Knock-down Table Structure

Abstract

A table structure is formed of four legs and a table top unit, all made from molded plastic. The legs are joined to the table top through the use of a joint structure which requires no tools to assemble and is not capable of being easily disassembled. The table top is provided with socket arrangements for receiving projections on the legs and a locking structure holds the two units in an assembled position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to a furniture structure, and more particularly, to a table structure which is simple to assemble in the user's home.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U. S. Pat. No. 3,079,120 discloses a metal leg and wood table structure which are assembled together by a simple locking arrangement. U. S. Pat. No. 3,131,899 shows a similar table construction with a similar type simple locking arrangement for fastening the table leg to the table top. Also, U. S. Pat. No. 3,202,391 shows another example of attaching a metal leg to a wood table top structure by the use of a simple locking structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,426 discloses two elements of a table leg structure which are meant to fasten the table leg to a table top. Friction is used to hold a metal table leg relative to a plastic socket in the table top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The table assembly is formed by molding five separate units. The four table legs are molded from plastic while the table top is molded as a separate unit. The five individual units are shipped to the user in a disassembled state. The user then assembles the five units together to form the table. Since many homeowners are not of a mechanical nature, it is necessary that the table unit be easily assembled without the use of tools or mechanical skill. This is accomplished by the use of a male and female joint structure with a locking spline. The table leg has a male projection element which is inserted into a female receptacle of the table top. The male projection element has a projecting tapered spline which slides into a groove of the female receptacle and locks the table leg permanently to the table top.

The above structure provides an easily shipped assembly which may be readily assembled by the ordinary homeowner. The assembly is made of plastic components which permit the finish unit to give the appearance of a high price wood structure. Once the unit is assembled, it will stay in its assembled state and cannot easily come apart during usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view of the table top and leg receiving socket;

FIG. II is a cross-sectional view of the table leg with the projection to be placed in the table socket; and

FIG. III is a showing of the table leg assembled to the table top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. I there is shown the table top assembly with its socket for receiving the table leg. Table top assembly 2 is a molded one piece plastic unit which has four individual sockets 4 at each of the four corners. The sockets are molded as an integral part of the table structure and are generally square or polygonal in shape. On one side of the socket there is provided a recess 6. This recess 6 has a step formation forming a shoulder 8 which is utilized to lock the table leg in position. The sides 10 of the socket or female receptacle of the table are all tapered.

Referring now to FIG. II, the table leg 12 is provided with a tapered projection 14. This projection is inserted into the socket 4 of the table top. A tapered spline 16 on one side of the projection of the table leg slides into the recess 6 and the end 18 of the tapered spline engages the shoulder 8 to lock the table leg in position relative to the table top. Referring now to FIG. III, the assembled structure can be seen with shoulder 18 engaging shoulder 8 to hold the table leg in position relative to the table.

As was indicated before, the table assembly is shipped as a knock-down unit. The four table legs are separate from the table top during shipping. The purchaser of the assembly then need only insert the male projection members 14 of the table legs into the female socket 4 of the table top. The tapered spline 16 is lined up with the recess 6. All this means is that the user must place the side of the projection 14 with the spline relative to the side of the socket with the recess 6. The assembly is then pushed together and the leg is lightly tapped into position so that the incline surface 20 of the tapered spline 16 rides over the shoulder 8 of the groove, thereby permitting the end 18 of the spline 16 to rest against the shoulder 8 in the recess to lock the table assembly together.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A knock-down table assembly comprised of five separate units, one unit being a molded plastic table top assembly which is provided with a decorative finish to appear like a wood table top, said table top assembly having polygonal socket members at each of its four corners on the underside of the table top, four identical leg assemblies are mounted on the table top by having the leg assemblies inserted in the table top sockets, said leg assemblies each comprising a tapered polygonal projection defining plural surfaces, on one surface of the projection there is provided a tapered spline, each of the sockets of the table top assembly having a tapered recess corresponding in size and shape to the tapered socket of the table leg, on one side of the socket there is provided a recess with a shoulder, and when the projection of the table leg is inserted into the socket of the table top assembly, the end of the tapered spline of the projection of the table leg engages the shoulder of the recess of the socket to lock together the table leg and table top as a finished, assembled table assembly.