Abstract:
A modular platform assembly for providing at least one breadboard surface level above a table includes a rectangular breadboard plate having holes therein, a pillar member for supporting each corner of the rectangular breadboard plate, and a base member for supporting each pillar member on a table top. By using multiple breadboard plates and multiple pillars, a first surface level of varying horizontal dimensions can be provided, as well as multiple vertically-spaced levels. The invention enables the creation of enlarged three-dimensional work surfaces above a table top, thus enhancing utilization of space in a small area.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/187,782, filed Mar. 8, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to work tables, particularly test tables, and most particularly to breadboard test tables used for conducting research and testing of optical fibers and cables. 
   2. The Prior Art 
   Work tables, and particular test tables used for supporting optical fibers and cables and test equipment associated with research and experimentation relative thereto, known as breadboard tables, are well known. Such tables, which normally provide a large horizontal metal top surface containing a regular pattern of threaded holes for fixedly attaching the necessary equipment thereon, can be heavy and rigid in construction, or of the floating type (Newport Table). 
   Research utilizing such tables is usually conducted in labs where space can be at a premium. At the same time, the number of optical fibers or cables under investigation at any one time can be large, and the associated equipment for each fiber or cable, e.g., clamps, meters, sensors, etc., can occupy much space. These is always a need and desire to make better use of the available space in the lab so as to facilitate the research work. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a platform assembly, in particular a modular platform assembly, which can be fixedly mounted on the top of a work or breadboard test table of the type mentioned above to provide one or more additional work surface levels above the one provided by the top of the table, thus dramatically increasing the available surfacing for work and testing in a three dimensional sense. The additional work surface levels will include the a regular pattern of holes, e.g., threaded holes like those found on the conventional test table therebelow, thus enabling the normally used clamps, meters, sensors, etc., to be fixedly attached and provide the necessary stability for the desired testing. 
   According to the invention, the provided platform levels above the top of the underlying table can have a horizontal area about equal to the area of the pattern of holes on the table top, and each level can provide either a continuous or discontinuous work or test surface. The support legs or pillars that support the work surfaces can be hollow so as to provide passageways for cables or cords to pass downwardly therethough in a protected manner. 
   The invention will now be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the following discussion. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multilevel breadboard platform constructed at the corner of a breadboard table (test table) using components of the modular platform assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of a breadboard plate and portions of adjacent breadboard plates mounted on four pillar members of the modular platform assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a pillar member and its associated base member, shown attached to the top surface of the breadboard table, 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged top plan view of a base member; 
       FIG. 5  is a section of  FIG. 4  as seen along line  5 — 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a bottom portion of another embodiment of pillar member and associated base member when connected together and wherein a clamping ring is used to fixedly connect the two members together; 
       FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of a dowel from the base member shown in  FIG. 6 , 
       FIG. 7  is a view of an upper portion of an alternate embodiment of pillar member; and 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of a work clamp that can be a component of the platform assembly of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows a multilevel breadboard platform constructed at the corner of a breadboard table T using components of the modular platform assembly of the present invention. The breadboard table, which can be of the fixed or floating type (Newport table) and is usually made of metal, is shown to have a rectangular pattern of threaded holes h in its top. These holes are conventionally spaced 1 inch on center. Such a table is used for positioning equipment used in research and testing of fiber optic cables. 
   The components of the modular platform assembly enable the construction of at least one breadboard surface above the top of the breadboard table which increases the usable surface for research and testing in a limited space. The basic components include a breadboard plate  20 , pillar members  30  and base members  40 . 
   The breadboard plate  20 , which can be made of rigid plastic and is preferably transparent, is generally square in shape, although squared off at its corners  21 , and it includes a rectangular pattern of threaded holes  22 , identical to holes h, that are 1 inch on center and enable the fixed positioning thereon of the same equipment that would otherwise be fixed on the top of breadboard table T. In addition, positioning holes  23  are located adjacent the edges  21  to enable the breadboard plate to be properly positioned on the pillar members  30 , as will be discussed below. 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , each pillar member  30  is shaped as a tube having access holes  31  in its peripheral wall, and it includes four positioning pins  32  that axially extend from its upper end (annular) wall  33  and four blind bores  34  which axially extend into its lower end (annular) wall  35 . The pins  32  are equally peripherally spaced and are sized to fit with a minimum of play in a respective positioning hole  23  of a breadboard plate  20 . The blind bores  34  are equally peripherally spaced and can accept positioning pins  32  from a pillar member therebelow, or alternatively dowels extending upwardly from a base member  40 . The holes  31  enable power cords, hoses or cables to extend downwardly therein from one or more breadboard plates thereabove and to exit onto the breadboard table or extend to other nearby equipment. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 3 , each base member  40  includes a square plate  41 , preferably made of metal, that is squared off at is corners  42 , and includes a captive screw  43  at its center that is threadedly engageable in a threaded hole h in the breadboard table T. A positioning screw  44 , 1 inch on center relative to the captive screw  43 , is threadedly engageable in another hole h to non-rotatably position the plate  41  on the breadboard table top. Four dowels  45  extend upwardly from a top surface of the plate  41  to fit within the blind bores  34  in a pillar member  30  positioned thereon. 
   After appropriately fixing four base members  40  on the breadboard table T and respectively positioning four pillar members  30  on the respective base members, a breadboard plate  20  can be positioned on the upper ends of the pillar members, the positioning holes  21  at the four corners of the breadboard plate fitting over respective pins  32  of the pillar members, thus creating a small single-level breadboard platform above the breadboard table T. By fixing more base members and more pillar members on the breadboard table and then positioning more breadboard plates on the pillar members, the area of the single-level breadboard platform can be increased to the desired extent. 
   To create another level of the breadboard platform above the first, pillar members are positioned on top of the upper ends of the pillar members supporting breadboard plates (thus locking the breadboard plates in their level), and then positioning more breadboard plates on the upper ends of the new pillar members. Like the level therebelow, the area of the second level can be expanded by increasing the number of pillar members and bread board plates used. 
   As indicated in  FIG. 3 , a pillar member  30  is vertically mountable on a base member by positioning the blind bores  34  over the dowels  45 . However, the pillar member is not locked in position. According to  FIG. 6 , in an alternative embodiment a pillar member  30   a  includes a peripheral channel  35  that communicates with each of the blind bores  34   a , and the base member  40   a  includes dowels  45   a  which have notches  46  (see  FIG. 6A ) so that when positioned in the blind bores  34   a , a ring  50  can be positioned in the peripheral channel  35  and in each of the notches  46  to lock the pillar member  30   a  onto the base member  40   a.    
   As noted above, when a pillar member  30  is mounted above another pillar member which is supporting a breadboard plate, i.e., so as to create another platform level thereabove, the supported breadboard plate becomes locked in position. According to  FIG. 7 , in an alternative embodiment of pillar member  60 , its upper body portion is formed with an enlarged top  61  that forms an internal shoulder  62  for abutment by a lower body portion  65  of a similar pillar member. The top  61  also includes an annular flange  63  with pins  64  over which a corner positioning hole of a breadboard plate can extend. The lower body portion will include blind bores (not shown) similar to the blind bores  34  in the  FIG. 3  embodiment for mounting on a base member  40 . With such pillar members, even when mounted on top of one another, a mounted breadboard plate can be upwardly lifted relative to the pins  64  and removed from its level when desired. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  depict a work clamp  70  that can be a component of the modular platform assembly of the present invention. It includes an elongated base  71  having captive screws  72  and  73  near it opposite ends (these screws are spaced so as to fit within holes h in the table T), first and second block posts  74  and  76 , and an elongated pad  78  therebetween. The first post  74  includes pins  75  extending from opposite sides thereof, and second post  76  includes a threaded hole  77  in its top surface. A cooperating elongated flange  79  having a C-shaped cross section includes aligned slots  80  at its first end, a captive screw  81  near its second end, and an elongated pad  82  therebetween. The first end of the flange can fit over the first block post  74  with the pins  75  extending in the slots  80 , and the second end of the flange can be pivoted down and over the second block post so that the captive screw  81  can be screwed into the threaded hole  77 . The pads  78  and  82 , when pressed together, can fixedly position a cable C therebetween as depicted in  FIG. 9 , which is commonly desired during experimentation and testing of such cables. 
   Although some preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, various changes can be made and still fall within the scope of the claims.