GB1571587A

GB1571587A - Knock down furniture

Info

Publication number: GB1571587A
Application number: GB2373176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CAPLAN Ltd H
Current assignee: CAPLAN Ltd H
Priority date: 1977-09-08
Filing date: 1977-09-08
Publication date: 1980-07-16

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN KNOCK DOWN FURNITURE (71) We, H. CAPLAN (FURNITURE) LIMITED, a British company of Caplan House. Barchester Street, London E14 6BE. do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us. and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to kits of parts for assembly to form articles of furniture, and more particularly to such kits including tubular legs.

The sale of articles of furniture in kit form has a number of advantages of which ease of distribution is an important example. It is clearly desirable that the eventual assembly of the kit involves the minimum of time and effort and one object of this invention is the provision of an improved kit of parts in which the legs may be secured simply and quickly to the remaining parts of the kit.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a kit of parts for assembly to form an article of furniture, comprising elongate tubular legs each having an aperture in the length thereof and a transverse flange extending inwardly of the leg adjacent the aperture to define a slot between an inner edge of the flange and an interior surface of the leg opposed to the aperture; a plug and socket connection for each leg comprising complementary members on or adapted to be mounted on the leg and a further part of the kit respectively, the members being mutually engageable upon longitudinal movement of the leg and spaced in the assembled article from said aperture; and a retaining member for each leg secured or adapted to be secured to a part of the kit so as to project through the aperture of the leg when the associated plug and socket members are mutually aligned, the retaining member being provided with a tongue adapted for engagement within said slot upon longitudinal movement of the leg in a sense to engage the associated plug and socket members.

Advantageously, the plug and socket members for each leg respectively comprise a plug element on or adapted to be mounted on a part of the kit, and an open end of the leg.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a single pedestal desk according to the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of part of the desk shown in Figure 1 when assemblied, Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2 with the desk top removed, Figure 4 shows diagrammatically three stages in the assembly of a leg in the desk of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a view of a part of the desk of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale, Figure 6 is a cross-section through a leg of the desk shown in Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a view on an enlarged scale of a part of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, a kit of parts according to the invention for assembly to form a single pedestal desk is shown to comprise a rectangular desk top 10 provided at its underside with a plurality of mounting devices and pre-drilled holes which will be described in more detail hereinafter. A pedestal 12 is adapted to be located pendantly beneath the desk top, the arrangement being such that the same kit of parts can be assemblied to form either a left or a right handed pedestal desk. In both cases the pedestal is slung beneath the same end of the desk top and the choice between left and right handed desks is made by aligning the pedestal with its front face in the required direction.Since a pedestal is preferably arranged flush with the front edge of the desk top and spaced from the rear edge, the pedestal is both reversed and moved transversely of the desk to convert from a right to a left handed desk. The kit also comprises two straight tubular legs 14 and two L-shaped leg assemblies 16 and is completed by a side panel 18 and a rear panel 20.

Two leg mounting devices in the form of plug elements 22 are attached to the underside of the desk top 10 at respective corners.

As best seen in Figure 5 each device comprises a flat elongated mounting plate 24, projecting from which are two resiliently deformable plates 26 inclined toward each other at their free ends. The mounting plate 24 has two holes 27 for securing the plug element to the desk top and can pivot about the hole furthest from the plates 26 to take up either of the positions shown in full and dotted lines respectively in Figure 5. At the same end of the desk top as the plug elements, there are provided two rows of four studs 28. Each stud, as shown best in Figure 2, comprises a screw threaded portion 30. a lip 32 which determines the depth to which the stud can be screwed into the desk top, and an enlarged head 34 suitably formed for engagement with a screw-driver.

It will be noted that a neck portion is defined between the lip 32 and head 34 of each stud. The eight studs in fact comprise two alternative sets of four studs arranged at the corners of the square, and the two sets are distinguished in Figure 1 as 28 and 28'.

The two tubular legs 14 are each of square cross-section and may, if required, be fitted with suitable feet. An aperture 40 is provided in the length of each leg by folding inwardly a rectangular portion of the wall of the leg, which portion thus forms a flange 42 extending toward the opposing wall of the leg. The flange 42 does not extend fully across the leg and, as seen best in Figure 6, a slot 44 is defined between the inner edge of the flange and the interior surface of the leg opposed to the aperture 40.

The two L-shaped leg assemblies 16 each comprise a tubular leg 50 of similar appearance to the legs 14 described above, and an elongate mounting arm 52 secured rigidly to and extending perpendicularly from the leg 50. The arms 52 are each provided with a series of screw holes (not shown) spaced along their length to allow the leg assemblies to be screwed to the underside of the desk top. For this purpose two sets of pre-drilled holes 54 and 54' corresponding respectivelv with assembly of the kit as a right or left handed pedestal desk, are provided in the underside of the desk top.

The pedestal 12 is generally of conventional construction having side walls 60 and, on the upper and lower surfaces of the pedestal, cross pieces 62. On the upper surface of the pedestal, as shown in Figure 2 and 3, two battens 64 are secured perpendicularly between the cross pieces 62, to provide a mounting for devices 66 which are arranged for cooperation with the studs 28 or 28' projecting from the underside of the desk top to support the pedestal pendantly beneath the desk top. There are two devices 66 mounted on each batten 64 and the spacing between the devices corresponds with the positions of studs 28 or 28'. Each device 66 comprises a cranked plate having end portions 68 flatwise engaging the batten 64 and screwed thereto and a central portion 70 spaced from the batten and provided with an open ended slot 72.The four devices 66 are further provided with a resilent locking tongue 74 which extends diagonally toward the slot 72 from the end portion 68 adjacent the open end of the slot.

At the lower surface of the pedestal, two leg retaining members 80 are provided, each positioned generally below one of the plug elements 22. Each member 80 comprises a base plate 82 formed with two screw holes and a tongue 84 extending from the base plate 82 and bifurcated at its free end to provide respectively downwardly and upwardly projecting flanges 86 and 86'.

The manner in which the described kit of parts is assembled to form a desk can now be understood. First, a choice between a left-handed and a right handed pedestal desk is made. If a right handed pedestal is required, the plug elements 22 are left in the orientations shown in Figure 1 and - in full lines - in Figure 5. For a left handed pedestal, each element 22 must be rotated through 1800 about the free end of mounting plate 24. The pedestal can then be mounted (see Figures 2 and 3). This is achieved for a right handed pedestal desk by locating each stud 28 within the open end of slot 72 of the respective device 66 - and this is more easily done with the desk top lying underside uppermost on the floor - and then sliding the pedestal transversely of the desk top in a direction so as to locate each stud 28 fully within the corresponding slot 72. During this movement the locking tongue 74 is deflected towards the batten 64 to allow the associated stud to pass and then returns to the position shown in Figure 2 thereby preventing rearward movement and possible disengagement of the pedestal. With a left handed arrangement the procedure is very similar but the pedestal of course faces the opposite direction and the studs 28' are used rather than the studs 28.

The position of the retaining members 80 also differs between left and right handed desks. With a right handed desk, they are screwed into the positions shown in Figure 1 but for a left handed desk they must be aligned with the two opposite corners of the lower surface of the pedestal so as to be in the correct positions when the pedestal is reversed. It will be seen particularly from Figure 7 that the devices 80 have no mirror symmetry because of the fact that tongue 84 projects from a corner of base plate 82. This is essential to achieve alignment with the corresponding plug element 22. As a result of this handedness, however, different retaining elements would normally be required for left and right handed desks and four retaining members would be required in the kit, two of these being discarded once the choice between left and right handed pedestal desks has been made.In the described embodiment, however, this difficulty is overcome by providing each member 80 with two opposed flanges 86 and 86' only one of which is strictly required in the completed desk. By turning over the member 82 shown in Figure 7 to a position in which flange 86 is uppermost, it can be made suitable for attachment to the opposite corner of the pedestal in a left handed arrangement. Two retaining members only are thus required in the kit.

With the pedestal in position and the two retaining members 80 screwed in place. the two tubular legs 14 can be affixed in the manner shown in Figure 4. Initially, each leg 14 is aligned with the pedestal so that the plates 26 of the plug element 22 project a short distance into the upper hollow end of the leg and so that tongue 84 of the corresponding retaining member 80 projects through the aperture 40 with the flanges 86 and 86' engaging the interior surface of the leg opposed to the aperture. As shown at a) and b) of Figure 4, this alignment is most easily achieved by means of a rotational movement of the leg about its hollow upper end accompanied by a bodily movement of the legs toward the desk top.The attachment of the leg is completed by a longitudinal movement toward the desk top so that plug element 22 becomes fully engaged as a close fit with the hollow upper end of the leg, with the downwardly projecting flange of retaining member 22 (86 for a right handed arrangement, 86' for left handed) entering into the slot 44 formed between the flange 42 and the opposing interior surface of the leg. The final orientation of each leg 14 is shown at c) of Figure 4. The engagement of the plug elements 22 within respective sockets formed by the open ends of the corresponding hollow legs is that of a tight fit. with the resilience of the two plates 26 serving both to provide a locking effect and to enable slight variations in dimensions of the hollow legs to be taken up.The retaining member 80 achieves a secure engagement with the leg, first by means of the tongue 84 which when the desk is turned the correct way up rests upon the flange 42 and, second, by the flange 86 which is a tight fit within the slot 42. Preferably, flange 42 is arranged to undergo a slight deformation as the position shown in Figure 4 c) is reached, so that flange 86 is gripped resiliently.

The desk is completed by screwing into place the two L-shaped leg assemblies and then mounting the side and rear panels 18 and 20 respectively. Screws passing through screw holes in the mounting arm 52 of each assembly are engaged with the pre-drilled holes 54 or 54' associated with the right or left handed orientation of the pedestal as appropriate. The side and rear panels are conveniently provided along their upper edges with integral pins (not shown) for engagement with complementary recesses in the underside of the desk top and may be further held in position by means of, for example, a tie rod extending between legs 50 so as to lie in a groove along the lower edge of the side panel, and brackets on the rear panel to enable connection to the pedestal and to the adjacent leg 50.The attachment of the two panels does not however form part of this invention and any convenient method could be employed.

It will be appreciated that the described kit of parts can be thus assemblied with a minimum of time and effort to form a left or a right handed pedestal desk. The method of attaching the legs 14 is particularly advantageous and combines ease of assembly with rigidity in the completed structure.

If desired the plug and socket connection of the upper end of the leg could be reversed, with the plug being provided on the leg, whilst maintaining the essential features of this invention. It should be realised that the method of attaching a tubular leg as described has applications to other articles of furniture and is not limited to desks. In the example of a pedestal desk the method is particularly suitable, however, and the more so when combined with the described method of supporting the pedestal by means of couplings comprising one stud and one slotted part. Both the attachment of the pedestal to the desk top and of the hollow legs to the pedestal and to the desk top is then achieved by relative sliding movements between the parts.The stud and slotted parts of the coupling could of course be exchanged with the stud being provided on the pedestal rather than, as described, on the underside of the desk top.

The ability of one kit of parts to be assembled into either a left or a right handed pedestal desk allows particular economies of storage and transport on the part of the manufacture. The purchaser benefits as well, since if circumstances change, his right-handed desk can be reassemblied to form a left-handed desk, or vice versa. With simple modifications, a kit of parts accord ng to the invention can or course he provided for assembly to form a double pedestal desk. In this ease each pedestal would be attached to the desk top as hereinbefore deseribed and all four legs would be attached in the manner described above for the straight tubular legs 14.

Certain features of the desk hereinbefore described are described and claimed in co-pending patent application No 7187/79.

Serial No 1571588 WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A kit of parts for asscmbly to form an article of furniture, comprising elongate tubular legs each having an aperture in the length thereof and a transverse flange ex tending inwardly of the leg adjacent the aperture to define a slot between an inner edge of the flange and an interior surface of the leg opposed to the aperture; a plug and socket conncction for each leg comprising complementary members on or adapted to be mounted on the leg and a further part of the kit respectively, the members being mutually engageable upon longitudinal movement of the leg and spaced in the assembled article from said aperture; and a retaining member for each leg secured or adapted to be secured to a part of the kit so as to projeet through the aperture of the leg when the associated plug and socket members are mutually aligned, the retaining member being provided with a tongue adapted for engagement within said slot upon longitudinal movement of the leg in a sense to engage the associated plug and socket members.

2. A kit of parts according to Claim 1, wherein the plug and socket members for each leg respectively comprise a plug element on or adapted to be mounted on a part of the kit, and an open end of the leg.

3. A kit of parts according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each flange is adapted to be resiliently deflected by the tongue of the corresponding retaining member upon entry of the tongue into the associated slot, the flange thereafter serving to lock the tongue within the slot.

4. A kit of parts according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flange of each leg extends inwardly from the periphery of the aperture and is integral with the tubular leg.

5. A kit of parts for assembly to form a pedestal desk according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, comprising a desk top; a pedestal for pendant location beneath the desk top to provide storage space: two said tubular legs and means for supporting the desk top at a location spaced from the pedestal. wherein the two plug elements are secured or adapted to be secured to the underside of the desk top and the two retaining members are secured or adapted to be secured to the pedestal.

6. A kit of parts according to Claim 5, wherein the pedestal is adapted for pendant location beneath the desk top at either of two positions spaced transversely of the desk top corresponding to assembly of the kit as a right-handed or left-handed pedestal desk respectively.

7. A kit of parts according to Claim 6, wherein each plug element is mounted on a corresponding arm which is pivotally secured to the underside of the desk top for rotation about an axis normal to the desk top, there being means provided for locking each arm in either of two positions with respect to the desk top so as to present the corresponding plug element in the correct orientation for assembly of the kit as a right-handed or left-handed pedestal desk respectively.

8. A kit of parts according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, comprising a plurality of coupling means which each comprise a stud part and a slotted part with the parts of each coupling means secured respectively to facing surfaces of the desk top and of the pedestal whereby during assembly the pedestal may be moved in a direction parallel to the plane of the desk top to mutually engage the respective parts of each coupling means thereby to locate the pedestal pendantly beneath the desk top.

9. A kit of parts according to Claim 8, wherein the slotted part of each coupling means comprises a cranked bracket having a first portion flatwise engaging one of said facing surfaces and a second portion spaced from said surface and formed with an open ended slot, and the stud part is formed with a neck portion for cooperation with the slot.

10. A kit of parts according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein each coupling means comprises a further part identical with one of said parts, the two identical parts of each coupling means being secured to the underside of the desk top at corresponding positions spaced transversely of the desk top, the pedestal being thereby locatable at either of two positions corresponding to assembly of the kit as a right or left handed pedestal desk.

II. An article of furniture assembled from a kit of parts according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A kit of parts for assembly to form an article of furniture, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawines.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ng to the invention can or course he provided for assembly to form a double pedestal desk. In this ease each pedestal would be attached to the desk top as hereinbefore deseribed and all four legs would be attached in the manner described above for the straight tubular legs 14. Certain features of the desk hereinbefore described are described and claimed in co-pending patent application No 7187/79. Serial No 1571588 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A kit of parts for asscmbly to form an article of furniture, comprising elongate tubular legs each having an aperture in the length thereof and a transverse flange ex tending inwardly of the leg adjacent the aperture to define a slot between an inner edge of the flange and an interior surface of the leg opposed to the aperture; a plug and socket conncction for each leg comprising complementary members on or adapted to be mounted on the leg and a further part of the kit respectively, the members being mutually engageable upon longitudinal movement of the leg and spaced in the assembled article from said aperture; and a retaining member for each leg secured or adapted to be secured to a part of the kit so as to projeet through the aperture of the leg when the associated plug and socket members are mutually aligned, the retaining member being provided with a tongue adapted for engagement within said slot upon longitudinal movement of the leg in a sense to engage the associated plug and socket members.