Table with movable working surface

• US 5,172,641 A
• Filed: 10/28/1991
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WASA Massivholzmoebel GmbH
• Original Assignee: WASA Massivholzmoebel GmbH
• Inventors: Auer, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/782,992
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 108/1, 108/3, 108/4, 108/5, 108/6, 108/157, 248/396, 248/394
• US Class Current: 108/5
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/081 Movable, extending, sliding table tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 19/06 with adjustable top leaf
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0044 Inclinable work surface around a mobile axis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 27/02 Adjustable drawing tables without balancing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 85/02 Tables convertible into drawing-desks
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/18 in inclination

Abstract

A table with a movable working surface is supported on a table frame with legs. A running rail arrangement is provided on the table frame and cooperates in a form fitting relationship with a pair of edge rails extending from the working surface. The running rail arrangement is divided into two running rail elements. A first running rail element is rigidly fixed to the table frame. A second running rail element is rotatably mounted to the table frame at a location adjacent to the first running rail element. The first running rail element has a sloped bearing surface on which the second running rail element is supported when the working surface is in a horizontal position. Each edge rail includes a holding and sliding element for supporting the second rail running element. During usage of the work surface, the holding and sliding element is located either under the first running rail element or is supported on the sloped bearing surface of the first running rail element.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

a table frame having a plurality of legs extending therefrom;

a horizontally movable working surface supported on the table frame, said working surface being pivotable from a horizontal position to an inclined position;

first and second running rail means provided on the table frame for controlling the movement of the work surface with respect to said table frame, each running rail means comprising two running rail elements including a first running rail element, having a first and second end, rigidly attached to the table frame and a second running rail element, having a first and second end, mounted to the table frame at a location adjacent to the first running rail element, said first end of said second running rail element being pivotally mounted to said table frame such that said second running rail element is rotatably mounted to the table frame, said first end of said first running rail element having a sloped support surface on which the second end of the second running rail element lies on when the working surface is in the horizontal position;

a pair of edge rails extending from said working surface, each edge rail receiving said first and second running rail elements of one of said running rail means in a form fitting relationship when said working surface is in the horizontal position and receiving said second running rail element of one of said running rail means when said work surface is in said inclined position;

a holding and sliding element mounted on an underside of each edge rail for being supported by said first running rail element of one of said running rail means when the working surface is in the inclined position such that holding and sliding element is located on the sloped surface of the first running rail element and underneath said second running rail element of the one running rail means, said holding and sliding element being located underneath the first and second running rail elements of one of said running rail means when the working surface is in the horizontal position; and

tightening means for securing said working surface in place when said working surface is in the inclined position.

2. A table according to claim 1, wherein the second end of each second running rail element (50) includes a sloped surface, whereby the sloped surfaces of each of the surfaces of the first and second running rail elements are complementary to each other.

3. A table according to claim 2 wherein the first and second running rail elements (45, 50) are made by a single cut of a rectangular block.

4. A table according to claim 1, wherein each edge has a slotlike aperture (75) which extends parallel to and in communication with a longitudinal groove (77) formed in said edge rail.

5. A table according to claim 4, wherein each slotlike aperture (75) generally extends in length from the first end of the corresponding second running rail element to the second end of the corresponding second running rail element (52).

6. A table according to claim 4, wherein each second running rail element (50) is pivotally mounted by the tightening means (60), which extends through the slotlike aperture (25) of each edge rail and through the second running rail element (50) into the table frame (20), to form an essentially stationary rotation axis (30) at a right angle to the second running rail element (50).

7. A table according to claim 6, wherein said tightening means (60) comprises a nut element (61), a bolt element (62), and a tightening element (63), wherein the bolt element (62) extends through the slotlike aperture (75) in each edge rail (70) and through the second running rail element (50) into the table frame (20), said bolt element (62) being held at a first end by the nut element (61) and simultaneously fastened at a second end to the tightening element (63) which may bear against the edge rail (70).

8. A table according to claim 1, wherein each edge rail is connected to the working surface by a dovetail joint.

9. A table according to claim 1 wherein the working surface (10), table frame (20), and running rail elements (45, 50) are made of massive wood.