Modular support

An article of manufacture, such as a table, comprising a base of interengageable modules, each module including two parallel horizontal members forming a slot therebetween and one horizontal member engaged within the slot of an adjacent module, thereby forming a supporting structure for a horizontal surface, such as a table top.

PRIOR ART 
The present invention relates to a table construction wherein the 
supporting base is formed of interengaging modular units: 
In reference to the table assembly invented by Louis Schliemann and Jerome 
Borgos (U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,639), there are similarities in design (in 
each instance a unique base module is combined with like modules to form a 
supportive structure), as well as function, that being the use of 
interengaging (slotting) modules as a design mechanism. In the Schliemann 
Assembly the slotting mechanism is more like a hinge, the outer end 
sections of each module turning on their axis, the center of balance. In 
the present invention the slotting (interengaging) mechanism does not 
involve rotating or turning sections in the module, but rather one fixated 
construction for each module and one final construction position for the 
indicated number of interengaged modules. 
In reference to the table assembly invented by E. J. Schwabe (U.S. Pat. No. 
1,963,594), the components of the table base rotate on a central axis as 
in the base assembly of the Schliemann/Borgos table. Though both 
assemblies can be variable axially, the Schwabe Assembly is intentionally 
limited to less than the entire 360.degree. rotation, because of the 
vertical extension of the four legs. The Schwabe assembly bears stronger 
resemblance to the present invention in that both attain the desired 
maximum support of their specific horizontal surfaces in final, fixated 
construction positions (see FIG. 2 of Schwabe U.S. Pat. No. 1,963,594, and 
FIGS. 1,8; 9,10; and 11,12 of the present invention). 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention involves the use of the assembly module (see FIGS. 2 
to 4), the primary structural unit which comprises a part of an entire 
sturdy base assembly. Assuming that materials of designated sufficient 
strength represent individual sections of the module (specifically five), 
the assemblies constructed from the modules range in use from a base for a 
table or stool to platform scaffolding or staging. 
The specific assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 involves twelve of these 
modules, the number so chosen to produce an aesthetically appealing 
symmetric pattern. This 3-dimensional stellar pattern in turn provides the 
geometric structure for the more basic variations of the overall 
structure, the triangular assembly (using three modules, as in FIGS. 9,10) 
and the square assembly (using four modules, as in FIGS. 11,12).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an entire assembly constructed of 
twelve slotted base modules (individually illustrated in FIGS. 2,3 and 4). 
The assembly supports a horizontal surface on the lengthwise edges of the 
upper, horizontal boards of each of the 12 modules (11-22 in FIGS. 1 and 
8, and 1 in FIGS. 2 to 4). 
In order to understand how the invention is constructed, a detailed 
description of a single base module must be made. In reference to FIGS. 2 
and 3, each module contains five identical boards 1-5, each measuring 1 
inch by 3 inches by 30 inches (or 21/2 feet). Held together by five 
identical sets of carriage bolt systems 6-10, two vertical boards 4,5 
represent legs and three horizontal boards 1,2,3 represent the structural 
members of the horizontally supportive, circular stellar pattern. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 as the frontal view, the left end of the upper 
horizontal member 1 is bolted to the upper end of the main vertical leg 4. 
The right end of the middle horizontal member 2 is bolted to the main 
vertical leg 4 directly below and flush to the upper horizontal member 1. 
In the same cyclic manner, the left end of the lower horizontal member 3 
is bolted to the main vertical leg 4 directly below and flush to the 
middle horizontal member 2. The edges of all three horizontal members are 
bolted flush to the vertical edge of the main vertical leg. 
The second vertical leg 5 is bolted to the upper and lower horizontal 
members 1,3 10 inches from the main vertical leg 4 so that the horizontal 
members retain their already parallel rigidity (created by the three 
horizontal members bolted together flush to the main vertical leg). In 
other words, the upper and lower horizontal members 1,3 are bolted to the 
second vertical leg 5 so that they remain parallel, the space between them 
being created by the middle horizontal member 2 which extends on parallel 
lines to the opposite side of the main vertical leg 4. 
In reference to FIG. 4, the plan view of a single base module (shown in 
perspective in FIG. 3), it is clear that the horizontal members 1,2,3 are 
bolted to the front plane of the vertical legs 4,5. In other words the 
carriage bolts 23 go through the horizontal members before anchoring into 
the legs. Therefore the smooth round bolt heads (which explains the 
preferance to carriage bolts) remain exposed in the frontal module design 
(see 6-10 in FIG. 2). The length of 11/2 inches was chosen so the carriage 
bolts would remain flush with the backsides of the legs. For this reason, 
the flat washers 24 and hex nuts 25 are all countersunk, the diameter of 
the countersunk hole just slightly exceeding the diameter of the flat 
washer (approximately 3/4 of an inch). Hex nuts were chosen so the base 
assembly could be constructed with a hexagonal socket set. 
FIGS. 5-7 demonstrate the slotting mechanisms previously claimed. In FIG. 
5, the middle horizontal member of one module is inserted through the 
upper and lower horizontal members and between the two vertical legs of 
the second module. 
FIG. 6 shows two of the twelve modules in their final, most compact, 
slotted form, the interior angles A being 30.degree.(or 1/12 of the 
360.degree. circle). Since there are twelve modules (or 12 basic 
lines--see 11-22 in FIG. 8) in the entire assembly, the 360.degree. circle 
is divided into 12 30.degree. angles. In this final slotted position, the 
adjoining vertical edge of the main vertical leg of the right module abuts 
(makes contact with) the frontal face of the upper and lower horizontal 
members of the left module (the vertical lines designated by 27 in FIG. 6; 
28,29,30 in FIG. 7). 
In reference to FIG. 7, the middle horizontal member 33 of every module Q 
butts perpendicularly (at a 90.degree. angle) against the right edge 
(assuming the frontal view) of the second vertical leg 34 and in between 
the upper and lower horizontal members of the third module T around the 
progression. In essence the middle horizontal member of every module butts 
flush at a right angle to the second leg of the third module in the 
progression to the left (in terms of a module series Q,R,S,T, module Q is 
perpendicular to module T, module R to module U, etc.). 
It is at this junction that the support screws 26 (in FIG. 4) are used 
after completion of the final table assembly for greater support and 
strength of the entire structure. In reference again to FIGS. 2-4, the 
screws go through centered holes 31 in the middle horizontal member of 
every module and anchored into centered holes 32 in the edge of the second 
vertical leg of the appropriate perpendicular module. Round head sheet 
metal screws 26 (2 inches long .times. 12 guage) were chosen because their 
deep threads offer maximum strength and grip. 
Although the entire base assembly involves 12 30.degree. angles (see 
detailed description of FIG. 6), slight alterations in compactness and 
angle must be temporarily made on modules 19,20,21,22 (assuming that the 
upper horizontal members 11-22 here temporarily represent the modules 
containing them in FIGS. 1,8) in order to be able to slot the last module 
22 into the first module 11. If modules 19-22 are loosely slotted with 
each other and their previous modules, then the alteration in angle can be 
made to complete the entire assembly. The final step of the slotting 
system is to compact the overall structure to its final base assembly 
configuration (FIGS. 1,8), involving twelve 30.degree. angles. 
As noted in the Brief Invention Summary, it is apparent how the three- and 
four-module variations are derived directly from the geometric structure 
of the entire base assembly. The triangular assembly (FIGS. 9,10) is 
composed of three base modules (FIGS. 2-4) compacted into an equilateral 
structure. The square assembly (FIGS. 11,12) is composed of four of the 
original twelve base modules. As was the case in the triangular assembly, 
the square assembly retains the planar, geometric structure of the entire 
assembly, but here the four modules are compacted to retain their 
particular planar structure (in reference to the square assembly, a 
parallel and perpendicular planes). Though much more basic structurally, 
both the triangular and square base assemblies provide durable, sturdy 
support for a horizontal surface.