Table with articulable leg system

Abstract

A table with an articulable leg system may include a table top, a set of legs configured to support the table top relative to a ground structure, and a leg retention mechanism configured to couple a leg of the set of legs to the table top, the leg retention mechanism operable in an unsecured configuration in which the leg is movable, relative to the table top, about at least two angular degrees of freedom and a secured configuration in which the leg is fixed relative to the table top. The leg may include a ball portion and a strut portion, and the leg retention mechanism may be configured to receive the ball portion therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A table with an articulable leg system, comprising:
 a table top;   a set of legs configured to support the table top relative to a ground structure; and   a leg retention mechanism configured to couple a leg of the set of legs to the table top, the leg retention mechanism operable in:
 an unsecured configuration in which the leg is movable, relative to the table top, about at least two angular degrees of freedom; and 
 a secured configuration in which the leg is fixed relative to the table top. 
   
     
     
         2 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the leg comprises:
 a ball portion; and 
 a strut portion; and 
   the leg retention mechanism is configured to receive the ball portion therein.   
     
     
         3 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the ball portion is positioned in a socket of the leg retention mechanism; and   the leg retention mechanism comprises:
 a base portion fixedly coupled to the table top and defining a first portion of the socket; and 
 an articulating portion coupled to the base portion and defining a second portion of the socket. 
   
     
     
         4 . The table of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the leg retention mechanism further comprises a latch mechanism; and   in the secured configuration, the latch mechanism secures the base portion of the leg retention mechanism to the articulating portion of the leg retention mechanism and causes the first and second portions of the socket to impart a retention force on the ball portion of the leg.   
     
     
         5 . The table of  claim 3 , wherein the socket comprises a slip-resistant lining. 
     
     
         6 . The table of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the ball portion defines a dimpled outer surface; and   the socket defines at least one protrusion configured to:
 engage a first dimple of the dimpled outer surface when the ball portion is in a first orientation in the socket; and 
 engage a second dimple of the dimpled outer surface when the ball portion is in a second orientation in the socket. 
   
     
     
         7 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein the ball portion comprises:
 a body structure formed of a first material; and   an outer structure defining an exterior surface of the ball portion and formed of a second material different than the first material.   
     
     
         8 . The table of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first material is metal; and   the second material is a polymer.   
     
     
         9 . The table of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the strut portion is an upper strut portion; and   the leg further comprises a lower strut portion coupled to the upper strut portion and positionable in different positions relative to the upper strut portion to adjust an overall length of the leg.   
     
     
         10 . A table with an articulable leg system, comprising:
 a table top;   a set of legs configured to support the table top relative to a ground structure, a leg of the set of legs comprising:
 a ball portion; and 
 a strut portion extending from the ball portion; and 
   a set of leg retention mechanisms coupled to a bottom of the table top and configured to couple the set of legs to the table top, a leg retention mechanism of the set of leg retention mechanisms defining a socket configured to receive the ball portion at least partially therein and operable in:
 an unsecured configuration in which the ball portion is movable in the socket to allow the leg to gimbal relative to the table top; and 
 a secured configuration in which the ball portion is fixed within the socket to fix a position of the leg relative to the table top. 
   
     
     
         11 . The table of  claim 10 , wherein the ball portion is attached to the strut portion via a threaded post. 
     
     
         12 . The table of  claim 10  wherein:
 the leg further comprises a foot portion coupled to the strut portion; and 
 the foot portion is positionable in different positions relative to the strut portion to adjust an overall length of the leg. 
 
     
     
         13 . The table of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the strut portion comprises:
 an upper strut portion; and 
 a lower strut portion coupled to the upper strut portion and positionable in different positions relative to the upper strut portion to adjust the overall length of the leg; and 
   the foot portion is coupled to the lower strut portion.   
     
     
         14 . The table of  claim 10 , further comprising a slip-resistant coating positioned on at least one of the ball portion of the leg or a surface of the socket. 
     
     
         15 . A table system with a modular accessory system, comprising:
 a table top; and   a set of four legs coupled to a bottom of the table top and configured to support the table top relative to a ground structure, each respective leg configured to gimbal relative to the table top independently of each other leg, each respective leg operable in:
 an unlocked configuration in which a respective leg is movable relative to the table top; and 
 a locked configuration in which the respective leg is fixed relative to the table top; wherein: 
   the table top defines an accessory retention feature along at least one peripheral side of the table top and configured to removably retain a table accessory to the table top.   
     
     
         16 . The table system of  claim 15 , wherein the accessory retention feature is an accessory retention slot configured to receive an engagement feature of the table accessory therein. 
     
     
         17 . The table system of  claim 16 , wherein the table accessory is positionable at multiple locations along the accessory retention slot. 
     
     
         18 . The table system of  claim 16 , wherein the accessory retention slot defines an undercut region configured to retain the table accessory to the table top. 
     
     
         19 . The table system of  claim 16 , further comprising an alignment strut positioned in the accessory retention slot and configured to engage with an alignment feature of the table accessory to inhibit motion of the table accessory within the accessory retention slot. 
     
     
         20 . The table system of  claim 16 , wherein the table accessory is selected from the group consisting of:
 a cup holder;   a hook;   a basket;   a shelf; and   a bottle.