Furniture top structure
View Patent ↗A table top can include a first table leaf and a second table leaf configured to define a half-lap joint with the first table leaf. The first table leaf and the second table leaf can be configured to form a planar top surface of the table top when coupled to form the half-lap joint. Each one of the first table leaf and the second table leaf can include an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a pin rotatably connecting the upper lobe and the lower lobe.
1 . A table top comprising:
a first table leaf;
a second table leaf; and
a third table leaf,
wherein each one of the first table leaf, the second table leaf, and the third table leaf comprises an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a pin rotatably connecting the upper lobe and the lower lobe,
wherein, in a first configuration, the first table leaf and the second table leaf are configured to form a planar top surface of the table top when coupled,
wherein, in a second configuration, the first table leaf, the second table leaf, and the third table leaf are configured to form a planar top surface of the table top when coupled, and
wherein relative rotation about the pin between the upper lobe and lower lobe provides for a first orientation between the upper lobe and lower lobe that defines the first configuration and a second orientation between the upper lobe and lower lobe that defines the second configuration.
2 . The table top of claim 1 , wherein the table top has a radial topology.
3 . The table top of claim 1 , wherein each upper lobe and each lower lobe comprises a crescent-shaped structure defining a concave surface, a convex surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface.
4 . The table top of claim 3 , wherein a radius of curvature of the concave surface and a radius of curvature of the convex surface are equal.
5 . The table top of claim 3 , wherein the concave surface of the upper lobe of the first table leaf is configured to be fayed to the convex surface of the upper lobe of the second table leaf to form an upper shoulder portion of a half-lap joint.
6 . The table top of claim 3 , wherein the convex surface of the lower lobe of the first table leaf is configured to be fayed to the concave surface of the lower lobe of the second table leaf to form a lower shoulder portion of a half-lap joint.
7 . The table top of claim 3 , wherein the lower surface of the upper lobe of the first table leaf is configured to be fayed to the upper surface of the lower lobe of the second table leaf to form a cheek portion of a half-lap joint.
8 . The table top of claim 7 , wherein the lower surface of the upper lobe of the first table leaf is secured to the upper surface of the lower lobe of the second table leaf.
9 . The table top of claim 1 , where the pin is positioned at a diametric center of the leaf.
10 . A top comprising:
a plurality of leaves configured to form a closed loop structure,
wherein each leaf of the plurality of leaves comprises an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a pin rotatably connecting the upper lobe and the lower lobe, and is configured to slidingly connect to a first adjacent leaf to form a first imbricated joint and to slidingly connect to a second adjacent leaf to form a second imbricated joint,
wherein, in a first configuration, the plurality of leaves comprises a first number of leaves coupled to form a planar top surface, and wherein, in a second configuration, the plurality of leaves comprises a second, greater number of leaves coupled to form a planar top surface, and wherein relative rotation about the pin between the upper lobe and lower lobe of each leaf provides an orientation of the leaf that defines the first configuration and the second configuration.
11 . The top of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of leaves are a modular plurality of leaves.
12 . The top of claim 10 , wherein each leaf is configured to slidingly connect to the first adjacent leaf and slidingly connect to the second adjacent leaf.
13 . The top of claim 10 , wherein the closed loop structure is configured to define a central oculus.
14 . The top of claim 10 , wherein each leaf of the plurality of leaves includes a top tongue portion pivotably coupled to a bottom tongue portion.
15 . The top of claim 14 , wherein the top tongue portion defines a first convex arc, the bottom tongue portion defines a second convex arc, and a pivot extends from a center of the first convex arc to a center of the second convex arc.
16 . The top of claim 10 , where the pin is positioned at a diametric center of the leaf.
17 . A method comprising:
mating a convex surface of a top lobe of a first epicyclic unit with a concave surface of a top lobe of a second epicyclic unit; and
mating a concave surface of a bottom lobe of the first epicyclic unit with a convex surface of a bottom lobe of the second epicyclic unit,
wherein the top lobe and the bottom lobe of the first epicyclic unit are pivotably connected, and
wherein the top lobe and the bottom lobe of the second epicyclic unit are pivotably connected, and further comprising, prior to mating, rotating the top lobe relative to the bottom lobe of each epicyclic unit about a pin positioned at a diametric center of the respective unit, the pin rotatably connecting the top lobe and the bottom lobe, wherein, in a first configuration, the first epicyclic unit and the second epicyclic unit are oriented by rotation about the respective pins to define an orientation that forms a planar top surface when coupled, and wherein, in a second configuration, the first epicyclic unit, the second epicyclic unit, and a third epicyclic unit are oriented by rotation about the respective pins to define an orientation that forms a planar top surface when coupled.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising, after mating the concave surface of the bottom lobe of the first epicyclic unit with the convex surface of the bottom lobe of the second epicyclic unit:
separating the first epicyclic unit and the second epicyclic unit;
mating the convex surface of the top lobe of the first epicyclic unit with a concave surface of a top lobe of a third epicyclic unit;
mating the concave surface of the bottom lobe of the first epicyclic unit with a convex surface of a bottom lobe of the third epicyclic unit;
mating the concave surface of the top lobe of the second epicyclic unit with a convex surface of a top lobe of the third epicyclic unit; and
mating the convex surface of the bottom lobe of the second epicyclic unit with a concave surface of a bottom lobe of the third epicyclic unit.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method is performed without tooling.