Table with an elevating panel, an elevating table and a combination thereof

• US 5,743,193 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Okamura Corporation
• Original Assignee: Okamura Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Makoto, Kakuta, Tomokazu, Kojima, Nobuyuki, Narita, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/775,203
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50, 108/60, 108/64, 108/147, 108/106, 108/50.11, 312/195, 312/196
• US Class Current: 108/147
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/02 with vertical adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0002 Corner desk
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems

Abstract

In an office, a main table with an elevating panel is combined with an auxiliary elevating table with various arrangements. The elevating panel is elevated and lowered with respect to the main table. In the auxiliary table, the height of a top is variable. The auxiliary table is stored or concealed from view under the top of the main table at the lowest position, and is arranged at the same height at the intermediate position. At the highest position, the auxiliary table is higher than the main table. Depending on use, the whole surface area of the tops of the tables is variable.

Claims

1. A table with an elevating panel, comprising:

a top of the table;

a plurality of brackets at a side of the top of the table, each of the brackets having a plurality of grooves; and

a plurality of vertical slide rails on the elevating panel which projects on the top, each of the slide rails having a hemisphere-ended member, said hemisphere-ended member being pushed by elastic means to engage in any of said plurality of grooves so that the slide rails may be held at a desired height with respect to the brackets.

2. The table as defined in claim 1 wherein a joint is slidably engaged in a catcher at a side end of the elevating panel, said joint also being slidably engaged in a side end of a screen so that the elevating panel may vertically slide with respect to the screen.

3. The table as defined in claim 1 wherein casters are mounted at lower ends of legs of the table so that the the table may be movable.

4. The table as defined in claim 3 wherein the top is elevatably supported by legs.

5. The table as defined in claim 1, wherein the hemisphere-ended member comprises a ball.

6. The table as defined in claim 1, wherein the elastic means comprises a compression spring.