Table top

A table top includes an exterior shell providing an interior region. An interior frame and a core are located in the interior region. The exterior shell includes top and bottom sheets and a perimeter bumper.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to Chinese Patent Application No. 03269260.9, filed Jul. 28, 2003 and Chinese Patent Application No. 03268739.7, filed Jul. 1, 2003, which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a table and, in particular, to a table top. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to multi-component table tops.

SUMMARY

A table top includes an exterior shell, an interior frame in an interior region defined by the exterior shell, and a core surrounded by the interior frame. The interior frame includes one or more rails and blocks coupled to the rails and located between the rails and the core.

In one illustrative embodiment of the disclosure, four rails are slidably connected to four corner blocks to provide a rectangular interior frame surrounding a cellular core, and two side blocks are also slidably connected to the rails. During assembly of the components to produce this table top, the two side blocks are slid on two of the rails to reach a selected position, and all of the rails are then slid into mating positions with the four corner blocks to establish the interior frame.

The cellular core is then placed in an interior space defined by the interior frame and the exterior shell is coupled to the interior frame to produce the table top. A table leg frame is arranged to underlie the exterior shell and is anchored using suitable fasteners to the corner and side blocks located in the interior region of the exterior shell.

In another illustrative embodiment of the disclosure, four side blocks are slidably connected to a circular rail to provide an interior frame surrounding a cellular core. During assembly of the components to produce this table top, a curved rail with two opposed ends is provided and in series four side blocks are slid onto the curved rail at one of these ends and moved along a curved path established by the curved rail to assume predetermined circumferentially spaced-apart positions. The two opposed ends are then coupled to produce an “endless” circular rail carrying four spaced-apart side blocks.

The cellular core is then placed in an interior space defined by the interior frame and the exterior shell is coupled to the interior frame to produce the table top. A table leg frame is arranged to underlie the exterior shell and is anchored using suitable fasteners to the four side blocks located in the interior region of the exterior shell.

Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A table10includes a table top12and a table leg frame14including four legs16and supporting table top12in an elevated position as suggested inFIG. 1. A rectangular table top12is illustrated inFIGS. 1-15while a round table top512is illustrated inFIGS. 16-20.

As shown inFIG. 2, table top12includes an exterior shell18including a top sheet20, a bottom sheet22, and a perimeter bumper24. These components cooperate to form an interior region26containing an interior frame28and a core30when assembled, for example, as shown inFIG. 3.

Interior frame28includes first and second side rails31,32, first and second end rails41,42, and six blocks configured to be coupled to the rails to rigidify table top12and provide sturdy foundations to which table leg frame14may be mounted. In an illustrative embodiment, the rails are extruded and the blocks are injection-molded. In the illustrated embodiment, these blocks include first, second, third, and fourth corner blocks51,52,53, and54and first and second side blocks61,62. The corner blocks add strength in the corners of table top12to act as shock absorbers and enhance “drop resistance” and “side impact resistance” of table top12. It is within the scope of this disclosure to vary the number, spacing, and location of such blocks to meet structural and drop or side impact resistance needs of any particular table top.

Core30illustratively has a cellular structure as suggested inFIG. 3and is made, for example, of corrugated material. Core30is sized and shaped to lie in a space bounded by side rails31,32, end rails41,42, and blocks51,52,53,54,61, and62and in interior region26formed in exterior shell18. It is within the scope of this disclosure to form core30of any suitable material to add body to table top12in the region between top and bottom sheets20,22.

As shown inFIG. 2, core30is formed to include a first corner cutout151sized and located to receiver first corner block51therein, a second corner cutout152sized and located to receive second corner block52therein, a third corner cutout153sized and located to receive third corner block53therein, and a fourth corner cutout154sized and located to receive fourth corner block54therein. Core30is also formed to include a first side cutout161sized and located to receive first side block61therein and a second side cutout162sized and located to receive second side block62therein. When assembled as shown, core30substantially fills the space between top and bottom sheets20,22and inside interior frame28defined by rails31,41,32, and42and blocks61,51,52,62,53, and54.

As suggested inFIG. 2, when assembled, corner blocks51,52,53,54are used to retain side rails31,32in spaced-apart parallel relation to one another and end rails41,42in spaced-apart parallel relation to one another to define a rectangular interior frame28. First corner block51is coupled to a first end311of first side rail31and a first end411of first end rail41. Second corner block52is coupled to a second end412of first end rail41and a second end322of second side rail32. Third corner block53is coupled to a first end321of second side rail32and to a second end422of second end rail42. Fourth corner block54is coupled to a first end421of second end rail42and a second end312of first side rail31. Illustrative “slide-initiated” couplings for corner blocks and rails are shown inFIGS. 5,10, and11.

As also suggested inFIG. 2, when assembled, each side block61,62will be coupled to one of side rails31,32and arranged to lie about midway between first and second end rails41,42. Illustrative slide-initiated couplings for side blocks and rails are shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Core30will then be placed into a space bounded, in part, by assembled rails31,41,32, and42and blocks61,51,52,62,53, and54so that those blocks fit into the spaces provided by cutouts161,151,152,162,153, and154formed in core30.

Exterior shell18can be assembled and mounted to surround interior frame28and core30in many different yet suitable ways. In the illustrated embodiment, top sheet20and bottom sheet22are made of an ABS thermoplastic material and are coupled using, for example, a suitable adhesive material to one or more of exposed surfaces of rails31,41,32,42, corner blocks51,52,53,54, and core30. Also in the illustrated embodiment, perimeter bumper24is coupled to perimeter portions of rails31,41,32,42and corner blocks51,52,53,54using, for example, a bumper retainer134that projects away from outer rim33of perimeter bumper24and is sized and shaped to mate with exposed bumper receivers36formed in rails31,41,32,42and corner blocks51,52,53,54. It is within the scope of this disclosure to use other suitable means for mounting perimeter bumper24on interior frame28.

As suggested inFIGS. 8,9, and13-15, side blocks61,62and corner blocks51,52,53,54are configured to provide anchor foundations for anchoring table leg frame14in place on the underside of table top12. Each block is formed to include one or more fastener receiver means138for receiving a fastener139included in table leg frame14to couple table leg frame14to bottom sheet22so that table leg frame14is anchored in a fixed position to bottom sheet22(or other suitable portion) of table top12. In the illustrated embodiment, each fastener receiver means138is formed in a rigidifying member50included in each corner block51,52,53,54or in a rigidifying member60included in each side block61,62.

First side rail31is coupled to first side block61and bumper retainer of perimeter bumper24as suggested inFIGS. 4-7. Second side rail32is coupled to second side block62and bumper retainer134of perimeter bumper24in a similar manner.

First side block61includes a rigidifying member60arranged to lie adjacent to core30as shown inFIG. 3and an interlock portion69appended to rigidifying member60and coupled to first side rail31as suggested inFIGS. 4-7. In the illustrated embodiment, rigidifying member60comprises a honeycomb structure and interlock portion69is a T-shaped rail mount comprising a neck63cantilevered to rigidifying member60and a slide member64mounted on neck63to provide an elongated upwardly extending upper lip65and an elongated downwardly extending lower lip66as shown best inFIGS. 4 and 5. In the illustrated embodiment, first side block61is monolithic and made of a plastics material.

First side rail31includes a base33coupled to perimeter bumper24and formed to include bumper receiver36. First side rail31also includes an interlock portion34appended to base33and formed to mate with interlock portion69included in first side block61as suggested inFIGS. 4 and 5and shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. In the illustrated embodiment, first side rail31is monolithic and made of a plastics material.

Base33of first side rail31includes an upper strip35and a lower strip37. Lower strip37is arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to upper strip35to provide therebetween an elongated channel (bumper receiver)36receiving a portion (e.g., bumper retainer134) of perimeter bumper24therein to retain perimeter bumper24in a fixed position on first side rail31a shown, for example, inFIGS. 3,6, and7.

First side rail31further includes elongated upper and lower flanges38,39coupled to base33to establish interlock portion34. Upper and lower flanges38,39are arranged to provide therebetween a rail mount receiver40extending along a length of first side rail31as shown best inFIG. 5. As suggested inFIGS. 4-7, the T-shaped rail mount (interlock portion)69of first side block61is arranged to extend into and slide back and forth in rail mount receiver40defined between upper and lower flanges38,39. Interlock portion34of first side rail31and interlock portion69of first side block61are coupled to one another and cooperate to define means for mounting rigidifying member60of first side block61for sliding movement relative to base33of first side rail31so that rigidifying member60can be moved to assume a selected position on base33during assembly of interior frame28and preparatory to insertion of core30in interior region26of exterior shell18.

Each of the other rails41,32, and42has a structure that is the same as the structure of first side rail31. Second side block62has the same configuration as first side block61and is coupled to second side rail32in the same manner as first side block61is coupled to first side rail31. In the illustrated embodiment, each side block61,62is slid on its companion side rail31,32to reach a selected position during assembly of the components to produce table top12.

Mating of a corner block to side and end rails is shown, for example, inFIGS. 10-12. Although it within the scope of this disclosure to couple distal ends of a side rail and an end rail to a corner block using any suitable coupling, in the illustrated embodiment, each corner block is formed to include a first corner interlock portion691for (slidably) mating with an interlock portion34included in a companion end rail (e.g.,41or42) and a second corner interlock portion692for (slidably) mating with an interlock portion34included in a companion side rail (e.g.,31or32).

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, first corner block51includes a first corner interlock portion691coupled to rigidifying member50and configured to mate with interlock portion34on first end411of first end rail41. First corner block51also includes a second corner interlock portion692coupled to rigidifying member50and configured to mate with interlock portion34on first end311of first side rail31. Each of these corner interlock portions691,692includes a neck63and a slide member64coupled to neck63to provide upper lip65and lower lip66and configured to mate with interlock portion34and to slide back and forth in rail mount receiver40.

First corner block51also includes a substantially L-shaped bumper mount80having one end801arranged to lie in confronting relation to first end411of first end rail41and in close proximity to first corner interlock portion691as shown inFIG. 11. Bumper mount80also has a second end802arranged to lie in confronting relation to first end311of first side rail31and in close proximity to second corner interlock portion692as shown inFIG. 10. L-shaped bumper mount80is coupled to rigidifying member50and to perimeter bumper24and arranged to project outwardly from rigidifying member50to lie in a space located between first ends411,311of first end and side rails41,31as shown, for example, inFIGS. 10 and 11.

Bumper mount80includes an upper strip82adapted to be coupled to top sheet20and a lower strip84adapted to be coupled to bottom sheet22. Upper and lower strips20,22are arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another to provide therebetween an elongated channel defining bumper receiver36as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11.

During assembly of the components to produce table top12, the two side blocks61,62are slid on the two side rails31,32to reach a selected position, for example, midway along the length of each side rail31,32. All of the side and end rails31,32,41,42are then slid into mating positions with the companion interlock portions691,692of the four corner blocks53,54,55,56to form interior frame28. Core30is then placed in an interior space defined by interior frame28and exterior shell18is coupled to interior frame28to produce table top12. Table leg frame14is then arranged to underlie exterior shell18and is anchored using fasteners139to fastener receivers138formed in side and corner blocks61,62,53,54,55,56located in interior region26of exterior shell18.

A round table510in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated inFIG. 16and includes a table top512and a table leg frame514. As shown inFIGS. 16 and 17, a round table top512includes an exterior shell518including a top sheet520, a bottom sheet522, and a perimeter bumper524. These components cooperate to form an interior region526containing an interior frame528and a core530when assembled, for example, as shown inFIG. 18. In the illustrated embodiment, interior frame528includes circular rail500, first and second rigidifying beams501,502, and four side blocks503,504,505,506coupled to circular rail500.

Interior frame528includes circular rail500and in series first, second, third, and fourth side blocks503,504,505,506slidably coupled to circular rail500for sliding movement along and around a circular path established by circular rail500to assume a selected position on circular rail500as suggested inFIG. 17. Once assembled, side blocks503,504,505,506are arranged to lie in circumferentially spaced-apart relation about circular rail500as suggested inFIG. 16. Once the blocks are coupled to circular rail500, first and second ends507,508of circular rail500can be coupled to one another to form an endless loop. In the illustrated embodiment, blocks504and506have a first size and blocks503and505have a larger second size. The size difference is a function of the configuration of the size and shape of the table leg frame514underlying table top512.

Once assembled, first, second, third, and fourth side blocks503,504,505,506are arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another about circular rail500to form “corners” of a “reference rectangle”599inscribed in circular rail500as suggested inFIG. 16. Like side blocks61,62shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, each side block503,504,505,506includes fastener receiver means (not shown) for receiving a fastener (not shown but similar to fastener139inFIG. 9) arranged to couple table leg frame514to bottom sheet522so that table leg frame514is anchored in a fixed position on bottom sheet522of table top512.

Interior frame528further includes a first rigidifying beam501having a first end coupled to circular rail500and an opposite second end coupled to circular rail. Interior frame528also includes a second rigidifying beam502having a first end coupled to circular rail500and an opposite second end coupled to circular rail500. Although each beam501,502illustratively has the same cross-section as side rail61, it is within the scope of this disclosure to vary that cross-section to create a beam of suitable rigidity. Beams501and502are arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to one another as suggested inFIG. 17.

As suggested inFIG. 17, core530includes a first core portion531lying on one side of first rigidifying beam501, a second core portion532lying on an opposite side of first rigidifying beam501and between beams501and502, and a third core portion503lying between a portion of circular rail500and beam502. Second core portion502lies on one side of second rigidifying beam502and third core portion503lies on an opposite side of second rigidifying beam502.

As shown inFIG. 17, first core portion531is formed to include a first side cutout603sized and located to receive first side block503therein and a second side cutout604sized and located to receive second side block504therein. Third core portion533is formed to include a third side cutout605sized and located to receive third side block505therein and a fourth side cutout606sized and located to receive fourth side block506therein.

Circular rail500includes a base533coupled to perimeter bumper524and a curved interlock portion534appended to base533. First side block503includes a rigidifying member550arranged to lie adjacent to cellular core30and a curved interlock portion569appended to rigidifying member550. Curved interlock portions534,569of circular rail500and first side block503are coupled to one another and cooperate to define interlock means for mounting rigidifying member550for sliding movement along a curved path relative to base533so that rigidifying member550can be moved to assume a selected position on base533of circular rail500during assembly of interior frame528and preparatory to insertion of cellular core530in interior region526of exterior shell518.

Base533of circular rail500includes a curved upper strip535and a curved lower strip537arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to curved upper strip535to provide therebetween an elongated curved channel536receiving a portion134of the perimeter bumper524therein to retain perimeter bumper524in a fixed position on circular rail500.

Circular rail500also includes curved upper and lower flanges538,539arranged to provide therebetween a curved rail mount receiver540extending along a curved length of circular rail500. First side block504includes a pie-shaped rigidifying member550arranged to lie adjacent to cellular core530and a curved rail mount (interlock portion)569appended to rigidifying member550and arranged to extend into the curved rail mount receiver540defined between curved upper and lower flanges538,539. Curved rail mount569includes a curved T-shaped rail mount comprising a curved neck563cantilevered to rigidifying member550and a curved slide member564mounted on curved neck563to provide an elongated upwardly extending curved upper lip565and an elongated downwardly extending curved lower lip566as shown best inFIG. 20.

During assembly of the components to produce table top512, a curved rail500with two opposed ends507,508is provided and in series four side blocks503,504,505,506are slid onto curved rail500at one of those ends507,508and moved along a curved path established by the curved rail to assume circumferentially spaced-apart positions as suggested inFIG. 17. The two opposed ends507,508are then coupled to produce an “endless” circular rail carrying four spaced-apart side blocks. Perimeter bumper524is coupled to circular rail500. Top and bottom sheets520,522are coupled to one or more of circular rail500, beams501,502, and core530to retain core530in interior region526of exterior shell518. Table leg frame514is then arranged to underlie exterior shell518and is anchored using suitable fasteners (not shown) to fastener receivers (not shown) formed in side blocks503,504,505,506located in interior region526of exterior shell18.