The present disclosure relates to wire management systems and, more particularly, wire management systems for conference tables.
In one embodiment, a table includes a plurality of legs, a work surface supported by the plurality of legs, a lower rail spaced apart from the work surface and extending between the plurality of legs, and a cable clip. The lower rail includes a channel disposed in an underside of the lower rail. The cable clip is receivable by the channel of the lower rail. The cable clip includes a deformable channel configured to receive cables.
In another embodiment, a table includes one or more legs, a work surface, and a tray assembly. The work surface is supported by the one or more legs. The tray assembly is positioned beneath the work surface. The tray assembly includes a tray and a hinge. The hinge includes a first part and a second part. The first part is coupled to the work surface and supports the tray. The second part is coupled to the work surface separately from the first part and secures the tray on the first part.
In a further embodiment, a method for assembling a tray assembly to a work surface of a table includes coupling a first part of a hinge to an underside of the work surface and hanging a tray from the first part of the hinge while the first part of the hinge is coupled to the underside of the work surface. The method further includes, coupling a second part of the hinge to the underside of the work surface to secure the tray on the first part of the hinge, after hanging the tray from the first part of the hinge.
In a further embodiment, a table includes one or more legs, a work surface, a rail, and a sling assembly. The work surface is supported by the one or more legs. The rail is coupled to an underside of the work surface. The sling assembly is positioned beneath the work surface. The sling assembly includes a sling, a valence, and a securing clip. The valence is coupled to an edge of the sling. The securing clip is removably coupled to the rail. The valence is removably coupled to the securing clip.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The work surface 12, or tabletop, is coupled to the plurality of legs 14 via a support frame 18 positioned on an underside of the work surface 12. The support frame 18 may be coupled to the work surface 12 via fasteners, adhesive, and the like. The illustrated support frame 18 includes a plurality of leg brackets 20, one or more support rails 22, and one or more lower rails 24. The leg brackets 20 connect to the first ends of the legs 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the support frame 18 includes two support rails 22 (
The table 10 includes a wire or cable management system 26 integrated into the table 10. The wire management system 26 helps route wires (e.g., electrical wires, power cords, data cables, etc.) from, for example, the floor to power receptacles, outlets, and/or ports on or near the work surface 12.
With reference to
As shown in
The first part 44 of the hinge 36 includes a coupling element 56. The coupling element 56 is located at an end of the first part 44. The coupling element 56 is configured to couple the hinge 36 to one of the support rails 22 to help locate the hinge 36 on the underside of the work surface 12. The illustrated coupling element 56 includes winged arms 60 that abut an outer surface of the support rail 22 and hooked arms 64 that interact with an opening 68 in the upper rail 22. The coupling element 56 further includes a finger 72 that extends downwardly from the hooked arms 64. Once the hooked arms 64 have been hooked into the opening 68 in the rail 22, the finger 72 inhibits the hooked arms 64 from becoming unhooked from the opening 68.
The first part 44 further includes a support surface 76. The support surface 76 is located at an end of the first part 44 opposite from the coupling element 56. The support surface 76 is the surface on which a first edge of the tray 32 rotates. The support surface 76 also supports the weight of the tray 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the support surface 76 is a curved or arcuate surface. In other embodiments, the support surface 76 may have other configurations.
The second part 48 of the hinge 36 is coupled to the work surface 12 adjacent the first part 44. In particular, the second part 48 abuts the first part 44. When the second part 48 is coupled adjacent the first part 44, the second part 48 encloses the support surface 76 of the first part 44, such that the first edge of the tray 32 is not able to be removed from the support surface 76 of the first part 44.
The second part 48 includes a latching mechanism 84. The latching mechanism 84 helps locate the second part 48 relative to the first part 44 and temporarily secure the second part 48 to the first part 44 before the second part 48 is secured to the work surface 12 by the fastener 52. The illustrated latching mechanism 84 includes deformable arms 88 formed on the second part 48. The deformable arms 88 are configured to engage a protruding end 92 of the first part 44. To couple the second part 48 to the first part 44, the deformable arms 88 are positioned on each side of the protruding end 92. The deformable arms 88 each include a surface 96 that interacts with a protruding end surface 100 once the protruding end 92 has been inserted between the deformable arms 88. The interaction between the surfaces 96 of the deformable arms 88 and the protruding end surfaces 100 holds the second part 48 relative to the first part 44. In order to remove the second part 48 from the first part 44, a user may deform the deformable arms 88, increasing the distance between the deformable arms 88. This provides adequate distance for removal of the protruding end 92.
To install the hinge 36 to the underside of the work surface 12, the coupling element 56 of the first part 44 is inserted into one of the openings 68 in the rail 22. The first part 44 is then coupled to the underside of the work surface 12 via the fastener 52. Thereafter, the first edge of the tray 32 is hung on the support surface 76 of the first part 44. This arrangement allows the first part 44 of the hinge 36 to support the weight of the tray 32 such that a user can continue to install the hinge 36 without having to hold the tray 32. The second part 48 is then positioned adjacent the first part 44 such that the protruding end 92 of the first part 44 is inserted into the deformable arms 88 of the second part 48, coupling the first part 44 to the second part 48 and inhibiting removal of the tray 32 from the hinge 36. Finally, the second part 48 is coupled to the underside of the work surface 12 via the fastener 52.
To remove the second edge 104 from the latch 40, a user presses side surfaces 120 of the latch 40. The side surfaces 120 provide actuators on the latch 40. The side surfaces 120 are formed on a section of the latch 40 opposite from the outer arms 108. Pressing the side surfaces 120 of the latch 40 causes the side surfaces 120 to deflect (e.g., pivot) toward each other. This movement causes the shoulders 112 to also deflect (e.g., pivot) away from the outer arms 108. In some embodiments, the side surfaces 120 and the shoulders 112 are formed from a single piece of resilient material, such as plastic. When each side surface 120 is pushed inwardly by the user, the side surface 120 is rotated about an axis. This movement causes the shoulders 112 to also rotate about the axes, creating additional space between the shoulders 112 and the fingers 116. The additional space allows the second edge 104 of the tray 32 to move out of the space such that the tray 32 can rotate to the open position.
The tray 32 is generally U-shaped to allow wires and other objects to be disposed within the tray 32. In use, the tray 32 is opened via pressing the side surfaces 120 of the latch 40, the wires are placed into the tray 32 or removed from the tray 32. At this time, the tray 32 is in the open position. Thereafter, the tray 32 is rotated such that the latches 40 interact with the second edge 104 of the tray 32. At this time, rotation of the tray 32 back to the open position is inhibited and the tray 32 is maintained in the closed position.
With reference to
The illustrated head 144 includes two tabs 160. The tabs 160 extend vertically downward from upper end 156 of the cable clip 124 toward the engagement portion 148. The tabs 160 are cantilevered relative to the head 144 such that each tab 160 may move (e.g., deflect or bend) relative to the head 144. Each tab 144 includes one or more projections 164 extending outwardly therefrom. When the head 144 is positioned within the second channel portion 140, the projections 164 engage sidewalls of the lower rail 24 that define the second channel portion 140 to inhibit the cable clip 124 from falling or being pulled out of the channel 128. The tabs 160 may be moved (e.g., squeezed) inward by a user to disengage the projections 164 from the sidewalls, allowing the cable clip 124 to be removed from the channel 128.
To insert the cable clip 124 into the lower rail 24, the head 144 is aligned with the second channel portion 140 and pushed upward. As the head 144 is pushed upward, the tabs 160 deflect inwardly such that the projections 164 clear the sidewalls of the second channel portion 140. The tabs 160 then deflect back outwardly to engage the sidewalls of the second channel portion 140 and hold the cable clip 124 relative to the lower rail 24. In some embodiments, the projections 164 create a friction fit between the cable clip 124 and the lower rail 24, inhibiting the cable clip 124 from sliding within the channel 128 along the length of the lower rail 24. In other embodiments, the cable clip 124 is slidable within the channel 128 along the length of the lower rail 24 to adjust the position of the cable clip 124 relative to the lower rail 24.
The engagement portion 148 includes a plurality of claws 168. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement portion 148 includes four claws 168, with two claws 168 being positioned on each side of the cable clip 124. In other embodiments, the engagement portion 148 may include fewer or more claws 168. The claws 168 define a deformable channel 172 between an upper surface 176 of each claw 168 and the head 144. The deformable channel 172 is configured to receive cables or wires to hold the cables or wires relative to the lower rail 24. The claws 168 are also spaced apart from each other. In particular, one claw 168 on each side is generally aligned with another claw 168 on the other side, but with a slight gap between the claws 168. The gap is generally smaller than a width or diameter of the cables or wires to be held in the engagement portion 148. As such, the cables or wires may be pushed through the gap and into the deformable channel 172 by slightly deforming or deflecting the claws 168, but the claws inhibit the cables or wires from falling out of the deformable channel 172 back through the gap.
With reference to
In use, the cable clips 128, 180 disposed on the lower rail 24 and/or the feet 16 may hold wires and cables for the table. In some embodiments, the wires and cables may be received in the cable clips 128, 180 such that the wires and cables are fed from the floor (or other source) along the underside surface 184 of the foot 16, along the underside 132 of the lower rail 24, up the hollow interior of one of the legs 14, and into the tray 32. The cable clips 128, 180 allow the wires and cables to be discreetly positioned within the table 10, reducing visibility of the wires and cables.
As shown in
The valence 336 is coupled to an edge of the sling 332. Although only one valence 336 is shown in
The sling assembly 328 also includes one or more securing clips 348, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When the valence 336 is coupled to the securing clip 348, however, the valence 336 inhibits the upper tab 376 from moving toward the lower hook 372, thereby inhibiting the rail engagement portion 352 from unintentionally disengaging the support rail 322. As such, the valence 336 is typically connected to the securing clip 348 after the securing clip 348 is coupled to the support rail 322, and is typically removed from the securing clip 348 before the securing clip 348 is removed from the support rail 322.
Although the sling assembly 328 is illustrated with respect to one of the support rails 322, the sling assembly 328 may include a second valence and one or more securing clips to connect the sling assembly 328 to the other support rail 322. Alternatively, the sling assembly 328 may be permanently coupled to the other support rail 322 or may be coupled to the other support rail 322 using other suitable mechanisms (e.g., a hinge).
Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/927,641, filed Oct. 29, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2020/057802 | 10/28/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2021/087010 | 5/6/2021 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1786823 | Carrington et al. | Dec 1930 | A |
4094561 | Wolff et al. | Jun 1978 | A |
4296981 | Hildebrandt et al. | Oct 1981 | A |
4382642 | Burdick | May 1983 | A |
4535703 | Henriott et al. | Aug 1985 | A |
4748913 | Favaretto et al. | Jun 1988 | A |
4948205 | Kelley | Aug 1990 | A |
5103741 | Grund | Apr 1992 | A |
5144896 | Fortsch | Sep 1992 | A |
5231562 | Pierce | Jul 1993 | A |
5277131 | Fortsch | Jan 1994 | A |
5640912 | Diffrient | Jun 1997 | A |
5673632 | Sykes | Oct 1997 | A |
5934201 | Diffrient | Aug 1999 | A |
5934203 | Glass | Aug 1999 | A |
5957062 | Cox | Sep 1999 | A |
5971508 | Deimen et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5971509 | Deimen et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
6152048 | Vander Park | Nov 2000 | A |
6202567 | Funk | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6293506 | Gutgsell | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6327983 | Cronk et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6329599 | Zimmerman | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6336414 | Stewart | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6349655 | Carr et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6360675 | Jones | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6402106 | Padiak | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6410855 | Berkowitz | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6415723 | Kopish | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6435106 | Funk et al. | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6448498 | King et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6564723 | Shapton | May 2003 | B2 |
6629505 | Cronk et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6647900 | Kopish | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6769747 | Chan et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6817684 | Cattaneo | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6848369 | King | Feb 2005 | B1 |
6895868 | Cronk et al. | May 2005 | B1 |
7066097 | Gayhart et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7191713 | Hart et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7975624 | Henriott | Jul 2011 | B2 |
9345319 | Heuel | May 2016 | B1 |
20020043183 | Insalaco | Apr 2002 | A1 |
20040149177 | Gayhart | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20060081157 | Gayhart et al. | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20060196995 | Mori | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20070204537 | Bastian | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20080121147 | Cooke | May 2008 | A1 |
20090255702 | Mitchell | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20090284655 | Lukes | Nov 2009 | A1 |
20090310291 | Willburn | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100024687 | Preiss | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100024688 | Kitada | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20130248242 | Beldock | Sep 2013 | A1 |
20150096472 | Papic | Apr 2015 | A1 |
20150230355 | George | Aug 2015 | A1 |
20150282612 | Rutz | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20180014634 | Pizzinato | Jan 2018 | A1 |
20180090915 | Byrne | Mar 2018 | A1 |
20190069669 | Hall et al. | Mar 2019 | A1 |
20190159589 | Mastry | May 2019 | A1 |
20190357676 | Matthai | Nov 2019 | A1 |
20190379172 | Alexander | Dec 2019 | A1 |
20200390237 | Cvek | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20210212452 | Colin | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210226430 | Gieselmann | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210353050 | Egger | Nov 2021 | A1 |
20220099125 | Fung | Mar 2022 | A1 |
20230030047 | Roussel | Feb 2023 | A1 |
20230255347 | Jiang | Aug 2023 | A1 |
20230397719 | Ryöppy | Dec 2023 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2011224241 | Nov 2011 | JP |
0119952 | Jul 1998 | KR |
20050015212 | Feb 2005 | KR |
WO2004008911 | Jan 2004 | WO |
WO2010083425 | Jul 2010 | WO |
WO2011136740 | Nov 2011 | WO |
WO2011153326 | Dec 2011 | WO |
WO2011153329 | Dec 2011 | WO |
WO2016133820 | Aug 2016 | WO |
WO2017139019 | Aug 2017 | WO |
WO2018149860 | Aug 2018 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report with Written Opinion for related Application No. PCT/US2020/057802 dated Mar. 5, 2021 (13 Pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220395090 A1 | Dec 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62927641 | Oct 2019 | US |