TABLE

Abstract

A table including a table top and a rotationally molded table base for supporting the table top. The table base has a bottom portion and an interior. The table includes a mounting assembly including a base member for being secured to a floor and having the bottom portion of the table base positioned thereabove. The mounting assembly also includes a blocking member configured to be positioned in the interior of the table base above the bottom portion of the table base and connected to the base member. The mounting assembly has a secured configuration wherein the blocking member inhibits movement of the bottom portion of the table base away from the base member.

Claims

1. A table comprising: a table top; a rotationally molded table base for supporting the table top, the table base having a bottom portion and an interior; a mounting assembly including a base member for being secured to a floor and having the bottom portion of the table base positioned thereabove; the mounting assembly including a blocking member configured to be positioned in the interior of the table base above the bottom portion of the table base and connected to the base member; and the mounting assembly having a secured configuration wherein the blocking member inhibits movement of the bottom portion of the table base away from the base member.

2. The table of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the table base and the blocking member include though openings; wherein the base member includes at least one protrusion for extending in the through openings of the bottom portion of the table base and the blocking member; and wherein the mounting assembly includes at least one locking member configured to be secured to the protrusion of the base member and inhibit movement of the blocking member away from the base member.

3. The table of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the table base and the blocking member include through openings; wherein the base member includes at least one threaded stud for extending in the through openings of the bottom portion of the table base and the blocking member; and at least one nut for being secured to the threaded stud above the blocking member.

4. The table of claim 1 wherein the base member includes a plate portion and bosses upstanding therefrom; wherein the blocking member includes a plate portion having openings to receive the bosses; wherein the bottom portion of the table base includes openings to receive the bosses; and wherein the mounting assembly includes locking members to be secured to the bosses and keep the blocking member and bottom portion of the table base between the locking members and the plate portion of the base member.

5. The table of claim 4 wherein the plate portion of the base member includes openings; and wherein the mounting assembly includes anchors to extend in the through openings and secure the base member to the floor.

6. The table of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly includes stops to resist deflection of the bottom portion of the table base toward the base member.

7. The table of claim 6 wherein the base member includes through openings; wherein the mounting assembly includes anchors to extend in the through openings and secure the base member to the floor; and wherein the stops include upper portions of the anchors.

8. The table of claim 1 wherein the table base has a lower rim configured to contact the floor about the base member and conceal the base member.

9. The table of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the table base includes a central wall portion, a lower rim, and a tapered wall portion connecting the central wall portion and the lower rim; and wherein the blocking member engages the central wall portion of the table base with the mounting assembly in the secured configuration thereof.

10. The table of claim 1 wherein the table base has a unitary, one-piece construction.

11. The table of claim 1 further comprising fasteners for securing the base member to the floor; and wherein the base member includes through openings to receive the fasteners.

12. The table of claim 1 wherein the table base includes a body and a lid, the body including the interior and the bottom portion, the body having an upper opening that opens to the interior; and wherein the lid is configured to close the upper opening of the body of the table base.

13. The table of claim 1 wherein the table top and the table base have outer surfaces that are ligature-resistant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table having a tabletop and base;

[0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a lower end of the base of the table of FIG. 1 showing a mounting assembly securing the base to a floor;

[0006] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base plate of the mounting assembly of FIG. 2;

[0007] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a clamping plate of the mounting assembly of FIG. 2;

[0008] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the table of FIG. 1 with the tabletop removed;

[0009] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the base of FIG. 5 showing a lid covering a central opening of the base;

[0010] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the lid removed to show an interior of the base;

[0011] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a table having a cylindrical base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Regarding FIG. 1, a table 10 is provided that includes a tabletop 12 connected to a base 14. The table 10, once installed, has exposed outer surfaces 11 that are ligature resistant. More specifically, the outer surfaces 11 accessible by a user lack sharp corners, sharp edges, through openings, or projections such as posts that a user could utilize to injure themselves or others.

[0013] Regarding FIG. 2, the base 14 has a body 16 that may be formed by rotationally molding one or more plastic materials, such as polyethylene. The body 16 has one or more side walls 18, a hollow interior 20, and a bottom portion such as bottom wall 22. The tabletop 12 may likewise be formed by rotationally molding one or more plastic materials, such as polyethylene.

[0014] The bottom wall 22 includes a floor contacting portion, such as lower rim 90, a tapered wall portion 24 that may be frustoconical, and a central wall portion 26. The table 10 may be secured to a floor 30 by placing one or more sandbags in the interior 20 to weigh down the base 14. Alternatively, the table 10 includes a mounting assembly 40 that mechanically interlocks the bottom wall 22 of the base 14 with the floor 30. An installer may thereby secure the table 10 in position using one or more sandbags in the interior 20 and/or the mounting assembly 40.

[0015] With reference to FIG. 2, the mounting assembly 40 includes a base member, such as base plate 42, with a lower surface 44 that is positioned against an upper surface 46 of the floor 30. The base plate 42 has openings 48 (see FIG. 3) for receiving anchors 50 that extend into holes 52 in the floor 30. The mounting assembly 40 includes nuts 54 that threadingly engage shank portions 60 of the anchors 50. The nuts 54 resist upward movement of the base plate 42 away from the floor 30. Further, the shank portions 60 of the anchors 50 extending in the openings 42 inhibit horizontal movement of the base plate 42 relative to the floor 30.

[0016] Regarding FIG. 3, the base plate 42 has bosses or projections such as threaded studs 64 upstanding from a plate portion 66 of the base plate 42. The studs 64 extend through openings 70 (see FIG. 2) in the central wall portion 26 of the base body 16.

[0017] Regarding FIGS. 2 and 4, the mounting assembly 40 further includes a blocking member, such as a clamping plate 80 in the interior 20 of the base body 16 and on an opposite side of the central wall portion 26 of the base body 16 than the base plate 42. The clamping plate 80 has openings 84 (see FIG. 4) that receive the threaded studs 64 of the base plate 42 projecting upward through the openings 70 in the central wall portion 26 of the base body 16.

[0018] Regarding FIG. 2, the mounting assembly 40 includes locking members such as nuts 88 engaged with the threaded studs 64 that urge the clamping plate 80 downwardly into engagement with the central wall portion 26 of the base body 16. In one embodiment, the anchors 50 have proximal end portions 51 that contact a lower surface 53 of the central wall portion 26. The proximal end portions 51 thereby provide a hard stop for the central wall portion 26 and clamping plate 80 and limits deformation of the central wall portion 26. Further, the sandwiching contact between the proximal end portions 51 of the anchors 50 and clamping plate 80 with the central wall portion 26 creates a rigid construct at the bottom of the base 14 to secure the base 14 to the floor 30.

[0019] Regarding FIG. 2, the tapered wall portion 24 of the base body 16 may be generally frustoconical or may have a step profile, as some examples. The tapered wall portion 24 positions the central wall portion 26 a predetermined distance above the lower rim 90 and forms a recess 92 between the bottom wall 22 of the base body 16 and the floor 30. The recess 92 provides clearance for the proximal end portions 51 of the anchors 50 and the base plate 42.

[0020] Regarding FIG. 5, the base 14 is shown with the tabletop 12 removed therefrom. The base 14 includes the body 16 and a lid 100 secured thereto via one or more fasteners 102 such as bolts. Regarding FIG. 6, the base 14 has a table support flange 110 extending about the lid 100 with pilot holes 112 that may be drilled out to receive fasteners for connecting a lower surface of the tabletop 12 to an upper surface 111 of the flange 110.

[0021] Regarding FIG. 7, the lid 100 has been removed to show the interior 20 of the base 14. The base 14 has an inner flange 120 extending about an opening 122 that opens to the interior 20. The lid 100 rests upon the inner flange 120. The base 14 includes metal clips 130 each having a pair of openings that are aligned with an opening in the inner flange 120 to receive one of the fasteners 102. The lid 100 is removed to provide access to the interior 20 and allow an installer to position the clamping plate 80 against the central wall portion 26 as well as connect the nuts 80 to the threaded posts 64. Once the mounting assembly 40 has been assembled and secures the base 14 to the floor 30, the installer covers the opening 122 with the lid 100, secures the lid 100 with the fasteners 102, and connects the tabletop 12 to the base 14.

[0022] To install the base 14 to the floor 30 using the mounting assembly 40, an installer drills holes 50 in the floor 30, advances the anchors 50 into the holes 52, and secures the anchors 50 in the holes 52 such as by expanding a distal portion of the anchor 50. The installer next positions the base plate 42 on the shank portions 60 of the anchors 50 so that the shank portions 60 extend in the openings 48 of the base plate 42. The installer tightens down nuts 54 on the shank portions 60 to clamp the base plate 42 against the floor 50.

[0023] Once the base plate 42 has been secured to the floor 30 with anchors 50, a user drills the openings 70 in the central wall portion 26 of the base body 16 in a pattern that matches the arrangement and number of threaded posts 64 of the base plate 42. The installer positions the base body 16 onto the base plate 42 so that the threaded posts 64 of the base plate 42 extend through the openings 70 in the central wall portion 26.

[0024] Next, an installer removes the lid 100 and advances the clamping plate 80 (see FIG. 4) into the interior 20 of the base 14 via the opening 122. The installer advances the clamping plate 80 toward the central wall portion 26 so that the threaded studs 64 projecting upward from the openings 70 extend into the openings 84 of the clamping plate 80 and the clamping plate 80 rests on an upper surface 82 of the central wall portion 26.

[0025] The installer then tightens down the nuts 88 on the threaded posts 64 to secure the clamping plate 80 against the central wall portion 26. The nuts 88 urge the clamping plate 80 and central wall portion 26 engaged therewith toward the base plate 42 and secures the assembly of the base body 16, base plate 42, anchors 50, and clamping plate 80.

[0026] Regarding FIG. 8, a table 150 is shown that is similar in many respects to the table 10 discussed above. The table 150 has a tabletop 152 and a cylindrical base 154. The cylindrical base 154 has a more uniform width 156 throughout the height of the base 154. By contrast, the base 14 has a width 156 (see FIG. 1) that decreases then increases as the base 14 extends upward from the floor 30. The table 150 may utilize a mounting assembly similar to the mounting assembly 40 discussed above.

[0027] Uses of singular terms such as a, an, are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms comprising, having, including, and containing are to be construed as open-ended terms. It is intended that the phrase at least one of as used herein be interpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase at least one of A and B is intended to encompass A, B, or both A and B.

[0028] While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.