Furniture construction

• US 20050263041A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nourie, Colin L., Hamilton, John R., Ludwig, James N., Grabowski, Daniel, Kincaid, Brett R., Mueller, Karl H.
• Application Number:
  US11/122,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20050263041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/50.20
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

An elongate table for offices and the like includes first and second leg members which are configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright, spaced orientation. At least one cross member extends between and is operably connected with the leg members to rigidly retain the leg members in the upright orientation. The leg members and cross member define a top supporting frame with a central axis extending longitudinally therealong. First and second elongate top members are supported on the frame on opposite sides of the central axis, and have opposing interior edges which are spaced apart to define a slot therebetween. An elongate accessory support beam is positioned in a generally vertical orientation in the slot, and includes a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally therealong for supporting accessories thereon.

Claims

1. An elongate table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second leg members disposed in a mutually spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

at least one cross member extending between and operably connected with said first and second leg members to rigidly retain said first and second leg members in said generally upright orientation;

said leg members and said cross member defining a top supporting frame with a central axis extending longitudinally therealong;

first and second elongate top members supported on said frame in a generally horizontal orientation on opposite sides of said central axis, and having generally flat upper surfaces, and opposing interior edges thereof spaced apart to define a slot therebetween; and

an elongate accessory support beam disposed in a generally vertical orientation in said slot, and projecting upwardly therefrom to a position generally above the upper surfaces of said first and second top members, and including a top edge and opposite side faces with generally T-shaped slots extending longitudinally therealong for supporting accessories thereon.

2. The table according to claim 1, wherein:

said first and second top members are elongate to include multiple side-by-side workstations disposed along each side of the central axis.

3. The table according to claim 2, wherein:

said first and second leg members each include two posts and a leg beam detachably interconnected between said two posts.

4. The table according to claim 3, wherein:

said leg beam has a cross-sectional shape which is generally the same as the cross-sectional shape of said cross member.

5. The table according to claim 4, wherein:

said posts have a generally X-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration, and include four flanges extending outwardly from a central region, wherein each of the four flanges includes a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally along an outer edge thereof.

6. The table according to claim 5, wherein:

said accessory support beam includes a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally the length of a bottom surface thereof; and

including

a utility manager supported from said generally T-shaped slot on said bottom surface of said accessory support beam; and

an accessory supported from said generally T-shaped slot on one of said top edge and said side faces of said accessory support beam.

7. The table according to claim 6, including:

a plurality of tubular top supports detachably connected with and supported by a top surface of said cross member, and oriented generally perpendicular to said cross member.

8. The table according to claim 7, including:

power and data outlets supported by said utility manager.

9. The table according to claim 8, wherein:

said cross member comprises two parallel members, each including a cross-sectional shape which is generally the same as the cross-sectional shape of said leg beam.

10. The table according to claim 9, including:

a plurality of T-nuts detachably connecting said leg beams to said posts, and said top supports to said cross members.

11. An elongate table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second leg members disposed in a mutually spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

at least one cross member extending between and operably connected with said first and second leg members to rigidly retain said first and second leg members in said generally upright orientation;

said leg members and said cross member defining a top supporting frame with a central axis extending longitudinally therealong;

first and second elongate top members supported on said frame in a generally horizontal orientation on opposite sides of said central axis, and having generally flat upper surfaces, and opposing interior edges thereof spaced apart to define a slot therebetween; and

an elongate accessory support beam disposed in a generally vertical orientation in said slot, and including a top edge disposed generally flush with the upper surfaces of said first and second top members, with a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally therealong for supporting accessories thereon.

12. An elongate table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second leg members disposed in a mutually spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

at least one cross member extending between and operably connected with said first and second leg members to rigidly retain said first and second leg members in said generally upright orientation;

said leg members and said cross member defining a top supporting frame with a central axis extending longitudinally therealong;

first and second elongate top members supported on said frame in a generally horizontal orientation on opposite sides of said central axis, and having generally flat upper surfaces, and opposing interior edges thereof spaced apart to define a slot therebetween; and

a plurality of top supports transversely supported by said frame and including a U-shaped central portion disposed below said slot and defining a support channel.

13. The table according to claim 12, including:

an elongate accessory support beam disposed generally vertically in said U-shaped portion of said top supports and projecting upwardly therefrom through said slot to a position generally above the upper surfaces of said first and second top members.

14. The table according to claim 13, wherein:

said accessory support beam comprises a top edge and opposite side faces with generally T-shaped slots extending longitudinally therealong.

15. The table according to claim 14, including:

a plurality of accessories supported by said generally T-shaped slots on said accessory support beam.

16. The table according to claim 15, wherein:

said first and second top members are elongate to define multiple side-by-side workstations disposed along each side of the central axis.

17. The table according to claim 16, wherein:

said first and second leg members each include two posts and a leg beam detachably interconnected between said two posts.

18. The table according to claim 17, wherein:

said leg beam has a cross-sectional shape which is generally the same as the cross-sectional shape of said cross member.

19. The table according to claim 18, wherein:

said posts have a generally X-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration, and include four flanges extending outwardly from a central region, wherein each of the four flanges includes a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally along an outer edge thereof.

20-29. -29. (canceled)

30. An elongate table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second leg members disposed in a mutually spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

at least one cross member extending between and operably connected with said first and second leg members to rigidly retain said first and second leg members in said generally upright orientation;

said leg members and said cross member defining a top supporting frame with a central axis extending longitudinally therealong;

an elongate top member supported on said frame in a generally horizontal orientation including a generally flat upper surface and a central slot;

an elongate accessory support beam disposed in a generally vertical orientation in said slot, and projecting upwardly therefrom to a position generally above the upper surface of said top member, and including at least one T-shaped slot extending longitudinally therealong for supporting accessories on said accessory support beam;

a storage unit including first and second ends and a hollow interior adapted to receive articles therein; and

a connector detachably securing at least one of said first and second ends of said storage unit to said T-shaped slot in said accessory support beam to support said one end of said storage unit.

31. The table according to claim 30, wherein:

said storage unit is disposed generally perpendicular to said accessory support beam;

said connector is disposed on the first end of said storage unit; and

including

a storage unit leg disposed on the second end of said storage unit.

32. The table according to claim 31, wherein:

said storage unit is disposed parallel to said accessory support beam, and includes at least two posts disposed at opposite ends thereof; and

said posts each including a lower end thereof detachably mounted in the T-shaped slot on the top edge of said accessory support beam to thereby support said storage unit.

33. The table according to claim 32, wherein:

said connector includes a triangular-shaped frame having three planar surfaces; and

wherein

at least one planar surface of said connector frame is detachably connected to said T-shaped slot disposed on a side face of said accessory support beam.

34. The table according to claim 33, wherein:

said first and second leg members each include two posts and a leg beam detachably interconnected between said two posts.

35. The table according to claim 34, wherein:

said leg beam has a cross-sectional shape which is generally the same as the cross-sectional shape of said cross member.

36. The table according to claim 35, wherein:

said posts have a generally X-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration, and include four flanges extending outwardly from a central region, wherein each of the four flanges includes a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally along an outer edge thereof.

37. The table according to claim 36, including:

a plurality of accessories detachably mounted in said generally T-shaped slot on said accessory support beam.

38. The table according to claim 37, including:

a plurality of T-nuts detachably connecting said leg beams to said posts, and said top supports to said cross member.

39. The table according to claim 38, wherein:

said accessory support beam includes a generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally along a bottom surface thereof; and

including

a utility manager supported from said generally T-shaped slot on said bottom surface of said accessory support beam.

40. An elongate table for offices and the like, comprising:

at least one storage unit including a hollow interior adapted to receive articles therein, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

at least one leg member configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

at least one cross member extending between and operably connected with said storage unit and said leg member to rigidly retain said storage unit and said leg member in said generally upright orientation;

said storage unit, said leg member and said cross member defining a top supporting frame with a central axis extending longitudinally therealong;

first and second elongate top members supported on said frame in a generally horizontal orientation on opposite sides of said central axis, and having generally flat upper surfaces, and opposing interior edges thereof spaced apart to define a slot therebetween; and

an elongate accessory support beam disposed in a generally vertical orientation in said slot, and projecting upwardly therefrom to a position generally above the upper surfaces of said first and second top members, and including at least one generally T-shaped slot extending longitudinally therealong for supporting accessories thereon.

41. The table according to claim 40, including:

a plurality of accessories detachably mounted in the T-shaped slot on said accessory support beam.