SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION FOR DESK- OR TABLE-TOP

Abstract: Support construction for a desk- or table-top (17), said construction comprising at least one foot (1) consisting of an upper and lower horizontal beam (3,4) connected by means of force fit to a common vertical post (5) provided with a longitudinally extending channel (8) which is open to the outside and can be closed by a lid (10) for inserting electric cables in said channel. If two feet (1) are used they can be connected by a horizontal beam (2) positioned in the centre and near the upper end of said feet (1).

Description: The invention relates to a support construction for a desk- or table-top, in particular for use in office buildings and the like. When using desks and tables in office buildings apparatus are placed thereon at an increasing scale, which by means of electric cables have to be connected to either the line voltage or to other apparatus which are at a different location. These may be for example electrical typewriters, word processors, communication apparatus and the like. In such a case the electric cables should be concealed as much as possible and this not solely from an aesthetical point of view, but also in connection with the possibility of damage to the wiring, such as by objects, which are caught behind them while being transpor­ ted through the relevant room. There is also the risk of personal injury by tripping over loose cables. In connection therewith provisions are made on occasion, that at specific positions in a floor of a room, located substantially directly underneath a desk- or table-top, connecting points are available for various apparatus. From these points, however, there will still be wires or cables running to the various apparatus, positioned on the desk or the table, said wires or cables partly exten­ ding themselves over the floor causing the above­ mentioned disadvantages. The invention now intends to provide a support constructon by which this disadvantage is removed to a large extent. According to the invention it is provided that the support construction comprises at least one foot to be positioned near one side of a top and consisting of an upper and a lower horizontal beam and one vertical post connecting these beams and being provided with at least one longitudinally extending channel which is open to the outside and can be closed by a lid for inserting therein electric cables or the like. So the electric cables extend from a point that is near to the table-top to the apparatus positioned on the table-top, so that it can be prevented that electric cables extend near to or on the floor. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it may be provided, that the vertical post is connected to the horizontal beams mainly by force fit. The three parts may then be manufactured separate from each other and be assembled to a unit in a fast and simple manner. Though in certain cases the desk- or table-top to be supported can be executed such rigid that two feet according to the invention can be fixed to it directly, the upper beam of a foot preferably will be made such that it may be connected, substantially in its centre, to a longitudinal beam extending as well in horizontal direction and square thereto, which may then interconnect two feet. It has appeared that in this manner a support construction can be obtained, which can be assembled very fast and in an easy manner, which takes very little room on transpor­ tation, while still a very stable construction is obtained. With this the longitudinal beam in particular will be obtained by extrusion and in cross-section will have a profiled shape and at least at the ends will be provided with parts with screw-thread. Thereby a connection may be made between a foot and the longitudinal beam by means of some screws. In particular the longitudinal beam will comprise a continuous cavity with at each end thereof a sleeve which is externally provided with screw-thread for mounting it in the longitudinal beam and which is internally provided with screw-thread for accepting a screw by which the connection between longitudinal beam and foot may be realized. By this the thickness of the wall of the longitudinal beam may be limited, while the stiffness thereof is still adequate. The cavity of the longitudinal beam then, however, has such a large dimension, that a screw should not be placed directly in it, so that said sleeve is provided. Preferably the profilation of the longitudinal beam will be carried out such that a snapping connection with a cable gutter can be realized. The cable gutter may extend over the full length or over only a part of the length of the longitudinal beam and will serve for the support of the cables which leave the vertical post at the upper end thereof and are running to the apparatus positioned on the working top. For a fast removal of the lid closing off the channel in the post, and so for allowing a fast insertion of cables in and for removing them out of the channel, provision may be made that the lid is connected with the post by a snap connection. The invention will now be elucidated by means of an embodiment, shown in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side-view of a support construction according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a top view of a part of the construction according to Fig. 1 and in particular of one foot and a part of the longitudinal beam; Fig. 3 shows a front view of a part of the construction according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a partial section over the connection between the upper part of a foot and a longitudinal beam according to the line IV-IV in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a cross-section over a longitudinal beam and a part of a cable gutter connected therewith, along the line V-V in fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a cross-section over a post of a foot along the line VI-VI in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows a vertical section and partial front view over a part of a foot, omitting the longitudinal beam, substantially along the line VII-VII in Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 shows a cross-section over that part of a horizontal beam of a foot, that is incorporated into the post. The support construction represented in the drawing and in particular in the Figs. 1-3 thereof, comprises two feet 1, which are interconnected by means of the longitudinal beam 2. Each foot 1 is composed of an upper horizontal beam 3, a lower horizontal beam 4 and a post 5. As appears in particular from Fig. 6, the post 5 comprises a wall 6 with such a shape that two cavities 7 are formed, closed off in transverse direction, and three cavities 8, which are open sideways. In the cavities 8 cables or wires may be positioned, whereafter closing off of the cavities 8 may take place by means of the lid 9. The lid 9 consists of the plate 10 of which one of the longitudinal edges is shaped in such a manner that an edge section 11 is obtained, which may be properly positioned into a cavity 12 in the wall 6 of the post 5, while the plate 10 is further provided with a part 13 in an about square position thereto and shaped in such a manner that it may snap behind a part of a wall 14, limiting a cavity 8. In this way the lid 9 may be fixed on the post 5 in a simple but firm manner and can easily be removed therefrom again. As appears in particular from the Figs. 4, 7 and 8 the horizontal beams 3 and 4 will be manufactured as castings whereby the vertical parts 16 connect with the substantially horizontal part 15 thereof. The parts 16 have in cross-­ section a substantially square shape, such that when mounting the post 5 they may be received force fitted into the cavities 7 of the post which are indicated in Fig. 6. In this manner a very stable foot 1 is obtained. Fig. 4 shows the connection between the upper horizontal beam 3 and the longitudinal beam 2. It will be obvious that also the other end of the longitudinal beam 2 is connected with a foot 1 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. A working top 17 may then be positioned on the structure obtained. The cross-section of the longitudinal beam 2 is represen­ ted in Fig. 5. The profile is such, that a cable gutter 18 may be affixed thereon in a simple manner, to which purpose the cable gutter is provided with parts 19 and 20 which are about square to each other. The part 19 is inserted into a cavity, not specifically indicated, of the longitudinal beam 2 and the edge 20 snaps over an extending part, not further indicated, of the longitudinal beam 2. In this manner a simple and fast mounting of a cable gutter 18 on the longitudinal beam 2 is possible. A cavity 21 is present in the longitudinal beam. As appears in particular from Fig. 4, an internal screw-­ thread has been applied at the end of the longitudinal beam 2, into which a sleeve 23 can be screwed which is provided with the internal screw-thread 24, for screwing therein a screw 25. The screw 25 extends further through a closing block 26, which closes the V-shaped groove 27, provided in the side wall 28 of the horizontal beam 3. In this manner an easy mounting of the longitudinal beam is possible, while the surface of the closing block 26 engaging the wall 28, will extend slightly slanted, as the wall 28 also will deviate somewhat from the vertical line in connection with the release of the casted product from the mould. In order to connect a longitudinal beam 2 at the other side of the horizontal beam 3, if wanted, the other side surface 29 of the longitudinal beam is also provided with a groove 27, which in Fig. 4 is closed off by means of an ornamental plate 30.

Claims: 1. A support construction for a desk- or table-top in particular for use in office buildings and the like, characterized in that the construction comprises at least one foot (1) to be positioned near one side of a top (17), and consisting of an upper and a lower horizontal beam (3,4) and one vertical post (5) connecting these beams and being provided with at least one longitudinal­ ly extending channel (8), which is open to the out­ side and can be closed by a lid (10), for inserting therein electric cables or the like. 2. A support construction according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical post (5) is connected to the horizontal beams (3,4) mainly by force fitting. 3. A support construction according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper beam (3) of a foot (1) is made such that it may be connected, substantially in its centre, to a longitudinal beam (2) extending as well in horizontal direction and square thereto, which may then interconnect two feet (1). 4. A support construction according to claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal beam (2) is obtained by extrusion and in cross-section has a profiled shape and at least at the ends is provided with parts with screw-thread (22,23,24). 5. A support construction according to claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal beam (2) comprises a continuous cavity (21) with at each end thereof a sleeve (23) which is externally provided with screw-thread (22) for mounting it in the longitudinal beam (2) and which is internally provided with screw-thread (24) for accepting a screw (25), by which the connection between longitudinal beam (2) and foot (1) is realized. 6. A support construction according to claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the profilation of the longitudinal beam (2) is carried out such that a snapping connection with a cable gutter (18) can be realized.

Inventors: PRUYSER, JOHAN SEBASTIAAN
Applicants: AHREND GROEP B.V.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A47B17
IPC codes: A47B13, A44B19, A47B17, A47B21