Table

• US 5,974,985 A
• Filed: 07/15/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flototto Einrichtungssysteme GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Flototto Einrichtungssysteme GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stosch, Martin, Flototto, Reinhard-Heinrich, Diekmann, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/817,785
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 108/64, 108/50.11, 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/157.18, 108/157.1, 108/157.15, 312/223.3, 312/195
• US Class Current: 108/157.18
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/02 Underframes
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2037/005 Tables specially adapted for laboratories
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/00 Fittings for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/00 Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture doors E06B
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2012/443 with two-dimensional corner element, the legs thereof being inserted in hollow frame members

Abstract

A table with a frame, a table plate and at least three table legs, whose table legs as well as optional desk accessories such as a telephone holder or a working lamp may be fastened onto the frame in a slot. The table legs or desk accessories are preferably inserted into the slot through an adapter. The table frame may be formed from frame sections connected to each other by means of corner connectors. Onto the frame a slidable and tiltable carrier for a computer monitor can be mounted. Individual tables can be connected to each other by connectors.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

a frame

which is constructed from a plurality of interconnected frame sections, wherein said interconnected frame sections form at least one receptacle for a table plate, wherein said frame sections have a slot which extends substantially parallel to a plane of said table plate throughout substantially the whole length of said frame section; and

at least three table legs, wherein said table legs have an upper end which is predisposed for mounting at freely chooseable locations about said frame sections.

2. A table according to claim 1, with the feature that said frame sections interlock by means of a corner connector which is solidly or unreleasably connected for forming said frame.

3. A table according to claim 1, with the feature that a corner connector for connecting said frame sections has two pairs of tongues, wherein said pairs of tongues are fitted into two cavities of said frame sections which are connected, wherein said cavities extend substantially parallel to said table plate, and wherein said two tongue pairs of said corner connector are connected by a vertical plate, wherein said vertical plate is substantially perpendicular to a plane of said table plate.

4. A table according to claim 1, with the feature that on said frame sections or a corner connector for connecting said frame sections, preferably on a vertical plate of said corner connector, said receptacle for said table plate is mounted.

5. A table according to claim 1, with the feature that said table leg is formed from a hollow section, wherein said hollow section is formed from an interior pipe surrounded by an exterior pipe, and wherein said exterior pipe has a slot.

6. A table according to claim 1, with the feature that a plurality of individual cable duct elements are hung into said slot of said frame sections such that a first cable duct is formed, wherein said cable duct elements are built from a U-section or a double U-section, wherein said U-sections have a floor surface formed in such a way that a second cable duct element is joined on to said first cable duct element via a releasable snap connection, and wherein a substantially vertical section is formed at an upper end of said snap connection in such a way that said snap connection can interlock with said slot of said frame section.

7. A table comprising:

a frame

which is constructed from a plurality of interconnected frame sections, wherein said interconnected frame sections form at least one receptacle for a table plate, wherein said frame sections have a slot which extends substantially parallel to a plane of said table plate throughout substantially the whole length of said frame section;

at least three table legs, wherein said table legs have an upper end which is predisposed for mounting at freely chooseable locations about said frame sections; and

an adapter with at least one reception opening for at least one of said table legs, said table plate, and a desk accessory,

wherein two bores to the right and left of said reception opening extend basically vertically to said reception opening,

wherein two screws are guided through said two bores,

wherein on an end facing away from a head of each of said screws, a cotter is fastened,

wherein said cotter is sized in such a way that said cotter is latched in a slot of said frame sections, and

wherein said adapter may be fastened releasably at freely choosable locations of said frame sections.

8. A table according to claim 7, with the feature that said adapter has on a surface facing said frame, at least one lug, wherein the thickness of said lug basically corresponds to the height of said slot opening, and wherein after said adapter is fastened on said frame section, said lug protrudes into said slot.

9. A table according to claim 7, with the feature that said adapter has a placement surface which interlocks with said frame section from below.

10. A table according to claim 7, with the feature that said table plate has on a lower side of said table plate, at least one plug, wherein a first end of said plug has a thread for screwing said plug into said table plate, wherein a second end of said plug has a slot into which an elastic ring is mounted, and wherein said plug is screwed into said table plate in such a way, that when said table plate is laid onto said plug, said plug is in alignment with said reception opening of said frame, and engages with said reception opening when said elastic ring touches a ledge of said reception opening.

11. A table comprising:

a frame

which is constructed from a plurality of interconnected frame sections, wherein said interconnected frame sections form at least one receptacle for a table plate;

an adapter configured to mount at freely chooseable locations about said frame sections; and

at least three table legs, wherein an end of each of said table legs which faces said adapter tapers conically in the direction of a front surface of said table legs, wherein a reception opening of said adapter is likewise conically formed, and wherein said table leg is inserted into said adapter such that a surface of said end of said table legs conforms to a surface of said adapter when said table leg and said adapter are connected.

12. A table comprising:

a frame

which is constructed from a plurality of interconnected frame sections, wherein said interconnected frame sections form at least one receptacle for a table plate, wherein said frame sections have a slot which extends substantially parallel to a plane of said table plate throughout substantially the whole length of said frame section;

at least three table legs, wherein said table legs have an upper end which is predisposed for mounting at freely chooseable locations about said frame sections; and

an adapter for mounting on said frame sections has two bores, through which two screws are guided, which on one end have a cotter, such that said cotter interlocks with said slot opening of said frame, wherein said adapter has an arm facing away from said frame, and wherein said arm has a receptacle which can engage a plug with an elastic ring mounted on a furniture element.

13. A table comprising:

a frame

which is constructed from a plurality of interconnected frame sections, wherein said interconnected frame sections form at least one receptacle for a table plate;

at least three table legs, wherein said table legs have an upper end which is predisposed for mounting at freely chooseable locations about said frame sections; and

a connector, wherein said connector are attached to said frame such that a first table may be releasably connected with at least one of a second table and a table element,

wherein said connector is formed as a double U-section with at least three vertically standing studs,

wherein said vertically standing studs are positioned opposite to a vertical side of said frame section,

wherein said connector has a floor plate which interlocks from below said frame sections which are connected,

wherein a plurality of screws corresponding to the number of said external studs are inserted into said exterior studs, and

wherein after said connector is fastened to said frame, said connector presses onto a pressure contact surface in an interior of said frame sections.

14. A table according to claim 13, with the feature that said connector has floor sections from which said at least three studs extend vertically upwards, wherein a middle stud is formed large enough such that two frames may be positioned at a defined mutual distance, and wherein said middle stud has a reception opening in which a desk accessory is accommodated.

15. A table comprising:

a frame

which is constructed from a plurality of interconnected frame sections, wherein said interconnected frame sections form at least one receptacle for a table plate;

at least three table legs, wherein said table legs have an upper end which is predisposed for mounting at freely chooseable locations about said frame sections; and

a carrier for a computer monitor,

wherein said carrier is adjustably mounted on said frame by means of letting a pair of angles formed from said frame sections be attached to said frame at a mutual distance,

wherein a first leg of said pair of angles extends vertically upwards and a second leg of said pair of angles extends substantially parallel to said plane of said table plate, and displaced in parallel downwards, away from said table plate to the outside of said frame,

wherein between said second horizontal legs, a supporting plate is attached,

wherein a mobile carriage rolls along said support plate, and

wherein said mobile carriage is mounted on a guide rail attached between said first pair of legs.

16. A table frame comprising:

a plurality of interconnected frame sections, with each of said frame sections having at least one slot opening formed therein, wherein said at least one slot opening extends throughout the length of said frame sections, and wherein said slot opening is located on a surface of said frame sections substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by said table frame;

a means for attaching table legs and accessories at freely choosable locations about said frame sections; and

a plurality of corner connectors, wherein said corner connectors have at least one receptacle for a table plate, wherein said corner connectors are fitted into said frame sections to form said table frame, and wherein each of said corner connectors has two pairs of tongues configured to conform to corresponding cavities formed in said frame sections, wherein said cavities extend into said frame sections substantially parallel to said plane, and wherein said pairs of tongues are connected by a plate which is substantially perpendicular to said plane.

17. A table arrangement comprising:

a plurality of frame sections, each containing at least one slot opening, wherein said at least one slot opening extends throughout the length of said frame section, and wherein said slot opening is located on a surface of said frame section substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by said table frame sections;

an adapter configured to attach an accessory to said frame sections, said adapter comprising;

a reception opening formed therein;

two bores formed therein such that said reception opening is located between said two bores, said two bores extending substantially parallel to said reception opening;

two fasteners guided through said bores, each of said fasteners having a head located at a first end and a cotter located at a second end opposite said first end, said cotter being sized to seat within said slot opening; and

a plurality of corner connectors, each having a means for connecting said frame sections together.