GB2243543A

GB2243543A - Multi-purpose article of furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2243543A
Application number: GB9109198A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Radway Miles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-04-30
Filing date: 1991-04-29
Publication date: 1991-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-29
Also published as: GB9109198D0; GB2243543B; GB9009696D0

Abstract

An article of furniture which can take many forms is disclosed. it comprises five panels (A, B, C, D, and E) with each panel comprising a plurality of slats or battens (10) extending between six transverse rods (11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16). Rods (12, 13, 14 and 15) form articulation hinges for the respective adjacent pairs of panels. Each rod has associated locking means so that the angular relationship between adjacent panels may be set. The article of furniture can thus form a bed (fig 5a), a bench (fig 5b), a chair (fig 5c), a stool or table (fig 5d), a dining chair (fig 5e), a sun lounger (fig 5f) or a high backed chair (fig 5g). The article of furniture can be completely folded up for storage or transport (fig 5h). <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Multi-Purpose Article of Furniture This invention relates to a multi purpose, flexible 'protean' article of furniture, that is to say an article of furniture which can be made to adopt any of a plurality of configurations for a range of desired purposes, and is not permanently fixed in any of them.

Articles of furniture having two or more purposes are of course known, such as couches or settees which can be converted into beds, stools which are also functional as steps, or garden chairs which can also be used as sun loungers for example. In most cases, the pivots and struts needed to effect the conversions and ensure that the furniture is secure and safe in both conditions of use make for a rather complicated, cumbersome and expensive article, which is often an unsatisfactory hybrid.

An object of the invention is to provide a multi purpose flexible article of furniture which is extremely simple and economical in its construction, yet which is capable of being formed into a plurality of useful configurations, and is secure and safe in each configuration.

The invention accordingly provides an article of furniture comprising a plurality of panels connected edge to edge by hinge means, whereby the angular relationship between each panel and the or each adjoining panel may be varied, and locking means associated with each hinge means whereby a desired angular relationship between the panels connected by the respective hinge means may be maintained.

Preferably, each panel comprises a plurality of slats extending between the hinge means, the hinge means comprising a transverse rod passed through the respective ends of the slats, the slats of one panel being interleaved with those of the adjacent panel at the hinge means.

The locking means associated with each hinge means may comprise a bush or ring formed on each side of each interleaved slat, surrounding the respective transverse rod, the bush or ring being formed with radial ribs and grooves and adapted to interlock with a corresponding bush or ring on an adjacent interleaved slat of the adjacent panel, in any of a plurality of possible mutual angles which are multiples of the angular step determined by the angular spacing of the ribs and grooves.

The panels may for example be five in number, and can be disposed at any of a multiplicity of angles to provide configurations to serve various alternative functions, such as a bench, stool, chair, recliner or sun bed for example.

Permanent or removable and interchangeable pads or top surfaces may be provided for the panels.

A preferred embodiment of article of furniture according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 is a plan view of the article of furniture, laid flat, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the article of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation of a slat from a panel of the article shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figures 4a, 4b and 4c, are sectional views on, respectively, lines A, B, and C of Figure 3, and Figures 5a, 5b, Sc, Sd, 5e, 5f, 5g, and 5h are diagrams illustrating a plurality of possible configurations of the article of furniture.

As shown in the drawings, an article of furniture according to the invention comprises five panels A, B, C, D, and E. Each panel comprises a plurality of slats or battens 10 extending between six transverse rods 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Rods 11 and 16 form end members for the panels A and E, and the respective slats 10 are held apart by spacers 17. Rods 12, 13, 14 and 15 form articulation hinges for the adjacent pairs of panels, so that rod 12 is a hinge for panels A and B, rod 13 for panels B and C, rod 14 for panels C and D, and rod 15 for panels D and E. The slats 10 of the adjacent panels are interleaved where the respective rod passes through them to form the respective hinge.

The ends of the rods may be threaded to receive a wing nut which may be tightened to clamp the stack of slats together. The wing nut forms a simple means for releasing the stack to provide angular adjustment as required.

Each slat 10 is, as shown in Figures 3 and 4c, a bar of I - sectioned metal or plastics, formed with cut out apertures 18 to save weight. The slat may be a solid wooden strip.

A metal inset strip may be provided particularly if the slat is of wood, with apertures in the strip to receive brace rods extending between adjacent panels.

The means whereby the panels interlock to maintain any desired angular relationship is best shown in Figure 3 and Figures 4a and 4b. Each end of each slat 10 is formed with an integral ring or bush 19 on each side surrounding the aperture through which the respective rod 12, etc. passes. The ring 19 is formed with a large number of radial ridges 20 and grooves 21, at for example 60 intervals, and these grooves 21 and ridges 20 interlock with corresponding ridges 20 and grooves 21 on the ends of the interleaved slats 10 of the adjacent panel which is connected by the hinge. The angular relationship of each pair of panels can thus be adjusted in 60 increments.

Figures 5a - h illustrate diagrammatically a number of possible configurations of the article, each of which can be assumed by manually overriding the interlocking ribs and grooves, but then firmly and safely retained by the interlocking of the ribs and grooves of each abutting pair of interleaved slats. Thus Figure 5a may be considered to be a reclining bed, Figure 5b a bench or form, Figure Sc a pedestal chair, Figure 5d a stool or bedside table, Figure 5e a dining chair, Figure 5f a sun lounger, Figure 5g a high backed chair, and Figure 5h shows how the article may be folded for storage.

The article of furniture is very versatile, and is protean in that it can be changed in configuration again and again. The configurations shown are of course only examples.

In the preferred embodiment, the slats are 40 cm.

long and the rods 11 - 16 are placed at 35 cm. centres.

The panels B and D are 47.5 cm. wide, and the panels A, C and E are 42.5 cm. wide. The slats are 5 cm. deep.

These dimensions are of course given by way of example and are non-limiting, to indicate the order of sizes which are contemplated.

The individual panels may have a curvaceous form as seen in side view, or end view, or both, so as to conform to an anatomical shape; more comfortable to a user.

Claims

1. An article of furniture comprising a plurality of panels connected edge to edge by hinge means, whereby the angular relationship between each panel and the or each adjoining panel may be varied, and locking means associated with each hinge means whereby a desired angular relationship between the panels connected by the respective hinge means may be maintained.

2. An article according to Claim 1, wherein each panel comprises a plurality of slats extending between the hinge means, the hinge means comprising a transverse rod passed through the respective ends of the slats, the slats of one panel being interleaved with those of the adjacent panel at the hinge means.

3. An article according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking means associated with each hinge means comprises a bush or ring formed on each side of each interleaved slat, surrounding the respective transverse rod, the bush or ring being formed with radial ribs and grooves and adapted to interlock with a corresponding bush or ring on an adjacent interleaved slat of the adjacent panel, in any of a plurality of possible mutual angles which are multiples of the angular step determined by the angular spacing of the ribs and grooves.

4. An article according to any preceding claim, wherein five panels are provided.

5. An article according to any preceding claim, wherein detachable brace members connect adjacent panels to provide stability.

6. An article substantially as described herein and exemplified by the drawings.