Table top hold-down and connecting bracket

A bracket for interconnecting modular units of an endless table construction which includes a cooperating pair of brackets which are joined together below a transverse, structural channel in a manner to secure adjacent ends of table tops which are supported above the channel. Each brace forming the composite bracket includes an opening to receive therein a table top fastener in a removable manner. Each brace additionally is provided with a threaded opening within which a channel contacting stabilizer is adjustably positioned to provide a sturdy table top hold-down construction. The table top is drilled to provide openings aligned over the bracket openings to receive the table top fasteners therethrough. Preferably, the table top openings are countersunk at both ends to allow either table top surface to be positioned upwardly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of work tables, and 
more particularly, is directed to endless table constructions comprising a 
plurality of modular units which are joined together in end to end 
juxtaposition. 
It is the common practice to utilize large work tables for numerous 
industries which provide a sturdy work surface at a convenient height to 
allow employees to effectively carry out their assigned tasks. In the 
garment manufacturing industry, for example, it is usual to provide such 
large work tables for cutters to layout many thicknesses of cloth for 
simultaneous cutting into the desired pattern. Considerable economy in 
time and expense can thereby be achieved over what would be normally 
expected if each layer of cloth had to be individually patterned and cut. 
Such tables are presently provided in various widths, for example in six 
inch increments from three feet to seven feet and of various modular 
lengths, for example in six inch increments from six feet to eight feet. 
When it is desired to employ a table that is greater than eight feet in 
length, then two or more of the modular units are securely joined together 
to thereby provide a continuous table top surface of substantially any 
required length. 
The prior art modular work tables were usually fabricated with modular, 
sturdy, steel, structural supporting systems which could be joined in end 
to end juxtaposition by employing suitable connecting brackets. A table 
top working surface for each modular unit was placed upon and supported by 
the structural members and drilled and countersunk openings were provided 
for fasteners to secure the table top to the supporting steel 
sub-structure. The table tops utilized in the prior art tables were 
countersunk at the drilled openings at the top surface only and no 
provision was made for reversing the table top should the top surface be 
damaged by wear or accident. In the case of damage, the presently 
available table tops are not reversible and the only practical solution 
now is to discard a top having a damaged top surface and to provide a 
completely new table top construction. 
Additionally, at the common junction between adjacent table top 
constructions, it is now the common practice to provide a horizontal, 
transverse, milled slot in each table top end, of suitable configuration 
to receive therein one half of an interconnecting, metallic, horizontal 
spline for table top junction reinforcing purposes. The milling of the 
transverse slots and the need to install a horizontal strengthening spline 
has resulted in increased construction costs and assembly problems, all of 
which has added to the initial costs involved in endless work table 
design, construction and assembly procedures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of endless industrial 
work tables, and more particularly, is directed to an improved 
construction for securing the table tops of adjacent modular table units 
to the metallic supporting structure. 
The present invention relates to a hold-down and connecting bracket 
particularly designed to secure table tops of industrial work tables to 
the supporting sub-structure in an improved manner at the interface 
between the facing ends of adjacent table tops in a modular, elongated, 
industrial table construction. The bracket includes a pair of similar 
braces which are specially designed with vertical openings to receive 
table top fasteners to secure the table tops to the structural support 
members. 
Each brace comprising the bracket is bent to an identical angular 
configuration to provide a spaced pair of horizontal legs and an integral, 
spaced pair of vertical legs. The uppermost horizontal leg of each brace 
contacts directly the undersurface of the table top for securing thereto 
by suitable fasteners. The lower horizontal leg of each brace is 
fabricated of length suitable to overfit one-half of the transversely 
extending end channel of a modular table support construction and is 
provided with a threaded opening to receive a stabilizer bolt 
therethrough. The stabilizer bolt advances upwardly and engages the 
undersurface of the table support channel to thereby apply downwardly 
directed, table top hold-down forces at the interconnection between the 
table top fastener and the first horizontal leg of each brace. The 
adjacent, juxtaposed, vertical legs of each brace are secured together by 
suitable fasteners which act through aligned openings in the vertical 
legs. The bracket construction of the present invention provides a 
simplified, inexpensive and extremely sturdy table top hold-down 
construction for easily connecting and securing adjacent table tops of a 
modular work table assembly. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
table top connecting bracket of the type set forth. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel table top 
hold-down and connecting bracket comprising a pair of similar, angularly 
formed braces which are connected to each other and to portions of 
adjacent table tops for securing the table tops together. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel connecting 
bracket for interconnecting adjacent table tops in a modular table 
construction which comprises a pair of similar braces, each brace having a 
first horizontal leg in contact with the undersurface of a table top, a 
vertical leg connected by a common fastener and a second horizontal leg to 
mount a stabilizer and hold-down therein. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel table top 
hold-down and connecting bracket including means to secure the bracket to 
the table top constructions to urge the table tops downwardly relative to 
the table supporting construction and means to permit either surface of 
the table tops to face upwardly in a secured position. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel table top 
hold-down and connecting bracket comprising a pair of similar braces, each 
brace being bent to form a first, upward horizontal leg, a second, lower 
horizontal leg, a first vertical leg interconnecting the first and second 
horizontal legs and a second vertical leg depending from the second 
horizontal leg, the first horizontal legs of each brace being in contact 
with adjacent table top undersurfaces, the second vertical legs of each 
bracket being interconnected, and a stabilizer means positioned through 
each second horizontal leg of a brace to bear against a structural table 
support member, thereby pulling the table top downwardly relative to the 
support member. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel table top 
hold-down and connecting bracket that is simple in design, inexpensive in 
manufacture and trouble-free when in use. 
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by 
referring to the following description and claims of a preferred 
embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, 
wherein like-reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the 
several reviews and in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake 
of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular 
structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings and 
are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention. 
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an industrial 
work table 10 comprising a plurality of adjacent modular units, joined 
together in end to end juxtaposition, for example a first modular unit 12 
and a second modular unit 14. Each modular unit 12, 14 comprises a 
structural steel sub-structure 28 which preferably comprises a plurality 
of spaced, vertical legs 16, interconnecting longitudinally aligned edge 
supports 20 and interconnecting, transverse channels 18. The legs 16, edge 
supports 20 and transverse channels 18 may be interconnected in any well 
known, sturdy manner, for example by bolting, spot-welding or riveting. 
Each modular unit 12, 14 is entirely self-standing and includes a separate 
supporting sub-structure 28 and a separate, plainer, table top or work 
surface 22, 22'. Preferably, the table tops 22, 22' are fabricated of 
non-porous materials and are secured to the sub-structure 28 in a 
removable manner, for example by employing a plurality of nuts 30 and 
bolts 32, as hereinafter more fully set forth. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, the composite connecting bracket 34 for securing 
the table tops 22, 22' to the steel sub-structure 28 is best seen. As 
illustrated in FIG. 1, preferably two transversely spaced brackets 34 are 
employed at each junction between the modular units, 12, 14 for securing 
the facing edges 24, 26 of adjacent table tops 22, 22'. As illustrated, a 
transverse, channel-shaped support 18 is conventionally positioned at the 
interface between adjacent modular units 12, 14 to carry the adjacent, 
respective, lateral ends 36, 38 of table tops 22, 22' of the adjacent 
first and second modular units 12, 14. The lateral end 36 of the left 
table top 22 terminates in a transverse, vertical edge 24, which edge is 
positioned medially over the transverse supporting channel 18. Similarly, 
the facing, lateral end 38 of the right table top 22' terminates in a 
facing, vertical edge 26 for abutting directly against the first adjacent 
edge 24 of the left modular unit 12. The connecting bracket 34 of the 
present invention is designed particularly to maintain the adjacent table 
tops 22, 22' in edge abutting relationship and secured to the transverse 
channel 18 in a manner to prevent relative movement therebetween. 
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, each bracket 34 comprises a pair of similar, 
oppositely disposed, interconnected, cooperating braces 40, 42. Each brace 
40, 42 is angularly bent to define a plurality of angularly 
interconnecting, plainar legs, which legs are preferably formed at right 
angles to one another for ease in manufacture and in joining the parts 
together. Each brace 40, 42 is bent to define a first, horizontal, table 
top contacting leg 44, which leg is drilled, punched or otherwise treated 
to provide an enlongated opening 46 to receive therein a threaded fastener 
32 for securing a lateral end 36, 38 of the table tops 22, 22'. The first 
horizontal leg 44 terminates inwardly in a first, vertical leg 48, which 
leg extends in length a distance greater than a depending leg 50 of the 
support channel 18. 
The first vertical leg 48 of each brace terminates downwardly in the 
horizontally bent, second horizontal leg 52 to vertically space the second 
leg 52 from the first horizontal leg 44 a distance greater than the length 
of the channel leg 50 for table top securing purposes, as hereinafter more 
fully set forth. The second horizontal leg 52 is provided with a fastener 
opening 54 therethrough of configuration to receive and secure therein a 
Tinnerman nut 56 in known manner. The Tinnerman nut 56 conventionally 
includes a floating nut with threaded opening 58 to threadedly receive 
therein a stabilizer bolt 60 for table hold-down purposes. As illustrated, 
the second horizontal leg 52 terminates inwardly in the downwardly bent, 
second vertical leg 62. The length of the second horizontal leg 52 is 
greater than one-half of the width of the channel 18 whereby the pair of 
braces 40, 42 can be applied over the exterior of the channel legs 50 to 
releaseably secure the adjacent table top edges 24, 26 to the channel 18. 
The second vertical leg 62 of each brace 40, 42 is provided with an 
aligned, elongated opening or openings 65, through which openings is 
positioned a connecting bolt 64. The openings 65 may be threaded or a nut 
68 may be provided to secure the adjacent braces 40, 42 together beneath 
and about the transverse channel 18. As illustrated in FIG. 1, preferably 
a pair of transversely spaced brackets 34 are employed at each transverse 
junction between adjacent table tops 22, 22'. To provide an extremely 
sturdy construction at a minimum cost, the transverse junction 68 between 
the first horizontal leg 44 and the first vertical leg 48 is punched or 
struck in known manner to provide one or more reinforcing gussets 70. See 
FIG. 4. Similarly, reinforcing gussets 74 can be provided in the 
transverse junction 72 and gussets 78 at the transverse junction 76. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be observed that each table top lateral 
end 36, 38 is provided with one or more openings 80 through which a 
threaded fastener, such as a bolt 32 can be inserted. As illustrated, 
preferably the fastener 32 includes a flat, enlarged head 90, which head 
should be positioned below the level of the working surface 86 of each 
table top 22, 22' to prevent interference with materials (not shown) which 
are placed upon the table for treatment purposes. In order to permit the 
table tops 22, 22' to be positioned with either the first working surface 
86 facing upwardly or the opposed, second working surface 88 facing 
upwardly, each bolt opening 80 is provided with countersunk openings 82, 
84 at each end, thereby making the surfaces 86, 88 interchangeable for 
working purposes. Accordingly, should a top surface 86 be damaged or worn 
during the course of the work, the table top 22, 22' can be simply turned 
over to expose an undamaged surface 88 to thereby permit further use of 
the table top without need to actually replace the existing, damaged 
equipment. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a modified second horizontal leg 
52' of a modified brace 42' is illustrated wherein a threaded opening 92 
is provided in lieu of the square opening 54 illustrated in FIG. 4. In 
this embodiment, the stabilizer bolt 60 can be threadedly engaged directly 
within the threaded opening 92 to thereby provide an alternate 
construction for the square opening 54 and Tinnerman nut 56 arrangement of 
FIG. 4. 
In order to use the hold-down and connecting bracket 34 of the present 
invention, at least a pair of modular units 12, 14 should be placed in end 
to end juxtaposition as illustrated in FIG. 1. The adjacent table tops 22, 
22' should be positioned with their respective facing edges 24, 26 in 
abutting relationship. See FIG. 2. With the table tops 22, 22' thus 
positioned, the left and right braces 40, 42 forming a connecting bracket 
34 should be securely affixed to the table tops 22, 22' by tightening the 
bolts 32 and nuts 30 through the aligned openings 80 in the table top and 
46 in the brace first horizontal leg 44. By tightening the nuts 30, the 
bracket braces 40, 42 can thereby readily be secured underside of the 
table tops. The adjacent, facing respective second vertical legs 62 of the 
braces 40, 42 should then be placed together as illustrated in FIG. 2 and 
secured by inserting the bolt 64 through the aligned openings 65. If 
required, a threaded nut 66 can be employed to conventionally secure the 
parts together. It will be seen that the bracket 34 is thereby secured in 
position below and about the transverse table channel 18, but without 
actually touching the channel 18. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, with the parts arranged as illustrated in FIG. 2, 
the assembly can then be secured in position by turning the stabilizer 
bolts 60 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in 
FIG. 3 by turning the bolts upwardly. When the ends 96 of the bolts 60 
engage upon the undersurface 98 of the transverse channel 18, the upward 
forces applied at the bolts 60 will tend to push the braces 40, 42 
downwardly relative to the channel 18 to thereby apply downwardly directed 
forces, as indicated by the arrows 100 upon the lateral ends 36, 38 of the 
table tops 22, 22' to pull the lateral ends into tight engagement upon the 
web of the channel member 18. 
Thus it is seen that the stabilizer bolts 60 function to hold down the 
lateral ends 36, 38 of the table tops and at the same time, the brace 
connecting bolt or bolts 64 tend to pull both the adjacent braces 40, 42 
and the respective connected ends 36, 38 of the table tops 22, 22' 
together. The stabilizer bolts 60 can be threadedly upwardly turned either 
through a threaded opening 92 as illustrated in FIG. 5 or through a 
threaded opening 58 of a Tinnerman nut 56 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The 
plurality of gussets 70, 74, 76 act to maintain the respective horizontal 
and vertical legs comprising the braces 40, 42 in their preferred, ninety 
degree orientation to thereby prevent any bending or flexing of the braces 
40, 42 which might tend to diminish either the vertical or horizontal 
forces which secure the table tops 22, 22' in locked position over the 
transverse channel 18. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the 
particular embodiment herein set forth, it is understood that the present 
disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes 
in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from 
the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention 
should not be limited by the foregoing specification but rather only by 
the scope of the claims appended hereto.