Combined table comprising a plurality of individual table surfaces

• US 5,144,888 A
• Filed: 09/18/1991
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Protoned B. V.
• Original Assignee: Protoned B. V.
• Inventors: Fischer, Uwe, Heine, Klaus A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/761,672
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 108/64, 108/65, 108/69, 108/76, 108/84, 108/91, 403/326, 403/367
• US Class Current: 108/64
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0003 Triangular or trapezoidal desk surface to join desks
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A combined table includes a plurality of individual table surfaces interconnected to form a multi-unit table in which additional table and/or table top elements are coupled to a main table by a plurality of coupling members. Each of the coupling members includes a snap-type fastener and extends from one mounting bar positioned beneath the main table to another mounting bar positioned beneath the additional table and/or table top element.

Claims

1. In a combined table comprising a plurality of individual table surfaces having rectilinear side edges, at least a pair of said table surfaces being provided with vertically adjustable legs, and at least a pair of coupling members for connecting one of said pair of table surfaces to an adjacent table surface, each of said coupling members having snap means for detachably connecting each of said coupling members to a first sectional bar mounted in an underside of said one table surface and catch means for detachably connecting each of said coupling members to a second sectional bar mounted on an underside of said adjacent table surface, the improvement wherein each end of said first sectional bar is held in first corner cover means mounted on said underside of said one table surface flush with adjacent side edges thereof and each end of said second sectional bar is held in second corner cover means mounted on said underside of said adjacent table surface flush with adjacent side edges thereof;

wherein each of said first and second sectional bars has an outside edge provided with a fitting zone sized and shaped so as to be engageable with an intermediate portion of said coupling members and an inside edge provided with a first channel sized and shaped so as to be engageable with said snap means of said coupling members and a second channel sized and shaped so as to be engageable with wedge locking means for fastening said first and second sectional bars to said first and second corner cover means, respectively; and

wherein each of said vertically adjustable legs contains an insert part which is adjustable by means of a spindle and a knurled nut and which includes a foot part guided by a centering pin.

2. A combined table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate portion of said coupling members includes a clamp rib which divides each of said coupling members into a clamp portion containing said snap means and a support portion containing said catch means.

3. A combined table as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamp portion also includes a bottom hook extending outwardly from said clamp rib in a first direction which is toward said snap means and wherein said support portion includes a catch lug and a top hook extending outwardly from said clamp rib in a second direction which is opposite to said first direction and which is toward said catch lug.

4. A combined table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said snap means includes a spring-loaded rocker which has a bead sized and shaped so as to be engageable with said first channel of said first and second sectional bars and which is pivotally mounted on a resilient portion of said coupling members.

5. A combined table as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fitting zone of said first and second sectional bars has a wall portion forming an indentation which is sized and shaped so as to receive said bottom hook and said top hook of said clamp rib.

6. A combined table as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said pair of table surfaces is provided with four vertically adjustable table legs.

7. A combined table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjacent table surface is provided with vertically adjustable legs.

8. A combined table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjacent table surface is legless.

9. A combined table as claimed in claim 8, wherein said adjacent table surface is connected between said one table surface and the other table surface of said pair of table surfaces.