GB2243074A

GB2243074A - Furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2243074A
Application number: GB9008774A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Anthony Graziano; George Graziano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-04-19
Filing date: 1990-04-19
Publication date: 1991-10-23
Also published as: GB9008774D0

Abstract

An article of furniture comprises a desk portion 10 and a seat portion 11. The two portions are linked together by means such as runners 12, 14 which permit the portions to be brought together. The two portions 10 and 11 are so shaped that when they are brought together they appear as a single item. <IMAGE>

Description

FURNITURE This invention relates to furniture.

Articles of furniture often appear in groups or sets, e.g. tables and chairs or a desk and an accompanying chair or seat. The present invention relates particularly to such articles. The invention provides an article of furniture which is made up of two or more items which normally exist as a set, the items being linked or coupled together such that they can be moved relative to one another into a configuration in which they appear as a single item of furniture.

The two items may be a desk and an accompanying seat. The desk and seat may be coupled by runner means which allow relative axial movement of the desk and seat. The frame or housing of the desk may be shaped to have profiled parts which when the two items are brought together mate with correspondingly profiled parts on the seat to produce the appearance of a single item. The invention will be described now by way of example only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view from one section of an article of furniture in accordance with the present invention, the article being in its opened out condition; Figure 2 is a view from the other side of the article of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the article in its closed condition, and Figure 4 is a side view of the article in its closed condition.

An article of furniture comprises a desk portion 10 and a seat portion 11. The portions 10 and 11 are linked together by elongate runners 12, 14.

The desk portion comprises a flat generally rectangular top 16, a side wall 18 and a front wall 20. The side wall 18 has a cut-out part 22 which extends from the rear thereof to define a slanting straight edge portion 24 and a slightly concave lower edge portion 26. The front wall is generally rectangular in its upper part and has a triangular lower part which joins the side wall 18.

The side of the top 16 opposite to the side wall 18 has a downwardly depending lip 28, but otherwise that side of the desk portion is generally open The seat portion comprises a housing having a rectangular rear wall 30, a generally rectangular side wall 32 extending along the open side of the desk portion and a second side wall 34. The second side wall 34 is shaped to define an upper inclined edge portion 38 and a slightly convex lower edge portion 40. The inclination of the edge portion 38 corresponds to that of the edge 24 on the desk portion and the curvature of the convex portion 40 corresponds to that of the concave part 26 on the desk. The seat portion also has a shallow front wall 42 with a triangular cut-out part 44. The front, rear, and side walls are carried on a base 46.

The seat housing carries a seat cushion 50 and a back cushion 52 which form a conventional seat.

It will be seen that the back cushion 52 is spaced forwardly of the rear wall 30 to define a storage compartment 54 therebetween. Similarly a storage compartment can be provided beneath the seat cushion 50.

The upper runner 12 is connected at one end to the outer face of the side wall 32 near its upper edge and at its other end to the inner surface of the lip 28 on the desk portion. The lower runner 14 is connected at one end to the outer surface of the side wall 34 near its lower edge and at its other end to the inner surface of the side wall 18 near its lower edge. The runners 12,14 can be commercially available runners.

The mounting of the desk and seat portions on the runners 12,14 allows them to be moved axially relative to one another. When in use they will be a spaced apart condition such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and when not in use the desk and seat sections can be brought together guided by the runners to form a unit of the type shown in Figures 3 and 4. Because of the complimentary nature of the shapes of the housings of the desk and seat portions they appear as a single attractive item of furniture in this configuration. In its closed condition (Figures 3 and 4) the article can be stored easily without occupying a large space.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An article of furniture which is made up of two or more items which normally exist as a set, the items being linked or coupled together such that they can be moved relative to one another into a configuration in which they give the appearance of a single item of furniture.

2. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, in which the items are a desk and an accompanying seat.

3. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the desk and seat are coupled together by runner means which allow relative axial movement of the desk and seat.

4. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame or hosuing of the desk is shaped to have profiled parts which when the two items are brought together mate with correspondingly profiled parts on the seat to produce the appearance of a single item.

5. An article of furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.