Patent Publication Number: US-6662734-B2

Title: Connection device for connecting table tops

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connection device that includes rings with different shafts, each shaft is connected to a table top so that these table tops can be positioned at different positions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional office table generally includes a table top with four legs supported on a bottom of the table top. The top has a fixed area and is located at a fixed level that cannot changed so that a short or a tall user may not be satisfied. Besides, there are many office appliances are needed to be put on the table top for convenience of access. One table top will not be large enough to allow many appliances to be put thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,487 discloses an office table that includes connection parts so as to let the tops with different positions to meet different needs of the users. However, in order to put the tops at desired levels, several angled connection rods are used and which make the assembly job to be complicated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection device for tables and the device comprises a shaft having an insertion on which a first part and a second part are mounted. The first part includes a first connection shaft and a first plate is connected to an end of the first connection shaft. Two first rings are connected to the first plate and mounted to the insertion. The second part includes a second connection shaft and a second plate connected to an end of the second connection shaft. A second ring is connected to the second plate and inserted between the two first rings. Two table tops are respectively connected to the first and the second connection shaft. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a connection device that is connected to at least two table tops so that these table tops can be swung about a shaft of the table or can be positioned at desired positions. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show a table assembly employing a connection device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the connection device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show the table tops of the table assembly of the present invention can be swung about the shaft, and 
     FIG. 4 shows the connection device of the present invention is cooperated another type of an office table. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection device  10  for tables of the present invention comprises a shaft  21  which has an insertion  22  on a top end thereof and a base  20  on a lower end thereof so that the shaft  21  can be put on the surface by the base  20 . A first part is mounted to the insertion  22  and includes a first connection shaft  113  and a first plate  11  which is connected to an end of the first connection shaft  113 . Two first rings  111 ,  112  are connected to the first plate  11  and mounted to the insertion  22 . 
     A second part is mounted to the insertion  22  and includes a second connection shaft  121  and a second plate  12  which is connected to an end of the second connection shaft  121 . A second ring  122  is connected to the second plate  12  and inserted between the two first rings  111 ,  112 . The second ring  122  is also mounted to the insertion  22 . Two washers  50  are located between the first rings  111 ,  112  and the second ring  122 , and the other two washers  50  are located on the two first rings  111 ,  112 . A cover  30  is mounted on the insertion  22  and enclose the connection device  10 . 
     A first table top  40 ′ has an extension tube  42 ′ which receives the first connection shaft  113 . A second table top  40  has an extension tube  42  which receives the second connection shaft  121 . Each of the first table top  40 ′ and the second table top  40  has a leg  41  which is connected to a dual-wheel caster. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the first part and the second part can also be connected with each other at an right angle. In other words, the second connection shaft  121  can be pivoted at a right angle relative to the first connection shaft  113  so that the two respective table top can be pivoted relative to each other to two different level positions. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.