MODULAR CONFERENCE TABLE
A modular conference table allows meeting participants and office staff to quickly and effectively change the length of the conference table as the needs of the meeting participants change. The present invention includes a tabletop assembly including a first end-top, a second end-top, and a modular insert top. Additionally, modular conference table includes a leg assembly upholding the tabletop assembly. The legs assembly includes two terminal supports and center supports. The modular conference table can be expanded in order to accommodate the needs of the user by adding an additional number of modular insert tops, modesty panels, and center supports. Thus, the invention allows attendees of meetings and office staff to adjust the size of a conference table according to the size of the space or the needs of the user.
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A. Field of Invention
This continuation application claims priority to a utility patent application, Ser. No. 13/346,779, filed Jan. 10, 2012, which claims priority to provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/471,404, filed Apr. 4, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses concerning conference tables and more specifically relates to methods and apparatuses concerning a modular conference table which is expandable and retractable according to the space available.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is long known in the art to provide conference tables for group meeting rooms. Manufacturers of conference tables must manufacture different sized tabletops of different lengths to suit the needs of consumers. For example, a manufacturer must manufacture a shorter tabletop for those buyers with a small amount of space in which to accommodate a conference table. Conversely, a manufacturer must manufacture a longer tabletop for those buyers with a larger amount of space in which to accommodate a conference table. However, furniture making and building techniques must advance to efficiently handle differing consumer needs and space availability.
Further, if the number of persons using a conference table changes, the consumer may desire to increase or decrease the size of the conference table. This means that the furniture manufacturers must do more than simply provide a conference table, but must provide a conference table that is expandable and retractable in a user-friendly way. It is still desirable, however, to provide an easy way for meeting participants and office staff to quickly and effectively change the length of the conference table as the needs of the meeting participants change. This will allow attendees of the meetings to adjust the size of a conference table according to the size of the space or the needs of the user.
What is needed, then, is a modular conference table that allows for the easy adjustment of the length of the conference table according to consumer needs and the amount of space available. As a result, the length of the conference table may be adjusted by the addition or removal of inserts which comprise the conference tabletop and by the addition and removal of the center supports.
II. SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment, a modular conference table includes (1) a tabletop assembly including (a) a first end-top, (b) a second end-top and (c) a modular insert top which includes at least one elongated central opening in which a grommet is placed where the modular insert top is interposed between the first and second end-tops to form a singular elongated work surface, (2) a leg assembly upholding the tabletop assembly where the leg assembly includes (a) a first terminal support perpendicularly attached to the first end-top, (b) a second terminal support perpendicularly attached to the second end-top and (c) a center support located between the terminal supports and perpendicularly attached to the modular insert top, and (3) two modesty panels (a) wherein the first modesty panel is interposed between the first terminal support and the center support (b) wherein the second modesty panel is interposed between the second terminal support and the center support and (c) where each modesty panel is perpendicularly attached to the elongated work surface.
According to another embodiment, a modular conference table includes (1) a tabletop assembly including (a) a first end-top, (b) a second end-top and (c) at least two modular insert tops which are aligned with one another to form an inner tabletop assembly where the inner tabletop assembly formed by the modular insert tops is interposed between the first and second end-tops to form an elongated work surface, (2) a leg assembly upholding the tabletop assembly where the leg assembly includes (a) a first terminal support perpendicularly attached to the first end-top, (b) a second terminal support perpendicularly attached to the second end-top and (c) at least two center supports located between the terminal supports and perpendicularly attached to each modular insert top, and (3) at least three modesty panels where each modesty panel is perpendicularly attached to the elongated work surface and (a) where the at least three modesty panels are perpendicularly attached to the elongated work surface and (b) where the at least three modesty panels are also located between the first and second terminal supports.
According to yet another embodiment, a method may comprise the steps of: (A) inserting cam pins, dowel rods, and double cam pins into existing holes in a first and a second terminal support, a first and a second end-top, a first and a second modular insert top, and an alpha, a beta, and a gamma modesty panel; (B) attaching the first and second modular insert tops to one another such that each modular insert top is abutted end-to-end with the other and is aligned to form an inner tabletop assembly and tightening the associated cam locks; (C) attaching the first and second end-tops to opposite ends of the inner tabletop assembly such that the inner table assembly and the first and second end-tops are abutted end-to-end with one another and are aligned to form an elongated work surface; (D) attaching the first center support to the first modular insert top and tightening the associated cam locks; (E) attaching the beta modesty panel to the first center support and the first and second insert tops and tightening the associated cam locks; (F) attaching the second center support to the second insert top and tightening the associated cam locks; (G) attaching the gamma modesty panel to the second center support, the second insert top, the second end-top and tightening the associated cam locks; (H) attaching the second terminal support to the second end-top and the gamma modesty panel and tightening the associated cam locks; (I) attaching the alpha modesty panel to the first center support, the first insert top, and the first end-top and tightening the associated cam locks; (J) attaching the first terminal support to the first end-top and the alpha modesty panel and tightening the associated cam locks.
Many benefits and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components,
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According to yet another embodiment, a method may comprise the following steps. First, referring to
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The embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within its scope.
Furthermore, notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:
Claims
1. A table comprising:
- a substantially planar top surface, wherein the top surface includes two non-contiguous end portions;
- at least one a terminal support extending perpendicular from the two non-contiguous end portions; and,
- at least two insertable top portion assemblies, wherein each insertable top portion assembly consists of: an insertable top portion and at least one a second terminal support, wherein the insertable top portions are between the end portions, wherein the at least one second terminal support extends perpendicularly from each of the top portions, wherein the at least two top portions and the two non-contiguous end portions form a substantially flat surface, wherein the at least two insertable top portions are removably attached to at least one of the end portions, wherein the at least one second terminal support is substantially in the center of the insertable top portion.
2. The table of claim 1, wherein the at least one second terminal support is removably attached to each of the at least two top portions.
3. The table of claim 1, wherein the at least two insertable top portions comprise at least three insertable top portions, wherein all of the top portions are between the end portions.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one top portion is at least three top portions.
5. The table of claim 1, wherein the terminal supports and the center supports have a substantially centrally located notch on a connecting side, wherein the connecting side is connected to the substantially planar top surface.
6. The table of claim 1, wherein the modesty panels have a left-side and a right side notch, wherein the modesty panel notches coincide with the notch in the supports, when connected to the substantially planar top surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2014
Publication Date: Feb 26, 2015
Applicant: REGENCY SEATING, INC. (AKRON, OH)
Inventor: AARON SUMMERVILLE (CANAL FULTON, OH)
Application Number: 14/530,216