Height adjustable leg assembly

Abstract

A multi-configurable furniture assembly including height adjustable legs, a height adjustable pedestal support structure, a variable height foot support for cabinets and shelves and a panel wall assembly where each of the separate assemblies have finished and high quality appearances after a configuration is constructed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary furniture system, including several different assemblies that are consistent with various aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing components that form part of an exemplary height adjustable pedestal assembly;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of some of the components shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side plan view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1 showing a foot assembly according to at least some inventive embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the exemplary foot support assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the foot support assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6 showing various mounting components that form a portion of the foot support assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9 showing a channel formed by an upper horizontal member;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 9 showing the cross-section of a vertical upright member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the leg assemblies of FIG. 1 attached to the undersurface of a table top;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the leg assembly of FIG. 12, albeit not attached to the undersurface of a table top;

FIG. 14 is a side plan view of one of the leg assemblies of FIG. 1 taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of the leg assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a wall assembly of FIG. 1 where a shelf/cabinet assembly and the foot assembly are shown in phantom and tackboard inserts or filler members are included;

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of a portion of the wall assembly of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view shown in part in cross-section of the wall assembly of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is similar to FIG. 20, albeit illustrating a second wall assembly embodiment that does not include tackboards or filler members;

FIG. 22 is an exploded side view of the wall assembly of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is similar to FIG. 20, albeit illustrating a third wall assembly embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a front plan view of a desk assembly including an adjustable pedestal support similar to the support shown in FIGS. 1-5 and a leg support like the leg shown in FIGS. 12-16; and

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24, albeit showing a different desk assembly.

Claims

1. An adjustable length leg assembly for use with a table top member having an undersurface, the leg assembly comprising: a first elongated member having a length dimension between first and second oppositely extending ends, including an external surface, forming an internal channel that extends at least part way along the length dimension at the first end and forming at least a first opening that opens into the internal channel proximate the first end;a second elongated member having a length dimension between first and second oppositely extending ends, wherein the second end of the second elongated member is receivable within the internal channel and wherein one of the first end of the second elongated member and the second end of the first elongated member is mounted to the undersurface of the top member;at least a first fastener extending through the first opening and into the channel, the first fastener operable to engage the second elongated member in the channel to retain the second elongated member position with respect to the first elongated member; anda cover member supported by the external surface of the first elongated member proximate the first opening so as to impede view of the fastener.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the external surface of the first elongated member forms an external channel, the first opening extends from the external channel to the internal channel and wherein the cover is supported within the external channel.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the external surface forms ribs that extend within the external channel and wherein the cover member engages the ribs.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the cover member is resiliently deformable and includes first and second lateral edges that engage the ribs to retain the cover member within the external channel.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the portion of the first elongated member that forms the external channel includes first and second substantially flat internal wall members and a substantially flat intermediate wall member that links the first and second internal wall members together, the first and second internal wall members forming first and second wall surfaces and the intermediate wall member forming the opening, the first and second wall surfaces forming the ribs.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first and second internal wall members are substantially perpendicular to each other.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the internal channel is substantially L-shaped in cross section and forms an internal channel bearing surface, the second elongated member is substantially L-shaped in cross section and forms fastener and channel engaging bearing surfaces, the opening is threaded, the fastener includes a threaded shaft having internal and external ends, the shaft is received in the threaded opening with the internal end of the shaft engaging the fastener engaging bearing surface with the channel engaging bearing surface bearing against the internal channel bearing surface.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the fastener engaging bearing surface forms recesses along a portion of the length of the second elongated member for receiving the internal end of the shaft.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first elongated member forms a second opening and wherein the assembly further includes a second fastener that extends through the second opening to engage the second elongated member.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the openings are threaded and wherein the fasteners include bolts threadably received within the openings.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second elongated member is mounted to the undersurface of the top member.

12. An adjustable length leg assembly for use with a table top member having an undersurface, the leg assembly comprising: a first elongated member having a length dimension between first and second oppositely extending ends, forming internal and external channels that extend at least part way along the length dimension at the first end and forming at least a first opening that opens from the external channel into the internal channel proximate the first end;a second elongated member having a length dimension between first and second oppositely extending ends, wherein the second end of the second elongated member is receivable within the internal channel and wherein one of the first end of the second elongated member and the second end of the first elongated member is mounted to the undersurface of the top member; andat least a first fastener including internal and external oppositely extending ends, the first fastener positionable with the external end accessible from within the external channel and the internal end located within the internal channel and engaging the second elongated member within the channel to maintain the position of the second elongated member with respect to the first elongated member.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the external end of the fastener is disposed within the external channel.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the external channel is open along at least one side thereof.

15. The assembly of claim 14 further including a cover member for closing the open side of the external channel, the cover member mountable within the external channel.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the cover member is formed of resilient plastic.

17. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the external channel is a concave substantially V-shaped channel.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the external channel is substantially L-shaped.

19. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the opening is threaded, the fastener includes a threaded shaft and wherein the internal end of the shaft bears against the second elongated member and presses the second elongated member against a bearing surface formed within the internal channel to maintain the position of the second elongated member with respect to the first elongated member.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the first elongated member forms a second threaded opening that opens from the external channel into the internal channel and wherein the assembly further includes a second fastener that extends through the second opening to engage the second elongated member.

21. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the table top member includes a peripheral edge and wherein the second elongated member is mounted to the undersurface of the top member proximate the peripheral edge with the external channel facing away from the peripheral edge and facing a space below the top member.

22. An adjustable length leg assembly for use with a table top member having an undersurface, the leg assembly comprising: a first elongated member having a length dimension between first and second oppositely extending ends, the first elongated member including first and second outer wall members, first and second inner wall members, an intermediate wall member and first and second end wall members that form a substantially V-shaped internal channel, the first and second outer wall members linked along adjacent edges and forming an angle, the intermediate wall member linked along one edge to an adjacent edge of the first inner wall member and linked along an opposite edge to an adjacent edge of the second inner wall member where the first and second inner wall members form an angle, the first end wall linking an edge of the first outer wall member opposite the second outer wall member to an edge of the first inner wall member opposite the intermediate wall member such that the first outer wall member and the first inner wall member are substantially parallel, the second end wall linking an edge of the second outer wall member opposite the first outer wall member to an edge of the second inner wall member opposite the intermediate wall member such that the second outer wall member and the second inner wall member are substantially parallel, the intermediate wall member forming at least a first threaded opening that opens into the internal channel;a second elongated member that includes first and second ends, the second end of the second elongated member including first and second lateral members and an intermediate member, opposite edges of the intermediate member linking the first and second lateral members such that the first and second lateral members form an angle substantially similar to the angle formed by the first and second outer wall members, the second end of the second elongated member receivable within the internal channel; anda fastener including a threaded shaft having internal and external ends, the shaft receivable within the opening with the internal end bearing against the intermediate member and the first and second lateral members bearing against the first and second outer wall members, respectively, to maintain the position of the second elongated member with respect to the first elongated member;wherein one of the first end of the second elongated member and the second end of the first elongated member is mounted to the undersurface of the top member.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the first end of the second elongated member is mounted to the undersurface of the top member.

24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the first and second outer members form a substantially right angle, the first and second inner members form a substantially right angle and wherein the first and second lateral members form a substantially right angle.

25. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the external end of the fastener is accessible within the space between the first and second inner wall members.

26. The assembly of claim 25 further including a cover member mounted between the first and second inner wall members that extends substantially along the length of the first elongated member.