U.S. patent number 3,572,872 [Application Number 04/861,665] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-30 for tandem table frame assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Streater Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jay G. Fenwick.
United States Patent |
3,572,872 |
Fenwick |
March 30, 1971 |
TANDEM TABLE FRAME ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A frame assembly for a display table of the type commonly used
in department stores for the display and storing of software goods.
The frame assembly has three types of frame sections which are a
side frame section, an end frame section and an intermediate frame
section. Any even number of side frame sections may be used to
provide a tandem assembly of any desired length. The side frames
have upper and lower door tracks for sliding doors which tracks are
continuous for the entire length of a tandem unit. The side frames
have upper and lower tubular members which are also continuous for
the entire length of a tandem unit and facilitate the assembly of a
unit.
Inventors: |
Fenwick; Jay G. (Albert Lea,
MN) |
Assignee: |
Streater Industries, Inc.
(Albert Lea, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
25336424 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/861,665 |
Filed: |
September 29, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
13/06 (20130101); A47F 5/10 (20130101); A47B
47/00 (20130101); A47F 3/00 (20130101); A47F
3/142 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
3/14 (20060101); A47F 3/00 (20060101); A47B
13/00 (20060101); A47B 13/06 (20060101); A47F
5/10 (20060101); A47B 47/00 (20060101); A47b
047/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/263,264,265,257,108,257 (SK)/ ;312/257 (SM)/ ;312/205 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawson; Patrick D.
Assistant Examiner: Krizmanich; George H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A tandem table frame assembly comprising at least two
rectangular side frames in tandem each having upper and lower
horizontally extending tubular members and each having upper and
lower door tracks in respective abutting engagement with said
tubular members and in mutually facing relation, each of said
frames having vertically extending posts at opposite ends thereof,
a rectangular end frame, a pair of upper and lower horizontally
extending studs on one side of said end frame in telescopic
engagement with the tubular members of one of said side frames, a
transversely extending intermediate frame member having a
vertically extending post at least at one end thereof which is
disposed between and in abutting engagement with adjacent ones of
said posts of said side frames, and a pair of female connectors
telescopically fitted in adjoining ones of said tubular
members.
2. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
end frame has a pair of legs attached thereto on said one side
thereof.
3. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 2 wherein said
intermediate frame has a pair of vertically extending posts at
opposite ends thereof, said intermediate frame having a pair of
legs inwardly spaced from said pair of posts.
4. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 1 including
alignment means between adjacent ones of said posts.
5. A tandem table frame assembly according to claim 5 wherein said
alignment means comprises studs and holes for said studs.
Description
The invention relates to a new and improved frame assembly for a
display table of the type commonly used in department stores for
displaying and storing software goods.
Department stores are being constructed at a rapid rate and large
numbers of software display tables are required for these stores.
Competitive conditions make economies which may be effected very
desirable but over the years display tables have not been the
subject of intensive cost-saving developments to the same extent as
other products.
A main object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved frame assembly for a display table which may be
manufactured economically while having adequate strength and
rigidity for its intended purpose. Another object is to provide
such a frame assembly having only three different frame sections
which can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily and
which can be assembled in tandem to provide any desired length.
Another object is to provide such a frame assembly having a unique
side frame which incorporates door tracks for sliding type doors
which door tracks are continuous for the entire length of a
resulting tandem assembled unit. Another object involves the
providing of upper and lower tubular members for the side frame
which facilitate the easy assembling of units while contributing
substantially to an overall cleanliness of design and to the
strength of assembled units.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following specification, drawings and appended claims.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tandem table frame
assembly embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view which
features the intermediate frame of the frame assembly; and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view which
features the intermediate frame of the frame assembly.
The complete tandem table frame assembly shown in FIG. 1 includes
four identical side frames 10 to 13, two identical end frames 14
and 15, and an intermediate frame 16. As may be deduced from the
drawing, the frames 10 to 16 fit together to form a frame assembly
for a table. The table is of the type used in department stores for
displaying goods thereon and for storing goods in the storage
cabinet space formed in the interior thereof.
Due to identicalness, only side frame 12 will be referred to
relative to the detailed parts thereof. Side frame 12 includes a
generally rectangular frame member 20 having four sides 21 to 24 in
a vertical plane and four flanges 25 to 28 extending inwardly
respectively from the four sides. Flanges 25 to 27 are in spaced
relation to the outer perimeter of frame member 20 and flange 28 is
flush with the lower edge of the lower side 24 of the frame member
20. Frame side 22 has an outwardly extending, overhanging two door
track section 30 with two longitudinally extending, narrow strips
31 and 32 in spaced relation to each other and frame side 22 to
form two downwardly facing door tracks. Mounted on track section 30
and attached thereto as by welding or the like is an upper
longitudinally extending tubular member 34 having a rectangular
cross section. A lower longitudinally extending tubular member 35
having a rectangular cross section is attached to the lower portion
of frame side 24 as by welding and is in the same general plane as
upper tubular member 34.
An upwardly facing channel member 38 of narrower width than tubular
member 35 is attached thereto flush with the outer edge thereof.
Channel sides 39 and 40 of channel member 38 are in spaced relation
to frame side 24 to form an upwardly facing two door track section
42 which is in alignment with the downwardly facing two door track
section 30. The respective ends of tubular members 34 and 35 and
the ends of the door track sections 30 and 42 are in vertical
alignment so that the joining of two side frames, such as frames 12
and 13, results in the joining in abutting engagement of adjacent
tubular members and door track sections to provide continuity for
the entire length of the table.
End frame 14, which is identical to end frame 15, includes a
generally rectangular frame member 50 having four sides 51 and 54
in a vertical plane with four flanges 55 extending outwardly from
the outer edges of the four sides to provide rigidity. A flange 56
extends inwardly from the lower edge of the upper frame side 51.
Flange 56 extends substantially across the width of the opening
defined by the frame sides 51 to 54. A pair of legs 57 are attached
to end frame 14 by having the upper ends thereof fastened by
welding or the like to the underneath side of the ends of flange 56
and the lower ends of the legs attached to the lower frame side
53.
End frame 14 has four short tubular studs 58 having rectangular
cross sections extending inwardly from the four corners thereof
which are female parts relative to tubular members 34 and 35 in
which they are insertable. Studs 58 are respectively spaced from
the corners of frame 14 such that the upper and outer sides of
tubular members 34, and the lower and outer sides of tubular
members 35, are aligned or merge with frame flanges 55 to provide
unbroken surfaces to facilitate the adding of wood panels or the
like to the frame assembly.
The end frame 14 is joined to the side frames 10 and 12 by
telescopically inserting the studs 58 into the tubular members 34
and 35. In the joined position tubular members 34 and 35 abut the
frame sides 51 to 54 with the legs 57 being nested in the angles
formed respectively by the frame side 21 and flange 25 thereof of
frame 12 and by the frame side 23 and flange 27 thereof of frame
14. With this construction there are optional fastening or locking
means which may be utilized. One known locking means referred to as
locking horns (not shown) would comprise resiliently biased buttons
in the studs 58 which would cooperate with appropriately positioned
holes in the tubular members 34 and 35 to hold the parts in their
joined positions. The use of locking horns would allow the table
assembly to be assembled without tools. Screws and nuts could also
be used as fastening means by their utilization between frame
flanges 25 and the legs 57.
Intermediate frame 16 comprises a pair of vertically extending
tubular members 64 joined at their lower ends by two oppositely
arranged angle iron members 65. A pair of legs 68 are attached as
by welding to the lower ends of tubular members 64 in inwardly
offset relation thereto. Tubular connectors 70 of rectangular cross
section are female parts relative to tubular members 34 and 35 and
are used to join the respective tubular members 34 and 35 of the
side frames 10 and 13. Connectors 70 and the adjoining tubular
members 34 and 35 may likewise be equipped with locking horn
attaching means as suggested with respect to studs 58.
In the assembled state the tubular member 64 is nested between
adjacently disposed frame flanges 25 and 27 which has the same
width as tubular member 64. The edges of adjacent frame sides 21
and 23 are in abutting engagement and this is facilitated by reason
of the width of each side of tubular member 64 being twice the
widths of frame sides 21 and 23. Screens and nuts may be used as
fastening means with this construction by their utilization between
frame flanges 25 and 27 and tubular member 64.
With the use of any desired number of intermediate frames 16 the
table assembly may be made as long as desired. In any such assembly
two end frames 14 and 15 are required. Sliding type doors (not
shown) are intended to be installed between door track sections 30
and 42. End panels (not shown) may be attached to end frames 15 and
16. Floor sections (not shown) may be installed by utilizing side
frame flanges 28 and the intermediate frame angle irons 65. A top
may be installed by attaching it to the tops of side frame tubular
members 34 and the top surfaces of end frames 14 and 15.
* * * * *