How is the table leg (1979 Sovereign) supposed to stay "up" when folding down?

davida · 08-07-2008, 08:33 PM

In our 79 Sovereign, we have a fold-down table which works fine, with a flip-up top that means it can be down, up and half-size, or up and full-size. The chair leg is connected to a support "beam" which telescopes in the full-size configuration.

We've figured out that there's a plastic doohicky at the end of the support beam which can lock the table leg in the vertical position.

The problem is that to fold the table back down so that the sofa can be configured as a bed, we need to 1) fold up the table top and hook it shut (easy), and 2) fold the table leg back under the top (easy, but it doesn't "stay" up), and 3) gently swing the table top and leg assembly down (easy, as long as the leg doesn't fall back down).

The PO had setup a bit of velcro on the chair leg and a matching bit in the underside of the table top to make it easier to do the last two steps, but a) the glue on the velcro doesn't do too well with daily ripping apart, and b) it feels like an aftermarket hack. Without velcro, though, it's hard to lift the leg and fold the table down if you don't have a large "wingspan". I can do it, my wife & kids can't easily.

How is one supposed to fold up the table? Are there better ways to solve the problem? (I'm thinking magnets).

Excella CM · 08-07-2008, 10:12 PM

I've got a good work-around for that, but I need to go out and take some pics.

Excella CM · 08-08-2008, 09:01 AM

Here's my solution. First I made a catch visible near the floor that holds the table against the wall when on the move. Now for the leg. I attached a short piece of channel to the foot and a piece to the hinge. I installed a small hinge in the top end of the leg that acts to cause it to telescope a little when it is fully extended. In this way the channel pieces engage each other by pushing the leg toward the wall, pushing up and letting the extension come back a half inch under spring power. To open the leg, the table is moved to the horizontal position and the leg is pushed toward the wall and then let down in the normal fashion.Clear as mud? Anyway this is a dependable fix and doesn't appreciable change the look of the original. You can see the old velcro in one of the pictures

cameront120 · 08-08-2008, 09:38 AM

Love the Marmoleum flooring!

davida · 08-08-2008, 10:30 AM

Excella CM - Thanks for the explanation and pictures. I understand the floor catch (don't need it, we're not moving =) and the interlocking channels, but I don't understand the hinge/telescoping/spring action bit. Is it a hinge with a built-in spring? A telescoping hinge? (what are those?).

davidz71 · 08-08-2008, 02:36 PM

You guys are great for stimulating my mind. Excella CM, I looked at your pictures and then went rummaging around in the garage. I ran across this piece of metal with a hook on the end and figured that I'd drill 2 holes between the larger holes, tape it to the table leg once I got the proper measurement, drill into the aluminum table leg and then rivet it in place. I just push the leg up and to the rear then pull slightly forward as the hook connects into the aluminum tubing mounted under the table front to rear.

Excella CM · 08-08-2008, 07:25 PM

OK, the leg assembly has two parts roughly equal in length with a hinge in the middle that allows the the leg part to form a right angle with the slider part that fits inside the piece attached to the underside of the table. By inserting a small block of wood, with two coil springs installed in wells, at the back (wall end) end of the outer fixed channel and a small block of wood in the corresponding (see pics.) end of the leg piece that fits inside, a small amount of pressure can be supplied to try and force the leg out of the holder when it is fully retracted. So when the leg is ready to stow parallel to the table top, a little pressure is applied to push one part of the latch past the other. When the pressure is released, the latched is pushed and held in the latched position by the springs. The first picture shows the plug in the end of the leg slider that pushes on the springs. The 2nd picture is looking down the outer slider channel attached to the table bottom showing the springs at the end. The third picture shows the stop cap screw that prevents the slider from coming all the way out. My previous explanation had an error. It should have said I installed a small set of springs-not a hinge. Ooops!