US3533362A - Modular office table or desk - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor William lves Thompson 'Baycrest, Huntington, New York [2]] Appl No. 747,295 [22] Filed July 24, 1968 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 [73] Assignec Oxford Filing Supply Co.. Inc.

Garden City, New York a corporation of New York [54] MODULAR OFFICE TABLE OR DESK 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 108/64, 312/195 [51 1 Int. Cl A471) 33/00,

A47b 47/00 [50] Field of Search 108/50- 312/ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,495,524 1/1950 Hogan l08/64X 2,833,607 5/1958 Mackintosh 108/64 Swanson l08/6 4X 3,053,598 9/1962 Cheslow 108/64 3,267.881 8/1966 Saggione 108/50 3,342,147 9/1967 Shettles 108/64 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant ExuminerGlenn O. Finch Au0mey-Darby and Darby ABSTRACT: An office table or desk particularly designed and proportioned to be combined with similar units to form coordinated work surfaces adapted to the processing of paper work which can be passed by hand from one worker to another. The table or desk is of a V or chevron-shaped hav-' ing an included angle of l20 between'its equal length rear edges and having ends each of which is one-half the dimension Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,362

Sheet of 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM IVES THOMPSON BY w ATTOIRNEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,362

Sheet 2 012 FIG. 4

' INVENTOR WILLIAM lvr js THOMPSON ATTORNEYS MODULAR OFFICE TABLE OR DESK As indicated above, the present invention relates to an office table or desk which is so proportioned as to form a modular unit which is adapted to be combined with other similar units to form a variety of shapes of work surfaces, thereby -permitting work centers to be established adapted to efficient processing of a variety of clerical operations.

A particular feature of the invention is that the table or desk top is of a generally chevron or V-shape, the angle included between the two rear edges being 120, the length of the two rear edges being the same, and the ends of the table being ofa dimension which is one-half that of the rear edges, which adapts the table to the many forms of arrangement hereinafter discussed In the preferred form, the forward edges of the desk are likewise arranged in V" formation, but the edges are not symmetrical, and the angle included therebetween is not necessarily 120. It will be understood, however, that the table may be symmetrical, with the forward edges equal in length and the angle therebetwecn l20 the forward edges thus being parallel to the rear edges.

Another feature of the invention is that the table top is supported by three legs, one at each end ofthe table and the other at the rear apex of the V", the legs being connected by supporting members which join thelegs and are also formed in a V formation, leaving the underside of the table clear and unobstructed and providing space for insertion of independent desk pedestals or other devices of a similar nature.

Other features of the invention will become apparent when the following description is considered in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking from the rear of the table of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view taken from the front of a table similar to that of FIG. 1, but having a short front edge at the right rather than the left;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the table of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the assemblage of a plurality of tables or desks such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to form a complete work center. This view illustrates many of the arrangements possible with desks according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the table comprises a top which is supported at a proper height-above the floor by means of the three legs 11, 12, and 13, together with the bracing member 14 which is preferably of channel shape and which joins the three legs as is readily seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As indicated in these FIGS. 1 and 2, the legs 11 and 13 are preferably provided with feet 15 to give the table stability, particularly when combined with the rear leg 12.

The feature of my invention which renders it unique and capable of being used in many arrangements is best shown in the top plan view, FIG. 3. As indicated in that view, the table top 10 is of chevron-shape having an angle of 120 between its two rear edges 16 and 17, which edges are equal in length. Each of the ends 18 and 20 extends at right angles to its corresponding rear edge 16 or 17 and is equal to one-half of the length of that rear'edge.

In the preferred form, the forward edge at one side of the desk extends parallel to the rear edge as indicated at 21, for a distance equal to the length of the side edge 20, and the forward edge 22 extends from the point 23 thus defined, to the forward end of the side edge 18. As will be readily appreciated and as demonstrated when FIGS. 1 and 2 are compared, a completely similar arrangement may be made wherein the forward edge 22 extends parallel to the corresponding rear edge 16 for a distance equal to the length of side 18, and the forward edge 21 is tapering. In this way, table tops are formed in leftand right-hand versions, with the apex of the V" on the forward side placed to the right or left of the vertex angle in the rear, lending a certain fluidity of design and appearance to the tables and adapting them for arrangement in many different manners. However, it is entirely possible to make the table uniform in width throughout and to have the forward edges 21 and 22 extend parallel to their corresponding rear edges 17 and 16 and include a angle at their point of juncture. Such an arrangement would in a sense simplify the structure even more and make it unnecessary to make leftand right-hand versions of the table, but would at the same time decrease the pleasing appearance of the structures while considerably lessening the available surface area.

Of course if desired the forward edges 'rnight be replaced by a single forward edge of a suitable curvature to join the forward corners of the side edges. As indicated by the dotted line 24 in FIG. 3, the end of the table top may be placed on a lower level than the remainder thereof to afford a proper working height for a typewriter, desk calculator or similar piece of office equipment and this of course may be done whether the table is provided in the left-hand, right-hand or symmetrical version and whether it is to join with a like dropped area or with an area of standard height.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown in this schematic diagram various arrangements of tables such as heretofore described to form various shapes of working areas and units. As seen in FIG. 4, three tables designated 30, 31, and 32 may be placed with their rear edges each adjoining one of the rear edges of another table of the group to form a generally circular arrangement having three work stations indicated respectively at 33, 34, and 35. In such an arrangement the center portion may be utilized for example for a rotating upstanding added thereto a third table such as38. which has its long side abutting one of the long sides of the table 37, and may, as indicated, have the long edge of table 36 abut the short sides of two tables such as 30 and 31 are arranged in a Y" form abutting the long side of table 36. 1

Moreover, two tables such as 30 and 32 may be abutted by the short sides of two additional tables 40 and 41, thus forming an arrangement of four tables 30, 32, 40, 41 which are abutted end to end and back to back. As also indicated in FIG. 4, tabl'es 42 and 43 may be placed with their short sides abutting and with one of their long sides abutting the short sides of two tables 31 and 32, thus forming an arrangement similar to the arrangement of tables 36, 37, 30 and 32, but with the work stations located on the opposite side of the table, the tables extending generally forwardly of the circ'ular structure formed by tables 30, 31, and 32 rather than sidewise with respect thereto.

As will be appreciated, tables could be added to the arrangement by abutting edges thereof to the unabutted edges of any of the tables such as 38, 40, 41, and 43 to extend and vary the arrangement, the suggested arrangements being purely illustrative. As will be appreciated, the variety of arrangements possible is brought about by my invention wherein the table top has two rear edges of equal length which have an angle of 120 as their'included angle, and which table top has side edges extending forwardly from the rear edges and at right angles thereto, said side edges being of one-half of the length of the equal rear edges. As indicated hereinabove, the forward edges of the table top may extend parallel to the rear edges and join at a 120- angle which has a centerline which bisects the 120- angle at the junction of the table rear edges. However, preferably, the table is made with the forward edge extending parallel to the corresponding rear edge at one side for a distance equal to one-half the length of the rear edge and the top is then completed by tapering it to join the forward corner of the other side edge. If desired it is of course entirely 70' possible to have both side edges parallel to their respective rear edges for a distance equal to one-half the length of that rear edge, the two points thus defined eing joined by a straight line or in fact by a desired curve.

As indicated hereinabove, the brace or supporting member is preferably a channel of metal which may serve to support and conceal any necessary electrical wiring, the brace being fastened to the table top and to the legs to form a rigid unit.

If a desk type structure is desired a free-standing pedestal containing the usual drawers may be located beneath the table at either or both sides thereof, since as is obvious, the space beneath the table top is'entirely free.

Thus, while I have described preferred forms of my invention it will he understood that variations are possible and therefore i wish to be limited not by the aforegoing description, but on the contrary, solely by the claims granted to me.

lclaim:

l. A modular office table which is proportioned so that it may be combined with similar tables to form coordinated symmetric and asymmetric units comprising:

a horizontally extending top member having an upper working surface and supporting structure for said top member; said top member being in the form ofa V" and having two equal length rear edges each having first and second ends; said rear edges being jointed at said first ends so as to include a l-angle between said edges; a side edge extending forwardly from each of said rear edge second ends at right angles thereto; each said side edge being equal in length to each other and also equal in length to half the length of each of said rear edges;

and a forward edge joining the forward corners of each said side edge.

2. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein said forward edge of said top comprises aportion extending from one forward corner of a side edge parallel to the corresponding rear edge, said portion being equal in length to said side edge, and a second portion joining the end of said portion and the forward comer of the opposite side edge.

3. A table as claimed in claim I wherein said supporting structure comprises a leg located at the juncture of said rear edges, a leg located approximately centrally of each side edge and a bracing member extending between said legs, said bracing member being fixed to said legs and said top.

4. A table as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bracing member is channel-shaped, with the open side of the channel facing forwardly.

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