Table bridging apparatus

• US 5,560,302 A
• Filed: 03/16/1995
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howe Furniture Corp (Commercial Furniture Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Howe Furniture Corp (Commercial Furniture Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wilkins, Julia, Diffrient, Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/405,358
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 108/64, 108/69, 108/89, 108/90, 52/582.2
• 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 bridge interconnects two table tops and is supported solely by the table tops themselves, employing connector bars which normally serve to gang tables together. Alignment pins on the bottom surface of the bridge engage openings in the connector bars. A separate slidable locking bar on the bridge engages each pair of connector bars to attach the bridge to the two table tops.

Claims

1. Apparatus for bridging a space between two table tops each having an edge to be connected to the other which comprises:

a spaced pair of connector bars extending outwardly from one edge of each of said table tops, each of said connector bars defining an alignment opening therethrough spaced outwardly from its respective table top edge;

a substantially planar bridge member having a top surface and a bottom surface and a first and a second edge;

a first pair of spaced alignment pins carried on the bottom surface of said bridge member adjacent said first edge and positioned to be received in the alignment openings of the connector bar pair extending from the edge of one of said table tops;

a second pair of spaced alignment pins carried on the bottom surface of said bridge member adjacent said second edge and positioned to be received in the alignment openings of the connector bar pair extending from the edge of the other of said table tops;

first locking means on the bottom surface of said bridge member for releasably engaging one of said connector bar pairs; and

second locking means on the bottom surface of said bridge member for releasably engaging the other of said connector bar pairs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said locking means comprises a locking bar having at least one slot therein slidably receiving at least one of said alignment pins.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a different slot receives each of said alignment pins.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said locking bar is located between a connecting bar pair and the bottom surface of said bridge member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said locking bar carries a tab adapted to receive each of said connecting bars therebetween.

6. For interconnecting (a) a substantially planar bridge member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second edges with (b) a first table top having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge and (c) a second table top having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge, apparatus which comprises:

a spaced pair of independent first connector bars extending outwardly from one of (a) said bridge member first edge and (b) the edge of said first table top, each of said first connector bars defining an alignment opening therethrough;

a first pair of spaced first alignment pins carried by the bottom surface of the other of said bridge member and first table top, said first pins being positioned to be received in the alignment openings of said first connector bars;

first locking means carried by said first pair of alignmint pins for releasably engaging said first connector bars;

a spaced pair of independent second connector bars extending outwardly from one of (c) said bridge menber second edge ans (d) the edge of said decond table top, each of said second connector bars defining an alignment opining therethrough;

a second pair of spaced second alignment pins carried by the bottom surface of the other of saed bridge member and second table top, said second pins being positioned to be received in the alignment opinings of said second commector bars; and

second locking means carried by said second pair oa alignment pens for releasably engaging sead second connector bars.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said locking means comprises:

a locking bar slidably mounted on said alignment pins for travel between a locked position and an unlocked position; and

means carried by said locking bar for engaging said connector bars in said locking position and releasing said connector bars in said unlocked position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said connector bars extends outwardly from its associated table top and said alignment pins are carried by said bridge member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said locking bar extends between said connector bars and the bottom surface of said bridge member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said locking bar defines a separate slot receiving each of said alignment pins slidably therethrough.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said engaging means comprises a tab spaced from said locking bar to receive one of said connector bars therebetween.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said connector bars is retractable into a storage position beneath said table top.