Multipurpose furniture assembly
A multipurpose furniture assembly which includes a dining chair mode in an upright position combined with a rocker configuration or a desk chair configuration by rotating the assembly about a horizontal axis. Cross panels engage and are connected between side frames by means of mating projections and slotted openings in the side frames. Cross panels and side frames are locked in a rigid configuration by positioning of a center panel which holds key cross panels in engaged position relative to the side frames. Side frames are ultimately held against cross panels by cross rods or dowels, one of which is connected to the center panel to secure it in place. Cross rods or dowels are secured by simple screw fasteners.
The present invention relates to multipurpose furniture and more particularly to a knock-down assembly of parts forming a chair unit which may be reoriented on a supporting surface to provide different functional positions or modes. The chair unit provides an easily assembled combination of interfitting cross panels and side frames forming a single rigid structure.
BACKGROUNDMany types and varieties of multipurpose furniture assemblies are known in the art for providing different seating functions, depending upon the positioning or orientation of the unit on a support surface. Most notably, such assemblies are particularly adapted to such functions as a regular or specialized seating or chair such as, but not limited to, a child's chair, an amusement rocker or rocking chair or a desk or table and chair mode. Although not necessarily so limited, this type of convertible multiuse assembly adapts itself easily to a child's high chair, an amusement rocking horse (or other simulations) mode and a child's desk mode. Although not necessarily true with all such devices, the concept of a knock-down assembly of parts for easy transport or storage has also been developed in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,918 to Berkes and U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,454 to Chuo Fu Tsung are examples of such multipurpose chair assemblies. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 357,128 to Watson et al and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 248,516 to Johansson are also examples of multipurpose furniture assemblies adapted particularly to child use and include alternately a child's high chair configuration, a child's amusement rocker and a child's desk unit as the assembly is rotated between several positions about a horizontal axis. This type of multipurpose furniture construction and assembly has distinct advantages as far as space saving by the elimination of several different and separate items of furniture. Additionally, such structures may be adapted for knock-down type assembly to permit easy storage and packaging for initial shipping and handling. It is also highly advantageous to provide simplified methods of assembly and to avoid complexity in the configurations of the various parts as well as a reduction of the number of parts to be assembled while keeping in focus the need for rigidity of the assembled structure for safety reasons. Avoiding the need for several separate unites of furniture also has obvious economic advantages.
SUMMARYA multipurpose furniture assembly is provided which includes a dining chair mode in a primary upright position combined with a rocker configuration or a desk chair configuration by simply rotating the assembly about a horizontal axis. The disclosed primary preferred embodiment includes opposite side frames and a plurality of multi-functioning interrelated cross panels which function as seat surfaces, back rests and other functions, dependent upon the position and functional mode of the assembly. The cross panels are engaged and connected between the two side frames by means of mating projections on the panels and slotted openings in the side frames. The cross panels and side frames are ultimately locked in a rigid configuration by the positioning of a center panel or unit which holds the cross panels in position. The two side frames are ultimately held against the cross panels by cross member such as dowels or the like located along first parallel edges of the side frames, one of the cross members being connected to the center panel to secure it in place. The opposite parallel edges of the side frames are held together by the interaction of the cross panel projections and slotted openings in the respective side frames. This structure provides for a minimum total number of parts, since each cross panel serves alternate functions in the different functional modes of the assembly. Rigidity is accomplished by interacting slotted projections and mating slotted openings, a key locking central panel member and simple cross members and fastener elements. This arrangement and order of connecting the parts permits easy assembly and disassembly for storage, packaging and transporting. For use with smaller children, safety straps may be utilized in the high chair mode for restraining the occupant. In an alternate embodiment, a rigid safety bar configuration may be incorporated into one of the cross rods or dowels for increased safety considerations, either with or without additional straps.
The multipurpose furniture assembly is illustrated as a child's high chair unit in
The high chair seat 11 is a generally rectangular flat panel which may have a curved rear edge 12, the curvature of which is a matter of choice or design. The seat panel 11 is not limited to any particular edge design configuration but will include projections 13 and 14 on the right side and projections 16 and 17 on the left side. The high chair back or back rest 18 also comprises a generally rectangular planar panel with a curved top edge 19, the curvature of which is optional, and an optional hand grip opening 21 for lifting purposes as desired. The panel 18 includes upper right and lower right side projections 22 and 23 and upper and lower left side projections 24 and 26 respectively.
Referring to
The side frames 1 and 2 are held together by means of the upper cross rod 3 and the lower cross rod 4, both of which are located adjacent the front parallel edges 39 and 41 of the side frames 1 and 2 respectively. As aforementioned, the ends of the cross rods or dowels 3 and 4 are seated in appropriate recesses 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the inside surfaces of the side frames 1 and 2 for a purpose presently to be described. It will also be noted that the front edges 39 and 41 are both curved inwardly with the terminal ends of the edge 39 providing support surfaces or legs 42 and 43 on its upper and lower ends respectively, the exact curvature of the surface being a matter of design. Likewise, the edge 41 terminates at its upper and lower ends with the support surfaces or legs 44 and 46 respectively for a purpose presently to be described. In the alternative the front edges of the side frames may have a straight line configuration.
The child high chair configuration may also include the usual restraint harness such as the crotch strap 47 which, in the present embodiment, is connected at one end about the upper dowel 3 and engages a suitable slotted opening 48 in the front edge of the chair seat 11 at its opposite end. Additional safety restraint is provided by the two-piece belt 49 in the nature of a seat belt connected by any suitable connector, such as the bayonet type connector 51. The ends of the belt 49 will be suitably anchored in the walls of the side frames 1 and 2 as illustrated in
As seen most clearly in
A center panel 87 is utilized as a multi-functioning panel which serves to support the forward end of the rocker panel 59, to engage positively with the foot rest panel 73 and to receive the cross rod or dowel 4 so as to constitute the final locking link in rigidifying the cross panels and the side frames. The panel 87 is located midway between the side frames 1 and 2 and extends parallel to the side frames. This panel may take the shape of a rocking horse head as in the present embodiment for child amusement or may be formed in any other representation as desired. The panel 87 includes circular opening 88 for reception of the dowel 4, a notch or slot 89 for engaging the slot 72 in the rocker seat, and spaced projecting pins or pegs 91 on the bottom edge thereof for engagement with the holes or recesses 92 in the foot rest panel 73 as seen in
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the primary preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that alternative structural or mechanical details, as well as variations in-design, may be made in order to accomplish the objects of the invention. The detailed configuration of the various seat and back rest panels as well as the side frames may be changed to suit different intended functions or aesthetic preference and the center rocker panel 87 may be plain or take the shape of any desired simulation. The scope of the invention therefor, is only to be limited by the claims appended hereto. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property is claimed are defined as follows.
Claims
1. A multipurpose furniture assembly comprising;
- a pair of spaced upright side frames having front edges and convexly curved rear edges and a plurality of matching elongated side frame slots,
- a dining seat cross panel including a bottom surface, an upwardly facing dining seat surface and at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots to support the seat between the side frames,
- a dining seat back rest panel extending upwardly from said dining seat surface, said back rest panel including at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots to support the panel between the side frames,
- a rocker seat panel having a bottom surface and a rocker seat surface extending downwardly from the bottom surface of said dining seat panel and terminating in a bottom edge, said rocker seat panel including at least one projection on each side edge thereof adjacent the dining seat panel and extending into mating side frame slots,
- said rocker seat panel projections including slotted portions positioned to engage and capture the respective side frames when the rocker seat is moved into abutment with the bottom surface of said dining seat panel,
- a foot rest cross panel including a bottom surface and a foot rest surface positioned to support the feet of an occupant seated on said rocker seat, said foot rest surface being substantially parallel with said rocker seat panel and spaced therefrom with at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots adjacent the curved rear side edges of the side frames,
- said foot rest panel projections including slotted portions movable to an engaged position to capture the respective side frames,
- a locking panel located between and substantially parallel to said side frames and substantially normal to said rocker seat panel, said locking panel having a first edge removably attached to said foot rest surface and a second edge removably attached to and supporting the bottom edge of said rocker panel,
- first and second cross members connected between the top and bottom portions of the front edges respectively of said side frames, said locking panel being mounted on said second cross member, said second cross member being positioned to provide hand grip surfaces for an occupant seated on said rocker seat surface,
- whereby said rocker panel and said foot rest panel are locked in engagement with said side frames adjacent the rear edges thereof and said cross members connected adjacent the front edges of the side frames to maintain the furniture assembly rigid,
- said furniture assembly presenting a dining chair mode in the upright position, and a rocker chair mode when rotated about a horizontal axis to rest on said curved rear edges of the side frames, the bottom surface of said rocker seat panel providing a desk seat and the bottom surface of said foot rest panel providing a desk surface when the assembly is rotated about a horizontal axis from the upright position to rest on the front edges of said side frames, said second cross member being positioned to provide an occupant's foot rest.
2. The furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein;
- said rocker seat panel is moved into abutment with the bottom surface of said dining seat panel in a first direction,
- said foot rest panel is moved into the engaged position in a second opposite direction,
- said locking panel and said foot rest panel being connected by means of a pin and slot connection,
- said locking panel and said rocker seat panel including interfitting mating slots providing support for said rocker seat panel, and
- said second cross member extending through the body of said locking panel to fix the locking panel in position.
3. The furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein said elongated side frame slots comprise through openings in the side frames, said cross panel projections extending therethrough.
4. The furniture assembly of claim 3 wherein said dining seat panel, said dining seat back rest panel and said foot rest panel all include multiple spaced projections for extending through mating side frame slots.
5. The furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein said locking panel comprises a simulated amusement configuration.
6. The furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein said front edges of the side frames are convex forming support surface legs on the opposite ends thereof.
7. The furniture assembly of claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of said first and second cross members are seated in conforming recesses formed in the respective surfaces of said side frames, and
- the opposite ends of said first and second cross members being connected to the respective side frames with screw threaded fasteners when seated in said conforming recesses,
- said first cross member providing hand grips and a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining seat surface.
8. The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein said first cross member comprises a T configuration with a horizontal extent connected between the side frames and a vertical extent anchored in the dining seat surface providing a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining chair surface astraddle the cross member vertical extent.
9. The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein said dining seat panel includes a rear portion extending beyond said dining seat back rest panel,
- whereby said dining seat back rest panel and the dining seat rear portion provide a storage shelf in the dining seat and desk chair modes, the dining seat bottom surface providing a rocker seat back rest in the rocker seat mode.
10. The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein said assembly is erected by the steps including;
- first inserting the projections on the dining chair seat panel and the dining chair back rest panel into mating slots in one of said side frames,
- then placing the rocker seat panel and the foot rest panel in position with their projections inserted into mating slots in the side frames,
- then aligning the appropriate side frame slots and placing the other side frame onto the assembled cross panels,
- then positioning the frames in the upright position and moving the rocker seat panel and foot rest panel in opposite directions to engage the slotted projections into engagement to capture the respective side walls,
- then inserting the first cross member into the recesses in the side panels and connecting the cross member to the side panels with appropriate fasteners,
- then positioning the assembly in the rocker chair mode with the second cross member passing through said locking panel,
- then engaging the locking seat panel and rocker seat notches and engaging the pin and slot connection between the locking panel and the foot rest panel and snapping the second cross member into the recess in the respective side panels and connecting the second cross member to the side frames with appropriate fasteners.
11. In a multipurpose furniture assembly having dining seat and back rest cross panels extending between upright side frames, said side frames having a plurality of elongated slots and front edges and convexly curved rear edges, said dining seat having a bottom surface and a top dining seat surface, a rocker and desk panel locking structure comprising;
- a rocker seat cross panel extending downwardly substantially normal to the bottom surface of said dining seat panel and terminating in a bottom edge, said rocker seat panel including a rocker seat surface on one side thereof and at least one projection on each side edge thereof adjacent the dining seat panel extending into mating side frame slots,
- said rocker seat panel projections including means for locking engagement to capture the respective side frames when moved into an engaged position,
- a foot rest cross panel extending substantially parallel to said rocker seat panel and spaced therefrom with at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots adjacent the curved rear edges of the side frames, said foot rest panel including a foot rest surface on one side thereof positioned to support the feet of an occupant seated on said rocker seat,
- said foot rest panel projections including means for locking engagement to capture the respective side frames when moved to an engaged position,
- a locking panel located between and substantially parallel to said side frames, said locking panel having a first edge removably attached to said foot rest surface and a second edge removably attached to and supporting the bottom edge of said rocker panel,
- a cross member connected between the bottom portions of the front edges of said side frames, said locking panel being fixed relative to said cross member, said cross member being positioned to provide hand grip surfaces for an occupant seated on said rocker seat surface,
- whereby, when in the engaged position, said rocker seat panel, said foot rest panel, said locking panel and said cross member maintain the furniture assembly rigid,
- said furniture assembly providing a dining chair mode in the upright position, a rocker chair mode when supported on said curved rear edges of the side frames and a desk chair mode when supported on the front edges of the side frames, the reverse surfaces of said rocker seat panel and said foot rest panel providing a desk seat and desk working surface respectively.
12. The furniture assembly of claim 11 wherein;
- said rocker seat panel is moved into abutment with the bottom surface of said dining seat panel in a first direction,
- said foot rest panel is moved into the engaged position in a second opposite direction,
- said locking panel and said foot rest panel being connected by means of a pin and slot connection,
- said locking panel and said rocker seat panel including interfitting mating slots providing support for said rocker seat panel, and
- said second cross member extending through the body of said locking panel to fix the locking panel in position.
13. The furniture assembly of claim 12 wherein said elongated side frame slots comprise through openings in the side frames, said cross panel projections extending therethrough.
14. The furniture assembly of claim 13 wherein said assembly includes first and second cross members connected between the top and bottom portions of the front edges respectively of said side frames,
- the opposite ends of said first and second cross members being seated in conforming recesses formed in the respective surfaces of said side frames, and
- the opposite ends of said first and second cross members being connected to the respective side frames with screw threaded fasteners when seated in said recesses,
- said first cross member providing hand grips and a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining seat surface.
15. The furniture assembly of claim 14 wherein said first cross member comprises a T configuration with a horizontal extent connected between the side frames and a vertical extent anchored in the dining seat surface providing a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining chair surface astraddle the cross member vertical extent.
16. The furniture assembly of claim 14 wherein said assembly is erected by the steps including;
- first inserting the projections on the dining chair seat panel and the dining chair back rest panel into mating slots in one of said side frames,
- then placing the rocker seat panel and the foot rest panel in position with their projections inserted into mating slots in the side frames,
- then aligning the appropriate side frame slots and placing the other side frame onto the assembled cross panels,
- then positioning the frames in the upright position and moving the rocker seat panel and foot rest panel in opposite directions to engage the slotted projections into engagement to capture the respective side walls,
- then inserting the first cross member into the recesses in the side panels and connecting the cross member to the side panels with appropriate fasteners,
- then positioning the assembly in the rocker chair mode with the second cross member passing through said locking panel,
- then engaging the locking seat panel and rocker seat notches and engaging the pin and slot connection between the locking panel and the foot rest panel and snapping the second cross member into the recess in the respective side panels and connecting the second cross member to the side frames with appropriate fasteners.
17. In a multipurpose furniture assembly having cross panels including a dining seat panel extending between upright side frames, said dining seat having a bottom surface and a top dining seat surface, a rocker and desk panel locking structure comprising in combination;
- a rocker seat cross panel extending substantially normal to the bottom surface of said dining seat panel and including means for capturing the respective side frames when moved to an engaged position,
- a foot rest cross panel spaced from and substantially parallel to said rocker panel and positioned to support the feet of an occupant seated thereon, said rocker panel including means for capturing the respective side frames when moved to an engaged position,
- a locking panel located between and extending substantially parallel and positioned to support one edge of the rocker seat panel,
- said locking panel including means to removably connect said foot rest panel and said rocker seat panel thereto in fixed engaged position, and
- a cross member connected between the edges of said side frames and fixed to said locking panel,
- whereby, when in the engaged positions, said rocker seat panel, said foot rest panel, said locking panel and said cross member maintain the furniture assembly rigid.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 18, 2010
Inventor: Bruce Walter (Columbia Falls, MT)
Application Number: 12/228,765
International Classification: A47C 13/00 (20060101);