GB2167290A

GB2167290A - A convertible furniture item

Info

Publication number: GB2167290A
Application number: GB08429560A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Diana Hildegarde Novak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-22
Filing date: 1984-11-22
Publication date: 1986-05-29
Also published as: GB8429560D0

Abstract

The item has a stationary part 1 which includes a seat 2 supported by ground-engaging means 3. The stationary part may be provided with a container (21) located under the seat. The seat may be pivotally connected to the stationary part. The item further includes a movable part 4 which is pivotally connected to the stationary part 1 for the purpose of enabling the positioning of the movable part in either one of two alternative positions:- (a) in the first position thereof, a device 5 carried by support means 6 acts as a back rest for the seat; and (b) in the second position thereof, (Fig. 2) the device 5 acts as a work surface for which the seat acts as a bench. The device 5 is pivoted on the movable part 4. The device may be supported at varying angles by an adjustable bar 16. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A convertible furniture item This invention relates to an item of convertible furniture, in particular an item which can be converted from a seat with a back rest into a bench and work surface, and vice versa.

According to my invention, an item of convertible furniture comprises a stationary part having a seat supported by ground-engaging means, and a movable part having a member carried by support means, the support means being pivotally mounted on the stationary part, the movable part being movable between first and second positions such that in the first position the support means supports the member as a back rest for the seat, and in the second position the support means supports the member as a work surface, for which the seat forms a bench.

Such an item is particularly useful as an item of garden furniture, which converts from a garden seat (in the first position) to a picnic table (in the second position). However, it may also be constructed as a chair which converts into a desk.

The support means preferably includes means which engage the ground when the item is in the second position, in order to support the work surface. Conveniently, the support means includes a pair of arms pivoted at opposite ends of the stationary part, the arms forming arms for the seat when the item is in the first position, and having portions which engage the ground when the item is in the second position.

The support means also includes a support member which acts to support the member in each position, the support member preferably comprising a bar extending between the arms.

The member may be pivotally mounted on the support means, the arrangement being such that in the first position a first surface of the member forms the back rest while a second surface engages the support member, and in the second position the second surface forms the work surface and the first surface engages the support member. The support member is arranged to ensure that the member is supported at a suitable angle in each position, and may be adjustable.

The invention therefore provides an item of furniture which is simple in construction, and is easily converted between a seat with a back rest and a work surface with a bench.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a convertible furniture item in a first position as a seat with a back rest; and Figure 2 shows the item in a second position, as a work surface and bench.

The Figures illustrate an item of garden furniture which can be converted from a first position forming a garden seat with back rest (Fig. 1) to a second position forming a picnic table and bench (Fig. 2), and vice versa.

The item comprises a stationary part 1 having a seat 2 carried by ground-engaging means 3 and a movable part 4 having a member 5 of rectangular outline carried by support means 6 pivoted on the stationary part 1, the member 5 forming the back rest or the work surface, in this case the picnic table, as appropriate.

The ground-engaging means 3 comprises four legs 7 supporting the seat 2, with the pairs of legs 7 at each end of the seat 2 being connected by cross-bars 8. The crossbars 8 are also connected by a stay 9, extending longitudinally. The support means 6 comprises two curved arms 10, the arms 10 being pivoted at their lower ends 11 to opposite ends of the stay 9. Each arm 10 also includes a portion 12 which engages the ground when the item is in the second position, and at its upper end branches into two portions 13, 14. The member 5 is pivotally mounted on the upper portions 13 along one of its edges 15, and a support member for the member 5 in the form of a rectangular bar 16 is secured to the lower portions 14 and extends between the arms 10. The seat 2 and the member 5 as shown are solid, but it may be preferable for these members to be slatted.They may be of wood, plastics or any other suitable material. The remaining parts-the ground-engaging means 3 and the support means 6 are preferably of metal.

In the first position, shown in Fig. 1, the position of the support means 6 is defined by the engagement of the arms 10 with forward edge of the the seat 2. In this position the arms 10 form arms for the seat, and a first surface 17 of the member 5 forms the back rest, with a second surface 18 opposite the first in engagement with a first portion 19 of the support bar 16. To convert the item to the picnic table and bench of Fig. 2 the support means 6 is pivoted forward until the portions 12 of the arms 10 engage the ground.

The member 5 is then rotated anti-clockwise, until the surface 1 7 engages a second portion 20 of the support bar 16. The surface 18 then forms the table surface. The operation is reversed to convert the item back to the seat of Fig. 1.

The support bar 16 is rigidly fixed to the arms 10, and is arranged to ensure that the member 5 is supported at an appropriate angle in each position, with the back rest slightly inclined from the vertical, and the table substantially horizontal. Clearly the bar 16 could be arranged to support the member 5 at any other suitable angle. Thus, in a modification (not shown), the work surface could be angled, to serve as a desk. In a further modification (not shown) the bar 16 could be adjus tably mounted to provide adjustment of the angle of the member 5 in each position.

In another modification, shown only in Fig.

2 for clarity, the stationary part 1 includes a container 21 under the seat 2, which may be hinged at its rearward edge to allow access to the container. The arrangement is such as to allow access to the container 21 when the item is in the position of Fig. 1 as well.

Claims

1. An item of convertible furniture comprises a stationary part having a seat supported by ground-engaging means, and a movable part having a device carried by support means, the support means being pivotally mounted on the stationary part, the movable part being movable between first and second positions such that, in the first position thereof, the support means supports the device as a back rest for the seat, and such that, in the second position thereof, the support means supports the device as a work surface, for which the seat forms a bench.

2. An item as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support means includes first means which engage the ground, then the movable part is in the second position thereof, in order to support the work surface.

3. An item as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the support means includes a pair of elements pivoted at opposite ends of the stationary part, the elements forming arms for the seat when the movable part is in the first position thereof and having portions which engage the ground when the movable part is in the second position thereof.

4. An item as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the support means also includes a support member which acts to support the device when said movable part is in each of its positions.

5. An item as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the support member comprises a bar extending between the elements.

6. An item as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the device is pivotally connected to the support means, the arrangement being such that, in the first position of the movable part, a first surface of the device forms the back rest while a second surface thereof engages the support member and such that, in the second position of the movable part, the second surface of the device forms the work surface and the first surface thereof engages the support member.

7. An item as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6. wherein the support member is arranged to ensure that the device is supported at a suitable angle in each position of the movable part.

8. An item as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the support member is adjustable in order to permit the suitable angles to be varied to suit different circumstances.

9. An item as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the seat is hingedly connected to the stationary part.

10. An item as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a container is located under the seat and is supported by the stationary part.

11. An item of convertible furniture constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any features of novelty, taken singly or in combination, of the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.