Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TABLS ADAPTER.
TECWICAL FIELD
This invention relates to adapters which enable a
tabletop to be mounted to a pole and a combination thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVLNTION
It has been well known to construct tables having
legs. Some tables have been designed which include an
integrated central pole mounted to the underside of a
tabletop and a base mounted to the opposite end of the
pole. These tables are typically fixed in height.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a
table that can be adjusted in height or a table that can be
converted from a pre-existing pole. It is to the provision
of such therefore that the present invention is primarily
directed.
SDBDOARY OF T8S INVENTION
In a preferred form of the invention a tabletop
adapter configured to be coupled to an upright pole
comprises an annular compression collar having an inner
portion and an outer portion mateably coupled to the inner
portion. The inner portion is compressible through
movement of the inner portion relative to the outer
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portion. The adapter also has a tabletop having a hole
therethrough configured to allow the passage of the upright
pole therethrough. The tabletop is coupled to the
compression collar. With this construction, the
compression collar may be mounted to the upright pole and
the outer portion moved relative to the inner portion so
that the compression collar grips the upright pole thereby
locking the position of the tabletop upon the upright pole.
In another preferred form of the invention a table
comprises a base, an upright pole extending from the base,
a compression device journalled upon the pole for relative
movement there along, and a tabletop coupled to the
compression device and having a hole therethrough to enable
the tabletop to be journalled upon the pole for relative
movement there along. With this construction, the height
of the tabletop may be adjusted by moving the tabletop
along the pole and then fixing the position by actuating
the compression device.
HRI$F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop adapter
embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form,
the tabletop adapter is shown mounted to the pole section
of a pole fan:
Fig. 2 is a side view of the tabletop adapter and a
portion of the pole section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop
adapter and a portion of the pole section of Fig. 1..
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the compression collar
of the tabletop adapter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the compression tube
=of the tabletop adapter of Fig. 1.
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DETAILED DgSCRIPTION
With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a
tabletop adapter 10 in a preferred form of the invention.
The tabletop adapter 10 is shown mounted to the pole
section 12 of a pole fan 13. The pole fan 13 has a base 14
and a fan assembly 15 opposite the base. The pole section
12 has a series of mounting holes 17 therein.
The tabletop adapter 10 has a compression device 19
and a tabletop 20 mounted to the compression device 19.
The compression device 19 includes a compression tube or
inner portion 21, a compression collar or outer portion 22
adapted to mate with the compression tube 21, and an
alignment pin 23.
The compression tube 21 has a gripping flange 24, an
externally threaded portion 25, and an externally tapered
portion 26, as best shown in Fig. 5. The flange 24 has a
notch 27 configured- to receive a top portion of the
alignment pin 23. The tapered portion 26 has a series of
slots 29 therein which allow the internal diameter of the
tapered portion 26 to vary with the application of an
inwardly directed force thereon.
The compression collar 22 has a tubular, internally
threaded portion 31 from which extends an internally
tapered portion 32, as best shown in Fig. 4. The
internally tapered portion 32 is configured to engage the
externally tapered portion 26 of the compression tube. The
compression collar 22 also has a mounting flange 34
extending from the top edge of the tapered portion 32. The
mounting flange 34 has a series of mounting holes 35
therein through which mounting screws 36 are passed and
threaded into the underside of the tabletop 20.
The tabletop 20 has a central hole 38 therein
configured to receive and thereby be journalled onto the
pole section of the pole fan.
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In use, the alignment pin 23 is positioned within a
pole section mounting hole 17 below the desired height of
the tabletop 20. With the compression collar 22 loosely
coupled to the compression tube 21, the pole section 12 is
then journalled through the central hole 38 of the
tabletop. If the pole section is that of a pole fan, the
pole section must be removed from either the base or the
fan assembly or must be comprised of more than one pole
portion to allow the pole to pass into the tabletop hole.
Once the compression tube flange 24 comes to rest upon
the alignment pin 23 the compression tube 21 is rotated to
a position wherein the alignment pin 23 falls into the
flange notch 27, thereby restricting further rotation about
the pole section. The compression collar 22 is then
rotated relative to the compression tube 21, causing the
compression collar internally tapered portion 32 to be
forced inwardly against the compression tube externally
tapered portion 26, as shown in Fig. 3 This force causes
the externally tapered portion 26 to contract and firmly
grip the pole section 12, thereby locking the position of
the tabletop adapter to the pole section.
It should be understood that the alignment pin 23 is
not mandatory as the compression device 19 may be operated
without such. However, the alignment pin eases the
operation by supporting the tabletop adapter in position as
the compression device is actuated.
It should be understood that the present invention may
be utilized with any upright pole and is not intended to be
limited to a combination which includes pole fans.
It thus is seen that a tabletop adapter or adjustable
height table is now provided which overcomes problems with
those of the prior art. Whilethis invention has been
described in detail with particular references to the
preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that
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many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to
those expressly recited, may be made thereto without
departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set
forth in the following claims.
