APPARATUS FOR FRAMING A GLASS PANEL OF A TABLE

Abstract

There is disclosed a table including a panel, a buffer and a metal frame. The panel is used for bearing articles. The buffer is put beneath the panel. The buffer is elastic in order to absorb impacts from the panel. The metal frame is put around the panel and the buffer in order to secure the buffer to the panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a table and, more particularly, to an apparatus for framing a glass panel of a table.

2. Related Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a table including a glass panel 1 and a metal frame 2 around the glass panel 1 for protective and aesthetic purposes. However, without any buffer between the glass panel 1 and the metal frame 2, they tend to cause damages to each other when the glass panel 1 takes a heavy load. In addition, since the glass panel 1 is made with a limited thickness and the metal frame 2 is made with a limited width accordingly, the glass panel 1 looks thin and fragile, not thick and solid.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a table including a panel, a buffer and a metal frame. The panel is used for bearing articles. The buffer is put beneath the panel. The buffer is elastic in order to absorb impacts from the panel. The metal frame is put around the panel and the buffer in order to secure the buffer to the panel.

An advantage of the table according to the present invention is that the panel looks thick and solid. The buffer is put beneath the panel, and the metal frame is put around the panel and the buffer, the width of the metal frame is large. Hence, it provides an illusion that the panel is as thick as the frame.

Another advantage of the table according to the present invention is that it is strong and lasts long. The buffer is put between the lower surface of the panel and the lower edge of the metal frame. In other words, the contact of the panel with the lower edge of the metal frame is elastic and indirect. When the panel bears an abrupt heavy load, the buffer absorbs an impact. Thus, the panel and the metal frame do not cause any damage to each other. The panel not only can take an abrupt heavy load but also can last for a long time.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table consisting of a glass panel and a conventional metal frame around the glass panel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a table including a glass table and an apparatus for framing the glass panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the table shown in FIG. 2.

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

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the table shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but shows an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a table including a glass panel and an apparatus for framing the glass panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a table according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another table according to the present invention.

FIGS. 10 is a perspective view of still another table according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a table includes a panel 10 and an apparatus for framing the panel 10. The apparatus includes a buffer 20 and a metal frame 30.

The panel 10 is used to bear articles. The glass panel 10 may be made of glass.

The buffer 20 is put beneath the glass panel 10 along the edge of the glass panel 10. To this end, the buffer 20 includes an annular form corresponding to the edge of the glass panel 10. The buffer 20 is an elastic element in order to absorb an impact from the glass panel 10 when the glass panel 10 is subject to a heavy load. The buffer 20 may be made from an elastic polymer.

The metal frame 30 is put around the glass panel 10 and the buffer 20. Referring to FIG. 4, by means of a pressing machine, an upper edge 31 of the metal frame 30 is pressed against the glass panel 10, and a lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30 is pressed against the buffer 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, the upper edge 31 extends to the glass panel 10, and the lower edge 32 is parallel to the glass panel 10. Because the buffer 20 is put beneath the glass panel 10, and the metal frame 30 is put around the glass panel 10 and the buffer 20, the width of the metal frame 30 is large. Hence, it provides an illusion that the glass panel 10 is as thick as the frame 30, i.e., the glass panel 10 looks thick and solid.

It should be noted that the buffer 20 is put between the lower surface of the glass panel 10 and the lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30. That is, the contact of the glass panel 10 with the lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30 is elastic and indirect. When the glass panel 10 bears an abrupt heavy load, the buffer 20 absorbs an impact. Hence, the glass panel 10 and the metal frame 30 do not cause any damage to each other. The glass panel 10 not only can take an abrupt heavy load but also can last for a long time.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a table according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except several things. Firstly, the upper edge 31 is rolled. Secondly, the lower edge 32 is rolled. Thirdly, the thickness of the buffer 20 is reduced.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a table according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the first embodiment except that a wall 33 is formed on the upper edge 31 in order to restrain the articles on the glass panel 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a table including a circular glass panel 10, a post 44 connected to the circular glass panel 10 and a circular base 41 for supporting the post 44.

Referring to FIG. 9, another table includes a square glass panel 10, a post 44 connected to the square glass panel 10 and a square base 42 for supporting the post 44.

Referring to FIG. 10, another table includes two rectangular glass panels 10, two rectangular frames 30 each around one of the rectangular glass panels 10 and four posts 43 connected to the rectangular frames 30.

The apparatus for framing the glass panel 10 exhibits at least two advantages over the frame discussed in the Related Prior Art.

Firstly, the buffer 20 is put beneath the glass panel 10, and the metal frame 30 is put around the glass panel 10 and the buffer 20, the width of the metal frame 30 is large. Hence, it provides an illusion that the glass panel 10 is as thick as the frame 30, i.e., the glass panel 10 looks thick and solid.

Secondly, the buffer 20 is put between the lower surface of the glass panel 10 and the lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30 for buffering. In other words, the contact of the glass panel 10 with the lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30 is elastic and indirect. When the glass panel 10 bears an abrupt heavy load, the buffer 20 absorbs an impact. Thus, the glass panel 10 and the metal frame 30 do not cause any damage to each other. The glass panel 10 not only can take an abrupt heavy load but also can last for a long time.

The present invention has been described through the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

a panel for bearing articles;

a buffer put beneath the panel, the buffer being elastic in order to absorb impacts from the panel; and

a metal frame put around the panel and the buffer in order to secure the buffer to the panel.

2. The table according to claim 1 wherein the panel is made of glass.

3. The table according to claim 1 wherein the buffer is put beneath the panel along the edge of the panel.

4. The table according to claim 1 wherein the buffer is made an elastic polymer.

5. The table according to claim 1 wherein the buffer comprises a shape corresponding to that of the panel.

6. The table according to claim 1 wherein the metal frame comprises an upper edge put against the panel and a lower edge put against the buffer.

7. The table according to claim 6 wherein the upper edge of the metal frame extends towards the panel.

8. The table according to claim 6 wherein the lower edge of the metal frame is parallel to the buffer.

9. The table according to claim 6 wherein the upper edge of the metal frame is rolled.

10. The table according to claim 6 wherein the lower edge is of the metal frame is rolled.

11. The table according to claim 6 wherein the metal frame comprises a wall extending beyond the upper edge for retaining the articles on the panel.

12. The table according to claim 1 comprising a post connected to the panel.

13. The table according to claim 1 comprising four posts connected to the metal frame.