Multi-purpose table with electrical features

• US 7,997,212 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Henriott, Jay M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne; Darnell M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALLEGO, ANDRES F
• Application Number:
  US11/754,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/6, 108/7, 108/115, 312/223.6, 312/223.3, 248/900, 248/906
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/00 Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables

Abstract

A multi-purpose table including a channel forming a portion of, or attached to, a horizontal support bar of the table. The channel includes at least one trough for managing cables and cords associated with electrical and communication outlets. The electrical and communication outlets may be provided in the channel. The outlets remain available to a user of the table when a work surface of the table is positioned in either a horizontal or a vertical position.

Claims

1. A table, comprising:

a pair of spaced upright supports;

a work surface;

a pair of spaced rotation mechanisms positioned beneath said work surface at respective upper ends of said spaced upright supports, said work surface pivotable via said rotation mechanisms about a horizontal pivot axis between a horizontal position and a vertical position;

a channel disposed beneath said work surface when said work surface is in said horizontal position, said channel disposed between said rotation mechanisms, said channel including an upper horizontal flange, a vertical flange, and a lower horizontal flange, said flanges monolithically formed with one another, said flanges together defining at least one laterally facing opening and at least one trough, said channel remaining stationary during pivoting of said work surface between said horizontal position and said vertical position, said channel further comprising a structural beam disposed beneath said work surface, said channel disposed below and monolithically formed with said structural beam, further wherein said structural beam defines said horizontal pivot axis; and

at least one electrical component removably mounted within said channel, said trough receiving said electrical component and said laterally facing opening providing access to said electrical component.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein said upper horizontal flange includes first and second downwardly extending flanges defining a first guidance channel extending along said channel and said lower horizontal flange includes first and second upwardly extending flanges defining a second guidance channel extending along said channel, said electrical component comprising an electrical harness assembly separate from said channel and including an upper portion and a lower portion, said first guidance channel sized to receive said upper portion, said second guidance channel sized to receive said lower portion, said upper portion slidably received along said first guidance channel and said lower portion slidably received along said second guidance channel.

3. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said electrical component is snap-fittingly engaged within said channel.

4. The table of claim 1, wherein said electrical component is positioned substantially within said trough and extending at least partially through said opening.

5. The article of furniture of claim 1, further comprising a communication component, said communication component removably attached to said table.

6. The article of furniture of claim 5, wherein said channel defines said at least one trough as a first trough and a second trough, said electrical component positioned substantially within said first trough and said communication component positioned substantially within said second trough.

7. The article of furniture of claim 5, wherein said channel defines at least one trough, said electrical component and said communication component positioned substantially within said trough.

8. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein said channel includes at least one cutout portion for receiving said electrical component.

9. The table of claim 1, wherein said electrical component comprises a hard-wired electrical module.