CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to modular table and desking systems. More specifically, the present invention is directed to modular table and desking systems, and in particular a cap assembly for movable receipt adjacent to a table leg.

BACKGROUND

Tables and desking systems come in countless forms and are utilized by everyone for eating, meeting with others, working, studying and other activities. Tables and desking systems are typically designed for assembly at their final destination, with the legs detached from the tabletop for more economical and convenient shipment. However, the tabletop must then be attached to the legs or a table frame by the end user or a professional installer. Further, a user may desire to disassemble the table for storage or movement, or to reconfigure a configurable desking system.

To address these challenges, many methods, systems and components have been developed for attaching the tabletop to the table legs, or to a table frame. Preferably, these methods and systems allow for the tabletop to be easily detached from the table legs, or the table frame, so that the table may be disassembled for storage or movement, and later reassembled.

One such assembly method utilizes a generally tubular member forming a leg with a shaped cavity configured at one end for the receipt of corner supports and cross members for supporting the tabletop. Typically, these cross members or corner supports are provided in a corresponding shape specifically configured for receipt into the cavity of the leg, wherein the leg is press fit into the corner support or cross member during assembly for a robust connection. Preferably, both the supports, the cross members, and the legs are provided in a metal material for strength and durability.

Generally, in the manufacture and assembly of commercial tables and desking systems that utilize cooperative parts in a mated assembly there exist several problems. Due to manufacturing tolerances and material variation, manufacturers are in a near continual struggle to configure metal pieces that fit together against one another in a secure and robust assembly. This is particularly difficult under specific conditions, such as a change of temperature, wherein the various metal pieces tend to contract and expand loosening joints and causing the tabletop assembly to wobble and shift.

Because of these manufacturing tolerances and variations in material, there exists a need within the marketplace for additional improvements related to securing cooperating table legs and support members together. Preferably, these needs provide a solution that absorbs and compensates for the differences in manufacturing tolerances, temperature expansion/contraction, and is particularly adapted for use in secure cooperating pieces constructed of substantially metal materials.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is most generally related to a resiliently movable cap member for placement on a table leg to aid in the securing and fitment of the table into a supporting member of a tabletop.

In another aspect this present disclosure is related to a cap member that provides an improved aesthetic to a table leg assembly within a tabletop supporting member that provides an assembly without a visible gap between the connection of the table leg and supporting member through a resilient assembly that holds the cap member in adjacency against a table leg.

The floating table leg cap of the present disclosure comprises a planar member having a shape corresponding to the shape of a table leg that is movable received within a tabletop supporting member. The floating table leg cap movable receipt within the tabletop supporting member is generally facilitated through the use of a resilient member in a fastened coupling between the cap and supporting member.

In the preferred assembly of the present disclosure, the floating table leg cap includes a means configured to receive a pair of fasteners surrounded by a resilient member, such as, but not limited to, a spring member though a pair of corresponding apertures in the supporting member. Accordingly, the floating table leg cap is capable of biasing in an adjacent direction against an installed leg member within the supporting member. Through the tension of the resilient members the leg cap is movable relative to the connection to cover and secure the leg end portion despite temperature changes and material tolerance issues and interactions.

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

