member that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the extending directions thereof; and wherein at least one pair of latching devices comprises two pairs of latching devices, each of said latching devices being configured to selectively prevent the relative sliding movement between respective said inner and outer tubular members of each said leg member. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a cable or wire actuation system operatively coupled to each of said latching devices, said cable or wire actuation system being configured to simultaneously disengage each of said latching devices so that each of said leg members collapses in substantially the same manner, said cable or wire actuation system comprising:
 a first cable or wire operatively coupled to a first of said latching devices;   a second cable or wire operatively coupled to a second of said latching devices;   a third cable or wire operatively coupled to a third of said latching devices;   a fourth cable or wire operatively coupled to a fourth of said latching devices;   a first handle operatively coupled to said first and second cables or wires, said first handle being configured to simultaneously actuate each of said first and second latching devices by means of said first and second cables or wires; and   a second handle operatively coupled to said third and fourth cables or wires, said second handle being configured to simultaneously actuate each of said third and fourth latching devices by means of said third and fourth cables or wires.   
     
     
         16 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of elongated rods, each of said elongated rods having a first end and a second end, said first end of each said elongated rod being coupled to opposed walls of a respective said inner tubular member, said second end of each said elongated rod being formed in the shape of a hook, wherein each of said elongated rods is disposed inside a respective said leg member and said hook of each said elongated rod is configured to prevent the disengagement of said inner tubular member from its respective said outer tubular member by grasping said attachment member when said second end of said inner tubular member is proximate to said first end of its respective said outer tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said object comprises one of the following: (i) a tabletop; (ii) a keyboard; or (iii) a housing for electronic equipment. 
     
     
         18 . A collapsible leg assembly configured to elevate an object above a floor surface, said collapsible leg assembly comprising:
 at least one pair of leg members, each of said leg members including an inner tubular member telescopically received within an outer tubular member; each of said inner tubular members having a first end that is pivotably coupled to said object and a second, opposed end that is slidably disposed within an interior portion of its respective said outer tubular member, each of said outer tubular members having a first end that telescopically receives its respective said inner tubular member and a second, opposed end that is configured to be disposed proximate to said floor surface when said collapsible leg assembly is in an operative extended position, wherein said second ends of said outer tubular members are not pivotally connected to a base frame;   an attachment member operatively connecting a first of said outer tubular members to a second of said outer tubular members, thereby establishing a pivotal axis about which said leg members are capable of rotating relative to one another;   at least one pair of latching devices, each of said latching devices being configured to selectively prevent the relative sliding movement of one of said inner tubular members relative to its respective said outer tubular member; and   a cable or wire actuation system operatively coupled to each of said latching devices, said cable or wire actuation system including a plurality of bendable cables or wires configured to be bent at an angle relative to said object, and said plurality of bendable cables or wires being configured to disengage said latching devices when one or more forces is applied thereto by a user.   
     
     
         19 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said second ends of said inner tubular members are only slidably displaced in portions of their respective said outer tubular members between said attachment member and said first ends of their respective said outer tubular members such that said second ends of said inner tubular members are not displaced across said pivotal axis. 
     
     
         20 . A collapsible leg assembly configured to elevate an object above a floor surface, said collapsible leg assembly comprising:
 at least one pair of leg members, each of said leg members including an inner tubular member telescopically received within an outer tubular member; each of said inner tubular members having a first end that is pivotably coupled to said object about a respective rotational axis and a second, opposed end that is slidably disposed within an interior portion of its respective said outer tubular member, each of said outer tubular members having a first end that telescopically receives its respective said inner tubular member and a second, opposed end that is configured to be disposed proximate to said floor surface when said collapsible leg assembly is in an operative extended position;   an attachment member operatively connecting a first of said outer tubular members to a second of said outer tubular members, thereby establishing a pivotal axis about which said leg members are capable of rotating relative to one another; and   at least one pair of latching devices, each of said latching devices including a bent elongated strip, each of said latching devices being structurally configured to displace a detent inwardly so as to disengage it from an aperture in said outer tubular member in response to an axial force being applied to an actuation cable or wire operatively coupled thereto, and each of said latching devices being configured to selectively prevent the relative sliding movement of one of said inner tubular members relative to its respective said outer tubular member;   wherein said rotational axes about which said first ends of said inner tubular members pivot are spaced apart by a generally constant distance as each of said leg members of said collapsible leg assembly is moved from a collapsed position to said operative extended position.   
     
     
         21 . The collapsible leg assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said object comprises a tabletop having one or more handle assemblies disposed in a bottom portion thereof, and wherein said collapsible leg assembly further includes:
 a cable or wire actuation system operatively coupled to each of said latching devices and said one or more handle assemblies, said cable or wire actuation system being configured to disengage said latching devices when said one or more handle assemblies are depressed by a user.