Modular table assembly

• US 5,718,179 A
• Filed: 12/24/1996
• Issued: 02/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy K., Brodbeck, Mary Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/772,426
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 108/150, 108/153, 108/157, 108/50, 312/223.6, 312/194, 248/188
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular table assembly and kit include a table top panel member with a plurality of discrete receptacle sets disposed on the panel. A plurality of leg sets is provided with each one of the leg sets corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of receptacle sets. Whereby, a selected leg set is coupled with its respective receptacle set to assemble a desired table design. The selected leg set may include to least one pedestal with a column portion extending between a table end and a base end. The table end of the leg includes a key that seats in it respective receptacle to locate the leg relative to the table top. Further, the pedestal may include a wire way passage extending between the table end and the base end to conceal and conduct a wire or cable or the like.

Claims

1. A modular table kit adapted for assembly of a modular table with any of a plurality of leg configurations, the kit comprising:

a table top panel;

a plurality of receptacle sets adapted to be selectively coupled to the table top panel, each receptacle set including a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle set having at least one receptacle of a different shape than at least one of the receptacles of any of the other receptacle sets; and

a plurality of different types of leg sets, each leg set of said plurality of leg sets being adapted to be selectively coupled to at least one, but not all, of the plurality of leg receptacle sets, wherein the modular table can be selectively assembled in one of the plurality of configurations by coupling at least one of the plurality of receptacle sets to the table top panel and by coupling at least one of the plurality of leg sets to at least one of the receptacle sets, the table top panel thereby being interconnected to at least one of the plurality of leg sets.

2. The modular table kit defined in claim 1, further including a plurality of coupling members, each coupling member of said plurality of coupling members being adapted to interconnect a selected leg of said plurality of leg sets and a selected receptacle of said plurality of receptacle sets.

3. The modular table kit defined in claim 2, wherein at least one coupling member of said plurality of coupling members includes an alignment key which has a shape and dimension that corresponds to and is adapted to be seated in a cooperating receptacle of said plurality of receptacle sets.

4. The modular table kit defined in claim 1, wherein at least one receptacle set of said plurality of receptacle sets includes one of an array of pairs of circular recesses, an array of pairings of a circular recess and an ovoid recess, an array of pairs of ovoid recesses, and an array of groupings of at least three elongated recesses.

5. The modular table kit defined in claim 1, wherein at least one leg of said plurality of leg sets has a passage extending away from said table top panel.

6. The modular table kit defined in claim 5, wherein said passage includes a member that defines a side of said passage, said member being flexible to be displaced from a first position in which said passage is substantially closed-sided sided to a second position in which said passage is open-sided to receive an item into or remove an item from said passage, through said side of said passage, said member being resilient to return to said first position from said second position.

7. The modular table kit defined in claim 6, wherein said passage is defined by a separate member that is connected with said at least one leg.

8. The modular table kit defined in claim 6, wherein said passage has two opposing ends, includes an opening at one of said two opposing ends, and includes a guide near said one of said two opposing ends, said guide directing an item from the other of said two opposing ends to said opening at said one of said two opposing ends.

9. A modular table kit comprising:

a panel member;

a plurality of different types of receptacle sets disposed on said panel member, each receptacle set including a plurality of receptacles;

a plurality of different types of leg sets, each leg of each of said different leg sets including one or mounting elements configured to be received within the receptacles of one of said receptacle sets, whereby each leg set of said plurality of leg sets is adapted to couple only with a selected one of the different types of said plurality of receptacle sets;

a plurality of coupling members, each coupling member of said plurality of coupling members being adapted to be interposed in coupling engagement between a selected leg of said plurality of leg sets and a selected receptacle of said plurality of receptacle sets; and

a plurality of wireways, each wireway of said plurality of wireways adapted to be mounted on a leg of each of said plurality of leg sets.

10. The modular table kit defined in claim 9, wherein at least one coupling member of said plurality of coupling members includes an alignment key which has a shape and dimension that corresponds to and is adapted to be seated in a cooperating receptacle of said plurality of receptacle sets.

11. The modular table kit defined in claim 9, wherein at least one receptacle set of said plurality of receptacle sets includes one of an array of pairs of circular recesses, an array of pairings of a circular recess and an ovoid recess, an array of pairs of ovoid recesses, and an array of groupings of at least three elongated recesses.

12. The modular table kit defined in claim 9, wherein at least one leg of said plurality of leg sets has a passage extending away from said table top panel.

13. The modular table kit defined in claim 12, wherein said passage includes a member that defines a side of said passage, said member being flexible to be displaced from a first position in which said passage is substantially closed-sided to a second position in which said passage is open-sided to receive an item into or remove an item from said passage, through said side of said passage, said member being resilient to return to said first position from said second position.

14. The modular table kit defined in claim 13, wherein said passage is defined by a separate member that is connected with said at least one leg.

15. The modular table kit defined in claim 13, wherein said passage has two opposing ends, includes an opening at one of said two opposing ends, and includes a guide near said one of said two opposing ends, said guide directing an item from the other of said two opposing ends to said opening at said one of said two opposing ends.

16. A modular table kit, comprising:

at least one table top panel having at least first and second receptacle sets; and

at least first and second leg sets;

each of the plurality of receptacle sets including a plurality of recesses which are shaped and arranged to form distinct receptacle patterns;

the first leg set including a plurality of legs of a first type, each of the legs of the first type including one or more coupling members configured to be received in and coupled to one or more recesses of the first receptacle set, the one or more coupling members of the legs of the first leg set being configured to prevent receipt within and coupling thereof to the recesses of the second receptacle set;

the second leg set including a plurality of legs of a second type, each of the legs of the second type including one or more coupling members configured to be received in and coupled to one or more recesses of the second receptacle set, the one or more coupling members of the legs of the second leg set being configured to prevent receipt within and coupling thereof to the recesses of the first receptacle set.

17. The modular table kit defined in claim 16 wherein at least one receptacle set of said plurality of receptacle sets includes one of an array of pairs of circular recesses, an array of pairings of a circular recess and an ovoid recess, an array of pairs of ovid recesses, and an array of groupings of at least three elongated recesses.

18. The modular table kit defined in claim 17, wherein at least one leg of said plurality of leg sets has a passage extending away from said table top panel.

19. The modular table kit defined in claim 18, wherein said passage includes a member that defines a side of said passage, said member being flexible to be displaced from a first position in which said passage is substantially closed-sided to a second position in which said passage is open-sided to receive an item into or remove an item from said passage, through said side of said passage, said member being resilient to return to said first position from said second position.

20. The modular table kit defined in claim 19, wherein said passage is defined by a separate member that is connected with said at least one leg.

21. The modular table kit defined in claim 19, wherein said passage has two opposing ends, includes an opening at one of said two opposing ends, and includes a guide near said one of said two opposing ends, said guide directing an item from the other of said two opposing ends to said opening at said one of said two opposing ends.

22. A modular table assembly comprising:

a panel member;

a plurality of different types of receptacle sets disposed on said panel member; and

a plurality of leg sets, each leg of said plurality of leg sets corresponding to a respective receptacle set of said plurality of receptacle sets, a selected leg set of said plurality of leg sets being coupled only with its respective receptacle set to assemble a table having a selected design style, at least one leg of said plurality of leg sets having a table end, an opposing base end, and a column portion extending between said table end and said base end, said table end including a cooperating key that corresponds to and is seated in a predetermined receptacle of said plurality of receptacle sets, said at least one leg further including a passage extending between said table end and said base end, said leg having a member that defines a side of said passage, said member being flexible to be displaced from a first position in which said passage is substantially closed-sided to a second position which said passage is open-sided to receive an item into or remove an item from said passage, through said side of said passage, said member being resilient to return to said first position from said second position, said passage being defined by a wireway member which is separate from said at least one leg, said wireway member being a snap-on wireway which is sized and shaped to fit onto said at least one leg.

23. The modular table assembly defined in claim 22, wherein said snap-on wireway includes a fastener which is an open-sided channel member.

24. The modular table assembly defined in claim 22, wherein said passage includes an opening at one of said table end and said base end and a guide near said one of said table end and said base end, said guide directing an item from the other of said table end and said base end to said opening at said one of said table end and said base end.

25. The modular table assembly defined in claim 22, wherein at least one leg of said plurality of leg sets includes a cooperating key that corresponds to and is seated in a predetermined receptacle of said plurality of receptacle sets.

26. The modular table assembly defined in claim 22, wherein said at least one leg of said plurality of leg sets includes a passage extending along a length of said leg between a table end of said leg and an opposing base end of said leg.

27. The modular table assembly defined in claim 26, wherein said passage includes a member that defines a side of said passage, said member being flexible to be displaced from a first position in which said passage is substantially closed-sided to a second position in which said passage is open-sided to receive an item into or remove an item from said passage, through said side of said passage, said member being resilient to return to said first position from said second position.

28. The modular table assembly defined in claim 27, wherein said passage is defined by a wire way member that is separate from said at least one leg.

29. The modular table assembly defined in claim 28, wherein said wireway member is a snap-on wireway which is sized and shaped to fit onto said at least one leg.

30. The modular table assembly defined in claim 29, wherein said snap-on wireway includes a fastener which is an open-sided channel member.

31. The modular table assembly defined in claim 26, wherein said passage includes an opening at one of said table end and said base end and a guide near said one of said table end and said base end, said guide directing an item from the other of said table end and said base end to said opening at said one of said table end and said base end.