Adjustable table cord storage assembly

• US 6,360,675 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suspa Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Suspa Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/573,144
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/20, 108/23, 312/223.6, 312/195, 100/147
• US Class Current: 108/50.02
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/06 characterised by means for holding, fastening or concealing cables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20

Abstract

A housing which includes a cable take-up reel is mounted to the underside of a work surface for storing excess cords or cables employed to control an adjustable height table. In one embodiment, the housing is a motor control which integrally includes a toroidal transformer covered by a cylindrical body extending downwardly from the housing and which forms the drum of the take-up reel. A snap-fit flange extends over the end of the cylindrical body to hold cords in position once wrapped around the drum. A protective and decorative cover snap-fits over the motor control and take-up reel once the excess cord has been wrapped around the take-up reel for storage.

Claims

1. A cord storage system for an electrically controlled, vertically adjustable table comprising:

a table surface;

at least one motor-driven adjustable leg assembly coupled to said table surface;

at least one motor assembly coupled to said leg;

a motor control mounted to an underside of said table surface;

at least one electrical cord coupled between said motor control and said motor assembly; and

a cord take-up reel mounted to an underside of said table surface for storing excess lengths of cord extending between said motor control and said motor assembly, said cord take-up reel including a central body with an end spaced from the underside of said table surface and a flange mounted to said body to retain a cord wound on said body.

2. The storage system as defined in claim 1 and further including a cover extending over said cord take-up reel.

3. A cord storage system for an electrically controlled, vertically adjustable table comprising:

a table surface;

at least one motor-driven adjustable leg assembly coupled to said table surface;

at least one motor assembly coupled to said leg;

a motor control mounted to an underside of said table surface;

at least one electrical cord coupled between said motor control and said motor assembly; and

a cord take-up reel mounted to one of said motor control and motor assembly for storing excess lengths of cord extending between said motor control and said motor assembly, wherein said cord take-up reel comprises a generally cylindrical body having an end spaced from the underside of said table surface and a flange mounted to said end of said cylindrical body and extending beyond the diameter of said cylindrical body to retain a cord wound on said cylindrical body.

4. The storage system as defined in claim 3 wherein said generally cylindrical body is integrally formed on a downwardly facing surface of said motor control.

5. The storage system as defined in claim 4 wherein said generally cylindrical body and said flange include snap fittings to allow said flange to be snap-fitted to said cylindrical body.

6. The storage system as defined in claim 5 wherein said motor control includes a toroidal transformer and said generally cylindrical body surrounds said transformer.

7. The storage system as defined in claim 6 wherein one of said generally cylindrical body and flange includes mounting slots and the other of said generally cylindrical body and flange includes mounting tabs.

8. A cord storage system for a vertically adjustable table comprising:

a table surface;

at least one adjustable leg coupled to said table surface;

at least one assembly coupled to said leg for extending and contracting said leg;

a control mounted to an underside of said table surface and coupled to said assembly;

at least one elongated control element coupled between said control and said assembly; and

a take-up reel mounted to an underside of said table surface and to one of said control and assembly for storing excess length of said control element extending between said control and said assembly, wherein said take-up reel comprises a central body having an end spaced from the underside of said table surface and a flange mounted to said end of said body to retain a control element wound on said central body.

9. The storage system as defined in claim 8 and further including a cover extending over said take-up reel.

10. A cord storage system for a vertically adjustable table comprising:

a table surface;

at least one adjustable leg coupled to said table surface;

at least one assembly coupled to said leg for extending and contracting said leg;

a control mounted to an underside of said table surface and coupled to said assembly;

at least one elongated control element coupled between said control and said assembly; and

a take-up reel mounted to one of said control and assembly for storing excess length of said control element extending between said control and said assembly, wherein said take-up reel comprises a generally cylindrical body having an end spaced from the underside of said table surface and a flange mounted to said end of said cylindrical body and extending beyond the diameter of said cylindrical body to retain a control element wound on said cylindrical body.

11. The storage system as defined in claim 10 wherein said generally cylindrical body and said flange include snap fittings to allow said flange to be snap-fitted to said cylindrical body.

12. The storage system as defined in claim 11 and further including a cover extending over said take-up reel.

13. A cord storage system for an electrically controlled, vertically adjustable table comprising:

a table surface;

a pair of spaced-apart adjustable legs coupled to said table surface;

a motor assembly coupled to each of said legs;

a motor control mounted to an underside of said table surface;

an electrical cord coupled between said motor control and each of said motor assemblies; and

a cord take-up reel mounted to said motor control for storing excess lengths of cord extending between said motor control and said motor assemblies, wherein said cable take-up reel comprises a central body having an end spaced form the underside of said table surface and a flange on said end of said body to retain a cord wound on said central body.

14. The storage system as defined in claim 13 and further including a cover extending over said cable take-up reel.

15. The storage system as defined in claim 14 wherein said motor control is positioned between said legs.

16. A cord storage system for an electrically controlled, vertically adjustable table comprising:

a table surface;

a pair of spaced-apart adjustable legs coupled to said table surface;

a motor assembly coupled to each of said legs;

a motor control mounted to an underside of said table surface between said legs;

an electrical cord coupled between said motor control and each of said motor assemblies;

a cord take-up reel mounted to said motor control for storing excess lengths of cord extending between said motor control and said motor assemblies, wherein said cable take-up reel comprises a generally cylindrical body having an end spaced from the underside of said table surface and a flange on said end of said cylindrical body and extending beyond the diameter of said cylindrical body to retain a cord wound on said cylindrical body; and

a cover extending over said cable take-up reel.

17. The storage system as defined in claim 16 wherein said motor control includes a housing and said take-up reel is integrally formed on said housing.

18. The storage system as defined in claim 17 wherein said housing is made of a resilient polymeric material.

19. The storage system as defined in claim 18 wherein said generally cylindrical body and said flange are separate elements which include snap fittings to allow said flange to be snap-fitted to said cylindrical body.

20. The storage system as defined in claim 19 wherein said motor control includes a toroidal transformer and said generally cylindrical body surrounds said transformer.

21. The storage system as defined in claim 20 wherein one of said generally cylindrical body and flange includes mounting slots and the other of said generally cylindrical body and flange includes tabs.