Abstract:
A trading table handling dense arrays of cabling and connected data and voice communications hardware includes a main multi-function beam comprising the main structural connection between leg assemblies and support for the table top, the beam also providing support for vertical post assemblies to mount hardware and other equipment and a variety of support devices to support and organize wires and cabling for data and voice communications and power below the table top in a manner that readily facilitates access for installation, maintenance and repair. A pan assembly supplements the beam in providing support for the table top and also supports a tray arrangement positioned below the beam for supporting cabling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to desking systems for use in business situations requiring high density data and voice communications and, in particular, such a desking system providing high functionality both in use and for maintenance and service, such as are required in stock, money and commodities exchange functions.  
         [0002]     A class of tables or workstations has evolved that are particularly adapted for use as so-called “trading tables” where traders operating in the stock, currency, or commodities markets need rapid access to large volumes of computer data and voice transmissions. Such tables must typically hold, for rapid convenient access, keyboards, CRTs or flat panel screens, and telephones or other data and voice communications hardware. These tables typically also include a space beneath the table top for the computer hard drives and other data and communication hardware. The tables have typically developed to be specified in linear runs and modular table construction has facilitated the joining of multiple tables in many different arrangements. In addition to the active data and voice communications hardware, the tables also may be adapted to provide screen panel dividers when assembled in face-to-face relation.  
         [0003]     In addition to the functional requirements for regular use, it is important that any trading table construction provide support and organization for data and voice cabling, connection terminals, power supply wires and cables and other peripheral hardware in a manner that keeps it out of sight for aesthetic purposes, yet allows ready access thereto for maintenance, repair, or replacement.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The invention is directed to a table for use in data and voice communications to and from communication hardware supported on the table. The support for the hardware is provided by the table top and a main beam, the main beam and a pan and tray assembly beneath the table top define a technology trough for supporting and routing cabling and connecting hardware for cable-supported communication hardware.  
         [0005]     In accordance with the present invention, a trading table for use by a number of persons to receive, manipulate and send data and voice communications includes a base supporting structure having pairs of supporting legs on opposite base ends, and a table top supported by and extending between the base ends, the unique feature of the table comprising a multi-function technology trough that extends between the base ends, and between and along at least one longitudinal edge of the table top and a beam providing interconnection of the base ends. The beam also provides support for one longitudinal edge of the table top and support for data and voice communications hardware and cabling. The beam comprises a substantially closed box-like structure that includes horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical opposite side walls. There are openings spaced longitudinally along the horizontal top wall which are sized to receive and provide lateral support for vertical post assemblies that are adapted to support flat panel displays and privacy screens between stations, and post connection locations spaced longitudinally along the horizontal bottom wall and in vertical alignment with the openings in the top wall to provide connection for a lower end of a post assembly. A horizontal tray member rests below the beam to provide support for data, voice communication and power cabling. A channel member, having a center web and opposite edge flanges is attached by the center web to one side wall of the beam, and the edge flanges of the channel member have openings therein for receipt of cabling fasteners and other support hardware. A horizontal support lip is also attached to the beam side wall to support one longitudinal edge of the table top. The edge of the table top supported on the support lip adjacent the beam includes a continuous brush grommet to close the space between the table top edge and the beam side wall.  
         [0006]     Each of the opposite base ends of the table includes a truss that provides attachment for one pair of supporting legs and for one end of the beam. In a preferred embodiment, the table includes a pan assembly attached at opposite ends to and extending between the trusses and parallel to the beam. The pan assembly includes a lower flange for supporting the other edge of a cable-supporting tray and an upper flange for supporting an intermediate portion of the table top. The assembly of the beam channel member, the pan and the tray defines the technology trough for the support and routing of cabling and connecting hardware. The table top preferably comprises a fixed outer section that is attached to the trusses and to the upper flange of the pan assembly, and a removable inner section that includes the brush grommet, the inner section being removably supported on the lip, the upper flange of the pan assembly, and on a support face that is coplanar with the upper flange of and is attached to the pan assembly. Laterally adjacent tables can be fastened together to provide side-by-side stations in which the technology trough is continued station-to-station.  
         [0007]     Each of the openings in the top wall of the beam is lined with a bushing to provide protective support for the post assemblies. Each post assembly includes a sleeve that includes a pair of threaded studs that extend from the lower end and each post location includes a pair of bolt holes for receipt of the studs. A post then is inserted to the sleeve and fixed in position by a clamping device. The posts are provided with friction fit supports for adjustable vertical positioning of accessory hardware.  
         [0008]     In the presently preferred embodiment, the table includes a second table top which is supported on one longitudinal edge by a second support lip attached to the other side wall of the beam. A second pan assembly is also provided and has an upper flange for supporting an intermediate portion of the second table top. The second table top is preferably identical to the first and includes a fixed outer section attached to the trusses and the upper flange of the second pan assembly, and a removable inner section that is supported on the second lip and on a support face coplanar with the upper flange of and attached to said second pan assembly. Similarly, the inner section of the second table top includes a second brush grommet to close the space between the longitudinal edge of the second table top inner section and the other side wall of the beam.  
         [0009]     The tray for supporting the cabling comprises a plurality of tray sections each of which tray section has two vertically offset lips adapted to rest on the lower flange of the pan assemblies.  
         [0010]     The channel member preferably comprises a plurality of channel sections each having parallel upper and lower edge flanges, each flange having a plurality of openings positioned to provide vertically aligned opening pairs in said flanges. A patch panel bracket is provided for demountable attachment to each channel section. The patch panel bracket comprises a frame member adapted to receive a terminal face plate, an upper leg and a lower leg extending respectively from an upper edge and a lower edge of the frame member, and pairs of vertically aligned connector tabs extending from said upper and lower legs for receipt in the opening pairs in the upper and lower edge flanges of the channel section. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the table of the present invention with certain elements removed to show details of the interior construction.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1  with the table top removed.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the main supporting beam and pan assemblies showing various attachment and support devices for table top components, cabling, and related hardware.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross section through the main beam taken on line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  and also including portions of the pan assembly.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing a modified construction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     The table  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  in which all of the basic components of the table may be seen. The table top  11  is supported on opposite base ends  12 , each of which includes a horizontal truss  13  and a pair of legs  14 . A main beam  15  extends between the trusses  13  and also provide support for part of the table top  11 . The beam  15  forms the structural backbone of the table and also provides support below the surface of the table top for data, voice and power cabling and various hardware connections, and above the table top for CRTs or flat panel displays as well as other hardware accessories.  
         [0017]     In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the table  10  includes back-to-back table tops  11 , each of which is preferably sized to accommodate one user. Each table top  11  includes a main outer section  16  which is attached at opposite longitudinal edges to the trusses  13 , and an inner section  17  which, in the preferred construction, includes a pair of removable panels  18 . The table top may be finished with an edge trim piece  20  if that edge of the table is exposed, or the edge trim piece  20  is eliminated if an identical modular table  10  is attached.  
         [0018]     Referring also to  FIGS. 2-4 , the main beam  15  is a substantially closed box-like sheet metal structure that includes horizontal top and bottom walls  21  and  22  and interconnecting side walls  23 . A connection plate  24  is welded to each end of the beam to provide attachment to the trusses  13 . A plurality of circular openings  25  are provided in spaced locations longitudinally along the length of the top wall  21  of the beam  15 . The openings  25  are adapted to receive, with a snug slip fit, post assemblies  26  which are used to support various items of hardware and accessories above the table top for convenient access by the user. Each post assembly  26  includes a mounting sleeve  19  and a post  39 . Each sleeve  19  is secured in position by a pair of threaded studs  27  attached to and extending downwardly from the lower end of the sleeve. The studs are received in a pair of holes  28  in the bottom wall  22 , aligned vertically with an opening  25  and providing a post connection location for each of the openings  25 . Each sleeve  19  is secured in position by threading a nut and lock washer to the studs  27  from beneath the bottom wall  22 . A bushing  30  of suitable rubber or plastic material is attached in each opening  25  to provide lateral support and prevent metal-to-metal contact between the sleeve  19  and the top wall  21  of the beam. Posts  29  are inserted into the sleeve  19  and are fixed in place by a threaded clamping bushing  34  at the top of the sleeve assembly. Friction fit supports  31  are attached to each post assembly for adjustable vertical positioning of the various hardware elements, such as flat panel displays  29 .  
         [0019]     A generally horizontal tray  32  is positioned below the main beam  15 . The tray  32  provides support for power, data and voice communication cabling. Preferably, the tray  32  comprises a plurality of tray sections  33  each of which has stepped opposite edges  37  that terminate in horizontal flanges  38 . Each horizontal flange rests on and is supported by the lower flange  40  of a pan assembly  41  that is attached to and extends between the trusses  13  parallel to the main beam  15 . The stepped edge construction of the tray sections  33  allows them to be easily installed and permitted to rest on the lower flange  40  of the pan assemblies where they are free to be positioned in any location specified by the user. The pan assembly  41  also includes an integral vertical face and oppositely extending upper flange  43 , the function of which will be described below. Cables, wires and the like supported by the pan assembly and the beam can be arranged to pass laterally between side-by-side stations by utilizing the continuous technology trough concept disclosed herein.  
         [0020]     A channel member  44  is attached to the side wall  23  of the beam just above the tray sections  33 . The channel member preferably comprises a number of channel sections  45  equal in number to the tray sections  33 . Each channel section includes parallel upper and lower edge flanges  46  and  47 , respectively, and an integral interconnecting center web  48  by which the,channel section  45  is attached to the face of the side wall  23  with suitable fasteners  50 , such as sheet metal screws, rivets, machine screws or spot welds. Each of the upper and lower flanges  46  and  47  of the channel section  45  is provided with elongated openings  51  which can be used to attach cabling ties to secure bundles of cable in place. An accessory patch panel bracket  52  may be utilized to secure industry standard voice or data terminals (not shown). The patch panel bracket  52  includes a frame member  53  in which may be mounted a conventional wire or cable connection terminal. The patch panel bracket also includes an upper leg  54  provided with a number of stepped tabs  55  that are received in the elongated openings  51  in the upper edge flange  46  of a channel section  45 . The patch panel bracket includes a lower leg  56  provided with a number of angled tabs  57  aligned vertically with the upper stepped tabs  55  and adapted to snap into the elongated openings  51  in the lower edge flange  57  when the lower leg is released from deflection, as shown in  FIG. 4 . This provides a secure yet demountable connection for the patch panel  52 .  
         [0021]     In the longitudinal center of the beam  15 , a horizontal lip  58  is attached by an integral vertical flange  60  to the outside face of the beam side wall  23  immediately above the center channel section  45 . The horizontal supporting surface of the lip  58  is positioned vertically below the horizontal top wall  21  of the beam by a distance equal to the thickness of the inner table section  17  and provides support for the inner edge of that table section  17 . The opposite outer edge of the inner table section  17  is supported by a portion of the upper flange  43  of the pan assembly  41 , but is supplementally supported on a support face  61  attached to the vertical face  42  of the pan assembly so that it is coplanar with the upper flange  43  of the pan assembly and the lip  58  supporting the opposite edge of the table section. Conveniently, the support face  61  may be made identically to the opposite supporting lip  58 , including an integral vertical flange  62  by which it is attached to vertical face  42  of the pan assembly  41 . As shown in the drawings, each of the panels  18  forming the inner table section  17  rests on an upper surface of the truss  13 , the lip  58 , the support face  61  and a portion of the upper flange  43  of the pan assembly. Each of the table panels  18  is provided with a continuous brush grommet  63  along its inner edge, through which wiring, cabling and the like from the secured position on the beam  15  below the table top may be brought through the brush grommets to flat panel displays mounted on posts  26  above the table top or to monitors, keyboards, telephone equipment or other hardware supported on the table top  11  itself. Each of the table top panels  18  is separately and easily removable for access to the cabling and wires below and the terminals carried by the patch panels  52 .  
         [0022]     The main outer section  16  of the table top  11  is supported on and attached to the trusses  13  and is also supported on and attached to a portion of the upper flange  43  of the pan assembly  41 , such that adjacent edges of the outer and inner table sections  16  and  17  abut one another and are commonly supported on the upper flange  43  of the pan assembly.  
         [0023]     The completely open construction of the table  10  beneath the beam and tray assemblies defining the technology trough permits the convenient placement of computer hard drives and related hardware or bulky voice communications equipment on the floor beneath the table, while still permitting ample leg room for face-by-face users. The back-to-back construction of the table  10  of the preferred embodiment is designed for two users seated face-to-face and sharing mounting posts  26  which may be used, for example, to mount back-to-back flat panel displays, or common privacy partitions. The disclosed table construction also permits easy modification to a two-person side-by-side table by simply substituting shortened truss members  13  and eliminating the table top  11  and pan assembly  41  from one side of the preferred construction.  
         [0024]     The construction of a modified table  59  is shown in  FIG. 5 . This construction utilizes modified tray sections  64  which are narrower than the tray sections  33  of the preferred embodiment. Each modified tray section  64  includes a stepped inner edge  65  provided with a number of horizontally extending tabs  66  adapted to be received in horizontal slots  67  in the side wall  23  of the beam  15  near the bottom edge thereof. The opposite outer edge of each modified tray section  64  is identical to that of the preferred embodiment and includes a stepped construction that terminates in a horizontal flange  68  that rests on and is supported by the lower flange  40  of the pan assembly  41 .  
         [0025]     The exposed end of a table or a line of such tables can be closed off with any of a variety of decorative end panels which may be easily attached to end trusses  13  and/or legs  14 . When multiple tables  10  are joined together in a row, the edge trim piece  20  is eliminated and the table top  11  of an adjacent table rests upon and is attached to the truss  13  (and shares the legs  14 ) of the table to which it is attached.