GB2173998A

GB2173998A - Assembly for connecting adjacent pieces of furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2173998A
Application number: GB08606030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Peter Cole
Original assignee: LOGIC OFFICE FURNITURE Ltd
Current assignee: LOGIC OFFICE FURNITURE Ltd
Priority date: 1985-03-12
Filing date: 1986-03-12
Publication date: 1986-10-29
Also published as: GB2173998B; GB8606030D0; GB8506386D0

Abstract

A linkage assembly for connecting together adjacent pieces 2, 4 of furniture comprising a tray 8 and a movable or removable top or cover 10, both preferably formed of a synthetic plastics material by vacuum moulding, the tray having one or more channels or grooves therein for accommodating and supporting cables extending between said adjacent pieces of furniture. The tray will preferably incorporate three sets 12, 14, 16 of channels or grooves, each set consisting of three channels or grooves. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Linkage assembly The invention relates to linkage assemblies, and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with linkage assemblies for office and other furniture.

The aim of the invention is to provide a linkage assembly between two or more adjacent pieces of office furniture, such as desks, and to provide means whereby cables -- such as power cables, signal cables, and telephone cables - can be concealed and, of equal importance, supported in passing or extending between said adjacent pieces of office furniture.

According to the present invention there is provided a linkage assembly for connecting together adjacent pieces of office or other furniture, comprising a tray and a movable or removable top or cover, said tray being secured to said pieces and having one or more channels or grooves therein for accommodating and supporting cables extending between said adjacent pieces of furniture.

Preferably, said tray will be a vacuum formed and injection moulded synthetic plastics member or alternatively may be formed from steel sheet, and said top or cover will be similarly formed, and will preferably be removably securable to said tray.

Alternatively, the top or cover could be formed of solid timber, or veneered chipboard or post formed laminated plastic over timber or fibre based plywood or particle board.

Said tray will preferably incorporate three sets of channels or grooves, each set preferably consisting of three channels or grooves and each interconnecting with the other.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an em bodiment thereof will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of two adjacent pieces of office furniture connected together by a linkage assembly embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section of part of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, and firstly to Figure 1, there is shown adjacent pieces 2 and 4 of office furniture which are linked or connected together by a linkage assembly indicated generally by reference numeral 6, said assembly being clipped to or otherwise supported by said pieces 2 and 4.

The linkage assembly 6, in the form of a generally triangular member, comprises a lower member or tray 8 and an upper member or top or cover 10 which is adapted to be removably secured to said tray. As will be seen from Figure lithe tray 8 is formed with a plurality of grooves or channels formed by upstanding portions of the tray. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the tray 8 has three sets of grooves or channels, each set consisting of three channels or grooves. In Figure 1, three channels -- of each set - are referenced 1 2A, 12B, 12C; 14A, 14B, 14C; and 16A, 16B, 16C.

The tray 8 and top or cover 10 are composed of synthetic plastics material and will preferably be formed by a vacuum moulding process or injection moulding. It will however be understood that the linkage assembly may be composed of other material and may be formed by other processes of manufacture. In addition, it will be understood that the top or cover 10 may be hingedly or otherwise movably secured to the tray 8.

A linkage assembly according to the invention is particularly applicable t6 pieces of office furniture where "service" cables -- signal, power, telephone cables - are located in channels or grooves in the furniture pieces and concealed by a slidable top or other suitable means.

Thus in the drawing, "service" cables -- signal cable 18, power cable 20, and telephone cable 22- will be seen entering a channel 24-which is divided by dividers 26 and 28 (Figure 2), into three distinct and separate channels - in a pedestal or side member 30 of the piece of furniture (desk) 2, the cables then passing along similar separate channels beneath the desktop 32, which is slidable in the direction of arrows 32A and 32B, across the linkage assembly 6, and then to the second piece 4 of furniture.

In Figure 1, it will be seen that the cables 18,20 and 22 are, when passing through the-linkage assembly 6 so as to be supported thereby, located respectively in channels or grooves 14A, 14B and 14C. Thus the cables are kept separate so that there is no interference between the differing sets of cables.

With the cables in position as shown in Figure 1, the top or cover 10 of the linkage assembly will be clipped or otherwise secured to the tray 8 and to each piece of furniture so as to completely conceal the cables, it being understood that the sliding tops of the pieces 2 and 4 of furniture would also be moved to their "concealing" position. A tool (not shown) will be required to re-access the tray.

Should it be that the pieces 2 and 4 of furniture are located differently to their positions shown in Figure 1-for example if the desk 2 were reversed such that the channel 24 were at the opposite side to that shown in the drawing, i.e. at the bottom as seen in the drawing -then the cables 18,20 and 22 would pass along channels or grooves 12A, 12B, and 12C respectively, and along channels or grooves 14A, 148, and 14C, before entering the grooves in the second piece 4 of furniture.Similarly, if the second piece 4 of fu rniture were reversed, such that the grooves therein were located at the bottom (in the drawing), the cables 18,20 and 22, in passing from the first piece 2 of furniture to the second piece 4, would pass along channels or grooves 14A, 14B, 14C, along channels or grooves 12A, 12B, 12C, and then along channels or grooves 16A, 16B, 16C, before entering the channel in the second piece 4 of furniture.

Thus in all cases, the cables are kept separate so as to avoid interference between the differing "service" cables, and fully supported by the tray 8, and are fully concealed when supported by the tray, by the top or cover 10.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the linkage assembly of the invention may take other forms than that shown in the drawing, for example the linking of three or more items of furniture, and that the tray may have more or less channels or grooves than are shown and described.

Claims

1. A linkage assembly for connecting together adjacent pieces of office or other furniture, comprising a tray and a movable or removable top or cover, said tray being secured to said pieces and having one or more channels or grooves therein for accommodating and supporting cables extending between said adjacent pieces of furniture.

2. A linkage assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said tray incorporates three sets of channels or grooves.

3. A linkage assembly according to Claim 2, wherein each of said sets includes three channels or grooves.

4. A linkage assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said assembly is generally triangular.

5. A linkage assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said tray is formed of a synthetic plastics material.

6. A linkage assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said top or cover is formed of a synthetic plastics material or other material.

7. A linkage assembly constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.