Mobile connectable furniture, a connector therefor and method of connection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A connector for joining two pieces of furniture, at least one of which is mobile, comprising:
- two connector elements, one adapted for affixation to each of the pieces of furniture, one connector element having an arcuate surface with a plurality of laterally spaced connection points, and the other connector element having a connection point to mate with a selected connection point of said plurality of laterally spaced connection points of said one connector element;
at least one or the other connector element adapted for rotatable affixation to one of said pieces of furniture.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tables and other mobile furniture used in seminars and training classes are joined by ring connector elements mounted for rotation on each item of furniture. Male and female dovetail connection points on the periphery of each ring are engaged to connect items of furniture.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A connector for joining two pieces of furniture, at least one of which is mobile, comprising:
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two connector elements, one adapted for affixation to each of the pieces of furniture, one connector element having an arcuate surface with a plurality of laterally spaced connection points, and the other connector element having a connection point to mate with a selected connection point of said plurality of laterally spaced connection points of said one connector element;
at least one or the other connector element adapted for rotatable affixation to one of said pieces of furniture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
the connector element ring of claim 5; and
a cylindrical mount adapted to be secured to the underside of said furniture surface, inside the ring for rotation of the ring on the mount.
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10. A piece of mobile connectable furniture having a periphery;
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one of the connector elements of claim 1 affixed to said piece of furniture substantially at the periphery of the piece of furniture, to mate with the other connector element.
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11. The piece of mobile connectable furniture of claim 10 wherein said one connector element is a ring with alternate male and female connection points on the ring periphery and affixed to the piece of furniture for rotation about the ring axis.
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12. The piece of mobile connectable furniture of claim 11 wherein the piece of furniture is a table with plural corners having a rotatable ring connector at each corner.
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13. The piece of mobile connectable furniture of claim 11 in which said furniture is an upright divider panel with vertical frame members and a ring connector rotatable on one of said vertical frame members.
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14. A connector element for mobile furniture, comprising:
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a mount for securing the connector element to said mobile furniture, said mount defining an axis of motion; and
a member slidably affixed to said mount for movement along said axis of motion with respect to said mount, said member having a surface with alternate male and female connection points. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. The method of connecting two pieces of furniture, at least one of which is mobile, comprising:
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affixing to each piece of furniture a connector element, one connector element having a surface with a plurality of laterally spaced connection points and the other connector element having a connection point to mate with one of said plurality of laterally spaced connection points of said one element; and
engaging connection points of the connector elements to connect the two pieces of furniture by moving said one element relative to the piece of furniture to which said one element is attached, or by moving said other element relative to the piece of furniture to which said other element is attached. - View Dependent Claims (21)
engaging one said male dovetail connection point of one ring with one said female dovetail connection point of the other ring by vertical movement of one of the rings.
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22. A piece of mobile connectable furniture comprising:
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a table having a periphery defining plural corners; and
a connector affixed substantially at each corner, said connector including a ring shaped connector element affixed for rotation about the ring axis and having an arcuate surface with a plurality of laterally spaced male and female shaped connection points configured for mating respectively with a selected complementary female or male connection point of another such connector on another piece of mobile connectable furniture.
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23. A piece of mobile connectable furniture comprising:
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an upright divider panel having a periphery and a vertical frame member substantially along the periphery; and
a connector including a ring shaped connector element rotatably affixed to the vertical member for rotation about the vertical member and having an arcuate surface with a plurality of laterally spaced male and female shaped connection points configured for mating respectively with a selected complementary female or male connection point of another such connector on another piece of mobile connectable furniture.
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24. A connector for mobile furniture which has a horizontal planar surface with an underside, said connector comprising:
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a ring shaped connector element having an arcuate surface with a plurality of laterally spaced male and female shaped connection points configured for mating respectively with a selected complementary female or male connection point on another such connector; and
a cylindrical mount to be secured to the underside of said furniture surface, inside the ring for rotation of the ring on the mount. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification