Training table with wire management

• US 6,415,723 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Bouche, Timothy J., Kopish, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fisher, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/322,415
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 108/50.01, 108/50.02, 108/64, 108/129, 108/130, 108/133, 312/194, 312/195, 312/223.3, 312/223.6
• 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 3/0815 the resilient force of the elastic locking means acting in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/002 Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor

Abstract

A folding table or desk includes a table top, a pair of spaced apart legs, and a wire management structure pivotably mounted to the table top and located between the legs. The wire management structure includes a front panel assembly having an opening, and an access member is pivotably mounted to the front panel assembly for movement between an open position, a closed position and a collapsed position. The front panel assembly can be folded against the underside of the table top and the access member can be pivoted to its collapsed position relative to the front panel assembly, and the legs are foldable over the wire management structure to provide a compact envelope for the folded components of the table assembly. The front panel assembly includes a cross brace member which is engageable with the legs when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position, to impart rigidity to the table assembly. Wires or cables are fed through openings in the table top into an internal cavity defined by the wire management structure, for engagement with power or communication receptacles located within the internal cavity. Equipment may also be supported by the underside of the table top, and wires or cables from such equipment can be fed through the opening in the front panel assembly into the internal cavity of the wire management structure. A latch arrangement is carried by the table assembly for enabling adjacent table assemblies to be ganged together.

Claims

1. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a wire management housing mounted below the table top by means of a pivot connection providing movement of the wire management housing between an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing is folded against the underside of the table top, and an operative unfolded position in which the wire management housing is unfolded away from the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing defines an internal cavity and includes a transversely extending brace member and an access member movably mounted to the brace member for movement between an open position for providing access to the internal cavity for placing wires within the internal cavity, and a closed position for preventing access to the internal cavity for maintaining wires within the internal cavity, wherein the access member is further movable to a collapsed position when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position to reduce the volume of the internal cavity relative to the volume of the internal cavity when the access member is in its closed position, and wherein the wire management housing further includes an opening in communication with the internal cavity, separate from the access member, for providing access to the internal cavity from below the table top other than through the access member;

a pair of legs mounted to the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing is located between the pair of legs, and wherein each leg includes an upper mounting portion rigidly secured to the underside of the table top, and a lower portion movably mounted to the upper mounting portion by means of a pivot connection spaced outwardly from the underside of the table top such that, when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position and the access member is in its collapsed position, the leg lower portions are pivotable toward each other over the wire management housing to a folded position in which the leg lower portions are substantially in line with each other and are oriented substantially parallel to the underside of the table top, wherein each leg includes a wire management recess extending throughout at least a portion of its length, and a cover movably mounted to the leg adjacent the recess for movement between an open position providing access to the recess for placing wires into the recess, and a closed position preventing access to the recess for retaining wires within the recess;

wherein the wire management arrangement of the leg and the wire management housing are configured and arranged relative to each other to enable the cover of the wire management arrangement and the access member of the wire management housing to both be in the open position at the same time, to provide lay-in placement of wires into the wire-receiving recess of the leg and into the internal cavity of the wire management housing; and

a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the legs and the brace member for engaging the brace member with the legs when the legs are in their operative extended positions and the wire management housing is in its operative unfolded position, for bracing the legs against movement away from their operative extended positions, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement provides disengagement of the brace member from the legs to enable the legs and the wire management housing to be moved to their inoperative folded positions.

2. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a wire management housing mounted below the table top by means of a pivot connection providing movement of the wire management housing between an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing is folded against the underside of the table top, and an operative extended position in which the wire management housing is unfolded away from the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing includes a pair of end frame members, each of which defines an upper end located adjacent the underside of the table top and a lower end spaced below the underside of the table top when the wire management housing is in its operative extended position, and a structural cross member interconnected between the pair of end frame members toward the lower ends of the end frame members;

a pair of legs mounted to the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing is located between the pair of legs, and wherein each leg includes an upper mounting portion rigidly secured to the underside of the table top, and a lower portion movably mounted to the upper mounting portion by means of a pivot connection for movement between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the pivot connection is spaced outwardly from the underside of the table top such that, when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position, the leg lower portions are pivotable toward each other over the wire management housing to a folded position; and

a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the structural cross member and the lower portions of the legs for releasably engaging the wire management housing to and between the pair of legs when the wire management housing is in its operative extended position and the legs are in the unfolded position, wherein the cross member extends between the lower portions of the legs at a location spaced below the underside of the table top when the legs are in the unfolded position and the cross member is releasably secured to the legs, to impart rigidity to the legs.

3. The table assembly of claim 2, wherein the wire management housing includes a panel member and an access member, wherein the panel member is connected to and located between the pair of end frame members.

9. The table assembly of claim 2, further comprising a latch arrangement mounted to the underside of the table top for releasably maintaining each leg in its folded position.

10. The table assembly of claim 9, wherein the latch arrangement comprises a pair of latch members, each of which is releasably engageable with the lower portion of one of the legs when in its folded position, wherein each latch member is mounted to a housing interconnected with the table top for movement between an extended latching position and a retracted storage position.

4. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a wire management housing mounted below an underside defined by the table top by means of a pivot connection providing movement of the wire management housing between an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing is folded against the underside of the table top, and an operative extended position in which the wire management housing is unfolded away from the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing includes a panel member and an access member, wherein the pivot connection is interconnected with the panel member for providing movement of the wire management housing between its folded and unfolded positions, wherein the panel member and the access member are pivotably interconnected with each other for movement to a collapsed position when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position for reducing the space occupied by the wire management housing; and

a pair of legs mounted to the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing is located between the pair of legs, and wherein each leg includes an upper mounting portion rigidly secured to the underside of the table top, and a lower portion movably mounted to the upper mounting portion by means of a pivot connection, wherein the pivot connection is spaced outwardly from the underside of the table top such that, when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position, the leg lower portions are pivotable toward each other over the wire management housing to a folded position.

5. The table assembly of claim 4, further comprising a cross brace member mounted to the panel member for releasable engagement with the pair of legs when the legs are in an extended position for preventing movement of the legs toward the folded position.

6. The table assembly of claim 5, wherein the access member is pivotably mounted to the cross brace member for movement between an open position and a closed position when the wire management housing is in its operative unfolded position, and is pivotable about the cross brace member for movement to its collapsed position when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position.

7. The table assembly of claim 6, wherein each leg includes a wire management arrangement including a wire-receiving recess and a cover movably mounted to the leg adjacent the recess for movement between an open position providing access to the recess for placing wires into the recess, and a closed position preventing access to the recess for retaining wires within the recess, and wherein the wire management arrangement and the wire management housing are arranged relative to each other such that the cover of the wire management arrangement and the access member of the wire management housing are capable of being in the open position at the same time, to provide lay-in placement of wires into the wire-receiving recess of the leg and into the wire management housing.

8. The table assembly of claim 5, wherein the cross brace member is releasably engageable with the pair of legs by means of a movable engagement member mounted to each of a pair of spaced ends defined by the cross brace member, and wherein each leg includes a receiver for receiving one of the engagement members when the leg is in its extended position.

11. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

one or more legs interconnected with the table top for supporting the table top above a supporting surface;

a wire management arrangement associated with each leg and including a wire-receiving recess extending throughout at least a portion of the leg, and an outwardly movable cover mounted to the leg adjacent the recess, wherein the cover is movable between an open position in which the cover is moved outwardly relative to the leg and provides open access to the recess for placing wires into the recess, and a closed position in which the cover is moved inwardly from its open position into engagement with the leg for preventing access to the recess for retaining wires within the recess; and

a wire management housing located below the table top and including an end portion located adjacent each leg, wherein the wire management housing includes an internal cavity which is in communication with at least a portion of the wire-receiving recess, and an access member movable between an open position for providing access to the internal cavity for placing wires within the internal cavity, and a closed position for preventing access to the internal cavity for maintaining wires within the internal cavity, wherein, when the access member is in its closed position, at least a portion of the access member extends across the wire-receiving recess and wherein, when the access member is in its open position, the access member is positioned out of alignment with the wire-receiving recess;

wherein the wire management arrangement of the leg and the wire management housing are configured and arranged relative to each other to enable the cover of the wire management arrangement and the access member of the wire management housing to both be in the open position at the same time, to provide lay-in placement of wires into the wire-receiving recess of the leg and the internal cavity of the wire management housing.

12. The table assembly of claim 11, wherein each leg further includes a divider wall which divides the wire-receiving recess into first and second sections, wherein each section is adapted to receive a separate set of wires.

13. The table assembly of claim 12, wherein the cover is releasably engageable with the divider wall for releasably maintaining the cover in its closed position.

14. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

one or more legs interconnected with the table top for supporting the table top above a supporting surface;

a wire management arrangement associated with each leg and including a wire-receiving recess extending throughout at least a portion of the leg, and a cover movably mounted to the leg adjacent the recess for movement between an open position providing access to the recess for placing wires into the recess, and a closed position preventing access to the recess for retaining wires within the recess;

a wire management housing located below the table top and including an end portion located adjacent each leg, wherein the wire management housing includes an internal cavity and an access member movable between an open position for providing access to the internal cavity for placing wires within the internal cavity, and a closed position for preventing access to the internal cavity for maintaining wires within the internal cavity, wherein the wire management housing further includes a panel member interconnected with the access member; and

a pivot connection interconnected with the panel member for providing movement of the wire management housing between an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing is folded against the underside of the table top, and an operative extended position in which the wire management housing is unfolded away from the underside of the table top;

wherein the wire management arrangement of the leg and the wire management housing are configured and arranged relative to each other to enable the cover of the wire management arrangement and the access member of the wire management housing to both be in the open position at the same time, to provide lay-in placement of wires into the wire-receiving recess of the leg and the internal cavity of the wire management housing.

15. The table assembly of claim 14, wherein the panel member is interconnected with a cross brace member which is engageable with each of a pair of the legs for bracing the legs against lateral movement, wherein the access member is pivotably mounted to the cross brace member.

16. The table assembly of claim 15, wherein each leg is pivotably mounted relative to the table top for movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position, and further comprising a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the cross brace member and each leg for releasably engaging the cross brace member with each leg when the legs are in the operative extended position and the wire management housing is in the operative extended position, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement is interconnected with each leg at a location spaced from the wire-receiving recess of each leg.

17. The table assembly of claim 16, wherein the access member is movably mounted to the cross brace member for movement between an open position providing access to the internal cavity of the wire management housing when the wire management housing is in its operative extended position, and a closed position for preventing access to the internal cavity, and is further movable to a collapsed position when the wire management housing is moved to its inoperative folded position against the underside of the table top, for reducing the volume of the internal cavity relative to the volume of the internal cavity when the access member is in its closed position, to prevent interference of the wire management housing with the legs when the legs are moved to their inoperative folded position.

18. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of legs pivotably mounted to an underside defined by the table top for movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position; and

wire management structure pivotably mounted relative to the table top for movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position, wherein the wire management structure defines an internal cavity and includes a movable access panel extending throughout its length and movable between an open position and a closed position when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position to selectively provide and prevent access to the internal cavity, and wherein the access panel is further movable to a collapsed position when the wire management structure is in its inoperative folded position, wherein the access panel in its collapsed position is operable to reduce the volume of the internal cavity relative to the volume of the internal cavity when the access panel is in its closed position, to avoid interference of the wire management structure with the legs when the legs are moved to their inoperative folded position.

19. The table assembly of claim 18, wherein each leg includes an upper mounting portion rigidly secured to the underside of the table top, and a lower portion movably mounted to the upper mounting portion by means of a pivot connection which provides movement of each leg between its inoperative folded position and its operative extended position.

20. The table assembly of claim 19, wherein the wire management structure includes a wall which is pivotable relative to the table top for providing movement of the wire management structure between its inoperative folded position and its operative extended position, wherein the movable access panel is pivotable relative to the wall between its open position, its closed position and its collapsed position.

21. The table assembly of claim 20, wherein the wall is interconnected with a rigid cross-member spaced below the underside of the table top when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position, and further comprising a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the rigid cross-member and each leg for bracing the legs against movement toward their inoperative folded position when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position.

22. The table assembly of claim 21, wherein the movable access panel of the wire management structure is pivotably mounted to the rigid cross-member for movement between its open position, its closed position and its collapsed position.

23. The table assembly of claim 19, wherein the upper mounting portion of each leg terminates in a lower end at the pivot connection between the lower portion and the upper mounting portion of each leg, and wherein the access panel in its collapsed position configures the wire management structure so as to be entirely disposed within a space below the underside of the table top located above the lower end of the upper mounting portions of the legs.

24. The table assembly of claim 19, wherein the lower portion of each leg includes a wire-receiving recess in communication with the internal cavity of the wire management structure when the wire management structure and the leg are each in the operative extended position, and further comprising a cover mounted to the lower portion of each leg for providing selective access to the wire-receiving recess.

25. The table assembly of claim 24, wherein the legs and the wire management structure are configured and arranged relative to each other such that the cover and the movable access panel of the wire management structure are both capable of being in an open position at the same time, to provide lay-in placement of wires within the wire-receiving recess of the leg internal cavity defined by the wire management structure.

26. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of foldable legs mounted to an underside defined by the table top for pivoting movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position; and

a wire management housing pivotably mounted below the table top and located between the legs, wherein the wire management housing is pivotably mounted by means of a pivot connection providing movement of the wire management housing between an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing is folded against the underside of the table top, and an operative extended position in which the wire management housing is unfolded away from the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing includes a pair of end frame members, each of which defines an inner end located adjacent the underside of the table top and an outer end spaced from the inner end, and a structural cross-member connected between the end frame members toward the outer ends of the end frame members, wherein the structural cross-member is releasably engageable with the legs at a location spaced from the underside of the table top when the legs are in the operative extended position and the wire management housing is in the operative extended position, to provide a brace against movement of the legs away from the operative extended postion.

27. The table assembly of claim 26, wherein the wire management housing defines an internal cavity and includes an access member movably mounted to the structural cross-member for movement between an open position providing access to the internal cavity and a closed position preventing access to the internal cavity.

28. The table assembly of claim 27, wherein the access member is pivotably mounted to the structural cross-member for movement between its open and closed position.

31. The table assembly of claim 28, wherein the wire management housing includes a panel member and wherein the wire management housing is pivotably mounted below the table top by means of a pivot connection interposed between the underside of the table top and an upper end defined by the panel member, wherein the panel member is adapted for engagement with the underside of the table top when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position.

32. The table assembly of claim 31, wherein the structural cross-member is releasably engageable with the legs by means of an extendible and retractable engagement member mounted to each of a pair of spaced ends defined by the structural cross-member, wherein each extendible and retractable engagement member is engageable within a receiver associated with one of the legs when the legs are in the extended operative position and the wire management housing is in the operative extended position.

33. The table assembly of claim 32, wherein each extendible and retractable engagement member is biased outwardly toward an extended position relative to the structural cross-member, and wherein each leg includes ramp structure adjacent the receiver for moving the engagement member away from its extended position as the wire management housing is moved toward its operative extended position, wherein the receiver includes a recess and wherein the outward biasing of the engagement member functions to move the engagement member into the recess when the wire management housing reaches its operative extended position.

29. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of foldable legs mounted to an underside defined by the table top for pivoting movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position; and

a wire management housing mounted below the underside of the table top and located between the legs, wherein the wire management housing is mounted to the table top by means of a pivot connection providing movement of the wire management housing between an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing is folded against the underside of the table top, and an operative extended position in which the wire management housing is unfolded away from the underside of the table top, wherein the wire management housing includes a structural cross-member releasably engageable with the legs when the legs are in the operative extended position and the wire management housing is in the operative extended position, to provide a brace against movement of the legs away from the operative extended position, wherein the wire management housing defines an internal cavity and includes an access member movably mounted to the structural cross-member for movement between an open position providing access to the internal cavity and a closed position preventing access to the internal cavity, wherein the access member is pivotably mounted to the structural cross-member for movement between its open and closed positions;

wherein the structural cross-member comprises a rod member defining a generally circular outer surface and an outward protrusion, wherein the access member is pivotably mounted to the structural cross-member by means of clamping structure provided on the access member for clamping the rod member, wherein the clamping structure defines an end engageable with the protrusion for maintaining the access member in its closed position, and wherein the clamping structure is resiliently movable over the protrusion upon application of an outward force on the access member to pivot the access member to its open position, and wherein the clamping structure is capable of returning to its original condition upon return of the access member to its closed position for engaging the protrusion and maintaining the access member in its closed position.

30. The table assembly of claim 29, wherein the clamping structure is further movable over the protrusion upon application of an inward force to the access member when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position, so as to provide movement of the access member to a collapsed position to reduce the volume of the internal cavity for accommodating movement of the legs to the inoperative folded position.

34. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of spaced, foldable legs interconnected with the table top for supporting the table top above a supporting surface, wherein each leg is movable relative to the table top between an inoperative folded position and an operative unfolded position;

a structural cross-member movably mounted below the table top, wherein the structural cross-member includes a releasable engagement arrangement adapted for engagement with the pair of legs for maintaining the legs in their operative unfolded positions, wherein the structural cross-member is spaced below an underside defined by the table top when the structural cross-member is engaged with the pair of legs; and

a wire management housing movably mounted below the table top, wherein the wire management housing defines an internal cavity and includes an access member pivotably mounted to the structural cross-member for movement between an open position for providing access to the internal cavity for placing wires within the internal cavity, and a closed position for preventing access to the internal cavity and maintaining wires within the internal cavity.

35. The table assembly of claim 34, wherein the structural cross-member forms a part of the wire management housing, wherein the structural cross-member and the wire management housing are movable between an operative extended position wherein the structural cross-member is engaged with the leg structure, and an inoperative folded position wherein the wire management housing and the structural cross-member are moved toward the underside of the table top away from the leg structure for enabling the leg structure to be moved to its inoperative folded position.

36. The table assembly of claim 35, wherein the wire management housing includes a panel member pivotably mounted below the underside of the table top, and wherein the structural cross-member is mounted to and movable with the panel member.

37. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

leg structure for supporting the table top above a supporting surface;

a structural cross-member interconnected with the leg structure and spaced below an underside defined by the table top;

wherein the leg structure is foldable relative to the table assembly between an operative extended position and an inoperative folded position, and wherein the structural cross-member is releasably engageable with the leg structure when in its operative extended position so as to be disengageable from the leg structure to enable the leg structure to be moved to its inoperative folded position;

a wire management housing located below the table top, wherein the wire management housing defines an internal cavity and includes an access member pivotably mounted to the structural cross-member for movement between an open position for providing access to the internal cavity for placing wires within the internal cavity, and a closed position for preventing access to the internal cavity and maintaining wires within the internal cavity;

wherein the structural cross-member is mounted to the wire management housing, wherein the structural cross-member and the wire management housing are movable between an operative extended position for providing engagement of the structural cross-member with the leg structure, and an inoperative folded position in which the wire management housing and the structural cross-member are moved toward the underside of the table top away from the leg structure for enabling the leg structure to be moved to its inoperative folded position;

wherein the wire management housing includes a panel member pivotably mounted relative to the underside of the table top, and wherein the structural cross-member is mounted to and movable with the panel member; and

wherein the access member is pivotable relative to the structural crossmember to a collapsed position when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position, for reducing the volume of the internal cavity when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position relative to the volume of the internal cavity when the wire management housing is in its operative extended position and the access member is in its closed position.

38. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of legs pivotably mounted to an underside of the table top for movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position;

wire management structure located between the pair of legs, comprising a panel member pivotably mounted below the underside of the table top;

a cross brace member mounted to the panel member; and

an access member pivotably mounted to the cross brace member;

wherein the pivotable mounting of the panel member below the table top provides movement of the wire management structure between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position, wherein the cross brace member is spaced below the underside of the table top when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position, and wherein the panel member and the access member cooperate to define an internal cavity when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position for receiving wires therewithin; and

a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the legs and the cross brace member for engaging the cross brace member with the legs when the legs and the wire management structure are in their operative extended positions, wherein the cross brace member extends between the legs at a location spaced below the underside of the table top for bracing the legs against movement away from the operative extended position, and wherein the releasable engagement arrangement provides disengagement of the cross brace member from the legs to enable the legs and the wire management structure to be moved to their inoperative folded positions.

39. The table assembly of claim 38, wherein each leg includes a stationary upper mounting portion terminating in a lower end, and a lower portion pivotably interconnected with the upper mounting portion at the lower end of the upper mounting portion, and wherein the cross brace member extends between and is interconnected with the leg lower portions at a location below the upper mounting portions, when the wire management structure is in the operative extended position and the cross brace member is engaged with the legs.

40. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of legs pivotably mounted to an underside of the table top for movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position, wherein each leg includes a stationary upper mounting portion terminating in a lower end, and a lower portion pivotably interconnected with the upper mounting portion at the lower end of the upper mounting portion;

wire management structure located between the pair of legs, comprising a panel member pivotably interconnected below the table top;

a brace member mounted to the panel member; and

an access member pivotably mounted to the brace member;

wherein pivotable interconnection of the panel member below the table top provides movement of the wire management structure between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position, and wherein the panel member and the access member cooperate to define an internal cavity when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position for receiving wires therewithin, wherein the access member is pivotable to a collapsed position when the wire management structure is in its inoperative folded position, wherein the access member in its collapsed position functions to configure the wire management structure so as to be received within a space defined between the underside of the table top and the lower end of the upper mounting portions of the legs; and

a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the legs and the brace member for engaging the brace member with the legs when the legs and the wire management structure are in their operative extended positions for bracing the legs against movement away from the operative extended position, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement provides disengagement of the brace member from the legs to enable the legs and the wire management structure to be moved to their inoperative folded positions.

41. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

a pair of legs pivotably mounted to an underside of the table top for movement between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position;

wire management structure located between the pair of legs, comprising a panel member pivotably interconnected below the table top;

a brace member mounted to the panel member; and

an access member pivotably mounted to the brace member;

wherein pivotable interconnection of the panel member below the table top provides movement of the wire management structure between an inoperative folded position and an operative extended position, and wherein the panel member and the access member cooperate to define an internal cavity when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position for receiving wires therewithin, wherein the brace member comprises a rod and wherein the access member includes an engagement end mounted to the rod for providing pivoting movement of the access member relative to the rod; and

a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the legs and the brace member for engaging the brace member with the legs when the legs and the wire management structure are in their operative extended positions for bracing the legs against movement away from the operative extended position, wherein the releasable engagement arrangement provides disengagement of the brace member from the legs to enable the legs and the wire management structure to be moved to their inoperative folded positions.

42. The table assembly of claim 41, wherein the engagement end of the access member defines an open passage within which the rod is received, wherein an opening to the passage is defined by a pair of spaced apart end areas defined by the engagement structure, wherein the rod defines a protrusion disposed within the space between the spaced apart end areas of the engagement end of the access member so as to releasably maintain the access member in its closed position, wherein the spaced end areas of the engagement end are movable over the protrusion upon application of either an inward force or an outward force to the access member for providing movement of the access member between its open position when the wire management structure is in its operative extended position, and a collapsed position when the wire management structure is in its inoperative folded position.

43. A table assembly, comprising:

a table top;

leg structure interconnected with the table top for supporting the table top above a supporting surface; and

a wire management housing located below the table top, wherein the wire management housing includes a first wall section and a second wall section which cooperate to at least in part define an internal cavity;

one or more electrical receptacles located within the internal cavity;

wherein the first wall section is movable relative to the second wall section between an open position and a closed position for providing a first means for accessing the internal cavity from below the table top; and

wherein the second wall section includes an opening in communication with the internal cavity for providing a second means for accessing the internal cavity from below the table top separate from the first means for accessing the internal cavity.

44. The table assembly of claim 43, wherein the first wall section comprises a rear access member and the second wall section comprises a front panel extending from the underside of the table top.

45. The table assembly of claim 44, wherein the leg structure comprises a pair of spaced legs, and wherein the front panel extends between the underside of the table top and a cross-member spaced below the underside of the table top wherein the cross-member extends between and interconnects the pair of legs.

46. The table assembly of claim 45, wherein the front panel defines a lower end spaced above the cross-member, and wherein the opening is defined between the cross-member and the lower end of the front panel.

47. The table assembly of claim 46, further comprising a resilient closure member mounted to the lower end of the front panel and including a lower end located adjacent the cross-member, wherein the lower end is selectively movable away from the cross-member to provide access to the internal cavity through the opening.

48. The table assembly of claim 46, wherein the front panel is pivotably mounted below the table top, for providing movement of the wire management housing between an operative extended position and an inoperative folded position, and wherein the pair of legs are pivotable between an operative extended position and an inoperative folded position in which the legs are folded over the wire management housing when the wire management housing is in its inoperative folded position, wherein the cross-member is engaged with the pair of legs when the legs are in the operative unfolded position to brace the legs against lateral movement.

49. The table assembly of claim 48, further comprising a releasable engagement arrangement interposed between the cross-member and legs for selectively engaging the cross-member with the legs when the wire management housing and the legs are in their operative extended positions.

50. The table assembly of claim 46, wherein the access member is pivotably mounted to the cross-member for movement between its open and closed positions.

51. A system for releasably engaging first and second adjacent table assemblies with each other, wherein the table assemblies include first and second table tops, respectively, each of which defines an edge and an underside, comprising:

a stationary engagement member located adjacent an edge of the first table top of the first table assembly and located below the underside of the first table top; and

a movable latch member located adjacent the edge of the second table top of the second table assembly and located below the underside of the second table top, wherein the latch member is nonremovably mounted to the second table top for movement between an inoperative storage position in which the latch member is located inwardly of the edge of the second table top, and an operative latching position in which the latch member is movable outwardly of the edge of the second table top for releasable engagement with the stationary engagement member of the first table top for releasably engaging the first and second table assemblies together;

wherein the second table assembly includes leg structure located adjacent the edge of the second table top, wherein the leg structure defines an upper surface spaced below the underside of the table top, and wherein the latch member is located within a space defined between the underside of the table top and the upper surface defined by the leg structure.

52. The releasable engagement system of claim 51, wherein a table top mounting member extends between the upper surface of the leg structure and the underside of the table top for supporting the table top above the leg structure, and wherein the latch member is engaged with the mounting member for nonremovably mounting the latch member to the second table top.

53. The releasable engagement system of claim 52, wherein the first table assembly includes leg structure defining an upper surface spaced below the underside of the first table top and a mounting member extending between the underside of the table top and the upper surface of the leg structure, and wherein the latch member is releasably engageable with the mounting member of the first table assembly.

54. The releasable engagement system of claim 53, wherein the first and second table assemblies each include a pair of mounting members located within the space defined between the underside of the table top and the upper surface of the leg structure, wherein a latch member is nonremovably mounted to each mounting member of the second table assembly, wherein each latch member of the second table assembly is releasably engageable with a mounting member of the first table assembly.

55. The releasable engagement system of claim 53, wherein the latch member is pivotably mounted to the mounting member for movement between its inoperative storage position and its operative latching position.

56. The releasable engagement system of claim 55, wherein the latch member defines a closed mounting end defining a passage through which the mounting member extends for providing pivoting movement of the latch member between its inoperative storage position and its operative latching position, and an open engagement end spaced from the closed mounting end for releasable engagement with the mounting member of the first table assembly.

57. The releasable engagement system of claim 56, wherein the latch member is movable between its inoperative storage position and its operative latching position in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the underside of the table top.

58. The releasable engagement system of claim 51, wherein each of the first and second table assemblies includes a pair of leg structures which are pivotably movable between an operative extended position and inoperative folded position, and a wire management housing disposed between the pair of leg structures and mounted to the underside of the table top for movement between an operative extended position and an inoperative folded position.