# US 5,328,289 A · System for positioning and retaining an article of modular furniture

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- Number: US 5,328,289 A
- Document ID: US5328289A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/979,336
- Filed: 1992-11-20
- Granted: 1994-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1991-11-21
- Assignees: Steelcase Strafor
- Inventors: Philippe Fussler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5328289A

## CPC

- A47B 13/003: {Connecting table tops to underframes (connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42)}
- Y10S 403/12: Furniture type having a rotatable fastener or fastening element that tightens connection
- Y10T 403/7005: Lugged member, rotary engagement
- Y10T 403/7111: Shackle is integral with or independently attached to proximate side of plate or other side
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A system for positioning and retaining in place an article of modular furniture in the form of a slab upon the upper face of a rest block comprises an intermediate piece and a fastener. The intermediate piece has a horizontal plate an arcuate heel extending upwardly from the upper face perpendicular to the plate at one end thereof, the shape and dimensions of the heel being the same as a concave recess provided in the external edge of the slab. The lower face of the plate includes a locking mechanism for locking the plate into a recess in the upper face of the rest block. The heel has a hole therethrough positioned to align with a hole in the concave recess in the external edge of the slab. The fastener includes a locking stud and a head, the head having a vertical planar part and a horizontal part which fully close the concave recess in the external edge of the slab when the stud is forced into the holes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for positioning and retaining in place an article of modular furniture upon the upper face of a rest block, the article of modular furniture being in the form of a slab having an external edge provided with a concave recess therein and a hole extending inwardly at the center of the concave recess, and the upper face of the rest block being provided with a recess therein, said system comprising:
an intermediate piece having a horizontal plate with upper and lower faces and opposed ends and an arcuate heel extending upwardly from said upper face perpendicular to said plate at one end thereof, said lower face of said plate including locking means for locking said plate into the recess in the upper face of the rest block, and said heel having the shape and dimensions of the recess provided in the external edge of the slab and having a hole therethrough positioned to align with the hole in the concave recess in the external edge of the slab;
a fastener including a locking stud and a head, said head having a vertical planar part and a horizontal part having the shape of a segment of a circle, said vertical planar part having the same height and width as the concave recess in the external edge of the slab, and said segment-shaped part being complementary in shape to the concave recess in the external edge of the slab, and said stud extending perpendicularly from said vertical planar part and being configured to pass through said hole in said heel of said intermediate piece and the hole in the concave recess in the external edge of the slab, whereby said fastener fully closes the concave recess in the external edge of the slab when said stud is forced into said holes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a disk protruding from said lower face of said plate, said disk having opposed wings extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein the recess in the upper face of the rest black is disk-shaped with opposed wings and is complementary in size and shape to said locking means, the wings of the recess being oriented 90.degree. to said wings of said locking means when said intermediate piece is in the proper position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said lower face of said plate of said intermediate piece and the upper face of the rest block are respectively provided with a coupling protrusion and cup which are complementary in shape.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said stud has a tip which is longitudinally split and spread.