NZ541076A

NZ541076A - Improvements to a table

Info

Publication number: NZ541076A
Application number: NZ541076A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Michael Prendergast
Original assignee: Mad Design Co
Priority date: 2005-04-19
Filing date: 2005-07-01
Publication date: 2006-12-22
Also published as: GB0507947D0; WO2006111742A1; EP1874155A1; CN101198268A; AU2006238669A1; US20080210144A1

Abstract

A table including a table top, the table top supported by a frame the table top having first and second opposing edges and opposing ends joining the edges, the opposing edges are angularly offset with respect to each other, the supporting frame has one or a of legs depending down from the table top, with a surface contact means in the form of a base stop, castor or roller provided at the free end of each leg, adjustment means positioned to allow the height of the table top to which the legs are connected, to be adjusted with respect to the floor wherein the adjustment means are provided intermediate the surface contact means and the free end of each leg, the table movable between a storage position and an in-use position and, in the in use position, the table top is held in a substantially horizontal plane and in the storage position in a substantially vertical plane lying adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the table support frame and wherein, the adjustment means comprise a threaded stem which is attached to either of the free end of the table leg or the surface contact means, and a threaded port into which the threaded stern can be selectively threaded and can be used for adjustment when the table is in the in-use or storage conditions.

Description

54 10 76 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS TO A TABLE l/WE MAD Design Co. Limited, a British company of Building 10, Heaton House, Boroughbridge, York, Y051 9HE, United Kingdom hereby declare the invention, for which I/We pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: lnte!i-?:tual Prooertv " O- --V 2. set I V £ c To be followed by Page 1A James & Wells Ref: 125015/0 RJ 1A Improvements to a Table The invention to which this application relates is a table, and features thereof. The table is of particular, although not necessarily exclusive, use as part of office, training or generally commercial furniture. The table can be used individually or in combination with other tables which incorporate some or all of the features as will herein be described so as to form a group of tables and a continuous table top surface.

The applicant, in their patent US6158358 discloses a table which has a table top shape which allows the same to be particularly useful when used in abutment with rectangular shaped table tops so as to join the same together and provide the same at a useful angle for group use. The applicant in their patent EP0966216 discloses a table in a form which allows the same to be moved between an in-use position in which the table top is substantially in a horizontal plane and a storage position in which the table top can be moved to a substantially vertical plane. The table can be moved between said storage and in-use positions without the need to remove the table top from the support frame or legs such that the frame and table top always remain as a single unit. Furthermore, the frame and legs are provided such that the same can be used to support the table even when in the storage position.

While both forms of the product have been found to be commercially successful, the applicant has developed further improvements which may be used with the previously described table feature or other table designs and these are now described herein.

In the first aspect of the invention there is provided a table including a table top, said table top supported by a frame said table top having first and second opposing edges and opposing ends joining said edges and wherein said opposing edges are angularly offset with respect to each other.

In one embodiment, the said angularly offset opposing edges, are positioned such that the same narrow inwardly towards the same table end so as to form an end of the table top which is shorter than the opposing end.

Typically, the opposing edges are straight while the ends of the table top may be curved or straight.

In another embodiment, the said opposing edges are curved and the ends are straight.

In one embodiment, there is provided the table' is provided in conjunction with a series of said tables to form a group of tables and wherein each of the table tops in the group have angularly offset opposed edges. Preferably the table tops with the said angularly offset opposed edges are placed to abut each other in the group of tables.

In one embodiment, in the group of tables, there is provided a plurality of tables which have the angularly offset opposed edges, but not all table tops need be of this shape. In one embodiment, the table tops with the opposed edges can be placed to abut each other or alternatively, tables with table tops of rectangular or square shape in plan can be positioned such that an edge of the same abuts one of the opposed side edges.

Typically, the group of tables can be selectively configured to suit particular uses for the same and in each case, a uniform continuous table top surface is formed.

In one embodiment, each of the table tops is supported by a frame connected thereto. In one embodiment, the frame comprises a frame base onto which the table top is placed and connected and one, or a series of legs, depending down from said frame base.

In one embodiment, at the end of the said legs is provided a castor or roller thereby allowing the tables to be moved about either for storage purposes or to allow the selected configuration of the same to be achieved.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a table having a table top and a supporting frame wherein the supporting frame for the table top has one or a series of legs depending down from said table top, with a surface contact means in the form of a base stop, castor or roller provided at the free, end of each leg with adjustment means positioned to allow the height of the table top to which the legs are connected, to be adjusted with respect to the floor wherein said adjustment means are provided intermediate the surface contact means and the free end of each leg.

In one embodiment the adjustment means comprises a threaded stem which is attached to either of the free end of the table leg or the surface contact means and a threaded port into which the threaded stem can be selectively threaded.

In one embodiment, the threaded stem includes an end stop which determines the lowest point of the table top and the free end of the threaded stem defines the highest point of the table top.

Preferably, the threaded stem is provided on the surface contact means and a knurled ring is located within the free end of the table top leg.

In one embodiment, a further ring is provided intermediate the knurled ring and the end stop on the threaded stem and, once the threaded stem has been introduced into the knurled ring such that the table top height is determined, the second ring can be adjusted on the threaded stem to abut the free end of the leg and therefore effectively lock the threaded stem with the knurled ring at the selected height.

In one embodiment the surface contact means is a stopper, caster roller or wheel.

In one embodiment the table is movable between a storage position and an in-use position and, in the in-use position, the table top is held in a substantially horizontal plane and in the storage position in a substantially vertical plane lying adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the table support frame and wherein, attached to said longitudinal edge of the table support frame is a panel which depends downwardly from said edge and said panel remains in situ when the table is in and moved between the storage and in-use positions.

Typically, when moved from a storage position to an in-use position, the longitudinal edge of the frame to which the panel is connected, and the panel, remain in a stationary position with arms which are pivotally connected to said longitudinal edge being pivoted away from the longitudinal edge to an extended position in which the same are locked in position with an opposing longitudinal edge which is mounted on the underside of the table top. The extension of the arms, to the free ends of which are connected first and second legs, enables the spacing of the first and second legs from the third and fourth legs of the table which are connected to the fixed longitudinal edge of the frame.

Once the arms are locked in position with regard to the opposing longitudinal edge on the underside of the table top then the table is effectively locked in the in-use position. To move the same to the storage position, the arms are unlocked from the longitudinal edge on the underside of the table top and then moved back towards the fixed longitudinal edge of the frame whereupon the table top is then free to be pivoted downwardly towards the vertical position.

Typically, the said panel is used as a modesty panel.

Preferably, the panel is supported on the longitudinal edge of the frame via four brackets.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figures 1A to J indicate plan views of table tops with some of the same in accordance with a first aspect of the invention; Figures 2A to D illustrate examples of embodiments of a group of tables formed using the table top shapes of Figures 1A to J; Figures 3A to C illustrate a further aspect of the invention; and Figures 4A to C illustrate a further embodiment of a table in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1A to J and 2A to D, there is illustrated a series of table tops 1 in plan, all or any combination of which may form a group of tables in accordance with a first aspect of the invention.

The table tops can have a support frame connected thereunder which is not shown in these drawings as the table frame can be of any suitable type. The tables can be split into two groups, those tables 2 which have a conventional square or rectangular table top shape and plan and which, if the same were joined end to end would simply form a relatively straight linear form which is unsuitable for many group uses. The second group of tables 4 are those which are in accordance with the invention and it is these shapes which allow the combination of tables in the group to be selected and the configurations to be selected and changed using the same group of tables. Examples of configurations are illustrated in Figures 2A to D.

In each case, the tables 4 have opposing edges 6, 8 which are angled, and also in some instances curved, with respect to each other so as to define, at one end of the table, a narrow end 10 and at the opposing end, a wider end 12. As is shown in certain of the examples, the ends can be curved or can have angled faces 16, 18. Figures 2A to D illustrate four groups 24, 26, 28, 30, each of which are formed using a combination of table top shapes from Figures 1A-J and it will be appreciated how the provision of the range of tables allows different configurations of a group of tables to be achieved for particular uses.

Turning now to Figures 3A to C, there is illustrated a further aspect of the invention and an end 42 of a table leg 40 is shown. At the end of the table leg 40 there is provided a surface contact means, in this case in the form of a castor 43, which can be provided with a brake 44 although this is not of particular relevance to the invention as described herein. Depending upwardly from the castor, there is provided a stem 46 which has at one end a threaded section 48 which depends upwardly" from an end stop 50. The free end 52 of the threaded section is provided to be located through a threaded aperture in knurled ring 56 which is located within the free end of the table leg. Intermediate the knurled ring and the end stop is a second threaded ring 58 which is located on the threaded section. Thus, when using a series of the table legs and surface contact means arrangement as herein described, the table top which is connected to the top 60 of the table leg, can be adjusted to a particular height with respect to the floor on which the castor is based.

To achieve this, the threaded section 48 can be rotated with respect to the table leg 46 so as to allow the threaded section to pass into the table leg to a greater extent thereby reducing the height of the table top or extended out of the table leg end to a greater extent thereby increasing the height of the table top. Once the height has reached the selected level, the second ring 58 can be tightened onto the end 42 of the table leg to lock the threaded stem 48 at the required height.

Turning now to Figures 4A to C, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. In this case, the invention is provided with regard to a table 80 which has a table top 82, a frame base 84 and legs 86 depending down from the base. The base is provided to have a fixed longitudinal edge 88, arms 89, 90. The arms can be moved as indicated by arrows 92, 94 respectively to an in-use position shown in Figures 4A to C in which the same are locked via locking means 96 to an edge 98 opposing the longitudinal edge 88. Figures 4A to C also show the provision of a modesty panel 102 which is attached via brackets 104, 106 to the fixed edge 88 of the frame such that the modesty panel suspends downwardly from the fixed edge of the frame. 8 It should be appreciated that the table in accordance with Figures 4A to C can be moved to a storage position and this is achieved by releasing the arms from the opposing edge 98 of the frame and then folding the same inwardly such that the same lie substantially closer to the fixed edge 88 of the frame and then allow the table top to be swung downwardly as indicated by the arrow 104 such that the same lies at a substantially vertical plane. However, it is important to note that the modesty panel can remain in position as it is attached to the fixed edge of the frame and thereby provide a table which can be moved between the storage and in-use positions and still can be provided with a modesty panel which remains in position in said storage and in-use positions.

The present invention therefore provides a series of features which can be used independently, or in any combination, to allow improvements to be provided to users of the tables.

Claims

1. A table including a table top, said table top supported by a frame said table top having first and second opposing edges and opposing ends joining said edges, said opposing edges are angularly offset with respect to each other, said supporting frame has one or a of legs depending down from said table top, with a surface contact means in the form of a base stop, castor or roller provided at the free end of each leg, adjustment means positioned to allow the height of the table top to which the legs are connected, to be adjusted with respect to the floor wherein said adjustment means are provided intermediate the surface contact means and the free end of each leg, said table movable between a storage position and an in-use position and, in the in-use position, the table top is held in a substantially horizontal plane and in the storage position in a substantially vertical plane lying adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the table support frame and wherein, said adjustment means comprise a threaded stem which is attached to either of the free end of the table leg or the surface contact means, and a threaded port into which the threaded stem can be selectively threaded and can be used for adjustment when the table is in the in-use or storage conditions.

2. A table according to claim 1 wherein the said angularly offset opposing edges of the said table are positioned such that the same narrow inwardly towards a common table end so as to form one end of the table top which is shorter than the opposing end.

3. A table according to claim 1 wherein the said opposing edges are straight. 4. A table according to claim 1 wherein the said opposing edges are curved. 10

4. A table according to claim 1 wherein the said opposing edges are curved.

5. A table according to claim 1 provided in conjunction with a series of said tables to form a group of table and wherein each of the table tops in the group have angularly offset opposed edges.

6. A table according to claim 5 wherein the table tops with the said angularly offset opposed edges are placed to abut each other in the group of tables.

7. A table according to claim 1 wherein the threaded stem includes an end which determines the lowest point of the table top and the free end of the threaded stem defines the highest point of the table top.

8. A table according to claim 1 wherein the threaded stem is provided on the surface contact means and a knurled ring with the threaded port is provided within the free end of the leg.

9. A table according to claim 8 wherein a threaded ring is provided intermediate the knurled ring and the surface contact means on the threaded stem.

10. A table according to claim 1, wherein attached to said longitudinal edge of the table support frame is a panel which depends downwardly from said edge and said panel remains in situ when the table is in and moved between the storage and the in-use positions.

11. A table according to claim 10 wherein when the table is moved from a storage position to an in-use position, the longitudinal edge of the frame to which the panel is connected, 11 and the panel, remain in a stationary position with arms which are pivotally connected to said longitudinal edge being pivoted away from the longitudinal edge to an extended position in which the same are locked in position with an opposing longitudinal edge which is mounted on the underside of the table top.

12. A table according to claim 10 wherein the said panel is used as a modesty panel.