Folding table release latch apparatus

摘要

A folding leg apparatus is provided to mount a leg to an article of furniture, such as a tabletop, so that the leg can be moved between extended and retracted positions. The table leg has a pair of upright bars disposed apart from each other. the apparatus includes a pair of support brackets mounted to the underside of the tabletop and straddling the upright bars of the leg. A pair of swivel brackets and a pair of brace links are pivotably mounted at opposite ends of each support bracket. A pair of pivot rods are attached to the upright bars adjacent the free end of the leg, and the swivel brackets and brace links are pivotably connected to a corresponding pivot rod. The apparatus includes a latch and release mechanism that includes a release lever having an actuator plate positioned within the envelope of the support brackets. The release lever includes a pair of lever arms that each define a locking notch for receiving one of the pivot rods therein to lock the leg in its upright position. The latch release mechanism further includes a torsion spring operatively connected between the release lever and the support brackets to bias the release lever to a position in which the locking notch captures the pivot rod.