Telescopic furniture
An expandable television stand including a top, an expandable back leg, and a pair of front legs adjustably connected to the top. The stand is reconfigurable between a smallest size, wherein the front legs are connectable to the top adjacent to the top, and a plurality of larger sizes, wherein the front legs are shifted away from each other and connected to the top a predetermined distance away from the top. Leg extension elements are used to fill the space between the front legs and the top created when the stand is expanded beyond its smallest size.
The present invention relates to furniture. More particularly, the present invention relates to expandable furniture.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONGeneric television stands exist which are designed to accommodate a number of different television sizes and models. These stands often look awkward because they are not specifically sized to match a given television model and size. In order to provide for a custom stand look, manufacturers have been forced to provide a different stand size and configuration for each television size and model at a significant price mark-up from the generic stands. Therefore, there exists a need for an affordable universal stand configured to support a variety of television models and sizes while maintaining a custom stand look.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn expandable stand of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a top, an expandable back leg, one or more shelves and shelf supports, and a pair of front legs adjustably connected to the top. The stand may be expanded or reconfigured to accommodate, for example, a plurality of different sized televisions. However, the stand is not limited to its role as a television stand and may be used as a piece of furniture or to support other items.
The stand may be sold as a kit including stand components that can be assembled to form a plurality of different sized stands depending on assembly. Assembly is reversible so that if at any point during the life of the stand a smaller or larger stand is desired, the stand need only be disassembled and then reassembled following the proper assembly instructions specific to the desired stand size. The stand components are common for all of the stand sizes except for optional leg extensions, which are specific to stand size. For example, an exemplary stand of the present invention may be able to be sized to support any of a 50 inch, 56 inch and a 61 inch television. The same parts are used to form the stand for all three sizes except a leg extension element of different size is used on the stands for the 56″ and 61″ televisions. As detailed below, these optional leg extension elements are used to fill the space created when adjusting the front legs of the stand to accommodate the larger size televisions.
A stand according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a top, a first leg supporting the top, and a second leg supporting the top. The stand may be configured such that a distance between each of the first leg and the second leg is adjustable and a distance between an edge of the top facing away from the top and each of the first leg and second leg is adjustable.
The stand may be configured such that each of the first leg and the second leg contact the edge of the top in a smallest configuration of the stand.
The stand may also include a first leg extension and a second leg extension. The first leg extension may be secured to the stand, between the top edge and the first leg, and the second leg extension may be secured to the stand, between the top edge and the second leg, when each of the first and second legs are spaced away from the top edge of the top.
The stand may also include one or more shelves at least partially supported by the first leg and the second leg.
The first leg and second leg may each be adjustably connected to the top by a connector. The connector may include a fixed portion secured to the top, a first adjustable portion secured to the first leg and adjustably connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations, and a second adjustable portion secured to the second leg and adjustably connected to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations. The first adjustable portion and the second adjustable portion may be telescopically arranged with respect to the fixed portion, i.e., at least partially disposed over or within the fixed portion.
The stand may also include a third leg, which may be expandable, connected towards a back of the top. The first leg and second leg may be connected towards a front of the top opposite the back.
The third leg may include a fixed portion secured to the top, a first adjustable portion connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations, and a second adjustable portion connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations.
The stand may also include shelf supports. Each shelf support may be connected between the third leg and one of the first leg and the second leg.
An exemplary stand system of the present invention may include (i) at least one pair of leg extensions and (ii) a stand including a top, a first leg, and a second leg. The stand may be reconfigurable to at least two predetermined stand sizes, each stand size having a different distance between (i) the top and each of the first leg and the second leg, and (ii) the first leg and second leg. A different size pair of the leg extensions may fill a space between the top and each of the first leg and the second leg for each predetermined stand size in which each of the first leg and second leg are spaced away from the top.
The top of the stand may include a plurality of holes a predetermined distance apart. The first adjustable portion and the second adjustable portion of the connector may be secured to the top through a pair of the holes closest to a middle of the top for the smallest size of the stand and secured to the top using pairs of holes further away from the middle of the top for larger sizes of the stand.
An exemplary stand kit of the present invention includes a plurality of stand parts including at least a top, a first leg configured to support the top, and a second leg configured to support the top. The parts may be configured to be assembled to form any one of a plurality of different stand sizes including at least a first size, in which the first leg and the second leg are connected to the top directly adjacent an edge of the top facing away from the top, and a larger second size, in which the each of the first leg and the second leg are spaced away from the edge of the top while still supporting the top.
The stand kit may include a pair of leg extensions, each leg extension configured to fill a space between the top and one of the first leg and second leg when the parts are assembled to the second size. The stand kit may also include a plurality of different sized leg extension pairs, each stand size having one leg extension filling a space between the top and each of the first leg and the second leg.
The stand parts may include an adjustable connector configured to connect each of the first leg and the second leg to the top at varying distances from the edge of the top.
The top included in the stand kit may include a plurality of predrilled hole pair sets, each set being used for a different stand size.
The expandable leg included in the stand kit may include a plurality of predrilled hole pair sets, each set being used for a different stand size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the following drawings, wherein:
The first assembly step involves connecting the adjustment mechanism 24 to the top surface 28 of the top 12. As indicated above, this is illustrated in
As can be seen in
In
The next assembly step involves connecting shelf supports 22a-22d to the back leg 18. The back leg 18 includes a fixed portion 60, a first adjustable portion 62 and second adjustable portion 64. As can be seen in
If a larger or smaller number of stand size options are desired the number of sets of predrilled holes need only be adjusted, for example, on the top 12 and back leg 18. Also, additional leg extensions sized to fit between the top 12 and each of the front legs 14 and 16 may be included in the stand kit.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the foregoing representative embodiments, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the representative embodiments are exemplary in nature and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of protection for the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A stand, comprising:
- a top;
- a first leg supporting the top;
- a second leg supporting the top;
- wherein the stand is configured such that a distance between each of the first leg and the second leg is adjustable and a distance between an edge of the top facing away from the top and each of the first leg and second leg is adjustable.
2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the stand is configured such that each of the first leg and second leg contact the edge of the top in a smallest configuration of the stand.
3. The stand of claim 1 further comprising: a first leg extension and a second leg extension, the first leg extension secured to the stand between the top edge and the first leg and the second leg extension secured to the stand between the top edge and the second leg when each of the first and second legs are spaced away from the top edge of the top.
4. The stand of claim 1 further comprising one or more shelves at least partially supported by the first leg and the second leg.
5. The stand of claim 1, wherein the first leg and second leg are each adjustably connected to the top by a connector including a fixed portion secured to the top, a first adjustable portion secured to the first leg and adjustably connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations, and a second adjustable portion secured to the second leg and adjustably connected to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations.
6. The stand of claim 5, wherein the first adjustable portion and the second adjustable portion are at least partially disposed over or within the fixed portion.
7. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a third leg connected towards a back of the top, the first leg and second leg connected towards a front of the top opposite the back.
8. The stand of claim 7, wherein the third leg is expandable.
9. The stand of claim 8, wherein the third leg includes a fixed portion secured to the top, a first adjustable portion connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations, and a second adjustable portion connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations.
10. The stand of claim 7, further including shelf supports, each shelf support connected between the third leg and one of the first leg and the second leg.
11. A stand system, comprising:
- at least one pair of leg extensions; and
- a stand including a top, a first leg, and a second leg, the stand reconfigurable to at least two predetermined stand sizes, each stand size having a different distance between (i) the top and each of the first leg and the second leg, and (ii) the first leg and second leg;
- wherein a different size pair of the leg extensions fill a space between the top and each of the first leg and the second leg for each predetermined stand size in which each of the first leg and second leg are spaced away from the top.
12. The stand system of claim 11, wherein the stand is configured such that each of the first leg and the second leg contact an edge of the top facing away from the top at different locations when the stand is assembled to its smallest size.
13. The stand system of claim 11, further comprising one or more shelves at least partially supported by the first leg and the second leg.
14. The stand system of claim 11, wherein the first leg and second leg are adjustably connected to the top by a connector including a fixed portion secured to the top, a first adjustable portion secured to the first leg and adjustably connectable to the fixed portion and the top at a plurality of locations, and a second adjustable portion secured to the second leg and adjustably connectable to the fixed portion and the top at a plurality of locations.
15. The stand system of claim 14, wherein the first adjustable portion and the second adjustable portion are at least partially disposed over or within the fixed portion.
16. The stand system of claim 11, wherein the expandable stand includes a third leg connected towards a back of the top, the first leg and second leg connected towards a front of the top opposite the back.
17. The stand system of claim 16, wherein the third leg is expandable.
18. The stand system of claim 16, wherein the third leg includes a fixed portion secured to the top, a first portion connectable to fixed portion at a plurality of locations, and a second portion connectable to the fixed portion at a plurality of locations.
19. The stand system of claim 16, wherein the expandable stand further includes shelf supports, each shelf support connected between the third leg and one of the first leg and second leg.
20. The stand system of claim 14, wherein the top includes a plurality of holes a predetermined distance apart, the first adjustable portion and the second adjustable portion of the connector secured to the top through a pair of the holes closest to a middle of the top for the smallest size of the stand and secured to the top using pairs of holes further away from the middle of the top for larger sizes of the stand.
21. A stand kit, comprising:
- a plurality of stand parts including at least a top, a first leg configured to support the top, and a second leg configured to support the top,
- the parts are configured to be assembled to form any one of a plurality of different stand sizes including at least a first size in which the first leg and the second leg are connected to the top directly adjacent an edge of the top facing away from the top and a larger second size in which the each of the first leg and the second leg are spaced away from the edge of the top while still supporting the top.
22. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the stand parts include a pair of leg extensions, each leg extension configured to fill a space between the top and one of the first leg and second leg when the parts are assembled to the second size.
23. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the stand parts include a plurality of different sized leg extension pairs, the parts configured to be assembled to form stands of a plurality of different sizes, each stand size having one leg extension filling a space between the top and each of the first leg and the second leg.
24. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the stand parts include an expandable leg configured to support the top.
25. The stand kit of claim 24, wherein the expandable leg and top are configured to connect adjacent a back side of the top and the top and each of the first leg and the second leg are configured to connect adjacent a front side of the top opposite the back side.
26. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the stand parts include at least one shelf.
27. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the stand parts include at least one pair of shelf supports.
28. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the stand parts include an adjustable connector configured to connect each of the first leg and second leg to the top at varying distances from the edge of the top.
29. The stand kit of claim 21, wherein the top includes a plurality of predrilled hole pair sets, each set being used for a different stand size.
30. The stand kit of claim 24, wherein the expandable leg includes a plurality of predrilled hole pair sets, each set being used for a different stand size.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 16, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Inventors: Todd Fridley (Defiance, MO), Justin Cox (St. Charles, MO)
Application Number: 11/378,788
International Classification: A47B 37/00 (20060101);