Abstract:
A modular conference table may be expanded from an assembly of two identical end sections by adding one or more extension sections with all configurations utilizing the same connection assemblies. The two and three module tables use the same single center leg. The use of structural connecting blocks at the joints between the extension section and each of the end sections obviates the need for additional supporting legs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains to large conference tables and, in particular, to tables of modular construction which can be extended to accommodate varying desired lengths. 
         [0002]    Modular tables are well known in the art and include large conference tables of the type used for business meetings requiring seating for relatively large numbers of people. From the standpoint of the manufacturer and seller of such tables, it is convenient if a modular table can be easily assembled to meet a customer&#39;s size and length requirements. From the standpoint of the buyer and user, such tables should be relatively easy to assemble and should possess adequate strength and rigidity, particularly as the length increases with the addition of modules. In modular prior art table constructions, inadequate support of the modules and lack of strength and rigidity has been a problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In accordance with the subject invention, a modular table assembly includes two or more table sections with strategically positioned supporting legs and module interconnection assemblies that provide uniform weight distribution and necessary strength and rigidity, regardless of the table length. 
         [0004]    In a primary embodiment of the invention, a modular table assembly includes a pair of end sections (or starter sections), each of which has a flat upper main table portion that is defined by a finished end edge and a connection end edge. An end supporting leg is attached to the underside of each main table portion, each end supporting leg positioned to extend between the side edges of the main table portion and parallel to the end edges. The leg is positioned closer to the finished end edge than to the connection end edge. A center leg assembly includes a center supporting leg that is positioned parallel to and midway between the end supporting legs. Fastening means are provided to operatively interconnect the center leg and the connection end edges of the end sections. 
         [0005]    The fastening means functions to hold the connection end edges of the end section in abutting relation and further includes connecting plate means that are attached to the top of the center leg and to the undersides of the main table portions adjacent their connection edges. Bearing plate means are attached to the underside of the main table portions adjacent their connection end edges and spaced laterally outside the center leg. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the connecting plate means includes a pair of first rectangular plates that span the center leg and set in adjoining first rectangular recesses in the undersides of the main table portions. The bearing plate means includes a pair of second rectangular plates that are set in adjoining second rectangular recesses in the undersides of the main table portions. The assembly of the present invention preferably also includes a pair of stiffening beams which, in one embodiment, are attached to the undersides of the main table portions, spanning and perpendicular to the abutting connection end edges and positioned between said first and second plates. 
         [0007]    The table assembly also includes a pair of rectangular vertically oriented modesty panels which extend between the end supporting leg and the center supporting leg in a parallel laterally spaced orientation. The panels are attached to both legs and to the undersides of the main table surface portions. 
         [0008]    The table assembly may also include a U-shaped cable management trough that is attached to the underside of the table portion and extends between the legs in the space between the modesty panels. Cable access openings are also provided to extend through the main table portion to provide open communication between the cable management trough and a cable slot in the top surface of the main table portion. A removable cover is provided for closing and opening the slot. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention and to provide an extended length table assembly, the center leg assembly includes an extension section that has a flat upper extension table portion that is defined by opposite extension connection edges and opposite side edges extending therebetween. The center leg is attached to the underside of the extension table portion and the fastenings comprises fastener assemblies that directly connect the connection end edge of each main table portion to an extension connection edge of the extension table portion to provide a tight joint along the connected edges. More specifically, the fastener assembly includes a connecting block that extends along the joint, connecting plate means that are attached to the top of the connecting block and to the undersides of the main table portion and the extension table portion. Bearing plate means are attached to the undersides of the main table portion and the extension table portion and are spaced laterally outside the connecting block. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the connecting plate means comprises a pair of first rectangular plates which span the connecting block and are set in adjoining first rectangular recesses in the undersides of the main table portion and the extension table portion. Preferably, the bearing plate means comprises a pair of second rectangular plates that are set in adjoining second rectangular recesses in the undersides of the main table portion and the extension table portion. 
         [0011]    The table assembly may also include a pair of stiffening beams that are attached to the undersides of the main table portion and the extension table portion, said stiffening beams spanning and perpendicular to the joint along the connected edges. 
         [0012]    The table assembly preferably also includes a pair of rectangular vertically oriented modesty panels that extend between the center leg and the connecting block in parallel laterally spaced orientation. The panels are attached to the center leg, to the connecting block and to the underside of the extension table portion. A U-shaped cable management trough may be attached to the underside of the extension table portion and to extend between the center leg and the connecting block in the space between the modesty panels. Cable access openings are provided to extend through the extension table portion to provide open communication between the cable management trough and a cable slot in the top surface of the extension cable portion. A removable cover encloses the slot. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled modular table assembly of the present invention in its most basic form comprising a pair of interconnected end sections. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one of the two end sections used in the modular assembly of  FIG. 1   
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the main table portion of the modular end section shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a detail of the interconnection assembly and center leg used in assembling the two end sections shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the table assembly of  FIG. 1  with the two main table portions removed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the modular table assembly of the present invention including a center extension section interconnecting two end sections. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the center extension section of the assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the extension table portion of the extension section. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the support and interconnection assembly for the extension section. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the support and interconnection assembly shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A modular table assembly  10  of the most basic form of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The table assembly  10  includes a pair of identical end sections  11  each having a flat upper main table portion  12 . Each main table portion has a finished end edge  13  and a connection end edge  14  and a pair of opposite side edges  15 . Each table end section  11  has an end supporting leg  16  that extends between the side edges  15  and parallel to the end edges  13  and  14 . As is also apparent in  FIG. 2 , the end leg  16  is positioned closer to the finished end edge  13  than it is to the connection end edge  14 . 
         [0024]    Referring also to  FIGS. 3-5 , the table end sections  12  are supported by a common center leg  17  that is connected to both main table portions  12  and also provides connection for other structural and functional components of the assembly, as will be described in greater detail below. The center supporting leg  17  is sized and shaped generally the same as the end legs  16  and is positioned in direct alignment with the joint  18  between the abutting connection end edges  14  when the two table portions  12  are interconnected. 
         [0025]    A pair of rectangular connecting plates  20  are attached centrally to the upper face  21  of the center leg  17 . The connecting plates  20  extend in opposite directions and their ends are received in rectangular recesses  22  in the undersides  23  of the main table portions  12 . The connecting plates  20  are secured to the center leg and the main table portions with suitable threaded fasteners  24 . 
         [0026]    The interconnection assembly also includes a pair of rectangular bearing plates  25  which span the joint  18  and are set in rectangular recesses  26  also formed in the underside  23  of the main table portions  12 . The bearing plates  25  are secured in their respective recesses  26  with suitable threaded fasteners  27 . 
         [0027]    The interconnection assembly may also utilize a pair of stiffening beams  28 , each of which also spans and extends perpendicular to the joint  18  between the table portions  12 . Each stiffening beam  28  is positioned between a connecting plate  20  and a bearing plate  25  and spaced laterally away from the center leg  17 . The stiffening beams, which are preferably made from solid steel bar stock, are attached to the underside  23  of the table portions  12  with suitable threaded fasteners  30 . 
         [0028]    As is best seen in  FIG. 5 , each of the main table portions  12  includes a pair of rectangular vertically oriented modesty panels  31 . Each pair of panels  31  extends between an end supporting leg  16  and the center leg  17  in a parallel laterally spaced orientation. Each of the modesty panels  31  is attached to both legs  16  and  17  and to the underside of the main table portion  12 . All connections may be conveniently made with cam bolt assemblies  32 . The modesty panels  31  also impart added structural rigidity to the table assembly. 
         [0029]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a U-shaped cable management trough  33  is attached to the underside  33  of the main table portion  12  and extends between the legs  16  and  17  in the space between the modesty panels  31 . The cable management trough  33  includes upper edge flanges  34  that lie flush against the table underside  23  and are secured thereto with suitable threaded fasteners  35 . Cable access openings  36  extend through the main table portion  12  and are aligned with the cable management trough  33 . The access openings  36  provide open communication between the cable management trough and a cable slot  37  formed in the top surface of the main cable portion  12 . Cable slot  37  is closed by a removable cover  38 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the basic modular table assembly  10  previously described may be expanded to any desired length with the addition of one or more cable extension sections  40 . An important feature of the present invention is that the connection assemblies previously described for the basic assembly of two end sections  11  are used for the addition of the extension section  40  as well. The extension section  40  includes a flat extension table portion  41  that is rectangular in shape and includes opposite extension connection edges  42  that correspond in length to connection end edges  14  of the main table portion  12 . The side edges  43  of the extension table portion  41  align directly with the side edges  15  of the main table portions  12  in the extended modular table assembly  39 . 
         [0031]    The extension section  40  includes the same center leg  17  used with the modular table assembly  10  having only the pair of end sections  11  ( FIG. 1 ). As best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the relocated center leg  17  is attached directly to the underside  44  of the extension table portion  12  in a longitudinally and laterally centered position. 
         [0032]    As indicated previously, the same fastener assemblies previously described are used to provide direct connections between the connection end edges  14  of the two main table portions  12  and the extension connection edges  42  of the extension table portion  41  to provide the joints  45 . To facilitate the edge connections, a connecting block  46  is provided beneath and in direct alignment with each of the joints  45 . A pair of connecting plates  20  are positioned between the connecting block and the undersides  23  and  44  of the adjoining main and extension table portions  12  and  41 . Each connecting plate  20  is connected to the connecting block  46  and set with one end in a rectangular recess  22  in the underside  23  of one main table portion  12  and a similar rectangular recess  47  in the underside  44  of the extension table portion  41 . The same threaded fasteners  24  may be used for securing the connecting plates  20  in position. 
         [0033]    Similarly, a pair of rectangular bearing plates is further used to secure the connection between each main table portion  12  and one edge of the extension table portion  41 . Each bearing plate  25  is set in recess  26  in the underside  23  of the main table portion  12  and a similar rectangular recess  48  in the underside  44  of the extension table portion  41 . Again, the same threaded fasteners  27  may be used to secure the bearing plates in position. 
         [0034]    In a like manner, pairs of stiffening beams  28  may be used to further stiffen each of the joints  45 . Each stiffening beam  28  is attached to the underside  23  of one main table portion  12  and the adjoining underside  44  of the extension table portion  41 . Threaded fasteners  30  are used to secure the stiffening beams to table portions  12  and  41 . 
         [0035]    A pair of modesty panels  50 , somewhat shorter in length than the modesty panels  31  associated with the end sections  11 , are similarly vertically oriented and extend between the center leg  17  and the connecting block  46  in parallel laterally spaced orientation. In a manner identical to that previously described, modesty panels  50  are attached to the center leg  17 , the connecting block  46  and the underside of the extension table portion  41  with suitable connectors, such as cam bolt assemblies  32 . In the space between each pair of modesty panels  50 , extending in opposite directions from the center leg  17 , there is positioned a U-shaped cable management trough  51  constructed the same as cable management trough  33 , but somewhat shorter in length. The cable management troughs  51  include upper edge flanges  52  by which the troughs may be secured to the underside  44  of the extension table portion  41  with suitable fasteners  35 . 
         [0036]    The extension table portion  41  is provided with three cable access openings  53  aligned centrally with the cable management troughs  51  and providing open communication between the cable management troughs and a cable slot  54  in the top surface of the extension table portion  41 . Cable slot  54  and the cable access openings  53 , as well as the cable management troughs  51  in the extension table portion  41  are all directly aligned with the respective cable slots  37 , cable access openings  36  and cable management troughs  33  in the main table portions  12 . The cable slot  54  is closed with a removable cover  55 . 
         [0037]    To accommodate wires and cabling at least in the cable mounting troughs  33  and  51 , the center leg  17  is provided with a U-shaped slot  56  that aligns with the troughs. Similarly, each of the connecting blocks  46  is provided with a similar U-shaped slot  57 .