Table

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/645,423 filed May 10, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This disclosure relates to a table for a correctional, mental health, or behavioral health institution and, more specifically, relates to a table that may be secured to a floor of a correctional, mental health, or behavioral health institution.

Tables are often used in correctional and mental health institutions as furniture. These types of tables may be weighted via sandbag(s) to keep them in place. Alternatively, the table may be secured to the floor of the facility with anchors. One issue with these types of tables is that exposed fasteners, such as bolt or nuts, may be removed by an individual in the facility.

Regarding, a tableis provided that includes a tabletopconnected to a base. The table, once installed, has exposed outer surfacesthat are ligature resistant. More specifically, the outer surfacesaccessible by a user lack sharp corners, sharp edges, through openings, or projections such as posts that a user could utilize to injure themselves or others.

Regarding, the basehas a bodythat may be formed by rotationally molding one or more plastic materials, such as polyethylene. The bodyhas one or more side walls, a hollow interior, and a bottom portion such as bottom wall. The tabletopmay likewise be formed by rotationally molding one or more plastic materials, such as polyethylene.

The bottom wallincludes a floor contacting portion, such as lower rim, a tapered wall portionthat may be frustoconical, and a central wall portion. The tablemay be secured to a floorby placing one or more sandbags in the interiorto weigh down the base. Alternatively, the tableincludes a mounting assemblythat mechanically interlocks the bottom wallof the basewith the floor. An installer may thereby secure the tablein position using one or more sandbags in the interiorand/or the mounting assembly.

With reference to, the mounting assemblyincludes a base member, such as base plate, with a lower surfacethat is positioned against an upper surfaceof the floor. The base platehas openings(see) for receiving anchorsthat extend into holesin the floor. The mounting assemblyincludes nutsthat threadingly engage shank portionsof the anchors. The nutsresist upward movement of the base plateaway from the floor. Further, the shank portionsof the anchorsextending in the openingsinhibit horizontal movement of the base platerelative to the floor.

Regarding, the base platehas bosses or projections such as threaded studsupstanding from a plate portionof the base plate. The studsextend through openings(see) in the central wall portionof the base body.

Regarding, the mounting assemblyfurther includes a blocking member, such as a clamping platein the interiorof the base bodyand on an opposite side of the central wall portionof the base bodythan the base plate. The clamping platehas openings(see) that receive the threaded studsof the base plateprojecting upward through the openingsin the central wall portionof the base body.

Regarding, the mounting assemblyincludes locking members such as nutsengaged with the threaded studsthat urge the clamping platedownwardly into engagement with the central wall portionof the base body. In one embodiment, the anchorshave proximal end portionsthat contact a lower surfaceof the central wall portion. The proximal end portionsthereby provide a hard stop for the central wall portionand clamping plateand limits deformation of the central wall portion. Further, the sandwiching contact between the proximal end portionsof the anchorsand clamping platewith the central wall portioncreates a rigid construct at the bottom of the baseto secure the baseto the floor.

Regarding, the tapered wall portionof the base bodymay be generally frustoconical or may have a step profile, as some examples. The tapered wall portionpositions the central wall portiona predetermined distance above the lower rimand forms a recessbetween the bottom wallof the base bodyand the floor. The recessprovides clearance for the proximal end portionsof the anchorsand the base plate.

Regarding, the baseis shown with the tabletopremoved therefrom. The baseincludes the bodyand a lidsecured thereto via one or more fastenerssuch as bolts. Regarding, the basehas a table support flangeextending about the lidwith pilot holesthat may be drilled out to receive fasteners for connecting a lower surface of the tabletopto an upper surfaceof the flange.

Regarding, the lidhas been removed to show the interiorof the base. The basehas an inner flangeextending about an openingthat opens to the interior. The lidrests upon the inner flange. The baseincludes metal clipseach having a pair of openings that are aligned with an opening in the inner flangeto receive one of the fasteners. The lidis removed to provide access to the interiorand allow an installer to position the clamping plateagainst the central wall portionas well as connect the nutsto the threaded posts. Once the mounting assemblyhas been assembled and secures the baseto the floor, the installer covers the openingwith the lid, secures the lidwith the fasteners, and connects the tabletopto the base.

To install the baseto the floorusing the mounting assembly, an installer drills holesin the floor, advances the anchorsinto the holes, and secures the anchorsin the holessuch as by expanding a distal portion of the anchor. The installer next positions the base plateon the shank portionsof the anchorsso that the shank portionsextend in the openingsof the base plate. The installer tightens down nutson the shank portionsto clamp the base plateagainst the floor.

Once the base platehas been secured to the floorwith anchors, a user drills the openingsin the central wall portionof the base bodyin a pattern that matches the arrangement and number of threaded postsof the base plate. The installer positions the base bodyonto the base plateso that the threaded postsof the base plateextend through the openingsin the central wall portion.

Next, an installer removes the lidand advances the clamping plate(see) into the interiorof the basevia the opening. The installer advances the clamping platetoward the central wall portionso that the threaded studsprojecting upward from the openingsextend into the openingsof the clamping plateand the clamping platerests on an upper surfaceof the central wall portion.

The installer then tightens down the nutson the threaded poststo secure the clamping plateagainst the central wall portion. The nutsurge the clamping plateand central wall portionengaged therewith toward the base plateand secures the assembly of the base body, base plate, anchors, and clamping plate.

Regarding, a tableis shown that is similar in many respects to the tablediscussed above. The tablehas a tabletopand a cylindrical base. The cylindrical basehas a more uniform widththroughout the height of the base. By contrast, the basehas a width(see) that decreases then increases as the baseextends upward from the floor. The tablemay utilize a mounting assembly similar to the mounting assemblydiscussed above.

Uses of singular terms such as “a,” “an,” are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms. It is intended that the phrase “at least one of” as used herein be interpreted in the disjunctive sense. For example, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to encompass A, B, or both A and B.

While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.