US2943898A - Sheet metal table having hollow end panels supporting the table top - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1960 H. G. KNUTH 2,943,898

SHEET METAL TABLE HAVING HOLLOW END PANELS SUPPORTING THE TABLE TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1958 5O HARVEY G. KNUT July 5, 1960 H. G. KNUTH 2,943,898

SHEET METAL TABLE HAVING HOLLOW END PANELS SUPPORTING THE TABLE: TOP Filed Sept. 4, 1958 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. HARVEY G. KNUTH E BY 44 9% flmW/W 2,943,898 Patented July 5, 1960 SHEET METAL TABLE HAVING HoLLow END PANELS SUPPORTING Tun TABLE TUP Filed Sept. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 759,032

7 Claims. (Cl. 311-110) This invention relates to a sheet metal ofice table and more particularly to a table having hollow end panels supporting the table top.

Contemporary sheetmetal tables, particularly of the type having hollow supporting end panels, have not been entirely satisfactory chiefly because of their expense; the difliculties and expense of assembling and disassembling the supports, particularly hollow end panels, to the table top and the excessive lateral flexibility of the hollow end panels.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a sheet metal table of materially reduced cost but superior quality and improved rigidity and which is capable of such simple and rapid assembly. and disassembly without tools of any kind as to eliminate any need for factory assembly of the table or shipping or moving the table in 3 assembled form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table having hollow, top supporting end panels, and panel securing means fixed to and projecting from the end side of the table top and so constructed as to be readily telescoped into the end panels and upon being telescoped to automatically and properly locate, and relatively align, the end panels and also rigidify the panels and secure the same in rigid relation to the table top.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a table of the contemporary hollow end type so constructed that the two end panels may be quickly and efiectively secured against detachment and in rigid relation to the table top by a minimum number of fastening elements and without use of tools. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of, and from below, a.' table embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, and partially in section, of the top of the table in Figure l. and showing the structure of an end panel locating and rigidifying bracket;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawings, a sheet metal ofice table embodyingv the invention comprises a table top 2, two hollow end panels or leg members 4 supporting the table top and a drawer 6 and end panel or leg securing means 8, Figures 2 to 5.

The table top 2 comprises a'sheet metal plate or top panel 10 which may be covered by linoleum top covering 12 encompassed by a stainless steel trim molding 13 which circumscribes the periphery of the top plate 10 and linoleum top cover 12. The top 2 also comprises a supporting frame work consisting of a pair of longituin vertical dinal box panels 14 and 16 having oppositely directed, outwardly turned side flanges :18 spot welded to the top plate at spaced points and an edge frame member 20. The edge frame member 20 comprises a box channel 22 interfitted with a generally L-shaped channel member 24. The box channel 22 is formed with an outer box flange 26 extending perpendicularly to the web of the channel and an inward box flange 28 inclined outwardly and upwardly from the web and terminating in an outwardly directed flange 30 spot welded at spaced points to the inner end portion of the top inwardly directed horizontal flange 32 of the channel 24. It will be apparent that the outer flange 26 of the channel 22 reinforces the web of channel 24 and the channel 22 as a whole reinforces the top supporting flange 32 of the channel 24.

The channel 24 is also formed with an inwardly directed flange 34 underlying the web of the box channel 22 to provide a smooth, rounded lower edge for the table top frame and may be secured to the web of the channel 22 by spot welding at spaced points. It will be evident that the channel 24 extends along the four sides of the table top and provides the usual table skirt.

Each of the hollow end panels or leg members 4 pref- .erably comprises a pair of sheet metal plates or panels 36 and 38 having opposite inwardly ofiset end portions 40 and 42 fitting into the generally U-shaped end closures 44 formed of sheet metal and secured to the plates 36 and 38 by suitably spot welding to the inwardly olfset end portions 40 and 42 of the plates. The plates 36 and 38 may be formed at their lower opposite edges with inturned flanges such as 46 and 48 terminating just short of the offset end portions 40 and 42 and jointed centrally by one or more splice plates spot welded to the inturned flanges. Also as shown in Figure 1, plates 36 and 38 may be similarly formed at their top opposite edges with similar inturned flanges 47 and 49 likewise'secured together centrally by one or more of the splice plates 50 spot welded thereto. The end panels also include adjustable feet comprising buttons 52 secured to externally threaded pins 54 received in internally threaded flanged nuts or bushings 56 spot welded to mounting plates 58 having downwardly turned flanges in turn spot welded to the side of the end closures 44.

The drawer 6 is a sheet metal drawer of the usual type and it is slidably mounted on a pair of opposed drawer guides 59 which are supported by spot welding them, respectively, to one of a pair of =L-shaped cross rails-61 which are supported by spot welds on the box channels 14 and i8 and extend between a rear rail and front rails 62 and 64. The rails 6t 62 and 64 may be secured in any convenient manner to the web of the box channel 22 at the rear and front of the table top, the rail 60 extending between the end panels 4 and having inwardly turned flanges such as 66 at opposite ends thereof to abut the inner faces of the end panels. The rails 62 and 64 extend between the drawer and an adjacent end panel and are formed with flanges, such as 63, at their outer ends to abut the end panels 4.

The end panels are each secured relative to the table top and rigidified by a pair of panel securing means 3 positioned to telescope with the end closures 44. Each panel securing means comprises a single piece of sheet metal slit and bent to form an upwardly inclined mounting flange '70 spot welded to the upwardly and inwardly inclined flange 28 of the box channel 22 and a main body portion 72 of a width equal to the internal width of the I e respect to the front and rear edges of the table top. It

may he" noted that the street metal of the panel securing 'for insertion in said openings, and wing nuts for'securing means is formed was cut-outs 84 to permit therproper i p curvm "g of the lower'edg portions 78, 80 and S2 ffom'the side flanges and main body of the panel securing or bracket. 7 l e V V I The opposed sides 74 and 76 of the securing means 8, the oppositesides: of the closures 44 and the panel abutting flanges, and 681315 the front and rear rails are provided with'pnnc'hed square openings 86 which receive carriage the" s'qfiar'eshankportion er each't' carriage bolt fitting, non-rotatably," in the square opening in the outer faces of 'the closures 44 and the flanges 74 of the panel securing means 8. vWing nuts 9%), and suitable washers 92, on the innef n'ds'of. the bolts clamp against the inturned flanges 66 and 68 ofthe front'and rear rails 60, 62. and 64 so as tbfdetachablyQsecure each end "pmel 4 to a pair of the panel securing means 8'. Panel securing means 8 are of suificient length on the order of one-quarter the height-oi a the end panels, to substantially increase the rigidity of the 7 end panels against lateral flexibility and inward distortion ity of brackets for securing said end panels to said table top, said brackets being secured to' certain of said box, channels and having spaced flanges for telescoping into 7 said hollow'end panels in wall reinforcing engagement with the inner surfaces of said end panels, said brackets and said end panels having aligned openings therein, bolts said bolts when inserted insaid openings whereby detachably to-secure said panels to'said panel locating and rigidifying brackets.

3. A sheet met I and depending therefrom, ,saidbrackets each comprising a one'piece' sheet metal member having a main body porsauna at each upper corner of the two end panels,

tion and spaced parallel flanges extending perpendicular to the main body portion, said flanges at said lower ends having inwardly curved camming tongues, and hollow t sl mi i /ca ta a s fitfine i h s b ack by sliding over said brackets when said cammingtongues are inserted in said end panels and the end panels moved or slid toward the table top."

,4. A sheet metal t ble comprising a sheet metal table top having front and'rear rails depending therefi'om'said rails having at their outer ends inturned apertured flanges, hollow leg panels ea'eh comprising. a pair of sheet metal plates, closure members secured to and joining" the vertical 7 ends of the sheet metal'plates and panel securing means thereby sewing not only to provide a more rigid table supflort'ingf structure but also to prevent distortion or bending'of end panels assuring ease of disassembly and'sub's'equent ire-assembly. t

It will be evident that the table may be shipped in kfiock'e'd-do'wn form and readily assembled without use of tools of 'a'nykiz'id by inverting the table top with the panel securing means 8 projectingupwardly and thereafter the end panels in inverted. position easily and readily slide and telescope overior onto the panel securing brackets S which brackets automatically locate the panels in proper position perpendicular to the front and rear edges or rails of the aligned square openings 86 andthe placing of the washers 92 and the placing of the wingnuts 901 on the four bolts .88 the end panels are rigidly but detachably interlocked the table top; Itshould also be noted that the camming ends 78, 80 and 82 of. the panel securing brackets facilitate this telescoping of the end panels with the brackets and insure a close, tight, frictional fit between the panels and the brackets. Dimensional tolerances in the width. of theend panels are compensated by the cammingaction ofwthe brackets- I It is apparent that widely difierent; embodiments of thisinven-tion' may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof; and, therefore,.. it is not intended to be limitedcxcept'as indicated in the appended claims. t

1. A sheet metal table-including a table top comprising oppositely facing interfitted channels forming a peripheral frame a top panel secured-to said frame, hollow sheet metal end panels, a plurality or one-piece brackets each having a top plate secured 'tosaid peripheral frame anda depending body portionhaving laterally directed,--parallel endflanges, the-externaldimensions of the bracket across said flanges being. substantially; equal to the, internaltdimensions of said hollow endpanels, and said brackets being? teles'copcd: into said end panels with the flanges of thebrackets contacting the inner Wall surfaces of said panels, and detachable means securing said brackets to saidend panels: 7 V 2. A knock-downshee't metal table comprising a sheet metal: tabletop having a plurality of spaced-reinforcing 190xchannels, hollow sheet'metal end panels and a plural! comprising one-piece sheet metal brackets each secured at its upper end to the table top' and depending therefrom into close fitt ingtelescoping frictional fi't'with the end panels and positionirig end panels in substantially abutting relation to the inturned flanges of the tabletop rails,,each of said brackets having flanges estending parallel to the sheet metal plates of the end panels and havinginwardly turned lower end portions for eamming' the plates over the flanges upon telescoping of the end' panels with the brackets, said panels" and said brackets having openings thereinaligned with the openingsin'the inturned flangesof the rails to receive detachabletfasten- 7 ing means securing the end panels to the brackets and the rails of the table top. a e

5 A sheet metal table comprising a reinforced sheet metal table top, a of hollow end panels', four sheet metal brackets secured to said table to'p and depending therefrom, said brackets being arranged in pairs laterally of the table top and the pairs being spaced longitudinally of the tabletop, eachbracket comprising a one-piece sheet metal member having a main spay portion extend, ing in the direction longitudinally'of'the table top and inwardly. turned, parallel flanges extending laterally of the table top-, the' main body portion of each of said brackets and the opposed flanges of each of said brackets having inwardly curvedtonguesatitheir lower ends for facilitating telescopic assei'nmy r said end panels' with said brackets, said panels 'adjac I their vertical edges having" openings thieinf ahd said brackets having opniiigs therein in theopposite' flanges thereof and aligned with the openingstn the emphasis; for, receiving four bolts for attaching'the elid parasite the to the channel niemlie'f andhaving' ge'ner ally'l'l-shaped channels projecting from; the tabletop into close telescopic engagement \iviththeinner surfaces of said leg panels, and detachable means for fastening said hollow leg panels to the U-shaped' channels of said leg securing v brackets A 7 L A sheet metal table comprising a table top having-av channel? member forming a peripheral frame, a pair of hollow end panels each comprising spaced: side plates and spaced end closures connecting said side plates, angle j 21 a e 6mPf i as ib tP h n sheet metal brackets secured'to'the under surface thereof t' top edge" and members fixed to the channel member and projecting therefrom into close fitting telescopic engagement with the inner surfaces of said end closures of said end panels for positioning and rigidifying the hollow end panels, and detachable means for fastening said hollow end panels to 5 said angle members adjacent the table top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,138 Ohnstrand et a1. Mar. 3, 1931 10 6 Merrill Sept. 6, 1932 White Apr. 3, 1951 White Mar. 2, 1954 Horen et a1 Oct. 4, 1955 Luxford July 16, 1957

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