Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Innovation Patent No 2017101223 filed on 6 September 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates, generally, to tables such as, for example but not necessarily exclusively, low height coffee tables and, more particularly, to a modular table system.

Background

[0003] It is becoming increasingly popular to furnish premises with modular furniture, be it seating furniture, tables, or the like. Modular systems provide increased versatility and enable a user to mix and match modules as well as to rearrange the modules as and when desired to change the appearance of a room containing such furniture.

[0004] While it has become increasingly common to have modular seating furniture, modular furniture accessories, such as tables, are less prevalent.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary

[0006] In some embodiments of the disclosure, there is provided a modular table system which includes

at least one first table component having a base, a first table top and a pair of opposed end panels supporting the table top in spaced relationship relative to the base, a part of each end panel having a first thickness; and

at least one second table component configured to be placed in abutting relationship with the at least one first table component, the at least one second table component having a base, a second table top and a pair of opposed end panels supporting the table top in spaced relationship relative to the base, each end panel of the at least one second table component having a second thickness which is less than that of the first thickness of the part of each end panel of the at least one first table component, each end panel of the at least one first table component having portions extending from the part of the first thickness to a side edge of the panel, each portion transitioning in thickness to the side edge of the end panel to a thickness approximating that of the second thickness of each end panel of the at least one second table component.

[0007] The part of the end panel of the at least one first table component having the first thickness may be a major, central part of the end panel constituting at least half of a width of the end panel and the portions may be arranged on opposed sides of the central part, each portion transitioning to one of the side edges of the end panel. As described, the term "major" is to be understood to mean that the part has a width constituting at least half of the width of the end panel and, in an embodiment, may exceed half of the width of the end panel.

[0008] The first table top of the at least one first table component may be an opaque table top and the second table top of the at least one second table component may be an at least partially transparent table top. Similarly, the end panels of the at least one second table component may be at least partially transparent.

[0009] In an embodiment, the at least one first table component and the at least one second table component may have the same length but the at least one first table component may have a width which is a multiple of a width of the at least one second table component. The multiple may be an integer multiple and is to be understood as including a multiple of one.

[0010] The table tops of the at least first table component and the at least one second table component may be at the same height relative to each other.

[0011] In some embodiments of the disclosure, there is provided a modular table system which includes a plurality of table components of the same length, at least one table component having a width which is a multiple of a width of at least one other table component, the table components each having table tops which are at the same height relative to one another and the table components being configured to be placed in juxtaposition relative to one another to form a modular table.

[0012] As indicated above, the term "multiple" is to be understood to include a multiple of one.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Embodiments of the disclosure are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a modular table system;

[0015] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a first table component of the modular table system;

[0016] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a second table component of the modular table system;

[0017] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a first table component of the modular table system;

[0018] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a second table component of the modular table system;

[0019] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a first table component of the modular table system;

[0020] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a second table component of the modular table system;

[0021] Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a first table component of the modular table system; [0022] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a second table component of the modular table system; and

[0023] Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of various embodiments of the modular table system using one or more of the first and second table components.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0024] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an embodiment of a modular table system. The modular table system 10 includes at least one first table component 12 and at least one second table component 14. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the system 10 includes two first table components 12 and one second table component 14. However, it will be appreciated that, as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the system 10 can include any number of first table components 12 and second table components 14.

[0025] As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, for example, each first table component 12 includes a base 16 supported on feet 18. A table top 20 is supported in spaced relationship relative to the base 16 by a pair of opposed end panels 22. Each table component 12 is, generally, of an opaque material such as timber. Hence, the base 16, the table top 20 and the end panels 22 are all of a timber material. The type and colour of timber used may vary depending on a user's preferences. In other embodiments, at least the table top 20 and the end panels 22 may be of other opaque material such as marble, or other decorative stone material, or synthetic materials.

[0026] Each end panel 22 has a part 24, which may be a major, central part, of a first thickness. A portion 26 on each side of the central part 24 of each end panel transitions to a second thickness at each side edge 28 of the end panel 22. The second thickness is less than that of the first thickness. Each portion 26 may, thus, be a chamfered portion. It will, however, be appreciated that other transitional shapes could be used instead, such as a stepped arrangement, a curved arrangement (be it convex or concave), or the like.

[0027] As an example, the first thickness of the central part 24 of the end panel may be about 30 mm with the second thickness being about 10 mm. These thicknesses are provided as examples only and it will be appreciated that the part 24 could have any desired thickness and, similarly, each side edge 28 could have any suitable thickness as well.

[0028] It is also to be noted that, while the end panels 22 are shown as extending orthogonally from the table top 20, this arrangement is an illustrated embodiment only and the end panels 22 could, in other embodiments, extend at an angle from the table top 20. Thus, an included angle between the table top 20 and the end panel 22 could, in some embodiments, be either an acute angle or an obtuse angle.

[0029] Each second table component 14 also includes a base 30 supported on feet 32. As is the case with the first table component 12, the base 30 is, generally, of an opaque material such as timber. Each second table component includes a table top 34 supported in spaced relationship relative to the base 30 via a pair of opposed end panels 36. In this case, at least the table top 34, and, in embodiments, also the end panels 36, are of an at least partially transparent material. In an embodiment, the table top 34 and the end panels 36 are of glass. In other embodiments, the table top 34 and/or end panels 36 may be of synthetic, at least partially transparent materials.

[0030] Each end panel 36 of each second table component 14 is, typically, of uniform thickness. More particularly, each end panel 36 has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of each side edge 28 of the end panel 22 of the table component 12, i.e. the second thickness of the end panel 22. Thus, when a first table component 12 is placed alongside a second table component 14, an aesthetically pleasing joint is defined between the two table components 12 and 14.

[0031] Once again, in the case of each second table component 14, while the end panel 36 are shown as extending orthogonally relative to the table top 34, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the end panels 36 could extend at an angle, whether an acute angle or an obtuse angle, relative to the table top 34.

[0032] Generally, each table component 12 and 14 has a particular length. The Applicant intends providing two different lengths of table components 12, 14 being either about 780 mm or 1040 mm. Once again, these lengths are provided as examples only and the disclosure is not limited to any particular length of table component 12, 14. [0033] To ensure an aesthetically pleasing arrangement, each table component 12, 14 may be provided with different widths, 'w', '2w', '3w' or '4w'. As an example, the width, 'w' is of the order of about 260 mm. It will therefore be understood that the other widths are integer multiples, including a multiple of one, of the base width, 'w'. Once again, the width of 260 mm is provided as an example only and the disclosure is not limited to that width.

[0034] Thus, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, each table component 12, 14 has the width, 'w'. The table components 12 and 14 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, each have a width of '2w', the table components 12 and 14 shown in Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, each have a width of '3w' while the table components 12 and 14 shown in Figs. 8 and 9, respectively, each have a width of '4w'. It is noted that, in the embodiments of the table components 12 and 14 shown in Figs. 4 to 9 of the drawings, the same reference numerals apply to the same parts as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

[0035] As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in use, various table components 12 and 14 of the system 10 can be mixed and matched to provide a desired modular table arrangement. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, two first table components 12 are arranged side-by- side with the longer edges in abutment and a further, second table component 14 is similarly arranged adjacent the one of the table components 12 to provide the desired modular table arrangement.

[0036] However, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, numerous other arrangements of the table components 12 and 14 can be selected as desired by the user. It is to be noted that the table components 12 and 14 need not be arranged with their longer edges side-by-side but can be arranged orthogonally as shown, for example, at 36 and 38 in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

[0037] In addition, the table components 12 and 14 may be used in conjunction with other items such as ottomans 40 and/or shelving 42 having a height lower than the table tops 20, 34 of the table components 12, 14, respectively. In still other embodiments, the table system 10 may comprise only a single table component 14 as shown at 44 and 46 in Fig. 10 of the drawings. If desired, the system 10 shown at 44 could be implemented using, for example, two table components 14 of width '2w' arranged side-by-side. Hence, it will be appreciated that the modular table system 10 is only limited by a user's imagination with very many variations being able to be effected by appropriate choice of table components 12 and 14. [0038] It is a further advantage of the disclosed embodiments that, due to the chamfered shape of the end panels 22 of the table components 12 an attractive join is provided between table components 12 and 14 when they are placed side-by-side.

[0039] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.