Slat tabletop with end caps

Abstract

A tabletop formed from slats for use in rigid, light-weight tables, such as portable banquet tables. The tabletop includes a center section formed from a plurality of open-channel, rectangular tubular slats that are laterally coupled together. Each slat has a top wall that aligns with top walls to form the upper working surface of the tabletop. Each slat also has downwardly-projecting sidewalls and a bottom wall with a longitudinal slot running the length of the slat to form the rectangular, downwardly-orientated channel. The adjacent contacting sidewalls of adjacent slats coupled together to form substantially vertical support beams. The tabletop further includes a pair of elongate end caps disposed on opposite ends and spanning the plurality of slats of the center section, with each end cap having a plurality of finger pairs extending into the plurality of slats with a center slot the receives a support beam therein.

1 . A tabletop comprising:
 a center section formed from a plurality of open rectangular tubular slats laterally coupled together, each slat having a top wall with a substantially horizontal top surface, sidewalls, and a bottom wall having a longitudinal slot running the length thereof, and adjacent slats having adjacent contacting sidewalls coupled together to form substantially vertical support beams, the slats having open opposite ends; and   a pair of elongate end caps each disposed on a different one of the open opposite ends and spanning the plurality of slats of the center section, each end cap having a plurality of finger pairs extending into the plurality of slats, each finger pair having a slot for receiving a support beam therein for aligning and coupling the end cap to the center section.   
   
   
       2 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein each finger pair further comprises a projecting bar and a screw tab. 
   
   
       3 . The tabletop of  claim 2 , wherein the height of the projecting bar substantially spans the distance from the top wall to the bottom wall of the slat. 
   
   
       4 . The tabletop of  claim 3 , wherein the length of the projecting bar extending into the slats is greater than the height of the projecting bar. 
   
   
       5 . The tabletop of  claim 3 , wherein the screw tab is configured for securing the end cap to the bottom wall of the slat with a fastener. 
   
   
       6 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the elongate end cap is flush with a top surface of the plurality of slats. 
   
   
       7 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , further comprising the center section and the elongate end caps having an outer edge having a constant profile around the perimeter of the tabletop. 
   
   
       8 . The tabletop of  claim 7 , wherein the outer edge further comprises an outwardly-projecting overhang above a vertical apron surface, the overhang and apron surface being formed from the same component. 
   
   
       9 . A rectangular-shaped tabletop comprising:
 a center section formed from a plurality of open rectangular tubular slats laterally coupled together, each slat having a top wall with a substantially horizontal top surface, sidewalls, and a bottom wall having a longitudinal slot running the length thereof, and adjacent slats having adjacent contacting sidewalls coupled together to form substantially vertical support beams, the slats having open opposite ends;   a pair of elongate end caps each disposed on a different one of the open opposite ends and spanning the plurality of slats of the center section, each end cap having a plurality of finger pairs extending into the plurality of slats, each finger pair having a slot for receiving a support beam therein for aligning and coupling the end cap to the center section; and   the center section and the elongate end caps being configured to couple together into a rectangular-shaped tabletop.   
   
   
       10 . A round-shaped tabletop comprising:
 a round-shaped center section formed from a plurality of open rectangular tubular slats laterally coupled together, each slat having a top wall with a substantially horizontal top surface, sidewalls, and a bottom wall having a longitudinal slot running the length thereof, and adjacent slats having adjacent contacting sidewalls coupled together to form substantially vertical support beams, the slats having open opposite ends;   a pair of arcuate end caps each disposed on a different one of the opposite ends and spanning the plurality of slats of the center section, each end cap having a plurality of finger pairs extending lengthwise into the plurality of slats, each finger pair having a slot for receiving a support beam therein for aligning and coupling the end cap to the center section;   a pair of arcuate side caps, each disposed on the center section between opposing end caps to complete the rounded perimeter of the tabletop, each side cap having a plurality of attachment bars projecting crosswise into the slats; and   the center section, the arcuate end caps and arcuate side caps being configured to couple together into a round-shaped tabletop.   
   
   
       11 . The tabletop of  claim 10 , wherein the arcuate end caps and the arcuate side caps couple together to form an edge ring having a boss fit on an interior edge for receiving and encapsulating a cut edge of the center section. 
   
   
       12 . The tabletop of  claim 11 , wherein the boss fit accommodates a differential thermal expansion between the edge ring and the center section to maintain a secure fit between the end ring and the center section. 
   
   
       13 . The tabletop of  claim 10 , wherein each finger pair further comprises a projecting bar and a screw tab. 
   
   
       14 . The tabletop of  claim 13 , wherein the height of the projecting bar substantially spans the distance from the top wall to the bottom wall of the slat. 
   
   
       15 . The tabletop of  claim 14 , wherein the length of the projecting bar extending into the slats is greater than the height of the projecting bar. 
   
   
       16 . The tabletop of  claim 15 , wherein the screw tab is configured for securing the end cap to the bottom wall of the slat with a fastener. 
   
   
       17 . The tabletop of  claim 10 , further comprising the center section, the end caps and the side caps having an outer edge having a constant profile around the perimeter of the tabletop. 
   
   
       18 . The tabletop of  claim 17 , wherein the outer edge further comprises an outwardly-projecting overhang above a vertical apron surface, the overhang and apron surface being formed from the same component.