Working table

• US 5,078,055 A
• Filed: 10/17/1989
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Protoned BV The Netherlands
• Original Assignee: Protoned B. V.
• Inventors: Bellini, Mario, Thiel, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/422,416
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 108/64, 108/69, 108/65, 108/5, 108/9, 108/1, 108/50, 108/143, 108/159, 108/97, 108/114, 108/153
• US Class Current: 108/64
• 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 17/033 with parts added to the original furniture to enlarge its surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/065 Pivotally mounted auxiliary tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/062 the worksurface moving forward to expose the wire gutter, e.g. up and forward
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0013 Desks with central bearing beams
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0043 Inclination adjustable work top
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0085 Supplementary support fixed on the edge of a desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0086 Supplementary support fixed to the extension of a table leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0088 Appliance support having rotary joint or articulated connection

Abstract

The work table with a carrying structure held above the floor by supporting elements (4, 5) and devices for holding table surfaces and/or add-ons in the form of fixedly or moveably arranged resting surfaces includes a base frame (1) of a pair of longitudinal bearers (2) and a pair of transverse bearers (3), which is designed as a structural unit. The supporting elements are fastened to this structural unit as individual table legs (4) or box member in the form of drawer units (5), attached detachably on the underside of the base frame (1). Some of the ends of the longitudinal and/or transverse bearers of the base frame (1) are designed as coupling or resting regions for attachments or add-ons of the work table.

Due to the interchangeability of leaf frames (7, 7") which can be coupled to the base frame (1) and bracket elements, the components of the work table can be used on the modular principle.

Claims

1. A work table, comprising:

a base frame with an upper side and an underside, said base frame including a first pair of hollow bearer members spaced apart from each other so as to form opposed sides of said base frame and a second pair of hollow bearer members spaced apart from each other so as to from opposed ends of said base frame, each bearer member of said second pair of bearer members being attached to said bearer members of said first pair of bearer members at right angles thereto, whereby said first pair of bearer members cooperate with said second pair of bearer members to form a structural unit capable of supporting a table top surface upon said upper side of said base frame, at least one of said bearer members of said base frame having an open end which is not obstructed by any of the other of said bearer members;

supporting means detachably connected to said underside of said base frame for supporting said base frame above an underlying surface;

a leaf frame, said leaf frame including a vertical support and a hollow horizontal bar cantilevered from said vertical support such that one end of said horizontal bar is attached to said vertical support and an opposite end of said horizontal bar extends outwardly from said vertical support and is open; and

coupling means for coupling said base frame to said leaf frame, said coupling means having a first coupling element sized and shaped so as to fit within said open end of said at least one of said bearer members of said base frame and a second coupling element sized and shaped so as to fit within said opposite end of said horizontal bar of said leaf frame, wherein said coupling means couples said horizontal bar of said leaf frame to said at least one of said bearer members of said base frame such that said leaf frame can articulate relative to said base frame.

2. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said open end of said at least one of said bearer members is located in a corner region of said base frame.

3. A work table according to claim 2, wherein another of said bearer members of said base frame has an open end which is not obstructed by any of the other of said bearer members and which is sized and shaped so as to receive another coupling means for coupling an attachment to said base frame.

4. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes table legs.

5. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes drawer units.

6. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said vertical support includes table legs.

7. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said vertical support includes drawer units.

8. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a hinge having a first portion disposed within said open end of said at least one of said bearer members of said base frame, a second portion disposed within said opposite end of said horizontal bar of said leaf frame, and a pin about which said first and second portions pivot.

9. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said leaf frame further includes mounting means for mounting attachments on said leaf frame.

10. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said base frame further includes mounting means for adjustably mounting a table top surface to said base frame.

11. A work table according to claim 10, wherein said mounting means includes a first pair of bearing elements spaced apart from each other and positioned such that each bearing element of said first pair of bearing elements is on a corresponding one of said opposed sides of said base frame, each bearing element of said first pair of bearing elements including a perforated strip having a plurality of holes arranged linearly along said perforated strip and perpendicularly to said base frame and a swivel lever connected between said table top surface and one of said holes in said perforated strip, whereby the inclination of said table top surface is determined by which of said holes said swivel lever is connected to, and a second pair of bearing elements spaced apart from each other and positioned such that each bearing element of said second pair of bearing elements is on a corresponding one of said opposed sides of said base frame, each bearing element of said second pair of bearing elements including a longitudinal guide slot having an upwardly extending access opening and a latching plate connected to said table top surface and having a pin slidably received in said guide slot, whereby the horizontal position of said table top surface is determined by the location of said pin relative to said guide slot.

12. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said base frame further includes another bearer member positioned between said bearer members of said first pair of bearer members and extending from one bearer member of said second pair of bearer members to the other bearer member of said second pair of bearer members.

13. A work table according to claim 1, wherein said base frame further includes a tray positioned between said first pair of bearer members and said second pair of bearer members.

14. A work table, comprising:

a base frame with an upper side and an underside, said base frame including a first pair of hollow bearer members spaced apart from each other so as to form opposed sides of said base frame and a second pair of hollow bearer members spaced apart from each other so as to form opposed ends of said base frame, each bearer member of said second pair of bearer members being attached to said bearer members of said first pair of bearer members at right angles thereto, whereby said first pair of bearer members cooperates with said second pair of bearer members to form a structural unit capable of supporting a table top surface upon said upper side of said base frame, at least one of said bearer members of said base frame having an open end which is not obstructed by any of the other of said bearer members and which is sized and shaped so as to receive coupling means for coupling an attachment to said base frame;

supporting means detachably connected to said underside of said base frame for supporting said base frame above an underlying surface; and

mounting means for adjustably mounting said table top surface to said base frame, said mounting means including a first pair of bearing elements spaced apart from each other and positioned such that each bearing element of said first pair of bearing elements is on a corresponding one of said opposed sides of said base frame, each bearing element of said first pair of bearing elements including a perforated strip having a plurality of holes arranged linearly along said perforated strip and perpendicularly to said base frame and a swivel lever connected between said table top surface and one of said holes in said perforated strip, whereby the inclination of said table top surface is determined by which of said holes said swivel lever is connected to, and a second pair of bearing elements spaced apart from each other and positioned such that each bearing element of said second pair of bearing elements is on a corresponding one of said opposed sides of said base frame, each bearing element of said second pair of bearing elements including a longitudinal guide slot having an upwardly extending access opening and a latching plate connected to said table top surface and having a pin slidably received in said guide slot, whereby the horizontal position of said table top surface is determined by the location of said pin relative to said guide slot.