IP Library Granted Patent US 9,173,484
Granted Patent B2
US 9,173,484 · App. 14/201,190 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Ready-to-assemble table

Inventors: Mark V. Miller (Archbold, OH); Douglas P. Krieger (Archbold, OH)
Assignee: Sauder Woodworking
A47B13/088A47B83/045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,173,484
App. No.
14/201,190
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ready-to-assemble table comprises a split tabletop having separable portions, an apron depending from the tabletop portions, and legs mountable to the tabletop portions to support the tabletop on a surface. When the table is disassembled, the tabletop portions with their respective aprons can be stacked and arranged so that the aprons space the tabletop portions to form a cavity therebetween sized to receive the legs for packaging of the table. Additionally, a partial table can be constructed employing one of the tabletop portions for retail display.

Claims (34)

1. A ready-to-assemble table comprising:

a split tabletop having first and second separable portions;

an apron depending from each of the first and second separable portions comprising an end panel and a pair of side panels spaced from each other by spaces near corners of the separable portions; and

legs to support each separable portion on a surface;

wherein when the table is in a disassembled condition, the first and second separable portions with their respective aprons can be stacked with one of the first and second separable portions inverted so that the aprons space the first and second separable portions from each other, and the pair of side panels on each separable portion extend through the spaces to be adjacent each other with the aprons offset and the first and second separable portions aligned to form a cavity sized to receive the legs for packaging of the table in a compact assembly.

2. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second separable portions comprises a mating edge, an end edge opposite the mating edge, and opposite side edges joining the mating and end edges, and the panels depend from the separable portion adjacent the end edge and the opposite side edges.

3. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 2 wherein when the table is in the disassembled condition with the separable portions stacked, the first and second separable portions are oriented with the mating edge of one of the first and second tabletop portions generally aligned with the end edge of the other of the first and second separable portions such that apron panels adjacent the end edges are spaced from each other to define one dimension of the cavity.

4. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 3 wherein the apron panels adjacent the opposite side edges on the first and second separable portions define a second dimension of the cavity.

5. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 4 wherein when the table is in the disassembled condition with the first and second separable portions stacked, the first and second separable portions are laterally offset relative to each other.

6. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 2 , further comprising a fastener mounted to the first and second separable portions and actuable to selectively couple the first and second separable portions.

7. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 6 wherein the fastener is mounted adjacent the mating edges to couple the first and second separable portions with the mating edges in abutting relationship when the table is in an assembled condition.

8. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 7 wherein when the table is in the assembled condition, the apron panels adjacent the side edges of one of the first and second separable portions abut the complementary apron panels on the other of the first and second tabletop portions, and the table further comprises an auxiliary apron mountable to each set of the abutting apron panels.

9. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 8 wherein the cavity formed by the first and second separable portions when in the stacked configuration is sized to further receive the auxiliary aprons.

10. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 7 wherein the fastener comprises a latch mounted on one of the first and second separable portions and a keeper mounted on the other of the first and second separable portions.

11. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 2 wherein the apron panels on each of the first and second separable portions adjacent the side edges are spaced from the apron panel adjacent the end edge to accommodate a leg between the adjacent apron panels.

12. A table comprising:

a first subassembly comprising a first tabletop and an apron mounted to the first tabletop;

a second subassembly separate from the first subassembly and comprising a second tabletop and an apron mounted to the second tabletop; and

a fastener mounted to the first and second tabletops and selectively actuable to couple the first and second tabletops to form an assembled full table;

wherein the first and second subassemblies are configured to be vertically stacked with the first subassembly inverted and laterally shifted relative to the second subassembly with the aprons adjacent each other to minimize a volume of the disassembled table;

wherein each of the aprons comprises an end panel and a pair of side panels spaced from each other, and

wherein when the table is in the assembled condition, the apron of one of the first and second partial tables abuts the apron on the other of the first and second partial tables with a seam therebetween, and the table further corn rises an auxiliary apron mountable over the abutting aprons to conceal the seam.

13. A ready-to-assemble table comprising:

a split tabletop having first and second separable portions, each of the first and second separable portions having a mating edge, an end edge opposite the mating edge, and opposite side edges joining the mating and end edges;

an apron on each of the first and second separable portions including panels depending from the separable portion adjacent the end edge and the opposite side edges; and

legs for the first and second separable portions to support the split tabletop on a surface;

wherein when the table is in a disassembled condition, the first and second separable portions with their respective aprons can be stacked with one of the first and second tabletop portions inverted so that the aprons space the first and second tabletop portions to form a cavity therebetween sized to receive the legs for packaging of the table, and the first and second tabletop portions are oriented with the mating edge of one of the first and second tabletop portions generally aligned with the end edge of the other of the first and second tabletop portions such that apron panels adjacent the end edges are spaced from each other to define one dimension of the cavity, and the apron panels adjacent the opposite side edges on the first and second tabletop portions define a second dimension of the cavity with the first and second tabletop portions laterally offset relative to each other.

14. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 13 further comprising a fastener mounted to the first and second tabletop portions adjacent the mating edges and actuable to selectively couple the first and second separable portions with the mating edges in abutting relationship, wherein when the table is in the assembled condition, the apron panels adjacent the side edges of one of the first and second tabletop portions abut the complementary apron panels on the other of the first and second tabletop portions, and the table further comprises an auxiliary apron mountable to each set of the abutting apron panels.

15. The ready-to-assemble table of claim 14 wherein the cavity is sized to further receive the auxiliary aprons.

16. A table comprising:

a first partial table comprising a first tabletop and a pair of legs mounted to the first tabletop;

a second partial table separate from the first partial table and comprising a second tabletop and a pair of legs mounted to the second tabletop; and

a fastener mounted to the first and second tabletops and selectively actuable to couple the first and second tabletops to form an assembled full table;

wherein each of the first and second partial tables comprises an apron depending from the respective first and second tabletops and when the table is in the assembled condition, the apron of one of the first and second partial tables abuts the apron on the other of the first and second partial tables with a seam therebetween, and the table further comprises an auxiliary apron mountable over the abutting aprons to conceal the seam.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL 052159, FRAME 0208 Recorded Sep 13, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SAUDER WOODWORKING CO.; SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
Reel/Frame 068967/0728 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2024
From: SAUDER WOODWORKING CO.; SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
To: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068565/0887 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2020
From: SAUDER WOODWORKING CO.; SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052159/0208 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2014
From: MILLER, MARK V.; KRIEGER, DOUGLAS P.
To: SAUDER WOODWORKING
Reel/Frame 032381/0422 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61803921 · Mar 21, 2013
Related Publication 20140283716A1 · Sep 25, 2014