GB2389782A - Multi-multifunctional furniture item - Google Patents

Abstract

A multifunctional furntiure item with six functions. The body consists of four equally proportioned cushioned blocks 1,2,3,4, each individually covered and interconnected by three hinges 5,6,7, as illustrated by the letter 'W'. The hinges pivot the separate blocks as required thus converting the whole by into its various forms. With all hinges closed it is a footrest, or alternate way up, an occasional table with durable surface area. The hinges then open out to produce other functions including a floor sofa, a low level table with durable surface area, a bench style sofa and a full sized mattress. A two part solid tabletop or a slip cover may be added when in the table or footrest configurations respectively.

Description

GB 2389782 A continuation (74) Agent and/or Address for Service: Gary

Nathan Street 17 Wellington Works, Wellington Street, Karl I BRING, NN16 USE, United Kingdom

h..c Technical Field

This invention relates to muHifunctionai furniture items that provide a footrest, an occasional table, a floor sofa, a low level table, a bench style seat and a mattress all in one fomm.

Modem lifestyle demands versatility. Living spaces are getting smaller while peoples demands on that space increase. Multifunctional furniture has for some time met that design challenge yet it still needs to evolve maximising the use of space in the home thus giving more pleasure to those that live there. A conventional sofabed, for example, is very popular but not the best use of space H another product perfomms the same functions yet also transfomms into a table. A standard footrestbed is effective in what it does but is still not as much fun as another that also converts into a comfortable floor-sofa - ideal for playing those computer games. Therefore, by revising the present concept of multifunctional furniture and incorporating many other useful functions we have the next generation of multifunctional fumiture. Fumiture that includes not just two or three functions but five or six.

Present-day multifunctional furniture is often large, heavy and difficult to operate, moreover, when not required in a room it becomes an obstacle rather than an asset. The design challenge then was not only to incorporate further useful functions into the said furniture but also to make it more compact and user friendly, even allowing it to be moved easily or stored away.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a multifunctional furniture Hem comprising of four equally proportioned cushioned blocks, each individually covered and interconnected by three hinges as in the letter 'W'. The said hinges pivot the blocks as required thus converting the whole into its various fomms. The body can thus convert from a footrest into an occasional table then a floor sofa, a low level table, a bench style seat and a mattress. In addition, the two tables have a two part solid tabletop attachment one part for the occasional table and both parts for the low level table. The slip cover goes over the top and sides of the footrest to give it further protection and conceal its multifunctional nature.

Brief Descnption of the Drawings A specific embodiment of the design will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 gives a perspective view of the footrest, the slip cover coming down over it.

Figure 2 gives a perspective view of the occasional table with durable surface area, also one part of the solid tabletop that attaches to it.

Figure 3 gives a perspective view of the floor sofa.

Figure 4 gives a perspective view of the low level table with durable surface area, also both parts of the solid tabletop that attaches to H Figure 5 gives a perspective view of the bench style seat, the backrest resting against a suitable object. Figure 6 shows the bed mattress fully opened out.

-2 Best Method for Carrying Out the Invention Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the deferent drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Referring to Fig.1 this item comprises of four equally proportioned high density foam blocks 1,2,3,4, each individually covered and interconnected by three upholstered hinges 5,6,7, as in the letter 'We. The said hinges pivot the blocks as required thus converting the whole into its various forms. The most basic form is the ergonomic footrest as depicted in Fig. 1. This takes shape by hinges 5,6,7, remaining closed while 1,2,3,4, overlie eachother 1 resting on the floor 4 serving as the footrest. Also shown in Fig.1 is the slip cover 12 that covers the top and sides of the footrest.

By fuming the above mentioned footrest aHemate way up as seen in Fig.2 blocks 4,3,2,1, overlie eachother 4 resting on the floor 1 serving as the occasional table. The cover of 1 comprises in part of a durable material 8, faux leather or the like, thus offering a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface. Fig.2 also illustrates the solid tabletop 10 that can attach to the occasional table (detail not shown). This attachable tabletop can be securely held in place using various means known to those skilled in the art, such as non-slip matting on the underside or velcro.

In Fig.3 it is demonstrated that by operating hinge 5 and compactly pivoting blocks 2,3,4, over they stand upright against the noOr to fomm a floor sofa. The seat cushion 1 rests on the floor whike 2,3,4, provide an ergonomic backrest It is also noted an identical form can be achieved alternate side up with 7 opened and 3,2,1, arranged as above.

The low level table of Fig.4 is produced by closing 5,7, and opening 6 to the full. The covers of 2,3, comprise in part of a durable material 9, faux leather or the like, thus offering a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface. Fig.4 also illustrates both parts of the solid tabletop 10, 1 1, which can be attached to the low level table (detail not shown). The said tabletop can be securely held in place using various means known to those skilled in the art such as non-slip matting on the underside or velcro. The table's two parts 10,11, pin together using a suitable method such as metal dowels, a woodwork joint or a hinge.

Fig.5 then represents a bench style seat easily formed by closing hinges 5,6, leaving 1 resting on the floor 2,3 overlying it. Hinge 7 is then operated enabling 4 as the backrest to be propped upright against a suitable object. It is noted that an identical form can be achieved alternate side up when the blocks are arranged as above but conversely, hinges 7,6, being closed for seating and 5 opened for the backrest.

Finally, the full sized mattress illustrated in Fig.6 is produced by opening 5,6,7, so that 1,2,3,4, lie flat across the floor as a mattress. It is functional as a mattress on either side.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various motions, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

This invention relates to footrests convertible into seating and or a bed. Its construction consists of four firm foam blocks of equal rectangular shape each overlying the other with the lowermost resting on the floor the uppermost for use as a footrest.

Each foam block is individually covered by fabric the said covers joined by strong pivoting fabric hinges. Thus the four blocks pivot in a '"'fashion using three such hinges. The footrest becomes a bench style seat by pivoting the uppermost block vertically supporting it against a wall, the lower three foam blocks provide the seating while the uppermost is used as the backrest.

The footrest converts into a floor seat with self supporting backrest by pivoting over the upper three blocks of foam until they support themselves upright on the floor, the upright foams act as the backrest while the flat one provides floor seating.

When fully unfolded the footrest converts to a full sized mattress. The foam blocks lie flat on the floor in a side by side relationship thus providing single or double accommodation depending on the desired length of the foam.

A separate slip cover may be fitted over the top and sides of the footrest thus concealing its multifunctional nature.

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Claims (8)

1. A multifunctional fumiture item comprising of four equally proportioned cushioned blocks each individually covered and interconnected using three hinges as in the fetter 'I, the said hinges pivot the blocks as required thus converting the whole into its various foes the body can thus transform into each of the following forms; a footrest, an occasional table, a floor sofa, a low level table, a bench style seat and a mattress.

2. A multifunctional fumiture item as in Claim 1 wherein a footrest is produced by all hinges

remaining closed the four cushioned blocks overlying eachother the lowermost resting on the floor the uppermost serving as an ergonomic footrest a slip cover also covers it.

3. A multifunctional fumiture item as in Claim 1 wherein an occasional table is formed by fuming the footrest in Claim 2 alternate way up all hinges remain closed the four cushioned blocks overlying eachother with the lowermost on the floor the uppermost serving as the occasional table the cover of the uppermost block incorporates a durable material providing a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface, in addition, an attachable solid tabietop one of two parts can be secured to the occasional table using various means known to those skilled in the art.

4. A multifunctional fumiture item as in Claim 1 wherein a floor sofa is provided by operating the lowermost hinge then compactly pivoting the upper three blocks over until they stand upright against the floor the lowermost block provides the seating while the upper three blocks serve as an ergonomic backrest it is noted an identical form can be achieved alternate side up with the blocks manipulated as above but conversely.

5. A multifunctional fumiture item as in Claim 1 wherein a low level table is produced by opening only the middle hinge thus pivoting the two upper blocks over until they rest flat on the floor next to the lower two blocks the table's surface area incorporates a durable material as described in Claim 3, an attachable solid two part tabletop can also be secured to the low level table using various means known to those skilled in the art the solid tabietop being in two parts for use on either the occasional table of Claim 3 one part or this law level table two parts the two parts join together using a suitable method known in the art.

6. A multifunctional fumiture item as in Claim 1 wherein a bench style seat is provided by operating the uppermost hinge thus pivoting the uppemmost block upright to be rested against a suitable object the lower three blocks provide the seating the uppermost the backrest, it is noted an identical fomm can be achieved aNemate side up with the blocks manipulated as above but conversely.

7. A multifunctional fumiture item as in Claim 1 wherein a beci mattress is provided by opening all three hinges fully enabling the four blocks to lie flat across the floor as a full sized mattress the said mattress may be used on either side.

8. A multifunctional fumiture item substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 of the accompanying drawings.