US3741130A - Connector for tables - Google Patents
Connector for tables Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3741130A US3741130A US00070382A US3741130DA US3741130A US 3741130 A US3741130 A US 3741130A US 00070382 A US00070382 A US 00070382A US 3741130D A US3741130D A US 3741130DA US 3741130 A US3741130 A US 3741130A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- connector
- rail
- flange
- tab
- rails
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000282320 Panthera leo Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000000391 vinyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])=C([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B87/00—Sectional furniture, i.e. combinations of complete furniture units, e.g. assemblies of furniture units of the same kind such as linkable cabinets, tables, racks or shelf units
- A47B87/002—Combination of tables; Linking or assembling means therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B3/00—Folding or stowable tables
Definitions
- Modular segment tables are provided as small tables whose tops have a simple geometric form, such as a triangle.
- a group of segment tables may be abutted together and thus assembled into a larger table of any selected size, depending, of course, upon the number of segment tables available.
- such modular segment tables are formed to permit one table to be nested upon another, so that the tables will require a minimum of storage space when not in use.
- Segment tables may be used for many purposes. For example, they may be used in a home.
- a single table may be used as an end table, but a group of such tables, as four, may be used to form a card table, while when a larger table is needed, such as a dining table, a larger number of segment tables may be joined together as an assembled unit.
- the present invention is thus an improved connector for holding the abutting edges of two or more tables together, particularly segment tables.
- This connector comprises, in essence, a simple, moderately flexible hook-like member which is permanently secured to the underside of one table, and preferably to a table rail which is underneath the table top and lies adjacent to the edge of the table.
- the connector may be extended from this permanent connection to engage the rail of an adjacent table to hold the two tables together.
- the connector is adapted to be swung to an out of the way position, when'it is not in use.
- an object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved table connector which is a simple, low cost unit which may be easily connected and disconnected.
- Another object of the invention is to provide such a table connector which may beeasily positioned to effect a connection with an abutting table, and which may be retracted to a completely out-of-the-way position when not in use.
- Another object of the invention is to provide such a connector which attaches side rails of two abutting tables together.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of four triangular segment tables interconnected to form a square table
- FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the tables shown in FIG. I, illustrative of the manner in which a series of connectors of this invention hold the segment tables together, and the manner in which connectors not used remain in a retracted, out-of-the-way, storage position;
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale, and showing-particu larly one of the connectors attaching two abutting tables together, through the depending rails;
- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along line 44 of FIG. 2, on-an enlarged scale, and showing particularly one of the connectors, not used, in a storage position on the inside lower flange of a table rail;
- FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view, with the top and rail of the table broken away to shown a connector mounted upon the table rail in a position intermediate the storage and connective positions, with the storage position of the connector being shown in broken lines;
- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the connector moved to a connective position for engagement with the rail of an abutting table;
- FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along line 88 of FIG. 7 and showing further a portion of the rail of an abutting table connected to the table on which the connector is mounted.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown one arrangement of segment tables T abutted together to form an assembled table; these segment tables are held together by connectors C, as hereinafter described.
- Various geometric forms of segment tables may be used for this purpose; in the type illustrated, the top 20 of each segment table T is formed as an isoceles right triangle. Thus, when four such segment tables T are joined together, as shown, the assembled table will be square.
- these segment tables and additional segment tables may be joined to gether to provide assembled tablesof varying size and forms, such as a larger rectangular table provided by adding a table T to each side of the assembled table shown, with the hypotenuse edges of the additional tables abutting the respective outer edges of the assembled table shown.
- the top 20 of the segment tables may assume'other simple geometric forms, such as an equilateral triangle, and may be interconnected into larger assembled tables.
- the top 20 will ordinarily be a sheet of rigid material, with an appropri-' ate finish or a covering layer of cloth, vinyl or other plastic, or the like, while the edges of the top are reinforced by depending rails R affixed to the underside of the top at, or a short distance inwardly from, the respective top edges.
- a leg 21 depends from each corner of the triangular segment table, with each leg 21 being attached to the end of a rail R and being as close as possible to the corner, so that a series of such tables may be stacked one atop the other for storage purposes, with a slight overhang of each table, with respect to the one below, along the shorter edges, due to the legs.
- FIG. 2 is shown the underside of the arrangement of four segment tables shown in FIG. 1, it being noted that there are four legs 21 at the center of the assembled table and a pair of legs at each corner thereof.
- the right angle apex of each triangular segment is at the-center of the table, while the hypotenuse edge 22 of each triangle forms an outside edge. of the assembled table, and the diagonal edge 23 or 24 abuts the diagonal edge of an-.
- Each pair of abutting diagonal edges 23, 24 of the segment tables is held together by a pair of connectors C which are conveniently spaced, as at the quarter points of the diagonal edges.
- one connector C may be permanently affixed to each abutting table edge, for example, near the right angle on edge 23 and near the hypotenuse edge on the edge 24.
- the connector C on the hypotenuse edge may be adjacent the edge 23.
- the hypotenuse edges form the outside edge of the assembled table andthus the connectors C on the hypotenuse edges are illustrated as being in a storage position.
- any arrangement of segment tables into an assembled table will provide two connectors for every pair of abutting edges.
- One desirable type of rail R is formed as a channel having an inwardly extending lower flange 25, an upright web 26 and a top flange 27 affixed to the underside of the table.
- the web 26 is located a short distance, such as approximately one-fourth inch, from the table edge.
- the lower flange 25 of the channel provides a convenient point of attachment of a connector C and also a ledge on which a connector not in use may be stored, as in FIG. 4.
- Each connector C is an elongated member formed of a tough, resilient material, such as polypropylene or other material having similar qualities.
- the connector is conveniently formed by molding, or in any other suitable manner, to provide at one end a tab 30 by which the connector is pivotal mounted upon the lower flange 25 of the rail, as by a rivet 31.
- the rivet extends through one corner of the tab, through a small reinforcing boss 32 thereunder, as in FIG. 8.
- the rivet is offset from one side of the tab a distance equal to its inset from the end of the tab, to permit the connector to rotate about the rivet and to lie upon the lower rail flange 25 when the connector is stored, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and in dotted lines in FIG. 5.
- the corners of tab 30 may be rounded, as shown. 7
- Tab 30 is connected to the remainder of the connector by a hinge 33, preferably integral and thereby formed of the same material, such as polypropylene, so
- Hinge 33 permits the remainder of the connector to be swung through an arc of 180, to the position of FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, beneath the rail flange 25 to which tab 30 is connected and also beneath flange 25 of the adjacent rail of the abutting table. In this position, a hook 34 latches the inner edge of flange 25 of the adjacent rail, while an opposite tab 35 may be utilized in pulling hook 34 off the opposite rail flange edge or pushing the hook onto it.
- the material of which the connector is made is thus sufficiently resilient to permit hook 34 to be snapped onto and off the inner edge of the opposite rail flange.
- a socket 41 is
- connector Care manifests the advantages of connector Care manifest. It is fundamentally a small, compact unit, made of a tough, low cost material, as by injection molding. When carried upon the flange of the table rail, it will normally be in an out of the way, retracted position, lying on the upper surface of the lower flange 25 of the rail R.
- the connector is merely rotated from its storage position shown in FIG. 4 to the full extended position shown in FIG. 5. Thence, the connector is swung abut the hinge 33 to the underside of the flanges 25, 25' of the two table rails and hook 34 pushed into position, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. If desired, pressure on the underside of strip 36 adjacent hook 34 may be utilized to snap the hook into connecting position. When release is desired, tab 35 is merely pulled downwardly to snap hook 34 off the edge of flange 25' of FIGS. 3 and 8, so
- the connector may be swung to the full position of FIGS and then pivoted to the storage position of FIG.
- pivot means securing a tab at one end of said connector to the top of the rail flange of said first table; transverse hinge means connecting said tab with the remainder of said connector, whereby said remainder of said connector may be swung under said rails while said tab remains on said top of said rail flange or the remainder of said connector and said tab may be swung to a storage position on top of said rail flange; and
- latch means at least adjacent the opposite end of said connector from said tab for engaging a portion of said rail of said second table, when said remainder of said connector is swung under said rails, to attach' said tables together.
- first strip extending from said hinge toward the opposite end of said connector and lying beneath said one flange in connective position, said strip being provided with a recess to receive the head of said rivet on the underside of said flange when said connector is in connective position;
- a hook which is generally V-shaped in lateral section and extending upwardly from the opposite end of said second strip and engaging the inner edge of the lower flange of said rail of said second table when said connector is in connective position;
- said hinge means is formed integrally with said tab.
- said rail of said second table is provided with a flange at least adjacent the lower edge thereof and extending in a direction away from said first table; said connector is resilient; and said latch means comprises a hook engageable with the inner edge of said flange of said rail of said second table.
Abstract
Description
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US7038270A | 1970-09-08 | 1970-09-08 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3741130A true US3741130A (en) | 1973-06-26 |
Family
ID=22094964
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00070382A Expired - Lifetime US3741130A (en) | 1970-09-08 | 1970-09-08 | Connector for tables |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3741130A (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4039187A (en) * | 1975-03-17 | 1977-08-02 | Shea Donald D | Game table |
FR2627964A1 (en) * | 1988-03-03 | 1989-09-08 | Lafuma Sa | Modular table with adjustable central leg - with table top resting on support with two legs joined by air with ring holding central leg |
US5438937A (en) * | 1993-06-08 | 1995-08-08 | Steelcase Inc. | Mobile table system |
US9655445B2 (en) | 2015-09-30 | 2017-05-23 | Workrite Ergonomics, Llc | Table benching apparatus and methods of using the same |
-
1970
- 1970-09-08 US US00070382A patent/US3741130A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4039187A (en) * | 1975-03-17 | 1977-08-02 | Shea Donald D | Game table |
FR2627964A1 (en) * | 1988-03-03 | 1989-09-08 | Lafuma Sa | Modular table with adjustable central leg - with table top resting on support with two legs joined by air with ring holding central leg |
US5438937A (en) * | 1993-06-08 | 1995-08-08 | Steelcase Inc. | Mobile table system |
US9655445B2 (en) | 2015-09-30 | 2017-05-23 | Workrite Ergonomics, Llc | Table benching apparatus and methods of using the same |
US9750344B2 (en) | 2015-09-30 | 2017-09-05 | Workrite Ergonomics, Llc | Table benching apparatus and methods of using the same |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSONITE FURNITURE CO., A CORP. OF DE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SAMSONITE CORPORATION, A CORP. OF CO;REEL/FRAME:004725/0074 Effective date: 19870501 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONTINENTAL BANK N.A., ILLINOIS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SFC ACQUISITION CORP., A CORP. OF DE;REEL/FRAME:005073/0820 Effective date: 19890308 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC., FLORIDA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BANKAMERICA BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007986/0976 Effective date: 19951128 Owner name: SUNBEAM PRODUCTS, INC., FLORIDA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LINEAL GROUP, INC. D/B/A SAMSONITE FURNITURE COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:007919/0400 Effective date: 19951127 |