FURNITURE WITH INTEGRATED STORAGE FOR WATER OR OTHER MATERIAL
Furniture pieces which include integrated storage capacity for storing water or other material. By incorporating such storage capacity within furniture, a user may take advantage of space that would otherwise be unused or unusable to unobtrusively and conveniently store an emergency water supply or other desired material.
The present application is a divisional of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/268,083, which was filed on Oct. 7, 2011, by Tonia Walstad Miller for a FURNITURE WITH INTEGRATED STORAGE FOR WATER OR OTHER MATERIAL and is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to furniture and, more specifically, to furniture which is capable of storing water or other material within its structure.
2. Background Information
In preparation for possible emergency situations such as natural disasters, power outages and the like, public safety agencies often recommend that residents keep a supply of potable water stored in a readily accessible location. In an emergency in which a loss of power or contamination renders the normal water supply (municipal or private) unusable, residents who have made such preparations will have sufficient drinking water to sustain them for at least a brief time.
One problem that often arises in connection with creating an emergency water supply of sufficient capacity is inadequate storage space. For example, FEMA recommends storing at least a three-day emergency water supply which includes at least one gallon of water per person per day just for drinking. Following that recommendation with some additional allowance for unforeseen needs, a family of four persons would need to store at least 15 gallons of water. Further, the same family of four would need to store on the order of 35 gallons of water (e.g., 7 five-gallon containers) to be prepared for an emergency lasting about one week. Thus, storage of a reasonable emergency water supply for even a few people quickly translates into significant storage space. In addition, while it is desirable to store an emergency water supply such that is readily accessible, most people will also want to avoid moving heavy containers of water frequently or at all. Also, in order to avoid detracting from the atmosphere and decor of their homes, most people will prefer that their emergency water supplies be stored in a way that is inconspicuous and aesthetically acceptable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn brief summary, the present invention provides a variety of furniture pieces in which water or other material may be stored. The furniture pieces include tables and chairs having hollow, load-bearing bases or frames which are liquid tight and provide integrated storage capacity for water or other material. The bases or frames may be configured for filling from the top or bottom with access provided for drawing water or other material out. The furniture pieces also include a table in which water or other material may be stored in a bladder or other structure which is suspended beneath the tabletop. The furniture pieces further include a lamp having a liquid tight globe and a base which both supports and illuminates the globe.
In some embodiments of the present invention, in order to fill or draw water or other material, a user may simply remove a tabletop, chair seat or other structure and thereby gain access to a port. In alternative embodiments, a pump assembly may be used with the port.
The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Access for filling chair 100 with water or other material, as well as drawing from the chair, may be provided in a variety of ways. For example, a user access port having a simple screw cap, stopper or other closing mechanism (not shown) may be located at an advantageous position on seat 102. Depending upon the location of the port and weight of chair 100, a user may be able to pour from the port, either by gravity or by tipping the chair, or alternatively may insert a hose (not shown) and siphon from the port. A pump like the one described below in connection with
In an alternative embodiment, port 808 may be located on the bottom surface of base 812. In such an embodiment, it would be necessary to invert the table to gain access to either fill or draw from the pedestal. However, top 802 would no longer need to be removable.
Storage volume 1006 may be constructed in a variety of ways including a bladder, a saucer, an inverted pyramid or other structure each of which is substantially hollow and liquid-tight. Storage volume 1006 may be shaped and dimensioned such that even when full it is substantially hidden when viewing table 1000 from above as shown in
The hollow structures and storage volumes described above may also be adapted to include a mechanism for automatically releasing a purifying chemical or a mechanism to provide a visual reminder to a user to replenish a purifying chemical or take other action. As an alternative to storing water, the hollow structures and storage volumes described above may be used to store other liquids, powders, grains or other objects.
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A table having integrated storage capacity comprising:
- a removable top; and
- a substantially hollow liquid-tight base which supports said removable top and provides integrated storage capacity for storing a supply of water or other material that is intended for human consumption, said pedestal including a port for filling and drawing.
9. The table as in claim 8 wherein said base comprises a pedestal.
10. The table as in claim 8 further comprising a pump assembly operable to draw from said port.
11. The table as in claim 8 wherein said port is accessible by removing said top from said base.
12. The table as in claim 8 wherein said port is accessible by inverting said base.
13. A table having integrated storage capacity comprising:
- a frame;
- a top supported by said frame and having a port; and
- a liquid-tight storage volume disposed beneath said top and configured for filling and drawing by way of said port, said storage volume providing integrated storage capacity for storing a supply of water or other material that is intended for human consumption.
14. The table as in claim 13 wherein said storage volume includes a valve for filling or drawing.
15. The table as in claim 13 wherein said storage volume comprises a bladder.
16. The table as in claim 13 wherein said storage volume comprises a saucer-shaped structure.
17-20. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 25, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 2, 2014
Inventor: Tonia Walstad Miller (Excelsior, MN)
Application Number: 14/224,720