This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

60/019,179, filed June 5, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an extendable table, and more particularly, to an extendable table secured to the underside of a primary worksurface and supported by a leg.

Worksurfaces are provided in office environments by desks and tables. In addition, worksurfaces can be cantilevered off of vertical components in a workspace management system such as ACTION OFFICE® or ETHOSPACE®, both

of which are sold by Herman Miller, Inc., the assignee of the present application. Sometimes, it is desirable to provide an additional extension of the primary worksurface to accommodate the needs of a user. For example, a user made need additional space to support oversized papers, or to provide a temporary meeting

table accessible from two sides.

Traditionally, some desks have included an extendable leaf member to meet these needs. Typically, the leaf member is stored inside the desk and is extended outwardly. Such a leaf member, however, usually cannot support large loads due to its cantilevered nature, and often is provided with an elaborate support structure in order to prevent sag of the unsupported end of the leaf member. Moreover, the size of the leaf member is often limited because it is translated along a linear path to and from its stored position inside the desk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention is directed to an extendable table supported beneath a primary worksurface. The table includes a guide member adapted for mounting to the underside of the primary worksurface and a slide

member slidably mounted to the guide member. The table also includes an auxiliary worksurface member having a mounting end pivotally mounted to the slide member and a usable end attached to a support leg. In operation, the table can be pivoted and translated outwardly between a stored position beneath the primary worksurface to an extended position with the usable end extended outwardly from the primary worksurface member.

In another aspect of the invention, the support leg is made height adjustable. As such, the height of the table can be adjusted as the height of the primary worksurface is adjusted. In a preferred embodiment, the support leg comprises an upper portion rotatably mounted to a lower portion. The support leg also preferably includes a caster attached to the bottom of the leg so that the table can be rolled between the stored position and the extended position.

The present invention provides significant advantages over other extendable tables. Most importantly, the support leg provides support under the usable end of the table so that it can be heavily loaded. In this way, the worksurface area can be increased without experiencing a corresponding sag of the end of the table. Moreover, the leg does not interfere with the user's legs when in a stored position because the table can be both translated rearwardly underneath the primary workst - ^f 3ce and then pivoted so that it is completely hidden from view and so that the leg is positioned towards the rear of the space beneath the primary worksurface.

In addition, the leg is made height adjustable so that the table can be

installed on height-adjustable primary worksurfaces. The simple height adjustment mechanism is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to actuate.

The present invention, together with further objects and advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in

conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a primary worksurface with an extendable table supported thereunder.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective exploded view of the extendable table.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a slide member mounted to a guide member.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the slide member mounted to the guide member.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial view of the slide member and runner mounted in the guide member track. FIGURE 6 is an end view of the slide member.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom view of the slide member.

FIGURE 8 is perspective view of the runner having a partial cut-away section.

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the support leg having a partial sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an extendable table 10 attached to the underside of a primary worksurface member 22. The extendable table 10 includes a guide member 30, a slide member 40, an auxiliary worksurface member 50 and a support leg 70.

The guide member 30 is attached to the underside of the primary worksurface member 22 with a plurality of fasteners 26. This simple means of external attachment allows for quick and easy installation of the extendable table 10 on the primary worksurface member 22. In addition, an installer easily can retrofit existing primary worksurface members in the field to support the table member, rather than inside the worksurface member or inside its supporting structure.

The guide member 30 is preferably metal. The guide member 30 includes parallel tracks 32. When installed, the tracks 32 preferably are oriented approximately perpendicular to the front edge 28 of the primary worksurface so that the table 10, when slidably mounted to the tracks, can be translated outwardly from beneath the primary worksurface. Preferably, the tracks 32 are configured as inwardly opening channels as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2-5, a slide member 40 is slidably mounted to the guide member 30. The slide member includes a base plate 42 and a top plate 44, preferably made out of metal. A bolt 46 extends downwardly from and is secured to the plates 42, 44. The head 48 of the bolt lies on the top of the top plate 44. The plates are attached to each other, preferably by welding, to provide a bearing

surface for transferring any bending moment applied by the table through the bolt.

The moment is reacted out through a coupled bearing load into the plates and then into the guide member and eventually into the primary worksurface member.

The base plate 42 includes parallel, offset flanges 43 which extend

outwardly and lie in substantially the same plane as the head of the bolt 48. The flanges 43 have parallel free edges 45 and a pair of openings 47. The base plate

42 also includes a ring portion 49 formed on the bottom of the base plate. When

attached, the top surface of the mounting end 60 slidably engages the ring portion

49. The ring portion 49, which is raised, provides a rim to slidably interface with the auxiliary worksurface member, thereby reducing the friction force between the slide member and the auxiliary worksurface member. The ring portion 49 holds the auxiliary worksurface member 50 away from the base plate 42 and prevents

the members from binding.

In a preferred embodiment, a runner 80 is disposed on each free

edge 45. The runner 80 is formed as channel and has a pair of detents 82 on one

leg of the channel which engage the openings 47 in the flange 43 and secure the runner 80 to the slide member 40. The runner 80 also includes a plurality of bumpers 83 disposed on the inside of the channel. The bumpers 83 engage the free edge 45 of the flange 43. Preferably, the runner 80 is made out of plastic, such as DELRIN 500.

The slide member 40 is slidably mounted to the guide member 30 by inserting the runners 80, mounted on the base plate flanges, into the parallel tracks 32 in the guide member, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The plastic to metal

interface provides a relatively low coefficient of friction which allows the slide member to slide easily within the guide member.

Referring to FIG. 2, the auxiliary worksurface member 50 has an elongated shape with a mounting end 60 and a usable end 58. The mounting end 60 is preferably semicircular, or arcuate shaped, so as to minimize the interference

with the structure of the primary worksurface member when the table is pivoted beneath its surface. The usable end 58 also has rounded corners 59 so as to facilitate its placement under the primary worksurface member while providing for

the maximum length of the table. In addition, the auxiliary worksurface member

can have curvilinear side surfaces as shown in FIG. 1.

The auxiliary worksurface member 50 is pivotally mounted to the slide member 40 by inserting the bolt 46 through an opening 54 in the auxiliary worksurface member 50. A knob 62 is disposed on the bolt 46 to pivotally secure the auxiliary worksurface member 50 to the slide member 40. The usable end 58 of the auxiliary worksurface member is attached to a support leg 70.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9, the support leg 70 has an upper portion

72 and a lower portion 74. The upper portion 72 includes a cover 76, a plate 78

and a bolt 90 welded to and extending downwardly from the plate 78. The cover

76 extends downwardly from the plate 78 and is disposed around the bolt 90. A circular guide member 92 is mounted to the end of the bolt 90 and is received

within the lower portion 74 of the leg. The plate 78 is mounted to the underside of the auxiliary worksurface member with a plurality of fasteners 94.

The lower portion 74 of the support leg includes a tube 96 and a nut 98 mounted to the top of the tube. The nut 98 threadably engages the bolt 90

extending downwardly from the upper portion 72. The tube 96 is adapted to receive the guide member 92 on the end of the bolt. In addition, a stop member 100 is disposed around the bolt 90 on top of the guide member 92. The bottom end of the lower portion is secured to a caster 110.

To adjust the height of the support leg 70, the lower portion 74 is rotated relative to the upper portion 72, thereby causing the auxiliary worksurface member to be raised and lowered as the bolt 90 threadably engages the nut 98. The maximum height of the leg 70 is realized when the stop member 100 engages

the bottom of the nut 98, as shown in FIG. 9. In operation, the table can be both rotated outwardly about bolt 46

and translated outwardly as the slide member 40 moves within the guide member tracks 32. In this way, the table can be placed as far rearwardly as possible

beneath the primary worksurface when in a stored position so as to minimize the interference with the user's legs. In addition, because the table can be both rotated and translated, the exposed length of the table, when placed in the extended position, can be maximized. It should be understood that the order of

the pivoting and translating movement of the table is not important, L__ , the table can be pivoted outwardly first and then translated to fully expose the usable surface, or, vice versa, the table can be translated outwardly and then pivoted to fully expose the usable surface.

In contrast, if the table only were pivotally attached to the primary worksurface member at a rearward location, so as to minimize the interference

with the user's legs, a good portion of the auxiliary worksurface member would be wasted as it would be hidden beneath the primary worksur ace member when

placed in an extended position. Alternatively, if the table were only translatably attached to the primary worksurface member, the length of the auxiliary

worksurface member would be limited by the depth of the primary worksurface member as it is desirable to have the table fully concealed by the primary worksurface member when in the stored position.

The support leg 70 provides support for the table so that it can be

fully loaded, even when in the fully extended position. If the support leg were omitted, the moment produced at the point of pivotable attachment, e^, the bolt

46, would produce an undesirable sag in the end of the table. Moreover, the

caster on the end of the leg permits the table to be pivoted and translated, even

while loaded.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to

preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the

invention. As such, it is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof, which are intended to define the scope of the

invention.