AU2009212814B1 - A support assembly - Google Patents

A support assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2009212814B1
AU2009212814B1 AU2009212814A AU2009212814A AU2009212814B1 AU 2009212814 B1 AU2009212814 B1 AU 2009212814B1 AU 2009212814 A AU2009212814 A AU 2009212814A AU 2009212814 A AU2009212814 A AU 2009212814A AU 2009212814 B1 AU2009212814 B1 AU 2009212814B1
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
end portion
distal end
post
supports
support
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
AU2009212814A
Inventor
Trevor Watson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AU2009212814A priority Critical patent/AU2009212814B1/en
Publication of AU2009212814B1 publication Critical patent/AU2009212814B1/en
Priority to EP10811011A priority patent/EP2470047A1/en
Priority to PCT/AU2010/001086 priority patent/WO2011022762A1/en
Priority to CA2772269A priority patent/CA2772269A1/en
Priority to US13/392,782 priority patent/US20120152156A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47BTABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B9/00Tables with tops of variable height
    • A47B9/04Tables with tops of variable height with vertical spindle
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47BTABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B13/00Details of tables or desks
    • A47B13/02Underframes
    • A47B13/06Underframes of metal

Landscapes

  • Tables And Desks Characterized By Structural Shape (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

Description

1 A SUPPORT ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a support assembly. This invention has particular, but not exclusive application, to a support assembly, such as a table, for supporting foods and beverages and wherein reference will be made to 5 same. However it will be appreciated that the invention may also be used in conjunction with support assemblies for supporting other goods, such as sheet music and cameras. Many restaurants, cafes and the like serve food on tables that comprise a table top which rests upon a centrally located post that depends from an underside of the table and at least three foundation engaging supporting members or feet that extend outwardly from a 10 lower end of said post. If the table is placed on a level surface of a foundation, ideally all of the feet will engage the foundation. However, rarely is the surface of a foundation, such as the floor of a restaurant or a paved courtyard, level and whereby only some of the feet of the table are likely to engage the surface. As a consequence, downward pressure on the table top at or near the foot or feet that are not engaging the foundation, such as when 15 handling food on a plate, may cause the unstable table to rock. This rocking can be a nuisance and in the past diners have been known to wedge one or more paper serviettes between each foot that is not in contact with the foundation and the foundation itself so as to overcome the problem. With the above in mind, each foot of a table may include a foundation engaging 20 pad that is mounted on a threaded stem which depends from and threadably engages a distal end portion of said foot, and whereby in use the distance separating the pad from the distal end portion of the foot may be adjusted such that in use all of the pads engage the foundation. However, it will be appreciated that in order to adjust the spacing between a pad and an adjacent foot of an upright table, the person making the adjustment invariably 25 must get down on their hands and knees. This is not desirable as it may place the person in pwat08 I 00spec27August2009 2 a position that is physically uncomfortable and whereby contact with the foundation may soil the person's clothes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a support assembly which alleviates at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art and which will be reliable 5 and efficient in use. With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention relates to a support assembly including: a plate like member having an upper support surface that in use lies in a substantially horizontal plane; 10 an upstanding, post that is attached to and which provides support for said plate like member, said post having a lower end portion that is spaced from said plate like member; a plurality of supports that extend outwardly from said lower end portion of said upstanding post in diverging directions, each of said supports including a distal end portion 15 that in use is adapted to engage a foundation, characterized in that one of said supports is a levelling support that includes a mounting portion that is rigidly connected to said post and a moveable distal end portion that is pivotally connected to said mounting portion whereby said distal end portion may move up or down, and movement of said movable distal end portion is effected by actuation means that is controlled by control means located adjacent 20 said plate like member. Preferably the support assembly is a table and the plate like member is a table top. In another aspect, this invention relates to a table including: a table top having an upper support surface that in use lies in a substantially horizontal plane; pwat08 I 00spec27August2009 3 an upstanding post that is attached to and which provides support for said table top and which includes a lower end portion that is spaced from said table top; a plurality of supports that extend outwardly from said lower end portion of said post in diverging directions, each of said supports including a distal end portion that in use 5 is adapted to engage a foundation, characterized in that one of said supports is a levelling support that includes a mounting portion that is rigidly connected to said post and a movable distal end portion that is pivotally connected to said mounting portion whereby said movable distal end portion may move up or down relative to said mounting portion, and movement of said movable distal end portion is effected by actuation means that is 10 controlled by control means located adjacent said table top. In one embodiment, the movable distal end portion may form one part of a lever that also includes an opposing height control arm. The height control arm may for aesthetic reasons be housed within the mounting portion. Movement of the height control arm may be effected by an actuating member, one 15 end of which is adapted to engage a free end portion of the height control arm. Again, for aesthetic reasons, the actuating member may be housed within the post and whereby movement of the actuation member may be limited to linear movement in a generally vertical direction. The control means may be adapted to control movement of the actuation member, 20 which in turn controls the extent to which the movable distal end portion moves up or down. In one embodiment, movement of the actuation member may be effected by rotation of the actuation member about a longitudinal axis. This may be achieved by control means that is accessible through an opening formed in the plate like member or table top. Alternatively the control means may be housed within the post and accessed via 25 an opening formed in said post. pwat08 I 00spec27August2009 4 In still yet another aspect, this invention relates to a table including: a table top having an upper support surface that in use lies in a substantially horizontal plane; a plurality of supports that collectively provide support for said table top, each of 5 said supports including a distal end portion that in use is adapted to engage a foundation, characterized in that one of said supports is a levelling support that includes a movable distal end portion and whereby in use said movable distal end portion may move generally in a vertical direction and movement of said movable distal end portion is effected by actuation means that is controlled by control means located adjacent said table top. 10 For example, the supports may each take the form of a table leg and the actuation means may be concealed within the leg having the movable distal end portion. Further, the control means may be located adjacent an upper end portion of the leg having the movable distal end portion and it to may also be at least partially concealed within the leg. Alternatively, the control means may be accessed through a suitable opening in the table 15 top. In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Fig. I is a side view of a table that is constructed in accordance with the present 20 invention, said table including a table top that is attached to and supported by a post having a lower end portion from which there extends a plurality of supports, including one adjustable support, movement of which is effected by actuation means that may be selectively controlled by either top or side control means; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional pictorial view showing the two control means, the 25 actuation means and the adjustable support. pwat08 I 00spec27August2009 5 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional pictorial view of a section of the hollow post showing both the top and side control means, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional pictorial view of a section of the post showing the side control means. 5 Figure 1 shows a table 10 that includes a plate like table top 1 1 that is circular in shape when viewed from above. The table top 11 includes a substantially flat upper support surface 12 that may be used to provide support for foods and beverages. The table top 11 is supported in a generally horizontal attitude by a substantially vertically orientated post 14 that is constructed from a thin walled length of cylindrical 10 tubing. The post 14 includes an upper end portion 15, that is attached to the table top 11, and an opposing lower end portion 16. The post 14 is supported in an upstanding attitude by four supports 17 that extend outwardly from the lower end portion 16 in divergent directions including one adjustable support 17a. Each support 17, including the adjustable support 17a includes a nylon pad 15 18, that is attached to an underside of said support, which is adapted to engage a foundation, such as the floor of a restaurant. The adjustable support includes a channel shaped mounting portion 19, that is open at both ends, and a lever 20 that is pivotally connected to said mounting portion. The mounting portion 19 comprises a top wall 21 and two opposing side walls 22. One end 20 portion 23 of the mounting portion 19 is affixed to the post 14. The other or free end portion 24 includes two aligned apertures 25 formed in the side walls 22. The lever 20 includes a distal end portion 26 that extends outwardly from the mounting 19 and a height control arm 27 that is retained within the mounting 19. The lever 20 also includes a mounting aperture formed therein that is located intermediate the pwat081 00spec27August2009 6 height control arm 27 and the distal end portion 26. The lever 20 is pivotally connected to the mounting 19 by a mounting pin 28 that extends through the aligned apertures. The height control arm 27 includes an end portion 29 comprising two opposing forks 30 in which there is formed aligned apertures 31. 5 The table 10 also includes an actuating member or cylindrically shaped push rod 32 that is retained within the post 14. The actuating member 32 has a lower end portion 33 that is bent in the shape of a letter "L" and whereby the outwardly extending foot, not shown, is locatable within a transverse aperture formed in a connecting pin 34, partway between opposing ends 35 of said pin. The pin ends 35 are located within respective 10 apertures 31 of the forks 30 and whereby the connecting pin 34 pivotally connects the actuating member 32 to the height control arm 27. The actuating member 32 also includes an upper end portion 36 to which there is rigidly affixed a tube 37 having an upper end portion 38 in which there is formed a threaded bore, not shown. 15 Movement of the actuating member, and in turn the adjustable support 17a, is controlled by control means 39 that includes a control shaft 40 that is rotatably supported in a substantially vertical attitude within the post 14 by a control shaft mounting assembly 41. The control shaft 40 includes an upper end portion 55 having a square shaped 20 transverse cross-section and a lower end portion 42 that is threaded and which is adapted to threadably engage the bore of the tube 37 that is affixed to the actuating member 32. Intermediate the two ends of the control shaft 40 there is provided an adjustment wheel 43 that is affixed to said shaft and which includes a knurled or toothed circumferential edge. pwat08 1 00spec27August2009 7 The control shaft mounting assembly 41 includes a pair of opposing flanges 44 that are maintained in a spaced relationship by an intermediate connecting flange 45. Each of the flanges 44 includes an aperture 46 formed therein through which the control shaft 40 can extend in use. 5 One of the flanges 44a is also connected to a mounting plate 47 that depends from an edge of said flange 44a, said mounting plate 47 having two mounting apertures formed therein. The mounting plate 45 is secured to an inside face of the post 14 by two threaded fasteners 48 that extend through aligned apertures formed in the wall of the post 14 and the mounting plate. 10 As previously stated, the control shaft 40 extends through the aligned apertures 46 and is supported by the flanges 44 by two washers 49 located there between and on either side of the adjustment wheel 43. In use, if all of the pads 18 of the supports 17 are not engaging the foundation, the position of the adjustable support 17a may be adjusted using the control means 39 such 15 that all of the pads 18 do in fact engage the foundation. This may be achieved by rotating the control shaft 40 using either a key having a square shaped socket that is adapted to engage the end portion 55, access to which is gained via an opening formed in the table top 11, or by rotating the adjustment wheel 43, an edge portion of which projects through a slotted opening 50 formed in the post 14. 20 When the control shaft 40 rotates in a clock wise direction, as indicated by arrow 51, the threaded end portion 42 will extend further into the bore of the upper end portion 38 of the sleeve 37 thereby effectively shortening the distance separating the adjustment wheel 43 and the connecting pin 34, which in turn will result in a corresponding downwardly directed movement of the distal end portion 26, as indicated by arrow 52. pwat08 I 00spec27August2009 8 Conversely, when the control shaft 40 rotates in a counter clock wise direction, as indicated by arrow 53, the threaded end portion 42 will begin to extract itself from the bore of the upper end portion 38 of the sleeve 37 thereby effectively lengthening the distance separating the adjustment wheel 43 and the connecting pin 34, which in turn will result in a 5 corresponding upwardly directed movement of the distal end portion 26, as indicated by arrow 54. It will be appreciated that by using the control means as described, the level of the support surface of the table may be readily and easily adjusted and that there is no need for persons when making said adjusts to get down on their hands and knees. 10 It will of course be realized that while the foregoing description has been given by way of example of this invention, all other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein defined in the appended claims. pwat08 I 00spec27August2009

Claims (8)

1. A table including: a table top having an upper support surface that in use lies in a substantially horizontal plane; 5 an upstanding post that is attached to and which provides support for said table top and which includes a lower end portion that is spaced from said table top; a plurality of supports that extend outwardly from said lower end portion of said post in diverging directions, each of said supports including a distal end portion that in use is adapted to engage a foundation, characterized in that one of said supports is a levelling 10 support that includes a mounting portion that is rigidly connected to said post and a movable distal end portion that is pivotally connected to said mounting portion whereby said movable distal end portion may move up or down relative to said mounting portion, and movement of said movable distal end portion is effected by actuation means that is controlled by control means located adjacent said table top. 15
2. A table as claimed in claim 1, wherein said levelling support is a lever.
3. A table as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein said actuation means is housed within said post.
4. A. table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control means is housed within said post. 20 5. A table including: a table top having an upper support surface that in use lies in a substantially horizontal plane; a plurality of supports that collectively provide support for said table top, each of said supports including a distal end portion that in use is adapted to engage a foundation, 25 characterized in that one of said supports is a levelling support that includes a movable pwat08 I 00spec27August2009 10 distal end portion and whereby in use said movable distal end portion may move generally in a vertical direction and movement of said movable distal end portion is effected by actuation means that is controlled by control means located adjacent said table top.
5
6. A table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. A support assembly including: a plate like member having an upper support surface that in use lies in a substantially horizontal plane; 10 an upstanding, post that is attached to and which provides support for said plate like member, said post having a lower end portion that is spaced from said plate like member; a plurality of supports that extend outwardly from said lower end portion of said upstanding post in diverging directions, each of said supports including a distal end portion 15 that in use is adapted to engage a foundation, characterized in that one of said supports is a levelling support that includes a mounting portion that is rigidly connected to said post and a moveable distal end portion that is pivotally connected to said mounting portion whereby said distal end portion may move up or down, and movement of said movable distal end portion is effected by actuation means that is controlled by control means located adjacent 20 said plate like member.
8. A support assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said support assembly is a table and said plate like member is a table top. Dated this 2 7 h day of August, 2006 TREVOR WATSON 25 By his Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX pwat08 I 00spec27August2009
AU2009212814A 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 A support assembly Ceased AU2009212814B1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009212814A AU2009212814B1 (en) 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 A support assembly
EP10811011A EP2470047A1 (en) 2009-08-27 2010-08-24 A support assembly
PCT/AU2010/001086 WO2011022762A1 (en) 2009-08-27 2010-08-24 A support assembly
CA2772269A CA2772269A1 (en) 2009-08-27 2010-08-24 A support assembly
US13/392,782 US20120152156A1 (en) 2009-08-27 2010-08-24 Support assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009212814A AU2009212814B1 (en) 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 A support assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2009212814B1 true AU2009212814B1 (en) 2010-02-11

Family

ID=41664339

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2009212814A Ceased AU2009212814B1 (en) 2009-08-27 2009-08-27 A support assembly

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20120152156A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2470047A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2009212814B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2772269A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2011022762A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010127385A1 (en) * 2009-05-04 2010-11-11 Rohan James Macarthur-Onslow Table with stabiliser
CN109864436A (en) * 2019-04-10 2019-06-11 珠海葆盈家居用品有限公司 A kind of marble square table that three stabilizer blades stability is good

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2513838A (en) * 2013-03-25 2014-11-12 Philip Maurice Taylor Covered sliding operator

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US5205421A (en) * 1991-04-01 1993-04-27 Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Gondola display rack
WO1997018413A1 (en) * 1995-11-16 1997-05-22 Herman Miller, Inc. Leveling device for a support leg
GB2397514A (en) * 2003-01-22 2004-07-28 K H S Musical Instr Co Ltd Tripod with horizontally pivoting legs

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US1277988A (en) * 1917-07-20 1918-09-03 Leonard W Miller Folding table.
US1378904A (en) * 1920-09-02 1921-05-24 Schuermann Julius Joe Photographer's head-screen
US3014682A (en) * 1960-09-01 1961-12-26 Thinline Mfg Co Adjustable furniture base
US3307814A (en) * 1966-05-09 1967-03-07 Jr Earl M Bogar Adjustable stand for instruments
US3908565A (en) * 1973-12-26 1975-09-30 John W Burnett Transportable overbed table
US4520981A (en) * 1983-05-23 1985-06-04 Marvco Tool & Mfg. Inc. Adjustable telescopic support
US5690303A (en) * 1996-06-24 1997-11-25 Winters-Gresham Partnership Self-stabilizing base for a table
CA2200414C (en) * 1997-03-19 2007-02-13 Dale Robert Marshall Adjustable cantilever foot assembly for furniture
US6189843B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2001-02-20 Joel W. Pfister Linear motion table leg
AU2004281063B2 (en) * 2003-10-10 2011-01-20 Hedera Ab A self-stabilizing support assembly for an item furniture
AU2004322231C1 (en) * 2004-08-02 2011-09-01 Hedera Ab Tables
WO2007100781A2 (en) * 2006-02-27 2007-09-07 Streamline, Inc. Transformable intravenous pole
US20120241568A1 (en) * 2006-10-12 2012-09-27 Steven Lee Christian Method and Apparatus for Adjusting Heights of Objects

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5205421A (en) * 1991-04-01 1993-04-27 Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Gondola display rack
WO1997018413A1 (en) * 1995-11-16 1997-05-22 Herman Miller, Inc. Leveling device for a support leg
GB2397514A (en) * 2003-01-22 2004-07-28 K H S Musical Instr Co Ltd Tripod with horizontally pivoting legs

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010127385A1 (en) * 2009-05-04 2010-11-11 Rohan James Macarthur-Onslow Table with stabiliser
GB2481942A (en) * 2009-05-04 2012-01-11 Rohan James Macarthur-Onslow Table with stabiliser
CN109864436A (en) * 2019-04-10 2019-06-11 珠海葆盈家居用品有限公司 A kind of marble square table that three stabilizer blades stability is good

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2470047A1 (en) 2012-07-04
US20120152156A1 (en) 2012-06-21
CA2772269A1 (en) 2011-03-03
WO2011022762A1 (en) 2011-03-03

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FGA Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent)
MK14 Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired