Folding support structure

Abstract

A folding support structure includes a top support and a leg assembly. The top support has a pivot connector and an assembler, wherein the assembler has an assembling surface. The leg assembly includes a column, which includes a pivotally connected end, a free end, and a wing. The column is pivotally connected to the pivot connector of the top support with the pivotally connected end thereof, whereby the column is pivotable relative to the top support. The wing of the column has an abutting surface. When the column pivots to an unfolded position, the abutting surface of the wing contacts the assembling surface of the assembler, and is secured thereto through a fixing connection approach. By folding a top and legs of a desk, the total volume could be reduced, benefiting the cargo capacity utilization, which therefore increases the shipping efficiency. Furthermore, such a desk can be easily assembled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A folding support structure comprising:
 a top support, which has a pivot connector and an assembler, wherein the assembler has an assembling surface; and   a leg assembly comprising a column, which comprises a pivotally connected end, a free end, and a wing, wherein the column is pivotally connected to the pivot connector of the top support with the pivotally connected end thereof, so that the column is pivotal relative to the top support; the wing of the column has an abutting surface; when the column pivots to an unfolded position, the abutting surface of the wing contacts the assembling surface of the assembler, and is secured thereto through a fixing connection approach.   
     
     
         2 . The folding support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the wing protrudes from a lateral side of the column in a radial direction thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The folding support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the assembler comprises a bolt provided on the assembling surface, and the wing has a notch or a bore corresponding to the bolt; when the abutting surface of the wing contacts the assembling surface of the assembler, the bolt of the assembler passes through the notch or the bore of the wing, and the fixing connection approach is to thread a nut onto the bolt, whereby to fixedly connect the wing and the assembler. 
     
     
         4 . The folding support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the column further comprises a stepless extendable sleeve assembly, which comprises a plurality of sleeves, wherein each of the sleeves fits into one another in an extendable manner, by which a length of the column is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The folding support structure of  claim 4 , wherein the leg assembly further comprises a threaded rod and a plurality of nuts provided in the stepless extendable sleeve assembly, wherein each of the nuts is correspondingly and coaxially secured to one of the sleeves; the threaded rod passes through the nuts; when the threaded rod is driven to rotate by a driving unit, the nuts are driven by the threaded rod to move along the threaded rod in an axial direction thereof, so that the sleeves are extendable and contractible to adjust the length of the column. 
     
     
         6 . The folding support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the leg assembly further comprises a support base, which is detachably connected to the free end of the column. 
     
     
         7 . The folding support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the top support is fixedly connected to a bottom surface of a top; the top comprises a central plate and a drop-leaf, wherein the drop-leaf is pivotally connected to the central plate so that the drop-leaf is pivotable relative to the central plate. 
     
     
         8 . The folding support structure of  claim 7 , wherein the top support further comprises a support arm; the support arm is pivotally connected to the assembler, so that the support arm is pivotable relative to the assembler; when the support arm is at a folded position, a support surface of the support arm faces a bottom surface of the central plate, and the drop-leaf is substantially perpendicular to the central plate; when the drop-leaf pivots and spreads to a degree that a top surface of the drop-leaf is substantially level with a top surface of the central plate, and when the support arm is at a support position, the support surface of the support arm faces and contacts a bottom surface of the drop-leaf to support the drop-leaf, so that the drop-leaf is not pivotable relative to the central plate. 
     
     
         9 . The folding support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the support arm is a hollow tube, and comprises a positioning protrusion and an elastic sheet; the hollow tube has a bore; an end of the elastic sheet is fixedly connected to an inner surface of the hollow tube, and another end of the elastic sheet is fixedly connected to the positioning protrusion; the bottom surface of the central plate has a pit thereon; when the support arm is at the folded position, the bore of the hollow tube does not align with the pit on the bottom surface of the central plate, so that the positioning protrusion passes through the bore and pushes against the bottom surface of the central plate as being urged by an elastic force provided by the elastic sheet; when the support arm is at the support position, the bore of the hollow tube aligns with the pit on the bottom surface of the central plate, so that the positioning protrusion, which is urged by the elastic force provided by the elastic sheet, passes through the bore to fit into the pit on the bottom surface of the central plate, whereby the support arm is not pivotable relative to the pivot connector. 
     
     
         10 . The folding support structure of  claim 8 , wherein the drop-leaf comprises a pad fixedly provided on bottom surface of the drop-leaf, when the support arm is at the support position, the pad is located between the bottom surface of the drop-leaf and the support surface of the support arm, which makes the top surface of the drop-leaf substantially level with the top surface of the central plate. 
     
     
         11 . A folding support structure comprising:
 a top support, which has a pivot connector and an assembler, wherein the assembler has an assembling surface; and   a leg assembly comprising a column, which comprises a pivotally connected end, a free end, and a wing, wherein the column is pivotally connected to the pivot connector of the top support with the pivotally connected end thereof, so that the column is pivotal relative to the top support; when the column pivots to an unfolded position, the wing is fixedly connected to the assembler through a fixing connection approach which is performed with a single connecting point.   
     
     
         12 . The folding support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the wing protrudes from a lateral side of the column in a radial direction thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The folding support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the assembler comprises a bolt provided on the assembling surface thereof, and the wing has a notch or a bore corresponding to the bolt; when the abutting surface of the wing contacts the assembling surface of the assembler, the bolt of the assembler passes through the notch or the bore of the wing, and the fixing connection approach is to thread a nut onto the bolt, whereby to fixedly connect the wing and the assembler. 
     
     
         14 . The folding support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the column further comprises a stepless extendable sleeve assembly, which comprises a plurality of sleeves; each of the sleeves fits into one another in an extendable manner, by which a length of the column is adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The folding support structure of  claim 14 , wherein the leg assembly further comprises a threaded rod and a plurality of nuts provided in the stepless extendable sleeve assembly; each of the nuts is correspondingly and coaxially secured to one of the sleeves; the threaded rod passes through the nuts; when the threaded rod is driven to rotate by a driving unit, the nuts are driven by the threaded rod to move along the threaded rod in an axial direction thereof, so that the sleeves are extendable and contractible to adjust the length of the column. 
     
     
         16 . The folding support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the leg assembly further comprises a support base, which is detachably connected to the free end of the column. 
     
     
         17 . The folding support structure of  claim 11 , wherein the top support is fixedly connected to a bottom surface of a top; the top comprises a central plate and a drop-leaf, wherein the drop-leaf is pivotally connected to the central plate, so that the drop-leaf is pivotable relative to the central plate. 
     
     
         18 . The folding support structure of  claim 17 , wherein the top support further comprises a support arm; the support arm is pivotally connected to the assembler, so that the support arm is pivotable relative to the assembler; when the support arm is at a folded position, a support surface of the support arm faces a bottom surface of the central plate, and the drop-leaf is substantially perpendicular to the central plate; when the drop-leaf pivots and spreads to a degree that a top surface of the drop-leaf is substantially level with a top surface of the central plate, and when the support arm is at a support position, the support surface of the support arm faces and contacts a bottom surface of the drop-leaf to support the drop-leaf, so that the drop-leaf is not pivotable relative to the central plate. 
     
     
         19 . The folding support structure of  claim 18 , wherein the support arm is a hollow tube, and comprises a positioning protrusion and an elastic sheet; the hollow tube has a bore; an end of the elastic sheet is fixedly connected to an inner surface of the hollow tube, and another end of the elastic sheet is fixedly connected to the positioning protrusion; the bottom surface of the central plate has a pit thereon; when the support arm is at the folded position, the bore of the hollow tube does not align with the pit on the bottom surface of the central plate, so that the positioning protrusion passes through the bore and pushes against the bottom surface of the central plate as being urged by an elastic force provided by the elastic sheet; when the support arm is at the support position, the bore of the hollow tube aligns with the pit on the bottom surface of the central plate, so that the positioning protrusion, which is urged by the elastic force provided by the elastic sheet, passes through the bore to fit into the pit on the bottom surface of the central plate, whereby the support arm is not pivotable relative to the pivot connector. 
     
     
         20 . The folding support structure of  claim 18 , wherein the drop-leaf comprises a pad fixedly provided on bottom surface of the drop-leaf, when the support arm is at the support position, the pad is located between the bottom surface of the drop-leaf and the support surface of the support arm, which makes the top surface of the drop-leaf substantially level with the top surface of the central plate.