Top assembly

#This invention is concerned with a top assembly for desks, tables, credenzas, and similar items having a continuous thin laminated plastic covering which is wrapped around the side and end walls thereof.

#An object of this invention is a tough laminated plastic covering for a top assembly of a desk, table, credenza or similar item which covering extends over the side and end walls and undersurface edges of the top assembly without interruption or break by seam or rim.

#Another object is a top assembly for desks, tables, credenzas, and similar items having squared sides and ends with a laminated plastic covering wrapped around the sides and ends without seam or rim.

#The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top assembly of this invention mounted on a desk;

#FIG. 2 is a partial bottom plan view of a corner of the top assembly with portions broken away for clarity of illustration;

#FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a top assembly 11, constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, mounted on a desk 13 of the double pedestal type. The top assembly of this invention may also be installed on tables, credenzas, cabinets and similar items.

#The top assembly 11 of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a generally rectangular inverted pan-shaped sheet metal housing 15 which is attached to and reinforced by a framework of longitudinally extending metal channel members 17. The channels are welded or otherwise fastened to the sheet metal pan 15. The sheet metal housing 15 includes a generally rectangular top planar wall 19 and integral turned down end and side walls 21 and 23. The end and side walls extend generally at right angles to the top wall and are connected to the top wall by curved portions of small radius such as curved portion 25, shown in FIG. 3, which connects top wall 19 and side wall 23. A similar curved portion of small radius connects top wall 19 and end wall 21 but it is not shown in the drawings for clarity of illustration. The end walls 21 and side walls 23 have inwardly projecting portions 29 and 31 respectively at the lower edges thereof. These inwardly projecting portions are connected to the end and side walls by curved portions 33 and 35 of small radius. The inwardly projecting portions 29 and 31 extend at right angles to the end and side walls and are parallel to the top wall 19. This construction provides a top assembly which has a "squared" or "planar" appearance.

#The sheet metal pan 15 is formed from a rectangular sheet 36 of metal using conventional metal bending and shearing equipment. FIG. 5 of the drawings shows the metal sheet 36 before bending but after corner notches 37 have been die-cut in the sheet. The notches provide gaps 39 or cutaway portions at the corners of the sheet metal pan after bending. Each corner notch 37 is somewhat rectangular in shape with aligned edges 41 and 43 which extend at a 45.degree. angle to the side and end edges of the unbent metal sheet 36. The edges terminate in sharp peaks 45 and 47, respectively. Curved portions 49 and 51 lead inwardly from the peaks to straight edges 53 and 55 which extend at right angles to each other. The straight edges meet in an arcuate portion 57 having the same radius as the curved portions 49 and 51.