Table with multiple configurations

Abstract

A table includes a plurality of surface sections joined to a base. At least one of the surface sections is joined to the base with an attachment device having a slidable portion and a rotatable portion. A mounted end of the slidable portion is secured to the base and the opposite end of the slidable portion is slidably coupled to a rotatable joint, which is mounted to one of the surface sections. The rotatable joint is configured to rotate relative to the base, so that the surface section can be translated and rotated relative to the base to enable the table to readily be changed into four different configurations. Utility trays mounted under the surface sections provide access to power and data leads feeding from the base. A pleated accordion fold cover hides the attachment device and leads when a gap is formed between the surface sections.

1 . A table system comprising: 
 (a) a base;    (b) a first surface section having a first inside edge;    (c) a second surface section having a second inside edge, the second inside edge being configured to abut the first inside edge of the first surface section so that when thus arranged, the first surface section and the second surface section form a combined table surface;    (d) a first attachment device that translatably and rotatably secures the first surface section to the base, the first attachment device including: 
 (i) a first attachment end having a rotatable joint that is configured to be joined to one of the base and the first surface section; and  
 (ii) a second attachment end that includes a slidable member slidably coupled to the rotatable joint and configured to be joined to the other of the base and the first surface section to which the first attachment end is not joined; and  
   (e) a second attachment device that is configured to secure the second surface section to the base.    
   
   
       2 . The table system of  claim 1 , wherein the second attachment device movably joins the second surface section to the base such that the second surface section is translatable and rotatable relative to the base, the second attachment device including: 
 (a) a first attachment end having a rotatable joint that is configured to be joined to one of the base and the second surface section; and    (b) a second attachment end that includes a slidable member slidably coupled to the rotatable joint and configured to be joined to the other of the base and the second surface section to which the first attachment end is not joined.    
   
   
       3 . The table system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first surface section and the second surface section includes a utility tray extending below said at least one of the first surface section and the second surface section.  
   
   
       4 . The table system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one of the first surface section and the second surface section that includes the utility tray is configured to be secured to at least one of the first attachment device and the second attachment device at the utility tray.  
   
   
       5 . The table system of  claim 3 , wherein the utility tray defines an interior channel configured to receive a plurality of wires extending from the base and to convey the wires generally parallel to one of the first and second inside edges of the at least one of the first and the second surface sections under which the utility tray extends.  
   
   
       6 . The table system of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one access opening in an upper face of at least one of the first and the second surface sections through which the interior channel is accessible.  
   
   
       7 . The table system of  claim 6 , wherein the access opening includes a closure device enabling the opening in an upper face of the surface section to be selectively partially closed.  
   
   
       8 . The table system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of table supports that support each of the first and the second surface sections, each of the plurality of table supports having opposite first and second ends, the first end being secured to one of the first and the second surface sections and the second end being supported by an underlying floor surface.  
   
   
       9 . The table system of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the table support includes at least one of a sliding surface and a caster to facilitate movement of the second end of table support across the underlying floor surface.  
   
   
       10 . The table system of  claim 1 , further comprising an extensible cover secured over a top of the base to at least partially cover an opening formed between the first inside edge and the second inside edge when at least one of the surface sections is moved relative to the base, the opening being adapted to convey leads from inside the base toward each of the first and the second surface sections.  
   
   
       11 . A table that is selectively reconfigurable in a plurality of configurations, including: 
 (a) a first table section having an upper generally planar surface;    (b) a second table section having an upper generally planar surface;    (c) a base that is generally centrally disposed relative to the first section and the second table section, an upper portion of the base being rotatably coupled to the first table section and the second table section, at least one of the first table section and the second table section being coupled through a rail assembly to the base, enabling the first table section and the second table section to be moved apart from each other while supported by the base and selectively rotated relative to the base; and    (d) wherein, in the second configuration, at least one of the first table section and the second table section is positioned away from the other while supported on the rail assembly by the base, and while rotating at least one of the first table section and the second table section relative to the base, so that adjacent corners at one end of each of the first table section and the second table section are moved toward each other coupled to the first table section and the second table section adjacent to ends thereof and extending downwardly to support the ends of the first table section and the second table section, the table being selectively configurable in a plurality of configurations, including: 
 (i) a first configuration in which the first table section and the second table section are substantially parallel to each other; and  
 (ii) a second configuration in which at least one of the first table section and the second table section is rotated relative to the base so that the first table section and the second table section are not parallel with each other.  
   
   
   
       12 . The table of  claim 11 , wherein, in the first configuration, an edge of the first table section generally abuts against an opposing edge of the second table section.  
   
   
       13 . The table of  claim 11 , wherein, in the first configuration, an opposing edge of the first table section is spaced apart by a substantial gap from an opposing edge of the second table section.  
   
   
       14 . The table of  claim 11 , wherein, in the second configuration, at least one of the first table section and the second table section is positioned away from the other while supported on the rail assembly by the base, and wherein at least one of the first table section and the second table section is rotated relative to the base, so that adjacent corners at one end of each of the first table section and the second table section are moved toward each other.  
   
   
       15 . The table of  claim 14 , wherein, in an alternative second configuration, at least one of the first table section and the second table section is positioned away from the other while supported by on the rail assembly by the base, and wherein at least one of the first table section and the second table section is rotated relative to the base, so that adjacent corners at an opposite end of each of the first table section and the second table section are moved toward each other.  
   
   
       16 . The table of  claim 11 , wherein the end support members include friction reducing components that reduce a frictional resistance as the end support members are moved over a supporting surface, to change the table to a different configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The table of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 (a) a cable conduit disposed within a vertical portion of the base, for carrying data and electrical leads to both the first table section and the second table section;    (b) cable trays underlying the upper generally planar surface of the first table section and the second table section, the cable trays each being accessible through the generally planar surface of the first table section and the second table section; and    (c) a power strip disposed within each cable tray, the power strip being adapted to couple to an alternating current source through an electrical lead that is conveyed through the cable conduit and outwardly toward the cable trays.    
   
   
       18 . The table of  claim 17 , wherein a cable pathway is disposed between the cable conduit and the cable trays, the cable pathway being adapted to convey data and electrical leads from the cable conduit into the cable trays, to enable connection of the data and electrical leads with user-supplied electronic devices that are disposed on the generally planar surfaces of the first table section and the second table section.  
   
   
       19 . The table of  claim 18 , further comprising an expandable cover that substantially overlies the cable pathway, the expandable cover expanding as required to cover the cable pathway when the first table section and the second table sections are moved apart from each other.  
   
   
       20 . The table of  claim 11 , wherein the rail assembly includes a pair of tracks, each track having a fixed rail connected to the base and a sliding rail connected to a turntable, a turntable rotatably coupling one of the first table section and the second table section to the sliding rails of the rail assembly.  
   
   
       21 . The table of  claim 20 , wherein the other of the first table section and the second table section is also coupled to the base through another rail assembly that also includes a pair of tracks, including a fixed rail connected to the base and a sliding rail connected to another turntable that is rotatably coupled to the other of the first table section and the second table section.  
   
   
       22 . A method for supporting a plurality of table sections to enable the plurality of table sections to be arranged in a plurality of configurations relative to a base that supports the table sections, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) joining a first end of a first support member to one of the first surface section and the base,    (b) rotatably and slidably joining a second end of the first support member to the other of the first surface section and the base, the second end being generally opposite to the first end; and    (c) joining the second surface section to the base.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of movably joining the second surface section to the base such that the second surface section is translatable and rotatable relative to the base.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of movably joining the second surface section to the base includes the steps of: 
 (a) joining a first end of a second support member to one of the second surface section and the base; and    (b) rotatably and slidably joining a second end of the second support member to the other of the second surface section and the base, the second end being generally opposite to the first end of the second support member.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of forming a channel under at least one of the first surface section and the second surface section, the channel being configured to receive a plurality of leads extending from within the base and further configured to convey the wires generally parallel to the inside edge of said at least one the first and the second surface sections.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of providing at least one access opening into the channel through said at least one of the first and the second surface sections.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of providing a cover enabling the access opening to be selectively at least partially closed.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of supporting ends of the first and the second surface sections on table support members.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of reducing friction between an underlying surface and the table support members so as to facilitate movement of the table support members across the floor surface.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of covering an opening formed in the base, between the first inside edge and the second inside edge when said at least one of the first and the second surface sections is moved relative to the base, so that leads conveyed within the opening are not visible when the first and the second surface sections are spaced apart from each other at the base.