Article of furniture including a leg having wire management capabilities

• US 5,715,761 A
• Filed: 08/01/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knoll Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Knoll Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frattini, Emanuela
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US08/465,065
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/190, 52/220.7, 403/10, 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 248/49
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0082 Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 7/02 Stackable tables; Nesting tables

Abstract

An article of furniture including a leg or legs having wire management capabilities whereby the leg includes channels open along their length and slots at one end of each channel. Each slot extends for the length of each channel so that wires may be disposed in each channel through the slot. The leg further includes flexible members, each flexible member having a rigid, first side fixedly attached to one end of each slot and a flexible second side extending to cover each slot. The second side of the flexible member may be pushed inwardly into either channel opening so that the wires may be laid into the channel through the slot.

Claims

1. An article of furniture including a leg having wire management capabilities, said leg comprising:

a first channel having an opening along its length;

a slot at one end of said first channel, said slot extending for the length of said channel wherein wires are disposed in said first channel through said slot;

a second channel adjacent to said first channel, said first and second channels separated by a wall member; and

a flexible member, said flexible member having a first side fixedly attached to one end of said slot wherein said first side is harder, and a second side abutting said wall member, wherein said second side is more flexible than said first side whereby said second side of said flexible member is pushed inwardly into said opening of said first channel so that said wires are laid in said first channel through said slot.

2. The leg according to claim 1 wherein said flexible member is transparent so that said wires disposed in said first channel through said slot are visible and held in place.

3. The leg according to claim 1 wherein said first channel, said second channel and said wall member comprise an "S" shape in cross section.

4. The leg according to claim 3 wherein said second channel has an opening along its length and includes a slot at one end of said second channel, said slot extending the length of said channel wherein wires are disposed in said second channel through said slot.

5. The leg according to claim 4 further including a second flexible member, said second flexible member having a first side fixedly attached to one end of said slot of said second channel and a second side extending to abut said wall member so as to cover said slot of said second channel.

6. The leg according to claim 5 wherein said first side of said second flexible member is harder and said second side of said second flexible member is more flexible than said first side whereby said second side of said second flexible member is pushed inwardly into said opening of said second channel so that said wires are laid in said second channel through said slot.

7. The leg according to claim 6 wherein said second flexible member is transparent so that said wires disposed in said second channel through said slot of said second channel are visible and are held in place.

8. The leg according to claim 7 wherein said article of furniture is a table.

9. The leg according to claim 8 wherein said table has four legs.

10. The leg according to claim 9 wherein said table includes a trapezoidal shaped top.

11. The leg according to claim 10 wherein said top of said table includes an opening for placing wires.

12. The leg according to claim 11 wherein said wires extend through said opening in said table top and are disposed in said first channel of one of said legs.

13. The leg according to claim 12 wherein said wires extend through said opening in said table top and are disposed in said second channel of one of said legs.

14. The leg according to claim 13 further including a bracket having a top side and a bottom side, said bottom side of said bracket attached to said leg by fastening means.

15. The leg according to claim 14 wherein said fastening means are screws.

16. The leg according to claim 15 wherein said top side of said bracket is attached to the bottom of the table top by fastening means.

17. The leg according to claim 16 wherein said fastening means are screws.

18. The leg according to claim 6 wherein said one end of said slot of said second channel includes a lip portion adapted to receive said first side of said second flexible member so that said first side of said second flexible member is fixedly attached to said one end of said slot of said second channel.

19. The leg according to claim 18 wherein said first side of said second flexible member includes a hook portion adapted to be received by said lip portion of said slot of said second channel.

20. The leg according to claim 1 wherein said one end of said slot includes a lip portion adapted to receive said first side of said flexible member so that said first side of said flexible member is fixedly attached to said one end of said slot.

21. The leg according to claim 20 wherein said first side of said flexible member includes a hook portion adapted to be received by said lip portion of said slot.

22. An article of furniture including a leg having wire management capabilities, said leg comprising:

a first channel having an opening along its length;

a slot at one end of said first channel, said slot extending for the length of said channel wherein wires are disposed in said first channel through said slot;

a second channel adjacent to said first channel, said first and second channels separated by a wall member; and

a flexible member, said flexible member having a first side fixedly attached to one end of said slot and a second side abutting said wall member to cover said slot.

23. The leg according to claim 22 wherein said first channel, said second channel and said wall member comprise an "S" shape in cross section.

24. The leg according to claim 23 wherein said second channel has an opening along its length and includes a slot at one end of said second channel, said slot extending the length of said second channel wherein wires are disposed in said second channel through said slot of said second channel.

25. The leg according to claim 24 further including a second flexible member, said second flexible member having a first side fixedly attached to one end of said slot of said second channel and a second side abutting said wall member so as to cover said slot of said second channel.