Bar stool

Abstract

A bar stool manufactured from empty beer kegs. The stool comprises two beer kegs pivotally connected to each other end to end. A lowermost end of one of the kegs forms a base on which the stool can rest on a planar surface. A seat pad is disposed on the uppermost end of the other of the kegs. The connection mechanism between the two kegs allows the kegs to rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the stool.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a standard utility application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/622,390, filed Oct. 27, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention generally relates to chairs. More particularly, the invention relates to stools. Specifically, the invention relates to a bar stool manufactured from two empty beer kegs which are pivotally connected together end to end.

2. Background Information

The beer brewing industry frequently uses metal beer kegs to store beer until it is bottled. The kegs can be reused several times, but ultimately become non-usable and have to be disposed of. Typically, the kegs are thrown away as trash. This form of disposal may cost the brewery a fair amount of money depending on the area of the country in which the brewery is located and whether or not the local landfills require payment for the disposal of the kegs. Alternatively, in some areas the kegs may be sold as scrap metal, thereby providing the brewery with a small amount of income. In view of the large number of kegs disposed of annually there is a need in the industry for an alternative use for the kegs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a bar stool manufactured from empty beer kegs. Two empty kegs are pivotally connected together end to end. The stool is placed on a planar surface with an end of one of the kegs acting as a base and the other keg disposed above the first keg. A pivoting mechanism secures the upper and lower kegs together. The lower keg is preferably provided with a footrest and the upper keg is provided with a seat pad. The seat pad may be decorated with a logo to advertise a particular beer, brewery, bar or any other party or institution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bar stool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the bar stool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bar stool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the bar stool;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the bar stool;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the upper section of the bar stool;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bar stool through line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the upper and lower sections of the bar stool showing how the upper and lower sections are connected together;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view through line 9-9 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view showing the bar stool in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a bar stool, generally indicated at 10, comprising an upper section 12, a lower section 14 and a footrest 16. Both upper and lower sections 12, 14 are empty beer kegs which are pivotally connected together in a manner as will be hereinafter described. The beer kegs used in stool 10 are preferably manufactured from materials such as stainless steel and stainless steel alloys such as S30400 or S30403 stainless steel. The kegs are cleaned and buffed up to give them a shiny appearance, thereby making them more aesthetically appealing. Footrest 16, which preferably is also manufactured from stainless steel, is fixedly secured to lower section 14. A seat pad 18 is disposed on upper section 12 for the comfort of bar patrons. Pad 18 may be imprinted or otherwise provided with a logo 19 such as a trademark for a brand of beer, the name of a brewery or of the establishment in which the stool 10 is to be used.

Upper section 12 comprises a first beer keg having first and second ends 22, 24 with a peripheral wall 20 extending between them. First and second ends 22, 24 of the first keg are typically recessed into peripheral wall 20. A plurality of handle recesses 26a, 26b are formed in peripheral wall 20 in those parts of wall 20 which extend outwardly beyond first and second ends 22, 24. Recesses are shaped to receive the fingers of a patron's hand therein and can therefore be used by the patron to move stool 10. Lower section 14, comprises a second beer keg having a peripheral wall 28 and first and second ends 30, 32. First and second ends 30, 32 are recessed into peripheral wall 28. A plurality of handle recesses 34a, 34b are formed in peripheral wall 28 in those parts of that wall which extend outwardly beyond first and second ends 30, 32. Recesses 34a are at a height suitable to allow a patron to use them to move stool 10. Second end 32 of lower section 14 is used as a base to stand bar stool 10 on a planar surface 36, such as a floor. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, both of the first and second beer kegs preferably are 15.5 U.S. gallon kegs which are 23½ inches in height. It will be understood, however, that any suitable barrel-type beverage container may be utilized in the manufacture of stool 10 without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It will be further understood, that while the kegs illustrated in the attached figures are shown as being of a generally constant diameter, kegs having a wider diameter mid-section and narrower diameter ends may also be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a mechanism for mounting seat pad 18 to upper section 12. A mounting bar 38 is connected to the underside 40 of pad 18 by a plurality of connectors 42, such as bolts. Mounting bar 38 preferably is welded or otherwise connected to the interior surface 44 of that part of peripheral wall 20 which extends beyond second end 22. The position of mounting of pad 18 keeps the side 46 of pad 18 from blocking handle recesses 26 so that the same can be used to lift and move bar stool 10.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a mechanism for mounting footrest 16 to peripheral wall 28 of lower section 14. Footrest 16 is mounted between the upper and lower handle recesses 34a and 34b and preferably generally around the mid-section of the second keg. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, footrest 16 is comprised of a circular ring 56 connected to two bars 48, 50 which are received through holes 52, 54 in peripheral wall 28 of lower section 14. Circular ring 56 lies concentric with the peripheral wall 28 and is connected to bars 48, 50 at connectors 58, 60. Circular ring 56 is therefore held a spaced distance outwardly away from peripheral wall 28. Ring 56 includes a plurality of braces 62 which are welded to peripheral wall 28 and extend outwardly and upwardly toward ring 56 (as best seen in FIG. 2). Braces 62 give strength and stability to ring 56. It will be understood, that a substantially solid footrest can be connected to lower section 14 by any suitable means, such as welding for example, and that footrest does not have to extend around the entire circumference of stool 10.

FIGS. 8 & 9 show a mechanism for connecting upper section 12 and lower section 14 together for pivotal motion relative to each other. A mounting bracket 64 preferably is welded to the interior surface 66 of peripheral wall 28, proximate first end 30 of the second keg. The position of mounting bracket 64 ensures that handle recesses 34a are not blocked and can therefore be used to lift and move bar stool 10. A second mounting bracket 68 is welded to the interior surface 70 of peripheral wall 20 of upper section 12, proximate second end 24 thereof. Second mounting bracket 68 includes a swivel plate 72. As best seen in FIG. 9, swivel plate 72 includes upper and lower portions 74, 76 which are rotatable relative to each other about a hub 78. Hub 78 lies substantially aligned with a center-point (unnumbered) of each of first and second ends 22, 24 of upper section 12 and each of first and second ends 30, 32 of lower section. Stool 10 has a longitudinal axis A-A′ that extends through the center-points and through hub 78. Ball bearings 80 are provided to ensure ease of rotation between upper and lower portions 74, 76. Upper portion 74 is welded to mounting bracket 68. Mounting bracket 64 is secured to lower portion 76 of swivel plate 72 by a plurality of connectors 82, such as bolts, which are received through aligned holes in bracket 64 and lower portion 76. Mounting brackets 64, 68 are fitted into upper and lower sections 12, 14 in such a manner that they lock upper and lowers sections 12,14 together, and swivel plate 72 allows for rotational motion about the longitudinal axis A-A′ (FIG. 2 & 9) of bar stool 10. It will be understood that any other mechanism which allows for pivotal motion can be connected between first and second beer kegs without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In use, the lowermost edge of peripheral wall 28 of lower section 14 is placed on a planar surface 36 and acts as a base for stool 10. Upper section 12 is disposed above lower section 12. The patron 84 sits on pad 18, resting their feet upon footrest 16, if they so desire. If the patron 84 wishes to rotationally alter their position relative to the bar counter 86, they simply move their body so that upper section 12 of stool 10 is caused to rotate relative to lower section 14 about longitudinal axis A-A′. Rotation can occur in either direction. Furthermore, upper section 12 can be rotated through 360° relative to lower section 14, if the patron so desires. If the patron wishes to move the entire stool 10 to a new position, they insert their fingers into one of the pairs of recesses 26a, or 26b, or 34a and lift stool 10 out of engagement with surface 36, carry stool 10 to the desired new position and lower stool 10 back into engagement with surface 36. Alternatively, they can simply grasp the stool 10 by inserting their fingers through one handle recess 26a, for example, and drag stool 10 across surface 36.

It will be understood that while the bar stool of the present invention is shown as being manufactured from two 15.5 U.S. gallon beer kegs, three or more smaller kegs could be joined together to form a stool without departing from the spirit of the present invention. So, for example, the stool could be manufactured from 7.75 U.S. gallon kegs that have a height of 14 inches. If four of these smaller kegs are used, then the pivotal connector could be installed between the two uppermost kegs, between the two lowermost kegs or between the two middle kegs. In any of these instances, the connections between the other kegs in the stool would be of a fixed type—such as welding.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A stool comprising:

a first empty beverage keg having a first end; said first keg being adapted to receive a seated person thereon;

a second empty beverage keg having a second end; said second keg being adapted to rest on a planar surface; and

a connector mechanism for pivotally connecting the first end of the first keg to the second end of the second keg.

2. The stool as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second ends each have a center point and the stool has a longitudinal axis extending through the center points and disposed substantially at right angles to the first and second ends of the first and second kegs; and wherein the connector mechanism includes a swivel plate which allows for rotational motion about the longitudinal axis of the stool.

3. The stool as defined in claim 2, wherein the connector mechanism further includes a first mounting bracket secured to the first end of the first beverage keg; and a second mounting bracket secured to the second end of the second beverage keg; and wherein a first portion of the swivel plate is fixedly connected to the first mounting bracket and a second portion of the swivel plate is fixedly connected to the second mounting bracket.

4. The stool as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second portions of the swivel plate are secured together about a hub and rotate relative to each other about the hub.

5. The stool as defined in claim 1, wherein the first beverage keg further comprises a second end spaced apart from the first end thereof and connected thereto by a first peripheral wall; and the second beverage keg further comprises a first end spaced apart from the second end thereof and connected thereto by a second peripheral wall; said first end of the second beverage keg being adapted to be placed on a planar surface; and wherein the stool further comprises a footrest disposed on the second peripheral wall and spaced a distance inwardly away from the first end of the second beverage keg.

6. The stool as defined in claim 5, wherein the footrest includes a ring member that is concentric with the second peripheral wall and is fixedly attached thereto via a plurality of braces.

7. The stool as defined in claim 6, and the stool further includes a seat pad disposed on the second end of the first beverage keg.

8. The stool as defined in claim 7, further comprising a logo disposed upon an uppermost surface of the seat pad.

9. The stool as defined in claim 8, wherein the second end of the first keg is recessed within the first peripheral wall thereby exposing an interior surface of the peripheral wall extending upwardly away from the second end of the first keg; and wherein the stool further comprises a mounting bar fixedly secured to the interior surface and the seat pad is secured to the mounting bar.

10. The stool as defined in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of recesses formed in the first peripheral wall; said recesses being adapted to receive the fingers of a consumer's hand therethrough.

11. The stool as defined in claim 10, wherein the recesses extend through the first peripheral wall in such a position that they are disposed between the second end of the first keg and the seat pad.

12. A bar stool comprising two empty beer kegs that are pivotally connected together end to end.

13. The bar stool as defined in claim 12, further comprising a footrest secured to one of the beer kegs.

14. The bar stool as defined in claim 13, further comprising a seat pad secured to the other of the beer kegs.

15. A stool for placement on a floor surface; the stool comprising:

two empty beer kegs disposed end to end and being connected together in a manner that allows for a swiveling motion between the two kegs; and wherein said connected beer kegs are adapted to stand one above the other on the floor surface.

16. The stool as defined in claim 15, wherein the beer kegs are connected together by way of a swivel plate disposed between the ends of the two kegs.

17. The stool as defined in claim 16 wherein each of the beer kegs includes an outer end wall and the outer end wall of one of the kegs is adapted to rest on the floor surface and the outer end wall of the other of the kegs is adapted to support a seated person thereon.

18. The stool as defined in claim 17, wherein the outer end wall that is adapted to support a seated person thereon further includes a cushion which is fixedly attached thereto.

19. The stool as defined in claim 17, wherein one of the beer kegs includes a circumferential flange extending outwardly from a peripheral side wall thereof, the flange being adapted to provide support for a person's feet thereon.