Articulating table

• US 6,588,346 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nucraft Furniture Company
• Original Assignee: Nucraft Furniture Company
• Inventors: Bockheim, Robert J, Schacht, Bill F, Chesser, Lynda E, Corbat, Scott G, Pike, Chris A, Brenner, Peggy M, Schad, Tim O, Ensing, Kent L
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/571,524
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.02, 108/59, 108/64, 108/69, 108/83, 108/85, 108/88, 108/89, 108/66, 108/87, 248/188, 248/6, 248/166
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 17/065 Pivotally mounted auxiliary tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

An articulating table comprises a pedestal, a pivot, and a table top having first and second top portions. The top portions are connected with the pedestal by the pivot for horizontal pivotal movement between open and closed positions relative to each other. The top portions are substantially juxtaposed in the closed position and are separated in a V-shape in the open position. A light supporting spine extends between the top portions. Conduit channels mounted at inner edges of the top portions provide electrical, optical, pneumatic, or hydraulic service to terminals positioned along the inner edges of the top portions. The channels can have openable top and rear access covers. A conduit channel also can extend through at least a portion of the spine. Fixed position table tops can be positioned on the pedestal at either or both ends of the articulating top portions.

Claims

1. An articulating table comprising:

a pedestal;

a table top, the table top having first and second top portions forming opposite sides of the table top, the first and second top portions being operatively connected at one end with the pedestal;

a pivot interposed between the pedestal and at least the first top portion, whereby the first top portion pivots horizontally between open and closed positions relative to the second top portion, the first and second top portions being substantially juxtaposed in the closed position, the first and second top portions being separated in a general V-shape in the open position.

2. The articulating table defined in claim 1 further including a spine connected with the pedestal and extending generally between the first and second top portions.

3. The articulating table defined in claim 2 further including a conduit that extends through at least a portion of the spine, to a terminal end, and including a connector at the terminal end, the conduit and connector providing a connection at the spine, the connection being selected from the group consisting of electrical, optical, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections.

4. The articulating table defined in claim 1 further including a conduit that extends to a terminal end, and including a connector at the terminal end, the conduit and connector providing a connection on the articulating table, the connection being selected from the group consisting of electrical, optical, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections.

5. The articulating table defined in claim 4 further including a conduit that extends to a terminal end, and including a connector at the terminal end, the connector being attached to at least one of the first and second top portions, the conduit and connector providing a connection, the connection being selected from the group consisting of electrical, optical, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections.

6. The articulating table defined in claim 1, wherein the pedestal is a first pedestal and the articulating table further includes a second pedestal connected with the first pedestal.

7. The articulating table defined in claim 6, wherein the second pedestal further includes a second table top.

13. The articulating table defined in claim 1 wherein the pedestal comprises at least two floor engaging supports spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the table, with one support being positioned adjacent each end of the table, the top portions extending between the supports and having proximal ends attached adjacent each other to a support, with at least one of the attachments being pivotal by means of the pivot.

14. The articulating table defined in claim 13 wherein each support extends in a lateral direction of the table, with the support at the proximal end including a pair of laterally spaced pivot posts extending upwardly therefrom, the proximal ends of the top portions including sleeves that fit over the posts for pivotal movement thereon, the pivot posts and sleeves comprising the pivots interconnecting the top portions and the pedestal.

15. The articulating table defined in claim 14 wherein an end table top is mounted on the support at the proximal end above the level of the top portions.

16. The articulating table defined in claim 1 wherein conduit channels are positioned at opposed inner sides of the top portions so as to move inwardly and outwardly with the top portions as they pivot relative to one another between the open and closed positions, the conduit channels including one or more of power and communication user terminals at one or more seating locations along outer sides of the table top, with one or more of power and communications wiring extending along the conduit channels to the user terminals, the terminals being easily accessible from the seating positions regardless whether the top portions are in their open or closed positions.

17. The articulating table defined in claim 1 wherein an end table top is mounted on the pedestal at at least one end of the table, the end table top being constructed and positioned such that the end table top does not obstruct movement of the top portions between the open and closed positions.

18. The articulating table defined in claim 17 wherein the table includes end table tops at both ends of the table.

19. The articulating table defined in claim 1 wherein the table top portions are mounted on elongated support frames pivotally attached to the pedestal at inner ends and attached to ground engaging supports at positions spaced outwardly from the inner ends.

20. The articulating table defined in claim 1 wherein at least the proximal ends of the top sections attached to the pedestal are supported by the pedestal.

21. The articulating table defined in claim 20 wherein distal ends of the top portions opposite the proximal portions are supported by movable floor engaging supports that permit inward and outward relative pivotal movement of the distal ends of the top portions between the open and closed positions.

8. An articulating table comprising:

a pedestal;

first and second swing frames having proximal and distal ends, the proximal ends of the swing frames being adjacent each other and being connected with the pedestal for pivotal movement of the swing frames in a generally horizontal plane;

a table top, the table top having first and second elongated top portions, the first top portion being connected with the first swing frame and the second top portion being connected with the second swing frame, such that the first and second top portions swing between open and closed positions relative to one another and to the pedestal when the swing frames are pivoted outwardly and inwardly with respect to each other, the top portions being substantially juxtaposed side by side when in their closed position and being separated in a V-shape when in their open position.

9. The articulating table defined in claim 8 further including a spine connected with the pedestal and extending generally between the first and second top portions.

10. The articulating table defined in claim 9 further including a conduit that extends through at least a portion of the spine, to a terminal end, and including a connector at the terminal end, the conduit and connector providing a connection at the spine, the connection being selected from the group consisting of electrical, optical, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections.

11. The articulating table defined in claim 8 further including a conduit that extends to a terminal end, and including a connector at the terminal end, the conduit and connector providing a the articulating table, the connection being selected from the group consisting of electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections.

12. The articulating table defined in claim 11 further including a channel for supporting conduit attached to at an inner side of at least one of the first and second top portions, the connector being positioned in the channel and being accessible from an outer side of the table.

22. An articulating table comprising:

a pedestal;

an elongated table top having outer sides and proximal and distal ends, the table top including first and second top portions, each top portion forming a side of the table, the top portions having opposed inner sides; and

mounting means for attaching the proximal ends of the top portions to the pedestal for horizontal angular movement of the top portions with respect to each other between a closed position, wherein the top portions are substantially parallel, and an open position, wherein the top portions are oriented in a generally V-shaped configuration, with the distal ends of the top portions being separated by a greater distance than the proximal ends.

23. The articulating table defined in claim 22 wherein the pedestal extends between the ends of the table and includes support members at the ends of the table, the table including a spine mounted on the support members and extending along the table between the inner sides of the top portions, the spine supporting lighting fixtures and having a conduit for wiring therein.

24. The articulating table defined in claim 22 wherein the pedestal supports the proximal ends of the top portions, the distal ends of the top portions being supported by an independent support that is mounted in a supporting position below each top portion and is movable therewith.

25. The articulating table defined in claim 22 wherein a conduit channel is mounted at the inner side of at least one of the top portions, the channel having a wire receptacle below the level of the table top, the channel having a connector for power or communications wiring or both at one or more user locations along the table, the channels and connectors moving inwardly and outwardly along with the top portions so that the ease of user access is maintained when the top portions are moved to their open position.