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US5640912A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Foldable table with detachable wire management tray

Assignee: Howe Furniture Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-26
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Granted: 1997-06-24
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Expires: 2015-01-26
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Abstract

Abstract A combined wire manager and modesty panel for a folding gate leg table is detachably secured to the ends of the table beam. The modesty panel is formed by a cover which engages the wire manager tray by means of a novel clip arrangement which allows entry to the tray without the need for completely removing the panel.

Inventors

  • 👤 Niels Diffrient

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 08:50
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B21/00; A47B21/06; A47B2200/00; A47B2200/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 165 words
In a table including a beam having a longitudinal supporting edge and first and second ends, a first leg assembly hingedly connected to the first end of said beam, a second leg assembly hingedly connected to the second end of said beam, and a top hingedly connected to the supporting edge of said beam for movement between a working position supported by said leg assemblies and a folded position, the improvement which comprises: a U-shaped wire manager tray assembly having a first side panel including means for releasably connecting to the first end of said beam, a second side panel including means for releasably connecting to the second end of said beam, and an open elongated intermediate wire tray interconnecting the first and second side panels; and a back panel including means for releasably connecting to said tray assembly and having a bottom edge adjacent said wire tray to conceal the contents of said wire tray and function as a modesty panel for said table.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 165 words
In a table including a beam having a longitudinal supporting edge and first and second ends, a first leg assembly hingedly connected to the first end of said beam, a second leg assembly hingedly connected to the second end of said beam, and a top hingedly connected to the supporting edge of said beam for movement between a working position supported by said leg assemblies and a folded position, the improvement which comprises: a U-shaped wire manager tray assembly having a first side panel including means for releasably connecting to the first end of said beam, a second side panel including means for releasably connecting to the second end of said beam, and an open elongated intermediate wire tray interconnecting the first and second side panels; and a back panel including means for releasably connecting to said tray assembly and having a bottom edge adjacent said wire tray to conceal the contents of said wire tray and function as a modesty panel for said table.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 1 wherein the connecting means of each of said first and second side panels includes hook means for engaging a respective first or second end of said beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 2 wherein the first hook means of each side panel is fixed relative to said side panel and the second hook means is rotatable relative to said side panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 191 words
In a table including a beam having a longitudinal supporting edge and first and second ends, a first leg assembly hingedly connected to the first end of said beam, a second leg assembly hingedly connected to the second end of said beam, and a top hingedly connected to the supporting edge of said beam for movement between a working position supported by said leg assemblies and a folded position, the improvement which comprises: a U-shaped wire manager tray assembly having a first side panel including means for releasably connecting to the first end of said beam, a second side panel including means for releasably connecting to the second end of said beam, an open elongated intermediate wire tray interconnecting the first and second side panels, said wire tray having an edge wall with extensions in the form of first and second front wall portions adjacent the respective first and second side panels; and a back panel including means for releasably connecting to said tray assembly and having a bottom edge adjacent said wire tray to conceal the contents of said wire tray and function as a modesty panel for said table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 191 words
In a table including a beam having a longitudinal supporting edge and first and second ends, a first leg assembly hingedly connected to the first end of said beam, a second leg assembly hingedly connected to the second end of said beam, and a top hingedly connected to the supporting edge of said beam for movement between a working position supported by said leg assemblies and a folded position, the improvement which comprises: a U-shaped wire manager tray assembly having a first side panel including means for releasably connecting to the first end of said beam, a second side panel including means for releasably connecting to the second end of said beam, an open elongated intermediate wire tray interconnecting the first and second side panels, said wire tray having an edge wall with extensions in the form of first and second front wall portions adjacent the respective first and second side panels; and a back panel including means for releasably connecting to said tray assembly and having a bottom edge adjacent said wire tray to conceal the contents of said wire tray and function as a modesty panel for said table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 48 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 4 wherein the connecting means of said back panel includes first and second clips spaced to engage the respective first and second front wall portions of said U-shaped tray assembly and suspend the back panel therefrom in a closed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 5 wherein said back panel includes a third clip engageable with said elongated intermediate wire tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 6 wherein said back panel includes a fourth clip engageable with said elongated intermediate wire tray.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 7 wherein said wire tray includes an elongated edge intermediate said first and second side panels engageable with said third and fourth clips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 50 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 8 wherein each of said third and fourth clips comprises: a substantially planar body secured to said back panel; a first offset portion substantially parallel to, and spaced from, said back panel to receive the elongated edge of said wire tray therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 91 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 9 wherein each of said third and fourth clips is positioned adjacent the bottom edge of said back panel and additionally comprises: a second offset portion spaced from, and forming an acute angle with, said back panel to receive the elongated edge of said wire tray therebetween and to support said back panel in an open position substantially at said acute angle relative to its closed position when said first and second clips are disengaged from said first and second front wall portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 32 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 10 wherein each of said first and second side panels includes hook means for engaging a respective first or second end of said beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 11 wherein each of said first and second side panels includes first and second hook means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 37 words
The wire manager and modesty panel of claim 12 wherein the first hook means of each side panel is fixed relative to said side panel and the second hook means is rotatable relative to said side panel.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4296981A Cited
US4403700A Cited
US4670938A Cited
US4687094A Cited
US4884513A Cited
US4948205A Cited
US5024167A Cited
US5337657A Cited
US5429431A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-06-23 2000-12-23 2001-06-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-06-23 2004-12-23 2005-06-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-06-23 2008-12-23 2009-06-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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