GB2516796A - Seated person lower body warmer - Google Patents

Abstract

An item of furniture has three substantially vertical sides with an upper horizontal surface located on top of and perpendicular to the three sides. The upper surface may be used as a table or desk top. A second horizontal surface may be located below the first and may slide linearly with respect to the first to provide a larger desk area. The fourth side of the item is open to allow a seated user to insert their legs and feet into the space bounded by the three closed sides. One of the sides may be fitted with section that extends forwards and the side has the appearance of a plurality of drawers where the lower drawer may move away from and towards the person seated at the table. Extending the drawer forward allows more room for the users feet. An electrical heater may be fitted within the lower section of the device, see figure 4. When not in use the upper lap tray and lower drawer are closed and the device may be placed against a wall where it appears to be a chest of drawers.

Description

I

Description Title

Seated Person Lower body warmer

Background

This invention relates to an item of furniture designed to warm a persons lower body while they are seated on a comfy chair.

If there is only one person in a room sitting on a comfy chair for a number of hours at a time, it is more efficient to have a small heat source heating a confined cavity around them, rather than to raise the ambient temperature of the whole room. However, given the invention is intended for a persons' main living room, appearance is the key factor. The invention must be an acceptable and homely addition to the living room decor, and especially be capable of blending in inconspicuously when not in use and when guests are present.

Statement of Invention

To overcome both of these oj ectives, the present invention proposes a design whereby an enclosed space around the seated user's lower body is created by an item of furniture which is designed to take on the appearance of a small chest of drawers from the front and side, but which is hollow from the back. When in use, the lower of the two fuse drawer fronts opens outwards to provide the required foot space for the user, and a small electrical heat source heats the enclosed space. When not in use, the drawer front returns inwards to present a complete chest of drawers impression. The invention may also have an extendible lap tray that extends towards the users waist.

Advantages Warmth for the seated user, provided at a fraction of the energy cost of heating the whole room.

A novel and homely appearance when in use, and especially an inconspicuous and smart chest of drawers' appearance when not in use, for when accepting visitors into the living room area.

A functional knee-hole table plus an additional table surface able to be extended over the lap.

Introduction to Drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows the main unit less the extendible lower unit.

Figure 2 shows the extendible lower unit on its own.

Figure 3 shows the invention in fimctioning / warming mode.

Figure 4 shows a cut away type impression of the invention from the side.

Detailed Description

(Use Figure 3) The invention is comprised of two units. The upper false drawer front is fixed in place and provides structural rigidity to the larger main unit. The lower false drawer front is part of the smaller unit, and is able to be pulled outwards when in use to provide required foot room. Both units are constructed in order to combine to make up the appearance of a wooden chest of drawers, while they have both have no bottom or back. The heat source is provided by an electrical heater, such as a tube heater, of less than 100 watts. The upper surfice of the main unit can be used as a knee-hole table, and an additional lap tray can extend outwards towards the seated users waist.