Frame Type Table Assemblies

• US 20110297056A1
• 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 8,667,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/152
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/02 Underframes
• 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 17/04 with secret or fireproof compartments ; Trays or the like countersunk in the table top and obturable, e.g. by means of a roller or sliding shutter
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/062 the worksurface moving forward to expose the wire gutter, e.g. up and forward
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2083/025 Computer workstation with integrated seat
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A furniture assembly comprising a frame for supporting an article of furniture, the frame including first and second spaced apart frame members, each frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the first and second frame members forming first and second substantially oppositely facing bearing surfaces along at least a portion thereof wherein the oppositely facing bearing surfaces are angled away from each other when moving from the top toward the bottom ends, at a first height, the oppositely facing bearing surfaces defining a first width dimension and a storage unit forming an opening defined by an opening rim including at least first and second substantially opposed bearing surfaces, the first and second opposed bearing surfaces defining a first length dimension that is similar to the first width dimension, wherein, the storage unit can be mounted to the frame by passing at least upper portions of the first and second frame members through the opening so that the first and second opposed bearing surfaces contact the first and second oppositely facing bearing surfaces at the first height.

Claims

1. A furniture assembly comprising:

a frame for supporting an article of furniture, the frame including first and second spaced apart frame members, each frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the first and second frame members forming first and second substantially oppositely facing bearing surfaces along at least a portion thereof wherein the oppositely facing bearing surfaces are angled away from each other when moving from the top toward the bottom ends, at a first height, the oppositely facing bearing surfaces defining a first width dimension; and

a storage unit forming an opening defined by an opening rim including at least first and second substantially opposed bearing surfaces, the first and second opposed bearing surfaces defining a first length dimension that is similar to the first width dimension;

wherein, the storage unit can be mounted to the frame by passing at least upper portions of the first and second frame members through the opening so that the first and second opposed bearing surfaces contact the first and second oppositely facing bearing surfaces at the first height.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second oppositely facing bearing surfaces form similar angles with respect to a vertical axis.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further including at least one rail member mounted between the first and second frame members wherein the rail member forms at least one T-slot along at least a portion of its length for mounting accessories.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the storage unit includes a collar member that forms a channel, the channel defined on one end by the opening rim, at least portions of the first and second frame members positioned within the collar when the storage unit is mounted to the frame.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the collar is open at a top end and wherein at least portions of the first and second frame members extend above the collar when the storage unit is mounted to the frame.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the frame further includes at least one rail member mounted between the first and second frame members that forms at least one T-slot for mounting accessories, the at least one rail member residing above the storage unit when the storage unit is mounted to the frame.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the storage unit includes at least one substantially horizontal shelf member that forms the opening.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second frame members include first and second oppositely facing side surfaces and wherein the horizontal shelf member only extends to the side of the first oppositely facing side surface.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second frame members include first and second oppositely facing side surfaces and wherein the horizontal shelf member extends to the sides of both the first and second oppositely facing side surfaces.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame forms a top surface that resides above the first and second oppositely facing bearing surfaces and the storage unit includes a first shelf member that forms an undersurface, the undersurface of the first shelf member contacting the top surface when the storage unit is mounted to the frame.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the storage unit further includes a second shelf member spaced below the first shelf member, the second shelf member forming the opening.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the storage unit further includes a collar member mounted between the first and second shelf members, at least a portion of each of the first and second frame members positioned within the collar member when the storage unit is mounted to the frame.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second shelf members includes first and second ends, the storage unit further including a first end wall member linked between the first ends of the first and second shelf members and a second end wall member linked between the second ends of the first and second shelf members to form a storage space between the first and second shelf members.

14. A furniture assembly comprising:

a frame for supporting an article of furniture, the frame including first and second spaced apart frame members, each frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the first and second frame members forming first and second substantially oppositely facing bearing surfaces along at least a portion thereof wherein the oppositely facing bearing surfaces are angled away from each other when moving from the top toward the bottom ends, at a first height, the oppositely facing bearing surfaces defining a first width dimension; and

a storage unit including a collar that defines a collar passage, the collar passage including at least first and second substantially opposed bearing surfaces, the first and second opposed bearing surfaces defining a first length dimension that is similar to the first width dimension;

wherein, the storage unit can be mounted to the frame by passing at least portions of the first and second frame members into the collar passage so that the first and second opposed bearing surfaces contact and bear against the first and second oppositely facing bearing surfaces at the first height.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the storage unit further includes a case structure including a top wall member, a bottom wall member and first and second end wall members, the top and bottom wall members each having first and second ends and arranged parallel to each other, the bottom wall member forming an opening, the collar mounted between facing surfaces of the top and bottom wall members and aligned with the opening, the first end wall mounted between the first ends of the top and bottom wall members and the second end wall mounted between the second ends of the top and bottom wall members.