Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Plural related horizontal surfaces – Laterally connected individual units
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-02-06
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Plural related horizontal surfaces
Laterally connected individual units
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182581
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a modular table, such as a conference table, and in particular to a modular table formed of a plurality of modules, each module having a central opening and being formed of three, three-sided sections.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the prior art to form a table of a size that will accommodate the presence of several persons, such as a conference table, by attaching several sections or modules so that their tops are fitted together in a common plane to form the top of a single table. Generally, each module is comprised of a horizontal, planar top, and a support base, which may be of various forms, such as a pedestal or a plurality of legs.
The modules that are joined to form the table may be of a plurality of shapes, such as those illustrated in the following patents:
5,595,126
Yeh
3,741,852
Keener
3,053,598
Cheslow
4,922,835
Van Vliet et al.
5,438,937
Ball et al.
4,732,088
Koechlin et al.
Alternatively, the table can be formed of a plurality of identical modules, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,147 to Shettles al., relating to a table constructed from a plurality of triangular-shaped individual table modules with solid one-piece tops.
These prior art modular tables, however, do not make any provision for utilization with modem computing equipment or other electrical or electronic equipment that must be attached to electrical outlets or other utility outlets that are frequently positioned in the floor beneath the table. In addition, the tops of the modules are costly to manufacture, or have such a small surface area that several modules must be joined to form a work surface suitable for several people. In other constructions, the table requires the joinder of several different shaped modules, resulting in a more expensive product to manufacture, and reducing the number of possible table configurations.
Commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No, 09/216,717, filed Dec. 12, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,398, issued Jan. 11, 2000 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes an improved modular table, such as a conference table, comprised of a plurality of modules that can be arranged in a variety of designs to produce tables of different shapes. Each module has a top with an exterior periphery in the shape of an equilateral triangle, i.e., the top has three sides of equal length. The center of the modular top includes an opening providing access to the floor beneath the table. Each top is formed of three identical triangular sections, each having first and second sides, with the second side being longer than the first side, and a base side that is longer than the second side. The triangular sections are attached to each other in a common plane, with the bases of the triangular sections forming the periphery of the module. That is, when assembled, the base side of each triangular section forms one exterior side of the module.
The table described in the above application exhibits several desirable properties, including ease and economies of manufacture, and the flexibility to assemble the table modules in numerous ways to provide tables of the desired overall configuration. However, there is still a need for conference tables, and other tables that can be configured in yet other designs that are not possible with the sections provided in the above application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to tables, such as conference tables, comprised of a plurality of modules that can be arranged in a variety of designs to produce tables of different shapes. Each module has a top with a three-sided exterior periphery, and is constructed of three three-sided sections, each having a base side, and first and second side. The three-sided sections are attached to each other in a plane, with the base sides of the three-sided sections forming the periphery of the module. That is, when assembled, the base side of each three-sided section forms one side of the module.
Unlike the modules described in the foregoing application, which are constructed of three identical sections, the modules of the present invention are constructed by combining sections of two different designs. The modules of the present invention can then be combined with each other and/or with the modules described in the foregoing application to form modular tables of various designs.
The present modules are constructed of a first section that is the same as the section used to construct modules in the foregoing application, and a second section differing from the first section in that the base side of the section is convex. In addition, a table can be formed by combining three of the second sections.
In the first section, each side is straight, and the angle at the juncture of the first and second sides, i.e., the apex of the triangle, is 120°. Therefore, the sum of the angles between the base and the first side, and the base and the second side is equal 60°. Preferably the angle between the base and the first side is from about 31° to about 45°, and even more preferably, for about 35° to about 40°.
The second section differs from the first section in that the base side of the three-sided section, i.e., the side forming a part of the outer periphery of the module, is convex instead of straight. That is, the base side of the section curves outwardly from the other two sides of the module section. As will be seen in the attached drawings, a combination of these first and second sections can be used to produce three-section modules of various useful designs. Moreover, three of these second sections can also be combined to form a table top that can be used alone.
The second modular section is similar to the first section, in that it is has first and second sides and a base side, and three corners. The angle at the juncture of the first and second sides is 120°. The sum of the angles between a straight line drawn through the corners at each end of the base side, referred to herein as the baseline, and the first and second sides is equal 60°. Preferably the angle between the baseline and the first side is from about 31° to about 45°, and even more preferably, for about 35° to about 40°, with the angle between the baseline and the second side being the difference between 60° and the angle between the baseline and the first side.
A module can be assembled by combining three of the first sections as shown in the foregoing application; three of the above-described second section; two of the first sections with one of the second sections; or two of the second sections with one of the first sections. All sections used in forming a given module will have first sides of the same length, and second sides of the same length.
When a module is assembled, the first side of each section is aligned with and abuts the second side of another section. All of the triangular sections are turned in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction when viewed from the top. As a result, of this orientation, the fact that the first side of each segment is shorter than the second side, and the fact that the first and second sides of all sections forming a given module have the same dimensions, a triangular-shaped opening is left in the center of the assembled module so that utilities can be extended from beneath the table to the table surface.
Modular table tops can be constructed of various combinations of modules. That is, a table top can be constructed of at least two modules, with each module being constructed of two of the first sections and one of the second sections. Other table tops can be constructed of at least two modules, with each module being constructed of one of the first sections and two of the second sections. Still other tables can be constructed of at least two modules, with one module being formed of two of the first sections and one of the second section, and the other module being formed of one of the first sections and two of the second sections.
When two sections
Boyce Products Ltd.
Rhodes & Mason PLLC
Wilkens Janet M.
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