US20080184917A1

US20080184917A1 - Tabletop attachment system

Info

Publication number: US20080184917A1
Application number: US11/672,345
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-07
Also published as: US20100012001A1

Abstract

A tabletop attachment system includes a first body and a second body mounted between the tabletop and the pedestal of the desk. The first body includes at least one detent extending therefrom, with the detent including a connecting portion and an engaging portion extending from the connecting portion. The second body includes at least one slot, with the slot having a first end for allowing the engaging portion to be inserted therethrough and a second end for reception of the connecting portion. The connecting portion moves oppositely to engage the second end of the slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tabletop attachment system, in particular to a system that has a simple structure and is easy to assemble or disassemble, and the system provides a firm engaging effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 8, a conventional table includes a tabletop 1, a left and right pedestal 2 and a plurality of wooden pegs 3. The tabletop 1 is quadrilateral and has a circular slot 4 defined at each corner. The pedestals 2 also have circular slots 5 defined thereof and the slots 5 are corresponding to that of the tabletop 1. To assemble the table, wooden pegs 3 are respectively inserted into the slots 5, then the slot 4 of the tabletops 1 are aligned respectively with the wooden pegs 3 before attachment of the tabletop 1 to the pedestals 2.
Unfortunately, this conventional structure still presents problems such as the table is not firmly assembled and thus the structure is not sturdy. Further, when transporting the table, as edges of the tabletop are the often lifted, the tabletop 1 can easily separate from the pedestals 2 and the wooden pegs 3 can detach from either the tabletop 1 or the pedestals 2. This very dangerous. In addition, the wooden pegs 3 can be easily chopped when the tabletop 1 is impacted from side, this is due to the wooden peg is fragile.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tabletop attachment system embodying the present invention includes a first body and a second body mounted between the tabletop and pedestal of the table. The first body includes at least one detent extending therefrom, the detent comprises a connecting portion and an engaging portion extending from the connecting portion. The second body includes at least one slot, the slot has a first end for allowing the engaging portion to insert through and a second end for reception of the connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion moves oppositely to engage the second end of the slot. When the connecting portion is received by the second end of the slot, the engaging portion of the detent is accordingly confined to the second end of the slot.
It is the object of the present invention that the system provides a good engaging effect.
In is another object of present invention that the system has a simple structure and is easy to assemble or disassemble.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop attachment system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a tabletop attachment system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the tabletop attachment system in accordance with the present invention is used within a table.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the assembly of the table.

FIG. 5 is another side view illustrating the assembly of the table.

FIG. 6 is yet another side view illustrating the assembly of the table.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembled table.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the tabletop attachment system includes a first body 10 and a second body 20 mounted between the pedestal 91 and the tabletop 92 of the table 90. The first body 10 is rectangular in shape and has a plurality of fastener holes 11 for attachment to the pedestal 90 of the table 90. The attachment of the first body 10 to the pedestal 20 is not the subject matter of this application. Thus, it is not further described in detail. In the preferred embodiment, the first body 10 further includes two detents 12 (the first body 10 may include at least one detent 12 as desired). The detent 12 comprise a cylindrical connecting portion 13 disposed on the first surface 15 of the first body 10. A cylindrical engaging portion 14 with a greater outer diameter than that of the connecting portion 13 extends from the connecting portion 13, so that the detent 12 has a shape of telescope.
The second body 20 is also rectangular in shape and has a plurality of fastener holes 21 for attachment to the tabletop 92 of the table 90. The attachment of the second body 20 to the tabletop 92 is not the subject matter of this application. Thus, it is not further described in detail.
It is noted that the second body 20 may be mounted on the pedestal 91 of the table 90 and the first body 10 may be mounted on the tabletop 92 of the table 90.
In the preferred embodiment, the second body 20 includes two slots 22 (the second body 20 may include at least one slot as desired), the slot 22 is in the shape of a water drop, thus it includes a first end 23 that has a bigger inner diameter and a second end that has a smaller inner diameter. The first end 23 of the slot 22 permits the engaging portion 14 of the detent 12 to insert through and the second end 24 of the slot 22 is adapted for the reception of the connecting portion 13 of the detent 12, wherein the connecting portion 13 and the second end 24 of the slot moves oppositely to engage. The connecting portion 13 of the detent 12 elevates higher than the second end 24 of the slot 22 and is between the engaging portion 14 and the first surface 15 of the first body 10; thereby the second body 20 can be confined by the engaging portion 14 of the detent 12.
A groove 93 corresponding to the slot 22 of the second body 20 is defined in the tabletop 92 of the table 90 in this preferred embodiment. The groove 93 may be defined in the pedestal 91 of the table 90. The groove 93 is adapted for the reception of the engaging portion 14 of the detent 12 and permits the engaging portion 14 to slide therein.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, in order to mount the tabletop 92 on the pedestal 91, align the slot 22 of the second body 20 above the detent 12 of the first body 10, so that the engaging portion 14 of the detent 12 can insert through the first end 23 of the slot 22. Referring to FIG. 5, push the tabletop 92 of the table 90, such that the second body 20 moves relatively above the first body 10 and the second end 24 of the slot 22 moves towards the connecting portion 13 of the detent 12. In this instant, the engaging portion 14 of the detent 12 is partially engaged with the slot 22. Referring to FIG. 6, the second end 24 of the slot 22 is engaged between the engaging portion 14 and the first surface 15 of the first body 10, and a firm engaging effect is therefore attained.
Referring to FIG. 7 there is illustrated an assembled table. To disassemble the tabletop 92 from the pedestal 91 of the table 90, reverse the direction to engage the tabletop 92 to the pedestal 91.
In conclusion, tabletop assembly system according to the present invention exhibits the following advantages. First, the structure is simple, easy to assemble or disassemble and a firm engaging result can be achieved by the detent formed on the first body and the slot formed on the second body. Second, the first body may have at least one detents and the second body have a corresponding number of slots. Third, the first body and the second body may be selectively mounted on the tabletop or the pedestal of the table. In either way, the system can have a similar engaging result and have the advantage of low cost of manufacture.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A tabletop attachment system comprising

a first body including at least a first detent extending upward, said detent comprising a connecting portion and an engaging portion extending from the connecting portion; and

a second body including at least a first one slot, said slot including a first end for allowing the engaging portion to extend therethrough a second end interconnected to the first end for engaging with the connecting portion.

2. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first body includes a second detent projecting therefrom, and the second body includes a second slot.

3. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein an outer diameter of the engaging portion is greater than that of the connecting portion, and an inner diameter of the second end of the detent is greater than that of the first end.

4. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the detent has a shape of a telescope.

5. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the slot is in a shape of a water drop.

6. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first body is mounted on a pedestal of a desk, and the second body is mounted on a tabletop of the desk.

7. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first body is mounted on a tabletop of a desk, and the second body is mounted on a pedestal of the desk.

8. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first body and the second body include a plurality of fastener holes for connecting to associated desk parts.

9. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first body and the second body include a plurality of fastener holes for connecting to associated desk parts.

10. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the desk includes grooves corresponding to the positions of the slots of the second body for reception of the engaging portion of the detent.

11. The tabletop attachment system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the desk includes grooves corresponding to the positions of the slots of the second body for reception of the engaging portion of the detent.