Modular table system with cable management

• US 20010013305A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Funk, David R., Gevaert, Steven C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,435,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0082 Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet

Abstract

A table assembly consists of a table top supported by a leg assembly, which includes a vertical tubular leg member. The leg assembly further includes a foot member mounted to the lower end of each leg via a mounting member. The length of the foot member can be varied according to the width of the table top to selectively provide different sizes of tables according to user requirements, while the mounting member is usable for all sizes of legs and foot members to mount the foot member to the leg. A power/communication housing is mounted to the underside of the table top. The housing includes first and second passages isolated from each other via a wall, with power supply cabling and communication cabling placed within the first and second passages, respectively. Power and communication receptacles are mounted to the power/communication housing, and an opening is formed in the table top for allowing power or communication cables to be passed through the table top to provide engagement with the power and communication receptacles. An access door interconnected with the power/communication housing conceals the cables fed below the table top, and also the power and communication receptacles mounted to the power/communication housing. The length of the power/communication housing and access door can be varied according to the width of the table top.

Claims

1. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top defining an upper surface and a lower surface;

leg structure interconnected with the table top for supporting the table top above a supporting surface;

a power supply system disposed below the table top and including a housing defining an internal passage for receiving one or more power supply cables and one or more power supply receptacles mounted to the housing; and

a passage formed in the table top for routing one or more power cables below the table top from a location above the table top for engagement with the one or more power supply receptacles.

2. The table assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the table top defines a pair of spaced side edges, and wherein the power supply system housing comprises an elongated housing defining first and second ends, each of which is located adjacent one of the table top side edges, and wherein the internal passage extends between the housing ends.

3. The table assembly of

claim 2

, wherein the housing defines a second internal passage extending between the housing ends for receiving one or more communication cables, and further includes structure isolating the second passage from the first-mentioned passage.

4. The table assembly of

claim 3

, wherein the housing is defined by an extrusion member defining an upper wall, a side wall, and first and second transverse walls, wherein the upper wall, side wall and first transverse wall define in part one of the passages, wherein the first transverse wall separates the first-mentioned passage from the second passage.

5. The table assembly of

claim 4

, wherein the first transverse wall separates the first-mentioned passage from the second passage.

6. The table assembly of

claim 4

, further comprising a closure having an upper portion engageable with the extrusion member upper wall;

a lower portion engageable with the extrusion member second transverse wall; and

an intermediate portion engageable with the first transverse wall;

wherein the closure functions to enclose the first-mentioned and second passages.

7. The table assembly of

claim 6

, wherein the one or more power supply receptacles are mounted to the closure, and further comprising one or more communication receptacles mounted to the closure.

8. The table assembly of

claim 2

, wherein the power supply system housing is mounted to the underside of the table top.

9. The table assembly of

claim 2

, further comprising a cover engageable with the underside of the table and with the power supply system housing, the cover being located so as to enclose cables extending through the passage in the table top and engaged with the one or more power supply receptacles, wherein the cover is movable between an open position providing access to cables extending through the table top opening and a closed position preventing access thereto.

10. The table assembly of

claim 9

, wherein the cover defines a lower end mounted to the housing below the one or more power supply receptacles, and an upper end selectively engageable with engagement structure provided on the underside of the table top.

11. The table assembly of

claim 10

, wherein the cover includes hinge structure located adjacent its lower end for providing movement of the cover between its open and closed positions.

12. The table assembly of

claim 2

wherein the first and second ends of the power supply system housing include an opening for providing passage of the one or more power supply cables therethrough into the internal passage from a power supply housing of an adjacent table assembly.

13. The table assembly of

claim 1

, wherein the leg structure includes a tubular member defining an upper end located adjacent the power supply system housing and a lower end disposed therebelow, the tubular member including a passage extending between the upper and lower ends, and further comprising structure establishing communication between the power supply system housing passage and the tubular member passage for routing one or more power supply cables between the housing and the tubular member, the tubular member further including an opening located toward its lower end for routing the one or more power supply cables externally thereof.

14. A table assembly comprising:

a table top defining and upper surface and a lower surface;

leg structure interconnected with the table top for supporting the table top above a supporting surface;

a power/communication structure located adjacent the table lower surface, including axial power supply and communication passages isolated from each other for receiving power supply and communication cables, respectively; and

an access cover interconnected between the power/communication structure and the lower surface of the table, the access cover being movable between a closed position preventing access to the power supply and communication passages and an open position providing access thereto.

15. The table assembly of

claim 14

, wherein the table top includes a passage for routing one or more cables from above the table top to below the table top, and wherein the access cover is positioned relative to the table top passage so as to enclose cables extending below the table top when the cover is in its closed position.

16. The table assembly of

claim 15

, wherein the access cover includes a lower end mounted to the power/communication structure, an upper end releasably engageable with engagement structure provided on the table top lower surface, and hinge structure providing movement of the access cover between its open and closed positions.

17. The table assembly of

claim 16

, wherein the hinge structure comprises a living hinge formed integrally with the access cover.

18. A modular table system, comprising:

a table top having a length and width selecting according to the requirements of an end user;

a power supply system including a housing defined at least in part by an extrusion member having a length determined according to the length of the table top, one or more power supply cables received within the housing, and a power supply receptacle mounted to the housing and interconnected with the one or more power supply cables; and

support structure for supporting the table top above a supporting surface, including a leg interconnected with and depending from the table top, an axial foot member having a length selected according to the width of the table top, and mounting structure for mounting the foot member to the leg.

19. The modular table system of

claim 18

, wherein the table top defines first and second side edges, and wherein the extrusion member defines a pair of spaced open ends, each of which is located adjacent one of the table top side edges.

20. The modular table system of

claim 19

, wherein the housing defines a first passage within which the one or more power supply cables are received, and a second passage for receiving one or more communication cables.

21. The modular table system of

claim 20

, further comprising a closure engageable with the extrusion member for enclosing the first and second passages, wherein the power supply receptacle is mounted to the closure, and further comprising a communication receptacle interconnected with the one or more communication cables and mounted to the closure.

22. The modular table system of

claim 18

, wherein the axial foot member defines first and second ends and at least an upper surface extending therebetween, and wherein the leg comprises an axially extending member defining a lower end, and wherein the mounting structure comprises a mounting member engaged with the axial foot member adjacent its upper surface, and wherein the lower end of the leg is engaged with the mounting member.

23. The modular table system of

claim 22

, wherein the mounting member is engaged with the axial foot member toward a rearward end of the foot member, and wherein the mounting member extends in a front-rear direction less than the length of the foot member.

24. The modular table system of

claim 22

, wherein the axial foot member is engaged with the mounting member via a series of threaded fasteners extending through the axial foot member into engagement with threaded passages provided in the mounting member, and wherein the mounting member is engaged with the lower end of the leg via one or more threaded fasteners extending between the mounting member and one or more threaded passages provided toward the lower end of the leg.

25. The modular table system of

claim 18

, wherein the axial foot member defines first and second ends, and further comprising an end cap member engaged with each end of the axial foot member.

26. The modular table system of

claim 25

, wherein the axial foot member comprises a tubular member defining first and second open ends, and wherein the end cap includes a first internal portion adapted for placement within one of the open ends of the axial foot member and engaged with the axial foot member for mounting the end cap thereto, and a second external portion extending outwardly from the open end of each axial foot member and engageable with the supporting surface for supporting the table assembly thereabove.

27. The modular table system of

claim 26

, further comprising a glide member engaged with the external portion of each end cap member engageable with the supporting surface, and an adjustment member interposed between the end cap member external portion and the glide member for leveling the table top.

28. The modular table system of

claim 18

, wherein the leg defines an upper portion located adjacent the power supply system housing and a lower portion spaced therebelow and an internal passage extending between the upper and lower portions, and further comprising structure interconnected with the leg upper portion for providing communication between the leg internal passage and the power supply system housing for routing one or more power supply cables through the leg internal passage to the leg lower portion.

29. The modular table system of

claim 28

, further comprising an opening formed in the leg lower portion for enabling one or more power cables to pass from the leg internal passage, and grommet structure mounted to the leg over the opening.

30. The modular table system of

claim 18

, wherein the leg is located toward the rearward end of the table top, and wherein the support structure further includes an arm member mounted to the leg adjacent an upper end defined by the leg and extending forwardly therefrom for engaging the underside of the table top, and wherein the leg is engaged with the axial foot member via the mounting structure toward a rearward end defined by the axial foot member, wherein a portion of the mounting structure extends forwardly of the leg toward the forward end of the axial foot member.

31. A method of constructing a table, comprising the steps of:

selecting a table top having a length and width selected according to user requirements;

constructing a power supply arrangement by providing a power supply housing having a length determined according to the length of the table top and interconnecting one or more power supply receptacles with the power supply housing;

mounting the power supply arrangement to the table top;

constructing a support assembly by providing leg structure, providing a foot having a length determined according to the width of the table top, and mounting the foot to the leg structure; and

mounting the support assembly to the table top such that the support assembly depends from the table top and the foot is engageable with a support surface to support the table top thereabove.

32. The method of

claim 31

, wherein the step of mounting the power supply arrangement to the table top comprises mounting the power supply arrangement to the underside of the table top.

33. The method of

claim 32

, further comprising the step of interconnecting an access door between the power supply housing and the table top for providing selective access to the power supply housing.

34. The method of

claim 31

, wherein the power supply housing defines at least one open end adjacent an edge of the table top, and further comprising the step of placing a second table adjacent the first-mentioned table, the second table including a table top and a power supply housing mounted to the underside of the table top and having an open end, wherein the open ends of the power supply housings of the first-mentioned and second tables face each other to establish communication between the power supply housings and to enable cables to be routed between the first-mentioned and second tables.

35. The method of

claim 31

, wherein the step of providing a foot comprises providing an axially extending foot member defining first and second ends and at least an upper surface extending therebetween, and where in the step of mounting the foot to the leg structure comprises engaging a mounting member to the foot member upper surface intermediate the foot member ends, and securing the leg structure to the mounting member.

36. The method of

claim 35

, wherein the step of providing leg structure comprises providing an axial leg member defining upper and lower ends, and wherein the step of securing the leg structure to the mounting member comprises mounting the leg member lower end to the mounting member.

37. The method of

claim 31

, wherein the step of providing leg structure comprises providing an axial leg member defining upper and lower ends and an internal passage, and further comprising the step of establishing communication between the power supply housing and the leg member internal passage for routing one or more power supply cables between the leg member and the power supply housing.

38. The method of

claim 37

, further comprising the step of forming an opening toward the lower end of the leg member for passing the one or more power supply cables externally of the leg member.

39. The method of

claim 31

, further comprising the step of forming an opening in the table top, and wherein the step of mounting the power supply arrangement to the table top comprises mounting the power supply housing to the underside of the table top, wherein the opening provides passage of electrical cables through the table top for providing engagement of such cables with the power supply receptacles.

40. The method of

claim 39

, further comprising the step of interconnecting an access door between the power supply housing and the underside of the table top, and wherein the opening is formed in the table top so as to be located between the power supply housing and the interconnection of the access door with the underside of the table top.

41. A leg assembly for supporting a table above a supporting surface, the table including a table top, comprising:

a leg member defining a lower end and an upper end engageable with the table top;

a foot member defining an upper surface and a lower surface and at the two face the supporting surface; and

a mounting member engageable with the lower end of the leg member and with the upper surface of the foot member for securing the leg member and the foot member together to form the leg assembly.

42. The leg assembly of

claim 41

, wherein the foot member comprises an axially extending member defining first and second open ends between which the upper and lower surfaces extend, and further comprising an end cap mounted to the foot member adjacent each of its ends, wherein each end cap includes a first portion adapted for insertion within the foot member open end and a second portion extending outwardly from the open end and engageable with the supporting surface.

43. The leg assembly of

claim 42

, wherein the first portion of each end cap is mounted to the foot member via one or more threaded fasteners extending between and interconnecting the foot member with the end cap first portion.

44. The leg assembly of

claim 42

, further comprising an engagement member mounted to the second portion of each end cap for vertical adjustment relative thereto for use in leveling the table.

45. The leg assembly of

claim 41

, wherein the leg member lower end includes one or more downwardly facing threaded passages, and wherein the mounting member is secured to the leg member via one or more threaded fasteners extending through the mounting member and into engagement with the threaded passages.

46. The leg assembly of

claim 45

, wherein the mounting member includes a series of downwardly facing threaded passages, and wherein the foot member is secured to the mounting member via a series of threaded fasteners extending through the leg member into engagement with the threaded passages.