# US 11,305,290 B2 · Laminated, low-profile, vibration-damped table top > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,290 B2 - Document ID: US11305290B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/575,172 - Filed: 2016-05-18 - Published: 2018-05-24 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-19 - Assignees: Technical Manufacturing Corporation - Applicants: Technical Manufacturing Corporation - Inventors: Steven T. Ryan; John E. Booth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305290B2 ## CPC - B01L 9/02: Laboratory benches or tables; Fittings therefor - F16F 15/02: Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems ({F16F15/005 takes precedence } ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; {relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06}) - B01L 2200/12: Specific details about manufacturing devices - B01L 2300/0887: Laminated structure - G01M 7/02: Vibration-testing {by means of a shake table} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A low-profile, vibration-damped tabletop for supporting sensitive scientific equipment is described. The tabletop may include a laminated structure having a lower metal plate that is sized to achieve a desired weight for the tabletop, a manufactured, homogenous filler and a “clean top” metal upper skin having a plurality of holes backed by liquid impermeable barriers. The damping characteristics are improved at low frequencies compared to a comparable structure with a honeycomb filler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vibration-damped tabletop comprising: a top metallic skin perforated with a plurality of holes; a plurality of cups backing the plurality of holes and sealed to the top metallic skin; a first filling material bonded to the top metallic skin, wherein the first filling material comprises a fiberboard, polymeric board, fiberglass, or a cast resin; voids formed in the first filling material, wherein the plurality of cups are located in the voids; and a base metallic plate connected to the first filling material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tabletop of claim 1, wherein the first filling material comprises fiberboard. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the base metallic plate is thicker than the top metallic skin and a total thickness of the tabletop is between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 2.5 inches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the base metallic plate is dimensioned to give a weight to the tabletop of at least 150 pounds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tabletop of claim 4, wherein the tabletop has the weight of at least 150 pounds for an areal size as small as 18 inches by 20 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cups are integrally formed in the first filling material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, further comprising walls at the edge of the tabletop that, with the top metallic skin, plurality of cups, and base metallic plate, seal an interior of the tabletop. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tabletop of claim 7, wherein the walls comprise extensions of the top metallic skin that are bent toward and connected to a periphery of the first filling material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, further comprising a vibration-isolation platform having multiple load-carrying supports configured to support the tabletop. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tabletop of claim 9, wherein a thickness of the base metallic plate is dimensioned to give a weight of at least 35 pounds on each load-carrying support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The tabletop of claim 9, wherein the vibration-isolation platform comprises a passive damping system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tabletop of claim 10, wherein a natural resonance frequency of the tabletop in a vertical direction is less than 3 Hz. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The tabletop of claim 9, wherein the vibration-isolation platform comprises an active damping system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the top metallic skin comprises stainless steel and a thickness of the top metallic skin is between approximately 0.048 inch and approximately 0.25 inch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the plurality of holes are threaded. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the plurality of holes are extruded and threaded. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cups are located in the voids and formed from a metal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cups are located in the voids and formed from a polymer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, wherein the first filling material fills more than one-quarter of a volume spanned by the first filling material that includes the voids. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The tabletop of claim 1, wherein the first filling material comprises a polymeric board. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The tabletop of claim 1, wherein the first filling material comprises fiberglass. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The tabletop of claim 1, wherein the first filling material comprises cast resin. ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The tabletop of claim 2, further comprising a second filling material bonded to the first filling material and to the base metallic plate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The tabletop of claim 20, wherein the first filling material fills more than one-quarter of a volume spanned by the first filling material that includes the voids. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The tabletop of claim 20, wherein the base metallic plate is thicker than the top metallic skin and a total thickness of the tabletop is between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 2.5 inches. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The tabletop of claim 20, wherein a thickness of the base metallic plate is dimensioned to give a weight to the tabletop of at least 150 pounds. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The tabletop of claim 20, wherein the plurality of cups are integrally formed in the first filling material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The tabletop of claim 20, further comprising walls at the edge of the tabletop that, with the top metallic skin, plurality of cups, and base metallic plate, seal an interior of the tabletop. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The tabletop of claim 20, further comprising a vibration-isolation platform having multiple load-carrying supports configured to support the tabletop. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The tabletop of claim 21, wherein the first filling material fills more than one-quarter of a volume spanned by the first filling material that includes the voids. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The tabletop of claim 21, wherein the base metallic plate is thicker than the top metallic skin and a total thickness of the tabletop is between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 2.5 inches. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The tabletop of claim 22, wherein the first filling material fills more than one-quarter of a volume spanned by the first filling material that includes the voids. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The tabletop of claim 22, wherein the base metallic plate is thicker than the top metallic skin and a total thickness of the tabletop is between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 2.5 inches. ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) The tabletop of claim 22, wherein a thickness of the base metallic plate is dimensioned to give a weight to the tabletop of at least 150 pounds. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The tabletop of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cups are integrally formed in the first filling material. ### Claim 36 (depends on 22) The tabletop of claim 22, further comprising walls at the edge of the tabletop that, with the top metallic skin, plurality of cups, and base metallic plate, seal an interior of the tabletop. ### Claim 37 (depends on 22) The tabletop of claim 22, further comprising a vibration-isolation platform having multiple load-carrying supports configured to support the tabletop.