Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/292,018 filed on Jan. 4, 2010, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is a modular table system. In particular, the present invention relates to a modular table system for office work stations that can be easily assembled and easily expanded by adding additional modules. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Tables come in various shapes and sizes and have a wide variety of uses. In general, tables include a flat planar surface (i.e., the table top) that is supported by a plurality of legs, typically four. The size of the table top can vary but commercially available tables generally are available within a limited range of sizes. If a non-standard size table is required, it typically has to be specially made at an added cost and delayed availability. Moreover, tables can often have different optional features that can be selected by the purchaser. The addition of optional features usually delays the shipment of the table to the customer. 
         [0004]    Businesses often need tables having different sizes and configurations for office work stations. Because the requirements may change, it is desirable to have tables that can be easily added onto or modified in a short period of time. It is also desirable to have the office work stations formed as modular systems to facilitate reconfiguration of the design in the minimum amount of time. Accordingly, there is a need for a modular table system that can be easily constructed to provide tables having a wide variety of sizes, shapes and optional features and that can be easily reconfigured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, a modular system for office work stations is provided. The modular system includes at least one generally planar horizontal work top, a plurality of legs, a plurality of leg attachment structures, at least one horizontal connection member and at least one vertical connection member. 
         [0006]    The generally planar horizontal work top (also referred to herein as a table top) has a work surface and an opposed undersurface. Each of the plurality of legs has a first end that is attached to the opposed undersurface of the work top and a second end that contacts the floor. Each of the plurality of leg attachment structures includes a first side and a second side. The first side is attached to the opposed undersurface of the horizontal work top and the second side is attached to one of the plurality of legs. The horizontal connection member is used to interconnect one of the leg attachment structures of at least one work top to a leg attachment structure of another work top. The vertical connection member is attached to the leg attachment structure and includes a vertically extending portion. Typically, two vertical connection members are attached on one side of the table top and a panel is secured between the two vertically extending portions. The vertical connection member has a slot which allows passage of the horizontal connection member therethrough to permit attachment of two work tops with the vertical attachment member attached to the leg attachment structure. 
         [0007]    Each of the plurality of leg attachment structures includes a cap and a connection plate. The cap includes a planar member having a work top attachment surface, an opposed leg attachment surface and a perimetrical side wall. The perimetrical side wall of the cap includes a recess for receiving the horizontal connection member between the planar member of the cap and the opposed undersurface. The connection plate is attached to the first end of one of the legs. The leg attachment surface of the cap includes a cavity that is defined by the perimetrical side wall and receives the connection plate. After the plate is positioned in the cavity, it is secured to the cap by fasteners, such as screws or bolts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    The preferred embodiments of the modular table system of the present invention, as well as other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent from the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the underside of a table module showing the connection of the legs. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a photograph showing the underside of the table top with holes for receiving the leg attachment cap. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a table leg and the leg attachment structure that includes the connection plate and the cap. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a photograph showing a leg attached to the undersurface of a table top by the leg attachment structure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a table leg with a leg attachment structure connected to a second leg attachment structure by a top horizontal connector. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a table leg with a leg attachment structure connected to a second leg attachment structure by a bottom horizontal connector. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of a table module with a vertical connection bracket connected to a leg attachment structure of the table. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective side view of a table module with two vertical connection members securing a panel to the table top. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective side view of two table modules being joined by a vertical connection member connected to the leg attachment structure of one table and a horizontal connector extending through the vertical connection member to the leg attachment structure of the second table. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective bottom view of a table module with a modesty panel under the table top that is attached to two legs. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a photograph of perspective end view of an assembled table module. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a photograph of the undersurface of a table top with legs attached using leg attachment structures. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a photograph showing a cap being attached to the undersurface of a table top using screws. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention is a modular table system that allows a wide variety of table designs to be constructed from a plurality of modular components. The system allows the modular assembly of office desks/tables where the tables can be interconnected and accessory components can be attached thereto. The system uses mechanical connections to attach legs and table-to-table connectors, including connectors that allow attachment of privacy screens and modesty panels. 
         [0023]    In its most basic form, the modular table system is a table module that includes a generally planar horizontal work top (also referred to herein as a table top) connected to four legs using leg attachment structures. Each of the leg attachment structures includes a connection plate attached to the end of a table leg and a cap that is secured to the bottom surface of the table top at one of the four corners. The connector plate is preferably welded to the end of the leg and the connection plate is fastened to the cap using well know fastening devices, including different types of screws or bolts. The caps have a base plate with two surfaces and four sides and are substantially rectangular in shape, preferably square. The top surface contacts the bottom surface of the table top and is substantially flat except for four posts near the corners that extend away from the surface and four recesses. The posts are inserted into holes drilled in the bottom surface (also referred to herein as the undersurface) of the table top to prevent the cap from moving out of position. Mounting screws are then inserted in a plurality of apertures in the cap and tightened to secure the cap to the bottom surface of the table top. A recess is formed in the top surface of the cap on each of the four sides. As more fully described below, these recesses receive horizontal connectors that are used to connect two table modules together. 
         [0024]    The bottom surface of the cap has a perimetrical edge that extends away from the bottom surface and forms a cavity. The cavity is designed to receive the plate attached to the end of the leg. The base plate of the cap and the plate on the leg each have a plurality of corresponding apertures that are used to fasten the leg to the cap. 
         [0025]    The caps are located at the corners of the table top so that two sides of the cap are located along two adjacent sides of the table top. The recesses in the sides of the cap receive connectors that are used to attach adjoining table tops. The connectors are rectangular and substantially flat with one or more apertures on each end. These apertures correspond to apertures in the connection plate and the base plate of the cap and are used to secure the connector in the recess. The connectors allow the user to add any number of table tops together to form a large table surface in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Before two tables are joined, the connectors are inserted in the recesses of the caps of one of the tables and secured using fasteners, typically screws or bolts. The two tables are then positioned next to each other so that the recesses in the caps of the two tables are aligned. The tables are then moved together so that the unattached ends of the connectors are inserted into the recesses of the caps on the opposing table. The apertures are aligned and fasteners installed to secure the connector to the second table. The adjacent tables form a continuous table top surface. Additional tables can be added as desired by the user using the connectors and following the same procedure. 
         [0026]    The modular nature of the system and the various components, including modesty panels, privacy panels and the like, allow the construction of various arrangements of tables and desks without having to maintain an inventory of different pre-constructed furniture configurations. The cap component and the accessory connectors and brackets allow modular assembly of different components to form user selected configurations that can be easily modified. 
         [0027]    The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and photographs.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bottom of a table module  10  showing the connection of the legs  20  to the undersurface  11  of the generally planar horizontal work top, i.e., the table top  12 . The legs  20  have a connection plate  22  on one end, which is attached to a cap structure  14  (also referred to as “the cap”) that is secured to the undersurface  11  of the table top  12  at each corner. The table legs  20  and plates  22  are preferably made of metal and welded together. However, legs  20  and plates  22  made of plastic or composite materials are also within the scope of the invention and for these embodiments, the plate  22  can be attached to the leg  20  using an adhesive or mechanical fastening device, such as screws or clips. The leg  20  and cap  22  can also be formed as a single structure using an extrusion or molding method. The table top  12  can have one or more openings  15  that can be used for the passage of cables and electrical power cords. When not in use, the openings  15  can be sealed with removable filler plates  13  ( FIG. 11 ). 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a photograph showing the undersurface  11  of the table top  12  with holes  18  that do not pass through to the top surface of the table top  12 . These holes  18  are aligned with and used for receiving the posts  16  that extend from the surface of the cap  14 . After the posts  16  are positioned in the holes  18 , the cap  14  is secured to the undersurface  11  of the table top  12  with screws  17  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective, exploded view of a table leg  20  and the leg attachment structure (i.e., the connection plate  22  and the cap  14 ). The connection plate  22  is attached to the leg  20 . After the cap  14  is secured to the undersurface  11  of the table top  12 , the connection plate  22  is attached to the cap  14  with screws  26 , which pass through unthreaded apertures  24  in the plate  22  and threaded into tapped (i.e., threaded) apertures  31  in the cap  14 . The plate  22  also has other unthreaded apertures  28  that are used to attach horizontal connectors  30 ,  34  as discussed in more detail below with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The cap  14  also has a perimetrical side wall  38  that corresponds to the dimensions of the connection plate  22  and secures the plate  22  in position. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a photograph showing a leg  20  attached to the undersurface  11  of a table top  12  by connecting the connector plate  22  to the cap  14  using hex socket screws  26 . Other types of screws and bolts can also be used. In preferred embodiments, screws  26  are used and the apertures  24  ( FIG. 3 ) in the connector plate  22  are beveled so that the head of the screw  26  is even with or below the surface of the plate  22  as shown in  FIG. 4 . This figure also shows how the cap  14  and the recess  32  are aligned with the edge of the table top  12 . When two table modules  10  are joined, the recess  32  is used to connect the two table modules  10  as described below with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a table leg  20  with a leg attachment structure (i.e., a connection plate  22  and cap  14 ) connected to a second leg attachment structure by a top horizontal connector  30  and a bottom horizontal connector  34 . The top connector  30  is inserted into the recess  32  after the caps  14  are attached to the undersurface  11  of a table top  12  and the threaded apertures  37  in the top connector  30  are aligned with the unthreaded apertures  28 ,  35  in the connector plate  22  and the cap  14 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the table leg  20  and two leg attachment structures shown in  FIG. 5 . The bottom horizontal connector  34  is positioned over the connector plate  22  on one side so that a pair of unthreaded apertures  28  in the connector plate  22  aligns with the unthreaded apertures  39  in the bottom connector  34 . On the other side, a leg with a connector plate is not connected to the cap  14  and the end of the bottom connector  34  has a member  36  that extends upwardly and offsets the bottom connector  34  from the surface of the cap  14 . This allows the surface of the bottom connector  34  to remain parallel with the surface of the connector plate  22 . When a connector plate  22  is connected to the cap  14  on both ends of the bottom connector  34 , the bottom connector  34  is turned over so that the member  36  extends away from the connector plates  22 . The bottom horizontal connector  34  is positioned over the cap  14  and the unthreaded apertures  39  are aligned with the unthreaded apertures  35  in the cap  14 . Four screws  33  pass through unthreaded apertures  39 ,  28 ,  35  and are screwed into the threaded apertures  37  in the top connector  30 . After the screws  33  are tightened, the two adjacent table modules  10  are securely connected together. 
         [0033]    The top and bottom horizontal connectors  30 ,  34  allow various arrangements of multiple tables to be connected. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show a table module  10  with a vertical connection bracket  40  connected to a cap  14 . The connecting end  44  of the bracket  40  forms a right angle and is secured to the cap  14  by a pair of screws  33 . The connecting end  44  also has a slot  46  that is aligned with the recess  32  in the cap  14 . A connector (not shown) with two unthreaded apertures can be inserted in the slot so that the apertures align with the apertures  35  in the cap  14  ( FIG. 6 ). The connector is secured in place when the screws  33  are tightened.  FIG. 8  shows the table module  10  with two vertical connection brackets  40  used to support a privacy panel  42  on the work surface of the table top  12 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  shows two table modules  10  being joined together and a vertical connection bracket  40  attached to the cap  14  on one table top  12 . In addition,  FIG. 9  shows a horizontal connector  30  passing through the slot  46  in the connecting end  44  of the bracket  40 . When the two table modules  10  are joined together, the opposing ends of the connector  30  are inserted into the recesses  32  of the opposing caps  14  of the two table modules  10 . The connecting end  44  of the bracket  40  is secured to the cap  14  on one side and, on the other side, the horizontal connector  30  is secured to the cap  14  on the second table module  10 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  shows a table module  10  with a modesty panel  52  attached under the table top  12  between two legs  20  using brackets  50  attached to the legs  20 . Again, the brackets  50  are attached to the caps  14 . When one or more the modesty panels  52  are used in combination with one or more of the privacy panels  42  shown in  FIG. 8 , a work station is created that provides a private work space. 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  is a photograph of an assembled table module  10  and shows a pair of legs  20  attached to a pair of caps  14  on one end of the table top  12 . The openings  15  ( FIG. 1 ) in the table top  12  are sealed with removable filler plates  13 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 12  is a photograph of the undersurface  11  of a table top  12  with a pair of legs  20  attached by connecting the connection plates  22  to the caps  14 .  FIG. 12  also shows the bracket  50  used to attach the modesty panel  52  shown in  FIG. 10  lying on the undersurface  11  of the table top  12 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 13  is a photograph showing a cap  14  being attached to the undersurface  11  of a table top  12  at one of the corners using screws  17 . The cap  12  includes projecting posts  16  ( FIG. 2 ), which fit into aligned holes  18  in the undersurface  11  of the table top  12 . Preferably, wood screws  33  are used to secure the cap  14  to the undersurface  11 . 
         [0040]    Thus, while there have been described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to include all such further modifications and changes as come within the true scope of the claims set forth herein.

Technology Category: 1