U.S. patent number 3,688,707 [Application Number 05/079,721] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-05 for table with top composed of removable panels.
Invention is credited to Maurice D. White, 90 Jordan Place.
United States Patent |
3,688,707 |
|
September 5, 1972 |
TABLE WITH TOP COMPOSED OF REMOVABLE PANELS
Abstract
A table, such as a coffee table, has a top consisting of a
plurality of panels of standard dimensions which are supported by a
frame. The frame is formed of horizontal flanges projecting inward
from the sides and ends of the top and intermediate members,
preferably T-shaped in cross-section, which are supported by the
ends or sides. The edge flanges and intermediates are so fabricated
that the individual panels, which are preferably flat-topped, thin
squares, are supported with their top surfaces level. Some of the
panels may be replaced with shallow dish-like members, which are
likewise square and are supported at their edges in the same manner
as the flat panels. These may be used as planters or may hold art
objects, in which case they may be provided with transparent
covers. The same technique may be used to provide a shelf below the
top. The square pattern may be interrupted by making some of the
panels of fractional width, disposed in regular or random
patterns.
Inventors: |
Maurice D. White, 90 Jordan
Place (Palo Alto, CA 94303) |
Family
ID: |
22152372 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/079,721 |
Filed: |
October 12, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/159; 108/13;
108/90; 108/25; 108/161; D6/691.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
13/08 (20130101); A47B 3/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
3/00 (20060101); A47B 3/12 (20060101); A47B
13/08 (20060101); A47b 003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/11-14,62,25-27,90,111,114,153,157,159,161 ;287/189.36A
;312/140.3,140.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: James C. Mitchell
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Julian Caplan
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A table of the character described comprising a top frame, legs
supporting said top frame, and a plurality of panels fitting in
said top frame, at least some of said panels being square in plan,
said top frame comprising side members on either side, end members
on either end, said side end members being T-shaped in cross
section with the base of the T vertical and outermost, and at least
one intermediate member of T-shape cross section with the base of
the T horizontal and lowermost, each of said side and end members
having a horizontal flange supporting the adjacent edges of a
plurality of panels and a vertical flange restraining outward
shifting of adjacent panels, said intermediate member having a
vertical intermediate member flange to restrain lateral shifting
and a pair of intermediate member horizontal flanges supporting
adjacent edges of a plurality of panels, the ends of said
intermediate member being shaped to be supported by the horizontal
flanges of an adjacent side or end member to support said
intermediate member in horizontal position, said intermediate
member being freely adjustably movable relative to said side and
end members prior to installation of said panels and fixed in
position relative to said side and end members after placement of
said panels between the vertical flanges of said side, end and
intermediate members, the marginal edges of bottoms of said panels
resting on said horizontal flanges, at least some of said vertical
flanges extending up to the top surfaces of said panels, said
vertical intermediate member flanges being interposed between
adjacent panels, the top edges of all the vertical flanges lying in
a common horizontal plane.
2. A table according to claim 1 in which each said panel is flat on
the top.
3. A table according to claim 1 in which at least one said panel
has edge flanges around all four edges and is concave inside said
edge flanges, said edge flanges resting on said horizontal flanges
with the top surfaces of said edge flanges level with the top edges
of said vertical flanges.
4. A table according to claim 3 in which said panel concave and has
a plurality of individually, removable sections which interfit and
support means for said sections on said concave panel.
5. A table according to claim 1 in which at least two of said
panels are fractions of squares and a square panel is positioned
adjacent said fractional panels.
6. A table according to claim 1 in which at least one said panel is
formed of a stack of superimposed, separable, thin panels, each
said thin panel being individually movable relative to the other
said thin panels.
7. A table according to claim 1 in which said side, end and
intermediate members are each T-shaped in cross-section.
8. A table according to claim 7 in which said intermediate members
at either end are formed so that the vertical flanges thereof are
substantially unaltered, but the ends of the horizontal flanges are
bent downwardly slanted and then in a horizontal stretch so that
the bottom edge of said vertical flange rests on the horizontal
flange of one of either said end, intermediate or side members and
said horizontal stretches fit under said horizontal flanges of
either said end, intermediate or side members.
9. A table according to claim 1 which further comprises a shelf
below said top frame, said shelf having a shelf frame supported by
said legs and a plurality of shelf panels fitting in said shelf
frame, said shelf frame comprising second side members on either
side, second end members on either end and at least one second
intermediate member, each of said second side and end members
having a second horizontal flange supporting the adjacent edges of
a plurality of shelf panels and a vertical flange restraining
outward shifting of adjacent shelf panels, and second intermediate
member having second horizontal surfaces supporting adjacent edges
of a plurality of shelf panels.
10. A table according to claim 1 which further comprises finials at
corners of the tops of said legs.
11. A table according to claim 1 which further comprises
decorative, horizontal strips on said top frame.
12. A table according to claim 1 in which each said side and end
member has an outward, extending, decorative molding.
Description
This invention relates to a new and improved table with a top
composed of removable panels. Essentially the table top is
rectangular and of a type used for coffee tables and the like. The
top is composed of a plurality of square panels supported by the
marginal frame of the top plus one or more intermediate supports.
By variations in the panels and in the frame construction, a wide
variety of decorative effects may be obtained. In a variation of
the invention, some of the panels may be half-square,
quarter-square or other fractions, rectangles rather than squares,
in order to break up the regular pattern of the top.
A principal feature of the invention is the formation of the top of
the plurality of panels, basically square in shape. These panels
may differ in color, finish, ornamentation and material. For
example, the panels may be formed of ceramics, glass, slate, and
wood of various finishes. The panels may be glazed, painted and
otherwise ornamented, depending on the taste of the designer. Thus,
the table is adaptable to an indefinite variety of decorative
effects.
Another feature of the invention is the fact that one or more of
the panels may be replaced with a shallow, box-like member having
the same shape in plan as the panels. These boxes may be used as
planters for real or artificial plants, for cut flowers, or for ash
trays and other purposes. In addition, art objects may be displayed
in the boxes, the boxes being left uncovered or covered with a
transparent material as desired.
Another feature of the invention is the fact that the positions of
the panels may be varied from time to time to change the effect of
the table top, or new or different panels may be substituted for
old as desired.
Another feature of the invention is the fact that the square
patterns may be broken by using two panels of fractional size in
various arrangements, thereby breaking up the straight lines which
otherwise occur.
Still another feature of the invention is the fact that the frame
which supports the panels may be varied in construction to provide
a variable appearance.
One of the features of the invention is the fact that the top is
easily assembled, disassembled and altered as required. No special
skills or tools are required for such purposes. The panels may be
shipped disassembled and assembled by the householder.
Another feature of the invention is the fact that the support for
the panels may be arranged that the top surfaces of all panels are
level, preferably level with the marginal edging of the top. This
arrangement facilitates cleaning the top and also insures that
objects placed on the top will not tilt or fall. However, the
heights of the panels and frame may be non-uniform. For example, a
stack of panels may be placed in one location on the table top,
thus having an upper surface higher than surrounding areas.
Further, the thicknesses of the panels may be higher or lower than
the marginal edges or the intermediate supports; the panels may be
of uniform height but differ from the height of the marginal or
intermediate supports.
The appearance of the intermediate or marginal supports may be
accented by covering the exposed edges with tape or other
material.
Although the invention has particular application in the formation
of table tops, nevertheless the shelf of a table may be similarly
constructed.
Other features of the invention are the provision of ornamentations
on the table which blend, or contrast with, the panels. Such
ornamentations consist of finials, beveled or otherwise ornamented
borders, or ornamental grills along the sides or ends, or legs of
the table.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon
reading the following specification and referring to the
accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference
represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the table
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of an
intermediate support of the table.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the table
with the panels removed to reveal the support construction.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified table.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified
table.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a still further modified table.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along
line 7--7 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along
line 8--8 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further
modification.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of a further modification.
Directing attention to the form of the invention shown in FIGS.
l-3, table 11 has marginal edges comprising side members 12 and end
members 13 which are supported by legs 14. The legs 14 may be
interconnected or rigidified by side and end horizontal braces 16,
17 or by other means. The members 12, 13, 16, and 17 are connected
to the legs 14 by means of fasteners such as screws 18 which pass
through holes in the horizontal members and are threaded into
tapped holes in the legs 14. Alternatively, the fasteners may be
bolts passing through the connecting members and held by ornamental
nuts or the like. The holes in some of the members may be slotted
to allow adjustment for the thickness of ornamental members between
such members and legs 14. In the form of the invention illustrated,
legs 14 are formed of angle bar stock, but it will be understood
that this shape is subject to considerable variation.
In the preferred form shown in FIG. 3, the members 12, 13 are
essentially T-shaped in cross-section and have level horizontal
flanges 21, 22 respectively. It will be understood that instead of
T-shaped members 12, 13, the members may be in the form of angle
bar stock with the bottom flange shown in FIG. 3 omitted. In the
form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of transverse
intermediate supports 23 is provided. Each support 23 is also
formed of T-bar stock, and a leg 26 is positioned vertically
upwardly and is preferably of the same height as the vertically
disposed feet of the members 12, 13, but this height relationship
is not essential. As shown, the top edge of 23 is preferably level
with the top edges of members 12, 13, and the horizontal feet 24 of
23 are at the same level as flanges 21 and 22 of 12, 13.
To connect intermediate 23 to side member 12 a cut 27 is made below
the bottom edge of vertical 26 to a depth about equal to the
thickness of flange 21. Feet 24 are bent in downwardly bent
portions 28, and the ends 31 are offset below the level of the feet
24 a distance about equal to the thickness of flange 21. Instead of
being fabricated of metal, member 23 may be molded. The bottom edge
29 of vertical member 26 in the vicinity of cut 27 rests on flange
21 and the top edge of 26 is level with the top edge of 12. Bottom
edge 29 rests on the top of flange 21 and the offsets 31 fit under
said flange 21 to prevent tipping.
A plurality of short longitudinal, central, intermediate supports
33 are positioned between the supports 23 and between the endmost
supports 23 and ends 13. Supports 33 are similar to members 23 and
rest either on 21 or 22.
The offset end 31 is a preferred construction; however, the offset
may be omitted and the unevenness in the top surfaces of panels 36,
which would otherwise result, may be overcome by shims between the
underside of panels 36 and horizontal flanges 21 or 22.
In a preferred form of the invention, the top is composed of a
plurality of square panels 36, preferably 12 inches per side. The
outer longitudinal edges of panels 36 rest on flanges 21, and the
other longitudinal edges rest on flanges 24. The end panels 36 have
their outside end edges resting on flanges 22. Thus, the panels are
securely supported by members 12, 13 and 23 and 33. The thickness
of the panels 36 is preferably, approximately equal to the height
of the vertical members of 12, 13, 23 and 33 above the level of
flanges 21, 22 and 24. Accordingly, in such construction the tops
of the panels are level and the panels are preferably at the same
elevation as the top edges 12, 13 and also the intermediate 23 and
33. However, the panels may be higher or lower than the top edges
of 12, 13, depending on the effect desired.
As shown in FIG. 4, one or more panel 39 may be formed of a stack
of thin panels, each differently ornamented, which may be
interchanged in position to vary the display. The tops and bottoms
of the panels may be different, so that inverting a panel changes
the appearance of the table.
As a modification of the regular square panel 36, a shallow dished
panel 37 may be provided having outward extending marginal flanges
35 and which rest on 12, 23. As shown in FIG. 7, dish 37 may be
formed with a peripheral flange 35 and a spacer 32 placed between
flange 35 and flange 21 (or 22 or 24). Dish 37 may be used for a
variety of purposes. Thus, it forms a shallow bowl which may be
used as an ash tray, or for sweets, nuts or the like. The dish
portion of panel 37 may be filled with earth or water for natural
or artificial flowers. The depth of panel 37 is subject to wide
variation. If made sufficiently deep, it may be lined with a fabric
or other ornamentation and used to display art objects, and for
such purpose the panel may be covered with a transparent cover.
Panels 37 may contain pictures covered by a transparent material or
may have a bottom of cork or similar substance on which small
objects are fastened or partially embedded. The panel may be
illuminated to serve as a lamp or light box to display objects. One
or more of the panels 37 may be used for the above or other
purposes depending upon the designer. In FIG. 1 the panel 37 is
shown midway of one side of table 11, but one such position may be
altered.
In lieu of the use of spacer 32, flange 35e may be bent down in a
reverse flange 61 which rests on horizontal flange 21e etc. (See
FIG. 10).
The panels 36, 37 are subject to wide variation in color, finish,
decoration or material, as has been mentioned. The panels may be
cemented or otherwise secured in place when once assembled, but
preferably are removable, interchangeable, or replaceable to
satisfy the taste of the householder.
Directing attention to FIG. 4, a modification of the invention is
shown; because many of the parts are the same or similar to those
of the preceding modification, the same reference numerals followed
by the subscript a are used to designate corresponding parts. The
top of the table of FIG. 4 is interrupted by the use of a square
panel 37a which is positioned in the middle with the panels 38 on
either side thereof. Such arrangement may be positioned anywhere on
the table top, and it will be further understood that instead of a
dish panel 37a, one of the square flat panels 36a may be
substituted. Instead of panels 38 of half width, other fractional
widths, such as one-quarter, may be used and the pattern may be
regular or random. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4,
the intermediates 33a adjacent panel 37a are laterally offset in
order to accommodate the central position of the panel 37a.
Another variation shown in FIG. 4 is the provision of a shelf below
the table top. Thus, the braces 16, 17 of the preceding
modification are replaced with lower side and end supports 41, 42
which are T-shaped in cross-section. There are also provided
longitudinal and transverse intermediates (not shown), similar to
the intermediates 23 or 33 previously described. The lower panels
44 are supported on members 41, 42 and the intermediates in the
same manner as the top of FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 is supported.
As shown in FIG. 9, one or more panels 37d may be in the form
generally shown in FIG. 7 but having small interfitting individual
sections 56. One section 56a may serve as a coaster for a glass,
another 56b as a dish for refreshments, another 56c as an ashtray
and the like. Small intermediate supports 62, 63 similar to
supports 23 and 33 in shape and function, engage flanges 64 on
boundary flanges 66 of dished panel 37d. The sections 56 may be
individually removable, and thus panel 37d functions as a
server.
The table of FIG. 5 is quite similar to that of FIG. 1 and the same
reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts,
followed by the subscript b. In this modification of the invention,
ornamentation is supplied to the rather straight lines of FIG. 1.
Thus, finials 46 are welded or otherwise attached to the upper
corners of the legs14b. To further illustrate ornamentation,
horizontal, ornamental grills 47 are attached immediately below
members 12b and 13b. Such grills may be made of expanded metal or
other decorative materials. It will be understood that the table
may be ornamented in other ways as will occur to a designer.
The table of FIG. 6 employs many of the features of the preceding
modifications and the same reference numerals followed by subscript
c are used to designate corresponding parts. In this form of the
invention, horizontal or beveled edge molding 51 is provided along
the edges of side and end supports 12c, 13c. The moldings 51 may be
welded or integrally fabricated with the members 12c, and 13c. As
shown in FIG. 8, member 51 may be a shape having a top member 52
which extends laterally outward but also a short distance inward to
cover the top edge of member 12c. Member 51 has an elongated,
vertical flange 53 which is positioned between side 12c (or end
13c) and leg 14c and secured by screw 18c. The aperture 19 in
member 12c may be a short horizontal slot instead of a round hole
to accommodate necessary space considerations due to presence of a
member corresponding to 53 on the end of the table. The top
surfaces of moldings 51 may be level with the panels 36c, or they
may be beveled upwardly-outwardly or ornamentally shaped. Other
side and end members may be substituted for those previously
described.
* * * * *