US20170258225A1

US20170258225A1 - Table assembly with adaptable ganging connections

Info

Publication number: US20170258225A1
Application number: US15/067,075
Authority: US
Inventors: Jonathon Reeves; Allan Weiser; Michael David Beltz; David Krzystek; Adam Joseph Kessler; Nenad B. Medjedovic; Guy Lafontant; Conrad M. Marini
Original assignee: Knoll Inc
Current assignee: Knoll Inc
Priority date: 2016-03-10
Filing date: 2016-03-10
Publication date: 2017-09-14

Abstract

A table assembly includes a first table having a first edge, and a ganging member. The ganging member includes a connecting member and a first affixing member. The first affixing member affixes the connecting member to the first table in a first ganging position, in which the connecting member extends a first distance beyond the first edge and connects the first table to a first furniture unit to gang the first furniture unit to the first table, and a second ganging position, in which the connecting member extends a second distance beyond the first edge, and gangs the first table to the first furniture unit and to a second furniture unit in series. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is co-pending with U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/991,791 entitled “Collapsible Table,” filed Jan. 8, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

A table assembly and related systems are described herein.

BACKGROUND

Conference tables and desks are known that include openings through which power connections can extend through the tabletop. Some tables are provided with power centers that house electrical, communication, and data plug-sockets in compartments on the tabletop. This arrangement can reduce the useable surface of the tabletop, and can interfere with the usability of the tabletop and aesthetics of the furniture. Other tables are known that include a drawer mounted beneath the tabletop that houses the plug sockets. Another arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,878, which discloses a furniture member with its own leg that provides power connections adjacent a tabletop edge.
Some assemblies are known that provided ganged tables. These assemblies, however, typically require tools to assemble, and do not allow a user to interchangeably connect tables and furniture accessories together in various arrangements.
A more convenient way to gang tables and furniture accessories or provide a power center is needed.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, disclosed is a table assembly that includes a first table having a first edge, and a ganging member. The ganging member includes a connecting member, and a first affixing member. The first affixing member affixes the connecting member to the first table in a first ganging position, in which the connecting member extends a first distance beyond the first edge and connects the first table to a first furniture unit to gang the first furniture unit to the first table, and a second ganging position, in which the connecting member extends a second distance beyond the first edge, and gangs the first table to the first furniture unit and to a second furniture unit in series. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
The first table can have a tabletop, and the affixing member can affixes the connecting member to the tabletop. The table can extend longitudinally from a first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge, and laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge; and the first edge can be one of the first or second longitudinal edges, or one of the first or second lateral edges. The first furniture unit can be adjacent the first table edge when the first furniture unit is ganged to the first table. When the connecting member connects the table to a first furniture unit only, the connecting member is affixed to the first table in one of a plurality of first ganging positions that are at different angles with respect to each other. The connecting member can include a first base-attachment portion, which the first affixing member engages in the in the first ganging position, and a second base-attachment portion, which the first affixing member engages in the second ganging position. The first connecting member can include a first ganging-attachment portion that is engaged by a second affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the first furniture unit when the connecting member is affixed in the first ganging position; and a second ganging-attachment portion that is engaged by a second affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the one of the first or second furniture units when the connecting member is affixed in the second ganging position.
The connecting member can include a third ganging-attachment portion that is engaged by a third affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the other of the first or second furniture units in the second configuration when the connecting member is affixed in the second ganging position. The second base-attachment portion and the second and third ganging-attachment portions can be aligned linearly. The first base-attachment portion can be aligned linearly with the second base-attachment portion and the second and third ganging-attachment portions. The first base-attachment portion and first ganging-attachment portion can be aligned with each other at a non-parallel angle from the alignment of the second base-attachment portion and second and third ganging-attachment portions, such that the connecting member in the first ganging position is oriented at a different angle than in the second ganging position. The first ganging-attachment portion can define a side slot that extends generally laterally to receive the second affixing member by rotating the connecting member about the first affixing member to engage the side slot.
At least one of the ganging-attachment members can define a slot with an open end to slidingly receive the respective affixing members. At least one of the ganging-attachment members can define an enlarged opening to receive an enlarged head of the respective affixing member, and a narrowed slot open to the enlarged opening to slidingly receive post of said respective affixing member but prevent reception therethrough of the enlarged head. The connecting member can define a slot that connects the first and second base-attachment portions to allow the connecting member to slide over the first affixing member between the first and second ganging positions. The affixing members comprises a knob having an enlarged head that is manipulable by a user, and a shaft that attaches to the respective table or furniture unit to affix the attachment portions of the connecting member. The shaft of each affixing member is threaded to the respective table or furniture unit.
The first affixing member can be connected to the table at an edge distance from the first edge; and the ganging-attachment portions can be disposed on the connecting member to attach to the respective affixing members, which are positioned at said edge distance from an edge of the respective furniture unit. The first furniture unit can be a furniture accessory having first and second opposite furniture edges, and the connecting member is disposed equidistant, at said edge distance, from each of the opposite furniture edges. The table can have a tabletop with a length and a width, the length being substantially twice the dimension of the width, and a width of the furniture accessory being substantially equal to the width of the first platform. The table assembly can have a plurality of mating members that can affix to the first attachment portion to affix the connecting member, to gang the furniture unit to the edge of the tabletop along the width of the tabletop, or to gang two adjacent furniture units to the edge along the length of the tabletop. The table assembly can have a plurality of said ganging members that cooperatively affix to and gang the furniture units. The plurality of said ganging members can gang the furniture units at a plurality of locations about the table.
The table can have a tabletop and a table support that supports the tabletop in a substantially horizontal position on a ground, the ganging member can be located on an underside of the tabletop to connect the underside of the tabletop to an underside of the first furniture unit. The table assembly can include the table and the first furniture unit, the first furniture unit having a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of the tabletop so that a top surface of the first furniture unit is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the tabletop. and the ganging member, when attached to the first platform in the first configuration, supports the furniture accessory in a horizontal position above the ground. In some embodiments, when a user disengages the second affixing member from the connecting member, the second affixing member remains attached to the power bar.
In some embodiments, disclosed is a table assembly that includes a first table having a first horizontal platform and a support member, and a ganging member, and a power bar for housing electrical components. The ganging member includes a connecting member and a first affixing member. The first affixing member affixes the connecting member to a bottom surface of the first horizontal platform. The power bar is connected to the first table by a second affixing member that affixes the connecting member to a bottom surface of the power bar, so to cantilever off an edge of the first horizontal platform.
The structural connection can support the tabletop above the ground in a substantially horizontal position, without a support that directly supports the power bar above the ground. The ganging member can be reconfigurably attachable to the first tabletop, such that in a second ganging position, the connecting member extends beyond the edge of the first horizontal platform and connects the first table to the power bar and to a second table in series.
In some embodiments, a ganging member for connecting together two or more furniture articles is disclosed. The ganging member includes a connecting member that extends from a front end to a rear end, the connecting member having a first wall that defines an elongate aperture, a second wall that defines a hole, a front edge that defines a front slot extending from a front end of the connecting member, and a side edge that defines a side slot extending from a side of the connecting member. The ganging member includes an affixing member having a head and a shaft extending therefrom, wherein the elongate aperture, the hole, front slot, and side slot are each configured to slidingly receive the post of the affixing member but prevent reception therethrough of the enlarged head. The head can be knurled to allow a user to grasp the head to tighten or loosen the first affixing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table connected to a furniture accessory;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the table connected to the furniture accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the table connected to the furniture accessory of FIG. 1, shown in portion III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the table of FIG. 1 connected to the furniture accessory and to another table in series;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the table connected to the furniture accessory and the other table of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the table connected to the furniture accessory and the other table of FIG. 4, shown in portion VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the table of FIG. 1 connected to another table ;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the table connected to the other table of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the table connected to the other table of FIG. 7, shown in portion IX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of an affixing member and a connecting member;

FIG. 10B is a top view of an affixing member and a connecting member;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views of a power bar;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a table assembly supporting electrical components;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a ganging member affixed to a table;

FIG. 14 is a view of an affixing member with a threaded female portion;

FIG. 15 is side view of the table connected to the furniture accessory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a table and a ganging member;

FIG. 17A is a side view of the table connected to the furniture accessory and the other table of FIG. 4,

FIG. 17B is a side view of the table connected to the furniture accessory and the other table of FIG. 4, shown in the portion XVII of FIG. 17A;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the table connected to the furniture accessory and the other table of FIG. 4;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the table connected to a furniture accessory and another table;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the table connected to three other tables and four furniture accessories; and

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the table connected to another table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a table assembly having a table and a ganging member that is repositionable to connect the table to one or more other furniture units.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an embodiment of a table assembly 100 includes a table 102 and a ganging member 104 that is in a first ganging position to connect the table 102 to a first furniture unit. The ganging member 104 includes a connecting member 200 and a first affixing member 202 that affixes the connecting member 200 to the table 102, for example, to the tabletop 110 of the first table 102. When the ganging member 104 is in a first ganging position, the first affixing member 202 engages a first base-attachment portion 204 of the connecting member 200. In preferred embodiments, the first base-attachment portion 204 defines a first portion of an elongate aperture 220, through which the first affixing member 202 extends to fasten the connecting member 200 to the table 102.
A second affixing member 300 affixes the connecting member 200 to the first furniture unit to gang the table 102 to the first furniture unit. The connecting member 200 has a first ganging-attachment portion 216 that the second affixing member 300 engages to affix the connecting member 200 to the first furniture unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the first ganging-attachment portion is a side slot 216 that extends generally laterally to receive the second affixing member 300 by rotating the connecting member 200. In preferred embodiments, the connecting member 200 rotates by pivoting about the first affixing member 202 to engage the side slot 216 with the second affixing member 300.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the first furniture unit is a furniture accessory, and more particularly, a power bar 106 for housing electrical components. Other furniture accessories could be used, such as a container, for example to house office supplies, or a tabletop extension to lengthen the tabletop surface. The ganging member 104 is shown connected to the table 102 in a first ganging position, and also connected to the power bar 106, and the ganging member 104 supports the power bar 106 in a cantilevered position, preferably without requiring or without providing additional legs connected directly to the power bar to support the power bar 106 above the ground. The connecting member 200 can be made of a suitable material to provide sufficient structural support for the cantilevered furniture accessory. For example, the connecting member 200 can be made of steel, for example, 11 gauge steel.
The first table 102 includes a tabletop 110 and a support 112 that supports the tabletop 110 in a horizontal position above ground. The power bar 106 is cantilevered and supported above the ground by way of the ganging member 104, as the power bar 106 extends beyond a tabletop edge 120 past the ganging member 104. As shown in FIG. 2, in preferred embodiments the power bar 106 is connected to a tabletop 110 of the table 102 by way of two ganging members 104 that are spaced along the tabletop edge 120. The two ganging members 104 are spaced to provide sufficient clearance for the container 122 of the power bar 106 to fit therebetween.
FIGS. 4-6 show perspective and bottom views of the table 102 and ganging member 104 that is in a second ganging position to connect the table 102 to first and second furniture units 106,108 in series. The connecting member 200 has a second base-attachment portion 206, which the first affixing member 202 engages in this second ganging position to affix the connecting member 200 to the first table 102. An elongate aperture 220 connects first and second base- attachment portions 204,206 to allow the connecting member 200 to slide along the first affixing member 202 between the first and second ganging positions. As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6, in preferred embodiments, the connecting member 200 has a retracted position in which it does not extend past the edge of the table top.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6, the first furniture unit 102 is a furniture accessory (a power bar) 106 and the second unit is a second table 108 connected in series by the ganging member 104 in its second ganging position. The connecting member 200 includes a second ganging-attachment portion 210 that the second affixing member 300 engages to affix the connecting member 200 to the power bar 106. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, in some embodiments, the second ganging-attachment portion 210 comprises an enlarged opening 212 and a slot 222 extending therefrom. In cases in which the second affixing member 300 has a head with an extending shaft, the large opening 212 receives the enlarged head of the affixing member, and the narrow slot 222 extending from the large opening 221 slidingly receives the post of the affixing member, but prevents reception therethrough of the enlarged head.
The connecting member includes a third base-attachment portion 208 that a third affixing member 400 engages to affix the connecting member 200 to the second table 108. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in some embodiments, the third ganging-attachment portion 208 comprises a slot 218 with an open end to slidingly receive the third affixing member 400. In cases in which the third affixing member 400 has a head with an extending shaft, the slot 218 slidingly receives the post of the affixing member, but prevents reception therethrough of the enlarged head.
FIGS. 7-9 show the first table 102 ganged to one other unit, which is another table 108. The first affixing member 202 engages the first base-attachment portion 204 of the connecting member 200. The second affixing member 300 affixes the third ganging-attachment portion 208 of the connecting member 200 to the second table 108 to gang the first table 102 to the second table 108. As shown, the slot 218 slidingly receives the second affixing member 300.
In preferred embodiments, the second base-attachment portion 206 and the second and third ganging- attachment portions 210,208 are aligned linearly along the connecting member 200. In some embodiments, the first and second base- attachment portions 204,206 and the second and third ganging- attachment portions 210,208 are aligned linearly along the connecting member 200. Preferably, the first base-attachment portion 204 and first ganging-attachment portion 216 are aligned with each other at a non-parallel angle θ from the alignment of the second base-attachment portion 206 and second and third ganging- attachment portions 210,208, such that the connecting member 200 is oriented at a different angle in the first ganging position than in the second ganging position.
In preferred embodiments, the connecting member 200 defines an elongate aperture 220 extending from the first base-attachment portion 204 to the second base-attachment portion 206. The first affixing member 202 includes a head with a shaft extending therefrom, the shaft extending through the aperture 220 and affixing to the first table 102. Thus, in repositioning the ganging member 104 from the first ganging position to the second ganging position, a user can pivot the connecting member 200 about the first affixing member 202 and then slide the connecting member 200 relative to the first affixing member 202.
Referring to FIGS. 10A, 13 and 14, in some embodiments, each affixing member 202,300,400 includes a knob 234 having an enlarged head that is manipulable by a user, and a shaft 232 extending from the knob to affix the connection member 200 to a respective furniture unit. For example, the enlarged head 234 can be a butterfly head, or a knob having a knurled surface. In preferred embodiments, the shaft 232 is threaded to screw into a female threaded portion 233 of the respective furniture unit. In preferred embodiments, the female threaded portion 233 is made of a sufficiently strong material, such as steel and/or other metals and/or alloys. Additionally or alternatively, the female threaded portion 233 can be made of plastic. In preferred embodiments, the female threaded portion 233 is anchored with sufficient strength to maintain the ganged furniture units together in normal use. Referring to FIG. 10B, the head of knob 234 of each affixing member 202,300,400 is larger than the respective portion 204,206,212,208 of the connecting member 200 with which it engages, and the shaft 232 is smaller so that the shaft extends through the respective portion 204,206,212,208. When the shaft is screwed into the respective female threaded portion 233 of the respective furniture unit, the knob 234 clamps the connecting member 200 so to affix the connecting member 200 to the furniture unit. As shown in FIG. 14, the knob 235 can have a stepped portion 235 that provides a friction fit with the respective portion of the connecting member 200. For example, for the first affixing member 202, the diameter of the stepped portion 235 can be slightly smaller than the width of the elongated aperture 220 so that the stepped portion 235 tightly fits within the elongated aperture to secure the connecting member 200 to the table 102.
Referring to FIG. 13, in some embodiments, the tabletop 110 has a layer of wood 604 between bottom layer 602 a and a top layer 602 b of fiberboard, for example, medium density fiberboard.
The ganging member 104 can connect the furniture units to be adjacent, and preferably abutting, one another. In some embodiments, when the connected furniture units are ganged, their top surfaces lie flush with one another. As shown in FIGS. 1, when the ganging member 104 gangs first table 102 to the power bar 106, the power bar 106 has an upper surface 111 that is substantially flush with a top surface 113 a of the tabletop 110. As shown in FIG. 4, when the ganging member 104 gangs the first table 102 to the power bar 106 and the second table 108, the power bar 106 has an upper surface 111 that is substantially flush with a top surface 113 a of the first tabletop 110 a and with a top surface 113 b of the second tabletop 110 b.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, in the first ganging position (FIG. 3), the connecting member 200 extends a first distance 1002 beyond the edge 120 of the table. In the second ganging position (FIG. 6), the connecting member 200 extends a second distance 1008 beyond the edge 120 that is greater than the first distance 1002. Thus, when the ganging member 104 is in its first ganging position to connect the table 102 to the power bar 106, the ganging member 104 does not stick out past edge of the power bar 106, remaining preferably entirely within the periphery of the power bar. When the ganging member 104 is in its second ganging position to connect the table 102 to the power bar 106 and other table 108, then the ganging member 104 extends beyond the power bar 106 to attach the members in series.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the first affixing member 200 is affixed to the tabletop 110 at a distance 1010 from an edge 120 of the table 102. The second affixing member 200 is affixed to the power bar 106 a distance 1012 from a first power bar edge 121 of the power bar 106. In preferred embodiments, distance 1010 is substantially equal to distance 1012. Referring to FIG. 6, the second affixing member 200 is affixed to the power bar 102 a distance 1014 from a second power bar edge 123 of the power bar. In preferred embodiments, the distance 1012 is substantially equal to 1014. The third affixing member 400 is affixed to the second table 108 a distance 1016 from an edge 125 of the second table 108. In preferred embodiments, distance 1016 is substantially equal to distance 1010, and substantially equal to distances 1012,1014. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the second affixing member 300 is affixed to the power bar 106 at a location equidistant from the edges 121,123 of the power bar 106. In preferred embodiments, affixing members 200,400 are affixed to each table 102,108 at locations equidistant from the respective tabletop edge 120,125. The underside of each table 102,108 can have female threaded portions 233 that are positioned on the under surface of the tabletop 110 at locations equidistant from the tabletop edges 120,124,126,128. As shown in FIG. 2, the underside of the tabletop 110 can include threaded female portions 233 at locations 500 along one or more edges 120,124,126,128 of table each table 102,108. The threaded portions 233 at these locations 500 can receive an affixing member 200 to gang a furniture unit thereto. For example, referring to FIG. 2, a user can affix a first affixing member 200 to affix another connecting member 200 at location 500 to gang an additional power bar 106 or to gang another table 108, or can detach the power bar from edge 120 and reattach the power bar 106 to edge 126. In some embodiments, one or more longitudinal edge 126,128 of the tabletop has four threaded female portions 233 and one or more lateral edge 120,124 has two threaded female portions 233. Thus, referring to FIGS. 19-21, to each longitudinal edge 126,128, a user can gang one or two power bars 106, gang another table 108 along its longitudinal edge 126,128, or gang two other tables 108 at their lateral edges 120,124. To each lateral edge 120,124, a user can gang a power bar 106, or another table at its lateral edge 120,124.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 6 and 9, when the ganging member 104 gangs the table 102 to the power bar 106, the connecting member 200 extends a distance 1006 laterally inward from the second affixing member 200 and toward the container 122. When the ganging member gangs the table 102 to the power bar 106 and the second table 108, the connecting member 200 extends a second distance 1018 laterally inward from the second and third affixing members 300,400. When the ganging member gangs the table 102 to the second table 108, the connecting member 200 extends the second distance 1018 laterally inward from the second and third affixing members 300. In preferred embodiments, the distance 1006 is less than distance 1018. Thus, the side slot 216 is configured to reduce the distance the connecting member 200 laterally extends when the table 102 is ganged to the power bar 106, for example, to provide more room for the power bar container 122.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 9, in some embodiments, the connecting member 200 attaches to the one furniture unit in a plurality of first ganging positions. For example, when the connecting member 200 gangs the table 102 to the power bar 106, the connecting member 200 is in one first ganging position (FIG. 3) that is oriented at an angle relative to another first ganging position the connecting member 200 is in when it gangs the table 102 to the other table 108 (FIG. 9). When the connecting member 200 gangs the first table 102 to the power bar 106 (FIG. 3), the connecting member 200 is in a first ganging position that is angled with respect to the second ganging position (FIG. 6). When, however, the connecting member 200 gangs the first table 102 to the other table 108 (FIG. 9), the connecting member 200 is in a first ganging position that is not angled with respect to the second ganging position (FIG. 6). When the connecting member 2000 is in the first ganging position to gang the table 102 to the power bar 106, the connecting member 200 extends a distance 1002 from the table edge 120 (FIG. 3), which is less than another distance 1003 the connecting member 200 extends from the table edge 120 when it gangs the table 102 to the other table 108. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the connecting member 200 can move between various first ganging positions by sliding the first affixing member 202 within the aperture 220 to different locations 205 a,205 b of the first base attachment portion 204.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 15, in some embodiments, the tabletop 110 extends longitudinally from a first longitudinal edge 120 to a second longitudinal edge 124, and laterally from a first lateral edge 126 to a second lateral edge 128. The ganging member 104 can gang the power bar 106 to an edge 120 of the tabletop 110. In such case, the edge 121 of the power bar 106 abuts (e.g., is flush with) the edge 120 of the tabletop.
The power bar 106 can be removed from the lateral edge of the tabletop 110 by disengaging the connecting member 200 from the second affixing member 300 (e.g., by rotating the connecting member 200 about the first affixing member 202 to disengage the side slot 216 from the second affixing member 300). Then, for example, a user can remove the power bar 106 from the edge 120 of the table 102 and replace the power bar 106 by attaching another table 108 to the edge 120.
Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the power bar 106 has a platform 313 having a top surface 111 and a container 122 extending from the platform 313. The container 122 is configured to house electrical components 310, for example, electrical power sockets. The container defines a hole 312 through which electrical wires or cables 116 can extend to connect the electrical components 310 in the container 122 to an external supply (e.g., an AC outlet connected to a power supply for a building). The power bar 106 can have a door 304 that opens to provide a user access to the electrical components 310, and that closes to provide a surface that is flush with the top surface of the platform 313. The power bar 106 can include an indent 308 to allow a user to engage the door 304 to open and close it.
Referring to FIG. 12, when the power bar 106 is ganged to one or more tables 102,108, the electrical cables 116 can be daisy-chained from one power bar 106 to another power bar 106. The cables 116 can extend through the holes 312 within the containers 122 and run along an undersurface of the tabletops 110.
As shown in FIGS. 15-18, the platform 313 of the power bar 106 can have a thickness that is substantially the same as the thickness of the tabletop 110. Thus, when the first affixing member 202 affixes to the connecting member 200 to the bottom surface of the tabletop 110 and the second affixing member 300 affixes the connecting member to a bottom surface of the platform 313, an upper surface 111 of the power bar 106 is substantially flush with an upper surface 113 of the tabletop. In embodiments in which the table 102 has movable legs 112 (e.g., so to allow the table to collapse), a bushing 317 is disposed to provide clearance between the legs 112 and the tabletop 110.
Referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the table 102 includes legs that can move relative the tabletop 110, for example, to allow the tabletop 110 to move between an extended position and a collapsed position relative to the legs 112. For example, in embodiments, in the collapsed position, the table 102 occupies a smaller volume than in the extended position, to facilitate storage and handling. Articulations such as pivots allow components of the collapsible support 2002 to collapse and expand, by pivoting, folding, or otherwise moving between desired positions. Other types of articulation that allow legs 112 to move under vertical load could be used. In embodiments, first and second primary legs 2002 a,2002 b are each pivotally attached to the main support 2008 so that they can move between an extended position and a collapsed position. First and second secondary legs 2006 a,2006 b are each pivotally attached to a respective primary leg 2002 a,2002 b so that they can move between an extended position and a collapsed position. Arcs 2000,3000 show the paths of the primary leg 2002 a and secondary leg 2006, as the primary leg moves between an extended position and a collapsed position. The first affixing members 202 are located outside of the arcs 2000,3000 so they do not interfere with the bushings 317 as the legs moves beneath the tabletop 110. Thus, bushings 317 provides sufficient clearance between the legs 112 and the tabletop 110. More details of the collapsible feature are described in U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/991,791 entitled “Collapsible Table,” filed Jan. 8, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In other embodiments, table legs are detachable for table storage or have other folding arrangements. For example, the legs can be foldable flat under the tabletop by pivoting at the corners of the tabletop 110 and foldable into a collapsed position. In other embodiments, the table legs are fixed with respect to the tabletop 110.
The tabletop 110 has a length, extending from the first longitudinal edge 120 to the second longitudinal edge 124, and a width, extending from the first lateral edge 126 to the second lateral edge 128. In some embodiments, the length is substantially twice the dimension of the width. In some embodiments, the width of the furniture accessory 106 is substantially equal to the width of the tabletop 110. In such cases, when the furniture accessory 106 is connected to a lateral edge of the tabletop 110, the furniture accessory 106 extends past the tabletop 110 surface in a streamlined fashion. Also, as shown in FIGS. 18-21, two furniture accessories 106 can be connected to a longitudinal edge 124,126 of the table 102.
As shown in FIGS. 19-21, the table assembly is reconfigurable between various arrangements. FIG. 19 shows a power bar 106 that is ganged to a longitudinal edge of the first able 108, and a lateral edge of a second table 108 is ganged to the power bar 106. FIG. 20 shows a four tables 102,103,108,109 ganged together by two power bars 106,106 b,106 c,106 d ganged to each table at along a longitudinal edge of the table. FIG. 21 shows an arrangement in which the ganging member 104 gangs the first table 102 to the second table 108 so that a lateral edge of the second table 108 is adjacent a longitudinal edge of the first table 102.
The foregoing description has broad application. For example, while examples disclosed herein may focus on power accessories, it should be appreciated that the concepts disclosed herein may equally apply to substantially any other type of furniture accessories or components. Similarly, the ganging member can be used to connect other furniture articles in addition to or as an alternative to a table. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A table assembly, comprising:

a first table having a first edge; and

a ganging member, comprising:

a connecting member, and

a first affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the first table in:

a first ganging position, in which the connecting member extends a first distance beyond the first edge and connects the first table to a first furniture unit to gang the first furniture unit to the first table, and

a second ganging position, in which the connecting member extends a second distance beyond the first edge that is greater than the first distance and gangs the first table to the first furniture unit and to a second furniture unit in series.

2. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein the first table has a tabletop, and the affixing member affixes the connecting member to the tabletop.

3. The table assembly of claim 2, wherein the tabletop extends longitudinally from a first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge, and laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge, and wherein the first edge is one of the first or second longitudinal edges, or one of the first or second lateral edges.

4. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein, when the connecting member connects the table to a first furniture unit only, the connecting member is affixed to the first table in one of a plurality of first ganging positions that are at different angles with respect to each other.

5. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes:

a first base-attachment portion, which the first affixing member engages in the in the first ganging position; and

a second base-attachment portion, which the first affixing member engages in the second ganging position.

6. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes:

a first ganging-attachment portion that is engaged by a second affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the first furniture unit when the connecting member is affixed in the first ganging position; and

a second ganging-attachment portion that is engaged by a second affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the one of the first or second furniture units when the connecting member is affixed in the second ganging position.

7. The table assembly of claim 6, wherein the connecting member includes a third ganging-attachment portion that is engaged by a third affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the other of the first or second furniture units in the second configuration when the connecting member is affixed in the second ganging position.

8. The table assembly of claim 7, wherein the second base-attachment portion and the second and third ganging-attachment portions are aligned linearly.

9. The table assembly of claim 8, wherein the first base-attachment portion is aligned linearly with the second base-attachment portion and the second and third ganging-attachment portions.

10. The table assembly of claim 8, wherein the first base-attachment portion and first ganging-attachment portion are aligned with each other at a non-parallel angle from the alignment of the second base-attachment portion and second and third ganging-attachment portions, such that the connecting member in the first ganging position is oriented at a different angle in the first ganging position than in the second ganging position.

11. The table assembly of claim 6 wherein the first ganging-attachment portion defines a side slot that extends generally laterally to receive the second affixing member by rotating the connecting member about the first affixing member to engage the side slot.

12. The table assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one of the ganging-attachment members defines a slot with an open end to slidingly receive the respective affixing members.

13. The table assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one of the ganging-attachment members defines an enlarged opening to receive an enlarged head of the respective affixing member, and a narrowed slot open to the enlarged opening to slidingly receive post of said respective affixing member but prevent reception therethrough of the enlarged head.

14. The table assembly of claim 5, wherein the connecting member defines a slot that connects the first and second base-attachment portions to allow the connecting member to slide over the first affixing member between the first and second ganging positions.

15. The table assembly of claim 5, wherein the affixing members comprises a knob having an enlarged head that is manipulable by a user, and a shaft that attaches to the respective table or furniture unit to affix the attachment portions of the connecting member.

16. The table assembly of claim 15 wherein the shaft of each affixing member is threaded to the respective table or furniture unit.

17. The table assembly of claim 6, wherein:

the first affixing member is connected to the table at an edge distance from the first edge;

the ganging-attachment portions are disposed on the connecting member to attach to the respective affixing members, which are positioned at said edge distance from an edge of the respective furniture unit.

18. The table assembly of claim 17, wherein the first furniture unit is a furniture accessory having first and second opposite furniture edges, and the connecting member is disposed equidistant, at said edge distance, from each of the opposite furniture edges.

19. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the table has a tabletop with a length and a width, the length being substantially twice the dimension of the width, and a width of the furniture accessory being substantially equal to the width of the first platform.

20. The table assembly of claim 19, comprising a plurality of mating members that can affix to the first attachment portion to affix the connecting member, to gang the furniture unit to the edge of the tabletop along the width of the tabletop, or to gang two adjacent furniture units to the edge along the length of the tabletop.

21. The table assembly of claim 20, comprising a plurality of said ganging members that cooperatively affix to and gang the furniture units.

22. The table assembly of claim 21, comprising wherein the plurality of said ganging members gang the furniture units at a plurality of locations about the table.

23. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein the furniture unit is a power bar for housing electrical components, and the ganging member affixes the power bar sufficiently to provide a structural connection to support vertical loads thereon.

24. The table assembly of claim 1, wherein the table comprises a tabletop and a table support that supports the tabletop in a substantially horizontal position on a ground, the ganging member being located on an underside of the tabletop to connect the underside of the tabletop to an underside of the first furniture unit.

25. The table assembly of 24, further comprising the table and the first furniture unit, the first furniture unit having a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of the tabletop so that a top surface of the first furniture unit is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the tabletop. and the ganging member, when attached to the first platform in the first configuration, supports the furniture accessory in a horizontal position above the ground.

26. The table assembly of claim 6, wherein, when a user disengages the second affixing member from the connecting member, the second affixing member remains attached to the power bar.

27. A table assembly, comprising:

a first table having a first tabletop and a support member;

a ganging member, comprising a connecting member and a first affixing member that affixes the connecting member to the first tabletop; and

a power bar for housing electrical components, the power bar connected to the first table by a second affixing member that extends beyond an edge of the table and affixes the connecting member to the power bar, to support the power bar in cantilever off the edge of the table.

28. The table assembly of claim 27, wherein the ganging member affixes the power bar sufficiently to provide a structural connection to support vertical loads thereon.

29. The table assembly of claim 28, wherein the structural connection supports the tabletop above the ground in a substantially horizontal position, without a support that directly supports the power bar above the ground.

30. The table assembly of claim 27, wherein the ganging member is reconfigurably attachable to the first tabletop, such that in a second ganging position, the connecting member extends beyond the edge of the first horizontal platform and connects the first table to the power bar and to a second table in series.

31. A ganging member for connecting together two or more furniture articles, comprising:

a connecting member that extends from a front end to a rear end, the connecting member comprising:

a first wall that defines an elongate aperture,

a second wall that defines hole,

a front edge that defines a front slot extending from a front end of the connecting member,

a side edge that defines a side slot extending from a side of the connecting member; and

an affixing member having a head and a shaft extending therefrom, wherein the elongate aperture, the hole, front slot, and side slot are each configured to slidingly receive the post of the affixing member but prevent reception therethrough of the enlarged head.

32. The ganging member of claim 31, wherein the head is knurled to allow a user to grasp the head to tighten or loosen the first affixing member.