NZ609987A - A desk or table - Google Patents

Abstract

609987 An attachment mechanism is disclosed by means of which a desk top (2) can be quickly attached to a steel frame (3). Recesses (13) having a plastic side wall are formed in the underside of the top (2). At corresponding locations on the frame (3) are located upstanding fingers (8) each of which has a barb. The desk top or table top (2) is pushed downwardly onto the frame (3) so that the upper ends of the fingers (8) penetrate the recesses. The inter-engagement of the barbs and the walls of the recesses (13) quickly and permanently maintains the top (2) mounted on the frame (3). Such a desk or table is disclosed as complying with a tipping test stipulated by Australian Standards.

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A DESK OR TABLE We SEBEL FURNITURE LTD, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia of 92 Gow Street, PADSTOW New South Wales 2211 AUSTRALIA 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, and particularly described in and by the following statement: 3004FJ-NZ The present invention relates to furniture, such as desks or tables, which have a frame and a top. In particular, the present invention relates to an attachment mechanism for attaching the top to the frame.

Many desks and tables have a fabricated metal frame and a top which is fabricated from timber, or timber substitutes. In order to attach the top to the frame, the frame is normally provided with a number of small L-shaped brackets each of which has a hole through which is passed the shank of a self-tapping screw or similar fastener. The shank is then screwed into the timber and draws the top against the frame. This arrangement has the advantage that the top can be removed, however, the screwing of the individual fasteners is laborious even with electrically operated screwdriver devices such as powered drills.

When a desk or table has the top assembled to the frame, the assembled item of furniture occupies a considerable volume. It is therefore desirable in many instances to transport large numbers of desks or tables with the top not yet assembled onto the frame. This means that the assembly must take place at the final destination which is normally the customer’s premises such as a school or like educational institution.

The genesis of the present invention is a desire to enable a desk top or table top to be quickly attached to a frame, preferably without the use of any screws or similar fasteners, so that the assembly procedure can be carried out quickly at the customer’s premises.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an attachment mechanism for attaching a desk top or table top to a support frame, said mechanism comprising at least one recess formed in one of said top or frame, said recess having a wall formed from rigid but deformable plastic, and the other of said top or frame having at least one finger formed from corrugated sheet material, the or each said finger including a barb thereon, each said finger and recess being dimensioned so that each finger can be received in the corresponding recess with said barb being resiliently deformed by, and engaging, said wall to thereby retain said finger(s) retained in said recess(s). 3004FJ-NZ According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a desk or table top to a support frame.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view taken through the frame of a table, the top being illustrated in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the underside of the table top of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmented enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through the assembled table top of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the attachment finger utilised in Figs. 1-3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the attachment finger of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the attachment finger of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an edge elevation of the attachment finger of Fig. 4; and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the table 1 of the preferred embodiment takes the form of a table top 2 and a frame 3. The frame 3 has four legs 4 (only two of which are illustrated in Fig. 1). The legs 4 are held in place by a rectangular support having two side rails 6 (only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 1) and two end rails 7 (both of which are illustrated in cross-section in Fig. 1). Welded to each of the rails 6, 7 are a plurality of fingers 8 each of which is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 4-8.

The table top 2 is fabricated from particle board or similar timber substitute and the upper surface of the table top 2 is covered with one of various plastic sheet materials such as those sold under the Registered Trade Mark FORMICA, or similar. The table top 2 is preferably provided with a moulded polypropylene bead 11 which extends around the periphery of the table top 2 and is fabricated as described in the present applicant’s PCT specification No. (Attorney Ref: 3004AH-WO).

In addition, the table top 2 is provided on its underside with a number of recesses 13 each of which is provided with an interior plastic wall as best illustrated in Fig. 3. 3004FJ-NZ The plastic wall 14 is fabricated in accordance with the disclosure of the applicant’s PCT specification No. (Attorney Ref: 3004BG/WO).

Turning now to Figs. 4-8, it will be seen that each of the fingers 8 preferably has a W- shaped configuration being formed from corrugated sheet metal and each trough of the corrugation is provided with a barb 16, the tip of which projects beyond the ridge of the adjacent corrugation. Each of the fingers 8 is secured to the rails 6, 7 by means of welding, or the like, and the uppermost portion of each finger 8 including the barb 16 projects beyond the upper edge of the rails 6, 7 as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

In order to assemble the top 2 to the frame 3, the frame 3 is placed in its normal upright position and the top 2 is positioned above the frame 3 so as to align the fingers 8 with the corresponding recesses 13. Then the table top 2 is pushed quickly downwardly so that the upper ends of the fingers 8 project into the corresponding recesses 13, thereby engaging the barbs 16 with the plastic wall 14. The barbs 16 are to some extent resilient and deform inwardly during the insertion procedure and then spring outwardly so as to securely lock the barb 16 by engagement with the wall 14.

In this manner the table top 2 is forced downwardly on to the plane defined by the upper edges of the rails 6, 7 thereby assembling the two components in an irreversible manner.

In particular, Australian standards for school desks and school tables provide for a tipping test, where the desk or table is tipped over onto a floor and the desk top or table top is required to remain engaged with the frame of the desk or table. The arrangement of the preferred embodiment easily meets the required Australian standard. Furthermore, the assembly is quick and easy and no tools are required in the assembly process.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the furniture arts, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in relation to Fig. 2 it will be apparent that the inclined recesses 13A are not intended to be engaged 3004FJ-NZ with the frame 3 but are instead intended to be engaged with a frame (not illustrated) having a different configuration from that of the frame 3.

The term “comprising” (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of “including” or “having” and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”. 3004FJ-NZ

Claims (6)

1. An attachment mechanism for attaching a desk top or table top to a support frame, said mechanism comprising at least one recess formed in one of said top or frame, said recess having a wall formed from rigid but deformable plastic, and the other of said top or frame having at least one finger formed from corrugated sheet material, the or each said finger including a barb thereon, each said finger and recess being dimensioned so that each finger can be received in the corresponding recess with said barb being resiliently deformed by, and engaging, said wall to thereby retain said finger(s) retained in said recess(s).

2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said recesses are in the underside of said top and said fingers are connected to, and extend from, said frame.

3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each said finger carries at least two barbs which extend from said finger in opposite directions.

4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said barbs are formed in the base of a valley of said corrugated sheet metal and project beyond the crest of the ridge adjacent said valley.

5. An attachment mechanism for attaching a desk top or table top to a support frame, said mechanism being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A method for attaching a desk top or table top to a support frame, said method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 24 day of June 2013 SEBEL FURNITURE LTD FRASER OLD & SOHN Patent Attorneys for the Applicants 3004FJ-NZ