U.S. patent number 3,882,795 [Application Number 05/366,161] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-13 for tiltable desk top.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Steelcase Inc.. Invention is credited to Donald D. Korell.
United States Patent |
3,882,795 |
Korell |
May 13, 1975 |
Tiltable desk top
Abstract
A desk or table having a top which can be mounted horizontally
or on a slope. Bolts pass through end panel supports and into
brackets on the ends of the desk top. Three levels of holes on
three of the brackets provide alternative mounting holes for the
bolts depending on whether one wants a level top or a sloped top.
The rear corner bolt passes through an insert which fits in an
aperture in the end panel. The insert includes an eccentrically
located hole through which the bolt passes. By orienting the insert
with the hole in a first position when the desk top is level, and
reorienting the insert with the hole in a second position when the
desk top is slanted, one insures that the rear corner of the desk
stays properly aligned with the rear corner of the end panels.
Inventors: |
Korell; Donald D. (Grand
Rapids, MI) |
Assignee: |
Steelcase Inc. (Grand Rapids,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23441900 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/366,161 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/1;
312/194 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
17/003 (20130101); A47B 13/08 (20130101); A47B
2200/07 (20130101); A47B 13/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
13/08 (20060101); A47B 17/00 (20060101); A47b
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/6,1,8,109,144
;312/194,195,257R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Huizenga &
Cooper
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A desk, table or the like comprising: a top; an end support
panel at each end of said top for supporting said top; fasteners
for securing said top to said end support panels; cooperating means
on said top for releasably cooperating with said fasteners to
secure said top to said end support panel; said panels having
apertures through which said fasteners pass whereby said top is
located on one side of said end support panel and said fasteners
are located on the other side and pass through said apertures to
engage said cooperating means; a cover generally coextensive with
said end support panel and being releasably secured to said end
support panel, said cover covering said fasteners; said cover
including means for releasing it from said end support panel
whereby said cover can be removed to provide access to said
fasteners; said cooperating means having at least two alternative
cooperating positions for cooperating with said fasteners, a first
in which said top is oriented generally horizontally and a second
in which said top is oriented on a slope, said end panels having
sufficient width and height that the ends of said top are concealed
from view by said end support panel in either of said cooperating
positions.
2. The desk, table or the like of claim 1 in which said apertures
in said end support panels comprise at least two holes through said
end support panels, said cooperating means comprising at least two
brackets on said top; each of said brackets including at least two
vertically spaced holes, said fasteners passing through said holes
in said end support panels and into one of said holes in said
bracket; said first cooperating position comprising each of said
fasteners being secured in the upper holes in said bracket, said
second cooperating position comprising one of said fasteners being
secured in an upper hole and the other being secured in the lower
hole.
3. The desk, table or the like of claim 2 in which said top
includes three brackets and said end support panel includes three
corresponding holes therethrough; each of said brackets including
three vertically spaced holes therein whereby said top can be
oriented generally horizontally at one of three different levels or
can be oriented on a slope with one fastener being secured in the
lowermost hole of a bracket on one side, another fastener being
secured in the middle hole of the middle bracket, and the other
fastener being secured in the uppermost hole in the bracket on the
other side.
4. The desk, table or the like of claim 3 in which said holes are
arranged such that said top is sloped at approximately 4.degree. to
the horizontal when mounted in its sloped position.
5. A desk, table or the like comprising: a top; end support means
at each end of said top for supporting said top; releasable
securing means on said top and on said end support means, said
releasable securing means cooperating to secure said top to said
end support means; said releasable securing means having at least
two cooperating positions, a first in which said top is oriented
generally horizontally and a second in which said top is oriented
on a slope; a fastener joining said top at the end thereof; an
aperture in said end support means; an insert removably mounted in
said aperture, said insert including an eccentrically located hole
therethrough; said fastener passing through said hole; said insert
and said aperture being shaped so that said insert can be
positioned in one of at least a first and second position, thereby
locating said hole in one of a first and second position, said
first and second positions corresponding to said first and second
cooperating positions of said securing means; said hole being
located such that the orientation of the rear corner of said top
maintains generally the same position with respect to the end
support means when said top is in either its generally horizontal
or sloped position.
6. The desk, or the like of claim 5 in which said insert comprises
a plate and a projection projecting from said plate, said plate
being larger than said aperture in said end support means, said
projection having approximately the same shape as said aperture
whereby said projection can be fitted into said aperture and said
plate prevents said insert from being pushed completely through
said aperture.
7. The desk, table or the like of claim 6 in which said projection
has a regular shape with a toe extending from one side thereof;
said aperture having the same regular shape with two notches in
opposite corners thereof, each of said notches corresponding in
configuration to said toe whereby said projection can be oriented
with said toe in either one or the other of said two notches.
8. The desk, table or the like of claim 7 in which said projection
is square, except for said toe and said aperture is square except
for said notches.
9. The desk, table or the like of claim 8 in which one of said
projections projects from either side of said plate whereby said
insert can be used at either end of said desk, table or the
like.
10. The desk, table or the like of claim 5 in which a cover is
releasably secured to said end support means, said cover covering
said releasable securing means; said cover including means for
releasing it from said end support means whereby said cover can be
removed to provide access to said securing means.
11. The desk, table or the like of claim 10 in which said
releasable securing means comprises at least two holes through said
end support means, at least two brackets on said top and fasteners;
each of said brackets including at least two vertically spaced
holes, said fasteners passing through said holes in said end
support means and into one of said holes in said bracket; said
first cooperating position comprising each of said fasteners being
secured in the upper holes in said bracket, said second cooperating
position comprising one of said fasteners being secured in an upper
hole and the other being secured in the lower hole.
12. The desk, table or the like of claim 11 in which said top
includes three brackets and said end support means includes three
corresponding holes therethrough; each of said brackets including
three vertically spaced holes therein whereby said top can be
oriented generally horizontally at one of three different levels or
can be oriented on a slope with one fastener being secured in the
lowermost hole of a bracket on one side, another fastener being
secured in the middle hole of the middle bracket, and the other
fastener being secured in the uppermost hole in the bracket on the
other side.
13. The desk, table or the like of claim 12 in which said holes are
arranged such that said top is sloped at approximately 4.degree. to
the horizontal when mounted in its sloped position.
14. A desk, table or the like comprising: a top; an end panel at
each end of said top covering the ends of said top; means for
orienting said top in either a generally horizontal plane or on the
slope with respect to the horizontal and with respect to said end
panels; the upper rear corner of said top being generally aligned
with the upper rear corner of said end panel when said top is
oriented horizontally; said means for orienting said top including
an aperture in each said end panel, an insert removably mounted in
said aperture and a fastener; said insert including an
eccentrically located hole therethrough; said fastener passing
through said hole and being joined to said top; said insert and
said aperture being shaped so that said insert can be positioned in
one of at least a first and second position, thereby locating said
hole in one of a first and second position; said hole being located
in said insert such that when said insert is oriented with said
hole in said first position, said top can be mounted in a generally
horizontal position with its rear corner generally flush with the
corner of said end panel and when said hole is in its second
position, said top can be oriented on a slope and said corner of
said top will still be generally flush with said corner of said end
panel.
15. The desk, table or the like of claim 14 in which said insert
comprises a plate and a projection projecting from said plate, said
plate being larger than said aperture in said end support means,
said projection having approximately the same shape as said
aperture whereby said projection can be fitted into said aperture
and said plate prevents said insert from being pushed completely
through said aperture.
16. The desk, table or the like of claim 15 in which said
projection has a regular shape with a toe extending from one side
thereof; said aperture having the same regular shape with two
notches in opposite corners thereof, each of said notches
corresponding in configuration to said toe whereby said projection
can be oriented with said toe in either one or the other of said
two notches.
17. The desk, table or the like of claim 16 in which said
projection is square, except for said toe and said aperture is
square except for said notches.
18. The desk, table or the like of claim 17 in which one of said
projections projects from either side of said plate whereby said
insert can be used at either end of said desk, table or the like.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to desks, tables or the like of both
the level and sloped top variety. Traditionally, manufacturers sell
desks which have level or generally horizontal tops. A limited
number of desks are available in which the top is oriented on a
slope.
Drafting tables are available in which the top can be oriented
either horizontally or tilted to a number of different positions.
However, such top tilting mechanisms have not been incorporated
into office desks, probably because they are too complicated and
expensive. As a result, there apparently has never been a desk
offered to the consumer having a top which the user could orient
either horizontally or at a sloped angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a desk, table or the like having a top
which can be oriented either horizontally or on a slope. The top is
supported between end support means and a releasable securing means
on the top and the end support means cooperate to secure the top to
the end support means. The releasable securing means have at least
two cooperating positions, a first in which the top is oriented
generally horizontally and a second in which the top is oriented on
a slope.
One very important feature of this invention is the manner in which
the user can insure proper alignment of the rear corner of the desk
top with the top rear corner of the end support panel. This is
accomplished by providing a means for varying the pivot point of
the desk top. A fastener joins the top to the end support at the
end thereof, at a point which is near to but spaced from the rear
edge of the top. An aperture in the end support panel removably
receives an insert. The insert includes an eccentrically located
hole therethrough and the fastener passes through this hole. The
insert and the aperture are so shaped that the insert can be
positioned in one of at least a first and second position, thereby
locating the hole in one of a first and second position. The hole
is located in the insert such that the orientation of the upper
rear corner of the end of the desk top remains the same with
respect to the corner of the end support regardless of whether the
top is in its horizontal or sloped position.
These and other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention
will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the
written specification and appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk made in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an end panel of the desk of FIG. 1
with its cover removed. FIG. 2a is a fragmentary view of the upper
right-hand corner of the end panel exploded away and enlarged.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insert which is mounted in the
corner of the end panel of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the desk top;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket for the desk
top;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, prespective view of the corner of the desk
showing the mounting insert in a first position;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the corner of the desk
showning the mounting insert in a second position;
FIG. 8 is a frammentary, cross-sectional view taken along plane
VIII--VIII of FIG. 1 with the cover of the end panel being removed
and with the pedestal of the desk being removed;
FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the inside of the cover panel for
the end panel of FIG. 2;
FIG. 10 is a broken, cross-sectional view taken through the end
panel assembly with the cover for the end panel being in place;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the means
allowing access to the release mechanism for the end panel
cover;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the release and
locking mechanism for the end panel cover;
FIGS. 13a-13d are a series of schematic illustrations showing
various positions of the top with respect to the end panels;
and
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, exploded view showing the assembly of the
top, end panels and mounting insert.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the preferred embodiment, desk 1 includes a top 10 supported
between end panels 12 (FIG. 1). The cover 20 of end panels 12 are
removable to expose two holes 52 and an insert 170 mounted in an
aperture 161 (FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7). Insert 170 includes a hole 171
eccentrically located and extending completely through its body.
Bolts 152 pass through holes 52 and hole 171 and are threaded into
threaded holes 151 in brackets 150, brackets 150, in turn, being
secured to the ends of top 10 (FIGS. 4 and 8). There are three
vertically spaced holes 151 in each bracket 150. By using different
holes 151, one can change the level of top 10 or orient it on a
slope. Sloped orientation would be achieved by using the bottom
aperture 151 in the right-hand bracket 150, the middle aperture 151
in the middle bracket 150 and the top aperture 151 in the left-hand
bracket 150, as viewed in FIG. 4. When sloped, the orientation of
insert 170 is changed from that shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in
FIG. 7 in order to insure that the rear corner of top 10 will
maintain proper alignment with respect to the upper corner of end
panel 12.
Top 10 is made of wood, metal or the like. Brackets 150 which are
bolted into the ends thereof are formed of metal by bending (FIG.
5). Each bracket 150 includes a pair of mounting flanges 153 joined
to opposite walls of an outwardly projecting channel 154. Three
vertically spaced threaded holes 151 are bored into the basewall of
outwardly projecting channel 154. The holes 151 in brackets 150 are
spaced such that when top 10 is mounted on a slope, its slope is
approximately 4.degree.. It has been found that a 4.degree. slope
is ideal, offering a comfortable writing surface as well as one on
which six sided pencils and other similar objects will not roll off
of readily. Flanges 153 include holes 155 therein through which
bolts 156 are passed to thereby secure the bracket 150 to the end
of top 10.
The specific construction of end panel 12 is more fully set out in
copending application Ser. No. 366,218 entitled "END PANEL SUPPORT
SYSTEM", the specification of which is incorporated herein by
reference, by Ronald R. Hodges, Gale F. Wilcox, Robert G. Mohr, and
Douglas Scheerhorn, filed on even date herewith and assigned to the
assignee of this invention. The specific construction of end panel
12 does not form a part of this invention.
However, it is important that end panel 12 has two holes 52 passing
therethrough near the top, one being located near the left side as
viewed in FIG. 2 and the other being located in the middle. Near
the right side, a generally Z-shaped aperture 161 passes through
end panel 12. Aperture 161 is generally square in configuration,
except for a notch 162 at its upper right-hand corner and at its
lower left-hand corner which give it its somewhat Z-shaped
configuration. Insert 170 is mounted in aperture 161, and the
notches 162 serve a positive locating function as will be
hereinafter described more fully.
The purpose of employing insert 170 is aperture 161, rather than
simply employing another hole 52, is to insure proper alignment of
the corner of top 10 with the corner of end panels 12. Proper
alignment could be achieved by locating a fastening bolt 152 at the
extreme upper right hand corner of end panel 12 (as viewed in FIG.
2) and passing it into a threaded aperture in top 10 located such
that the position of the corner of top 10 would remain constant as
top 10 was pivoted. Such an arrangement might be acceptable under
some circumstances. In the present invention, however, it has been
found desirable to not only be able to tilt top 10, but also to be
able to mount it at different levels. This requires the use of a
bracket 150 which has three threaded holes at different levels, two
of the holes being located completely below the level of top 10. It
also requires that the top hole be positioned away from the rear
edge of top 10 so that when top 10 is tilted, the bottom of bracket
150 will not bump into the back panel of the desk. If it were not
for insert 170, tilting of top 10 about any of the pivot points
represented by any of the holes 151 would cause the rear edge and
corners of top 10 to change position relative to end panels 12.
This would be particularly undesirable when the rear of top 10 is
located at the top of the end panels 12, since the change of
position would cause the rear corner of top 10 to project above the
level of end panels 12.
Insert 170 is a small casting of powdered metal or the like, (FIG.
3). It includes an eccentrically located hole 171 which extends
completely therethrough. Hole 171 specifically takes the place of a
hole 52 in end panel 12. Insert 170 comprises a central plate 172
and a boot-shaped projection 173 projecting from each side thereof.
Boot 173 is so-called because it has a toe 174 jutting out from one
side thereof. Hole 171 passes completely through each boot 173 and
central plate 172.
Aperture 161 in end panel 12 is shaped exactly like boot 173,
except that it includes a notch 162 projecting from each side
thereof, at opposite corners thereof (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7). Each notch
162 corresponds in configuration to toe 174. Insert 170 can be
positioned in aperture 161 with toe 174 either in the upper
right-hand notch 162 (FIG. 6) or in the lower left-hand notch 162
(FIG. 7). In the former case, hole 171 will be located in the upper
left-hand corner of aperture 161 and in the latter case, it will be
located in the lower right-hand corner. In effect, insert 170 is
used to shift the pivot point of top 10 when it is to be oriented
at a tilted angle. When top 10 is to be level, insert 170 is
positioned as shown in FIG. 6. When top 10 is to be tilted, insert
170 is oriented in the manner shown in FIG. 7. Insert 170 can
readily be removed and reoriented. Its central plate 172 is larger
than aperture 161 so that it will not simply fall therethrough.
Holes 52 and insert 170 are normally completely hidden from view by
a cover 20 which is releasably secured to end panel 12 (FIG. 10).
End apnel panel includes an outwardly projecting central portion 34
having a plurality of slots 60 formed in the upper edge thereof
(FIGS. 2 and 10). Similarly, a plurality of slots 64 are provided
along the lower portion thereof. These slots cooperate with
appropriate fastening means on cover 20 to facilitate releasable
securance of cover 20 to end panel 12.
Cover 20 for end panel 12 is more fully described in copending
patent application Ser. No. 366,218 entitled END PANEL SUPPORT
SYSTEM, incorporated herein above by reference. However, the manner
in which cover 20 is secured to end panel 12 to thereby cover the
means whereby top 10 is secured to end panel 12 will be described
herein.
Cover 20 is formed of sheet metal having height and width
dimensions corresponding to the opening in end panels 12 (FIGS. 9
and 10). A retainer rail 76 welded to the interior of the cover at
the lower portion thereof includes a plurality of retainer tabs 78
extending outwardly from the inside of the cover near the lower
edge portion 70. Retainer tabs 78 are spaced along the length of
the retainer rails and are provided for engagement with slots 64
(FIG. 10) in end panels 12.
Means for releasably securing the cover to the end panels indicated
generally by the numeral 80 is located near the upper edge of the
cover (FIG. 9). The releasable securing means includes a plurality
of lock tabs 82 adapted for locking engagement with tab receiving
slots 60 formed in the central portion of the end panel. As shown
in FIG. 12, tabs 82 are formed with a back wall 84 which is secured
as by welding to a slidably mounted lock slide member 86. The back
wall extends upwardly and outwardly forming an upwardly directed
front flange 88 in which a pair of bias spring retainer openings 90
are provided. Each lock tab 82 extends downwardly from the back
wall 84 and outwardly perpendicular to the back wall to form the
mechanism for engagement with slots 60 in the end panels. Engaging
mechanism of lock tab 82 is generally barbed or triangular in shape
having a leading edge portion 92, outwardly tapered sidewalls 94,
terminating in shoulders 96 and 98 adjacent its intersection with
back wall 84.
A pair of lock release acutators 100 are also secured to lock slide
86 between lock tabs 82 and each include an outwardly formed
upwardly extending upper portion 102 which when assembled in the
cover, one or the other of the tab members will be accessible
through access opening 42 in the upper portion of the end panels.
As shown in FIG. 9, lock slide 86 including lock tabs 82 and lock
release actuators 100 are mounted for sliding movement in a lock
slide retainer 101. The slide retainer is a generally flat
elongated strip having a channel formed in its central portion
along its length which receives lock slide 86. Retainer 101 is
secured to the inner facing surface of cover 20 as by welding.
Openings 104 are provided along the length of retainer 102 through
which lock tabs 82 extend when assembled. Similar openings 106 are
also provided for lock release actuators 100. Notches 108 are
provided in the raised center section of the slide retainer at each
end thereof and a bias spring 110 is connected at one end in notch
108 and its opposite end is connected through the opening 90 in
flange 88 on lock tabs 82.
It will be noted that openings 104 in slide retainer 102 are wider
than the width of the back wall 84 of lock tabs 82. Openings 106
are similarly slightly wider than the width of lock release 100.
This allows limited movement of the lock slide 86 and lock tabs 82
across the width of the cover. Bias spring 110 constantly urges the
lock mechanism 80 into its locked position by shifting lock slide
86 to the right as shown in FIG. 9.
One achieves access to lock actuator 100 through an access opening
42 in the upper edge of end panel 12 (FIG. 11). Access opening 42
is normally closed by means of a plug or cap 46. Plug 46 is fixed
in position in opening 42 by means of a hole 48 in its lower
surface which is releasably engageable with an upstanding pin 50.
Pin 50 is secured by a tab 51 to the side of end panel 12.
In operation, the initial position of top 10 is adjusted with the
covers 20 removed from end panels 12 to allow acess to the inside
of the end panels. If the top is to be level and flush with the top
edges of end panels 12, bolts 152 are threaded into the lowermost
apertures 151a (FIG. 13a) in brackets 150. Top 10 can be positioned
at a middle position by choosing the middle holes 151b (FIG. 13b)
or at a lower position by choosing the upper holes 151c (FIG. 13c)
in brackets 150. Regardless of the height of top 10, if it is to be
oriented generally horizontally, insert 170 is oriented with hole
171 located in the upper left-hand corner of aperture 161 (FIG.
6).
If top 10 is to be oriented on a slope, (FIG. 13d) bolts 152 are
threaded into the lowermost hole 151a in the right-hand bracket 150
(FIG. 13b), the middle hole 151b in the middle bracket 150 and the
uppermost hole 151c in the left-hand bracket 150. In this instance,
insert 170 is oriented with hole 171 in the lower right-hand corner
of aperture 161 as shown in FIG. 7. In effect, the pivot point for
top 10 is changed when it is to be oriented on a slope. The
repositioning of insert 170 insures that the rear edge of top 10;
and rear corner will not project beyond or above the rear corner of
end panel 12.
In orienting or reorienting insert 170, cover 20 is removed and
insert 170 is inserted into aperture 161 from the inside of end
panel 12. Boot 173 fits into aperture 161 with its toe 174 in
either the upper right-hand notch 162 or lower left-hand notch 162
of aperture 161. Since central plate 172 is larger than aperture
161, insert 170 is prevented from being pushed all the way through
aperture 161.
Once top 10 is secured to end panel 12, cover 20 is secured to end
panel 12 to cover up the securing means. Tabs 78 are inserted into
slots 64 and tabs 82 are inserted into slots 60, bias means 110
allowing slide 86 to slide to one side thereby allowing the barbed
tabs 82 to hook into position within slots 60.
In the field, the user can change the orientation of his desk if he
so desires. He simply removes plug 46 from access aperture 42,
reaches into access aperture 42 and actuates slide lock actuator
100 to thereby slide tabs 82 to one side. This allows one to pull
them out of slots 60, thereby freeing the upper portion of cover
20. The lower portion of cover 20 is then freed by simply pulling
upwardly so as to pull tabs 78 out of lower slots 64. With end
panel 12 thus exposed, one can readily loosen bolts 152 and
reorient top 10 as he desires.
Thus, the present invention provides a convenient mechanism for
mounting a desk top in either a horizontal or sloped position.
Further, it can be mounted at different heights. Proper orientation
of the rear edge of the top with respect to the corners of the
supporting end panels is insured by the unique insert 170 which is
removably positioned in end panel 12.
Of course, it is understood that the above is merely a preferred
embodiment of the invention and that various changes and
alterations can be made thereof without departing from its spirit
and broader aspects.
* * * * *