GB2163643A - Improvements in or relating to an item of furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

A picnic table has table-top forming elements 8 that are pivotally connected to the chassis of the table so that they can be moved from a horizontal position, in which they define the top of the table, to an inclined position, in which they form a back-rest for a person sitting on a seat of the table but facing away from the table. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to an item of furniture THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an item of furniture and more particularly relates to an item of furniture in the form of an integral assembly constituting a table and seats for persons sitting at the table. Such an assembly may be termed a "picnic" table.

In recent years use has been made of "picnic" tables at various outdoor locations. Such tables are usually constituted by two pairs of legs which support a table top, there being horizontal seat supporting members connected to the legs and extending beyond the side edges of the table top, seat elements being mounted between the end of the horizontal members Such tables are commonly utilised in parks, at picnic sites, in the gardens of public houses and other similar locations, including private gardens.

One disadvantage of the "picnic" tables of this type is that, although the tables may offer sitting space for several people, because of the design of the tables, people are effectively constrained to sit on the seats facing the table. Thus if one of these tables is shared by two groups of people, who may be complete strangers, the people niust sit facing each other in close proximity.

The present invention seeks to provided an item of furniture in the form of an integral assembly definining a table and seats for persons sitting at the table adapted so that the item of furniture may be utilised by two separate groups of people who will not be constrained to sit facing one another.

According to this invention there is provided an item of furniture in the form of a table provided with integral seats, the table comprising a chassis having a plurality of legs supporting a table top, seats mounted on the chassis and located adjacent two opposed side edges of the table so that people may sit on the seats facing the table, an element forming at least part of the table top being movably mounted on the chassis of the table so that the element may be moved from a substantially horizontal position in which it defines the table top of the table to a vertical or inclined position adjacent one of said seats in which the element constitutes a back rest for a person sitting on the seat facing away from the table.

Preferably the table is formed from two said movable elements, each element lying, when in the table top forming position, on a respective side of the longitudinal axis of the table, each table-top forming element being movable to a position in which it forms a back rest for a seat provided on the respective side of the table.

Conveniently the or each movable table-top forming element is mounted on the chassis of the table by means of connections each comprising a slotted plate and a pin cooperating with and slidable in the slot of the slotted plate.

Advantageously said slotted plates are two downwardly depending plates, one at each end of the element each plate defining an elongate slot, the chassis of the table carrying two inwardly directed pins which cooperate with the slots of the plates.

Conveniently the slot in each plate is cranked, the pin entering a Franked portion of the slot when the moveable table-top forming element is in the table top defining position.

Preferably the table has a pair of legs at each end thereof, each pair of legs supporting a horizontal member which protrudes beyond the edges of the table, the ends of the horizontally extending members supporting slats or the like which define said seats at a level lower than the level of the table-top.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the "chassis" for a table in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the table show in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of the table in which part thereof is in an alternative position; Figure 4 is an end elevational view of a table-top forming element of the table; Figure 5 is a view showing one table-top of the table connected to the chasis of the table; Figure 6 shows a movable table-top forming element of the table in an intermediate position; and Figure 7 is an enlarged view corresponding to part of Fig. 3.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings an item of furniture in the form of a table in accordance with the invention comprises four legs 1, the legs being arranged in pair, with one pair of legs at each end of the table, the legs of each pair being inwardly inclined. The upper ends of each pair of legs are interconnected by a horizontal cross-member 2. The ends of the cross members 2 are connected by two parallel horizontal longitudinal members 3, thus forming a frame to support the table top. The midpoints of the cross members 2 are interconnected by a central longitudinal horizontal member 4, the upper edge of which extends slightly above the upper edges of the crossmembers 2.

Each pair of legs 1 supports a horizontal seat supporting member 5 which extends well beyond the edges of the frame constituted by the members 2 and 3. A reinforcing strut 6, at each end of the table, extends from the mid-point of the horizontal seat supporting member 5 to a point on the central longitudinal member 4.

As can be seen most clearly in Fig. 2 the seat supporting members 5 support longitudinal slots forming seats 7 adjacent each side of the table, and the frame constituted by the members 2 and 3 support two table top forming elements 8 which rest on the frame.

The table, as thus described, may be utilised as a conventional picinic table, with people using the table sitting on the seats 7 whilst facing the table. People using the table in this way may rest food or the like on the table top formed by the elements 8.

In the table presently being described each table top forming element 8 is hingedly and movably connected to the chassis of the table so that each table top forming element 8 may be moved, as generally indicated by the arrows 9 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the right hand table top forming element 8 when moved, and it can be seen that when the right hand table top forming element 8 has been moved so that it is substantially vertical and is located adjacent the seat 7 in such a way that the element 8 can be utilised as a back rest for a person sitting on the seat 7 facing away from the rest of the table.

It will be appreciated that a table in accordance with the invention may be utilised in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, with some people sitting on the seat shown to the left hand side of Fig. 3 facing the table, possibly eating food resting on the table, whilst other people are sitting on the seat shown to the right hand side of Fig. 3 facing away from the rest of the table. Of course, the table-top forming element 8 shown at the left hand side of Fig. 3 may be moved in the direction of the appropriate arrow 9, and then two people (or two sets of people) may sit on the seats facing away from each other.

Fig. 4 illustrates a table top forming element 8 in greater detail and it can be seen that the table top forming element consists of a plurality of parallel slats interconnected in a conventional manner, the assembly having, at each end, a downwardly protruding plate 10 provided with a slot 11 therein. The slot 11 is substantially linear but has one cranked terminal portion 12. The plate may be formed of rust proof metal or plastic material, and the slot 11 is dimensioned to cooperate with a pin 13 provided on the inner surface of the adjacent cross member 2 interconnecting the pair of legs at one end of the table.

As can be seen from Fig. 5, when the table top forming element is in the table-top forming position the pin 13 is accommodated within the cranked portion 12 of the slot 11 in the plate 10 on the table-top forming element 8. However, the side edge of the tabletop forming element that defines the edge of the table may be lifted upwardly, the pin 13 then moving into the main linear portion of the slot 11. The table-top forming element 8 may then be tilted, passing through the intermediate position illustrated in Fig. 6, and. finally reaching the position shown in Fig. 7, in which the pin 13 is located at the other end of the slot 11. The table-top forming element 8 will remain in this position, and whilst in this position will act as a back rest for a person sitting on the seat 7.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to one specific embodiment it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention. For example an appropriately shaped slotted plate may be mounted on the chassis of the table, and pins coop- e erating with the slots in the slotted plate may be mounted on each movable table-top forming element. Both the seats and the table-top forming elements may be made of solid pieces of wood, rather than slatted elements as illustrated. Many other hinge-like arrangements, such as arrangements incorporating levers or the like, may be found to be suitable for use in a table in accordance with the in Invention The described embodiment of the invention may just be used as a bench if required.

Claims (8)

1. An item of furniture in the form of a table provided with integral seats, the table comprising a chassis having a plurality of legs supporting a table top, seats mounted on the chassis and located adjacent two opposed side edges of the table so that people may sit on the seats facing the table, an element forming at least part of the table top being movably mounted on the chassis of the table so that the element may be moved from a substantially horizontal position in which it defines the table top of the table to a vertical or inclined position adjacent one of said seats in which the element constitutes a back rest for a person sitting on the seat facing away from the table.

2. An item of furniture according to claim 1, wherein the table top is formed from two said movable elements, each element lying, when in the table top forming position, on a respective side of the longitudinal axis of the table, each table-top forming element being movable to a position in which it forms a back rest for a seat provided on the respective side of the table.

3. An item of furniture according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each movable table-top forming element is mounted on the chassis of the table by means of connections each comprising a slotted plate and a pin cooperating with and slidable in the slot of the slotted plate.

4. An item of furniture according to claim 3, wherein said slotted plates are two downwardly depending plates, one at each end of the element, each plate defining an elongate slot, the chassis of the table carrying two inwardly directed pins which cooperate with the slots of the plates.

5. A table according to claim 4, wherein the slot in each plate is cranked, the pin entering a cranked portion of the slot when the movable table-top forming element is in the table top defining position.

6. A table according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the table has a pair of legs at each end thereof, each pair of legs supporting a horizontal member which protrudes beyond the edges of the table, the ends of the horizontally extending members supporting slats or the like which define said seats at a level lower than the level of the table-top.

7. A table substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.