Patent Publication Number: US-2011067609-A1

Title: Connector hub for pinwheel arrangement of furniture legs

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to the field of furniture manufacture, particularly the construction of pedestal bases for tables. Pedestal bases are a desirable type of support for tables, especially smaller ones, because the table legs do not get in the way when sitting down at the table or getting up. However, pedestal bases for tables typically require factory-made metal components, precision millwork and joinery, or legs of bent metal. My invention, on the other hand, provides a way to make a stable, attractive and economical pedestal base using ordinary lumber, bolts and screws. Due to its simplicity, ease of use, and aesthetic interest when assembled, it is anticipated that this invention will be useful not only to do-it-yourself hobbyists, but also find its way into custom furniture shops and production lines of furniture factories for construction of tables and stools. 
     Other designs showing connectors for furniture legs invariably use the connector as an integral component of a complete piece of furniture (usually a table), but my design allows the end user freedom in choosing the materials and fasteners for the legs of his table base or seat. 
     Pinwheel arrangements of legs may be seen in the prior art, but only for three-legged table bases, and only as part of a complete table assembly using the legs of the design. These designs are not possessed of a central hub, but rather a keeper ring surrounding the legs. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,803,419, 2,859,080, 3,267,889). 
     Also to be found in the prior art are four-legged tables with a central connector hub, but again, these designs rely on using the legs of the design, rather than legs furnished by the user, to achieve the objectives of the invention, and these hubs would not lend themselves to be used in the way intended by my invention. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,951,499, 1,890,583, 3,032,380). 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The connector hub provides an attachment for each leg of a table. The legs, being attached at or near their midpoints, are then rotated diagonally, creating an arrangement like a pinwheel, and attached to the underside of the tabletop. The connector hub may be used with ordinary lumber and nuts, bolts and screws, thus enabling individuals with basic tools and skills to make a practical pedestal base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows my invention, with dashed lines indicating how it would be used for a table with four legs, said legs arrayed pinwheel fashion, and secured at their midpoints to my invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the preferred embodiment as described in claim  2 , with holes for fasteners  2 . 1  and hole in the top  2 . 2  for an umbrella pole. 
         FIG. 3  shows one possible pattern for cutting sheet metal as described in claim  3 , with holes for fasteners  3 . 1 , hole in the top  3 . 2  for an umbrella pole, and slots for accurate bending  3 . 3  for folding into a box with overlapping panels for stability, to create the configuration of claim  2 . The user-supplied fasteners that hold the legs to the connector hub would also hold the connector hub in the desired configuration. 
         FIG. 4  shows a pattern such as might be used for cutting sheet metal to create a connector hub for a table or stool having three legs. Holes for fasteners are labeled  4 . 1 , a hole in the top for an umbrella pole,  4 . 2 , and slots for accurate bending,  4 . 3 . 
         FIG. 4-A  shows the sheet metal of  FIG. 4 , as it is in the process of being bent into its final shape. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     My invention is a connector hub to be used in the manufacture of furniture. The connector hub provides a means for making a pedestal base for a table or other furniture that is easy to assemble and stable when attached to the tabletop or its substrate. Essentially straight furniture legs provided by the user are cut to the desired configuration and prepared for a fastener such as machine bolt, also provided by the user, at or near their midpoints. One leg is then attached to each face of the connector hub, rotated to create a pinwheel arrangement, and attached to the underside of the tabletop. The connector hub allows the entire base to be detached from the tabletop or seat it supports and be folded for storage. 
     The preferred embodiment, with four sides, is shown in  FIG. 2 ; however, configurations with three or five sides would also have practical applications. This discussion will address the preferred embodiment. 
     The preferred embodiment is a hollow box, open on the bottom, with a hole on each side for passage of a machine screw or other fastener that holds the leg to the box. Legs cross each vertical face of the box diagonally, attach with fasteners provided by the user, and are secured to the tabletop or its substrate with screws or clips, also provided by the user. The connector hub is of a size that is compatible with the furniture legs intended to be used; the preferred embodiment would be directed toward the use of standard dimension lumber crossing at an angle of forty-five degrees; hence, the horizontal dimensions of each face would correspond to the diagonal dimensions of a 2×4 or 2×3, i.e., 5 inches or 3.5 inches. The preferred embodiment is made of sheet metal, pre-cut for folding into shape by the end user, but the connector hub could also be made of heavier plates, welded together, or of cast metal or molded plastic. When made of thicker material, the provision for fasteners for the legs could consist of a threaded hole or a threaded stud. A hole is provided in the top, for insertion of an umbrella pole. 
     What is novel in my invention is that it allows the construction of an attractive, stable base for a table or stool by anyone possessed of rudimentary carpentry skills and tools, with materials that are widely available, and in fact may already be present in many home workshops. 
     The builder has great latitude in choice of materials for the legs, in choice of hardware such as fasteners for attaching the legs to the connector hub, and decorative embellishments to the legs. It must be noted that where it would be impractical to fasten the legs to the underside of the tabletop (such as with a glass tabletop), the tops or bottoms of the legs must be tied together in a way that keeps them from spreading. This could be done with chains, cables, or wood or metal ties. Such tension ties could be made an attractive, integral part of the design by the end user.