# US 7,610,865 B2 · Table > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,865 B2 - Document ID: US7610865B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/560,507 - Filed: 2004-05-22 - Published: 2006-12-14 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-13 - Assignees: Herman Miller, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Korb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610865B2 ## CPC - A47B 13/021: {Fastening devices of the feet or legs (A47B13/023 takes precedence)} - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) ## Abstract A piece of furniture, for example, a table, having a frame, supported on legs and carrying a table top, embodied with two parallel separate longitudinal profiles and at least two connected transverse struts and which has hollow recesses, accessible from an underside thereof, for the upper end sections of the legs. A simple and stable leg fixing is thus achieved, whereby coil-section shaped contact elements are arranged on circumferential inner surfaces in the recesses, and contact elements, cooperating with the above for a play-free fixing of the legs, are arranged on the external surface of the end sections, or conversely the spiral section shaped contact elements are embodied on the end sections and the contact elements are embodied in the recesses. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A piece of furniture comprising: at least one leg; a hollow receiver shaped to receive an end section of the at least one leg, wherein the hollow receiver comprises a first engagement element formed as a helical segment at least partially encircling an inside of the hollow receiver, and a first counter-engagement element formed on a respective outside of the end section of the leg; wherein the first engagement element engages the first counter-engagement element for fixing the leg in place free of play; wherein the receiver is formed as a separate insert fixed in place in a respectively matched recess in a socket member; and wherein the insert engages the socket with a snap fit; wherein the first engagement element and a second engagement element are formed as grooves and are located opposite each other offset by 180°, each of which has an insertion element extending in an axis-parallel direction, and the first counter-engagement element and a second counter-engagement element are peg-shaped protrusions matched to the grooves of the respective first and second engagement elements; wherein the receiver and the end section of the leg are correspondingly embodied to be conically tapering toward a free end of the end section and dimensioned so that the end section is introduced with play with respect to the receiver in the axial direction and is fixed in place by subsequent rotation, while supported free of play at a conical inside; wherein the engagement elements and counter-engagement elements, as well as a dimensioning of the receiver and the end section are laid out so that, with the leg attached, an upper front side of the leg is supported on an upper inner surface of the receiver; and wherein the socket member is a hollow profiled element which includes openings on an underside that are matched to an exterior cross section of the insert. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The piece of furniture in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insert is in one of a cup shape and a hat shape and is one of pressed and glued into the respective recess, riveted, and screwed from a top of the socket member. ### Claim 3 A piece of furniture comprising: at least one leg; a hollow receiver shaped to receive an end section of the at least one leg, wherein the hollow receiver comprises an engagement element formed as a helical segment at least partially encircling an inside of the hollow receiver, and a counter-engagement element formed on a respective outside of the end section of the leg; wherein the engagement element engages the counter-engagement element for fixing the leg in place free of play; wherein the receiver is formed as a separate insert fixed in place in a respectively matched recess in a socket member; and wherein the insert engages the socket with a snap fit; wherein the receiver is made of one of a plastic and a metal; and wherein the socket member is a hollow profiled element which includes openings on an underside that are matched to an exterior cross section of the insert. ### Claim 4 A piece of furniture, comprising: a leg comprising a pin extending radially outward on opposite sides of the leg; a socket member; a mounting component received in the socket member having a pair of opposed axial slots receiving portions of said pin extending radially from the leg, wherein the pin is moveable in the slots, such that the leg is axially moveable relative to the mounting component, wherein the mounting component further comprises a helical engagement member following a continuously upward rise in a first rotational direction, with the helical engagement member continuously drawing the leg into the socket when the leg is rotated relative to the socket in the first direction; wherein the pin does not penetrate beyond an outer surface of the mounting component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The piece of furniture of claim 4, wherein the socket member is secured to an underside of a work surface on the piece of furniture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The piece of furniture of claim 5, wherein the socket member is one of pressed and glued into a mating recess in the piece of furniture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The piece of furniture of claim 5, wherein the axis of the mounting component is aligned obliquely upward and inward with respect to the work surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The piece of furniture of claim 4, wherein the mounting component is made of one of a plastic and a metal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The piece of furniture of claim 4, wherein the leg is a hollow tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The piece of furniture of claim 4 wherein the helical engagement member is a slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The piece of furniture of claim 10 wherein the helical engagement member communicates with the axial slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein the pin travels in the axial slot and helical engagement member.