GB2035069A

GB2035069A - Table tops

Info

Publication number: GB2035069A
Application number: GB7937247A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PEL Ltd
Current assignee: PEL Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-26
Filing date: 1979-10-26
Publication date: 1980-06-18

Abstract

A laminated table including a rectangular top formed with a frame 12 with sheets 14 forming upper and lower planar surfaces, the upper surface, the edges and at least part of the lower surface being covered with a sheet 16 of laminated material, the sheet 16, frame 12 and sheets 14 being cut away at the corners, these cut away portions being filled with corner pieces 20 secured to the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Laminated table This invention relates to laminated tables and to the method of construction thereof.

According to one aspect of the present invention a laminated table includes a rectangular top formed from a frame assembly having planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface of which is covered by a sheet of laminate material which is wrapped round the edges and covering at least part of the lower surface of the frame assembly, the laminate being cut away at each of the corners of the table top, the cut away portions being filled by corner pieces which are secured to the frame member.

The frame assembly is preferably formed from a wooden frame, which defines the edges of the table, with thin wooden, hard board or chipboard sheets secured thereto to form the upper and lower surfaces of the frame assembly. The space between the upper and lower surfaces may be filled with a light weight rigid material in order to add to the rigidity of the completed table top.

According to a further aspect of the invention a method of construction of a laminated table includes forming a frame assembly having planar upper and lower surfaces, applying a sheet of laminate to the upper surface, around the edges and to at least a portion of the lower surface of the frame assembly, cutting away a portion of the laminate at the corners of the top and filling the cutaway portions of the laminate with corner pieces.

A laminated table formed in accordance with the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a part sectional exploded view of a corner of the table.

As shown in the drawing the table top 11 is formed with a frame assembly including a rectangular frame 1 2 made of straight wood or chipboard members, the outwardly presented edges 1 3 and corners being rounded.

This wooden frame 1 2 is covered on both upper and lower faces with 3mm thick sheets 14 of plywood, hardboard or chipboard. The space between the sheets 1 4 is filled with a reinforcing layer 15, in the form of a paper honeycomb or rigid plastic foam, in order to form a rigid construction.

A sheet 1 6 of plastic laminate is boned to the sheet 14 forming the upper surface of the table top, round the frame edges and to the periphery of the sheet 14 forming the lower surface. The sheet of laminate 1 6 is cut roughly to shape at the corners, in order to permit the laminate to be applied smoothly round the corners, even though the edges of the laminate at the corners do not meet accurately.At the corners of the table top the laminate 1 6 and also portions of the wooden frame 1 2 and sheets 1 4 are removed by cutting or milling, to form an accurately dimensioned parallel sided recess 1 9. This recess 1 9 is filled by a moulded plastic corner piece 20 which has an external surface portion which conforms accurately in shape with the adjacent surfaces of the top and outer edge of the laminate around the recess 1 9.

The moulded plastic corner piece is provided with a pair of spigots 21 which engage tightly in corresponding holes formed in the wooden frame 1 2 to retain the corner piece in position. A second piece 22 of plastic laminate is bonded to the uncovered portion of the lower surface of the table top to produce a continuous laminated surface.

Tubular metal legs 24 of oval section are secured to the underside of the table top 11, adjacent each corner thereof, by means of brackets 25 which are welded to the upper ends of the legs 24. At each corner a portion of the leg and of the bracket extends into the underside of the recess 1 9 in the table top 11, the lower portion 26 of the corner piece 20 being shaped to abut the leg 24. Plastic end caps 27 are provided at the lower end of each leg 24.

The above described construction provides a light weight rigid table top of solid appearance. The plastic corner pieces simplify considerably the laminating process, in that they avoid the need to form the corners from such laminate by accurate cutting and shaping.

Various modifications may be made to the above described construction without departing from the invention. For example, on larger table tops, the rectangular frame 1 2 may be provided with one or more reinforcing cross members, furthermore triangular reinforcing members may be provided at the corners.

Also instead of securing the corner pieces by means of spigots, they may be secured in position by any other suitable means for example, gluing. Instead of using oval section tube for the legs 24, caps 27 and corresponding part of the bracket 25, any other suitable shape of tube section can of course be used.

1. A laminated table includes a rectangular top formed from a frame assembly having planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface of which is covered by a sheet of laminate material which is wrapped round the edges and covering at least part of the lower surface of the frame assembly, the laminate being cut away at each of the corners of the table top, the cut away portions bveing filled by corner pieces which are secured to the frame member.

2. A table as claimed in Claim 1 in which the frame assembly is formed from a wooden frame, which defines the edges of the table, with thin wooden, hardboard or chipboard

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Laminated table This invention relates to laminated tables and to the method of construction thereof. According to one aspect of the present invention a laminated table includes a rectangular top formed from a frame assembly having planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface of which is covered by a sheet of laminate material which is wrapped round the edges and covering at least part of the lower surface of the frame assembly, the laminate being cut away at each of the corners of the table top, the cut away portions being filled by corner pieces which are secured to the frame member. The frame assembly is preferably formed from a wooden frame, which defines the edges of the table, with thin wooden, hard board or chipboard sheets secured thereto to form the upper and lower surfaces of the frame assembly. The space between the upper and lower surfaces may be filled with a light weight rigid material in order to add to the rigidity of the completed table top. According to a further aspect of the invention a method of construction of a laminated table includes forming a frame assembly having planar upper and lower surfaces, applying a sheet of laminate to the upper surface, around the edges and to at least a portion of the lower surface of the frame assembly, cutting away a portion of the laminate at the corners of the top and filling the cutaway portions of the laminate with corner pieces. A laminated table formed in accordance with the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a part sectional exploded view of a corner of the table. As shown in the drawing the table top 11 is formed with a frame assembly including a rectangular frame 1 2 made of straight wood or chipboard members, the outwardly presented edges 1 3 and corners being rounded. This wooden frame 1 2 is covered on both upper and lower faces with 3mm thick sheets 14 of plywood, hardboard or chipboard. The space between the sheets 1 4 is filled with a reinforcing layer 15, in the form of a paper honeycomb or rigid plastic foam, in order to form a rigid construction. A sheet 1 6 of plastic laminate is boned to the sheet 14 forming the upper surface of the table top, round the frame edges and to the periphery of the sheet 14 forming the lower surface. The sheet of laminate 1 6 is cut roughly to shape at the corners, in order to permit the laminate to be applied smoothly round the corners, even though the edges of the laminate at the corners do not meet accurately.At the corners of the table top the laminate 1 6 and also portions of the wooden frame 1 2 and sheets 1 4 are removed by cutting or milling, to form an accurately dimensioned parallel sided recess 1 9. This recess 1 9 is filled by a moulded plastic corner piece 20 which has an external surface portion which conforms accurately in shape with the adjacent surfaces of the top and outer edge of the laminate around the recess 1 9. The moulded plastic corner piece is provided with a pair of spigots 21 which engage tightly in corresponding holes formed in the wooden frame 1 2 to retain the corner piece in position. A second piece 22 of plastic laminate is bonded to the uncovered portion of the lower surface of the table top to produce a continuous laminated surface. Tubular metal legs 24 of oval section are secured to the underside of the table top 11, adjacent each corner thereof, by means of brackets 25 which are welded to the upper ends of the legs 24. At each corner a portion of the leg and of the bracket extends into the underside of the recess 1 9 in the table top 11, the lower portion 26 of the corner piece 20 being shaped to abut the leg 24. Plastic end caps 27 are provided at the lower end of each leg 24. The above described construction provides a light weight rigid table top of solid appearance. The plastic corner pieces simplify considerably the laminating process, in that they avoid the need to form the corners from such laminate by accurate cutting and shaping. Various modifications may be made to the above described construction without departing from the invention. For example, on larger table tops, the rectangular frame 1 2 may be provided with one or more reinforcing cross members, furthermore triangular reinforcing members may be provided at the corners. Also instead of securing the corner pieces by means of spigots, they may be secured in position by any other suitable means for example, gluing. Instead of using oval section tube for the legs 24, caps 27 and corresponding part of the bracket 25, any other suitable shape of tube section can of course be used. CLAIMS

2. A table as claimed in Claim 1 in which the frame assembly is formed from a wooden frame, which defines the edges of the table, with thin wooden, hardboard or chipboard sheets secured thereto to form the upper and lower surfaces of the frame assembly.

3. A table as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the space between the upper and lower surfaces are filled with a light weight rigid material in order to add to the rigidity of the completed table top.

4. A table as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the corner cut away portions accomodate legs which support the table top, the corner pieces enclosing the ends of the legs.

5. A table as claimed in Claim 4, in which the legs are attached to brackets at the corners of the table top.

6. A method of construction of a laminated table including forming a frame assembly having planar upper upper and lower surfaces, applying a sheet of laminate to the upper surface, around the edges and to at least a portion of the lower surface of the frame assembly, cutting away a portion of the laminate at the corners of the top and filling the cutaway portions of the laminate with corner pieces.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the legs are fitted at the corners, into the cut away portions, the corner pieces being fitted to enclose the ends of the legs.

8. A laminated table substantially as here it before described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

9. A method of construction of a laminated table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.