Patent Publication Number: US-6336414-B1

Title: Table configured for utilities, ganging and storage

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to work tables configured to support utilities, configured to gang together during use, and configured to permit dense storage. 
     Tables are commonly used in work, home, community, and educational environments to provide flat worksurfaces that can be flexibly used to support group activities. It is known to provide portable tables that can be arranged and rearranged for changing needs, and it is known to provide electrified tables that support electronic equipment, such as computers, communication equipment, and/or food heaters. However, improvements are desired to make tables even more adapted for flexible and ergonomic use and to facilitate their rearrangeability and reconfigurability, while maintaining a clean appearance. For example, it is important that utilities be supported and also that utilities be easily added, deleted, changed and/or accessed. At the same time, it is preferable to provide some level of security for the utility supply and/or the utility ports and connections. Further, the tables must preferably provide a clean and uncluttered look, even when a computer with multiple power and communication lines is connected. In addition to being useful, it is desirable to construct the tables to permit dense storage when not in use, and to construct the tables for ganging in secure but easily releasable arrangements. 
     Accordingly, a table is desired solving the aforementioned problems and offering the aforementioned advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes a base, a tabletop pivoted to the base for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position, and at least one support arm pivoted to the base. The support arm is movable about a second axis between a tabletop-braced position where the tabletop is held in the horizontal use position and a released position where the tabletop is released for movement to the storage position. The at least one arm is biased and pivoted to slidably engage the tabletop and counterbalance a weight of the tabletop as the tabletop is pivoted between the use and storage positions. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes a base, and a tabletop pivoted to the base for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position. The base includes a pair of legs connected by a transverse beam. The pair of legs each include first and second leg members having joint sections that matingly engage and are secured together. The first leg member has a forward extension and the second leg member has a rearward extension, with the forward extension being inboard of the rearward extension so that, when the tabletop is in the storage position, the forward extension of the table construction is adapted to extend inboard of and adjacent a rearward extension of a similar table construction when nested thereagainst. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes first and second tables each having a base and a tabletop supported on the associated base. The first table includes a male connector at a first end and the second table includes a female connector at a second end configured to releasably engage the male connector. The female connector defines a funnel-shaped chute with angled sidewalls shaped to receive the male connector and shaped to automatically align the first and second tables in a ganged arrangement when the first and second tables are moved together. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes first and second tables each having a base with legs and a tabletop supported on the associated base. The first table includes a male connector at a first end and the second table includes a female connector at a second end configured to releasably engage the male connector. The male connector defines a nose surface shaped to matably engage the female connector to automatically align the first and second tables in a predetermined ganged arrangement as the first and second tables are moved together. The male connector is pivotally movable about a horizontal axis between a horizontal engagement position where the male connector extends from an associated one of the legs and a lowered storage position where the male connector is positioned adjacent the associated one leg. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes a base and a tabletop supported on the base. The base includes a pair of legs connected by a transverse beam. A utility module is attached to the base. The utility module defines upper and lower chambers and includes upper and lower doors providing separate access to the upper and lower chambers, respectively. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes a base, a tabletop attached to the base, and a utility module attached to the base. The utility module includes a frame with upper and lower transverse beams defining a chamber therebetween. A utility outlet is attached to the upper beam, the utility outlet including a face accessible from above the upper transverse beam that is adapted for releasable connection to a utility-using device and including a utility supply connector accessible from below the upper transverse beam. A utility supply conduit is positioned in the chamber and operably connected to the utility supply connector. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes a base, a tabletop for movement about a first axis between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position, and a utility module supported by the base. The utility module has a utility outlet that is covered and difficult to access when the tabletop is in the horizontal use position, but that is uncovered and readily accessible when the tabletop is in the angled storage position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes first and second tables each having a base and a tabletop pivotally supported on the base for movement between a horizontal use position and an angled storage position. The first and second tables include mating ganging connectors configured to releasably engage and hold the first and second tables together in a fixed interconnected arrangement. The first and second tables when in the fixed interconnected arrangement have abutting edges. At least one of the abutting edges has a resilient edge material that compresses to tension the gaining connectors and also to prevent light leaks between the abutting edges when the tabletops are both in the horizontal use position, but further that flexes to allow the tabletops to be individually pivoted from the horizontal use position without adversely damaging and abrading either one of the abutting edges. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a portable table includes a base, a tabletop pivoted to the base for movement between a use position and an angled storage position, and a ganging connector on one of the base and the tabletop. The ganging connector is adapted to engage a mating ganging connector on another table to hold the portable table in a ganged arrangement. A utility module is attached to one of the base and the tabletop and is adapted to supply utilities to utility-using devices on the tabletop. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a table construction includes a base having first and second legs that are spaced apart. The first and second legs each include a top section with a top pivot mount being located at a first side of the top section and a fixed support being located at a second side of the top section opposite the first side. A tabletop includes a middle portion and front and rear portions. The tabletop is pivoted to the top pivot mounts on the first and second legs at locations in the middle portion of the tabletop so that a weight of the front portion counterbalances a weight of the rear portion as the tabletop is pivoted. The fixed support is positioned to engage and support the tabletop when the tabletop is pivoted to a horizontal use position. 
     These and other aspects, advantages, and objects will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon a close reading of the present specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the present invention, including a second table shown in dashed lines connected to the first table in a ganged arrangement; 
     FIGS. 2-7 are orthogonal views of the table of FIG. 1 including a first side, a top, a second side, a front, a bottom and a rear thereof, the dashed lines in FIGS. 4 and 6 showing a pivoted/folded position of the tabletop; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view showing three of the tables of FIG. 1 nested together in a dense storage arrangement, their tabletops being in the folded storage position; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front view of two tables ganged together, the dashed lines showing a support arm in a storage position; 
     FIG. 9A is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken through the ganged joint shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIGS. 10-12 are side, front and bottom views of the larger of the castings making up the legs shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 11A is an enlarged fragmentary view of a top position of the leg shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIGS. 13-14 are front and rear views of the smaller casting making up the legs shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV—XV in FIG. 13; 
     FIGS. 16-18 are orthogonal views of the molded protector attached to the legs as shown in FIG. 9, the dashed lines in FIG. 16 showing the leg casting of FIG. 13 that the protector is attached to; 
     FIG. 19 is an end view of the protector shown in FIG. 17 taken in the direction of lines XIV—XIV; 
     FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the joint connecting the two castings (see FIGS. 10 and 14) forming the legs and of the joint connecting the transverse beam to the legs; 
     FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the joints shown in FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the male ganging connector shown in FIGS. 4 and 9A; 
     FIG. 23 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the female ganging connector shown in FIGS. 2 and 9A; 
     FIGS. 24 and 25 are fragmentary perspective assembly views of the male and female ganging connectors, respectively, shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 respectively; 
     FIGS. 26 and 27 are front/top and bottom/rear perspective views of the male connector shown in FIG. 22; 
     FIGS. 28 and 29 are side and top views of the male connector shown in FIG. 22, FIG. 26 being partially shown in cross section at the male end of the ganging connector; 
     FIG. 30 is a bottom view of the latching lever shown in FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 31 is an enlarged view of the female ganging connector shown in FIG. 23, the mounting portion being shown in cross section to reveal the latching lever and its mounting; 
     FIGS. 32-34 are plan, side and end views of the sliding arm latch shown in FIG. 6, the end view showing the tabletop; 
     FIGS. 35 and 36 are top and side views of the support arm shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 37 is a fragmentary side view of the tabletop, arm, and latch shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 38 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 37, including the support arm and latch; 
     FIG. 38A is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 37, but not including the support arm; 
     FIG. 39 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the tabletop edging shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 40 is a perspective view of two tables ganged together similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but with one tabletop in a horizontal use position and one tabletop pivoted to a vertical storage position; 
     FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the utility module shown in FIG. 1, including its frame but with the doors removed to more clearly reveal the frame; 
     FIG. 42 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the utility module shown attached to a table as shown in FIG. 1, the doors for covering the frame of the utility module being opened to expose utility wiring housed therein; 
     FIG. 43 is a plan view of a top of the extruded top beam of the frame shown in FIG. 41; 
     FIG. 44 is a plan view of the end piece shown in FIGS. 41 and 42; and 
     FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view taken vertically and transversely across a center of the tabletop. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A table construction  40  (FIG. 1) is adapted for utilities, for ganging, and for nested storage. The table construction  40  includes a base  41  having a pair of legs  42  and  43  secured together by a transverse beam  44  and by a tabletop  45  pivoted to a top of the legs  42  and  43 . The tabletop  45  is pivoted for movement about an axis  46  between a horizontal use position (FIGS. 4 and 6, solid lines) and a vertical storage position (FIGS. 4 and 6, dashed lines). A pair of support arms  47  and  48  (FIGS. 2 and 4) are pivoted to the top of the  42  and  43  legs for selectively holding the tabletop  45  in the horizontal use position. The support arms  47  and  48  are spring-biased by springs  49  (FIG. 37) pivoted for movement about an angled axis  50  (FIGS. 10-11) at an angle from a plumb vertical direction  50 ′ so that they counterbalance a weight of the tabletop  45  during its pivotal movement. 
     The legs  42  and  43  (FIGS. 4-6) are substantially mirror images of each other and each include first and second castings  53  and  54  that are attached together by bolts  55  and  56  (FIG.  21 ). The castings  53  and  54  include laterally extending feet that are arranged in inboard and outboard positions to mateably nest when tables  40  are moved together for storage (FIGS.  7 - 8 ). The legs  42  and  43  are configured to nest into the legs of an adjacent similar table  40 , such that the table constructions  40  are storable in a dense nested arrangement that saves at least about 50% of occupied space. 
     The table  40  includes mating ganging connectors  51  and  52  (FIGS. 24-25) attached to legs  42  and  43  on opposite ends of the tabletop  45 . The ganging connectors  51  and  52  are configured to automatically align and interconnect adjacent tables  40  upon pushing the adjacent tables together (FIGS.  1  and  40 ). 
     A utility module  60  (FIGS. 41 and 42) (sometimes also referred to herein as a “utility raceway structure”) is attached to the base  41  and includes a frame  61  that defines upper and lower chambers  62  and  63  and further includes front and rear lower doors  64  and front and rear upper doors  65  providing separate access to the upper and lower chambers  62  and  63 , respectively. Notably, it is contemplated that one or both of the doors can be locked to provide limited access to one or both of the chambers  62  and  63 . A utility outlet  66  is releasably attached to the frame  61 , and includes a face  67  accessible from above in the upper chamber  62  and includes a utility supply connector  68  (such as electrical terminals) accessible from only the lower chamber  63 . Utility supply conduit  69  is positioned in the lower chamber  63  and is operably connected to the utility supply connector  68 . 
     More specifically in regard to the legs, the legs  42  and  43  are substantially mirror images of each other. Accordingly, only leg  42  is described hereafter to reduce redundant discussion except where discussion of leg  43  is also required. A person of ordinary skill will understand the structure of the leg  43  from the discussion of leg  42 . Leg  42  is made of two castings bolted together (See FIGS.  20 - 21 ), one being a larger casting  53  (FIGS. 10-12) and the other being a smaller casting  54  (See FIGS.  13 - 15 ). Leg  43  is also made of two castings, with the smaller casting  54  being a mirror image of the casting  54 , but the larger casting  53  being the same as for leg  42 , as discussed below. The casting  53  (FIGS. 10-12) is L-shaped and includes an elongated vertically-extending section  70  and an elongated horizontally extending forward section  71 . The sections  70  and  71  have an I-beam-like cross-sectional shape, but it is noted that the center flange and the edge webs of the  1 -beam-like shape are generously radiused where they join together for aesthetics. Thus, a contoured recess  70 ′ and  71 ′ are formed along sides of the casting  53 . The end of the forward section  71  includes an aesthetically contoured bulbous end  72  and a “down” boss  73  for receiving an up stud on a castor  74 . Preferably, the castor  74  includes a foot-operated brake that can be easily set to hold the table  40  in a selected position. 
     A joint is formed at the juncture of sections  70  and  71  (FIG.  10 ), and includes a raised ridge  75  forming a socket with two attachment depressions  76  and  77  therein. A second attachment section  78  is integrally formed on a bottom portion of the vertically extending section  70  at a location opposite the forwardly extending section  71  and slightly thereabove in a piggyback fashion. This location provides a good and stable support for the transverse beam  44  on the legs  42  and  43 . The attachment section  78  includes a rectangular perimeter rib  79  forming a depression shaped to mateably receive an end of rectangular tubular transverse beam  44 . A pair of holes  80  are formed in the attachment section  78 . A reinforcement plug bracket  81  (FIG. 21) configured to fit into an end of the transverse beam  44  includes a pair of matching threaded holes  82  (or nuts welded in alignment with the holes). The plug bracket  81  is telescoped into an end of the transverse beam  44  and welded, screwed or otherwise secured in place. A pair of bolts  83  are extended through a stiff plate washer  84  through holes  80  and threadably into the holes  82  to secure the plug bracket  81  and beam  44  to the leg  42 . Notably, the large casting  53  is relatively flat and lies in a single plane, which simplifies its casting and secondary machining and finishing. 
     The top section  85  of the larger casting  53  (FIG. 10) includes a horizontally extending flat top surface  85 ′. A pivot hole  86  for pivotally supporting the tabletop  45  is formed in one end of the top section  85  and a stop  87  is formed on top of the other end. For example, the stop  87  might be a resilient rubber pad. The tabletop  45  is pivoted to the pivot hole  86  at a location slightly offset from a longitudinal centerline of the tabletop, such that the tabletop  45  tends to fall toward its vertical storage position by gravity. When in the horizontal use position, the tabletop  45  engages the stop  87 , which stabilizes the tabletop  45  in the use position in a first direction. The tabletop  45  is further held in the horizontal use position by the cantilevered support arms  47  and  48 , as discussed below. 
     Pivot mounts  88  (FIGS. 10 and 11) for support arms  47  (and  48 ) are formed in the top section of the larger casting  53  on an inboard side. The pivot mounts  88  (FIG. 11A) each comprise a top and bottom flange  89  and  90  that combine with bearing caps  89 ′ and  90 ′ to form holes defining the axis of rotation  50  for the associated support arm  47  (or  48 ). The support arm  47  (FIG. 36) includes a pivot pin  94  that extends into rotational engagement with the holes in flanges  89  and  90  to define the axis  50 . The axis  50  (FIGS. 10 and 11, and also FIGS. 2 and 5) extends at an angle of about 5 to 15 degrees from a plumbed vertical direction  50 ′ (FIG. 11) when viewed from a front, and at an angle of about  5  to  15  degrees from a plumbed vertical direction  50 ′ when viewed from a side (FIG.  10 ). A coil spring  93  (FIG. 36) wraps around a lower part of the pivot pin  94  of the support arm  47  (and  48 ). The spring  93  includes a first end that engages a pin stop  92  on the support arm  47 , and includes a second end that engages the large casting  53 . Preferably, the spring  93  biases the support arm  47  (and  48 ) outwardly to about  45  degrees, which is significantly short of a fully extended position. A weight of the tabletop  45  will push the support arm  47  (and  48 ) from this “45 degree” position to the retracted position. Thus, the tabletop will not be held in an unsecure position with the support arms  47  (and  48 ) partially extended. The arrangement requires that an operator manually move the support arms  47  (and  48 ) to the fully extended position where they extend 90 degrees as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and  38 . 
     The support arm  47  (and  48 )(FIG. 36) is elongated, and includes a perpendicular latching pin  163  that engages the underside of the tabletop  45 . A latch  163  for releasably engaging the pin  163  (FIG. 38A) includes a plate  164  screwed to the underside of the tabletop  45 . The plate  164  includes slots  165  on each side that form a track, and a groove  165 ′ (FIG. 34) is cut into the tabletop  45  under the slots  165 . A latch body  166  includes follower flanges  167  that slide along the slots  165  and hook under the plate  164 . A spring  168  (FIG. 38A) biases the latch body  166  toward a semi-secure latched position  170 . A front edge of the latch body  166  defines an angled surface  171  and a catch pocket  172 . The latch body  166  is movable between a released position  173 , the semi-secure latched position  170 , and a detent-secure latched position  174 . As the latch body  166  is moved to the secure latched position, the latch body  166  wedges under the tabletop  45  to prevent the tabletop  45  from pivoting or “teetering” at the pivot hole  86 . It is contemplated that friction will hold the latch body  166 . Alternatively, a detent finger  175  on latch body  166  is configured to resiliently engage a depression along the slots  165 , and engages the depression when in the detent-locked position  174  for increased security. 
     When the support arm  47  is moved toward the latch body  166 , the latching pin  163  engages the angled surface  171  and drives the latch body toward the released position  173 . When the support arm  47  moves to its fully extended position, the latching pin  163  is aligned with the catch pocket  172 , such that the spring  168  pushes the latch body  166  to the semi-secure latched position  173 . In turn, the latching pin  163  slides along catch pocket  172  to a location near a bottom of the catch pocket  172 . A user grasps a handle portion  177  of the latch body  166  to pull the latch body  166  to the more secure, detent-locked position  174 . Notably, the combination of the spring-biased movement of the support arms  47  and  48  caused by the angle of the axis  50 , the rotation of the tabletop  45  about horizontal axis  46 , and the weigh distribution of the tabletop  45  relative to the axis  46 , causes the support arms  47  and  48  to counterbalance and support a weight of the tabletop  45  as the tabletop  45  moves from its horizontal use position to its vertical storage position. Specifically, the support arms  47  and  48  move along an arc (see FIG. 6) and slidably engage an undersurface of the tabletop  45  as shown by the phantom lines  95  in FIGS. 6,  38  and  38 A. The sliding motion of the support arms  47  and  48  cause the support arms  47  and  48  to move with increased leverage for added stability as the tabletop  45  reaches a horizontal position and as the support arms  47  and  48  near a fully extended position for holding the tabletop  45  in its horizontal use position. 
     The smaller casting  54  (FIGS. 13-14) includes an elongated angled section  101  and an elongated down section  102  integrally formed on a bottom of the angled section  101 . The smaller casting  54  includes an upper end with a horizontally extending protrusion  103  shaped to mateably engage the raised ridge  75  forming the socket on the large casting  53  (FIG.  21 ), and further includes two protrusions  104  and  105  that matingly engage the two attachment depressions  76  and  77  in the raised ridge  75  (FIG.  10 ). A mounting plate washer  84 ′ (FIG. 21) abuts a side of the large casting  53  opposite the ridge  75 . Bolts  55  and  56  extend through holes in the plate washer  84 ′, through aligned holes in the large casting  53 , and threadably into the protrusions  104  and  105  in the smaller casting  54  to secure the castings  53  and  54  together. 
     An anti-scratch molded protector  108  (FIGS. 16-19 and  21 ) is attached to the underside of the smaller casting  54  (FIG. 13) with screws  109 . A second anti-scratch molded protector  110  (FIG. 21) is attached to a bottom surface of the large casting under the joindure of sections  70  and  71 . These two anti-scratch protectors  108  and  110  slidably engage mating portions of the castings  53  and  54  and protect the castings  53  and  54  from being scratched when two tables  40  are nested together. (See FIG. 8.) 
     As shown in FIGS. 4,  7 , and  8 , two tables  40  can be nested together by pivoting their respective tabletops  45  to a vertical storage position, and then by moving the tables  45  laterally together. The angled sections  101  of the small castings  54  combine to form a shape like a funnel (see FIG. 7) such that they direct the tables  40  together into an aligned and mating nested engagement. It is noted that the nesting feature allows the tables  40  to be stored in a reduced space that takes up about 50% or less storage area. This density of storage for the table  40  is unusual and is surprisingly and unexpectedly high for a table having the utility support and ganging capability of the present table. Specifically, the tables  40  can be nested together with each table  40  taking up only about an additional 12 inches. This is true, even though the tabletop  45  is about 30 inches to 36 inches wide, and the legs  42  (and  43 ) span close to that same distance. 
     A first mount (FIG. 22) is formed on one of the large castings  53  for supporting the male ganging connector  51 , and a second mount is formed on the other of the large castings  53  for supporting the latch lever of the female ganging connector  52 , as discussed below. The first mount includes a pair of flanges  111  on an outboard side of the top of the large casting  53 . The flanges  111  each form a half circle bearing surface  112 . Bearing caps  113  are screw-attached to an inboard side of the large casting  53 . The bearing caps  113  include a half circle bearing surface that mates with the bearing surfaces  112  on the flanges  111  to form a pivot. The male connector  51  includes a body  114  with a pivot pin  115  extended through the body  114 , and a “lollipop” shaped hand  116  with a depression  116 ′ therein. The pivot pin  115  pivotally engages the bearing surfaces  112  so that the pivot pin  115  is rotatably movable about a horizontal axis between a horizontal extended use position and a folded vertical storage position. A spring-biased ball  117  engages depressions  118  in the body  114  to hold the male ganging connector  51  in a selected position. In the storage position, the male ganging connector  51  is adjacent the vertical section  70  of the large casting  53  at a location where users will not accidentally bump into it. 
     The female ganging connector  52  (FIGS. 23,  28 - 29 ,  31 ) includes a bell-shaped or “chute” -defining ring member  120  that defines a funnel inlet  120 ′. The ring member  120  attaches to an outboard side of the top of the large casting  53 . Notably, the flanges  111  are on an inboard side of the large casting  53  when the large casting  53  is used on the other leg  43 . The present table construction allows the same large casting  53  to be used on both legs  52  and  53 . The latching lever  121  (FIG. 23) includes a body having a pivot pin  122  transversely through its mid section, a hooked end  123  and a finger trigger portion  124  at its other end. With the pivot pin  122  engaged in the bearing surfaces  112  of the flanges  111 , the hooked end  123  extends to a central location in the funnel inlet  120 ′ of the ring member  120 . A spring  125  engages an inboard side of the large casting  53  and engages a stud  126  on the lever  121 , such that the lever  121  is biased to a latched position. The finger trigger portion  124  includes a curved top surface that is C-shaped, and that it looks like a trigger such that it has a comfortable feel to a person operating the latching lever  121 . The trigger portion  124  is visible when the tabletop  45  is in its vertical storage position, and further is located near the ganging connectors  51  and  52 , such that it is easy to find and intuitive to operate, and so that it is readily accessible at all times. 
     As shown in FIG. 31, the latch lever  121  is movable between a normal at-rest position (where it engages a male ganging connector  51 ) and a raised released position (shown in phantom lines) where a male ganging connector  51 , if present, is released. Notably, the male ganging connector  51  includes a tapered and rounded outer nose on its hand  116 . The nose is wedgeshaped and has a rounded nose surface configured to engage the hooked end  123  and automatically move the latching lever  121  to its released position when two tables  40  are moved together. Once fully together, the hooked end  123  snaps into secure engagement by action of the spring  125  to hold the two tables  40  together in a ganged arrangement. The hooked end  123  mateably engages and hooks into the depression  116 ′ in the hand  116  such that the ganged connection closely and accurately defines the close spacing of the two tabletops  45  of the two ganged tables  40 . The funnel inlet  120 ′ of the female ganging connector  52  and the rounded nose of the male ganging connector  51  both include angled side surfaces that abut to cause the two tables  40  to automatically align as the tables  40  are pushed together. 
     It is important when two tables  40  are ganged together that the tabletops  45  be tight together so that they can be moved as a unit or “train”. It is also preferable that there not be any light leak between the tabletops  45 . A tight fit helps assure an attractive ganged connection, and further helps prevent items from falling between tabletops  45  of two ganged tables  40 . Nonetheless, normal manufacturing variations can make it difficult to hold tight tolerances. A resilient edging  126  (FIG. 39) solves this problem by including a bulbous hollow portion  127  made of rubber, elastomer, or the like, and a “carrot” or barbed retention leg  128  made of stiffer or higher durometer material. The tabletop  45  includes an outer edge with a groove  129  cut therein. The retention leg  128  friction fits into the groove  129  to retain the edging  126  to the tabletop  45 . If necessary, corner pieces can be added of high durometer material to further assure that two tables, when ganged together, maintain alignment even when a user grasps an end of one table  45  as a way of manipulating a ganged arrangement of two or three tables  45 . Also, one or both of the front and rear edges of the tables  45  can be made of higher durometer material, if desired. The ganging connectors  51  and  52  engage such that the hollow portions  127  on each ganged tabletop  45  engage, causing the hollow portions  127  to compress slightly. Thus, the ganged connection of tables  40  does not have any light leak between tabletops  45 . The hollow portion  127  includes a flat top section that extends flush with a top surface of the tabletops  45 , and further includes a vertical side surface  130 . The vertical side surface  130  of ganged tables is slidable relative to the vertical side surface  130  of a mating ganged tabletop  45 . This permits the tabletops  45  of ganged interconnected tables  40  to be individually pivoted between use and storage positions, even while the tables  40  are interconnected. (See FIG. 40.) For example, this can facilitate connecting utilities of an electronic device on a given table to utilities in the adjacent table. Also, it facilitates working on ganged tables generally. 
     The frame  61  of utility module  60  (FIGS. 41-42) is shaped like a ladder, and includes a top extruded horizontal frame member  134 , a bottom horizontal frame member  135 , and several vertical frame members  136 . End frame members  133  are attached to each end of the frame  61 . The top frame member  134  (FIG. 45) includes a center web  137 , and front and rear lips  138 . Openings are formed in the center web  137  (FIG. 41) and U-shaped attachment brackets  139  are attached under the openings. It is contemplated that the openings can be cut in the center web  137 , or scored therein, such that they can be punched out in the field. The openings are sized and shaped to permit utility outlets, such as duplexes  140 , simplexes, and communication outlets  141 , to be snapped into the openings, with faces of the utility outlets being accessible from above the top frame member  134  (see FIG.  45 ). Utility source cabling  69  is routed into the U-shaped attachment brackets  139  and is connected to utility source connectors, such as wire terminals, on a bottom of the utility outlets. Holders  143  on the vertical frame members  136  engage and hold the utility source cabling  142 . A resilient panel  144  (FIG. 44) attached to end frame members  133  have slits  145  and  146  and openings  147  and  148  that allow the utility source cabling  69  to be routed through the frame end members  133  and out of the utility module  60  for connection to a utility source (not specifically shown). Notably, the utility source cabling  69  can be permanently attached to the table  45 , and it is contemplated that they can have a length chosen to electrically connect to an electrical connector of an adjacent ganged table  45 . Specifically, with two tables  45  ganged together, the cabling  69  would be slipped through slot  145  (or  146 , see FIG. 44) and into apertures  147  (or  148 ). The cabling  69  would then be connected to a left side of one of the electrical components  139 ,  140  or  141  in the ganged table, to create a series electrical connection. It is contemplated that cabling  69  can also be extended into the utility module  60  from a front or rear of the table, or vertically up into the utility module  60  by incorporating openings in the front, rear or bottom of the utility module  60 . 
     A hinge bracket  150  (FIG. 45) is attached to the bottom horizontal frame member  135  and provides two flexible continuous hinge members  151 . Lower doors  64  each include a bottom edge  154  attached to the associated hinge member  151 , and include an upper edge lip  155  configured to releasably frictionally engage the lip  138 . A key lock  156  (FIG. 42) (or non-keyed twist lock) with a locking finger adapted to engage a flange on the frame  61  can be attached to the lower door  152  if added security is desired to prevent unauthorized access to the cavity defined between the horizontal frame members  134  and  135  where the utility source cabling  142  is located. The front and rear lower doors  64  are similar in construction and operation. A catch or hook-and-loop material can be used to hold the door  64  closed. 
     A second hinge  158  (FIG. 45) is attached to a top edge of each lower door  64 , and an upper door  65  is pivoted to the second hinge  158 . Each upper door  65  includes an upper flange  159  that extends inwardly and that frictionally engages either a top part of the large casting  53  or an inboard surface of the end frame members  133 . A key lock  160  (FIG. 42) can be provided on the upper door  64  if added security or added holding strength is needed. However, it is noted that, when the tabletop  45  is pivoted to its vertical storage position, a gap  161  (FIG. 45) is provided between the upper flanges  159 . such that the utility outlets are accessible and exposed for easy access. The frame  61  is attached to the base  41  (FIG. 41) by brackets  162  and end frame members  133 , each of which are screw-attached or otherwise secured together. A detent or hook-and-loop material can be used to hold the door closed. 
     It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes can be made from the disclosed preferred embodiment without departing from a scope of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are to be considered as included in the present invention, unless the claims by their language expressly require otherwise.