Table construction

• US 8,146,514 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamilton, John, Heidman, Kurt, Beukema, Steven James, Grandin, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US12/128,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/23, 108/153.1, 312/223.3, 312/223.6, 312/223.1, 312/195, 312/206, 312/257.1, 312/265.1, 312/265.2
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/06 of metal A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0013 Desks with central bearing beams

Abstract

A table has two end legs arranged in a parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship for support on a floor surface. Two side rails are arranged in a parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, and are connected with upper portions of the end legs to retain them in an upright orientation, defining a self-supported table frame without intermediate bracing between the side rails, with a central, vertically extending widow. Top support members are connected with the side rails and protrude outwardly therefrom in a cantilevered fashion. A top member is supported on and connected with the table frame and the top support members, defining a plurality of workstations. A utility module configured to route utilities is positioned within the window of the frame, with opposite sides abuttingly supported on the side rails to removably mount the utility module on the frame and thereby accommodate different utility requirements at the workstations.

Claims

1. A table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second end leg members disposed in a generally parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

first and second side rail members disposed in a generally parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, and having opposite end portions thereof operably connected with upper portions of said first and second end leg members to rigidly retain said first and second end leg members in said generally upright orientation, and thereby define a rigid, self-supported table frame without intermediate bracing between first and second side rail members, with a central, vertically extending window, wherein said first and second side rail members include along outer portions thereof a first, upwardly opening channel extending along a top portion thereof and a second, downwardly opening channel extending along a bottom portion thereof;

a plurality of top support members operably connected with said first and second side rail members, and protruding outwardly therefrom in a cantilevered fashion, wherein said top support members include first and second tabs received and retained in said first and second channels on said first and second side rail members;

a top member supported on and operably connected with at least one of said table frame and said top support members to define a plurality of workstations along said table; and

a utility module member configured to facilitate routing utilities to said workstations, positioned within said window of said frame and having opposite sides thereof abuttingly supported on said first and second side rail members to removably mount said utility module member on said frame and thereby accommodate a variety of different utility requirements at said workstations.

2. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said utility module member includes at least one trough member spanning between inside portions of said first and second side rail members, and including a raceway extending longitudinally therealong.

3. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second side rail members include inwardly protruding ledges extending along inside portions thereof which abuttingly and removably support thereon said side portions of said trough member.

4. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trough member includes at least one upwardly opening channel configured to detachably mount a variety of accessories therein to personalize said workstations.

5. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said top member includes a plurality of panels with interior edge portions disposed along said window in said frame.

6. A table as set forth in claim 1, including:

at least one removable fastener connected with said trough member and positively, yet detachably, retaining said trough member in position on first and second side rail members.

7. A table as set forth in claim 1, including:

at least one power module received and retained in said trough member.

8. A table as set forth in claim 1, including:

at least one communications module received and retained in said trough member.

9. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said top support member is connected with and extend outwardly from outside portions of said first and second side rail members.

10. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said top support members are detachably connected with outside portions of said first and second side rail members.

11. A table as set forth in claim 1, including:

a plurality of accessories having upper portions thereof configured to equip said workstations and lower portions thereof detachably mounted on said trough member.

12. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said trough member has a one-piece, hollow, box-like construction.

13. A table as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said window of said frame has an elongate plan configuration; and

said module member comprises a plurality of similarly shaped module members having different utility configurations and being detachably supported on said first and second side rail members in an end-to-end relationship to facilitate readily rearranging said utility module members on said table to accommodate a variety of different utility requirements at said workstations.

14. A table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second end leg members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface;

first and second side rail members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship, and having opposite end portions thereof operably connected with said first and second end leg members to define a table frame;

said first and second side rail members each including an inwardly protruding ledge extending along an inside portion thereof, wherein said first and second side rail members include along said outer portions thereof a first, upwardly opening channel extending along a top portion thereof and a second, downwardly opening channel extending along a bottom portion thereof; and

including;

a top member supported on and operably connected with said table frame;

a plurality of top support members having first and second tabs received and retained in said first and second channels on said first and second side rail members to detachably mount said top support member thereon; and

a trough member positioned between said first and second side rail members and having opposite sides thereof abuttingly supported on said inwardly protruding ledges of said first and second side rail members to removably support said trough member on said table to accommodate different users.

15. A table as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said trough member spans between said inside portion of said first and second side rail members, and is positively captured therebetween.

16. A table as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said ledges include angled flanges which extend downwardly and inwardly along said inside portion of said first and second rail members.

17. A table as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said trough member includes upstanding sidewalls with angled edge portions which wedgingly mate with said ledges of said first and second rail members to laterally capture said trough member in said window of said frame.

18. A table as set forth in claim 14, including:

a plurality of fasteners mounted in said trough member, and positioned to abuttingly engage an adjacent portion of said first and second side rail members to vertically capture said trough member in said window of said frame.

19. A table as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said trough member includes at least one upwardly opening channel configured to detachably mount a variety of accessories therein to personalize work areas along said top member.

20. A table as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said first and second side rail members have a generally hollow interior, and include at least one alignment channel extending along the interior portion thereof to facilitate attachment of said opposite end portions thereof to said first and second end leg members.

21. In a table of the type having first and second end leg members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship, and first and second side rail members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship with opposite end portions thereof operably connected with said first and second end leg members to define a rigid table frame supporting a top member thereon, the improvement of a modular leg assembly which defines at least one of said first and second end leg members, comprising:

first and second leg members each having an upper portion thereof and a lower portion thereof configured for abutting support on an associated floor surface;

an end rail member having opposite ends thereof operably connected with said first and second leg members to retain the same in a laterally spaced apart relationship; and

first and second top support arms having outer portions thereof configured to support said top member thereon, and inner portions thereof having three-way connector blocks with first connectors extending generally downwardly from said table frame and detachably connected with said upper portions of said first and second leg members, second connectors extending generally inwardly from said table frame and detachably connected with said opposite ends of said first and second side rail members and third connectors extending generally laterally in relation to said table frame at a predetermined angle to said first and second connectors and detachably connected with said opposite ends of said end rail.

22. A table as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

said first and second leg members have a substantially identical shape, size and construction, such that the same are interchangeable.

23. A table as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

said first and second leg members include an interior raceway extending longitudinally therealong to facilitate routing wires therethrough.

24. A table as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

said end rail member includes an interior raceway therein which communicates with said raceways in said first and second leg members.

25. A table as set forth in claim 21, including:

first and second spacers connected with said connector blocks, and including outwardly extending tabs which engage said opposite ends of said first and second side rail members to positively align the same with said first and second end leg members.

26. A table as set forth in claim 21, including:

at least one cover enclosing an exterior portion of an associated one of said connector blocks.

27. A table as set forth in claim 21, including:

at least one trough member supported on said first and second side rail members, and including a raceway extending longitudinally therealong.

28. A table as set forth in claim 21, including:

at least one power module disposed adjacent to said top member.

29. A table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second end leg members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface;

first and second side rail members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship and having opposite end portions thereof operably connected with said first and second end leg members to define a table frame;

said first and second side rail members each including an outwardly opening channel extending along a top portion thereof; and

a top member supported on said table, and having an inwardly protruding tab with respect to said table disposed along an interior edge thereof, and closely received in said channel to removably connect at least a portion of said top member with said table frame.

30. A table as set forth in claim 29, including:

a plurality of top support members operably connected with said first and second side rail members along said outside portions thereof, and protruding outwardly therefrom in a cantilevered fashion; and

a plurality of connectors connecting said top member with said top support members and positively retaining said tab in said channel.

31. A table as set forth in claim 30, wherein:

said tab is generally hook-shaped, and disposed along an interior edge of said top member.

32. A table as set forth in claim 31, wherein:

said connectors are positioned adjacent a medial portion of said top member.

33. A table as set forth in claim 32, wherein:

said top member includes a plurality of panels with interior edges thereof disposed along said first and second side rail members.

34. A table as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

said tab is generally hook-shaped, and disposed along an interior edge of said top member.

35. A table as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

said top member includes a plurality of panels with interior edges thereof disposed along said first and second side rail members.

36. A table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second end leg members disposed in a generally parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface in a generally upright orientation;

first and second side rail members disposed in a generally parallel, laterally spaced apart relationship, and having opposite end portions thereof operably connected with upper portions of said first and second end leg members to rigidly retain said first and second end leg members in said generally upright orientation, and thereby define a rigid, self-supported table frame without intermediate bracing between first and second side rail members, with a central, vertically extending window, wherein said first and second side rail members each include an outwardly opening channel extending along a top portion thereof adjacent inside portions of said first and second side rail members;

a plurality of top support members operably connected with said first and second side rail members, and protruding outwardly therefrom in a cantilevered fashion;

a top member supported on and operably connected with at least one of said table frame and said top support members to define a plurality of workstations along said table, wherein said top member includes an inwardly protruding tab disposed along an interior edge thereof, and closely received in said outwardly opening channel to removably connect at least a portion of said top member with said table frame; and

a utility module member configured to facilitate routing utilities to said workstations, positioned within said window of said frame and having opposite sides thereof abuttingly supported on said first and second side rail members to removably mount said utility module member on said frame and thereby accommodate a variety of different utility requirements at said workstations.

37. A table for offices and the like, comprising:

first and second end leg members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship, and configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface;

first and second side rail members disposed in a laterally spaced apart relationship, and having opposite end portions thereof operably connected with said first and second end leg members to define a table frame;

said first and second side rail members each including an inwardly protruding ledge extending along an inside portion thereof, wherein said first and second side rail members include an outwardly opening channel extending along a top portion thereof adjacent said inside portion of said first and second side rail members;

a top member supported on and operably connected with said table frame, wherein said top member includes an inwardly protruding tab disposed along an interior edge thereof, and closely received in said outwardly opening channel to removably connect at least a portion of said top member with said table frame; and

a trough member positioned between said first and second side rail members and having opposite sides thereof abuttingly supported on said inwardly protruding ledges of said first and second side rail members to removably support said trough member on said table to accommodate different users.