CA2047100A1

CA2047100A1 - Cantilevered table - seating unit

Info

Publication number: CA2047100A1
Application number: CA 2047100
Authority: CA
Inventors: David Wanke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-15
Filing date: 1991-07-15
Publication date: 1993-01-16

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A cantilevered table - seating unit comprising a table top, four easy to access seating positions for adults and/or older children and two enclosed seating positions for younger children. The two enclosed seating positions have removable covers which serve to increase the area of the table top when one or both of the enclosed seating positions are not being used, provide arm rests for each of the four seating positions for adults and/or older children, and function as booster seats to raise the height of the enclosed seating positions in relation to the table top. Four legs, combined into a couple of cross braces, serve to support the table top and seating areas in a way that provides easy access to the four adult and/or older child seating positions, provide a wide base for the unit to prevent tipping when the unit is unevenly loaded, and prevent sway along the length of the unit.

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Description

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CANTILEVERED TABLE - SEATING UNIT

The present invention relates to a table - seating unit.
Although used for a variety Or purposes, such units are sometimes refered to as picnic tables.
A couple of problems are inherent in the design of known picnic tables. The support structure must be placed near the ends of the table to prevent the unlt from tipping under load.
This support structure makes it awkward to access the seating areas. The open bench seating does not provide any areas where small children can sit with side and back support.
The present invention provides enclosed seating for two younger children in addition to seating for four adults and/or older children that can be easily accessed without interference from the support structure. Ease of access is achieved through a cantilevering of the table top and the seating areas . The enclosed seating areas can be covered when not in use and these covers serve to increase the area of the table top and provide arm rests for the adult and/or older child seating areas.
The covers~ when removed to access the enclosed seating areas, can be used as booster seats to raise the height of the enclosed seating areas in relation to the table top. The four legs are assembled into a couple of cross braces which provide support points for the table top and seating area support members~ brace the unit against sway along its length, provide a wide base to prevent tipping and provide an outer raised edge to prevent the enclosed seating area covers from sliding. Braces beneath the table top increase the strength of the unlt and prevent sway across the width of the unit.
The invention, as exemplified by a preferred embodiment, is described with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the unit, excluding the legs, with one enclosed seating area cover in the table top position.
Figure 2 ls an end view of the unit with the enclosed seating area covers in the booster seat position.
Figure 3 is a side view of the unit with the covers removed and placed beside the unit.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the joint at the intersection of each pair of legs.
Figure 5 is a view of one method of fastening the legs 4 to the ends of the support members.

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The table - seating unit illustrated comprises four legs, 10,12,14,16 ~oined into a couple of cross braces. One method of ~oining the legs at their intersection point ls shown in Figure ~. The angle of intersection varies depending upon the dimensions of the unit.
The seating area support members 18,20 and the table top support members 22,24 can be secured to the assembled cross braces 10-12~ 16 with a nut and bolt at the ends of the support members as illustrated in ~igure 5.
tO The inverted V brace 38 is installed between table top sup~ort member 22 and seating area support member 18 as shown in Figures 1,2,3.
The inverted V brace 40~ shown in ~igure 3, is installed in the same manner as brace 38~ but between support members 2 and 20.
The seating areas 26,28 and the table top 30 are fas~ened to their support members 18,20 and 22,2~ in a secure method so that sufficient weight can be supported on the cantilevers.
The enclosed seating area cover 32 is shown in the table top position in Figure 1. The enclosed seating area covers 32, 34 are shown in the booster seat position in Figure 2 and standing beside the unit in Figure 3. The covers are held in place in the table top position by the pieces 42,~4,46,48 on their underside and by the edge of the table top 30 and the tops of the legs 10,12~14,16.
In Figure 1 an optlonal rod ~0 has been installed between table top support members 22,24 to provide increased back support in one of the enclosed seating areas.

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Claims

1. A table - seating unit comprising a cantilevering of the greater part of the table top and seating areas away from their support members and utilizing a crossed leg configuration at both edges of the unit to stabilize the unit from swaying along its length, to prevent the unit from tipping under an unbalanced load, and to secure the ends of the table top support members and the seating areas support members in their proper position.

2. A table - seating unit as claimed in claim 1 that utilizes the area, on both sides of the unit, that is bounded by the edge of the table, the crossed leg configuration, and the two parallel table top support members, as an enclosed seating area.

3. A table - seating unit as claimed in claim 2 that utilizes removable covers, over the enclosed seating areas, that can increase the table top area when one or both of the enclosed seating areas are not being used and that can function as booster seats when one or both of the enclosed seating areas are being used.

4. A table - seating unit as claimed in claim 1 that utilizes inverted V braces below the table top between vertically parallel table top support members and seating area support members, to strengthen the unit and to prevent swaying across the width of the unit.

5. A table seating unit as claimed in claim 2 that can use rods between the ends of the table top support members to provide improved back support within the enclosed seating areas.

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