Frame Type Table Assemblies

• US 20110297052A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Kirt, Eberlein, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/27
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/08 Table tops; Rims therefor not restricted to table tops A47B95/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/081 Movable, extending, sliding table tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0016 Trestles or trestle tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/04 Tables combined with other pieces of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A table assembly comprising at least a first leg member that forms a leg opening and a first support surface and a rigid elongated channel member that forms a channel that extends between first and second ends, at least the first end forming a wire passing opening suitable to pass wires into and out of the channel, the first end supportable by the first support surface in at least first and second different locations, wherein, when the channel is supported by the support surface at either of the first and second different positions, the wire passing opening is aligned with the leg opening so that wires can pass through the leg opening and into the channel.

Claims

1. A table assembly comprising:

at least a first leg member that forms a leg opening and a first support surface; and

a rigid elongated channel member that forms a channel that extends between first and second ends, at least the first end forming a wire passing opening suitable to pass wires into and out of the channel, the first end supportable by the first support surface in at least first and second different locations;

wherein, when the channel is supported by the support surface at either of the first and second different positions, the wire passing opening is aligned with the leg opening so that wires can pass through the leg opening and into the channel.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further including a second leg member that forms a leg opening and a second support surface and wherein the second end of the rigid elongated channel member forms a wire passing opening suitable to pass wires into and out of the channel, the second end supportable by the second support surface in at least first and second different locations wherein, when the channel is supported by the second support surface at either of the first and second different positions, the wire passing opening is aligned with the leg opening so that wires can pass through the leg opening and into the channel.

3. The assembly of claim 2 further including at least a first table top member supported by and extending between the first and second leg members on a first side of the channel member.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further including at least a second table top member supported by and extending between the first and second leg members on a second side of the channel member when the channel member is supported by the leg members in the second locations.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the channel member and channel are a first channel member and a first channel, respectively, the assembly further including at least a second rigid elongated channel member that forms a second channel that extends between first and second ends, at least the first end of the second channel member forming a second wire passing opening suitable to pass wires into and out of the second channel, the first end of the second channel member supportable by the first support surface in at least first and second different locations wherein the second channel is aligned with the first channel when the first and second channels are aligned at the first locations and the second channel is aligned with the first channel when the first and second channels are aligned at the second locations.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein, when the first and second channel members are supported by the leg member at the first and second locations, respectively, the first and second channels are misaligned and each opens into the leg opening.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the channel member is supported by the support surface for sliding movement between the first and second locations.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the support surface forms a leg lip and the channel member includes a channel lip that mates with the leg lip to attach the first end of the channel member to the first leg member.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the channel member further includes a coupler pair located at the first end of the channel member, the coupler pair including a stationary finger located on one side of the wire passing opening and a moveable finger located on an opposite side of the wire passing opening and a mechanical activator for moving the moveable finger toward and away from the stationary finger, the leg member forming first and second spaced apart coupling members wherein the stationary finger engages the first coupling member and the mechanical activator is adjusted to move the moveable finger into engagement with the second coupling member to secure the channel member to the leg member in either of the first and second locations.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the leg member includes first and second spaced apart rails that form the first and second coupling members.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the first and second coupling members include first and second lip members that extend toward each other and wherein the stationary finger and the moveable finger include finger extensions that extend generally in opposite directions, the fingers engaging the lip members.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the mechanical activator is located within the channel when the moveable finger is moved away from the stationary finger.

13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the moveable finger member forms a threaded aperture and the mechanical activator includes a bolt that is threadably received in the aperture.

14. A table assembly comprising:

first and second legs, each leg forming a first substantially horizontal elongated surface;

a support rail forming a support surface and extending between first and second ends, the first and second ends of the rail supported by the first and second legs, respectively, the support rail positionable at different locations along the elongated surfaces; and

a table top supported by the support surface between the first and second legs and positionable with the support rail at different positions adjacent the legs.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the support rail forms a wire management channel.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the support surface is formed along a first edge of the wire management channel and wherein the table top includes a rear edge that is supported by the support surface so that the channel is located rearward of the table top.

17. The assembly of claim 16 including a power receptacle located in the wire management channel.

18. The assembly of claim 16 further including first and second couplers located at the first and second ends of the wire management channel for releasably securing the wire management channel at different positions along the first elongated surfaces.

19. The assembly of claim 15 wherein each first surface forms a leg lip and wherein the wire management channel includes a stationary finger member at each end that mate with the leg lips to support the wire management channel between the legs for sliding motion along the leg lips.

20. The assembly of claim 15 wherein each of the first elongated surfaces is an upper elongated surface and each leg member further includes a second lower elongated surface that is spaced vertically below and substantially parallel to the upper elongated surface.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein each upper elongated surface forms an upper leg lip, each second elongated surface forms a lower leg lip, the wire management channel including first and second couplers at first and second ends, respectively, each coupler includes a stationary finger member and a moveable finger member that engage the lower and upper leg lips on an adjacent leg member, respectively, to secure the channel member to the leg members.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the upper and lower leg lips on the first leg extend toward each other and wherein the upper and lower leg lips on the second leg extend toward each other.

23. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the wire management channel forms first and second channel openings at the first and second ends and the first and second channel openings are aligned with the space between the upper and lower elongated surfaces of the first and second legs.

24. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the first and second legs include facing surfaces and wherein the rail and that table top are located between the facing surfaces of the first and second legs.

25. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the support surface is formed along a first side of the wire management channel and wherein the rail forms a second support surface along a second side of the wire management channel, the table top being a first table top, the assembly further including a second table top supported by the second support surface.

26. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the support rail has a length dimension between the first and second ends, the assembly further including first and second brackets supported by the first and second leg members that support the table top between the legs.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the first and second brackets extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the support rail.

28. A table assembly comprising:

a leg member forming a substantially vertical side surface and having front and rear ends wherein a forward direction is from the rear toward the front of the leg member;

an elongated support member extending between a connecting end and a distal end and including a connecting portion proximate the connecting end and a distal portion proximate the distal end, the support member forming a support surface, the connecting portion secured to the leg member with the connecting portion adjacent the vertical side surface and the distal portion extending away from the connecting portion in the forward direction; and

a table top supported by the support surface.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the leg member includes a front surface and wherein the distal end of the support member extends past the front surface of the leg member.

30. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the vertical side surface forms a slot and the connecting portion includes a lip that is receivable within the slot to secure the support member adjacent the vertical side surface.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the lip member extends along substantially the entire length of the connecting portion and the connecting portion includes substantially half the bracket member.

32. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the leg member includes a substantially horizontal beam member that forms the slot and wherein the slot is formed along at least a portion of the length of the horizontal beam member.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the bracket member can be slid along the slot to be in different positions with respect to the leg member.

34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the slot is formed along substantially the entire length of the beam member.

35. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the support member is secured to the leg member for sliding motion there along between at least first and second positions.

36. The assembly of claim 35 wherein the leg member includes a front surface and wherein the distal end of the support member extends past the front surface of the leg member when in the second position.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein the distal end of the support member is rearward of the front surface of the leg member when the support member is in the first position.

38. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the distal portion extends from the connecting portion along a trajectory that forms an angle of less than sixty degrees with the vertical side surface.

39. The assembly of claim 38 wherein the distal portion extends from the connecting portion along a trajectory that forms an angle between five degrees and twenty degrees with the vertical side surface.

40. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the distal portion is longer than the connecting portion.

41. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the leg member forms a top surface and wherein a top surface of the table top is substantially flush with the top surface of the leg member.

42. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the leg member and the support member are a first leg member and a first support member, respectively, the assembly further including a second leg member including a second vertical side surface and a second elongated support member extending between a connecting end and a distal end and including a connecting portion proximate the connecting end and a distal portion proximate the distal end, the second support member forming a second support surface, the connecting portion secured to the leg member with the connecting portion adjacent the vertical side surface of the second leg member and the distal portion extending away from the connecting portion in the forward direction where the table top member is also supported by the second support surface.

43. The assembly of claim 42 wherein the first and second support members are securable to the first and second leg members in at least first and second different positions along length dimensions of the vertical support surfaces.

44. The assembly of claim 43 wherein a frame space is formed between facing surfaces of the leg members and wherein, when the support members are in the first positions, the distal ends are within the frame space and when the support members are in the second positions, the distal ends are located forward of the frame space.

45. A table assembly comprising:

first and second leg members that form first and second facing surfaces, respectively;

an elongated channel member extending between the first and second leg members and connected at opposite ends between the first and second facing surfaces, the channel member forming a wire management channel along a length dimension and forming at least a substantially horizontal channel support surface along at least a portion of the length dimension;

first and second support members mounted to and extending from the first and second facing surfaces, respectively, each support member forming a substantially horizontal support member support surface; and

a table top assembly supported by the channel support surface and the support member support surfaces.

46. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the table top assembly includes a table top member having a rear edge and an undersurface wherein a portion of the undersurface adjacent the rear edge is supported by the channel support surface.

47. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the table top assembly includes a table top member and a trough member, the trough member extending between the facing surfaces of the leg members and including a rear edge that is supported by the channel support surface, the trough member forming a front edge that forms a trough support surface, the table top having a rear edge and an undersurface, a portion of the undersurface adjacent the rear edge supported by the trough support surface.

48. The assembly of claim 47 wherein the trough member and the table top member are both supported by the support member support surfaces.

49. The assembly of claim 45 wherein the channel member and the support members are mounted to the leg members for substantially horizontal sliding motion along the facing surfaces of the leg members.

50. The assembly of claim 49 wherein the leg members each have a front surface and wherein, in at least one position, distal ends of the bracket members extends past the front surfaces of the leg members.

51. The assembly of claim 45 wherein each leg member includes a top surface and wherein a top surface of the table top assembly is flush with the top surfaces of the leg members.

52. A table assembly comprising:

first and second leg members that form first and second facing surfaces, respectively, a frame space located between the facing surfaces of the leg members, each leg member forming a leg member top surface;

an elongated channel member connected at opposite ends to the first and second facing surfaces and located within the frame space, the channel member forming a wire management channel along its length;

a table top member forming a table top surface and supported by the leg members wherein the table top member is located entirely within the frame space and the table top surface is substantially flush with the leg member top surfaces.

53. A table assembly comprising:

a plurality of leg members, each leg member having first and second oppositely facing lateral side surfaces, the leg members spaced apart to define frame spaces between adjacent pairs of the leg members, the frame spaces including at least a first frame space, the leg members including at least a first leg member and a last leg member wherein each of the first and last leg members are only adjacent one other leg member; and

pairs of table top members including at least a first table top member pair, each table top member pair including first and second table top members supported at least in part within one of the frame spaces and extending between the leg member pair that defines the frame space in which the table pair is supported, the first and second table top members in each pair forming first and second table top surfaces, respectively, where the first and second table top surfaces at the same height.

54. The assembly of claim 53 further including a first end table member supported by the first leg member on a side of the first leg member opposite the one leg member that is adjacent the first leg member, the first end table member forming a top surface that is at the same height as the first and second table top members.

55. The assembly of claim 54 wherein the first end table member forms a semicircular top surface.

56. The assembly of claim 54 further including a second end table member supported by the last leg member on a side of the last leg member opposite the one leg member that is adjacent the last leg member, the second end table member forming a top surface that is at the same height as the first and second table top members.

57. The assembly of claim 56 wherein each of the first and second end table members form a semicircular top surface.

58. The assembly of claim 53 wherein each of the leg members forms a top surface and wherein each of the top surfaces of the leg members are at the same height as the top surfaces of the first and second table top members.

59. The assembly of claim 53 further including at least a first trough member mounted in each frame space, each trough member mounted at opposite ends to the leg members that define the frame space in which the trough member is mounted, each trough member including a bottom wall member having a top surface located at a height below the height of the first and second table top members.

60. The assembly of claim 59 further including a separate channel member for each of the frame spaces, each channel member mounted at opposite ends to the leg members that define the frame space in which the channel member is mounted, each channel member forming a wire management channel along a length dimension where a top opening opens into the wire management channel.

61. The assembly of claim 53 wherein the assembly includes at least three leg members that define two frame spaces and at least two table top pairs wherein each pair is supported in a separate one of the frame spaces.

62. A screen assembly to be used with a table assembly wherein the table assembly includes a channel member having a top surface forming an upwardly open elongated opening having an opening width dimension, the screen assembly comprising:

at least a first block member including a body member having oppositely facing top and bottom surfaces and oppositely facing first and second side surfaces, the body portion forming a first slot in an upper surface, the first and second oppositely facing side surfaces defining a body width dimension that is less than the opening width dimension, the block member further including first and second flanges that extend laterally from the first and second side surfaces of the body at locations spaced from the bottom surface so that when a portion of the body member adjacent the bottom surface is received in the elongated opening, undersurfaces of the flanges rest on a top surface of the channel; and

a privacy screen including a rigid member forming an edge wherein the edge is dimensioned to be received within the first slot to form an interference fit with the first block member.

63. The assembly of claim 62 wherein top surfaces of the flanges are flush with the top surface of the block member and the top surface of the block member is flat.

64. The assembly of claim 63 wherein the screen assembly is further usable separate from the table assembly with a supporting surface and wherein the bottom surface of the body member forms a second slot, the block member may be inverted so that the top surface rests on the supporting surface with the second slot opening upward and the screen may be mounted in the second slot to support the screen in an upright position.

65. The assembly of claim 64 wherein the second slot member is perpendicular to the first slot.

66. The assembly of claim 62 further including a second block member having characteristics similar to the characteristics of the first block member, the second block member positionable within the channel opening with the first slots of the first and second block members aligned and the screen edge received within each of the aligned slots.

67. A support to be used to support a privacy screen in an upright position wherein the screen includes a rigid substantially flat member that forms an edge, the support comprising:

a block member including top and bottom oppositely facing surfaces and first and second oppositely facing side surfaces, the block member forming a first slot in the top surface that is substantially parallel to the first and second side surfaces and the bottom surface forming a second slot that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second side surfaces wherein the each of the first and second slots has a width dimension such that when the edge of the screen is received therein, the edge forms an interference fit with the slot; and

flanges which extend in opposite directions from each of the first and second side surfaces of the block member;

wherein the block member may be used in either of first and second positions to support the screen including a first position with the top surface resting on a support surface and the screen edge received in the second slot and a second position with the flanges resting on edges of a channel member and the screen edge received in the first slot.