MULTI-PURPOSE TABLE WITH ELECTRICAL FEATURES

• US 20080295742A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Henriott, Jay M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A multi-purpose table including a channel forming a portion of, or attached to, a horizontal support bar of the table. The channel includes at least one trough for managing cables and cords associated with electrical and communication outlets. The electrical and communication outlets may be provided in the channel. The outlets remain available to a user of the table when a work surface of the table is positioned in either a horizontal or a vertical position.

Claims

1. An article of furniture, comprising:

a table including a work surface and a support structure, said work surface pivotable between a horizontal position and a vertical position;

a channel disposed beneath said work surface, whereby said channel remains stationary during pivoting of said work surface between said horizontal position and said vertical position; and

at least one electrical component removably mounted within said channel.

2. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said channel includes an upper flange and a lower flange defining at least one opening and at least one trough, said trough receiving said electrical component and said opening providing access to said electrical component.

3. The article of furniture of claim 2, wherein said upper flange includes a first and a second downwardly extending flange defining a first guidance channel and said lower flange includes a first and a second upwardly extending flange defining a second guidance channel, said electrical component slidably received in said first guidance channel and said second guidance channel.

4. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said channel is integrally formed with said support structure.

5. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said channel is horizontally supported relative to said table.

6. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said electrical component is slidably positioned within said channel.

7. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said electrical component is snap-fittingly engaged within said channel.

8. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said channel defines at least one trough and at least one opening, said electrical component positioned substantially within said trough and extending at least partially through said opening.

9. The article of furniture of claim 1, further comprising a communication component, said communication component removably attached to said table.

10. The article of furniture of claim 9, wherein said channel defines a first trough and a second trough, said electrical component positioned substantially within said first trough and said communication component positioned substantially within said second trough.

11. The article of furniture of claim 9, wherein said channel defines at least one trough, said electrical component and said communication component positioned substantially within said trough.

12. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said channel includes at least one cutout portion for receiving said electrical component.

13. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said electrical component comprises a hard-wired electrical module.

14. A table with a support structure and a work surface, comprising:

a trough, said trough configured to removably receive a first electrical component and a second electrical component;

wherein said trough includes at least one channel for slidably receiving said first electrical component and said trough includes a pair of flanges for receiving said second electrical component in snap-fitting engagement.

15. The table of claim 14, wherein said pair of flanges comprises an upper flange and a lower flange defining an opening, said opening receiving said second electrical component.

16. The table of claim 14, wherein said at least one channel comprises:

a first and a second downwardly extending flange defining a first guidance channel; and

a first and a second upwardly extending flange defining a second guidance channel, said first electrical component slidably received in said first guidance channel and said second guidance channel.

17. The table of claim 14, wherein said trough is horizontally disposed beneath the work surface.

18. The table of claim 14, further comprising at least one communication component removably engageable with said trough.

19. The table of claim 14, wherein said trough includes at least one cutout portion for receiving at least one of said first electrical component and said second electrical component.

20. The table of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first electrical component and said second electrical component comprises a hard-wired electrical module.