U.S. patent application number 16/783696 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-04 for height adjustable work surface.
This patent application is currently assigned to DSA International, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel Johnson Grabowski. Invention is credited to Daniel Grabowski, David Melvin Gresham, Michael Johnson.
Application Number | 20200170405 16/783696 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70849573 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200170405 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grabowski; Daniel ; et
al. |
June 4, 2020 |
HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE WORK SURFACE
Abstract
A tabletop positioning and locking assembly is described for use
with a modular trapezoidal table frame structure that utilizes
trapezoid tube weldments. The positioning and locking assembly
automatically positions the tabletop on the trapezoidal table frame
at the exact desired location in relation to the frame, and also
securely locks the tabletop down onto the table frame without the
need for hardware or tools.
Inventors: |
Grabowski; Daniel; (East
Grand Rapids, MI) ; Johnson; Michael; (West Olive,
MI) ; Gresham; David Melvin; (East Hampton,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Grabowski; Daniel
Johnson; Michael
Gresham; David Melvin |
East Grand Rapids
West Olive
East Hampton |
MI
MI
NY |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DSA International, LLC
Zeeland
MI
|
Family ID: |
70849573 |
Appl. No.: |
16/783696 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16058975 |
Aug 8, 2018 |
|
|
|
16783696 |
|
|
|
|
62542501 |
Aug 8, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 13/08 20130101;
A47B 13/003 20130101; A47B 13/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 13/00 20060101
A47B013/00; A47B 13/08 20060101 A47B013/08; A47B 13/02 20060101
A47B013/02 |
Claims
1. A table comprising: a tabletop; a table frame having a first
table frame member and a second table frame member substantially
parallel to the first table frame member; the first table frame
member having a first angled side and the second table frame having
a second angled side; a first cam activated locking mechanism
attached to the tabletop, the first cam activated locking mechanism
engaging the first angled side of the first table frame member; a
second cam activated locking mechanism attached to the tabletop,
the second cam activated locking mechanism engaging the second
angled side of the second table frame member to secure the tabletop
to the table frame.
2. The table of claim 1 wherein the first table frame member has a
trapezoidal cross section.
3. The table of claim 2 wherein the second table frame member has a
trapezoidal cross section.
4. The table of claim 1 wherein the first cam activated locking
mechanism forces an angled surface into direct contact with the
first angled side of the first table frame member.
5. The table of claim 4 wherein the second cam activated locking
mechanism forces an angled surface into direct contact with the
second angled side of the second table frame member.
6. The table of claim 1 wherein the first cam activated locking
mechanism and the second cam activated locking mechanism generate
forces directed towards each other.
7. The table of claim 1 wherein the first cam activated locking
mechanism and the second cam activated locking mechanism generate
forces directed opposite of each other.
8. A table including a tabletop and a table frame; the table frame
having at least two members with a trapezoidal cross section; at
least two attachment mechanisms secured to the tabletop that secure
the tabletop to the table frame by engaging the sides of the two
members.
9. The table of claim 8 wherein the two attachment mechanism are
cam activated locking mechanisms.
10. The table of claim 9 wherein the two attachment mechanisms have
angled surfaces that abut the angled surfaces of the two members
with trapezoidal cross sections.
11. A table including a tabletop and a table frame; the table frame
comprising four members oriented substantially horizontal and four
legs oriented substantially vertical; the first member and second
member being substantially parallel; the tabletop including at
first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism attached to
the underside of the tabletop; the first locking mechanism exerting
force against the first member and the second locking mechanism
exerting force against the second member to secure the tabletop to
the table frame.
12. The table of claim 11 wherein the first member and second
member have a trapezoidal cross section.
13. The table of claim 11 wherein the first and second locking
mechanism is a cam activated locking mechanism.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This U.S. Non-Provisional patent application is a
continuation in part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No.
16/058,975 filed Aug. 8, 2018 and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application 62/542,501 filed Aug. 8, 2017, the
disclosure of which is considered part of the disclosure of this
application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
[0003] Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to modular table and
desking systems. The present invention is directed to modular table
and desking systems, and in particular assemblies for securing
tabletops to table frames.
BACKGROUND
[0005] Tables and desking systems come in countless forms and are
utilized by everyone for eating, meeting with others, working,
studying and other activities. Tables and desking systems are
typically designed for assembly at their final destination, with
the legs detached from the tabletop for more economical and
convenient shipment. However, the tabletop must then be attached to
the legs or a table frame by the end user or a professional
installer. Further, a user may desire to disassemble the table for
storage or movement, or to reconfigure a configurable desking
system.
[0006] To address these challenges, many methods, systems and
components have been developed for attaching the tabletop to the
table legs, or to a table frame. Preferably, these methods and
systems allow for the tabletop to be easily detached from the table
legs, or the table frame, so that the table may be disassembled for
storage or movement, and later reassembled. In the simplest
example, the tabletop may simply be screwed to the table legs, or
screwed to the table frame or brackets attached to the table frame,
and then the screws removed to disassemble the table. Although
simple, this procedure may not be repeated more than a few times
before the screw holes wear out, depending on the type of tabletop.
Also, the tabletop may not be precisely aligned on a table frame
when the tabletop is screwed into the frame by an installer or the
user from below.
[0007] To address this issue, most office tables and desking
systems utilize nuts inset in the bottom side of the tabletop that
receive bolts for assembly, rather than screws, to connect the
tabletop to legs or the frame. The combination of bolts and inset
nuts also allows the tabletop to be more precisely aligned on a
table frame based on the location of the inset nuts by the
manufacturer. Although preferable to the use of screws, this common
assembly technique has several disadvantages.
[0008] First, a user or professional installer must lie on the
floor to align the bolts with the preset nuts, and then screw the
bolts into the nuts. This assembly procedure is uncomfortable,
difficult and time consuming, and typically requires multiple
individuals to assist with the precise placement of the tabletop
while the bolts are inserted. Second, this technique requires
hardware that is easily lost, and may not be easily replaced
because the replacement bolts must exactly match the diameter and
thread configuration of the inset nuts, as well as the length of
the hole. Finally, stack up tolerances of the manufacturing process
make it difficult to ensure that the inset holes of the tabletop
and the holes of the table frame line up precisely, which may not
be discovered until assembly of the table.
[0009] One attempted solution to these common issues in table and
desking system assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,231,537
issued to Miller et. al and assigned to Poppin, Inc. In the Poppin
desking system, the tabletop is secured to the table frame by
clamping the tabletop to a rail of the table frame with lever and
cam devices attached to the tabletop, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32
of the Poppin patent. The Poppin lever and cam device is hand
operable, and thus avoids the use of tools, screws or bolts for
connecting the tabletop to the frame, eliminating many of the
disadvantages of common table and desking system outlined above.
The Poppin tabletop with attached lever and cam devices is also
usable with different table frame configurations, as shown in FIGS.
7-9 of the Poppin patent, increasing the utility of the
tabletop.
[0010] Despite the advantages of the Poppin system, further
improvements on the concept of securing a tabletop to a table
frame, especially for reconfigurable desking systems, are desired
by manufacturers, installers, purchasers and users of tables and
desking systems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The inventors have developed a tabletop positioning and
locking mechanism for use with a table frame with an angled side,
preferably a trapezoidal table frame structure that utilizes
trapezoid tube weldments for the frame of the table. Multiple
locking mechanisms are attached to the underside of a tabletop.
Each locking mechanism includes a lever that turns a cam to engage
the angled side of the table frame, which angles inward in the
downward direction. Thus, as the cam engages the angled side of the
table frame, the tabletop is pulled down onto the table frame to
lock the tabletop in place without the need for hardware or
tools.
[0012] The cam activated locking mechanism disclosed herein is
preferably utilized in pairs in conjunction with parallel beams of
a trapezoidal frame structure. With two locking mechanisms located
opposite one another, each on the outside of the inwardly angled
trapezoidal frame structure, the locked mechanisms also
automatically position the tabletop parallel to the parallel beams
of the frame. Further, as disclosed below, a corner wedge block may
also engage an additional portion of the frame to further locate
the tabletop along the parallel beams in the exact desired location
relative to the table frame.
[0013] The robust locking mechanism and table frame structure
disclosed herein allows for the placement and attachment of a
tabletop to a table frame by one person without the use of tools or
hardware. After assembling the table frame in the desired
configuration, the tabletop with attached open locking mechanisms
is simply placed on top of the frame in the approximate desired
location. The locking mechanisms are then closed by hand,
automatically locking the tabletop down onto the frame and in the
exact desired location relative to the frame. Further, the problem
of stack up tolerances in the precise location of two holes in two
separately manufactured components is eliminated.
[0014] Finally, the disclosed locking mechanisms may be relocatable
on the underside of the tabletop so that the tabletop may be used
in various and reconfigurable decking configurations. These and
other advantages of the disclosed locking mechanism and modular
trapezoidal table frame structure will be evident to those of skill
in the art based on the description provided in the drawings and
specification disclosed below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale,
the numerals may describe components in different views. The
drawings illustrate, generally, by way of example, but not by way
of limitation, various examples and embodiments discussed in the
present document.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a trapezoid tube weldment
according to an example of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modular trapezoid frame
table according to an example of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cam activated
tabletop locking mechanism according to an example of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of a cam activated
tabletop locking mechanism according to an example of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a cam activated tabletop
locking mechanism affixed to a table top and locked in place on
trapezoid tube weldment according to an example of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective underside view of a cam activated
tabletop locking mechanism affixed to a tabletop and locked in
place on trapezoid tube weldment according to an example of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom view of a corner wedge block
according to an example of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective underside view of a corner wedge
block affixed to a tabletop and in place to locate the tabletop
with respect to a table frame according to an example of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The tabletop positioning and locking assembly of the present
invention is preferably used in conjunction with a modular
trapezoidal frame structure, although those of skill in the art
would understand that table frames with other cross sections could
also be utilized and are within the scope of the present invention.
However, the present invention will be described in connection with
a trapezoidal tube weldment 116 as shown in FIG. 1, to construct
the frame for a trapezoid frame table, shown in FIG. 2. The
trapezoid tube weldments 116 are connected by corner castings 128
which are connected to legs 110 to create the table frame. As
described in U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 16/058,975, many
alternative table and decking configurations are contemplated by
the inventors and may be utilized with the invention disclosed
herein.
[0025] The angle of the trapezoid of each trapezoid tube weldment
116 is preferably 25-155-25-155, with the acute angles 122 of the
trapezoid being 25 degrees and the obtuse angles 124 of the
trapezoid being 155 degrees. Those of skill in the art will
recognize that other angles for the trapezoid may be used to
achieve the same functionality.
[0026] The trapezoidal table tube weldments provide many advantages
over conventional rectangular tube weldments. In addition to a
pleasing aesthetic, trapezoidal beams provide the same structural
stability with a lower profile, providing more leg clearance
beneath the table. Also, accessories or support beams can be
dropped down into the "cone" formed by opposing trapezoids,
allowing for easier securement methods compared to rectangular
frame elements.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the tabletop positioning and locking
mechanism 200 of the present invention includes a table lock base
plate 202, cam handle 204, cam slide 206, rubber tape 208 and screw
210. The legs 207 of the cam slide 206 engage the slots 203 of the
base plate 202 enabling the cam slide to slide relative to the base
202, which is attached to the underside of a tabletop 212 (see
FIGS. 5 and 6). The cam handle 204 rotates about the screw 210 and
engages the cam slide 206 throughout its rotation.
[0028] In an open position, the cam handle 204 retracts the cam
slide 206 into the base plate 202. In a closed or locked position,
shown in FIG. 4, the increased radius portion of the cam handle 204
pushes the cam slide 206 towards the front edge 209 of the base
plate 202. In this position, the tabletop positioning and locking
mechanism engages the side of a trapezoid tube weldment, as shown
in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, the tabletop positioning and locking
mechanism 200 is shown locking the tabletop 212 to the trapezoid
tube weldment 116. In this position, the cam slide 206 engages the
trapezoid tube weldment 116, cushioned by the rubber tape 208. As
will be readily evident, a tabletop positioning and locking
mechanism on the opposite side of the table frame may be locked in
a similar position on a trapezoid tube weldment 116, aligning the
tabletop in the exact desired position relative to the two parallel
tube weldments. Further, in this locked position, the tabletop 212
cannot be pulled upward due to the cam slide 206 engagement with
the outwardly angled side 211 of the trapezoidal tube weldment 116
on both sides of the table frame. Thus, in addition to aligned with
the opposite parallel members of the table frame, the table frame
is also locked in position to prevent accidental removal or any
movement of the tabletop until the tabletop positioning and locking
mechanism is opened.
[0030] The tabletop positioning and locking mechanisms 200 of the
present invention are preferably located on the outside of the
table frame. In this location, the cam handle 204 can more easily
be manipulated to secure or remove the tabletop 212. However, if
the angle of the trapezoidal frame is reversed, so that the top of
the trapezoidal frame angles inwardly rather than outwardly,
providing an inwardly angled side rather than an outwardly angled
side 211, the mechanisms 200 can be located on the inside of the
table frame. This configuration may be desirable for certain
installations or applications that desire that the locking
mechanisms be hidden inside the table frame.
[0031] The baseplate 202 is preferably attached to the bottom side
of a tabletop 212 with bolts that are received in inset nuts on the
underside of the tabletop, with the inset nuts being located to
allow for precise alignment of the tabletop with respect to a
preferred table frame configuration. Additional inset nut locations
may also be provided in the bottom of the tabletop so that the
tabletop may be utilized in other table frame sizes and
configurations. Thus, with minimal effort, the tabletop positioning
and locking mechanisms may easily be moved to alternative locations
that allow the tabletop to be used in reconfigurable decking
systems.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a corner wedge block 214 may also
be used to assist with the precise location of a tabletop relative
to the table frame. As shown in FIG. 2 and discussed in detail in
U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 16/058,975, the corner castings
128 provide important benefits to the inventor's modular
trapezoidal frame construction. In addition to the benefits
previously disclosed, the angle formed between the corner castings
128 and the trapezoid tube weldments 128 may be used to assist with
the precise placement and securement of the tabletop.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, the corner wedge block 214 includes
angled corners 215 that match the angle formed between the corner
casting 128 and the trapezoid tube weldments 128. By securing the
corner wedge block 214 on the underside of tabletop 212 where the
trapezoid tube weldments 128 meet the corner casting 128, as shown
in FIG. 8, the tabletop 212 may be further secured in place to
prevent any possible movement of the tabletop relative to the table
frame.
[0034] The inventors contemplate several alterations and
improvements to the disclosed invention. Other alterations,
variations, and combinations are possible that fall within the
scope of the present invention. Although various embodiments of the
present invention have been described, those skilled in the art
will recognize more modifications that may be made that would
nonetheless fall within the scope of the present invention.
Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to the
apparatus described. Instead, the scope of the present invention
should be consistent with the invention claimed below.
* * * * *