Table, especially office and conference table

• US 20060096506A1
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vitra Patente AG
• Original Assignee: Vitra Patente AG
• Inventors: Bouroullec, Erwan, Bouroullec, Ronan, Brauning, Egon
• Application Number:
  US10/526,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096506A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/02 Underframes
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/00 Tables adapted for other particular purposes glass cutting tables C03B33/03

Abstract

The invention relates to a table which is primarily used as an office or conference table, is longer than 2.5 m, and comprises an upwardly open trough (2) as a substructure which is arranged beneath the leaf (1) of the table and preferably consists of sheet metal which is e.g. 2 mm thick. The leaf of the table (1) is connected in a fixed manner to edges (25) which are bent away from the trough (2), creating a sandwich-type structure with mutual reinforcement of the leaf (1) of the table and the trough (2). Especially advantageously, the trough (2) has a trapezoidal cross-section. A grid of openings (210) in the trough (2) enables the feet (4) of the table to be mounted in any position. Additional appliance openings (211) are used to insert socket units (80), while installation openings (200) in the bottom (20) of the trough (2) as used as cable ducts. A height leveling device is provided in each foot (4). A particular advantage of the invention is the stability achieved with a relatively light structure, even for longer tables.

Claims

1. A table, comprising a substructure, which is supported by legs (4,6) placed on a standing surface (S), and a tabletop (1) placed onto the substructure, characterized in that

a) the substructure is designed as an upwardly open trough (2) which is arranged below the tabletop (1);

and

b) the tabletop (1) is connected fixedly to the trough (2), thus resulting in a sandwich-like construction with mutual reinforcement of the tabletop (1) and trough (2).

2. The table as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the trough (2)

a) is of rectangular, trapezoidal, U-shaped or V-shaped cross section;

and

b) has, at least on two opposite side, plane elements (25) which are fixed over their entire area or at a multiplicity of spot-type, fixed connections (3) to the underside (11) of the tabletop (1).

3. The table as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

a) the trough (2) for square or approximately square tabletops (1) likewise has an at least approximately square area;

and

b) for elongate tabletops (1) the trough (2) has an elongated area.

4. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the trough (2)

a) is arranged along the extent of the tabletop (1) and is provided for lengths of the tabletop (1) of preferably greater than 250 cm, with legs (4,6) having to be provided only in the region of the front ends of the tabletop (1) in each case, i.e. it being possible to dispense with legs (4,6) inserted in between;

b) has an average width which is a multiple of the height;

c) for example, has a width in the region of 50 cm and a height in the region of 10 cm, resulting in a ratio of 5;

1;

d) the tabletop (1) protrudes in each case with a lateral projecting length (14) over the trough (2) arranged below it, and there can also be a respective front projecting length (15); and

e) the plane elements (25) are present at least on the two opposite longitudinal sides of the trough (2).

5. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the trough (2)

a) has, in the case of a V-shaped cross section, a trench line, which is situated right at the bottom, or otherwise a base (20), from which a respective longitudinal flank (21) extends to both sides, said longitudinal flanks merging in each case into an outwardly bent-over edge forming the plane elements (25);

b) preferably consists of sheet metal which is, e.g., 2.0 mm thick; and

c) the fixed, spot-type connections (3) between the tabletop (1) and the trough (2) are screw connections.

6. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

a) the trough (2) is open at its end sides, but is preferably closed by a respective front surface (22), the front surfaces (22) extending as far as the underside (11) of the tabletop (1) or a clearance (28) remaining toward the tabletop (1);

and

b) the base (20) and the two longitudinal flanks (21) of the trough (2) defining, in cross section, an upwardly widening isosceles trapezoid.

7. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that

a) a strip-shaped vertical section (24) is situated in each case between the longitudinal flanks (21) and the plane elements (25),

b) a respective vertical strip (23) adjoins the oblique front surfaces (22);

c) the gaps (26) arising between the converging front surfaces (22) and longitudinal flanks (21) remain open or are welded together;

d) the gaps present between the converging vertical strips (23) and vertical sections (24) are closed preferably by means of weld seams (27).

8. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that

a) the trough (2) has apertures (210) and, in the case of an elongated trough (2), has a grid of such apertures (210) for attaching the legs (4,6) in optional positions;

b) the attached legs (4,6) apply force into the edge around the apertures (210); and

c) in addition to the apertures (210) appliance apertures (211) can be provided, for example for inserting socket units (80); and

d) installation apertures (200) as a means of access for lines and/or installations can be provided in the base (20) of the trough (2).

9. The table as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the trough (2) has, in each case on both the longitudinal sides, preferably in the longitudinal flanks (21), a mutually complementary grid of apertures (210) for attaching the legs (4,6).

10. The table as claimed in one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the apertures (210) for attaching the legs (4,6) extend, on the one hand, nearly to the vertical sections (24) and, on the other hand, nearly to the transitions from the base (20) to the longitudinal flanks (21) in order to use the reinforcing effect of bending edges.

11. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that

a) each leg (4,6) has, on its head portion (43,63), a flange edge (432,632) which, when fitted on, engages at least virtually completely below the edge of the aperture (210) selected for the positioning of the leg (4,6);

and

b) in order to secure the attached leg (4,6), a mating plate (49) is provided which covers the selected aperture (210) from the interior of the trough (2) and is screwed to the leg (4,6).

12. The table as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that

a) the mating plate (49) has a planar plate base (490) and a bent-over plate edge (492) encircling the latter;

b) on the mating plate (49) there are screwing elements (491,493;

491,499′

) for which there are complementary screwing elements (430,431,499;

630,631) on the head portion (43,63) of the leg (4,6); and

c) in the fitted state, the plate edge (492) of the mating plate (49) sits on the edge of the aperture (210) selected for the positioning of the leg (4,6), in a manner at least virtually completely encircling it.

13. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that,

a) the leg (4,6) is designed as a single leg (4) or double leg (6;

6′

,6′

);

b) in the case of the single leg (4) or in the case of the double leg (6), one leg portion (44,64) extends from the head portion (43,63) to the standing surface (S);

c) in the case of the single leg (4), the leg portion (44) is formed by a leg profile (40) while, in the case of the double leg (6), two legs (6′

,6′

) emerge from the head portion (63), said legs spreading apart and being formed in each case by a leg profile (60); and

d) a height-leveling device (5,7) is contained in each leg (4,6); and

e) there emerges from each lower leg end (440;

640,640) a base element (46) which is arranged displaceably, can be adjusted by means of the height-leveling device (5,7) and the set-down surface (460) of which is provided for supporting on the standing surface (S).

14. The table as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, in the case of the single leg (4),

a) the height-leveling device (5) comprises an adjusting screw (58) which is accessible from the outside and is preferably arranged in the head portion (43);

b) the adjusting screw (58) carries along a slide rod (50) which is mounted in an axially displaceable manner in the leg portion (44) in the leg profile (40); and

c) the slide rod (50) acts on the base element (46).

15. The table as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, in the case of the double leg (6;

6′

,6′

),

a) the height-leveling device (7) comprises an adjusting screw (78) which is accessible from the outside, is arranged in the head portion (63) and carries along a rotating spindle (71) on which a rocker element (73) is mounted in an oscillating manner;

b) in the leg portion (64) with the two legs (6′

,6′

) spread apart, a respective axially displaceable slide rod (70,70) is mounted in the respective leg profile (60,60) of said legs;

c) the upper ends of the two slide rods (70,70) butt against the rocker element (73) which determines, by means of its set height position, the push-in depth of the slide rods (70,70); and

d) the slide rods (70,70) act on the respective base element (46,46).

16. The table as claimed in one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that

a) the base element (46) has a cross section which corresponds in principle to the clear internal cross section of the leg profile (40,60) at the lower leg end (440,640);

and

b) the set-down surface (460), which is situated right at the bottom of the base element (46), is an oblique plane which compensates for the oblique position of the leg portion (44,64) with respect to the standing surface (S).

17. The table as claimed in one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that

a) either a coupling element (45), to which the slide rod (50,70) is fastened at the top and the base element (46) is fastened at the bottom, is fitted between the lower end of a slide rod (50,70) and a base element (46);

or

b) the base element (46) and the coupling element (45) form an integral constructional unit; and

c) the coupling element (45), which is separate or is connected integrally to the base element (46), is arranged in the leg profile (40,60) in a manner such that it can be displaced axially over a defined region.

18. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that

a) the leg profile (40,60) is, in principle, of U-shaped cross section with a rear wall (400,600) and the two side walls (401,402;

601,602) which are adjacent to the latter and lie opposite each other;

b) the double legs (6;

6′

,6′

) are attached to the trough (2) in such a manner that the two legs (6′

,6′

) define a plane which points in the longitudinal direction of the table; and

c) a leg covering (48) is provided for covering the open side lying opposite the rear wall (400,600).

19. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8 and 13 to 18, characterized in that

a) the legs (4,6) are arranged with a correspondingly matched head portion (43,63) in the corner regions of the trough (2);

and

b) in order to secure the individual, attached leg (4,6), a mating plate is provided which is put in place from the interior of the trough (2) and is screwed to the leg (4,6).

20. The table as claimed in one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that

a) there can be at least one aperture (13,13) in the tabletop (1) for passing cables through or for receiving a socket unit (8) or for the insertion of a support (92) which, for example, bears a light (91);

b) structures (9) are provided for arrangement at and/or on the tabletop (1), which structures can easily be positioned and displaced or removed again for example by sliding over the table edge; and

c) such structures (9) are, for example;

ca) a half-height, panel-shaped side screen (90) which forms a vertical delimitation on the table from the adjacent position and has, for example, an incision for securing it;

cb) a placemat (93) which lies on the tabletop (1), therefore defines a workplace and has, for example, a bent-over edge at the front for securing it;

cc) a utensil tray (94) which sits on the tabletop (1) and has, for example, a bent-over edge at the front for securing it;

cd) a high, panel-shaped side screen (95) with an upper part (950) standing above the tabletop (1) and a lower part (951) which forms a vertical delimitation into the vicinity of the standing surface (S), the side screen (95) having, for example, an incision for securing it;

ce) a file/book rest (97) which sits on the tabletop (1) and has, for example, a bent-over edge at the front for securing it; and

cf) a collecting container (98) which extends essentially below the tabletop (1) and has, for example, an incision for securing it.