CA1305916C - Multipurpose structure - Google Patents

Abstract

MULTIPURPOSE STRUCTURE

Abstract of the Disclosure A multipurpose structure apparatus includes a frame and a roof supported on the frame. A swing is movably supported to the roof in one position and is held adjacent the roof in a raised second position.
A table and bench section are stored on the structure and attached to the frame to form a table and bench structure with the frame beneath the swing. The structure also includes brackets for attaching a steel pipe across frame members for supporting one or more see-saw boards and a plurality of pivoting frame members can be held with chains for supporting boards for use as seats or plant holders. The structure also provides for a pair of pivoting ladder members pivoting from the roof of the structure in a spaced apart relationship. The spaced ladder members can be pivoted to a position adjacent the roof and attached thereto for storage when not in use and can have a board member connected therebetween to form a rocking seat when in an operative position. The ladder members may also have individual seats attached thereto with attaching members on one portion with chains holding the other portion for rocking with the swinging of the ladder members.

Description

13~)~i9~6 Backqround of the Invention The present invention relates to multipurpose structures and especially to a multipurpose roofed structure which may have one or more swings, tables, benches, see-saws, rocking boards, chairs, sun roofs and the like.
It has been common in the past to provide a variety of multipurpose frames such as used in exer-cise equipment and to provide structures for place-ment in a person's yard or at a public park which allows people to use picnic tables, benches, swings and an assortment of other equipment. Typically, prior art structures for outdoor use, which have roofs, resemble gazebos and merely provide seating and picnic tables. A few structures provide a variety of entertainment in one piece of equipment and it is common to place bench type swings on screen porches. Typical prior art structures with combined different functions may be seen in the U.S. Patent to Upton, No. 1,204,616 for a portable frame for tents which includes a frame for a tent which can support several types of swings. In the U.S. Patent to Trzesniewski, No. 1,744,5g4 an entertainment and athletic apparatus for use by children is provided which may have a roof, a floor, a swing, a punching bag, and a sandbox. In the U.S. Patent to French, No. 532,047, a foldup hammock is provided while in the Amrock, U.S. Patent No. 287,078 a convertible settee, cot and tent has a tent roof and frame and a seat which can be converted to a cot. U.S. Patent No. 2,790,452 to Dusek shows a canopy construction in which a roof structure has a picnic table and benches therein. In U.S. Patent No. 795,711 to Krieg, a portable swing has a frame structure with a roof and a pair of rocking swings mounted therein. U.S.

- 1~059~6 Patent No. 404,614 to Gifford shows a roofed structure having a hammock therein while U.s. Patent No. 313,757 to Nelson shows an awning having a table board connected to the frame thereof.
The present invention advantageously provides a series of functions in a rigid frame in which each of the functions of the structure are stored on the structure for rapid setup for a variety of utilizations so that a bench type swing can be rapidly stored and replaced with a picnic table and bench which can be rapidly changed to a see-saw while the roof of the structure can be used for a sun roof.

Summarv of the Invention A multipurpose structure apparatus includes a frame for supporting a roof and adapted to accept a plurality of functional items -for storage and use thereon. A bench type swing is movable supported to the roof in one position and has supporting means for supporting the swing in a raised second position to the roof. Table and bench members are stored on the frame and may be attached to the frame to form a table and bench on the structure under the swing when the swing is in its raised position. The bench and table components are easily stored on the frame under the roof. A steel pipe bracket is attached to the frame for supporting a steel pipe thereacross which operates in conjunction with the table and bench components to form one or more see-saws within the frame structure. A plurality of pivoted frame members can be pivoted to a position for support by a chain to hold boards for forming benchs, clamp supports, or the like, on parts of the frame. In addition, the roof can be formed to act as a sun roof and a pair of spaced ladder members can be used as a .

13059~fi ladder to get onto the sun roof and are pivoted to the roof frame. The spaced ladder members can be swung adjacent the roof and attached for storage and then released to hang in a vertical direction. In a vertical direction the two ladder members can be attached by a board at different levels to provide an amusement device for swinging back and forth and to provide connections for a pair of rocking seats which can be attached to each ladder member. The attached seats are connected with hook and eyes on the one side and held by chains on the other. The board or boards supporting the ladder members together may be one of the boards used in forming the table and bench or the see-saw and have a pair of U-shaped channels on the bottom thereof for hooking onto a ladder of each ladder member.

Brief Descri~tion of the Drawings Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame structure in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a structure in accordance with the present invention having a bench and table formed thereon;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the structure of Figures 1 and 2 having pivoted arms for adding additional supports thereto;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 3 converted to use as a see-saw;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective of one of the drop-down arms of Figure 3, Figure 6 is an end elevation of one of the arms of Figures 3 and 5 having a board attached thereto;

Figure 7 i5 a partial bottom perspective view of a see-saw board;
Figure 8 is a cutaway perspective view of the structure of Figures 1 and 2 having a swing mounted thereon;
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the structure having the swing and table and bench components in storage and having a sun roof mounted on the structure roof:
Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a swinging apparatus for the structure of Figures 1 through 9;
Figure 11 is a cutaway exploded perspective view of the roof support for the swinging portion of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a swing in accordance with Figure 10 having a different setup;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the swing in Figures 10 and 12 in a stored position having a swing attached thereto;
Figure 14 is an elevational view taken on the line 14 of Figure 12; and Figure 15 is a side elevation of a swing for use in accordance with the present invention.

Descri~tion of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and especially to Figures 1 through 9, a multipurpose structure 10 has a frame 11 which includes at least a pair of base members 12 for positioning on the earth and for supporting a floor if desired. The base members have a pair of inverted V-shaped support frame members 13 and 14 on each side of the structure 10 and connected to a central rafter 15. A plurality of additional rafters 16 are attached to a pair of joist 17. The ~3059~6 frame members 13 and 14 have a lower cross brace 18 and an upper cross brace 20 connected between the frame members 13 and 14 on either side of the struc-ture 10. cross brace member 20 has a pair of angled frame members 21 and 22 connected thereto and extending to the outer rafters 16 adjacent the joist 17. Further cross bracing may be provided with bracing members 23 attached between the frame members 13 and 14 and the central rafter 15. As shown, the frame work 11 is assembled with bolts from small poles or logs so that it can be rapidly assembled from a kit In Situ. However, it will be clear that a metal framework can be just as easily used if desired and that the members shown in the figures can be attached with fasteners other than bolts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The structure lo having the framework 11 has a roof 24 placed on the rafters 15 and 16 and attached thereto. If the roof is to act as a sun roof as shown in Figure 9, it would be made of a heavy board or plywood having a coating to prevent leakage into the structure which may be used in the rain or to shade from direct sunlight. In Fiyure 10 a plurality of bench table components or members 25 have been removed from storage under the roof 24 on the joist 17 as shown in Figure 9 and placed across the upper cross bracing 20 and on protruding portions 26 of the lower cross bracing 18. The bench components 24 are placed on the extended portions 26 of the cross bracing 18 to form a pair of picnic benches while the table components 27 are placed on the upper cross bracing 20 between the frame members 13 and 14 to form a table such as a picnic table. Additional seating may be provided as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6 by a pair of pivoted arms 28 attached to the frame ~305~16 members 13 and 14 on either side of the structure lo and pivoted on a bolt 30 and having an eyelet 31 attached on each end thereof. Swinging the pivoted arms 28 into a horizontal position allows a chain 32 attached to the frame members 13 and 14 to connect to the eyelet 31 with the hook member 33 to hold the arms 28 in a horizontal position where a board 34 can be placed thereacross to provide either additional seating or a support for flower pots or the like.
When not being used, the arms 28 can be disconnected from the chains 30 and swung down as shown in Figure 6 and the boards 34 can be stored on the joist 17 as shown in Figure 9. In Figure 4, the structure 10 having the roof 24 thereon has a U-shaped bolt 35 attached through the cross brace member 18 and attached thereto and has a galvani~ed steel pipe 36 attached thereacross to extend from one cross brare member 18 on one side of the structure 10 to the cross brace member 18 on the other side of the structure. One of the stored table and bench components stored as shown in Figure 9 may have a pair of blocks 37 attached to the center thereof or a plurality of blocks 37 or U-shaped channels attached thereto for holding the board 38 to the steel pipe 36 as shown in Figure 4. The board 38 would, of course, be stored as shown in Figure 9 and could be used as one of the support boards in Figure 3 or one of the table boards 27 or bench boards 25.
In Figure 8, the structure 10 has a bench seat type swing 40 attached to the rafters 15 which is directly supported by the angled frame me~bers 13 and 14 with a pair of chains 41 connected to a pair of eyelets 42. A pair of eyelets 43 on each arm 44 of the swing 40 supports the swing to the chain 41.
When the swing 40 is not in use or when the picnic ~3059~6 table of Figure 2 or the see-saw in Figure 4 are desired to be set up, the swing ~0 is raised as shown in Figure 9 with the chai.n 41 being used to attach the swing in its raised position using a pair of S-shaped hooks to grab the chain links. Figure 9 shows the structure in accordance with the present invention having an optional sun deck 45 attached to the rafters 15 and 16 and having a sun deck railing 46 attached therearound with posts 47. This allows the structure to be used as a sun deck by some members of the family while others are using the part directly below to shade from the sun while using a swing, see-saw or picnic table in accordance with Figures 3, 4 and 8 with or without seating along the side of the structure in accordance with Figure 3.
Figures 10 through 15 shows another set of attachments for the multipurpose structure 10 in which a pair of ladder members 50 and 51 are mounted to spaced rafters 52 of a roof 53. The ladder members 50 and 51 are pivotably mounted with a support shaft 54 having nuts 55 on each end thereof passing through a pair of hanging eyelets 56 and through a pair of support brackets 57 on the end of each o~ the ladder members 50 and 51. The aperture 58 in the bracket 57 allows shaft 54 to be positioned therethrough to allow the pivoting movement of the ladder members 50 and 51. The brackets 57 are bolted with bolts 60 to the end of the vertical support members 61 and 62 each having a plurality of rungs 63 attached thereto. Some or all the rungs may be of steel pipe or rod 64 bolted to each end with a nut 65. The ladder members 50 and 51 may be utilized for gaining access to the sun roof of Figure 9. The pivoted structures may be swung to the roof 53 and attached as shown in Figure 13 to hooks 66 utilizing 1305gl~
chain 67 or directly with S-type hook members. One would, of course, be placed on top of the o-ther. The ladder members 50 and 51 can be released at one end from storage against the roof 53 and allowed to hang in a vertical direction in a spaced relationship to each other and a board 68 may also be the see-saw board of Figure 4 or one of the table or bench boards of Figure 2 may have a pair of U-shaped brackets 70 and 71 attached thereto. The U-shaped brackets 72 shown in Figure 10 is centered for use of the same board as a see-saw board in accordance with Figure 4.
The U-shaped brackets 70 and 71 fit on the metal pipes 64 to hold the ladder members 50 and 51 in a parallel spaced relationship when the members are pivoted on the rod 54 of Figure 11. Thus, a person can stand or sit on the board 6~ and the position can be either an upper or lower position and swing back and forth while holding onto rungs 63.
Alternatively, a pair of rocking seats 73 and 74 may have their backs attached to an eyelet 75 attached to the vertically extending members 61 and 62 and may have the seat portions of the seats 73 and 74 attached to the vertically extending members 61 and 62 and may have the seat portions of the seats 73 and 74 attached to eyelets 76 which are in turn attached to chain members 77 which can be hooked around the vertical supports 61 and 62 adjacent a rung 63. In this position, one person can seat in each chair 73 and 74 with their feet on a carpeted portion 78 while the swinging ladder members 50 and 51 are swung on their pivot points in a spaced parallel relationship to thereby swing and rock persons seating in the seats 73 and 74.
Seats 73 and 74 and the board 68 can be adjusted as shown in Figure 12. One of the seats 73 and 74 ~3059~6 can be attached to the stored ladder members 50 or 51 as shown in Figure 13 using the chain 77 to provide an individual swing. Figure 15 shows the shaft 64 sitting in the angled bracket 70 having a rung member 61 and 62 on either side thereof and a nut 65 holding the shaft 64 in position. U-shaped channels are supported to the board 68 and includes a center U-shaped channel 72 for use of the same board as a see-saw member. Figure 15 shows a preferred construction for the swing seat members and Figures 10 and 12 and also in Figure 8 a pair of bent steel pipe members 80 have had a plurality of holes drilled therethrough for attaching bolts 81 held by nuts 82 for attaching a plurality of swing slats 83. The slats can have eyelets 84 attached thereto for an S-shaped hook member ~5 and an upper eyelet 86 for an S-shaped member 87.
It should be clear at this point, that a multi-purpose structure has been provided which allows the storage of all the components thereon and the quick movement of various components from storage to an operating position or from operating position back into the storage position. Thus, the structure serves as a multipurpose gazebo for a person's porch yard while providing entertainment and relaxation through various types of swings, seats, picnic tables, as well as a sundeck. It should, however, also be clear that the structure is designed to be readily manufactured, shipped and sold in kit form ready to assemble by a handymen on the site where the structure is to be used and that the frame of the structure is designed along the general shape of a truss to provide greater strength and rigidity for supporting the different functions that the structure is to be utilized with. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be ~onstrued in accordance with those forms which are to be considerd illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims (11)

1. A multipurpose structure comprising in combination:
a frame having a plurality of pivoting arms attached thereto and having means for attaching a chain to one end portion thereof for supporting a board for use as a bench or other support;
a roof supported on said frame;
a swing movably supported to the frame in one position:
support means for supporting said swing in a raised second position to said frame;
a table and bench means for forming a table and bench of components stored in said structure and attached to said frame under said swing when said swing is in a raised second position;
means for storing said table and bench components on said structure when said swing is in said one position;
means for attaching a steel pipe across said frame and having at least one see-saw board adapted to be attached to said steel pipe for use as a see-saw when said table and branch means components are in storage in said multipurpose structure and said swing is in its raised second position:
and a sun deck formed on said roof and having a protective railing therearound, and a ladder member to provide access thereto.

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2. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said pivoting arms are held in position by a chain connected between eyelets on one end thereof in frame members of said frame and have one of said table and bench means, table and bench components used as a supporting surface thereon.

3. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said frame has rafters supported on joist supporting said roof to thereby provide space for said table and bench means, table and bench components and see-saw board to be stored on said joists under said roof.

4. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 3, including a pair of pivoted ladder swing members attached to said frame rafters and pivotable to a position adjacent said roof for attachment thereto for storage.

5. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 4, in which the pair of pivoted swing members has a plurality of rungs thereon and may be movably attached together with a board in a movable spaced relationship to each other when said pair of pivoted swing members are in a vertical operative position.

6. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 5, in which said swing members board has a pair of U-shaped channels attached thereto for slipping over a round kb:ycc on each swing member to maintain said pivoted swing members in a spaced relationship to each other.

7. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 6, in which said board spacing said pair of pivoted swing members has a center U-shaped channel attached thereto for use as a see-saw board when not connecting said pair of pivoted swing members.

8. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 7, in which a pair of rocking swing seats are removably attached to said pair of pivoted swing members to thereby allow a pair of users to rock as said pivoted members are moved to and fro.

9. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 8, in which said pair of pivoted swing members has at least one rung of steel pipe for said U-shaped channels on said spacing board to fit thereover.

10. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 9, in which said pair of pivoted swing members swing seats have eyelets attached thereto for attaching to eyelets attached to said pair of pivoted swing members for attaching the back of said seats and having eyelets attached to the seat portion of said swing seats for attaching a chain to attach said seat portions to said pair of pivoted swing members.

11. A multipurpose structure in accordance with claim 10, in which said swing seats are formed of U-shaped steel pipe having a plurality of apertures therethrough for attaching wooden slats and includes fastening members attached thereto for supporting said swing seats formed thereby to said multipurpose structure.

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