Table leg with wire raceway

• US 4,807,838 A
• Filed: 07/18/1988
• Issued: 02/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knoll Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Shaw-Walker Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Bradley T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/221,002
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.1, 248/188, 248/188.8, 248/188.9, 248/188.91, 248/163.1, 108/23, 108/150
• US Class Current: 248/188.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/023 with a central column
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2013/024 being assembled to a base
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2013/028 held together by screw-threaded tie rod

Abstract

A hollow table leg assembly for supporting a tabletop having a vertical passage extending therethrough. The assembly includes a top plate which is fastened to the underside of the tabletop at the vertical passage. A downwardly-extending, circular protuberance is formed in the top plate and defines a recess beneath the vertical passage in the tabletop. A downwardly-facing annular lip is formed on the protuberance below the recess. A plurality of wire passages are formed in the protuberance around a central passage. Three downwardly-projecting ribs are formed on the underside of the top plate and extend radially inwardly of the annular lip. A base member having legs and a centrally located, vertically-extending passage with an upwardly-facing, annular recessed shoulder is formed around the passage. A tab extends across the shoulder. A cylindrical tube extends between the top plate and the base member. The top end of the tube and the bottom end of the tube is seated on the recessed shoulder of the base member. Notches are formed in the top and bottom ends of the tube to receive the ribs and the tab to lock the tube against rotation. A plug closes the central passage of the base member. The plug has a collar which engages the base member around its central passage and a hub portion which extends into the tube. Wire passages and a central passage extend axially through the plug. A threaded rod extends from the recess of the top plate, through the central passage thereof, through the tube and through the central passage of the plug. Nuts engage the ends of the threaded rod, the top plate and the plug to hold the assembly together.

Claims

1. A hollow table leg assembly for installation in a table having a tabletop with a vertical passage extending therethrough, said assembly including:

a top plate having means to attach the top plate to the underside of the tabletop at the vertical passage,

a downwardly-extending, circular protuberance formed in the top plate to define a recess beneath the vertical passage in the tabletop and a downwardly-facing annular lip formed on the protuberance below the recess,

a plurality of passages formed in the protuberance including a central passage,

at least one downwardly-projecting rib formed on the underside of said top plate and extending inwardly of said annular lip,

a base member having a central, vertically-extending passage with an upwardly-facing, annular recessed shoulder formed around said passage and a tab extending radially across the shoulder,

a cylindrical tube extending between the top plate and the base member, with the top end of the tube seated inside the annular lip of the top plate protuberance, and the bottom end of the tube seated on the recessed shoulder of the base member,

at least one notch formed in each of the top and bottom ends of the tube to receive the downwardly-projecting rib and radially-extending tab, respectively, to lock the tube against rotation,

a plug adapted to close the central passage of the base member,

said plug including a collar to engage the base member around its central passage and a hub portion which extends into the tube,

a plurality of passages extending axially through said plug including a central passage,

a threaded rod extending from the recess of said top plate through the central passage thereof, through said tube, and through the central passage of said plug, and

fastening means to engage said threaded rod, the top plate and the plug to hold the assembly together.

2. The hollow table leg assembly of claim 1 in which the plurality of passages in the protuberance and the plug include wire passages with an equal number of wire passages formed in the protuberance and in the plug.

3. The hollow table leg assembly of claim 1 in which the plurality of passages in the plug include wire passages, with said passages opening radially as well as axially.

4. The hollow table leg assembly of claim 1 in which some of the passages in the protuberance are wedge-shaped, one of the wedge-shaped passages is larger than the other wedge-shaped passages, and said larger wedge-shaped passage extends through the protuberance to the underside of the tabletop.

5. A hollow table leg assembly for installation in a table having a tabletop with a vertical passage extending therethrough, said assembly including:

a top plate having means to attach the top plate to the underside of the tabletop at the vertical passage,

a downwardly extending circular protuberance formed in the top plate to define a recess beneath the vertical passage in the tabletop,

a plurality of passages formed in the protuberance including a central passage,

a base member having a central, vertically extending passage,

a cylindrical tube extending between the top plate and the base member,

means to seat the cylindrical tube in the top plate and the base member,

means formed in the top plate, the bottom member and the cylindrical tube to lock the tube against rotation relative to the top plate and bottom member,

a plug adapted to close the central passage of the base member,

a plurality of passages extending axially through said plug including a central passage,

a threaded rod extending from the recess of said top plate through the central passage thereof, through said tube, and through the central passage of said plug, and

fastening means to engage said threaded rod, the top plate and the plug to hold the assembly together.

6. A top plate forming a part of a hollow table leg assembly for installation on a table having a tabletop, said top plate including:

a flat portion adapted to engage the underside of the tabletop,

openings formed in said flat portion to receive fasteners to attach said top plate to the underside of said tabletop,

a downwardly extending curved wall forming a protuberance having a flat bottom wall, with the protuberance forming a recess beneath the tabletop,

a plurality of downwardly opening passages formed in the flat bottom wall of the protuberance and leading into said recess including a central passage,

means formed around said flat bottom wall of said protuberance to receive and seat a central tube communicating with the downwardly opening passages,

at least one of said downwardly opening passages also extending through said curved wall of the protuberance to provide communication from said cylindrical tube to the underside of the tabletop.