Method of producing a columnar support structure

Claim 1

A method of producing an article of furniture having at least one columnar support structure comprising the steps of: (a) providing a top having generally parallel upper and lower planar surfaces and a predetermined thickness; (b) providing a blank of planar sheet material having a first upper edge and a second lower edge joined by opposed side edges; (c) forming at least one rectangular opening in said blank, said opening including opposed first and second sides disposed parallel to the lower edge, and spaced apart a predetermined distance slightly greater than the thickness of said top; (d) providing an axis on said blank intersecting said opening and normal to the second lower edge, the axis dividing said blank into first and second portions; (e) bending said blank about said axis effecting relative displacement of the first and second portions and said opening therein thereby producing a support structure having a convex side and a concave side; (f) providing said upper and lower sides of said opening with elastomeric pads; and (g) assembling the columnar support structure on one edge of said top whereby the top is inserted into yieldably gripping engagement with said pads in the rectangular opening in the convex side of the support structure and supported on the second side thereof.

Claim 2

A method of producing an article of furniture having at least one columnar support structure comprising the steps of: (a) providing a top having generally parallel upper and lower planar surfaces and a predetermined thickness; (b) providing a blank of planar sheet material having a first upper edge and a second lower edge joined by opposed side edges; (c) forming at least one rectangular opening in said blank, said opening including opposed first and second sides disposed parallel to the lower edge, and spaced apart a predetermined distance slightly greater than the thickness of said top; (d) providing an axis on said blank intersecting said opening and normal to the second lower edge, the axis dividing said blank into first and second portions; (e) bending said blank about said axis effecting relative displacement of the first and second portions and said opening therein thereby producing a support structure having a convex side and a concave side; (f) providing said upper and lower sides of said opening with elastomeric pads; and (g) assembling the columnar support structure on one edge of said top whereby the top is inserted into yieldably gripping engagement with said pads in the rectangular opening in the convex side of the support structure and supported on the second side thereof.