Work surface attachment mechanism, article of furniture, and method of making the article of furniture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11877646-B2
Application number	US-202217860161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2022
Priority date	Jul 12, 2021
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

An article of furniture can include a work surface attachment mechanism that is configured to adjustably connect a work surface to a base of the article. The work surface attachment mechanism can be incorporated into one or more legs and be configured to facilitate attachment of different work surfaces of different thicknesses to the base for supporting the work surface above a floor. The work surface attachment mechanism can be adjustable to facilitate such functionality while avoiding large sized gaps that can detract from the aesthetic effect of the article or the base of the article.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work surface attachment mechanism for an article of furniture, comprising:
a leg, an upper portion of the leg having a component contacting surface defining a cavity;
a linearly extending elongated member rotatably positionable within the cavity;
a lower clamping member support body moveably attached to the linearly extending elongated member so that rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move upwardly along the linearly extending elongated member and rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move downwardly along the linearly extending elongated member;
a jaw comprising an upper clamping member moveably attachable to the lower clamping member support body such that upward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes upward motion of the upper clamping member while the upper clamping member also moves along an upper surface of the lower clamping member support body toward the linearly extending elongated member and downward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes the upper clamping member to move downwardly while also moving along the upper surface of the lower clamping member support body away from the linearly extending elongated member, the jaw being moveable to adjust a size of a mouth for receipt of a peripheral edge portion of a work surface and clamping engagement therewith; and
wherein the lower clamping member support body has a tubular portion attached to the linearly extending elongated member or is attached to a tubular portion attached to the linearly extending elongated member.

2. The work surface attachment mechanism for an article of furniture of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion has a threaded channel through which the linearly extending elongated member passes, threads of the linearly extending elongated member mating with threads of the threaded channel so that rotation of the linearly extending elongated member drives motion of the tubular portion along the linearly extending elongated member.

3. A work surface attachment mechanism for an article of furniture, comprising:
a leg, an upper portion of the leg having a component contacting surface defining a cavity;
a linearly extending elongated member rotatably positionable within the cavity;
a lower clamping member support body moveably attached to the linearly extending elongated member so that rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move upwardly along the linearly extending elongated member and rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move downwardly along the linearly extending elongated member;
a jaw comprising an upper clamping member moveably attachable to the lower clamping member support body such that upward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes upward motion of the upper clamping member while the upper clamping member also moves along an upper surface of the lower clamping member support body toward the linearly extending elongated member and downward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes the upper clamping member to move downwardly while also moving along the upper surface of the lower clamping member support body away from the linearly extending elongated member, the jaw being moveable to adjust a size of a mouth for receipt of a peripheral edge portion of a work surface and clamping engagement therewith; and
an outer casing member attached to the upper clamping member, the outer casing member having a projection that is slideable within a groove defined in the component contacting surface, the projection being slideable within lower and upper ends of the groove to define a bottom position of the jaw and a top position of the jaw.

4. The work surface attachment mechanism for an article of furniture of claim 3 , wherein the jaw includes the outer casing member and the jaw is moveable between the top position and the bottom position without rotating.

5. A work surface attachment mechanism for an article of furniture, comprising:
a leg, an upper portion of the leg having a component contacting surface defining a cavity;
a linearly extending elongated member rotatably positionable within the cavity;
a lower clamping member support body moveably attached to the linearly extending elongated member so that rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move upwardly along the linearly extending elongated member and rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move downwardly along the linearly extending elongated member;
a jaw comprising an upper clamping member moveably attachable to the lower clamping member support body such that upward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes upward motion of the upper clamping member while the upper clamping member also moves along an upper surface of the lower clamping member support body toward the linearly extending elongated member and downward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes the upper clamping member to move downwardly while also moving along the upper surface of the lower clamping member support body away from the linearly extending elongated member, the jaw being moveable to adjust a size of a mouth for receipt of a peripheral edge portion of a work surface and clamping engagement therewith; and
wherein the jaw includes a guide mechanism to guide motion of the upper clamping member along the upper surface of the lower clamping member support body.

6. A work surface attachment mechanism for an article of furniture, comprising:
a leg, an upper portion of the leg having a component contacting surface defining a cavity;
a linearly extending elongated member rotatably positionable within the cavity;
a lower clamping member support body moveably attached to the linearly extending elongated member so that rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move upwardly along the linearly extending elongated member and rotation of the linearly extending elongated member in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction causes the lower clamping member support body to move downwardly along the linearly extending elongated member;
a jaw comprising an upper clamping member moveably attachable to the lower clamping member support body such that upward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes upward motion of the upper clamping member while the upper clamping member also moves along an upper surface of the lower clamping member support body toward the linearly extending elongated member and downward motion of the lower clamping member support body causes the upper clamping member to move downwardly while also moving along the upper surface of the lower clamping member support body away from the linearly extending elongated member, the jaw being moveable to adjust a size of a mouth for receipt of a peripheral edge portion of a work surface and clamping engagement therewith; and
wherein the upper surface of the lower clamping member support body is ramped at an angle relative to horizontal that is within a pre-selected range of 15°-75°.

Assignees

• Knoll Inc

Inventors

• Scafini Mark P

Classifications

• A47B13/021 Primary

  Fastening devices of the feet or legs (A47B13/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47B21/02

  with vertical adjustable parts · CPC title

• A47B2220/0002

  Adjustable furniture construction · CPC title

• A47B13/16

  Holders for glasses, ashtrays, lamps, candles or the like forming part of tables · CPC title