Abstract:
Specially designed articles of furniture for use in conference and office settings which include a plurality of uniquely configured supporting legs, one or more article support structures disposed centrally of the supporting legs and a novel connector member for interconnecting the support structures of the legs. The connector member also enables the quick and easy interconnection of the polygonal panels that make up certain of the article support structures of the apparatus. The articles of furniture can be used to support and transport a wide variety of devices such as audio and video equipment, slide projectors, overhead projectors and the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to furniture construction. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel furniture construction that embodies a unique corner construction that functions to interconnect the components of a centrally disposed article support structure with a plurality of support members that circumscribe the article support structure. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     In recent years furniture design has evolved quite rapidly. Particularly in institutional type furniture have designs changed markedly from somewhat crude, heavy metal, welded and bolted construction, to much more attractive, lighter weight furniture, the component parts of which can be readily assembled and disassembled in the field. 
     Major problems encountered in the design of modern institutional type furniture include the design of corner constructions for interconnecting the side and back panels of article support and storage structures and the design of connectors for interconnecting the article support and storage structures with supporting members such as spaced apart support legs. It is the solution of these prior art problems that is at the heart of the present invention. 
     One proposed solution to corner construction design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,440 issued to Dieter. The corner construction proposed by Dieter includes an extrusion construction for mating with and joining a pair of side panels of an article support structure. The corner construction is defined in cross-section by at least one elongated rib section, squared corners positioned at one end of the rib section, a pair of external leg sections at the other end of the rib section and a pair of internal leg sections disposed parallel to the external leg sections and located along the rib section substantially midway between the squared corners and the external leg sections. A normal projection of each internal leg section onto the adjacent external leg sections ends substantially halfway along the length of the external leg section and apertures are provided for passing screws through the portion of the external leg sections beyond that normal projection. The facing ends of the side panels are provided with diagonal faces meeting with the opposite faces of the extrusion rib section and with squared off faces meeting with the square section. Elongate slots are provided substantially midway between the inside and the outside broad surfaces of the panels for receiving the internal leg sections. 
     Another prior art corner construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,618 issued to Kristiansen. This patent concerns a corner structure for use in shelves, cabinets, boxes and similar box shaped article support structures. In accordance with the method of the Kristiansen patent, rectangular and polygonal panels are assembled by means of a rod-shaped junction of substantially hour-glass cross-section. The junction is provided with or may be used in combination with, separate uniting members having projections designed to be attached to the panels by means of screws or the like. 
     Still another prior art corner construction and table leg connector is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,148,353 issued to Hoffman. This corner construction comprises a generally wedge shaped corner block that is connected with the side panels of a table top assembly by wood screws and is also connected to a table leg by an elongated bolt which extends through the wedge shaped block and into the interior of the hollow table leg. 
     The foregoing prior art patents exemplify the progress made in furniture design from the traditional bolt and wood screw connector approach to the more sophisticated approaches embodying metal extrusions of the character described in the Dieter patent. As will become apparent from the discussion that follows, the present invention exemplifies still further major advances in furniture design and provides an elegant, highly novel design for a totally new line of institutional furniture that can be readily assembled, adjusted and disassembled in the field by relatively unskilled workers using simple hand tools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a number types of highly attractive, sturdy furniture constructions such as cabinets, book cases, video carts, slide projector carts, lectern carts, book carts, easels, and similar articles that can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled in the field by relatively unskilled workers using simple tools. 
     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide furniture construction of the aforementioned character which are specially designed for use in conference and office settings and which include a plurality of uniquely configured supporting legs, one or more article support structures disposed centrally of the supporting legs and a highly novel arrangement for interconnecting the support structures with the legs. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide furniture constructions of the type mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which include a novel corner construction that enables the quick, easy and secure interconnection of the polygonal panels that make up the article support structures of the apparatus. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide various articles of furniture of the class described which are lightweight, extremely durable in use and yet are highly attractive in appearance. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a line of furniture of the character described which is extremely versatile, is readily mobile and can be used to support and transport a wide variety of devices such as audio and video equipment, slide projectors, overhead projectors and the like. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a line of furniture of the character described in the preceding paragraph that includes a fully functional wire chase that accommodates wires and cables for safely connecting electronic equipment with remote power sources. 
     A particular object of the invention is to provide a furniture construction in which the member used to interconnect the enclosure panels of the article support structure is also used to uniquely interconnect the article support structure itself with the supporting legs of the apparatus. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide furniture of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the article supporting structures can be quickly and easily adjustably positioned relative to the supporting legs of the apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is generally perspective view of one form of furniture construction of the present invention, namely a rolling projector cart. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the construction. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the construction. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional of the area identified in FIG. 5 by the numeral  6 . 
     FIG. 7 is cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 — 7  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 A— 7 A of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 7B is an enlarged, generally perspective, exploded view of one of the connector assemblies of the apparatus for interconnecting the side panels of one of the article supports with top and bottom panels thereof 
     FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  8 — 8  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of one form of the connector element of the invention for interconnecting the corners of the article support enclosure and also for interconnecting the article support enclosure with the support legs of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 12 is a view partially in cross-sectional taken along lines  12 — 12  of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 12A is a generally perspective view of the connector element shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of one of the leg assemblies of the article of furniture of the present form of the invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a generally perspective, exploded view of the leg assembly shown in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 14A is a generally perspective view of a second form of connector element of the invention for interconnecting a second type of article support with one of the support legs. 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the central leg portion of the leg assembly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the wire chase or leg closure member of the leg assembly shown in FIGS.  13  and  14 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and in particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, one form of the furniture construction of the present invention is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  20 . This construction here comprises a rolling projector cart having a plurality of specially configured, spaced apart ground engaging support members, or legs  22 . As best seen by referring to FIGS. 6 and 15, each of the support members  22  includes a curved wall  22   a  and an elongated, substantially flat connector strip portion  22   b . Disposed internally of the spaced apart legs  22  are several different types of article support structures for supporting and enclosing various types of articles. More particularly, the article support structures identified in the drawings by the numeral  24  comprise supporting shelves which are maintained in position by novel connector means, the character of which will presently be described. Another article support structure, generally designated in the drawings by the numeral  26 , comprises a box like enclosure for storing various types of articles. This enclosure is made up of interconnected top, bottom and side polygonal panels  26   a ,  26   b  and  26   c  respectively. These panels are uniquely interconnected together by the corner connection means of the invention, the character of which will be described in detail in the paragraphs which follow. Also forming a part of enclosure  26  are pivotally mounted front doors  26   d.    
     Forming an extremely important aspect of the invention is the previously mentioned connector means for interconnecting legs  22  with various article support structures, such as support structures  24  and  26 . In the present form of the invention, the connector means comprises a plurality of uniquely configured first extended connector members  30 , each of which has the novel configuration illustrated in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  11 ,  12  and  12 A. Referring to these figures it is to be observed that each of the connector members  30  comprises an elongated body portion  32  having spaced apart, longitudinally extending first and second edge portions  32   a  and  32   b  (FIG.  12 A). As best seen in FIG. 6, first edge portion  32   a  is generally “Y” shaped in cross section, while second edge portion  32   b  is generally “T” shaped in cross section. More particularly, edge portion  32   a  comprises a pair of angularly, outwardly extending connector wings  34  the function of which will presently be described. Connected proximate the second, opposite edge  32   b  of member  32  is an elongated, generally planar connector strip or segment  36 , which is interconnected with connector strip  22   b  of support legs  20 . (FIGS. 6,  10  and  15 ) 
     As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, support structures or shelves  24  are supported by and interconnected with leg assemblies  22  by generally fan shaped connector members  37  (FIG.  14 A). As indicated in the drawings, each of the connector members  37  comprises a support body portion  37   a , a stem portion  37   b  and a connector segment  37   c .Connector segment portion  37   c  is adapted to be interconnected with connector surface  22   b  of each of the legs  22  in the manner best seen in FIGS. 8 and 10. 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is to be noted that the first connector means or first connector members  30  function to interconnect first or side panels  26   c  with second, or back panels  26   e . This unique corner connection feature of the connector means is best illustrated in FIG. 6, where it is to be noted that each of the panels  26   c  and  26   e  is cut proximate its ends at approximately 45 degrees so as to define angled surfaces  37 . These angled surfaces  37  are adapted to abut against portions  32   c  of the connector member at a location intermediate wings  34  and a locating protuberance  40  formed on connector body  32  intermediate wings  34  and connector strip  36 . As indicated in FIG. 6, each locating protuberance  40  is provided with a pair of angularly inclined locating faces  40   a  which extend outwardly from body  32  portion at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. With this construction, when the angled edges of the side and rear panels  26   c  and  26   e  of the first enclosure structure  26  are trimmed in the manner shown in FIG. 6, the trimmed portions  27  will engage faces  40   a  in a manner to precisely position the panels in engagement with the body of the connector element and the inner faces  34   a  of the connector wings  34 . 
     During the assembly of the first cabinet like enclosure structure  26 , panels  26   b  and  26   e  are interconnected with connector wings  34  by suitable connectors such as connector screws  43 . As indicated in FIG. 7, each of the wings  34  is provided with slots  35  along its length to accept connectors  43  in the manner there shown. When the panels  26   c  and  26   e  are interconnected in the manner thus described an extremely rigid article support structure is produced. This assemblage can then be uniquely interconnected with legs  22  in a manner presently to be described. 
     To complete the assembly of first article enclosure  26 , top and bottom panels,  26   a  and  26   b  are interconnected with side and back panels  26   c  and  26   e  by means of conventional, commercially available cam lock assemblies of the general character shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A and generally designated by the numeral  46 . Assemblies  46 , which are readily commercially available from a number of hardware suppliers under the name and style “RAFIX”, comprise a hollow body portion  46   a  within which a locking member  46   b  is rotatably mounted. In a manner well understood by those skilled in the art, assembly  46  is mounted within a bore formed in a panel, such as panel  26   c , (FIG. 7A) at a location proximate an adjacent panel, such as top panel  26   a . Locking member  46   b  is provided with a circumferentially extending capture groove  47 , which upon rotation of the locking member  46   b  relative to body portion  46   a , by means of a screwdriver “S” will capture a shank portion  48   a  of a threaded screw  48  which is connected to and extends downwardly from panel  26   a  in the manner shown in FIG.  7 A. As the locking member is rotated, it will cammingly engage shank portion  48   a  of screw  48  in a manner to urge panel  26   a  into secure engagement with panel  26   c . Where as shown in FIG. 7, an interior shelf  49  is mounted within first enclosure  26  commercially available slotted hanger strips  50  and hanger clips  51  (FIG  7 ), are used to support the shelf  49  within the enclosure in a conventional manner well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 10 and 14, the connector surfaces  22   b  of each of the legs  22  are provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures  22   c  which are configured to accept self-tapping connecting screws  52 . When it is desired to interconnect the first and second members  30  and  37 , with a given leg  22 , apertures  30   a  and  37   d  provided in the respective connector members are aligned with apertures  22   c  provided in the support legs  22  and the connector members are securely affixed to the connector surface of the legs by the connector screws (see FIG.  10 ). It is apparent from a study of FIGS. 10 and 14, that connector members  30  and  37  can be interconnected with a given leg assembly  22  at various heights so as to conveniently position the various article support structures at the desired height interiorly of the circumscribing legs  22 . 
     To conceal the connector screws  52  and at the same time provide an enclosed wire chase, a novel closure strip such as a strip identified in FIGS. 14 and 16 by the numeral  54  is used. This uniquely formed closure strip comprises a generally planar rear wall  54   a  which is apertured to receive connector screws  52  and a curved front wall  54   b , which is interconnected with rear wall  54   a  by side connector elements  54   c . Curved front wall  54   b  which is formed by a pair of curved segments  55  constructed from a novel, yieldable deformable, elastomeric material such as rubber, neoprene or the like. As indicated in FIG. 14, the interconnection prior to the interconnection members  30  and  37  with a selected leg  22 , rear wall  54   a  of closure strip  54  is inserted into the opening  22   d  formed in each of the legs  22  so that the rear wall of the closure strip is moved into engagement with connector strip  22   b . In this position the resiliently deformable front wall sections  55  function to close opening  22   d  in the manner shown in FIG. 13 with the tip portion  55   a  of sections  55 . overlaying curved wall  22   a  of the leg  22 . With this construction, when connector elements  30  and  37  are interconnected with legs  20  wall  54   a  of the closure strip  54  is disposed between the connector element and the rear wall or connector strip  22   b  of the leg  22 . To interconnect the closure strip with leg  22 , connector screws  57  can be inserted through selected openings provided in closure strip  54  (FIG. 10) and into engagement with apertures  57   a  provided in connector surface  22   b  by yieldably deforming sections  55  of closure strip  54 . This done, segments  55  can be yieldably spread apart to permit insertion therebetween of support members  30  and  37  in the manner shown in FIG.  10 . With the support member thusly inserted between segments  55 , the support members can be interconnected with connector wall  22   b  of the leg  20  by means of the threaded connectors  52 . 
     If at any time it is desired to relocate one of the connector elements, such as a connector element  37  in order to raise or lower article support  24 , elastomeric segments  55  of the closure member  54  can be spread apart a sufficient distance to permit removal of threaded connectors  52  and appropriate vertical adjustment of connector  37  relative to connector strip  22   b  of legs  22 . When the connector elements  30  and  37  are appropriately interconnected with a given leg  22  in the manner just described, yieldably deformable segments  55  of the closure strip cooperate with sides  54   c  thereof to define an elongated wire chase or conduit receiving channel  59 , (FIG.  16 ). 
     When the assembly of the various article support structures to the legs  22  has been completed, the pivotally mounted doors  26   d  of support enclosure  26  can be interconnected with top and bottom walls  26   a  and  26   c  by means of conventional commercially available pivot assemblies generally designated in FIG. 9 by the numeral  60 . These pivot assemblies comprise an angle bracket  62  which is affixed to the doors  22   d  in the manner shown in FIG. 9 and a bearing cup  64  which is closely received within a suitable bore formed in the top and bottom walls  26   a  and  26   b  of support enclosure  26 . Bearing cup  64  closely receives a pivot pin  66  which is connected to bracket  62  so that the doors  26   d  can pivot between open and closed positions. 
     As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a uniquely configured top support member  64  is connected to each leg  22  proximate its upper extremity. Each support member  64  includes a shank portion  64   a  which is closely telescopically receivable within a selected leg  22  in the manner shown in figure  13  and is held in position by suitable connectors  66 . Integrally, formed with shank portion  64   a  is a top support portion  64   b  which includes a surface  64   c  that is adapted to support a top panel  68  (FIG.  10 ). Suitable connectors  69  affix top panel  68  to support members  64  in the manner shown in FIG. 10 so that various articles such as projectors and the like can safely be placed upon panel  68 . 
     Affixed to the bottom of each of the legs  22  are conventional locking roller assemblies  70 . Each roller assembly  70  includes a ground engaging roller  72  and a connector stem  74  about which the roller can rotate. As best seen in FIG. 10, stem  74  of each roller assembly is telescopically received within a suitable vertical bore provided in a connector block  76  that is secured within the lower portion of the leg  22  by suitable connectors  77 . 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made with out departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.