IP Library Granted Patent US 11,589,672
Granted Patent B2
US 11,589,672 · App. 17/396,400 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Flip top table

Inventors: Jamie Payne (Grand Rapids, MI); Brian K. Synder (Middleville, MI); Sean M. Derrick (Kalamazoo, MI); David K. Jones (Grand Rapids, MI); David J. Battey (Caledonia, MI); Ivan Colin (Otsego, MI); Christopher Gale Inman (Trufant, MI)
Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
A47B3/08A47B17/036A47B41/02A47B41/06A47B83/04A47B7/02A47B2200/0031A47B2200/0036A47B2200/0037A47B2200/0085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,589,672
App. No.
17/396,400
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flip top table includes a leg assembly supporting an axle defining a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction. A strike plate is non-rotatably secured to the axle, with the strike plate having first and second circumferentially spaced and radially extending stop surfaces. A worksurface is rotatably supported on the axle and includes first and second circumferentially spaced stop surfaces. The worksurface is rotatable about the rotation axis between a use position and a stowed position. A latch assembly is coupled to and rotatable with the worksurface between the use and stowed positions. The latch assembly includes a lock bolt moveable in the longitudinal direction between a disengaged position, wherein the lock bolt is longitudinally displaced from the strike plate, and an engaged position, wherein the lock bolt engages the second stop surface of the strike plate when the worksurface is in the use position. An actuation mechanism is also provided.

Claims (34)

1. A flip top table comprising:

a pair of spaced apart leg assemblies, each leg assembly comprising an upright;

a worksurface comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and opposite ends, wherein the worksurface is rotatably supported by the uprights, wherein the worksurface is rotatable about a horizontal axis between a horizontal use position and an upright stowed position;

a first storage component coupled to the worksurface and arranged adjacent the bottom surface of the worksurface, wherein the first storage component comprises a hook portion positioned below the horizontal axis and opening upwardly when the worksurface is in the stowed position;

a second storage component coupled to the worksurface and arranged along one of the ends of the worksurface; and

a panel removably supported by the hook portion when the worksurface is in the stowed position, and wherein the panel is removably supported by the second storage component when the worksurface is in the use position.

2. The flip top table of claim 1 wherein the second storage component comprises a pair of spaced apart fingers removably supporting the panel when the worksurface is in the use position.

3. The flip top table of claim 1 wherein the hook portion comprises a pair of spaced apart hooks.

4. The flip top table of claim 3 wherein the panel comprises an opening defining a handle, wherein the pair of spaced apart hooks are removeably received in the opening.

5. The flip top table of claim 1 wherein the first storage component is coupled directly to the bottom surface of the worksurface.

6. The flip top table of claim 1 further comprising a pair of spaced apart worksurface subassemblies connected to the bottom surface of the worksurface adjacent the opposite ends thereof, wherein the worksurface subassemblies are pivotally connected to respective ones of the uprights.

7. The flip top table of claim 6 wherein each of the worksurface subassemblies comprises a housing having forwardly and rearwardly extending arms connected to the bottom surface of the worksurface.

8. The flip top table of claim 6 further comprising a cross-bar extending between and connected to the worksurface subassemblies.

9. The flip top table of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a display board.

10. A flip top table comprising:

a pair of spaced apart leg assemblies, each leg assembly comprising an upright;

a pair of spaced apart worksurface subassemblies pivotally connected to respective ones of the uprights, wherein each of the worksurface subassemblies comprises a housing having forwardly and rearwardly extending arms;

a cross-bar extending between and connecting the worksurface assemblies;

a worksurface comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and opposite ends, wherein the bottom surface of the worksurface is coupled to the arms of the worksurface subassemblies, wherein the worksurface is rotatable with the worksurface subassemblies relative to the uprights about a horizontal axis between a horizontal use position and an upright stowed position;

a first storage component coupled to the worksurface and arranged adjacent the bottom surface of the worksurface, wherein the first storage component comprises a hook portion opening upwardly when the worksurface is in the stowed position;

a second storage component coupled to the worksurface and arranged along one of the ends of the worksurface, wherein the second storage component comprises at least one support finger.

11. The flip top table of claim 10 wherein the second storage component comprises a pair of spaced apart support fingers adapted to removably support a panel when the worksurface is in the use position.

12. The flip top table of claim 10 wherein the hook portion comprises a pair of spaced apart hooks adapted to removably support a panel when the worksurface is in the stowed position.

13. The flip top table of claim 10 wherein the first storage component is coupled directly to the bottom surface of the worksurface.

14. The flip top table of claim 10 wherein the hook portion is positioned below the horizontal axis when the worksurface is in the stowed position.

15. A method of supporting a panel on a flip top table comprising:

rotating a worksurface about a horizontal axis relative to a pair of leg assemblies between a horizontal use position and an upright stowed position;

supporting a panel on a first storage component coupled to a bottom surface of the worksurface when the worksurface is in the stowed position, wherein the first storage component comprises a hook portion positioned below the horizontal axis and opening upwardly when the worksurface is in the stowed position, and wherein the panel is supported on the hook portion when the worksurface is in the stowed position; and

supporting the panel on a second storage component coupled to the worksurface when the worksurface is in the use position, wherein the second storage component comprises at least one finger, and wherein the panel is supported on the at least one finger when the worksurface is in the use position.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the panel comprises a display board.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the hook portion comprises a pair of spaced apart hooks and wherein the panel comprises an opening defining a handle, and wherein supporting the panel on the hook portion comprises inserting the hooks through the opening.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein a pair of spaced apart worksurface subassemblies are connected to the bottom surface of the worksurface adjacent opposite ends thereof and are pivotally connected to the pair of leg assemblies, and wherein rotating the worksurface about the horizontal axis comprises pivoting the worksurface subassemblies relative to the pair of leg assemblies.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein each of the worksurface subassemblies comprises a housing having forwardly and rearwardly extending arms connected to the bottom surface of the worksurface.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a cross-bar extending between and connected to the worksurface assemblies.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0368 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: PAYNE, JAMIE; SNYDER, BRIAN K.; DERRICK, SEAN M.; JONES, DAVID K.; BATTEY, DAVID J.; COLIN, IVAN; INMAN, CHRISTOPHER GALE
To: INC., STEELCASE
Reel/Frame 062544/0129 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16388315 · Apr 18, 2019
Continuation PCTUS2017058515 · Oct 26, 2017
Provisional Application 62413566 · Oct 27, 2016
Related Publication 20220022642A1 · Jan 27, 2022