US3866549A - Collapsible tables - Google Patents

Collapsible tables Download PDF

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Publication number
US3866549A
US3866549A US286800A US28680072A US3866549A US 3866549 A US3866549 A US 3866549A US 286800 A US286800 A US 286800A US 28680072 A US28680072 A US 28680072A US 3866549 A US3866549 A US 3866549A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
supporting
crosspiece
working plate
recess
uprights
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
Application number
US286800A
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English (en)
Inventor
Marcello Berton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Olivetti SpA
TIM SpA
Original Assignee
Olivetti SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Olivetti SpA filed Critical Olivetti SpA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3866549A publication Critical patent/US3866549A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • A47B3/00—Folding or stowable tables
    • A47B3/12—Stowable tables with detachable top leaves
    • 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
    • A47B17/00—Writing-tables
    • 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
    • A47B2003/008—Folding or stowable tables the underframe parts being stored in recesses in the underside of the table top
    • 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
    • A47B2200/00—General construction of tables or desks
    • A47B2200/0011—Underframes
    • A47B2200/0013—Desks with central bearing beams
    • 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
    • A47B2200/00—General construction of tables or desks
    • A47B2200/0011—Underframes
    • A47B2200/002—Legs
    • A47B2200/0027—Desks with I-shaped leg

Definitions

  • a collapsible table comprises a working plate, a pair of supporting elements for this plate and at least one crosspiece for bracing the plate.
  • Each supporting element is fixed removably to the table and the crosspiece is kept fixed with respect to this table and to each supporting element by means ofa connection obtained by housing parts of at least one surface of the crosspiece with recesses of each supporting element and of the plate.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible table which can be assembled without such disadvantages.
  • a collapsible table comprising a working surface, supporting elem ents for this surface and at least one crosspiece for bracing the surface, each supporting element being fixed removably to the working surface and the crosspiece being kept fixed with respect to this surface and to each supporting element by means of a connection obtained by coupling parts of at least one surface of the crosspiece with parts of each supporting element and parts of at least one other surface of the crosspiece with parts of the working surface.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an office table embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the parts of the table of FIG. 1 in the collapsed state
  • FIG. 3 is a section of the parts of FIG. 2 taken in the plane of the line III-III;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view, with some parts in section, of a part of the table of FIG. 1 in an inverted position;
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, with some parts in section, of a panel of the table shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a number of parts of the table of FIG. 1 at the end of a first stage of assembly of the table;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a detail of FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the table of FIG. 1 during successive stages of assembly.
  • FIG. 1 A table or writing desk is shown in FIG. 1.
  • This table comprises a working surface I of rectangular form, supporting means for this working surface which are con-
  • the surface I may be constructed in any suitable manner and comprise, for example, a pair of sheetmetal walls 4, 5 (FIGS. 1 and 4) between which there is disposed a filling material 6.
  • the crosspiece 3, which is of substantially rectangular cross-section, is in direct contact with the wall 5 (FIG. 4) and, as will be better explained hereinafter, has the function of bracing and rendering the surface 1 rigid and of allowing the fixing to the table of various accessories, such as drawers, containers, or auxiliary working surfaces, such as a supporting surface for an office machline.
  • Each panel 2 comprises a pair of sheet-metal walls 7 and 8 (FIGS. 4 and 5), joined together by welding and having turned-over edges. Each lateral edge of these walls is shaped in such manner asr to give rise to substantially L-shaped bent portions 11 and 12, respectively, the form of which is clearly visible in FIG. 5.
  • the width of the wall 7 is less than that of the other wall and one wing or flange 13 of each bent portion 12 is welded to the wall 8 to form a panel 2 in which there is formed a pair of vertical grooves 14 (FIG. 4).
  • each of the walls 7 and 8 (which are at the bottom in FIGS. 4 and 5) are bent, substantially at with respect to the walls themselves to give rise to flanges 15 and 16, respectively.
  • a lug 17 (FIG. 5) of each bent portion 11 of the wall 8 is bent and shaped in such manner as to be arranged substantially in the plane of the flange l6 and a corresponding plate 21 provided with a projection 22 is arranged to bear on the lug 17 and partly on the flange 16..
  • the flange 13 of each bent portion 12 of the wall 7 is in contact with the wall 8, the flange 15 of the wall 7 is above the flange 16 of the wall 8, as shown clearly in FIG. 4.
  • In the lower part of each bent portion 12 (FIG. 5) there is formed a seat 23 for the projection 22 of the plate 21.
  • the flanges 15 and 16 (FIG. 4) are welded together and the projection 22 of the plate 21 is welded to the flange 16.
  • Each of the walls 7 and 8 is provided with a plurality of lugs 26 (FIG. 4), arranged to be inserted in corresponding slots 27 of a crosspiece 28 to which feet 29 are fixed. After these lugs have been introduced into the perforations 27, they are welded to the side walls of the crosspiece 28.
  • each lug 17 (FIG. 5) and in each plate 21 there are formed holes 30 and 31, respectively, the axes of which are substantially coincident when the second part is mounted on the first, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the working surface 1 near two opposite edges thereof, there are formed two pairs of threaded holes 32 and 33, in locations corresponding to those of the holes 30 (or 31). formed in each panel 2.
  • each panel 2 Fixed to the wall 8 (FIG. of each panel 2 is a section 44 having the form of a double L, in one wall 45 of which, substantially at right angles to the wall 8, there is formed a central cut-out 46 with a section corresponding to that of the upright 37 and the axis of which is contained in the plane in which the axes of the slots 34 and 35 and of the hole 43 (FIG. 4) are located.
  • the working surface 1, the two panels 2, each fast with the corresponding crosspiece 28, and the crosspiece 3, fast with the two uprights 37, are packed in a carton in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the panels 2 with the respective crosspieces 28 and the uprights 37 of the crosspiece 3 rest on the working surface 1.
  • the crosspiece 3 may conveniently rest on a filler element 47, for example of cardboard, while another filler element 48 of substantially L-shaped cross-section can be arranged above the surface 1 and laterally thereof so as to obtain a configuration which is of substantially rectangular form in section, as can be seen in FIG. 3. It is evident from this drawing that the overall-all size of the various parts of the table when arranged in the described configuration is quite small.
  • the working surface 1 is initially arranged upside-down on a suitable supporting surface, for example the floor, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • a suitable supporting surface for example the floor
  • the crosspiece 3 On the middle part of the wall 5 of this srface is rested the crosspiece 3 with the uprights 37 in a vertical position, as can be seen in the same drawing. Since the crosssection of this crosspiece is rectangular, a wall 51 (FIG. 4) thereof bears on the wall 5.
  • each panel 2 is placed over a corresponding upright 37 (FIG. 8), causing this to pass first into the slot 35 (FIG. 5) of the wall 8 and then into the perforation 46 of the section 44; in the right-hand part of FIG. 8 a panel 2 is shown during this stage of assembiy.
  • the flange 16 (FIG. 4) of the wall 8 comes into contact with the wall 5 of the surface 1
  • the pin 39 of the upright 37 is inserted in the hole 43 in the crosspiece 28 of the panel and bottom of the slot 34 (FIG. 5) of the wall 7 comes into contact with the top face 52 (FIG. 4) of the crosspiece 3.
  • screws 53 are introduced into the holes 30 and 31 (FIG. 5) in the lug 17 and the plate 21, respectively, and screwed into the corresponding holes 32, 33 (FIG. 8) in the working surface 1, completing the assembly of the table.
  • each upright 37 and the perforation 46 (FIG. 4) in the corresponding section 44 also contribute to increasing the rigidity of the structure and to improving the connection between each upright 37 and the corresponding panel 2.
  • this coupling also enables each upright 37 to be kept positioned exactly inside the respective cavity 38 of each panel 2, avoiding the upright itself being able to deform the walls 7 and 8 by coming into contact them.
  • the table described may be equipped with drawers or containers known per se. For fixing this equipment, screws can be used which are screwed into threaded holes 54 (FIG. 8) both in the wall 52 of the crosspiece 3 and in the wall 7 ofthe panels 2. Moreover, there may be connected to the table an auxiliary working surface, also known per se, on which can be supported, for example, an office machine. This auxiliary surface is provided with supporting means only at one end, while the other end thereof is connected to the crosspiece 3 by means of screws screwed into the holes 54.
  • a collapsible table including a working plate and comprising:
  • crosspiece for bracing said working plate, said crosspiece including a lengthened portion cooperating with said working plate and two opposite ends;
  • each one of said two uprights being rigidly fixed to one corresponding of said two opposite ends and extending by one side transversely to said lengthened portion;
  • each of said supporting elements including a recess to house said crosspiece, a pair of supporting surfaces transversal to said recess for cooperating with said working plate, and a hole for being passed through by one corresponding of said two uprights;
  • fixing members for removably securing said pair of supporting surfaces and said lengthened portion of said crosspiece to said working plate.
  • a collapsible table according to claim I wherein said working plate has a rectangular form having two edges longer than the adjacent two and comprises a working surface and a bottom surface, a portion of said recess bearing said crosspiece against said bottom surface, parallely to said longest edges.
  • a panel including two interconnected sheet-metal walls defining an internal space therebetween and provided with bent edges defining said supporting surfaces and having holes for said plurality of screw members, said recess being formed in one of said two interconnected sheet-metal walls;
  • each of said uprights being disposed inside said internal space defined by said two interconnected sheet-metal walls.
  • each of said supporting elements further comprises a supporting crosspiece connected to a lowest portion of said panel and provided with a series of feet.
  • each of said supporting elements includes a supporting crosspiece connected to a lowest portion of said panel and wherein said supporting crosspiece constitutes a transverse brace for said working plate spanning said two supporting elements, each of said supporting crosspiece comprising a support hole and each of said uprights having one end formed as a pin, said pin being insertable in said support hole of said supporting crosspiece, when said panel is mounted to said working plate.
  • a collapsible table comprising a working plate including a working surface and a bottom surface opposite to said working surface, two supporting plates each including two supporting surfaces for being connected with said bottom surface of said working plate, fixing means for removably fixing said supporting surfaces to said bottom surface, and a crosspiece member for interconnecting said supporting plates with said bottom surface, said crosspiece including a portion for contacting said bottom surface and two legs substantially perpendicular to said portion, each, of said supporting plates further comprising engagement means for removably engaging one of said legs with one corresponding of said supporting plates between said two supporting surfaces and for bearing said portion of said crosspiece against said bottom surface of said working plate when said fixing means fix said supporting surfaces to said bottom surface.
  • said engagement means comprise housing parts of said crosspiece in recesses defined by parts of said supporting plates adapted to cooperate with said crosspiece.
  • each of said supporting plates comprises two interconnected sheetmetal walls, said recess being formed in one of said walls and wherein at one end of :said two sheet-metal walls is fixed a section, located in a zone of the supporting plate distant from said bottom surface, and in which a hole is formed, a free end of each of said legs being arranged to engage said hole when said supporting plate is fixed to said bottom surface of said table.

Landscapes

  • Furniture Connections (AREA)
  • Tables And Desks Characterized By Structural Shape (AREA)
US286800A 1971-09-06 1972-09-06 Collapsible tables Expired - Lifetime US3866549A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT6994571 1971-09-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3866549A true US3866549A (en) 1975-02-18

Family

ID=11313144

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US286800A Expired - Lifetime US3866549A (en) 1971-09-06 1972-09-06 Collapsible tables

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3866549A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2243797C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2152063A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1399384A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4044694A (en) * 1975-09-24 1977-08-30 Glenn John Wylie Cheque writing desk and control system
US4064814A (en) * 1977-03-07 1977-12-27 Pokorny Joseph E Self-leveling extendable table
US4630551A (en) * 1985-12-26 1986-12-23 Merchandising Innovations, Inc. Executive desk
WO1987006439A1 (en) * 1986-04-23 1987-11-05 Televerket Desk comprising a desk top that is vertically adjustable within a great range
US5174532A (en) * 1991-09-06 1992-12-29 Huang Chin Fa Leg assembly
USD384838S (en) * 1996-03-25 1997-10-14 Scott Topper Shelving unit
US6029587A (en) * 1998-06-05 2000-02-29 Knoll, Inc. Offset support leg for an adjustable height desk
US6119989A (en) * 1997-12-29 2000-09-19 Herman Miller, Inc. Support assembly with a storable foot support
US6827028B1 (en) * 2002-12-11 2004-12-07 E. Pryor Callaway Collapsible support
US20050284040A1 (en) * 2004-06-03 2005-12-29 Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd. Pedestal unit, raised floor skeleton structure, method of installing pedestal unit, and method of producing pedestal frame
US20080241814A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Seidl Lon D Variable Configuration Desk Having Worksurface Locking Feature

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5546873A (en) * 1994-10-28 1996-08-20 Steelcase Inc. Furniture worksurface unit and method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1520520A (en) * 1923-12-24 1924-12-23 William S Thomason Knockdown pedestal table
US2191290A (en) * 1938-03-07 1940-02-20 Bayard E Richardson Desk construction
US2719771A (en) * 1953-03-27 1955-10-04 American Seating Co Table or the like
US3339503A (en) * 1965-04-28 1967-09-05 Flodell Dick Arne Fredrik Collapsible table

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE643026C (de) * 1934-07-10 1937-03-22 Sasse Geb Zerlegbares Zargenmoebel, wie Tisch, Bank, Hocker o. dgl.
FR781663A (fr) * 1934-11-22 1935-05-20 Assemblage applicable aux meubles démontables
US2615770A (en) * 1951-07-10 1952-10-28 Philip C Curtis Knockdown table
DE1683232U (de) * 1954-05-13 1954-09-16 Max Loehrer Zerlegbare tische und baenke.
DE1745403U (de) * 1956-11-05 1957-05-23 Gustav Moeller Zusammensetz- und zerlegbarer tisch, staender od. dgl.
FR1310958A (fr) * 1962-01-17 1962-11-30 Const Metalliques De Laon Soc Dispositif de fixation du plateau aux coffres et flasques d'un bureau, et meubles assemblés par ce dispositif

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1520520A (en) * 1923-12-24 1924-12-23 William S Thomason Knockdown pedestal table
US2191290A (en) * 1938-03-07 1940-02-20 Bayard E Richardson Desk construction
US2719771A (en) * 1953-03-27 1955-10-04 American Seating Co Table or the like
US3339503A (en) * 1965-04-28 1967-09-05 Flodell Dick Arne Fredrik Collapsible table

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4044694A (en) * 1975-09-24 1977-08-30 Glenn John Wylie Cheque writing desk and control system
US4064814A (en) * 1977-03-07 1977-12-27 Pokorny Joseph E Self-leveling extendable table
US4630551A (en) * 1985-12-26 1986-12-23 Merchandising Innovations, Inc. Executive desk
WO1987006439A1 (en) * 1986-04-23 1987-11-05 Televerket Desk comprising a desk top that is vertically adjustable within a great range
US5174532A (en) * 1991-09-06 1992-12-29 Huang Chin Fa Leg assembly
USD384838S (en) * 1996-03-25 1997-10-14 Scott Topper Shelving unit
US6119989A (en) * 1997-12-29 2000-09-19 Herman Miller, Inc. Support assembly with a storable foot support
US6308922B1 (en) 1997-12-29 2001-10-30 Herman Miller, Inc. Support assembly
US6029587A (en) * 1998-06-05 2000-02-29 Knoll, Inc. Offset support leg for an adjustable height desk
US6827028B1 (en) * 2002-12-11 2004-12-07 E. Pryor Callaway Collapsible support
US20050284040A1 (en) * 2004-06-03 2005-12-29 Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd. Pedestal unit, raised floor skeleton structure, method of installing pedestal unit, and method of producing pedestal frame
US20080241814A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Seidl Lon D Variable Configuration Desk Having Worksurface Locking Feature

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1399384A (en) 1975-07-02
DE2243797A1 (de) 1973-03-15
FR2152063A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-04-20
DE2243797C2 (de) 1982-04-15

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