A TABLE COMPRISING A TABLETOP HAVING RECESSES AND THE USE OF SAID TABLE

Abstract: A table (1) is described which comprises a tabletop (2) having a recess for providing a working area, the horizontal outline of the tabletop being partly coincident with an imaginary right-angled quadrilateral such as a rectangle or a square, wherein the tabletop (2) has two diagonally opposite, right-angled, equilateral, similarly shaped corner sections having sides of different lengths (A, C) which form a part of the sides of the quadrilateral, the rectilinear corner edges adjoining the edge portions which follow a curve or line that severs the diagonally opposite corner sections of the right-angled imaginary quadrilateral, in such manner that the imaginary corner sections form the recess (6). The use of the table in a table assembly is also described.

Description: A TABLE COMPRISING A TABLETOP HAVING RECESSES AND THE USE OF SAID TABLE The present invention relates to a table of the type disclosed in the preamble of patent claim 1 below. The invention also relates to the use of the table in a table assembly. Today's requirements with respect to an office workstation are influenced by the fact that the user should work in an ergonomically correct position and that at the same time the office furniture should be movable and adaptable, in many cases to other offices. The ergonomic requirement has been met using corner tables which have the means for raising and lowering a computer screen, and by connecting the corner table to a main table having a depth of about 80 cm and a side table having a depth of about 40 to 60 cm. This ensures a large work surface, but not so large that the table cannot be placed in a two-module room (about 2.20 m x 4 m). The corner table has been determining factor for the layout of the workstation and the user has had to choose whether the table assembly should have as its starting point a corner table in the right-hand or left-hand corner of the room. Consequently, the interconnected table assembly has not been adaptable to more than two of the room's four corners. As an example of the prior art reference can be made to the price list of April 1999 from the Martelas furniture factory which includes a number of desk systems. Insofar as corner tables are concerned, it is a common feature that the working area for, e.g., the use of a computer, is arranged in a recess or indentation in the tabletop. It is also a fact that all known corner tables are intended for either right-hand or left-hand assembly. This limitation to right-hand or left-hand assembly means that the user must make a choice, and this may often prove to be inappropriate should the need arise later to move the workstation. A number of examples of table assemblies are known from the patent literature. In this connection, reference can be made to DE-A1 197115184, EP-A1 648450 and US patents 3053598, 4732088, 5339747, 5438937 and 5676068. However, none of these documents teach a table solution of the corner type which affords the same flexibility as the subject matter of the application. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a table of the type mentioned in the introductory paragraph, where far greater flexibility is attained in that the comer table can be used for both right-hand and left-hand assembly. This is achieved by means of a table as disclosed in the characterising clause of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent patent claims. Advantageous uses of the invention in table assemblies are disclosed in claims 6-9. The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a table 1 positioned as a so-called right-hand solution, i.e., with a comer table placed to the right of a main table; Fig. 2 shows the table 1 positioned as a left-hand solution; and Fig. 3 shows a tabletop section which has been cut out of the tabletop. The outline or boundary of a tabletop 2 and a tabletop section 3 is shown in bold lines. As a starting point for the tabletop 2, a square top is preferred. This is indicated by using stippled lines to show the cut-away parts on the figures. At the two opposite comers of the basic top two recesses 6 have been made, each of which can form the basis for tabletop sections 3. The tabletop section 3 can also be made in another way, the essential point being that it fits into the recess 6. As can be seen in the figures, the recesses 6 are identical, or almost identical, and symmetrical about a diagonal D extending between the other comers of the tabletop 2. In general, the shape of the tabletop 2 is best defined in that its horizontal outline is partly coincident with an imaginary right-angled quadrilateral such as a rectangle or square, it having two diagonally opposite, right-angled, equilateral, similarly shaped comer sections having sides of different lengths, A and C respectively, which form a part of the sides of the quadrilateral, the rectilinear comer edges adjoining the edge portions which follow a curve or a line that severs the diagonally opposite comer sections of the imaginary right- angled quadrilateral, in such mannerthat the imaginary comer sections form the recess 6. In the illustrated example, the recess, which may be rectilinear, has been given a substantially curved shape which starts at about halfway along the side edge of the tabletop and ends preferably in a straightened part at the adjacent side edge. The recess is given a suitable depth, and could in fact also have been symmetrical. However, for ergonomic reasons, the illustrated shape has been found expedient. This is because the table must also be capable of being assembled with and optionally secured to side tables as indicated in broken lines at 4 and 5 in Fig. 2. Of the two side tables indicated, the largest side table 4 can be designated the main table and the smaller or second side table 5 an auxiliary table. However, these tables are not necessary even though they form a typical part of a comer solution. It is also possible to join the comer table to one or more similar comer tables, or the table may stand alone. In the drawing the tabletop in Fig. 2 has been rotated 180° relative to the tabletop 2 in Fig. 1 to create the so-called left-hand solution. In order to fit in the tabletop section 3 from Fig. 1, this must then be rotated and turned so that its other surface faces upwards. It is therefore expedient that the tabletop section 3 should have been surface-treated, e.g., veneered or machine-finished, on both sides. If the recess 6 and consequently the tabletop section 3 are made symmetrical about the diagonal between the comers of the imaginary comer sections, it is only necessary to surface treat one of the faces of the tabletop section. The tabletop section 3 may be arranged so as to be capable of being raised and lowered, thus allowing, e.g., a computer screen to be placed in the optimal user position. Such lowering and raising mechanisms are well known in the technical field to which this application belongs and thus do not form a part of the present invention. The support structure or stand of the table 1 may be of steel or aluminium, or possibly of wood, and is as such known. Similarly, connectors that are known per se and preferably easy to mount are used. The table assembly thus can be adapted to the desired comer solution by means of one or two skilful movements and a simple tool such as a battery- operated drill. The present invention provides a flexibility that is not found with any other comer table solution and allows an office workstation to be moved. It can be used in any office, primarily in company offices, but also in offices in the home or for other furnishing uses. As the invention obviates the need to produce separate right-hand and left-hand tables, there is seen to be a considerable potential for savings where production costs are concerned, and not least where storage costs are concerned.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. A table (1) comprising a tabletop (2) having a recess for forming a working area, the horizontal outline of the tabletop being partly coincident with an imaginary right-angled quadrilateral such as a rectangle or square, characterised in that the tabletop (2) has two diagonally opposite, right-angled, equilateral, similarly shaped comer sections having sides of different lengths (A, C) which form a part of the sides of the quadrilateral, the rectilinear comer edges adjoining the edge portions which follow a curve or a line that severs the diagonally opposite comer sections of the right-angled imaginary quadrilateral, in such manner that the imaginary corner sections form the recess (6). 2. A table according to claim 1 , characterised in that the recesses (6) are symmetrical about a diagonal (D) between the opposite comers of the tabletop (2). 3. A table according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tabletop (2) in the area for at least one of the recesses (6) is equipped with a tabletop section (3) having the shape of the said recess. 4. A table according to claim 3, characterised in that the tabletop section (3) is suitably surface-treated, preferably in the same way as the surface of the tabletop (2), on both faces of the tabletop section so that each of these may form the surface of use of the tabletop section (3). 5. A table according to claim 4, characterised in that the tabletop section (3) is preferably cut off at its right-angled comer to provide space for electric leads or the like and that the tabletop section (3) may be arranged so as to be adjustable with the aid of a suitable raising and lowering mechanism. 6. The use of a table according to one of claims 1-5 wherein at least one of the opposite and dimensionally different comer sections is attached to at least one table having substantially the same attachment width as the comer edges (A, C) of the tabletop, which at least one table is preferably rectangular (or right-angled quadrilateral), or made with a tabletop (2) having a recess for forming a working area, the horizontal outline of the tabletop being partly coincident with an imaginary right-angled quadrilateral such as a rectangle or square, wherein the tabletop (2) has two diagonally opposite, right- angled, equilateral, similarly shaped comer sections having sides of different lengths (A, C) which form a part of the sides of the quadrilateral, the rectilinear comer edges adjoining the edge portions which follow a curve or line that severs the diagonally opposite comer sections of the right-angled imaginary quadrilateral, in such manner that the imaginary comer sections form the recess (6), as a table assembly. 7. The use of table according to one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the opposite comer sections of the tabletop (2) are attached to their respective preferably rectangular (or right-angled quadrilateral) tables having a width substantially equal to that of the respective comer edge (A, C), as a right-angled table assembly. 8. The use of the table according to one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the largest comer section of the tabletop (2) is attached to a preferably rectangular (or right-angled quadrilateral) table having substantially the same width as the corner edge (C) of the tabletop, as a table assembly. 9. The use of the table according to one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the smallest comer section of the tabletop (2) is attached to a preferably rectangular (or right-angled quadrilateral) table having substantially the same width as the comer edge (A) of the tabletop, as a table assembly.

Inventors: VELDE HERLEIV, VELDE, HERLEIV
Applicants: VELDE HERLEIV, VELDE, HERLEIV
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47B13
IPC codes: A47B7, A47B9, A47B13