U.S. patent application number 11/514563 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for table adapter.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hunter Fan Company. Invention is credited to Edwin T. Koehler.
Application Number | 20080054141 11/514563 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39133630 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080054141 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koehler; Edwin T. |
March 6, 2008 |
Table adapter
Abstract
A tabletop adapter (10) is disclosed which is adapted to be
mounted to a pole (12). The tabletop adapter has a compression
device (19) and a tabletop (20). The compression device includes a
compression tube (21), a compression collar (22), and an alignment
pin (23). The compression tube has a flange (24), an externally
threaded portion (25), and an externally tapered portion (26). The
tapered portion has a series of slots (29) therein which allow the
diameter of the tapered portion to vary with the application of an
inwardly directed force thereon. The compression collar has a
tubular, internally threaded portion (31) from which extends an
internally tapered portion (32). The internally tapered portion is
configured to engage the externally tapered portion of the
compression tube. The tabletop has a central hole (38) therein
configured to receive and thereby be journalled onto the pole.
Inventors: |
Koehler; Edwin T.; (Cordova,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ
SIX CONCOURSE PARKWAY, SUITE 3100
ATLANTA
GA
30328
US
|
Assignee: |
Hunter Fan Company
|
Family ID: |
39133630 |
Appl. No.: |
11/514563 |
Filed: |
September 1, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/218.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 12/2009 20130101;
A47B 13/023 20130101; A47B 96/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/218.4 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. A tabletop adapter configured to be coupled to an upright pole,
the tabletop adapter comprising: (a) an annular compression collar
having an inner portion and an outer portion mateably coupled to
said inner portion, said inner portion having being compressible
through movement of said inner portion relative to said outer
portion, and (b) a tabletop having a hole therethrough configured
to allow the passage of the upright pole therethrough, said
tabletop being coupled to said compression collar, whereby the
compression collar may be mounted to the upright pole and the outer
portion moved relative to the inner portion so that the compression
collar grips the upright pole thereby locking the position of the
tabletop upon the upright pole.
2. The tabletop adapter of claim 1 wherein said inner portion and
said outer portion have threads and wherein said inner portion and
said outer portion are threadably coupled to each other so that
rotational movement of said outer portion causes said inner portion
to be compressed upon the upright pole.
3. The tabletop adapter of claim 2 further including an alignment
pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said
inner portion is configured to mate with said alignment pin to
prevent rotational movement of said inner portion.
4. The tabletop adapter of claim 1 wherein said outer portion has a
mounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted to said
mounting flange.
5. A tabletop adapter comprising a compression device having a
threaded compression tube and a threaded compression collar adapted
to be coupled to said compression tube to impart a compression
force upon said compression tube, a tabletop coupled to said
compression device, wherein the compression device and tabletop may
be journalled upon a pole and fixed in location thereon through
operation of the compression device.
6. The tabletop adapter of claim 5 wherein said compression tube
and said compression collar have threads and wherein said
compression tube and said compression collar are threadably coupled
to each other so that rotational movement of one to the other
causes said compression tube to be compressed upon the upright
pole.
7. The tabletop adapter of claim 6 further including an alignment
pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said
compression tube is configured to mate with said alignment pin to
prevent rotational movement of said compression tube.
8. The tabletop adapter of claim 5 wherein said compression collar
has a mounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted to said
mounting flange.
9. A table comprising: a base; an upright pole extending from said
base; a compression device journalled upon said pole for relative
movement there along; and a tabletop coupled to said compression
device and having a hole therethrough to enable said tabletop to be
journalled upon said pole for relative movement there along,
whereby the height of the tabletop may be adjusted by moving the
tabletop along the pole and then fixing the position by actuating
the compression device.
10. The tabletop adapter of claim 9 wherein said compression device
includes a threaded compression tube and a threaded compression
collar adapted to be coupled to said compression tube to impart a
compression force upon said compression tube.
11. The tabletop adapter of claim 10 wherein said compression tube
and said compression collar have threads and wherein said
compression tube and said compression collar are threadably coupled
to each other so that rotational movement of one to the other
causes said compression tube to be compressed upon the upright
pole.
12. The tabletop adapter of claim 11 further including an alignment
pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said
compression tube is configured to mate with said alignment pin to
prevent rotational movement of said compression tube.
13. The tabletop adapter of claim 10 wherein said compression
collar has a mounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted
to said mounting flange.
14. The tabletop adapter of claim 9 wherein said pole is the
upright portion of a pole fan.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to adapters which enable a tabletop
to be mounted to a pole and a combination thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It has been well known to construct tables having legs. Some
tables have been designed which include an integrated central pole
mounted to the underside of a tabletop and a base mounted to the
opposite end of the pole. These tables are typically fixed in
height.
[0003] Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a table that
can be adjusted in height or a table that can be converted from a
pre-existing pole. It is to the provision of such therefore that
the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In a preferred form of the invention a tabletop adapter
configured to be coupled to an upright pole comprises an annular
compression collar having an inner portion and an outer portion
mateably coupled to the inner portion. The inner portion is
compressible through movement of the inner portion relative to the
outer portion. The adapter also has a tabletop having a hole
therethrough configured to allow the passage of the upright pole
therethrough. The tabletop is coupled to the compression collar.
With this construction, the compression collar may be mounted to
the upright pole and the outer portion moved relative to the inner
portion so that the compression collar grips the upright pole
thereby locking the position of the tabletop upon the upright
pole.
[0005] In another preferred form of the invention a table comprises
a base, an upright pole extending from the base, a compression
device journalled upon the pole for relative movement there along,
and a tabletop coupled to the compression device and having a hole
therethrough to enable the tabletop to be journalled upon the pole
for relative movement there along. With this construction, the
height of the tabletop may be adjusted by moving the tabletop along
the pole and then fixing the position by actuating the compression
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop adapter embodying
principles of the invention in a preferred form, the tabletop
adapter is shown mounted to the pole section of a pole fan.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tabletop adapter and a portion
of the pole section of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop adapter and
a portion of the pole section of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compression collar of
the tabletop adapter of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compression tube of the
tabletop adapter of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a
tabletop adapter 10 in a preferred form of the invention. The
tabletop adapter 10 is shown mounted to the pole section 12 of a
pole fan 13. The pole fan 13 has a base 14 and a fan assembly 15
opposite the base. The pole section 12 has a series of mounting
holes 17 therein.
[0012] The tabletop adapter 10 has a compression device 19 and a
tabletop 20 mounted to the compression device 19. The compression
device 19 includes a compression tube or inner portion 21, a
compression collar or outer portion 22 adapted to mate with the
compression tube 21, and an alignment pin 23.
[0013] The compression tube 21 has a gripping flange 24, an
externally threaded portion 25, and an externally tapered portion
26, as best shown in FIG. 5. The flange 24 has a notch 27
configured to receive a top portion of the alignment pin 23. The
tapered portion 26 has a series of slots 29 therein which allow the
internal diameter of the tapered portion 26 to vary with the
application of an inwardly directed force thereon.
[0014] The compression collar 22 has a tubular, internally threaded
portion 31 from which extends an internally tapered portion 32, as
best shown in FIG. 4. The internally tapered portion 32 is
configured to engage the externally tapered portion 26 of the
compression tube. The compression collar 22 also has a mounting
flange 34 extending from the top edge of the tapered portion 32.
The mounting flange 34 has a series of mounting holes 35 therein
through which mounting screws 36 are passed and threaded into the
underside of the tabletop 20.
[0015] The tabletop 20 has a central hole 38 therein configured to
receive and thereby be journalled onto the pole section of the pole
fan.
[0016] In use, the alignment pin 23 is positioned within a pole
section mounting hole 17 below the desired height of the tabletop
20. With the compression collar 22 loosely coupled to the
compression tube 21, the pole section 12 is then journalled through
the central hole 38 of the tabletop. If the pole section is that of
a pole fan, the pole section must be removed from either the base
or the fan assembly or must be comprised of more than one pole
portion to allow the pole to pass into the tabletop hole.
[0017] Once the compression tube flange 24 comes to rest upon the
alignment pin 23 the compression tube 21 is rotated to a position
wherein the alignment pin 23 falls into the flange notch 27,
thereby restricting further rotation about the pole section. The
compression collar 22 is then rotated relative to the compression
tube 21, causing the compression collar internally tapered portion
32 to be forced inwardly against the compression tube externally
tapered portion 26, as shown in FIG. 3 This force causes the
externally tapered portion 26 to contract and firmly grip the pole
section 12, thereby locking the position of the tabletop adapter to
the pole section.
[0018] It should be understood that the alignment pin 23 is not
mandatory as the compression device 19 may be operated without
such. However, the alignment pin eases the operation by supporting
the tabletop adapter in position as the compression device is
actuated.
[0019] It should be understood that the present invention may be
utilized with any upright pole and is not intended to be limited to
a combination which includes pole fans.
[0020] It thus is seen that a tabletop adapter or adjustable height
table is now provided which overcomes problems with those of the
prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with
particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it
should be understood that many modifications, additions and
deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made
thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *