US2131122A - Convertible furniture device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27, 1938.

O. SCHLETT CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1937 HUN 1L2; ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Application August 12,

4 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to furniture and especially to a convertible article of furniture which although primarily serving as a stool, bench or seat, may be converted into a table construction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an article of this kind wherein two symmetrically, arranged leg members are employed, the upper structure of which consists of two walls,

so arranged as to comprise spacious compartments or pockets for the reception of books, magazines, newspapers, sewing, knitting or other articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible article of furniture having two double-walled symmetrically arranged leg members, and wherein the two walls of each member are connected at their ends by end plates terminating in floor legs and to which end plates is secured a connecting member, which latter has means for accommodating a slidably and removably mounted tray, and wherein the tray and one of the walls of the leg members are provided with means for securely supporting the tray and for preventing the tray from sliding from its position when the tray is employed as table top.

Another object of this invention is to provide in connection with a convertible article of furniture a removable tray adapted to serve either as side support, when in partly extended position while the device is used as a seat or stool, or wherein the tray may be placed on top of the device to serve as table top, said tray comprising either a single leaf or a combination of extensible leaves with means for supporting them in their extended position when the tray is intended to be used as a relatively large table top, when desired.

The foregoing and still further objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description and the accompanying drawing, forming part of my disclosure, which drawing, however, is not intended to restrict my invention in any way to the structure shown, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device when used as either a foot-stool, or seat, with the tray partially extended for the support of different articles, such as ash receiver, glass, dishes, etc.,'

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my device, showing its employment as a table; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View through my device in somewhat ,enlarged form; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

1937, Serial No. 158,664 (01. -43) Fig. 5 is a top view of leaves;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

a tray with extensible Fig. 7 is a similar cross-sectional view showing 5 the extensible leaves in retracted position.

Referring now specifically tothe drawing, numeral I0 denotes the leg members of my device, consisting of a double-walled upper structure composed of outer walls I I, inner walls I2 and end plates I3, which latter terminate at their lower extremities in symmetrically arranged floor legs I l. To the plate portions I3 of the end members are secured at their inner lower edges, indicated at I5, side braces I6 of connecting member IT. The latter forms a continuous plate, to which are attached inner walls I2 and outer walls I I, as clearly seen from Fig. 3.

From the inner faces of side braces I6 extend two oppositely disposed ledges I8, whereby a channel formation beneath the long sides of member I I is formed for receiving-a tray l9, which is slidably mounted within these receiving means and is removabletherefrom, and which is normally held in the by means of snap locking means, indicated 20. Connecting member I! normally serves seat and may be provided with a cushion pillow, indicated in broken lines at 2I in Fig.

Inner walls I2 have upward extensions 22, in which are provided hand-grip holes 23 for facilitating the carrying of the device from place to place. The portion of the walls I 2, between the elevated portions 22 and end plates I3, are made fiat, as indicated at w for tray I9, when the latter is elevated into the position shown in Fig. 2 toserve as table top. Tray I9'consists of an inner board portion which is recessed at 25 and end members 26 which are correspondingly recessed at 21. Recesses 25 and 21 form large openings at the ends of the tray, which openings are intended to receive upward extensions 22 of walls I2. so designed as to form stops against extensions 22 for limiting the longitudinal movement of tray I9. The upper inner edges of end plates I3 are so spaced as to readily accommodate, but hold against sidewise movement tray I9 in its table top position. I

A modified form of the tray is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, wherein the tray'proper, corresponding to tray I9, is indicated at I9. The outer edges of the tray proper are recessed at'28 for registering with corresponding recesses 29, provided at the inneredges of extensible leaves 36.

position shown in Fig. 3 P

24, to form'a secure seat Recesses 25 are ill (See Fig. 7.) These leaves are normally in their collapsed position, as shown in that figure, but may be extended sidewise in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which position they are held by two springs 31 and 32, which latter are centrally pivoted at 33 and are provided with operating slots 34, in engagement with bolts or screws 35, which latter serve as stops for leaves 30 when they are in either their extended or retracted positions.

These slots also serve as guide means for the leaves, while being operated. The leaves are shown in their retracted position in Fig. '7, and at which leaf-position the springs assume a position indicated in Fig. 5 in broken lines by I. When the leaves are in their extended position, springs 3| and 32 assume a position indicated at II. Pivot 33 of the leaves is preferably secured at the bottom and center of tray proper l9. Springs 3! and 32 are of sufficient strength as to keep leaves 30 in their extended, upward position, shown in Fig. 6. Suitable hand-grips 36 at the edges of leaves 3! facilitate the operation of the tray.

The above described convertible piece of furniture is so constructed as to present a sturdy, although inexpensive, extremely practical and useful device, which will withstand considerable strain and usage, without fear of ever collapsing. The practicability of this device is quite evident. It may serve as either a foot-stool or a seat, while tray 19 is either in its normal or partially extended position, relative to its receiving means, beneath connecting member H, or it may be employed as a serving table in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, in which event dishes may be placed on top of tray l9 and other utensils may rest upon connecting member IT, or it may be used as card table when tray I9 is employed, and its leaves are extended.

While used as either a foot-stool or chair, with the tray partially extended as shown in Fig. 1, the tray serves for supporting articles such as ashtrays, dishes, glasses, etc. Irrespective of its use as either table or chair, the pockets formed by the double-walled construction of the leg members are always available for accommodating articles of any sort. a

The sturdiness in construction of the device may be readily observed by consulting Figs. 3 and 4, where it is clearly evident that the innerwalls i2 are of relatively heavy material, and that connecting member H is firmly attached to these inner walls. The inner walls on the other hand are securely connected with the generously designed end plates l3, to the lower portions of which are secured the side braces 16 of connecting member l'i. Ledges l8 of side braces IE not only serve as receiving means for trays l9 or l9, but also as reinforcements for the side braces. Thus, it will be clearly understood that the construction of the device is very rigid in its simplicity and inexpensiveness, representing some of the outstanding features of my invention.

It is to be noted that in the drawing I have shown inner walls [2 to be made of much heavier and stronger material than outside walls ii and that walls I2 are provided with hand-grip extensions 22. It is obvious, of course, that walls I I may be made of the same thickness as walls 12, and that the hand-gripping feature of walls 12 may be transferred to walls l I, in which case the construction of the trays may be suitably altered. It is further evident that the pocket formation of the leg members represents a substantial reinforcement for these members, which feature adds to the sturdiness of my device.

While I have described specific forms of my device, it is quite obvious that changes and improvements may be required in the course of manufacturing the article on a production basis, and I therefore reserve for myself the right to make such changes and improvements without departing from the broad scope of my invention, as defined by the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable and convertible article of furniture, a pair of leg members, each member consisting of a pair of spaced plates, having a broad top portion terminating in relatively slim legs, the broad top portions of each plate pair being connected by a relatively heavy inner wall and an outer wall of lesser thickness, the inner walls having upwardly extending center portions provided with handle openings, a pair of braces attached at the inner edges and lower ends of the broad plate portions of the leg members and joining the lat ter, tray receiving means extending towards each other from the inner faces of said braces, a leg connecting member, normally serving as seat, resting upon said braces and extending beneath and being secured to said inner walls of the leg members, said tray receiving means serving for normally accommodating a removable tray, such tray being adapted to serve as table top, when placed over the upwardly extending center portions of the inner walls.

2. In a portable and convertible article of furniture, as set forth in claim 1, the upper ends of the broad top, portions of said plates extending above the upper edges of said inner and outer walls and being intended for limiting a sidewise movement of a tray when the latter serves as table top. I 3. In a portable and convertible article of furniture, a pair of spaced leg members, each member having two leg-forming plates, inner and outer walls connecting the plates, the upper edges of the plates extending above the upper edges of the walls, a pair of braces joining the lower ends of the opposite side edges of the plates, a connecting member for the leg members supported by said braces and attached to the inner walls, tray supporting means extending from said braces and arranged beneath said connecting member, said tray supporting means serving for accommodating a removable tray, the latter being intended to serve as table top, when placed over the inner walls and between the upper edges of the plates.

4. In a convertible furniture device, adapted to serve as either a foot-stool, a seat, a serving table, a card table, etc. and simultaneously as a support or rack for books or other articles, a pair of leg members, each member having two leg-forming plates with broad upper portions, inner and outer walls connecting these upper plate portions so that the upper edges of the plates extend above

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