Table configured for utilities, ganging and storage

• US 6,336,414 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Inventors: Stewart, Robert L., Friedman, Frank A., Yurchenco, James R., Webster, David M., Deimen, Michael L., Papadopoulos, Annetta M., Chan-Lizardo, Kristine R., Rodriguez, Diego A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fisher, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,707
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 108/2, 108/6, 108/7, 108/50.02, 108/50.01, 108/64, 108/65, 108/91, 108/179, 108/176, 108/128, 108/115, 108/136, 108/90, 108/27, 248/345.1, 312/223.6, 524/68, 524/69, 524/71, 527/961.2, 527/971, 527/180.4, 527/180.2
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/083 Rims for table tops
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2021/066 with power or communication connection interface
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0013 Desks with central bearing beams
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/12 Vanity or modesty panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0815 the resilient force of the elastic locking means acting in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/0918 the struts being permanently connected by pivots to the legs only
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 7/02 Stackable tables; Nesting tables

Abstract

A table construction includes a base having a pair of legs secured together by a transverse beam, and a tabletop pivoted to a top of the legs for movement between a horizontal use position and a vertical storage position. A pair of support arms are pivoted to the top of the legs for selectively holding the tabletop in the horizontal use position. The support arms are spring-biased and pivoted at an angle so that they counterbalance a weight of the tabletop during its pivotal movement. Ganging connectors on opposite ends of the tabletop automatically interconnect adjacent tables upon pushing adjacent tables together. The legs each include first and second castings that bolt together and that are arranged to matably nest when tables are moved together for storage. A utility raceway structure attached to the base includes a frame that defines upper and lower chambers and further includes upper and lower lockable doors providing separate access to the upper and lower chambers, respectively. A utility outlet is releasably attached to the frame, and includes a face accessible in the first chamber and includes a utility supply connector accessible from below the upper transverse beam. A utility supply conduit is positioned in the second chamber and operably connected to the utility supply connector.

Claims

1. A table construction comprising:

a base;

a tabletop pivoted to the base for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position; and

at least one support arm pivoted to the base for movement about a second axis between a tabletop-braced position where the tabletop is held in the horizontal use position and a released position where the tabletop is released for movement to the storage position, the at least one arm being biased and pivoted to slidably engage the tabletop and counterbalance a weight of the tabletop as the tabletop is pivoted between the use and storage positions.

2. The table construction defined in claim 1, wherein the first axis bisects the tabletop in an offset location so that the weight of the tabletop biases the tabletop toward the storage position.

3. The table construction defined in claim 2, wherein the second axis is at an acute angle to a plumbed vertical direction.

4. The table construction defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one support arm includes two support arms.

5. The table construction defined in claim 4, wherein the support arms are each pivoted at a location below but proximate the first axis.

6. The table construction defined in claim 5, wherein the support arms are located generally below the first axis when in the released position, but extend laterally away from the location below the first axis when in the tabletop-braced position.

7. The table construction defined in claim 1, including a utility module having a utility outlet supported on the base, and wherein the tabletop when pivoted to the storage position uncovers the utility module.

8. The table construction defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one support arm includes an end section that slidably engages a bottom surface of the tabletop.

9. The table construction defined in claim 8, including a latch attached to the tabletop, the latch being configured to releasably engage the end section.

10. The table construction defined in claim 9, wherein the latch is positionable in a first position for receiving the end section, a second position for engaging and holding the end section in a releasable but semi-secure manner, and a third position where the latch is locked and held in a secure manner that will not release when the latch is bumped.

11. The table construction defined in claim 1, including ganging connectors located at opposite ends of the tabletop, the ganging connectors being configured to releasably engage mating ganging connectors on adjacent tables.

12. The table construction defined in claim 1, including a utility module attached to the base and located below the tabletop when the tabletop is in the horizontal use position, but located generally adjacent the tabletop when the tabletop is in the storage position.

13. A table construction comprising:

a base;

a tabletop pivoted to the base for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position; and

the base including a pair of legs connected by a transverse beam, the pair of legs each including first and second leg members having joint sections that matingly engage and are secured together, the first leg member having a forward extension and the second leg member having a rearward extension, said forward extension being inboard of the rearward extension so that, when the tabletop is in the storage position, the forward extension is adapted to extend inboard of and adjacent a rearward extension of a similar table construction when nested thereagainst, wherein at least one of the first leg members comprises a casting with a pocket for mateably receiving and engaging the transverse beam.

14. The table construction defined in claim 13, wherein the first and second leg members each comprise a casting.

15. The table construction defined in claim 13, wherein a top of each leg includes a pivot mount pivotally engaging the tabletop.

16. The table construction defined in claim 15, wherein the top of each leg includes a stop for abutting the tabletop to stabilize the tabletop in the horizontal use position.

17. The table construction defined in claim 16, wherein the top of each leg includes a mount for mounting a ganging connector.

18. A table construction comprising:

a base;

a tabletop pivoted to the base for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position; and

the base including a pair of legs connected by a transverse beam, the pair of legs each including first and second leg members having joint sections that matingly engage and are secured together, the first leg member having a forward extension and the second leg member having a rearward extension, said forward extension being inboard of the rearward extension so that, when the tabletop is in the storage position, the forward extension is adapted to extend inboard of and adjacent a rearward extension of a similar table construction when nested thereagainst, wherein at least one of the second leg members includes a pocket and first holes that align with a protrusion and second holes in an associated one of the first leg members, and including fasteners extending through the first and second holes and securing the associated first and second leg members together.

19. A table construction comprising:

first and second tables each having a base and a tabletop supported on the associated base, the first table including a male connector at a first end and the second table including a female connector at a second end configured to releasably engage the male connector, the female connector defining a funnel-shaped chute with angled sidewalls shaped to receive the male connector and shaped to automatically align the first and second tables in a predetermined ganged arrangement when the first and second tables are moved together; and

a latch on the female connector configured to automatically grab and retain the male connector upon the male connector engaging the female connector.

20. The table construction defined in claim 19, wherein the male connector includes a depression, and the latch includes a protrusion that releasably engages the depression in the male connector.

21. The table construction defined in claim 19, wherein the tabletop of the first and second tables have abutting edges that are adjacent when the first and second tables are interconnected, at least one of the adjacent abutting edges having a resilient edging that compresses when the male and female connectors are engaged to place tension on the male and female connectors.

22. A table construction comprising:

first and second tables each having a base and a tabletop supported on the associated base, the first table including a male connector at a first end and the second table including a female connector at a second end configured to releasably engage the male connector, the female connector defining a funnel-shaped chute with angled sidewalls shaped to receive the male connector and shaped to automatically align the first and second tables in a predetermined ganged arrangement when the first and second tables are moved together, a latch having a protrusion shaped to engage the male connector and further including a finger-operated trigger release operably attached to the protrusion and positioned at a top of the base in an easily accessed location for releasing the male connector from the female connector.

23. A table construction comprising:

first and second tables each having a base and a tabletop supported on the associated base, the first table including a male connector at a first end and the second table including a female connector at a second end configured to releasably engage the male connector, the female connector defining a funnel-shaped chute with angled sidewalls shaped to receive the male connector and shaped to automatically align the first and second tables in a predetermined ganged arrangement when the first and second tables are moved together; and

wherein the chute has rectangular vertical cross section having a width at least about twice a width of the male connector.

24. A table construction comprising:

first and second tables each having a base with legs and a tabletop supported on the associated base, the first table including a male connector at a first end and the second table including a female connector at a second end configured to releasably engage the male connector, the male connector defining a nose surface shaped to matably engage the female connector and automatically align the first and second tables in a predetermined ganged arrangement as the first and second tables are moved together, the male connector being pivotally movable about a horizontal axis between a horizontal engagement position where the male connector extends from an associated one of the legs and a lowered storage position where the male connector is positioned adjacent the associated one leg.

25. The table construction defined in claim 24, wherein the nose surface includes a latching aperture, and wherein the female connector includes a latch for engaging the aperture.

26. The table construction defined in claim 24, wherein the base of the first table includes a selected one of the plurality of legs, and wherein the male connector is pivoted to the one leg.

27. The table construction defined in claim 24, including a latching lever pivotally connected to the female connector.

28. The table construction defined in claim 27, including a latch on one of the male and female connectors that includes a finger-operated trigger release.

29. The table construction defined in claim 24, wherein the female connectors each include a chute that defines a rectangular opening and that has a cone-shaped vertical cross section.

30. The table construction defined in claim 24, wherein an edge of the first tabletop has a resilient edging that compresses when the first and second tables are connected together and that creates tension on the male and female connectors.

31. A table construction comprising:

a base;

a tabletop supported to the base;

the base including a pair of legs connected by a transverse beam; and

a utility module attached to the base, the utility module defining upper and lower chambers and including upper and lower doors providing separate access to the upper and lower chambers, respectively; and

wherein the tabletop is pivoted to the base for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position, the tabletop uncovering the utility module when in the angled storage position.

32. The table construction defined in claim 31, wherein the upper and lower doors both extend a width of the base.

33. The table construction defined in claim 31, including third and fourth doors on a side of the utility module opposite the upper and lower doors.

34. A table construction comprising:

a base;

a tabletop supported to the base;

the base including a pair of legs connected by a transverse beam; and

a utility module attached to the base, the utility module defining upper and lower chambers and including upper and lower doors providing separate access to the upper and lower chambers, respectively; and

wherein the utility module is fastened to the base and rests on the transverse beam.

35. A table construction comprising:

a base;

a tabletop attached to the base; and

a utility module attached to the base, the utility module including a frame with upper and lower transverse beams defining a chamber therebetween;

a utility outlet attached to the upper beam, the utility outlet including a face accessible from above the upper transverse beam that is adapted for releasable connection to a utility-using device and including a utility supply connector accessible from below the upper transverse beam; and

a utility supply conduit positioned in the chamber and operably connected to the utility supply connector.

36. The table construction defined in claim 35, including a door attached to one of the upper and lower beams covering the chamber.

37. The table construction defined in claim 36, including an upper door attached to the utility module that is separate from the first-mentioned door.

38. The table construction defined in claim 36, including a second door attached to one of the upper and lower beams covering the chamber on a side opposite from the first-mentioned door.