TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to furniture, such as particular tables, which is shipped in compact form and erected or assembled by the consumer.
BACKGROUND
Since articles of furniture tend to be bulky and costly to ship, it is common to design and fabricate such items in knock down form. That is, the furniture is designed so that it is made up of sub-components, which when packed together, fit into a relatively compact shipping container. The consumer assembles the furniture at the point of use. And, preferably, the furniture is capable of being knocked down again for storage.
Numerous different designs and assembly concepts are known in the prior art. However, differences in execution of the design and manufacture can make a substantial difference to the consumer. Among the criteria that characterize a good piece of furniture are the following. The article must have a desired and pleasing esthetic appearance when assembled. The article must function for the desired purpose; typically, it must be strong and durable. The parts should fit together easily, and assembly should involve a minimum of tools and skill. Manufacturing should not demand extreme precision and cost should be low. The unassembled subcomponents should be sturdy and not prone to damage during rough shipment and handling. The carton into which the knock down table components are placed for shipment should be as compact as possible.
It is not easy to meet all the foregoing criteria. Furthermore, certain pieces of furniture have specialized requirements. For example, in tables used for computers, it is desirable to have a flat work surface, to hold the computer system components, particularly the monitor; and, to have at least one under-desk drawer, for holding a keyboard. That drawer ought to be closeable, to conceal the keyboard, when it is not in use. It is also desirable to provide at least one shelf for holding computer system components or related accessories, such as a printer or the tower which contains the processor. Sometimes the aforementioned parts of the computer system are heavy, and thus the table needs to be strong when assembled. Thus, while there has been a great variety of knockdown furniture in commerce, it has always been difficult to combine ease of assembly with strength and low cost.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to provide a table, preferably made of wood, which can be shipped in compact form, and then set up by a consumer with no tools, or minimal use of tools. An additional object is to meet the criteria which are mentioned in the Background; especially to provide a strong furniture article capable of bearing significant loads which can be shipped in a compact flat carton, and which after being erected and used, can be readily taken down again and made compact for storage. A further object is to provide a computer table, which meets the other objects, with shelves which can be extended from the side of the table for supporting computer components.
In accord with the invention, a table has a top, a back hinged from the top, and opposing side panels hinged from the back; and, thus the parts are compound foldable by virtue of the hinging. For compact shipment, the side panels fold inwardly onto the back, and the back then folds onto the underside of the top.
Thus the side panels are sandwiched between the top and back in the collapsed state. When the compound-hinged table of the invention is erected, the back is lifted up from the top as the top lies upside down on the floor. The end panels are rotated outwardly from the back, toward stops/stiffeners attached to the underside of the top. Means, such as a folding shelf or a stretcher or stops or the like, hold the panels in their erected position so they are perpendicular to the back, and so the panels support the front edge of the table top when it is turned upright for use.
Preferably, when the top of the table is wide, there is a stiffener running transverse to the length of the top, on the underside of the top. And, when the side panels are folded inwardly onto the back, the stiffener lies in a gap between the opposing free-swinging ends of the side panels.
In further accord with the invention, a table suitable for use with a computer system has at least one side panel which comprises one or more shelves, preferably both an upper shelf and a lower shelf. When the table is erected, the shelves pivot from parallelism with the side panel to a horizontal position. The upper shelf folds upwardly from its collapsed state position and is held in its use position by a support which also pivots upwardly from the side panel. In a preferred embodiment, the lower shelf pivots downwardly, either inwardly or outwardly from the side panel, according to what the user desires. In the collapsed state, suitable for shipment or storage, the shelves and the shelf support all lie parallel to the plane of the side panel; thus, the side panel is able to hinge into parallelism with the back of the table as described above. Optional drawers may be provided, for example for a keyboard.
A consumer can erect a table which is made in accord with the preferred embodiments of the invention quickly and easily without needing any tools. The table has very good strength and functionality. Yet, the table is economical to manufacture; and, fits in a compact package for shipment. The table does not demand that the consumer have patience and use tools, as is generally the case with prior art knock down furniture articles.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a table particularly suited for use with a computer system.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the right side of the table shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the inverted table of FIG. 1, largely as a stick figure. How hinged parts swing for assembly is shown.
FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, showing how the parts of the main assembly comprising the back, top and two side panels are hinged and how they fold together for shipment or storage, as a flat assembly.
FIG. 5 is an end view of the top of the middle panel, from the rear side of a partially-cut-away and inverted top, to show one the wedge fastening means.
FIG. 6 is a partial view of the wedge and pocket fastener means, shown in FIG. 5, while looking down at the top of the middle panel.
FIG. 7 is an elevation cross section view through the bottom rail of the right side panel, looking from the rear of the table, showing how the edge of the hinged shelf engages and is fastened to the stretcher.
FIG. 8 is an elevation view showing the inside surface of the lower stretcher of the left side panel, and how it is engaged by the end of the mid-point stretcher.
FIG. 9 is an end view of a table having a right side panel with two shelves which can be folded into place, for supporting computer devices.
FIG. 10 is a partial front view of a table having the panel shown in FIG. 9, showing the motion of the two shelves, as they move from collapsed position to use position.
FIG. 11 is a partial quasi-isometric view of a portion of the table shown in FIG. 9, showing alternative movement of the bottom shelf.
FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 11, and shows an alternate embodiment side panel which has an upper shelf support which swings outwardly in the horizontal plane.
FIG. 13 is a partial front view similar to FIG. 10, showing a lower shelf which has a chain or cable support.
DESCRIPTION
Parts of the present invention are described in provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/441,393 and co-pending application Ser. No. 10/607,104, filed Jun. 25, 2003. The disclosures thereof are hereby incorporated by reference. The various embodiments of the invention described below are preferably made of finished wood, with metal hinges. Other materials of construction may be used.
A table 20, having features which make it particularly suited for users of computers, is first described. The another table 20A, having side panels with fold-out shelves is described. Other products may employ the same essential features as in the tables. See the parent application.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show table 20 in front and right side elevations, respectively. FIG. 3 shows table 20 lying inverted, with its top down, as does FIG. 4. FIGS. 3 and 4 are largely stick figures. That is, most of the different wooden parts are shown as sticks or lines of only length dimension.
FIG. 3 shows different sub-assemblies and components, and how they are assembled to form the table. It shows how, when the side panels 24L and 24R are folded in onto the back, the top and back fold together by means of hinges, to form a flat folded sub-assembly, with the side panels sandwiched in the space between the top and the back.
For clarity of illustration some of the details shown in one Figure may not be shown in a corresponding Figure. FIG. 3 to 8 show how various components are detachably fastened together. Hinges, designated by the letter H, connect several of the components. The parts, which are hinged, are preferably connected by the hinges at the factory, prior to placement of the resultant sub-assembly in the shipping container. A feature of the invention is that it permits the user to erect and collapse a piece of furniture without having to work with bolts or screws (other than for any drawer pulls). In the generality of the invention, some bolts and screws may be used, as all the good features do not have to be used.
Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the assembled table 20 is comprised of top 22, back 50 which runs left-right, and three leg assemblies, namely left side panel 24L, right side panel 24R, and middle panel 26, each running front-back. The middle panel 26 is offset to the right of the centerline in the preferred embodiment, it being understood that location can be varied within the scope of the invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 for the right panel, each panel has four slats running vertically between upper stretcher 40 and lower stretcher 33. The slats provide both structural strength and decorative appearance. Other strengthening and decorative means may be used. Each panel has legs which extend beyond the lower stretcher.
The back 50 has legs 53 which run parallel, in mating fashion, to the rear legs 51 of the side panels, where those panels are hinged connected to the back. Stretcher 30 which runs the full width of the back, between its two opposing end legs. The back is connected to the top by four hinges H5, so the back can fold onto the underside of the top.
The middle panel 26, to which is attached a hinged shelf 28, is a separate element. It slides into position, and is attached to the top by means of wedge fasteners, as described further below. When the middle panel is in position, centerline stretcher 32 runs between the center point of the lower end of the middle panel and a like place at the left side panel. Shelf 28 runs between the middle panel and the right leg panel. Shelf 28 is connected to middle panel 26 by hinge set H2, so it folds into position, to contact the right side panel 24R, as indicated by arrows in the various Figures.
Left drawer 34 and right drawer 36 are positioned underneath the table top 22. The drawers, shown upside down in FIG. 3, are constructed similarly. Each moves in and out by means of common metal track and roller glide assemblies 40, which are attached to the sides of the drawers and the adjacent panel part. As illustrated by FIG. 3, typical drawer 36 has no sides. Front panel 46 pivots down to a flat position by means of hinges H4, when the face 46 of the drawer is opened by pull 38L, making it suited to hold a computer keyboard. When the drawer is closed, the face is held in the vertical closed position by magnetic latch 58. Drawer 34 is constructed similarly to drawer 36.
Hinges H5 connect the top to the back 50 in proximity to the rear edge. See FIG. 4. The left and right panels are hinged from the back 50 by hinge sets H1 and H3. FIG. 4 shows by means of arrows, how the four hinged components, the top, back, and two side panels, fold together, to form a flat assembly for shipment. Stiffener 56 is glued and or screwed, to run front-to-back along the nominal centerline of the underside of the top, to provide strength to the top. Note how, when the side panels 24L and 24R fold in on the back panel, there is a gap 60 between their ends. Thus, when the back panels then fold down onto the underside of the top, the gap provides a space for the stiffener 56, so the back panel, with the folded side panels, is folded to lie flat on the underside of the top. See FIG. 4. To allow space 61 for the folded down side panels, as shown in the partial cross section of FIG. 12, hinges H5 attach to the back 50 by means spacer blocks 59 fastened to the horizontally running top rail 52 of the back.
FIG. 3, with reference to FIG. 4, shows how the table is assembled. The reverse of the folding together procedure, which was just described, is followed. When back 50 is put in the vertical position, relative to the horizontal upside down top 22, the side panels 24 rotate into position as indicated by arrows, and their upper ends support the front edge of the top and prevent downward hinge motion of the top. The outward motion of the side panels is limited by stops 80, 82, attached to the underside of the table top 22. The middle panel 26 then slips into position by sliding rearward, as indicated by arrow in FIG. 5. FIGS. 5 and 6 detail how the middle panel is attached to the top as it slides rearwardly, into position. The attachment means comprises two spaced apart plastic wedges 70, fastened to the underside of the top. The wedges are used elsewhere as well, and the use with the middle panel will be instructive of how they work in general. Wedge 70 has a hole 74, so it can be attached to a surface, in this case the underside of the table top, by a screw at the factory. Wedge 70 has compound angles, to engage similar angles in the pocket 73 of plastic insert 72, which is captured in the wood of the mating part, in this case, the top edge of the middle panel 26. The engagement of the wedge and pocket prevents further motion in the direction of the pocket bottom, in this case, rearward. And the engagement resists parting of the mated component surfaces, in this case downward motion of the middle panel. A slight interference fit of the resilient plastic members causes a positive engagement, or latching action, so that, force is required to slide the panel in the forward direction, as if to remove it from the table top.
After the middle panel has been slid into place, the shelf 28 is folded down. See FIG. 3 and FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a rear cross section view of lower part of the right side panel. It shows that the outer end of shelf 28 has two spaced apart pocket inserts 72B, which engage wedges 70B mounted on the lower stretcher of right panel 24R. Thus, the lower ends of the right panel and the middle panel are connected and mutually supported. Inward rotation of the right panel is prevented.
Centerline stretcher 32 is then put in place, to connect the spaced apart bottom stretchers of the left side panel and middle panel. The arrows in FIG. 3 show the motion for installation. The stretcher runs parallel to the hinge line of the top and back. FIG. 8 details how left panel stretcher 35 connects to centerline stretcher 32. The connection of stretcher 32 to the center panel is similar. Wedge 70A and dowel pin 76 project from the surface of stretcher 32. The end of the stretcher 32, shown in phantom, has a plastic pocket, to receive the wedge, and it has a slot 81, to receive the dowel pin. The wedge provides the positive engagement vertically and lengthwise, while the dowel prevents rotation and resists downward force, as might be applied by a table user's feet resting on the stretcher 32. Stretcher 32 prevents inward rotation of the left side panel. The engagement of shelf 28 prevents rotational motion of the right side panel. Thus, the combination of shelf 28 and stretcher 32 comprise means for preventing the side panels from folding inwardly, and for tying together all the panels, when the table is assembled for use. When the table turned over to its use position, the drawers may be inserted in place, and the table will be ready for use.
In use, downward extending legs of the table support the load. Table 20 has 8 legs in contact with the floor, namely, two legs at each side panel, two for the middle panel and two for the back panel. Since the rear legs of the back panel are closely adjacent to the rear legs of the side panel, as shown in FIG. 2, the assembled table presents as having 6 legs. Legs, as the term is used herein, refer to the upwardly running structural members. In other embodiments, the legs may only extend to the lower stretcher, which may act as the base of the article. In still other embodiments, only some legs may extend to the floor. For instance, the legs 53 of the back may extend downwardly to the floor, while the mating rear legs 51 of the side panel may not extend so far, or vice versa.
Front to back “parallelogramming” of the three panels is prevented by the glued construction of the parts, including the slats. The factory-made rigidity of the glued back parts, including the top and bottom stretchers, in combination with the fold down shelf 28 and centerline stretcher provide good resistance to left-right motion of the table. Other bracing for strength may be added, within the scope of the invention. Conversely, if less strength is required, some of the bracing, slats, etc, which have been described may be eliminated. (For simplicity of illustration, such kinds of features are omitted from FIG. 9-11, but they will be understood to be optionally present.)
The table is easy to assemble for a user and requires no tools, except perhaps to install the knobs for the drawer fronts. The table components all fold flat and stow compactly in a shipping carton. There are no bolts or other fittings, so the possibility of such parts being insufficient in number is eliminated.
While the absence of bolts or screws is a feature, in other embodiments of the invention, conventional bolt or screw fasteners may be used, in substitution of the convenient wedges and other fasteners, which have been described or suggested. Still other fasteners known in the art may be used, and use of glue for permanent assembly may be contemplated.
Preferably, the hinges are common two-plate-with-pin hinges. It will be understood that the term hinges encompasses other configuration of connectors which enable the connected elements to move in the same manner as common hinges.
In a preferred embodiment, the top is about 48 inches long by 24 inches wide and about 31 inches from the floor. The middle panel is about 16 inches from the right side panel. While the table is described as a computer table, because that is its primary intended use, the article may be employed for other purposes. The drawers may be eliminated. Conversely, other features, such as other drawers and more shelves may be added. For example, a table may have two fold down shelves, one from each side of the middle panel. And, a table may have more than one middle panel. In another embodiment, less preferred, table 20 may comprise left and right side panels which hinge outwardly from the back when the table is in assembled condition, as illustrated by FIG. 13. When folded together, the back will underlie the side panels.
FIG. 9-11 show different views of table 20A, which shares many features of table 20. In FIG. 9-11, numbers with suffix letters describe elements which correspond with those previously described. As shown in the Figures, table 20A has two opposing side panels, a top and a back; more particularly top 22A, a back 50A and right side panel 24RR. The left side panel is not shown. Back 50A is hinged with respect to the top 22A, as described above for table 20. Unlike Table 20, table 20A has a right side panel which provides projecting shelves on the exterior of the table. The left side panel is not shown; it may be similar to that described for table 20 above, or it may be in part or whole like the right panel which is described below.
During erection, the side panels fold out from a collapsed or shipment position, in which they are parallel to the back, as previously described for panels 24R and 24L. Table 20A does not have a center panel or stretcher holding the legs in place, although such might be added. Stop 175, a rail running front-back on the underside of top 22A, keeps side panel 24RR from swinging beyond its desired erected position at a 90 degree angle to the back. Second stop 179, a wood block having an integral pin which is frictionally engaged with a hole on the underside of the top, prevents the panel from swinging inwardly toward its collapsed state position. Other means including friction between the underside of the top and the panel may be used to hold the side panel in place. For instance, a spring plunger and detent, or pin or screw fastener, or a strut may be used. Optionally, there is a pull out drawer 34A, shown in phantom only in FIG. 11. Drawer 34A is like drawer 34 of table 20. It spans the full distance between the opposing side panels. It is supported by opposing-side glide assemblies, not shown, mounted on the side panels, as described for table 20.
With particular reference to FIG. 9-11, right panel 24RR has a combination of shelf features which can be used together separately. The right side panel is comprised of rear leg 53A and front leg 153. Struts 159 and 157 connect the legs 53A, 153. Right side panel 24RR folds outwardly from collapsed state parallelism with the back 50A by means of hinges H1, which connect the rear leg 53A to the back 50A. Panel 24RR preferably has two shelves which cantilever outwardly from pivot points when the user of the table desires their use. In collapsed condition, they lie parallel to the plane of panel 24RR. When the table is put into erected state, and mounted on a floor surface 18 so the top 22A is horizontal, shelves 155, 167 may be rotated about their horizontal plane pivot points, so the shelves are put into horizontal positions for use. Upper shelf 155 rotates upwardly through an about 90 degree angle about a horizontal axis running between pivot pins 169, which are on the insides of opposing side panel legs 153, 53A. In its basic configuration, as shown, shelf 155 may support a printer or other device at an elevation which is somewhat lower than the elevation of top 22A. See the Figures. Lower shelf 167 folds downwardly through an about 90 degree angle about a horizontal axis running between pins 163, which are mounted on the insides of opposing legs 153, 53A. Shelf 167 can be pivoted so the free end of the shelf lies either inside (under the top) or outside of the periphery of the essential table, according to the desire of the user. Shelf 167 may be used support a computer tower or other device, at an elevation just above floor level. Both shelves 155 and 167 are illustrated as simple flat wood panels. For esthetic and weight saving reasons, they may have a more open construction, such as being comprised of slats and the like. Optionally, they may have more complex structure, including structure adapted to fit or hold things placed upon them.
When it is rotated into erected position, as indicated by arrow B, upper shelf 155 is held in place by U-shape support 160. Support 160 rotates upwardly from its collapsed position indicated by phantom 160P, to its use- or working-position, as indicated by arrow A. It pivots about a horizontal plane axis running between pivot pins 171. FIG. 11 shows support 160 as it approaches its final erected position. The outer end of support 160 engages stop block 161, on the underside of shelf 155. See FIG. 10. The stop block 161 preferably has a spring steel retaining clip 177, to help keep the support in place. Support 160 is shown as a simple U-shape structure for clarity of illustration. Support 160 may have other structure and shape; for instance, cross members may connect the opposing sides of the “U”.
In its folded-in or collapsed position, indicated by phantom 160P, support 160 lies in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the side panel, and in a plane which is offset from the plane of the shelf 155 in its collapsed position. The front view of FIG. 10 shows how pins 171 of support 160 are offset to the left side (i.e., toward the inside) of panel 24RR, while pins 169 of shelf 155 are offset to the right (i.e., toward the outside). That relationship of pin locations enables support 160 and shelf 155 to lie parallel to each other and parallel to the plane of the panel, for compact shipment or storage Preferably, the length of support 160 is less than the length of the upper shelf 155, so they both lie in parallel planes above the elevation of the cross piece 157 of the side panel. Other means may be used for supporting shelf 155 in its erected position. FIG. 12 shows support 185 which is a bracket that swings outwardly in the horizontal plane, about hinge 186 on leg 153. A simple strut which is held in place frictionally or by fasteners may alternately be used.
Referring again to FIG. 9-11, lower shelf 165 rotates about pins 163, which are located near the bottoms of the legs 53A, 153 of the side panel. If use of shelf 165 is undesired, it may be kept in its collapsed or stored position, shown by phantom 165P in FIG. 10. The shelf is held in collapsed position by a spring loaded ball pin 173 at the end of the shelf, which engages a detent or pocket on the underside of horizontal strut 157 of the side panel. Other retaining means may be used, including pins, wedge fit, and removable fasteners.
In FIG. 11 lower shelf 165 is shown in a folded-down or erected position, so it projects outwardly from the side panel and beyond the perpiphery of the essential table. Shelf 165 may optionally be folded down so it projects inwardly, where it is underneath the table top, as indicated by phantom 165PP. When viewed from the front of table 20A, preferred shelf 165 has a T-shape, because the shelf has a perpendicular plate 167 attached to its outer end. The drawings show how plate 167 supports the shelf on the floor 18 upon which the erected table sets during use, and so the shelf is horizontal, regardless of whether the shelf is folded inwardly or outwardly. Shelf 165 preferably has a length which is chosen to fit the width of the base of a common computer system tower. Thus, a benefit of the T-shape construction is that user of table 20A may readily position the shelf and any computer tower set on the shelf either outside of the table or underneath the table; and, plate 167 will act as a fence, in inhibiting a computer tower or other device from falling off the outer edge of the shelf. In the generality of this aspect of the invention, the lower shelf may be configured so it pivots only one way, e.g., toward the outside.
Shelf 165 may have alternate configurations and alternate means for support. For instance, small round legs may substitute for the end plate; or a wood or metal piece may hinge downwardly from the free end of the shelf, to thus extend to the floor and act like plate 167. In still another embodiment, shown in FIG. 13, bottom shelf 165 may be held in working position by a tensile load member, such as chain 187, or a cord, or a folding bracket. Support chain 187 is connected to a leg of the side panel or to the lower horizontal strut 157, at an elevation above the elevation of the lower shelf when it is in its folded down position.
The lengths of the shelves 165, 155, which preferably lie within the same plane as may be conceived from FIG. 10, are chosen so that the sum of their lengths is less than the height of the side panel. That enables the shelves to lie parallel and flat, within the space between the legs of a collapsed table.
In the generality of the invention, when they are in their erected or working positions, the top, side panels and shelves may be only approximately horizontal or perpendicular, as applies. For instance, the top of the table may be somewhat sloped from back to front; and, the side panels may be somewhat angled relative to the back. Such inexact horizontal or perpendicular positions will are within the scope of the invention. A side panel may have both the upper shelf and the lower shelf, or only one, in the invention. Table 20A may have different overall dimensions from preferred table 20. In a preferred embodiment of table 20A, the height of the side panel is about 73 cm (29 inches); and, the width is about 35 cm (14 inches). Measured from pivot points, the cantilever length of the upper shelf is about 24 cm (13 inches); the cantilever length of the lower shelf is about 23 cm (9 inches); and the length of the support is about 26 cm (10 inch).
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to one or more preferred embodiments, and by examples, those should not be considered as limiting the claims, since it will be understood by those skilled in this art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
Patent Application
20050258723
