GB2034177A - Work tables - Google Patents

Abstract

Work tables for use particularly in food preparation areas comprise two prefabricated end frames (10, 12) held in an upright parallel spaced- apart relationship by rectangular upper and lower frames extending between the end frames. The upper frame (14) forms a support for a work top (15) and the lower frame (16) serves to give the table rigidity. The work top can readily be turned over, and has an aluminium work surface on one side and a plastics work surface on the other side. The top can also be turned around end-to-end, so that wear of the work surfaces can be evened out. The top is in the form of a generally rectangular board with portions missing from the four corners to accommodate projecting upper portions of the end frames (10, 12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Work tables This invention is concerned with work tables, and especially food preparation tables for use in the food trade in food preparation areas.

Work tables should generally be of a sturdy construction, to provide a steady working surface, and of course should preferably be cheap to manufacture. For use in food preparation areas, work tables must meet certain standards in order that adequate standards of hygiene can be maintained. For equipping the food trade, it is desirable that preparation areas can be fitted out with work tables in a manner that makes for efficient use of space available. It is of course generally of advantage if work tables can be readily assembled and disassembled and if several work tables can simply be secured together to provide a larger work surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide a work table of an improved construction, and in accordance with the invention a work table comprises two pre-fabricated end frames held in an upright parallel spaced-apart relationship by upper and lower frames extending between the end frames, the upper frame forming a support for a work top and the lower frame serving to give the work table rigidity.

Preferably a work table according to the invention is of a construction such that a plurality of tables can be simply secured together to provide a continuous work top without gaps between the working surfaces of adjacent tables.

The work tables may be arranged to be bolted together.

For example for use in food preparation areas, a table according to the invention may have a work top which can be readily turned over, with a metal work surface on one side (for example, provided by a sheet of aluminium) and with a plastics work surface on the other side (for example provided by a sheet of Formica (Registered Trade Mark)). The table may be constructed so that the work top can readily be turned around (end-to-end, without changing the work surface) so that wear of the work surface can be evened out.

The invention also provides a work table comprising a supporting frame and a work top mounted on the frame in a manner that permits it to be readily turned over, so that either of two work surfaces on opposite sides of the work top can be employed, one of the work surfaces being a metal surface.

The invention also provides a work table comprising a supporting frame and a work top mounted on the frame in a manner that permits it to be readily turned over, so that either of two work surfaces on opposite sides of the work top can be employed, the work top being in the form of a generally rectangular board with portions missing from the four corners to accommodate projecting upper portions of the frame.

There now follows a description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of a work table according to the invention which is described by way of example.

In the drawing the work table is shown in perspective with one end frame detached and with a work top removed.

The work table comprises two pre-fabricated end frames 10 and 12 held in an upright parallel spaced-apart relationship by parallel, oblong rectangular, upper 14 and lower 1 6 frames extending between the end frames. The upper frame 14 forms a support for a generally rectangular work top 1 5. The lower frame 1 6 gives rigidity to the work table. The four frames 10, 12, 14 and 16 together form a supporting frame for the work top 1 5.

Each of the end frames 10 and 12 is fabricated from four rectangular hollow section, extruded aluminium pieces which are welded together, two upright pieces 1 8 being joined by upper 20 and lower 21 cross-pieces. Upper end portions 1 9 of the upright pieces 1 8 project above the level of the upper cross-piece 20.

Each of the upper and lower frames 14 and 16 is fabricated from four, angle section, extruded aluminium pieces, the four pieces being welded together at mitred corner joints.

The upper and lower frames 14 and 1 6 are bolted to the end frames 10 and 12, the upper frames 1 4 being bolted to the upper cross-pieces 20 and the lower frame 1 6 being bolted to the lower cross-pieces 21.

So that the work table can be levelled on uneven ground, and so that the height of the work surface can be adjusted, four tubes 22 carrying feet 24 are adjustably slidably mounted in the upright pieces 18 of the end frames 10 and 12 and can be locked (by means not shown) in a selected position.

The work top 1 5 is in the form of a generally rectangular board made up of a base layer of 3/4 inch thick plywood of which one of the two opposite major surfaces is covered with a sheet of 24 gauge food approved aluminium sheet and the other of the two major surfaces is covered with a sheet of Formica. The work top is cut away at each corner 26 and is of a length such that, when resting on the upper frame 14, end portions 28 of the top 1 5 rest on the upper cross-pieces 20 of the end frames 10 and 12, between the upper end portions 19 of the end frames. Thus the work top is retained in position by the upper end portions 1 9 of the end frames which are accommodated in the missing corner portions of the rectangular work top.The work top is thus mounted on the upper frame 14 so that it can readily be turned over, so that either of the aluminium and Formica work surfaces can be used as required. The work top can also readily be turned around (end-to-end, without changing the work surface) so that wear of the work surface can be evened out. Other forms of work top may be found preferable for other circumstances.

The table is of a construction such that a plurality of tables can be simply secured together to provide a continuous work top without gaps between the work surfaces of adjacent tables. The tables can be bolted together, bolt holes being provided in the end frames 10 and 12 and the upper frame 14 for this purpose. The work top, when mounted on the upper frame 14, extends widthwise and lengthwide to the periphery of the assembly of the upper frame 14 and the end frames 10 and 12. However in an alternative arrangement, one end portion 28 of the work top 1 5 might extend to a distance only half way across the upper cross-piece 20 of one of the end frames, so that an end portion of another work top can be supported by the same end frame.

Through the upright pieces 1 8 of the end frames 10 and 12 are, in the work table described above of a plain rectangular hollow section, they might alternatively be of a rectangular hollow double section. In the latter case, tubes carrying feet could extend up one of the two tubular passages formed by the double hollow section, with the advantage that the feet can be set-in from the periphery of the work table and be less likely to be accidentally kicked.

Claims (13)

1. A work table comprising two pre-fabricated end frames held in an upright parallel spacedapart relationship by upper and lower frames extending between the end frames, the upper frame forming a support for a work top and the lower frame serving to give the work table rigidity.

2. A table according to Claim 1 in which the work top can readily be turned over, so that work surfaces on opposite sides of the work top can be used.

3. A table according to Claim 2 in which the work top has a metal work surface on one side and a plastics work surface on the other side.

4. A table according to either one 6f Claims 2 and 3 in which one of the work surfaces is an aluminium surface.

5. A table according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the work top can readily be turned around, end-to-end, so that wear of a work surface in use of the table can be evened out.

6. A table according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the work top is in the form of a generally rectangular board with portions missing from the four corners to accommodate upper end portions of the end frames.

7. A table according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the end frames are made up of rectangular hollow section aluminium pieces welded together.

8. A table according to Claim 7 in which four tubes carrying feet are adjustably slidably mounted in upright pieces of the end frames, to enable the height of the table to be varied.

9. A work table comprising a supporting frame and a work top mounted on the frame in a manner that permits it to be readily turned over, so that either of two work surfaces on opposite sides of the work top can be employed, one of the work surfaces being a metal surface.

10. A table according to Claim 9 in which the other of the work surfaces is a plastics surface.

11. A work table comprising a supporting frame and a work top mounted on the frame in a manner that permits it to be readily turned over, so that either of two work surfaces on opposite sides of the work top can be employed, the work top being in the form of a generally rectangular board with portions missing from the four corners to accommodate projecting upper portions of the frame.

12. A table according to Claim 11 in which the work top can readily be turned around end-to-end.

13. A work table constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.