US20080054141A1

US20080054141A1 - Table adapter

Info

Publication number: US20080054141A1
Application number: US11/514,563
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin T. Koehler
Original assignee: Hunter Fan Co
Current assignee: Hunter Fan Co
Priority date: 2006-09-01
Filing date: 2006-09-01
Publication date: 2008-03-06
Also published as: CN101135332A; CA2599916A1

Abstract

A tabletop adapter (10) is disclosed which is adapted to be mounted to a pole (12). The tabletop adapter has a compression device (19) and a tabletop (20). The compression device includes a compression tube (21), a compression collar (22), and an alignment pin (23). The compression tube has a flange (24), an externally threaded portion (25), and an externally tapered portion (26). The tapered portion has a series of slots (29) therein which allow the diameter of the tapered portion to vary with the application of an inwardly directed force thereon. The compression collar has a tubular, internally threaded portion (31) from which extends an internally tapered portion (32). The internally tapered portion is configured to engage the externally tapered portion of the compression tube. The tabletop has a central hole (38) therein configured to receive and thereby be journalled onto the pole.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to adapters which enable a tabletop to be mounted to a pole and a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been well known to construct tables having legs. Some tables have been designed which include an integrated central pole mounted to the underside of a tabletop and a base mounted to the opposite end of the pole. These tables are typically fixed in height.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a table that can be adjusted in height or a table that can be converted from a pre-existing pole. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention a tabletop adapter configured to be coupled to an upright pole comprises an annular compression collar having an inner portion and an outer portion mateably coupled to the inner portion. The inner portion is compressible through movement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion. The adapter also has a tabletop having a hole therethrough configured to allow the passage of the upright pole therethrough. The tabletop is coupled to the compression collar. With this construction, the compression collar may be mounted to the upright pole and the outer portion moved relative to the inner portion so that the compression collar grips the upright pole thereby locking the position of the tabletop upon the upright pole.
In another preferred form of the invention a table comprises a base, an upright pole extending from the base, a compression device journalled upon the pole for relative movement there along, and a tabletop coupled to the compression device and having a hole therethrough to enable the tabletop to be journalled upon the pole for relative movement there along. With this construction, the height of the tabletop may be adjusted by moving the tabletop along the pole and then fixing the position by actuating the compression device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop adapter embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form, the tabletop adapter is shown mounted to the pole section of a pole fan.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tabletop adapter and a portion of the pole section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop adapter and a portion of the pole section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compression collar of the tabletop adapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compression tube of the tabletop adapter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a tabletop adapter 10 in a preferred form of the invention. The tabletop adapter 10 is shown mounted to the pole section 12 of a pole fan 13. The pole fan 13 has a base 14 and a fan assembly 15 opposite the base. The pole section 12 has a series of mounting holes 17 therein.
The tabletop adapter 10 has a compression device 19 and a tabletop 20 mounted to the compression device 19. The compression device 19 includes a compression tube or inner portion 21, a compression collar or outer portion 22 adapted to mate with the compression tube 21, and an alignment pin 23.
The compression tube 21 has a gripping flange 24, an externally threaded portion 25, and an externally tapered portion 26, as best shown in FIG. 5. The flange 24 has a notch 27 configured to receive a top portion of the alignment pin 23. The tapered portion 26 has a series of slots 29 therein which allow the internal diameter of the tapered portion 26 to vary with the application of an inwardly directed force thereon.
The compression collar 22 has a tubular, internally threaded portion 31 from which extends an internally tapered portion 32, as best shown in FIG. 4. The internally tapered portion 32 is configured to engage the externally tapered portion 26 of the compression tube. The compression collar 22 also has a mounting flange 34 extending from the top edge of the tapered portion 32. The mounting flange 34 has a series of mounting holes 35 therein through which mounting screws 36 are passed and threaded into the underside of the tabletop 20.
The tabletop 20 has a central hole 38 therein configured to receive and thereby be journalled onto the pole section of the pole fan.
In use, the alignment pin 23 is positioned within a pole section mounting hole 17 below the desired height of the tabletop 20. With the compression collar 22 loosely coupled to the compression tube 21, the pole section 12 is then journalled through the central hole 38 of the tabletop. If the pole section is that of a pole fan, the pole section must be removed from either the base or the fan assembly or must be comprised of more than one pole portion to allow the pole to pass into the tabletop hole.
Once the compression tube flange 24 comes to rest upon the alignment pin 23 the compression tube 21 is rotated to a position wherein the alignment pin 23 falls into the flange notch 27, thereby restricting further rotation about the pole section. The compression collar 22 is then rotated relative to the compression tube 21, causing the compression collar internally tapered portion 32 to be forced inwardly against the compression tube externally tapered portion 26, as shown in FIG. 3 This force causes the externally tapered portion 26 to contract and firmly grip the pole section 12, thereby locking the position of the tabletop adapter to the pole section.
It should be understood that the alignment pin 23 is not mandatory as the compression device 19 may be operated without such. However, the alignment pin eases the operation by supporting the tabletop adapter in position as the compression device is actuated.
It should be understood that the present invention may be utilized with any upright pole and is not intended to be limited to a combination which includes pole fans.
It thus is seen that a tabletop adapter or adjustable height table is now provided which overcomes problems with those of the prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tabletop adapter configured to be coupled to an upright pole, the tabletop adapter comprising:

(a) an annular compression collar having an inner portion and an outer portion mateably coupled to said inner portion, said inner portion having being compressible through movement of said inner portion relative to said outer portion, and

(b) a tabletop having a hole therethrough configured to allow the passage of the upright pole therethrough, said tabletop being coupled to said compression collar,

whereby the compression collar may be mounted to the upright pole and the outer portion moved relative to the inner portion so that the compression collar grips the upright pole thereby locking the position of the tabletop upon the upright pole.

2. The tabletop adapter of claim 1 wherein said inner portion and said outer portion have threads and wherein said inner portion and said outer portion are threadably coupled to each other so that rotational movement of said outer portion causes said inner portion to be compressed upon the upright pole.

3. The tabletop adapter of claim 2 further including an alignment pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said inner portion is configured to mate with said alignment pin to prevent rotational movement of said inner portion.

4. The tabletop adapter of claim 1 wherein said outer portion has a mounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted to said mounting flange.

5. A tabletop adapter comprising a compression device having a threaded compression tube and a threaded compression collar adapted to be coupled to said compression tube to impart a compression force upon said compression tube, a tabletop coupled to said compression device, wherein the compression device and tabletop may be journalled upon a pole and fixed in location thereon through operation of the compression device.

6. The tabletop adapter of claim 5 wherein said compression tube and said compression collar have threads and wherein said compression tube and said compression collar are threadably coupled to each other so that rotational movement of one to the other causes said compression tube to be compressed upon the upright pole.

7. The tabletop adapter of claim 6 further including an alignment pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said compression tube is configured to mate with said alignment pin to prevent rotational movement of said compression tube.

8. The tabletop adapter of claim 5 wherein said compression collar has a mounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted to said mounting flange.

9. A table comprising:

a base;

an upright pole extending from said base;

a compression device journalled upon said pole for relative movement there along; and

a tabletop coupled to said compression device and having a hole therethrough to enable said tabletop to be journalled upon said pole for relative movement there along,

whereby the height of the tabletop may be adjusted by moving the tabletop along the pole and then fixing the position by actuating the compression device.

10. The tabletop adapter of claim 9 wherein said compression device includes a threaded compression tube and a threaded compression collar adapted to be coupled to said compression tube to impart a compression force upon said compression tube.

11. The tabletop adapter of claim 10 wherein said compression tube and said compression collar have threads and wherein said compression tube and said compression collar are threadably coupled to each other so that rotational movement of one to the other causes said compression tube to be compressed upon the upright pole.

12. The tabletop adapter of claim 11 further including an alignment pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said compression tube is configured to mate with said alignment pin to prevent rotational movement of said compression tube.

13. The tabletop adapter of claim 10 wherein said compression collar has a mounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted to said mounting flange.

14. The tabletop adapter of claim 9 wherein said pole is the upright portion of a pole fan.