Transformable furniture
Disclosed is a transformable seat-table. The seat-table has at least two operable configurations, the first configuration is a seat and the second configuration is a table. The seat-table includes a support structure that should have at least two horizontal members, one upper horizontal member and one lower horizontal member. The seat-table further includes two boards, the first of which has an adjustment mechanism or a releasable snap. If an adjustment mechanism is used, it is slidingly and rotatably engaged with the upper horizontal member. The two boards are connected by a hinged connecting mechanism. The second board should be at least rotatably connected to the lower horizontal member.
This invention is related to a desk-chair combination arrangement. By using its embedded adjustment mechanism, this arrangement becomes interchangeable between a desk and a chair in order to satisfy different needs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs technologies progress rapidly, the general public's demand for better quality of life is also moving higher. In addition to providing aesthetic appearances, consumers also require furniture to be multi-purpose, expandable and easy-to-use.
Conventionally, desk and chair are functioning independently. When space and budget are limited, adding additional desks or chairs to suit temporary needs can be inconvenient and costly. To improve this single-use of a desk or a chair, the most popular desk-chair combination design is to have the desk top (board) attached to the armrest. Under this design, the board, when needed, has to be extended either sideway or forward which can cause imbalance of the entire setup. To compensate this, a smaller board is sometime used which can cause discomfort or inconvenience to the user. Furthermore, for chairs with no armrests, this design is rendered worthless.
Currently, most home and office furniture serves a single use: chairs for sitting, desks and tables for work surfaces, beds for sleeping, shelving for storage, etc. With a few exceptions, home and office furniture cannot be re-used or transformed to serve a number of uses in more than one aesthetic style.
While the creation of single-use furniture is well-known, novel furniture innovations are still being developed even to this day. In particular, the field of creating furniture for a plurality of uses is still a wide-open field of development. Some single-use furniture types do have some minor flexibility of use within the larger constraint of serving as a single type of furniture, for instance cabinets with adjustable height shelves.
Another disadvantage of the previous attempts is that extraneous portions of the furniture must be added in order to adjust or reposition the furniture. These parts can be easily broken off and damaged rendering the furniture useless. For example, a reclining chair requires a special handle to adjust the angle of the back relative to the seat; and lounge chairs and futons use slats or attached legs to hold them in a certain position. Thus, the adjusting feature requires additional appendages not integral to the frame of the furniture.
Another disadvantage is style. Previous attempts at convertible furniture are only capable of one style. For instance, the reclining chair is not capable of changing style or appearance.
Single or dual-use pieces of furniture serving limited functions are relatively much more expensive because once their function is no longer needed they are discarded, for instance if the use of a particular style chair might not be aesthetically desired or ergonomically correct. The economic cost and impact on the environment of manufacturing wood and other materials, and of discarding furniture with limited utility in landfills, is large. Most furniture not in use is stored in attics or basements taking up a great deal of space. Also, most furniture is shipped fully assembled, which takes more space and therefore creates larger transportation costs, rather than being shipped disassembled or flat.
Finally, the desk-chair combination type may not be required at all time by all users. A new design to satisfy the single need of having only a desk or a chair but can be easily transformed by users is clearly warranted.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIVE ASPECTSThe disclosed inventive seat-table includes an embodiment that is transformable between a seat configuration and a desk (or table) configuration. The inventive seat-table generally includes a first board, which has an attached adjustment mechanism, a second board, and a connecting mechanism that rotatably connects the first board to the second board. The seat-table should include a support structure that has an upper horizontal member, which slidingly and rotatably engages with the adjustment mechanism, and a lower horizontal member, which rotatably engages with the second board. The seat-table adjustment mechanism can include a locking mechanism and an adjustment handle that makes the locking mechanism releasable by application of force to the adjustment handle.
Another embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a desk (or table) configuration. The inventive seat-table should include a support structure that has at least one horizontal member. Attached to the horizontal member is a first board that is comprised of an adjustment mechanism that has a releasable snap holder for attaching the adjustment mechanism to the horizontal member. The snap holder can be released by application of force to an adjustment handle, which can be included on the attachment mechanism. Also, a second board is rotatably connected to at least the first board by a connecting hinge.
An additional embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a table (or desk) configuration. This embodiment of the seat-table should include a support structure, which should have an upper support member, a first lower support member and a second lower support member. This embodiment should also include a first board, which rotatably connects to the upper support member, a first connecting arm that is attached at one end to a lower portion of the first board and attached at its other end to the first lower support member. Also, a second connecting arm is attached at one end to a lower portion of the first board and attached at its other end to the second lower support member. To help transform the seat from the table or vice versa, the inventive seat-table can include a handle.
Yet another embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a table (or desk) configuration. This embodiment of the seat-table should include a support structure, which should have an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member. A first board is rotatingly and slidingly attached to the upper horizontal member by an adjustment mechanism. A second board is connected to the first board by a connecting hinge and is rotatingly connected to the lower horizontal member.
Finally, a further embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a table (or desk) configuration and includes a support structure having an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member. The support structure should be comprised of a first seat support rail and a second seat support rail. A first board having a retractable protrusion is attached to and rotatable about the upper horizontal member. A second board having a first recess, which has a first recess inlet and a second recess inlet, is included in the lower horizontal member. When the seat-table is in the seat configuration, the retractable protrusion is engaged with the first recess inlet; and when the seat-table is in the table configuration, the retractable protrusion is engaged with the second recess inlet. A releasing mechanism for retracting the retractable protrusion should be attached to the retractable protrusion. A biasing means can be attached to a hinge of either the first board, the second board, or both boards to urge either or both of the boards to a seat or table configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
With further reference to
With reference to
The second frame portion 32 includes two second frame portion support legs 322 and 322b and a second frame portion horizontal beam 321 between the two second frame portion support legs 322 and 322b. The horizontal beam 311 is positioned higher in the support structure 3 than the second frame portion horizontal beam 321.
With further reference to
With reference to
To assemble an embodiment of the seat/chair having an armrest, insert the vertical part of the horizontal beam 311 of the first frame portion 31 through the first armrest connector 341 and connecting element 314, and then into the support leg 312. Secure the structure by inserting and tightening an armrest tightening screw 344 from the back side on the support leg 312 through connecting element 314 and horizontal beam 311. The same procedure should be followed for connecting the second armrest connector 342 to second frame portion 32.
With particular reference to
Brakes 45a and 45b each have a respective locking area 453a and 453b, which each have a lower locking key 451a and 451b and a lower locking key 452a and 452b. Each brake 45a and 45b also has a horizontal slot 454a and 454b, and a pre-drilled screw hole 455a and 455b for fastening the respective brake to the outer shell 41.
On the side facing the adjustment handle 43, the built-in block 46 has an upper extrusion 461 and two lower extrusions 462a and 462b that correspond with the adjustment handle 43 pre-drilled holes 432, 433a and 433b, respectively.
On the side facing the vertical sliding slots 414a and 414b, sliders 47a and 47b each have a respective snap-on holder 471a and 471b and sliding groove 473a and 473b on each side corresponding with the sliding tracks 416a and 416b on the outer shell 41. A respective stopper 474a is installed above the snap-on holder 471a and 471b to prevent the respective holders 471a and 471b from moving upward in the respective vertical sliding slots 414a and 414b. Each slider also has a respective slider locking key 472a, to correspond with locking keys 451a and 452a, and 472b to correspond with the locking keys 451b and 452b.
To assemble the adjustment mechanism, push the extruded adjustment handle grip 431 through the horizontal slot 412 on the outer shell 41 and secure the brakes 45a and 45b to the outer shell 41 by tightening screws 456a and 456b through the brake pre-drilled holes 455a and 455b and outer shell screw holes 413a and 413b. The horizontal slots 454a and 454b on the brakes 45a and 45b should now be lined up with the adjustment handle grip holes 433a and 433b on the adjustment handle 43. Next, push the built-in block extrusions 462a and 462b on the built-in block 46 through the locking key horizontal areas 454a and 454b on the brake 45. Connect the built-in block extrusions 462a and 462b with the adjustment handle grip holes 433a and 433b on the adjustment handle 43. The upper extrusion 461 on the built-in block 46 will also be connected to the pre-drilled screw hole 432 on the adjustment handle 46.
The sliders 47a and 47b are now placed between the outer shell 41 and the base 42 with the snap-on holders 471a and 471b and stoppers 474a and 474b extending through the respective vertical sliding slots 414a and 414b. With the interactions between the respective springs 44a and 44b, locking keys 451, 452 and 472 and locking area 453, the sliders 47a and 47b can be moved smoothly and securely inside the vertical sliding slots 414a and 414b.
With reference to
An alternative embodiment of the seat/table is one in which the snap-on holder 471a and 471b do not slide but rather they release from the horizontal beam 311 of the first frame portion 31. Whether a sliding or non-sliding snap-on holder is used, changing the seat-table from either a seat configuration or a table (or desk) configuration into the other configuration is carried out by simply unsnapping the snap-on holders 471a and 471b from the horizontal beam 311, rotating the first board 1 and the second board 2 about the connecting axle 53, and re-snapping the snap-on holders 471a and 471b back to the horizontal beam 311. Also, in this embodiment or in the previous “sliding” embodiment, snap-on holders 471a and 471b can be replaced by a single snap-on holder (not shown) that, in the previous embodiment, is slidable within a single vertical sliding slot and, in the present embodiment, is unsnappable from the horizontal beam 311.
With reference to
With respect to
A third embodiment of the present inventive transformable furniture 800 is shown in
A first connecting arm 812, is connected at one end to the transverse support member 818 and is connected at its other end to the first board 810. Similarly, a second connecting arm 814 is located on a side of the first board 810 opposite that of the first connecting arm 812 and is connected at one end to the transverse support member 818 and is connected at its other end to the first board 810. As can be seen in
Yet a fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table is shown in
A first board 914 is attached to the upper horizontal member 904 such that the first board 914 is able to rotate about the upper horizontal member 904. The first board 914 includes a retractable protrusion 916 (more easily seen in
With reference to
The first board 914, the second board 918 or both boards can be biased in either a seat or a table position by using a biasing means 950. The biasing means 950 can be any mechanism that urges the board in one direction or the other such as a torsion spring, a leaf spring, or helical springs. The biasing means can be located within the boards, within the support structure 902 or at a position in between the boards and the support structure 902.
For ease of transport, storage, etc. the inventive seat-chair can be stacked as shown in
In conclusion, the aforementioned invention has distinctly satisfied all relevant conditions and requirements to be patentable. For those who with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical fields creating and implementing equivalent modifications and/or variations based on concepts and spirits of this invention shall be deemed as covered under the Claimed Scope (attached hereinafter) of this patent application.
Claims
1. A seat-table transformable between a first configuration and a second configuration the seat-table comprised of
- a first board having an adjustment mechanism,
- a second board,
- a connecting mechanism rotatably connecting said first board to said second board; and
- a support structure having an upper horizontal member slidingly and rotatably engaged with said adjustment mechanism and a lower horizontal member rotatably engaged with said second board.
2. A seat-table as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjustment mechanism is further comprised of a locking mechanism.
3. A seat-table as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjustment mechanism is comprised of an adjustment handle.
4. A seat-table as recited in claim 3 wherein said adjustment mechanism is further comprised of a locking mechanism releasable by application of force to said adjustment handle.
5. A seat-table transformable between a first configuration and a second configuration the seat-table comprised of
- a support structure having at least one horizontal member;
- a first board being comprised of an adjustment mechanism having a releasable snap holder and said first board being in communication with said at least one horizontal member through said snap holder;
- a second board rotatably connected to said first board by a connecting hinge.
6. A seat-table as recited in claim 5 wherein said snap holder is releasable.
7. A seat-table as recited in claim 5 wherein said adjustment mechanism is comprised of an adjustment handle.
8. A seat-table as recited in claim 7 wherein said adjustment mechanism is further comprised of a locking mechanism releasable by application of force to said adjustment handle.
9. A seat-table transformable between a first configuration and a second configuration the seat-table comprised of
- a support structure having an upper support member, a first lower support member and a second lower support member,
- a first board being rotatably connected to said upper support member,
- a first connecting arm having an upper portion and a lower portion, said first connecting arm attached at its upper portion to a lower portion of said first board and attached at its lower portion to said first lower support member;
- a second connecting arm having an upper portion and a lower portion said second connecting arm attached at its upper portion to a lower portion of said first board and attached at its lower portion to said second lower support member.
10. A seat-table as recited in claim 9 further comprised of an adjustment mechanism and a support structure having an upper horizontal member slidingly and rotatably engaged with said adjustment mechanism.
11. A seat-table transformable between a first configuration and a second configuration the seat-table comprised of
- a support structure having an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member;
- a first board comprised of an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being engaged with said upper horizontal member; and
- a second board connected to said first board by a connecting hinge and said second board being rotatingly engaged with said lower horizontal member.
12. A seat-table as recited in independent claim 11 wherein said adjustment mechanism is rotatably engaged with said upper horizontal member.
13. A seat-table as recited in independent claim 11 wherein said adjustment mechanism is slidingly engaged with said upper horizontal member.
14. A seat-table as recited in independent claim 11 wherein said adjustment mechanism is rotatably and slidingly engaged with said upper horizontal member.
15. A seat-table transformable between a first configuration and a second configuration the seat-table comprised of
- a support structure having an upper horizontal member, a first side frame attached to a first end of said upper horizontal member, and a second side frame attached to a second end of said upper horizontal member;
- a first board in communication with said upper horizontal member, said first board having a retractable protrusion; and
- a second board in communication with both of said first side frame and said second side frame, said second board having a recess comprised of a first recess inlet adapted to be engaged with said retractable protrusion when the seat-table is in the first configuration, and said recess being further comprised of a second recess inlet adapted to be engaged with said retractable protrusion when the seat-table is in the second configuration.
16. A seat-table as recited in claim 15 further comprised of a biasing means located at a point of communication of said second board with said first side frame, whereby said second board is biased toward a vertical position.
17. A seat-table as recited in claim 16 wherein said second board is rotatable about said point of communication of said second board with said first side frame.
18. A seat-table as recited in claim 15 wherein said first board is further comprised of a releasing mechanism for retracting said retractable protrusion.
19. A seat-table as recited in claim 15 wherein said first board is rotatable about said upper horizontal member.
20. A seat-table as recited in claim 15 wherein said support structure is comprised of a first seat support rail and a second seat support rail.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 30, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2006
Inventor: John Hardt (Belton, TX)
Application Number: 11/321,603
International Classification: A47B 85/04 (20060101);