Linkable modular table system

A modular table top system includes a variety of differently shaped modular table tops, including rectangular, triangular, curved, semi-circular, etc., which can be selectively linked to form customized table or desk shapes. Each modular table top accommodates leg brackets along linkable edges thereof in alternative positions. In a first position, each leg bracket is positioned completely under the table top proximate the linkable edges thereof, and, in a second position, each leg bracket is rotated 180 degrees to a position straddling two adjacent linked table tops. With leg brackets straddling adjacent table tops, the number of legs required to support a linked structure is reduced, allowing greater freedom of chair placement, and reducing overall cost.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a linkable modular table system. More 
particularly, the table system includes table tops of a variety of shapes 
which can be selectively linked to form a variety of custom desk and 
conference arrangements. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Manufacturers of furniture have long faced the dual problem of providing 
efficiency in manufacture by designing modular components which can be 
readily mass produced while simultaneously meeting customer demands for 
customized furniture to meet specialized situations. 
Early attempts to address the problem include the addition or removal of 
table leafs to selectively, respectively, lengthen or shorten tables. 
Other variations include that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,147 to Shettles 
and entitled MODULAR TABLE. In the '147 patent, a plurality of equilateral 
triangle shaped table tops are each positioned atop a respective fixed 
pedestal. Each triangular top includes locking elements positioned along 
each side such that the tops can be selectively interlocked to form a 
number of different table shapes. 
Another attempt to create modular tables which can be combined to form 
customized shapes is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,836 to Burr. In the 
'836 patent, table tops of different shapes, e.g. rectangular, corner and 
semi-circular, each include a permanent pedestal base. The table tops can 
be selectively interlocked to form a variety of custom shapes. The linking 
elements include slotted brackets which can be selectively extended and 
retracted with the slots accommodating thumb screws beneath one or two of 
the table tops. 
In these prior art systems, each modular table top shape includes one or 
more fixed pedestals which are used for support. This limits the degree of 
customization which can be devised since the pedestal positions cannot be 
varied. Anther drawback is the need for separate connecting hardware for 
the pedestal brackets and for the interlocking elements. 
It is clear, then, that a need exists for a modular table system which can 
be customized to any of a variety of shapes by selectively linking modular 
components. Such a table system should include supports which can be 
positioned entirely under one of the modular table tops, or which can 
straddle a linked pair of adjacent table tops. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is drawn to a linkable modular table top system. The 
table top system includes a variety of differently shaped modular table 
tops, including rectangular, triangular, curved, semi-circular, etc., 
which can be selectively linked to form customized conference table or 
desk shapes. Modular leg brackets are provided, which brackets can be 
attached to any of the modular table tops by providing each modular table 
top with a plurality of threaded anchors extending into the bottom side of 
the table top in positions proximate linkable edges thereof. For example, 
four such threaded anchors are positioned to form a square shaped pattern 
proximate each linkable edge, with each square being approximately 
centered along and being perpendicular to the respective linkable edge. 
The square shaped pattern of the threaded anchors is sized to match 
corresponding through slots in the leg bracket, with the two anchors of 
the square shape which are closest to the linkable edge being spaced 
inward from that edge approximately one-half the width of the bracket. 
This allows the leg bracket to be installed entirely beneath one modular 
table top, or, alternatively, to be turned 180 degrees to straddle, and 
link, a pair of linked modular table tops. Threaded thumb screws are 
provided for each threaded anchor to secure the leg brackets thereto. With 
leg brackets straddling adjacent table tops, the number of legs required 
to support a linked structure is greatly reduced, allowing greater freedom 
of chair placement and reducing overall cost. Linking members are also 
provided which can be used in addition to, or in lieu of, the leg 
pedestals to link adjacent table tops. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
The objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing a 
linkable modular table top system; providing such a system in which 
multiple table tops of diverse shapes can be linked to form custom table 
and/or desk arrangements; providing such a system in which supporting legs 
are attached to each table top via respective leg brackets; providing such 
a system in which each leg bracket can be attached solely beneath one 
table top to allow that table top to be used independently, or, 
alternatively, which can be rotated 180 degrees and attached to straddle 
and link a pair of modular table tops; providing such a system which 
allows maximum flexibility and adaptability in custom table design and 
configuration; providing such a system in which the number of supporting 
legs can be minimized, thus reducing cost, allowing greater chair 
placement and minimizing cost; and providing such a linkable modular table 
top system which is relatively simple, economical to manufacture, yet is 
versatile, durable and is particularly well suited to its intended 
purpose. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from 
the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, 
certain embodiments of this invention. 
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary 
embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and 
features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed 
herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are 
merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. 
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are 
not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims 
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to 
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately 
detailed structure. 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a pair of generally rectangular 
modular table tops 1 and 2 are illustrated proximate each other. Each 
table top 1 and 2 is of the type illustrated in FIG. 3, where a bottom 
surface 3 of the table top 1 is illustrated. The bottom surface 3 is 
provided with a number of threaded anchors 4 positioned therein. Each 
threaded anchor 4 is sized to accept a threaded thumb screw 5. A pair of 
legs 11, each of which includes a vertically oriented pedestal 12 and a 
horizontally oriented foot 13, are removably attached to the bottom 
surface 3 of the table top 1 via a respective leg bracket 14. 
The leg brackets 14 are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 
8. Each leg bracket 14 comprises a flat plate generally shaped as a 
square, with four angled slots 15 positioned in respective sides of the 
square. A threaded nut 21 (FIG. 7) is welded in the center of the bracket 
14. The four slots 15 are positioned to align with respective groups of 
four of the threaded anchors, numbered as 4a-4d, which anchor groups are 
positioned near opposing ends of the table top 1. The two anchors 4a and 
4b which are closest to the respective edge of the table 1 are positioned 
inward from the edge a distance slightly less than one-half of the width 
of the leg bracket 14. The leg bracket 14 can thus be positioned entirely 
on the bottom surface 3 of the table top 1 by placing the slots 15 over 
respective ones of the anchors 4a-4d and tightening the thumb screws 5 
thereover, as shown in the right side of FIG. 3. The slots 15 are angled 
at an angle of approximately 55 degrees, which allows the leg bracket 14 
to be easily installed and removed from the table tops 1 and 2 by simply 
loosening the holding thumb screws 5 and rotating the leg brackets 14 to 
release the slots 15 from engagement with the thumb screws 5, as is 
illustrated in the left side of FIG. 3. Installation of the leg bracket 14 
is accomplished in a reverse fashion. Alternatively, the leg bracket 14 is 
rotated 180 degrees to a position in which two of the slots 15 are 
positioned over the anchors 4a and 4b with those thumb screws 5 being 
tightened thereover. The other slots 15 can thus be positioned over the 
anchors 4a and 4b on the adjacent table top 2, and attached by additional 
thumb screws 5, with the leg bracket 14 thus straddling the table tops 1 
and 2 while linking the tops 1 and 2 together. The pedestal 12 and foot 13 
are thus positioned to support both table tops 1 and 2 while the leg 
bracket 14 straddles and links the table tops 1 and 2 together. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the attachment of the pedestal 12 and the foot 13 
to the leg bracket 14. A threaded nut 16 is welded onto the bottom of the 
leg bracket 14 to receive an upper end of a threaded rod 17 which extends 
longitudinally through the pedestal 12 and through a top surface 18 of the 
foot 13. A nut and integral washer 19, inset into the foot 13, is threaded 
onto a bottom end of the rod 17 to retain the foot 13 onto the pedestal 
12. A keyway extrusion 20 protrudes outward from the bottom surface of the 
leg bracket 14 to mate with a recess 21 in the pedestal 12 to properly 
align the pedestal 12, and the attached foot 13, with the leg bracket 14. 
FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative linking arrangement in which a pair of 
linking members 22, which are illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 6, are 
used to link the table tops 1 and 2 together. Each linking member 22 is an 
elongate flat plate with an aperture 23 near a first end and a slot 24 
near a second end thereof. During installation of the leg brackets 14 on 
the table top 1, a pair of the linking members 22 can be initially 
attached to the table top 1 (FIG. 3) by positioning the apertures 23 over 
respective anchors 4a and 4b and tightening the respective thumb screws 5 
over the leg bracket 14 to hold the linking members 22 and the leg bracket 
14 in place. When the table tops 1 and 2 are to be linked, as shown in 
FIG. 2, the pair of thumb screws 5 which hold the apertures of the linking 
members 22 are loosened and the linking members 22 are swiveled 180 
degrees such that the slots 24 are engaged with shafts 25 of respective 
ones of the thumb screws 5 on the adjacent table top 2, which thumb screws 
5 can then be tightened to hold the linking members 22 in place to link 
the table tops 1 and 2. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a modesty panel 26 which 
is removable attached beneath the table 1 via a pair of angled brackets 27 
equipped with slots 28 which match up with additional threaded anchors 4 
to accommodate respective thumb screws 5. The modesty panel 26 allows the 
table 1 to be used as a desk. Washers 29, which are preferably the same 
depth as the leg brackets 14, can be used to equalize the height of 
opposing ends of the linking members 22. 
FIGS. 9-15 illustrate several variations of an arrangement including a 
triangular shaped modular table top 31, illustrated in detail in FIG. 9, 
linked between a pair of rectangular table tops 1 and 2 to form a right 
angled table. Referring to FIG. 9, the triangular shaped table top 31 
includes at least two pairs of threaded anchors 4 with each pair being 
positioned proximate a respective straight edge of the table top 31 and 
being separated from each other and from the edge the same distances as 
the anchors 4a and 4b in FIGS. 1-3. The table top 31 can, optionally, 
include two additional pairs of threaded anchors 4 (FIG. 11) arranged in a 
square and spaced equidistantly from the straight edges of the table top 
31 to accommodate a leg bracket 14 such that the triangular table top 31 
includes its own leg support. Note that some of the pedestals 12 in FIGS. 
11-15 have been broken away to reveal the linking arrangements. 
Referring to FIG. 11, the triangular shaped table top 31, with its own leg 
bracket 14, is linked to the rectangular table tops 1 and 2 via respective 
linking members 22 used in the same fashion as described earlier with 
respect to FIG. 2. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a similar linking 
arrangement using linking members 22, but with the triangular shaped table 
top having no separate leg bracket 14. 
FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the linking of the table top 31 to the 
rectangular table tops 1 and 2 via a pair of leg brackets 14, utilized in 
the same fashion as described earlier with respect to FIG. 1, i.e. each 
linking leg bracket 14 straddles and links one of the rectangular table 
tops 1 and 2 and the triangular shaped table top 31. FIG. 14 illustrates a 
third leg bracket 14 for the triangular shaped table top 31 while the 
third leg bracket 14 has been eliminated in FIG. 15. 
FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate other combinations of modular table top 
shapes which can be linked in a fashion similar to that described above. 
FIG. 16 illustrates a pair of generally rectangular modular table tops 32, 
each with rounded corners 33, which table tops 32 are linked via linking 
members 22 to form a generally square table 34 with rounded corners 33. 
FIG. 17 illustrates a pair of semi-circular modular table tops 35, which 
table tops 34 are linked via linking members 22 to form a generally round 
table 41. Finally, FIG. 18 illustrates a single semi-circular modular 
table top 32 which is linked to a pair of rectangular table tops 1 and 2 
via linking members 22 to form a conference table 42. For purposes of ease 
in illustration, no leg brackets 14 have been shown in FIGS. 16-18, it 
being understood that it is contemplated that each table top 1, 2, 31 and 
32 would include at least one leg bracket 14, or, in the case of the round 
table 41, at least one straddling leg bracket 14. 
In addition to the illustrated table top shapes and linking arrangements, 
it is contemplated that other shapes and arrangements can be used as well. 
For example, square, oval, hexagonal, and octagonal shapes, among others, 
can be used, or created using linked modular table tops of the herein 
described, or other shapes. Furthermore, the leg brackets 14 can be shaped 
other than as squares, for example, as rectangles or circular plates, and 
can be equally useful. The linking members 22 can also vary in shape so 
long as they incorporate the requisite apertures 23 and slots 24 at either 
end thereof. 
It is thus to be understood that while certain forms of the present 
invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be 
limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.