GB2191939A

GB2191939A - Multi-purpose furniture unit

Info

Publication number: GB2191939A
Application number: GB08624175A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Meader; Elise Kanstrup
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-27
Filing date: 1986-10-08
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-08
Also published as: GB2191939B; GB8624175D0; GB8615835D0

Abstract

A multi purpose unit of furniture comprises an extensible frame (12) carrying a mirror or screen (10) the screen is lockable in a plurality of horizontal positions on a support bar (14), and allows the unit to be used either as a table or as an overhead mirror. When the frame is in its raised position, an auxiliary frame 46 may be attached to support bed curtains (44). The mirror (10) may also be supported vertically, to provide a free standing mirror unit; in this position the unit may also act as a bed head. The base of the unit supports an adjustable auxiliary TV table. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A multi purpose unit of furniture The invention relates two a multi purpose unit offurniture.

A unit constructed according to the present invention may be used for a variety of different purposes, for example as a free standing full length mirror or screen, as a coffee table, normal table or bed table, as an overhead mirror or screen, or with appropriate additions as a bedhead or as a support for bed curtains.

The aim of the invention is to provide a flexible unit, and to avoid the expense and inflexibility of, for example, four poster beds and ceiling mirrors.

According to the present invention a multi purpose unit of furniture comprises a generally planar mirror or screen, a vertical support bar, and adjustable securing means arranged selectively to supportthe mirror or screen on the support bar with the mirror or screen vertical or one of a plurality of horizontal positions. In its horizontal position, the mirror or screen may be suspended from above.

The invention may be carried into practice in a number of ways and one specific embodiment, along with a number of variations, will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a multi-purpose unit offurniture showing the mirror in its vertical position; Figure2 shows the unit with the mirror in its raised horizontal position; Figure2A is a cross-section through the box hinge by which the mirror is supported on the main bar; Figure 28 illustrates a detent; Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit showing an auxiliaryframe in position; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the unit of Figure 3 showing curtains attached to the auxiliary frame; Figure5showsthe unit with accessories arranged to form a bed head.

Figure 6shows the unit of Figure Swith bed and drapes in position; Figure 7shows the unit of Figure 1 with the addition of a small table; Figure 8shows details of one version ofthetable and base unit, with the mirror in its raised horizontal position; Figure 9is a plan view of the unit showing an alternative means of attaching an auxiliary frame; Figure 9A shows the details of the attachment, in Figure 9, between the auxiliary frame and the main frame; Figure 70A is a plan view of the table shown in Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10B is a view of the table of Figure 10A looking inthedirection ofthearrowA;; Figure 1OCis a view of the table of Figure 1 OA looking in the direction of the arrow B; Figure 11A shows detail of the table attachment in its horizontal position; Figure 11B shows detail of the table attachment in its vertical position; Figure 12 shows the unit of Figure 2 with the rear of the mirror acting as a coffee, bed or ordinarytable; Figure 13A is a rear plan view of the base unit; Figure 13B is a plan view of the base unit of Figure 1 3A showing its extensible positions.

The basic multi purpose unit offurniture is shown generally in Figure 1 andcomprisesa mirroror screen 10 supported vertically within a generally rectangular main frame 12 on vertical support bar 14.

The support bar is itself supported by a free standing base 16. In the embodiment shown the mirror or screen 10 comprises a light-weightplastics material mirror, to provide recto and verso reflections; however, in alternative embodiments, this may be replaced by an opaque, translucent ortransparent screen, a television screen, a computer screen or indeed any other type of screen that may be desired.

The support bar 14 is telescopic and, as is shown in Figure 2, is provided with a carrying handle 18. The frame is securedto the supportbar by means of a box hinge 20, shown in cross-section in Figure 2A. As is shown in the dotted lines in thatfigure, the frame 12may be supported by the box-hinge either in avertical position, as shown in Figure 1, or in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 2. A locking screw 22 is provided, enabling the box hinge to be locked at any desired vertical position on the support bar 14. Accordingly, the frame 12 may be positioned at a height appropriate for the rear surface of the screen 1 to be usable either as a normal table, a coffee table or a bed table. The various possibilities are shown in Figure 12.Also shown is an optional light 24which may be adjustably attached to the support bar.

The base 16 includes a number offeatures which are designedto improvethe stability ofthe unit.

When the unit is arranged to be positioned next to a bed,for example when it is being used as a bed table, a central post 26 of the base may be raised and locked in the raised position (shown in Figure 5) so as to secure the base between the lower part of the bed and the floor. The base also includes an extensible portion 28, shown in Figure 2 and in a slightly dif ferentposition in Figure 12, which may be pulled out when necessary to increase the area of coverage of the base on the floor. As is shown in Figure 13the base is rotatable about a vertical axis with respectto the frame 12, and therefore the extendable portion 28 may be positioned in the region where the additional ground support is required.

In addition to its use as a table the screen 10 may be supported in an overhead position, as is shown in Figure 2, to be used as an overhead mirrororTV screen, for example. In this position, and in other positions in which large forces are applied to the support bar 14, it is desirablethatthe upper end of the support bar should be attached to a secure ob ject, for example, the ceiling of a room.Support means, not shown, may be provided; in one embodiment this consists of afloat plate, attachedtothe upper end ofthe support bar which is arranged to abuttheceiling. When the main frame 12 is in its raised position it is desirably additionally supported by a cable 30 which extends from the hinge 20, through a pulley 32 attached to the upper end of the support bar, to the far end oftheframe.

To improvethe reach ofthe unit when theframe is in its horizontal position, the frame 12 istelescopic and comprises an inner frame 34 which supports the screen 10 and an outerframe 36 whch supports the innerframe 34. As is best shown in Figure 8,the outerframe 36 has grooved edges, and the inner frame 34 is arranged to slide within these grooves.

When the innerframe 34 is in its extended position shown in Figure 8, it is prevented from sliding back into the outerframe 36 by a spring loaded or other type of sprung detent 38, shown in Figure 2B. In addition, a lifting bar 40 is provided. This extends laterally across the lower partofthe frame 36 and is slidably retained at each end by a clip 42 (see Figure 8).

The bar40 is used in conjunction with the locking screw 22 as a handhold for manual manipulation of the mirrororscreen. It enables the user to move the mirrorwithouttouching its surface.

An alternative useforthe unit is, along with suitable curtains, as a type of 'four poster' bed. This is shown in Figure 4. To attach the curtains 44to the unit an auxiliary frame 46, shown in Figures 3,4 and 9, is used. The auxiliaryframe comprises a generally rectangularframe of larger sizethan that of the main frame 12. Itis supported horizontally about the main frame in one of two ways; i n in Figure 9, the innerframe 34 is shown locked into its extended position, and the auxiliaryframe is supported, for example, 'on the hinge' 20 and in an upwardly facing channel 48 provided at the end ofthe frame 34; alternatively, as is shown in Figure 3, the inner frame 34 may remain unextended and the auxiliary frame may be suppor- ted at its far end by a horizontal spar 50, received within the channel 48. In either case, the auxiliary frame orthe spar is securely held within the channel 48 by means of a wrap-around clip 52, illustrated in Figures 12,8 and 9A.An additional function of the clip 52 is to attach the main frame 12 to the bar 14 when the mirror is in its vertical position shown in Figure 1. In addition, means not shown, are provided for attaching the curtains 44to the auxiliary frame 46.

Another use forthe unit is as a bed head: this is shown in Figu re 6. An u pper fri ngeo r drapes 54 is held in position by means of a one piece support 58, which is arranged for connection to the upper end of the support bar 14 as is shown in Figure 5. The correct hanging of a back or top pair of main drape 56 is ensured bythe use of a drape support spar60which may be held in position either by being inserted through the box hinge 20 itself, or by a plurality of suitably shaped hooks 62 attached to the box hinge.

When in position, the unit is stabilized by the use of the central post26, and it is also preferably attached to the ceiling. As an alternative to the use of a separate lamp 24, the bed could be lit by using a suitably lightable screen.

The use of a small supplementary table top 64 is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This table, platform or shelf may be used either when the unit is free standing, as is shown in Figure7 or itmay be combined with the 'four poster' bed shown in Figure 4. In the latter case, it is convenientto position the table 64 at the foot of the bed.

As can be seen in detail in Figure 8 the table 64 is held in position by a combination of its rear end abutting a vertical backing plate 66, and shaped supporting arms 68 being received within respective apertures 70 in a pair of vertical posts 72. The table may be supported at any one of a number of vertical positions, by inserting the ends of the arms 68 into the appropriate apertures 70. Smooth vertical move mentofthetable is ensured bathe provision of a table backing member 74 (shown in dotted lines in Figures 7,8 and 10) which is received for sliding motion between a pair of opposed open channels 76 in the edges of the backing plate 66. The table backing member is hinged along its horizontal axis (not shown) to the front surface of the table itself. This enables the table to be folded into a vertical position, flush against the table backing members 74 and the backing plate 66, once the supporting wires 68 have been removed from the apertures 70. This is a convenient position for storing the table when it is not in use.

In one embodiment of the device (although this is not essential) the posts 72 are separate from the backing plate 16 and are attached to it by releasable interlocking clips 77 (see Figure 8). The posts may thus be repositioned, if desired, art a higher level allowing the table to be positioned well above the level of a bed.

Claims

1. A multi purpose unit of furniture comprising a generally planar mirror or screen, a vertical support bar, and adjustable securing means arranged selectivelyto support the mirror or screen on the support bar with the mirror or screen vertical or in one of a plurality of horizontal positions.

2. Amulti purpose unit of furniture as claimed in Claim 1 in which the securing means is a box hinge, the mirror or screen being at least partially supported in cantileverfashion from the hinge when in a horizontal position.

3. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2 including an adjustable base arranged for rotational movement about a vertical axis with respecttothe mirror or screen.

4. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in Claim 3 in which the base includes an adjustable generally horizontally stabilizing bar, arranged to stabilize the unit when the bar is abutted against the underside of a bed.

5. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4in which the base has an extensible portion having a retracted position, and an extended position in which it extends the effective support area of the base.

6. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 having a shelf or table releasably secured to the base.

7. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in Claim 6 in which the base includes meansforsupporting the shelfortable in a vertical position.

8. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the base includes means forsupporting theshelf ortable ata pluralityofhori- zontal positions.

9. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in Claim 8 in which the shelf ortable includes a pairof support arms, the ends of each arm being arranged to be received within an aperture in one of a pair of vertical posts attached to the base.

10. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in Claim 9 in which the posts are arranged for attach mentto the base at a plurality of vertical positions.

11. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10 in which the base includes two opposed open channels, a vertical backing member hinged to the shelf ortable being received for vertical sliding movement between the channels.

12. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the vertical support bar is telescopic.

13. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which means are provided to secure the support bar to a fixed struc ture.

14. A multi purpose unitoffurniture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mirror or screen, in its horizontal position with the mirror or screen facing downwards, may be positioned selec tively overhead or lower on the support bar to act as a table, coffee table or bed table.

15. Amulti purpose unit offurniture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the mirror or screen is arranged to be at least partially suppor ted, in an overhead horizontal position, by an el ongate fiexible support, extending through a pulley attached to the support bar.

16. A multi purpose unitoffurniture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a main frame comprising an inner frame, supporting the mirrororscreen, and an outerframesupporting the innerframe,theinnerframebeing arrangedtotele scope within the outerframe.

17. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in Claim 16 in which, in an extended position, the inner frame is prevented from telescoping into the outer frame by a sprung detent.

18. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an auxil iaryframesupported by and generally surrounding the mirror or screen when the mirror or screen is supported in an overhead horizontal position.

19. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in claim 18 including means for the attachment of bed curtains to the auxiliary frame.

20. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in claim 18 or19, when dependent upon claim 16, in which the inner frame has an upwardly-facing el ongatechannel at its end remote from the support bar,the auxiliary frame being received within the el ongate channel.

21. A multi purpose unit of furniture as claimed in claim 18or 19, when dependent upon claim 16, in which the innerframe has an upwardly-facing el ongatechannel at its end remote from the support bar, a horizontal spar, at least partially supporting the auxiliary frame, being received within the el ongate channel.

22. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 17 including a detachable overhead drape-support means arranged for attach ment to the support bar, and a detachable horizontal drape-support spar arranged to be supported by the securing means when the mirror or screen is in its vertical position.

23. Amulti purpose unit of furniture as claimed in claim 22 arranged to act as a bed-head in combination with a bed and with drapes.

24. Amultipurposeunitoffurnitureasclaimedin claim 2 in which the mirror or screen is at least part- ially suspended when in a horizontal position.

25. A multi purpose unit offurniture as claimed in claim 15 in which the elongate flexible support is arranged aiso to provide at least partial supportto the mirror or screen as it is being moved between the vertical and a horizontal position, orvice versa.

26. A multi purpose unit offurniture substantially as specifically described herein, with reference eitherto Figures 1,2,12 and 17, orto Figures3,4and 9,orto Figures 5, and 6orto Figures7,8, 10 and 11.