US2857956A

US2857956A - Multi-use article of juvenile furniture

Info

Publication number: US2857956A
Application number: US399402A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burnett F Thompson
Original assignee: BEN JAC ENTPR Inc; WILLIAM A WITTMAN
Current assignee: BEN JAC ENTPR Inc; BEN-JAC ENTERPRISES Inc; WILLIAM A WITTMAN
Priority date: 1953-12-21
Filing date: 1953-12-21
Publication date: 1958-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1975-10-28

Description

Oct. 28, 1958 B. F. THOMPSON 2,357,955

MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed Dec. 21, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BURNETT F. THOMPSON,

INVENTOR.

HUBNER,8E'EHLER, WORREL a HERZ/G,

ATTORNE' KS.

Oct. 28, 1958 a. F. THOMPSON 2,857,955 MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed D90. 21, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BURNETT F. THOMPSON;

IN VEN TOR.

HUEBNER BEEF/LEI? WORPEL 8 HERZIG, By ATTORNEYS- Oct. 28, 1958 B. F. THOMPSON MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE'FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 21, 1953 INVENTOR.

p, a ,0, a a 1 o o M w r 2 I I l I H I I'll I'll j 7 5 W y 6 g 2 i M 1 M w J 4 Q 9 1 J 3 i 4 Q M i a z 7 9 I 5% I, 6 a w 1 4ia o a a m T v ,p I a a W .m

BURNETT F- THOMPSON HUE8NER98EEHLER9 WORREL 8 HERZIG,

ATTORNEYS- Oct. 28, 1958 THOMPSON 2,857,956

MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed Dec. 21. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BURNETT 5. THOMPSON,

44 a1 72 :1 mmvrm HUE8NER,8EEHLER, woma a He'Rz/a, By v ATTORNEYS- Oct. 28, 1958 B. F. THOMPSON 2,857,955

MULTI-USE ARTICLE OF JUVENILE FURNITURE Filed Dec. 21, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BURNETT F. THOMPSON} INVENTOR.

HUEBNER, BEE/IL ER WORREL a HERZ'IG, By ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ()fiiice 2,857,956 Patented Oct. 28, 1958 MULTI-USE ARTICLE @F JUVENILE FURNITURE Burnett F. Thompson, Long Beach, Calif., assignor of one-third to William A. Wittman, South Gate, Calif., and two-thirds to Ben-Jae Enterprises Inc., a corporation of California Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,402

Claims. (Cl. 155-124) This invention relates to a multi-use article of juvenile furniture designed to be utilized in a large number of difierent ways, and even at different ages in the childs development, to eliminate the necessity for the purchase of various articles of juvenile furniture, and is specifically designed for convenient adaptation to a wide variety of desired uses for the child from infancy to approximately ten years of age.

It is usually necessary to provide a relatively large number of different articles of juvenile furniture adapted specifically for use with infants and children, such as highchairs, play tables, cribs, blackboards, car beds and seats, portable beds, swings, rocking cribs or beds, and the like, in order to provide adequately for the care and feeding of such a child.

In view of the above and other considerations, it is among the objects of this invention to provide a multiuse article of juvenile furniture which is relatively simple in construction and mode of operation and manufacture, and which can be readily converted from one use to another without extensive manipulation of complex parts and Without substantial dismounting of various component portions thereof, and the parts of which serve multiple purposes by facile conversion and interrelationship in their desired uses,

It is also an object of this invention to provide a multiuse article of juvenile furniture of the desired character described, which includes a frame member supported by extensible legs, said legs having incorporated therein a simple means, such as a detent member, which is adapted to maintain said legs in any one of a plurality of selected positions in order that the height of the frame may be controlled so that the multi-use article of furniture may be raised from, c. g., a lower to a more convenient elevated crib or bassinet, or from a play table to a feeding table of any height, including that of a conventional highchair, or table, so that the child may eat at the table level and adjacent that of its parents.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a multi-use article of juvenile furniture which includes a supporting frame structure having transversely oriented means incorporated therein, and a seat structure o tionally gravitationally but securely suspensible on said means by means of elongated means provided thereon.

A further object of this invention is the provision in such a multi-purpose article, of a seat structure demountably supported on or in cooperative relationship with a table-supporting structure.

It is an object of this invention to avoid the necessity of untying or undoing various types of fasteners in mounting or demounting the crib or seat structure from the table-supporting structure acting as a frame therefor.

Additional objects of this invention are the provision, in an article of the aforementioned character, of a footrest structure which is disposable in operative relationship with the table-supporting structure and which includes side means engageable with the tablesupporting structure to retain the same in a preferred place of use;

the provision of a foot-rest structure movable between a first position in which laterally spaced side means are disposed in engagement with a frame portion to maintain the foot-rest structure in a position to cooperate with the seat structure in defining a portable bed for an infant and a second, vertical position in which it is disposed below and suspended from the seat structure to provide a foot-rest for the infant when it is seated in an erect position on the seat structure.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a seat structure for utilization in an article of multi-use furniture which includes suspensory arm members having pivOtally secured thereto seat supporting mounting links, said seat supporting mounting links being adjustable by means of an adjusting link to adjust said suspensory arm members with reference to the seat of said seat structure to permit the same to be utilized in a wide variety of applications.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a seat structure of the aforementioned character which includes a foldable back hingedly connected thereto, said back being constituted by a pair of hinged sections which are adapted to be disposed in a first, vertical position in which they serve as a seat back and in a second, horizontal position in which they are extended to form a portion of the bottom of a bed structure in cooperation with the aforementioned foot-rest structure.

An additional object of this invention is theprovision of an adjustable and demountable foot rest which is disposable in operative relationship with the aforesaid foot-rest structure when said structure is disposed in the second, horizontal position in operative relationship with said seat structure to serve as a foot rest for an infant maintained in an erect, seated position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a multi-use article of furniture which is composed of a minimum number of easily assembled parts and which can be converted from one use to another without the necessity for the manipulation of a large number of fasteners or similar articles.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a multi-use article of furniture of the aforementioned character which can be folded to permit it to be readily transported from one location to another.

it is moreover among the objects of this invention to provide improvements over prior art devices heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

Other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only and in which:

Figure l is a utility view showing a multi-use article of furniture constructed in accordance with this invention as an infant seat, and play or eating table.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, partly sectional view of a multi-use article of furniture constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the multi-use article of furniture.

Figure 4 is a vertical, partly sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the broken line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical, partly sectional view taken on the broken line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly sectional view taken on the broken line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the broken line S-i of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the seat structure of the multi-use article of furniture of this invention. utilized as a swing.

"Figure '10 shows the seat structure utilized as a car seat.

Figure 11 shows the seat and foot-rest structures of the article of furniture of this invention utilized as a temporary infant bed.

Figure 12 shows the article of furniture of this invention in folded positionto facilitate the transportion thereof.

Figure 13 shows the utilization of the article of furniture of this invention in conjunction with demountable rockers.

"Figure 14 shows the extent to which the telescoping legs of .the article of furniture may be extended to permit it to be utilized at varying heights above the surface upon hich it is supported.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1-3, 5 ,6, and 8 thereof, there .is shown a multiuse article of juvenile furniture 10 constructed in accordance with this invention and including a table structure 11 of substantially rectangular configuration having associated therewith a seat structure 12 and a foot rest structure 14. The table structure 11 includes a peripheral frame 16 constituted, in the present instance, by an aluminum extrusion incorporating an inwardly directed integral flange 17 for receiving and supporting the peripheral edge of a removable top or play surface 18 having an opening 19 in one end thereof juxtaposed to the chair structure 12 which is supported below said opening in a manner to be described in greater detail below.

The table top 18 can be readily removed from its association with the inwardly directed flange 17 of the peripheral flange frame 16 to permit another table top, Figure 14,.to be substituted therefor when it is desired to utilize the article .of furniture 10 as a table, the substituted table top being imperforate to facilitate its utilization in the above described manner, or it may have a blackboard on one side.

Disposed in operative relation with the peripheral frame 16 and extending transversely between opposite sides of said frame are tubular stifleners or side rails 20, the opposite ends of which abut on contiguous portions of the interior wall of the frame 16, as best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, being inserted in mounting members 23, and held by fasteners, such as rivets, 25.

Nested in two recesses 27 provided in the outer wall of :the frame 16 are garnish or bumper strips 28, of suitable resilient material, such as rubber or plastic. These also serve to decorate and conceal the underlying riveted construction. 1

It will be noted that the opposite ends of the side rails 20 underlie the respective inwardly directed flange 17 which thus serves to retain the juxtaposed end of the side rail 20 in its predetermined location with respect to the peripheral frame 16.

Disposed in the corners of the frame 16 and maintained in operative relationship therewithby means of mounting brackets 31 are extensible supporting legs 30, said legs being maintained in extended position by retractable braces 33. Therefore, the legs 31] can be moved from the extended position shown in Figures '1 and 2 of the drawings into the folded position shown inrFigure .12 of the drawings to facilitate the transportation of the article of furniture 10. 1

Each of the legs 30 includes an outer tubulansection 35, and an inner tubular section 37 telescopically engaged in said outer tubular section and movable therein toad just the length of the leg to a predetermined extentefn a manner which will be described in greater detail below vided with casters 38 upon their lower extremities to facilitate the movement of the article of furniture it) across the surface upon which it is disposed.

The outer tubular sections 35 of the extensible legs 34 are each provided with vertically spaced outer de- It will be noted that the inner tubular sections are protent openings 39 which are disposable adjacent an inner detent opening 41 provided in the inner tubular section 37. Disposed in each of the inner tubular sections 37 adjacent the inner detent opening 41 therein is a detent member 43 formed from spring steel and of substantially S-shaped configuration. The detent member 43 includes a base portion 45 which, as best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, spans the interior of the inner section 37 of the legs 30, and has integrally formed therewith an upwardly extending spring arm 47, said spring arm having provided upon the upper end thereof a radially extending detent head 49 which extends through the associated inner detent opening 41 and through a contiguous outer detent opening 39 in the outer section 35 of the leg 30. The detent member 43 thus locates the inner section 37 of each of the legs 3% with respect to the outer section thereof by engaging one of the vertically spaced detent openings 39 in said outer section. Therefore, the legs 30, and more particularly the inner sections 37 thereof, .can be extended from the outer sections .35 into the four different positions shown in Figure 14 of the drawings, thus ,permitting the table top 18 to be raised by means of the extension of the legs 30 to a predetermined distance above a surface upon which the article It) is located.

When it is desired to adjust the inner section 37 of each of the legs 30 with respect to the outer section 35 thereof, the radially extending detent head 49 is pressed inwardly against the bias of the spring arm 47 to release the associated outer detent opening 39. The inner section 37 of the leg 30 then can be freely moved with respect to the outer section until the desired outer opening 39 is juxtaposed to the inner opening 41 and the spring arm 47 will then cause the extension of the detent head 49 through the juxtaposed outer detent opening 35 to retain the inner section 37 of the leg in the selected extended position. The outer side edges of the detent heads 49 are preferably slanted or tapered to serve as cam surfaces which depress and retract the detent heads upon relative rotation of the

leg sections

35 and 37 as by grasping and turning the respective sections 37 until the heads are retracted, whereupon re-registration with another slotted outer opening 39 is attained by reversing said turning motion and moving the leg sections axially relative to one another to the next opening. Any vertical index line, or the like, on the

respective sections

35 and 37 may be employed to facilitate such alignment of the sections and the selected openings with the detent heads 49.

The seat structure 12 is disposed in operative relationship with the table structure 11 by means of a pair of laterally spaced suspensory arms 5t), as best shown in Figures 23, 6, and 910 of the drawings. The suspensory arms 50 are constituted by elongated, right-angularly shaped members 53, said members including a horizontal portion 55 which is disposable in overlapping relationship with the periphery of an associated side rail 20, as best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, to suspend the seat structure 12 from the side rails 21 within the peripheral frame 16 of the table structure 11. Therefore, the seat structure 12 is supported on the table structure 11 through the cooperation of the suspensory arms 51? of the seat structure 12 and the laterally spaced side rails 2'0 of the table structure 11, thus eliminating the necessity for auxiliary suspensory fastenings and permitting the seat structure 12 to be easily and quickly removed from its operative relationship with the table structure 11 so that it may be utilized in applications such as those shown in Figures '9, 10, and 11 of the drawings, which will be adverted to in detail below.

A plurality of openings 56 is provided in the horizontal portion of each of the suspensory arms 50, said openings portions 57 of the suspensory arms 50 depend down- 7 wardly from the horizontal portions 55 formed integrally therewith adjacent the side rails 20, as best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and are joined at their rearmost ends, as best shown in Figure 2, by a tie-bar 59 which serves to maintain the suspensory arms 50 in operative relationship with each other and also maintains them in the proper spacing to prevent the inadvertent dislocation thereof from operative relationship with the side rails 20.

Pivotally engaged at their upper ends upon the vertical portions 57 of the suspensory arms 50 are elongated supporting brackets 61 which, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, are welded at their lowermost ends to the opposite ends of supporting bars 63 for supporting a seat 64 formed from fiberboard or similar material in operative relationship with the opening 19 in the table top 18. Spring clips 67, best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings, serve to secure the seat 64 to the supporting bars 63.

Pivotally secured to the rear edge of the seat 64 is'a seat back 68, said seat back being constituted by

sections

69 and 71 hingedly engaged with each other to permit the section 71 to lie in folded relationship with the section 69. The seat back 68 is disposable in a first, vertical position in which it rests against the tie-bar 59, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and a second, horizontal position, best shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, wherein the

sections

69 and 71 are folded downwardly to permit the section 71 to bridge the gap between the associated seat structure 12 and a foot-rest structure 14, as best shown in Figure 11 of the drawings.

Adjusting links 73 are disposable between the supporting brackets 61, best shown in Figures 2, 4, 9-10, and 11 of the drawings, said adjusting links being provided on one end thereof with a detent pin 74 engageable with any one of a plurality of adjusting openings 75 in the rearmost pair of supporting brackets 61. When the seat structure is utilized to perform its seating function, the adjusting links 73 are engaged with the appropriate adjusting openings 75 to maintain the rearmost ends of the suspensory arms 50 in positions in which they extend beyond the rear edge of the seat 64 so that the tie-bar 59 will be moved back a distance sufficient to permit the rearward inclination of the seat back 68. However, when it is desired to utilize the seat structure 12 as a component portion of a temporary bed, as best illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings, the two adjusting links 73 are rotated about their pivotal securement on the corresponding brackets 61 so that said links 73 are horizontally disposed for insertion of their pins 74 into suitable openings in one of the brackets 85. It should be noted that the provision of supporting bars 63 and the associated spring clips 67 on the seat 64 permits the supporting brackets 61 welded to the opposite ends of the supporting bars to be pivoted in relation to the seat 64 in the above described manner.

The tubes 28 are provided with spaced holes in the top thereof for the reception of down-turned ends 79 of the safety bar 78 for retaining said bar 78 in a desired fixed position along the side rails 20, as best shown in Figures 3 and 6.

It will be noted that a centrally located safety strap 80 is provided, the opposite ends of which are looped over the safety bar 78 and the supporting bar 63 to prevent a child or infant seated in the seat structure 12 from slipping downwardly from the seat 64.

The bar 78 engages the underside of the table top 18 supporting the same, especially adjacent the infant accommodating opening 19.

The foot-rest structure 14 includes a pair of laterally spaced side supports 82 constituted by elongated rightangularly shaped members 83 whose horizontal portions are designed to overlie the side rails 20in a manner substantially identical with the manner in which the suspensory arms 56 overlie the side rails 20 to support the seat structure 12. Therefore, the side supports 82 serve to maintain the foot-rest structure 14 in the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, wherein the foot-rest structure 14 cooperates with the seat structure 12 to provide an infant bed when the seat back 68 is moved into the horizontal position shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, in which it spans the gap between the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14.

Supporting brackets 85 are secured at their uppermost ends to the side supports 82 and are welded at their lowermost ends to transversely oriented supporting bars 87 which are engageable with spring clips 89 fastened to a curvilinear footboard 91 formed of fiberboard or similar material. The foot-rest structure 14 is pivotally secured to the suspensory arms 50 of the seat structure 12 by means of elongated pivotally mounted supporting links 92 which permit the foot-rest structure 14 to be moved from a first, horizontal position in which the footrest structure serves as the end of an infant bed, into a second, vertical position, best shown in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings, in which the foot-rest structure 14 is disposed below the seat structure 12 to serve as a footrest for an infant seated upon the seat structure 12. It will be noted that two of the supporting brackets 85 are provided with clearance openings 86 which permit them to clear the spring clips and support bar at the forward end of the seat structure 12 when the foot-rest structure 14 is disposed in the second, vertical position thereof, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

One of the side supports 82, as best shown in Figures 2 and 7 of the drawings, is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced securement openings 93, while the other of the side supports 82 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced pairs 95 of securement openings, as best shown in Figures 7 and 11 of the drawings.

A foot-rest 98 is disposable in operative relationship with the side supports 82 when the foot-rest structure 14 is disposed in the second, vertical position, said foot-rest being provided with mounting

blocks

99 and 101 at the opposite ends thereof. The mounting block 99, best shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, is provided with laterally spaced locating pins 103, which are receivable in a selected pair 95 of vertically spaced securement openings, while the mounting block 101 incorporates a springbiased plunger 185, which is receivable in one of the vertically spaced openings 93 in the other side support 82.

Since the spring-biased plunger 105 is releasable from its associated openings 93, the foot-rest can be readily raised or lowered to accommodate children of different heights when they are seated on the seat structure 12. Furthermore, the foot-rest 98 can be adjusted to a selected position to accommodate for the growth of the infant customarily utilizing the multi-use article of furniture 10.

As previously indicated, one of the important aspects of this invention is the facility with which the seat structure 12 may be removed from operative relationship with the table structure 11 by simply lifting the seat structure 12 vertically upwardly to remove the suspensory arms 50 from operative relationship with the side rails 20, without disturbing the safety bar 78, which is retained by a preferred elasticity in the safety strap 80.

When so removed, the seat structure 12 can be utilized to perform a number of useful and varied functions. For instance, as illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings, the openings 56 in opposite ends of the suspensory arms 50 are designed to receive S-hooks and suspensory ropes 109, to permit the seat structure 12 to be utilized as an infant swing. It will be noted that in this particular application of the seat structure 12, the adjusting links 73 are disposed in a position in which the rearward ends of the suspensory arms 50 extend behind the rearward edge of the seat 64 to permit the rearward inclination of the seat back 68. t

ing movement to said article of furniture.

Another application of the seat structure 12 of this invention is graphically illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings, wherein the manner in which the seat structure 12 can be utilized as a car seat is illustrated. Demountable hook members 111, having lower hook portions engageable with the pairs of openings 56 in the rearward ends of the suspensory arms 50, are provided, and the seat structure 12 can thus be mounted as a temporary seat on a car seat, or bed, back 112. In applications such as these, the inherent rigidity of the suspensory arms 50 is a major factor in permitting the utilization of the seat structure 12, since the suspensory arms 54) provide the necessary safety factor. Of course, the facility with which the seat structure 12 can be removed from operative association with the table structure 11 is another important factor.

The manner in which the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 can be utilized in conjunction with each other as a temporary infant bed when removed from operative relationship with the table structure 11 is clearly shown in Figure 11 of the drawings. When so utilized, the adjusting links 73; of the seat structure 12 are moved into positions where the rearward ends of the suspensory arms 50 are located in substantial alignment with the rearward edge of the seat 64. The seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 .are maintained in operative relationship by the connecting link 92 extending therebetween.

It will also be noted that the seat back 68, and, more particularly the

sections

69 and 71 thereof, are folded downwardly into horizontal positions in which the gap between the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure is spanned by said sections which thus serve as a portion of the bottom of the temporary infant bed. When the necessity for the use of the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 as a temporary infant bed has passed, the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 can be readily re-installed in operative relationship with the table structure 11 by merely disposing the suspensory arms 50 of the seat structure 12 and the side supports 82 of the foot-rest structure 14 in operative engagement with the side rails 20.

The manner in which the multi-use article of furniture 10 of this invention can be readily folded into a relatively compact package by the folding of the major components thereof into the space defined by the peripheral frame 16 is graphically illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings. The legs 30 are retracted within the peripheral frame 16, and the seat structure 12 can then be readily pivoted into the plane of and within said peripheral frame. In order to facilitate the transportation of the article of furniture 10, the foot-rest structure 14 may be removed from its operative relation with either the side rails 20 or the seat structure 12.

Another mode of utilization of the article of furniture 10 of this invention .is illustrated in Figure 13 of the drawings, the article of furniture 10 being mounted in operative relationship with rockers 115 to impart rock- The rockers 115 are of conventional configuration and are provided in the opposite ends thereof with arcuate recesses 117, said recesses being adapted to receive the lower portions of the wheels incorporated in the caster 38 to maintain the legs of the article of furniture 10 in operative relationship with the rockers 115. Caster locks 119, constituted by elongated metal clips having their upper ends .engageable with the casters 38 and their lower ends secured by fasteners .121 to the rockers 115, prevent inadvertent dislodgment of the wheels from the recesses 117.

Therefore, to convert the article of furniture 10 from aleg-mounted to a rocker-mounted structure, it is merely necessary to locate the wheels of the casters 38 in the recesses 117. The upper portions of the caster locks 119 are then inserted in operative relationship with the casters 38, and fastened to the rockers 115 by the utilization of the fasteners 121.

The manner in which the legs 30 of the table structure 11 can be readily extended to raise the table top 18 selected distances above the surface upon which the. article of furniture is disposed, is clearly shown in Figure 14. of the drawings. It is readily apparent, therefore, that the article of furniture 10 is adapted for a multiplicity of uses and that the various components thereof can be readily assembled and disassembled without the utilization of special tools or fasteners.

Among the salient features of this invention are: the mode of suspension of both the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 in operative relationship with the table structure 11; the manner in which the foot-rest structure acn be. utilized in conjunction with a demountable and adjustable foot-rest when the seat structure 12 is utilized in its seating capacity; the ease with which both the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 can be dismounted, from operative relationship with the table structure 11; and the manner in which both the seat structure 12 and the foot-rest structure 14 can be adapted for a wide variety of uses when disassembled from operative relationship with the table structure 11.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical id preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and devices.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a frame member; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spaced side rails extending transversely of said frame member in spaced relation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails; and a foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposable thereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of suspensory members.

2. In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a frame member; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spaced side rails extending transversely of said frame member in spaced relation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side. rails, said first pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated, right-angularly shaped arms having horizontal portions disposed in overlying relationship with said rails; and a foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposable thereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of .suspensory members.

In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a frarne'member; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spaced side rails extending transversely of said frame member in spaced relation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails; and a foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposable thereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of suspensory members, said second pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated, right-angularly shaped supports having horizontal portions disposed in overlying relation with said rails.

4. In a multi-use article of furniture, the combination of: a frame member; legs supporting said frame member; a pair of laterally spaced side rails extending transversely of said frame member in spaced relation with each other; a seat structure having a first pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails, said first pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated, right-angularly shaped arms having horizontal portions disposed-in overlying relationship with said rails;

and a foot rest structure having a second pair of laterally spaced suspensory members engageable with said side rails and disposable thereupon in spaced relation with said first pair of suspensory members, said second pair of suspensory members being constituted by elongated, right-angularly shaped supports having horizontal portions disposed in overlying relation with said rails.

5. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: a table structure constituted by a leg-sup ported frame having a table top supported at its peripheral edge by said frame and by means of transverse stiffness extending between side portions of said frame; a seat structure disposed within the confines of said frame, said seat structure having arm members engaging said stifleners for supporting said seat structure; and a foot rest structure movable between a first position in which it is supported by a pair of support members on said stifieners in horizontal alignment with said seat structure and a second position in which it partially underlies said seat structure and is suspended from the same.

6. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: a table structure constituted by a leg-supported frame having a table top supported at its peripheral edge by said frame and by means of transverse stiifeners extending between side portions of said frame; a seat structure disposed Within the confines of said frame, said seat structure having arm members engaging said stiffeners for supporting said seat structure; a foot rest structure movable between a first position in which it is supported by a pair of support members on said stiifeners in horizontal alignment with said seat structure and a second position in which it partially underlies said seat structure and is suspended from the same; and a demountable foot rest engageable with said support members when said foot rest structure is disposed in said second position.

7. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: a table structure constituted by a leg-supported frame having a table top supported at its peripheral edge by said frame and by means of transverse stiifeners extending between side portions of said frame; a seat structure disposed within the confines of said frame, said seat structure having arm members engaging said stiffeners for supporting said seat structure and a pivotally mounted back rest movable between a first, vertical position and a second, horizontal position; and a foot rest structure movable between a first position in which it is supported by a pair of support members on said stilfeners in horizontal alignment with said seat structure and a second position in which it partially underlies said seat structure and is suspended-from the same, said back rest being moved into said second horizontal position when said foot rest structure is in said first position to bridge the gap between said seat structure and said foot rest structure.

8. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: a leg-supported table structure constituted by a peripheral frame having laterally spaced stilfeners extending from one side to another thereof; a seat structure supported on said frame by arm members engageable with said stiifeners, said arm members having supporting links pivotally connected thereto for supporting the seat portion of said seat structure; a foot rest structure having laterally spaced supporting means engageable with said stiffeners when said foot rest portion is disposed in a first horizontal position and with said seat structure whendisposed in a second vertical position, said supporting means being provided with securement means thereupon; and a demountable foot rest engageable with said securement means of said supporting means when said foot rest structure is located in said second position.

9. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: a leg-supported table structure constituted by a peripheral frame having laterally spaced stiffeners extending from one side to another thereof; a seat structure supported on said frame by arm members engageable with said stiffeners, said arm members having supporting links pivotally connected thereto for supporting the seat portion of said seat structure; a foot rest structure having laterally spaced supporting means engageable with said stifieners when said foot rest portion is disposed in a first horizontal position and with said seat structure when disposed in a second vertical position, said supporting means being provided with vertically spaced securement means thereupon; and a demountable foot rest engageable with said securement means of said supporting means when said foot rest structure is located in said second position.

10. In a multi-use article of juvenile furniture, the combination of: a leg-supported table structure constituted by a peripheral frame having laterally spaced stiffeners extending from one side to another thereof; a seat strunture supported on said frame by arm members engageable with said stifieners, said arm members having supporting links pivotally connected thereto for supporting the seat portion of said seat structure, said seat portion having a folding seat backpivotally connected to the rear edge thereof and movable between vertical and horizontal positions; a foot rest structure having laterally spaced supporting means engageable with said stiffeners when said foot rest portion is disposed in a first horizontal position and with said seat structure when disposed in a second vertical position, said supporting means being provided with securement means thereupon and said seat back being moved into said horizontal position when said foot rest structure is disposed in said first position to bridge the gap between said seat and foot rest structures.

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