Work table

• US 6,397,762 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berco Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Berco Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: DiPalm, Vincent M., Aziz, Imraan, Goldberg, Neil J., Baum, Elliott W., Chirea, Lucian N., Berkowitz, Richard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/591,004
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.02, 108/50.01, 108/64, 312/223.6, 403/374.1, 403/374.5, 403/409.1, 403/110
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• 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 2200/0027 Desks with I-shaped leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A table with cable trough adapted to be joined to one or more additional tables in generally end-to-end relation. The cable trough is movable between open and closed position at the rear of the table. An opening is provided in the table top such that when the trough is closed, cable receptacles are accessible through the opening for connecting equipment that is used on the table top. The rear comers of the table top are notched to provide space for a connector that will releasably retain adjacent tables in generally end-to-end relation.

Claims

1. A table for supporting electrically powered equipment for use by persons seated at the table, said table comprising:

a table top having front and rear edges, opposite end edges and having a top surface and an underside;

a support holding said table top in spaced relation above a floor; and

a cable trough with an elongate open top providing access to an interior of the trough, said trough being mounted for movement relative to the table top between a closed position in which the open top is disposed adjacent to the underside of the table top so that said open top is substantially covered by the table top and an open position in which the open top is spaced further away from the underside of the table top so that the open top is at least partially uncovered from the table top and said interior is accessible through said open top, said open top having the same dimensions in the open position and the closed position.

5. A table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the trough is disposed in the open position for access to the interior through the open top from a location adjacent to the rear edge of the table top.

6. A table as set forth in claim 5 wherein said trough is pivotally mounted on the table for movement between its open and closed positions.

7. A table as set forth in claim 6 wherein the open top of the trough faces generally rearwardly when in the open position and generally upwardly in the closed position.

8. A table as set forth in claim 7 wherein said trough is mounted on the underside of the table top.

36. A table as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cable trough is mounted for translational and pivoting motion relative to the table top.

37. A table as set forth in claim 36 wherein the cable trough is mounted for movement from the closed position to the open position so that the cable trough moves first translationally and then pivotally.

38. A table as set forth in claim 36 further comprising rails mounted at spaced apart locations on the table top, and wherein the cable trough comprises pins slidably engageable with the rails for translational movement of the cable trough relative to the table top.

39. A table as set forth in claim 38 wherein at least some of the pins are free of engagement with the rails in the open position of the cable trough.

2. A table for supporting electrically powered equipment for use by persons seated at the table, said table comprising:

a table top having front and rear edges, opposite end edges and having a top surface and an underside;

a support for holding said table top in spaced relation above a floor; and

a cable trough with an elongate open top providing access to an interior of the trough said trough being mounted for movement relative to the table top between a closed position and an open position in which the open top is accessible through said open top;

an opening through said table top and communicating with the interior providing access thereto when said trough is in its closed position, said table top inhibiting access to the remainder of the interior through the open top when said trough is in its closed position; and

a receptacle connected to a cable, said receptacle being mounted in said trough and being in registry with said opening in the table top when the trough is in its closed position and said receptacle and cable being accessible when said trough is in its open position.

3. A table as set forth in claim 2 wherein said opening in the table top is positioned rearward of a longitudinal centerline of said top.

4. A table as set forth in claim 3 further including a grommet mounted in said opening in the table top and substantially closing said opening, said grommet having an opening therethrough for the passage of at least one cable through the grommet and the opening in the table top.

9. A table for supporting electrically powered equipment for use by persons seated at the table, said table comprising:

a table top having front and rear edges, opposite end edges and having a top surface and an underside;

a pedestal positioned adjacent each end edge between the front and rear edges, said pedestals being in supporting relation to said table top; and

a cable trough with an elongate open top providing access to an interior of the trough said trough being mounted for movement relative to the table top between a closed position and an open position in which the open top is accessible through said open top;

the trough having at least one open end for passage of cable, one of said pedestals being adjacent the open end and having an upper portion with a passage extending between opposite sides thereof, said upper portion passage being generally in line with said open end when the trough is in its closed position.

10. A table as set forth in claim 9 wherein the trough further comprises another open end and wherein the other said pedestal upper portion has a passage therein generally in line with the other said open end when the trough is in its closed position.

11. A table as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pedestals each include a base connected to a spider by a riser, said riser having an interior passage for cable to pass through.

12. A table as set forth in claim 11 wherein said riser comprises a channel member with a longitudinal open side and a longitudinal interior passage with the open side providing access to the riser interior passage, said riser interior passage being a portion of said pedestal passage, said riser further comprising an elongate panel releasably mounted on said channel member to selectively substantially close said channel member open side.

13. A table as set forth in claim 11 wherein said spider has an opening communicating with the riser interior passage for cable to extend through into the riser interior passage with said opening being part of the pedestal passage, said spider further including a rear arm portion and a shroud with an upper portion passage being between a portion of said shroud and a portion of said rear arm and communicating with the spider opening.

14. A table as set forth in claim 11 in combination with a connector to connect a plurality of tables generally in end-to-end relation.

15. A table as set forth in claim 10 wherein the interior of the trough and the upper portion passage form a generally continuous cable passage when the trough is in the closed position, said cable passage extending substantially the entire length of the table top between the opposite end edges.

16. A table as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pedestals are each attached to the table top at a respective end edge of the table top with the trough extending therebetween, and further including a reinforcing member secured to the underside of the table top and extending between the pedestals to reduce deflection of the table top when loaded.

17. A table as set forth in claim 16 wherein said reinforcing member includes a plurality of longitudinally extending and generally vertical ribs extending upwardly from a web, at least some of said ribs having a free top edge engaging the underside of the table top and further including fasteners securing the reinforcing member to the table top.

18. A table system including a table adapted for being selectively joined to at least one other table at a selected angular relationship, said table comprising:

a table top for each table, each table top having front and rear edges, opposite end edges, a top surface and an underside, said table top having an intermediate edge portion extending between each end edge and one of the front and rear edges at an angle to the end edge, front edge and rear edge, the intermediate edge portions of adjacent joined tables defining a notch, said intermediate edges are generally straight;

a first connector element associated with said table top at at least one intermediate edge of each table;

a second connector element adapted to interengage with the first connector elements of adjacent tables to releasably join two table tops together adjacent one of the end edges of each top at a preselected angular relationship, said first connector element having at least one of a latch element and a receiver for receiving at least one latch element, and said second connector element including a bridge and at least one of the other of the latch element and the receiver, said latch element and said receiver extending generally vertically when the first and second connector elements are connected, said second connector element being generally wedge shaped with two side edges that are generally straight and positioned relative to one another with an included angle therebetween generally equal to the included angle between the intermediate edge portions of adjacent tables to be joined to each other, said side edges and intermediate edges cooperating to fix the angle between two joined tables.

19. A table system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the second connector element has side edge portions each positioned adjacent a respective one of the intermediate edge portions to fix the angle of adjacent tables relative to one another.

20. A table system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first connector element includes the receiver located outboard of the intermediate edge, the receiver comprising a receiver element and said second connector element includes the latch element comprising a pair of depending latch elements each receivable in a respective one of said receiver elements.

21. A table system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said second connector element includes a retainer sized and arranged to releasably retain a respective one of said latch elements in the corresponding receiver element.

22. A table system including a table adapted for being selectively joined to at least one other table at a selected angular relationship, said table comprising:

a table top for each table, each table top having front and rear edges, opposite end edges, a top surface and an underside, said table top having an intermediate edge portion extending between each end edge and one of the front and rear edges at an angle to the end edge, front edge and rear edge, the intermediate edge portions of adjacent joined tables defining a notch;

a first connector element associated with said table top at at least one intermediate edge of each table;

a second connector element adapted to interengage with the first connector elements of adjacent tables to releasably join two table tops together adjacent one of the end edges of each top at a preselected angular relationship;

said first connector element having at least one of a latch element and a receiver for receiving at least one latch element and said second connector element including a bridge and at least one of the other of the latch element and the receiver, said latch element and said receiver extending generally vertically when the first and second connector elements are connected;

said first connector element including the receiver located outboard of the intermediate edge, the receiver comprising a receiver element and said second connector element includes the latch element comprising a pair of depending latch elements each receivable in a respective one of said receiver elements;

said second connector element including a retainer sized and arranged to releasably retain a respective one of said latch elements in the corresponding receiver element;

each receiver element defined on an outboard side thereof by a wall with an inward facing surface, each latch element having a mating surface facing oppositely of the inward facing surface and engageable therewith.

23. A table system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said inward facing surface of each receiver element is concave with respect to the adjacent intermediate edge of the table top.

24. A table system including a table adapted for being selectively joined to at least one other table at a selected angular relationship, said table comprising:

a table top for each table, each table top having front and rear edges, opposite end edges, a top surface and an underside, said table top having an intermediate edge portion extending between each end edge and one of the front and rear edges at an angle to the end edge, front edge and rear edge, the intermediate edge portions of adjacent joined tables defining a notch;

a first connector element associated with said table top at at least one intermediate edge of each table;

a second connector element adapted to interengage with the first connector elements of adjacent tables to releasably join two table tops together adjacent one of the end edges of each top at a preselected angular relationship;

said first connector element having at least one of a latch element and a receiver for receiving at least one latch element and said second connector element including a bridge and at least one of the other of the latch element and the receiver, said latch element and said receiver extending generally vertically when the first and second connector elements are connected;

said first connector element including the receiver located outboard of the intermediate edge, the receiver comprising a receiver element and said second connector element includes the latch element comprising a pair of depending latch elements each receivable in a respective one of said receiver elements;

said second connector element including a retainer sized and arranged to releasably retain a respective one of said latch elements in the corresponding receiver element;

said second connector element further comprising a device rotatably mounted on said bridge and accessible from the top of the bridge and associated with the retainer whereby rotation of said device effects rotation of said retainer for releasably securing said second connector to at least one said receiver.

25. A connector for use in joining tables in end-to-end relation comprising:

brackets each adapted to be secured to a respective one of the tables adjacent a corner thereof;

a bridge adapted to extend between and releasably join said brackets together, and wherein said brackets each having at least one of a receiver and a latch element with a generally vertical axis, and said bridge having at least one of the other of the receiver or latch element with a generally vertical axis, said at least one of the latch element and receiver of the bracket being receivable in said at least one of the other of the latch element and receiver in the bridge, said bridge comprising a plate including at least a pair of latch elements depending from the plate and each of the brackets includes at least one receiver, each receiver being adapted to receive a respective latch element therein to resist horizontal movement therebetween, wherein each latch element includes an inboard surface with a downwardly and outwardly tapered portion and each receiver has a receiver element having a first surface with a downwardly and inwardly tapered portion engageable with a tapered surface of a respective latch element; and

at least one lock element cooperating with the brackets and the bridge to releasably retain said bridge connected to said brackets.

26. A connector as set forth in claim 25 wherein said bridge and brackets have surfaces that engage to fix end-to-end tables at a predetermined angle relative to one another.

27. A connector as set forth in claim 26 wherein said latch elements each have an outboard surface and said brackets each have an outwardly facing surface engageable with a respective latch element outboard surface to fix said tables at the predetermined angle.

28. A connector as set forth in claim 25 wherein said inboard surface and first surface are generally arcuate with said inboard surfaces of the latch elements being convex and said first surfaces of the receiver elements being concave.

29. A connector as set forth in claim 25 in combination with one of the tables.

30. A connector for use in joining tables in end-to-end relation comprising:

brackets each adapted to be secured to a respective one of the tables adjacent a corner thereof;

a bridge adapted to extend between and releasably join said brackets together, and wherein said brackets each having at least one of a receiver and a latch element with a generally vertical axis, and said bridge having at least one of the other of the receiver or latch element with a generally vertical axis, said at least one of the latch element and receiver of the bracket being receivable in said at least one of the other of the latch element and receiver in the bridge; and

at least one lock element cooperating with the brackets and the bridge to releasably retain said bridge connected to said brackets;

said bridge comprising a plate including at least a pair of latch elements depending from the plate and each of the brackets includes at least one receiver, each receiver being adapted to receive a respective latch element therein to resist horizontal movement therebetween;

said lock element including a clamp plate removably secured to each of the latch elements wherein a portion of each receiver is clamped between the bridge and a respective clamp plate.

31. A connector for use in joining tables in end-to-end relation comprising:

brackets each adapted to be secured to a respective one of the tables adjacent a corner thereof;

a bridge adapted to extend between and releasably join said brackets together, and wherein said brackets each having at least one of a receiver and a latch element with a generally vertical axis, and said bridge having at least one of the other of the receiver or latch element with a generally vertical axis, said at least one of the latch element and receiver of the bracket being receivable in said at least one of the other of the latch element and receiver in the bridge; and

at least one lock element cooperating with the brackets and the bridge to releasably retain said bridge connected to said brackets;

said bridge comprising a plate including at least a pair of latch elements depending from the plate and each of the brackets includes at least one receiver, each receiver being adapted to receive a respective latch element therein to resist horizontal movement therebetween;

said lock element including a clamp plate rotatably mounted on the bridge and adapted to engage a lower surface of each of the receivers to clamp a portion of each of the receivers between the clamp plate and the bridge.

32. A connector as set forth in claim 31 wherein said lock element includes a handle positioned on a top side of the bridge and said latch elements depend from a bottom side of the bridge.

33. A connector as set forth in claim 32 wherein the brackets each include a flange adapted to be secured to an underside of a table top of one of the tables.

34. A connector for use in joining tables in end-to-end relation comprising:

brackets each adapted to be secured to a respective one of the tables adjacent a corner thereof;

a bridge adapted to extend between and releasably join said brackets together, and wherein said brackets each having at least one of a receiver and a latch element with a generally vertical axis, and said bridge having at least one of the other of the receiver or latch element with a generally vertical axis, said at least one of the latch element and receiver of the bracket being receivable in said at least one of the other of the latch element and receiver in the bridge; and

at least one lock element cooperating with the brackets and the bridge to releasably retain said bridge connected to said brackets;

said bridge comprising a plate including at least a pair of latch elements depending from the plate and each of the brackets includes at least one receiver, each receiver being adapted to receive a respective latch element therein to resist horizontal movement therebetween, said bridge and brackets having surfaces that engage to fix end-to-end tables at a predetermined angle relative to one another;

said latch elements each having an outboard surface and said brackets each have an outwardly facing surface engageable with a respective latch element outboard surface to fix said tables at the predetermined angle;

said bridge being generally wedge shaped with two side edges with the outboard surface of each latch element being generally parallel with a respective side edge.

35. A connector as set forth in claim 34 wherein each said side edge is vertically above and in line with a respective outboard surface.