US2957514A - Convertible article of furniture - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE 01-" FURNITURE 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1958 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. LOCKWOOD ATTORNEYS CHI.-

Oct. 25, 1960 w. H. LOCKWOOD CONVERTIBLE m-xcu: 0F FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26. 1958 INVENTOR. WILLIAM H. LOCKWOOD ATTORNEYS.

3 :65 Patflt CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE William H. Lockwood, 99 S. Bay Ave., Brightwater, N.Y.

Filed June 26, 1958, Ser. No. 744,789

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-41) The present invention relates to a chair convertible to use as an ironing board in which provision is made for adjusting the height of the ironing board.

Multi-purpose articles of furniture have long been in demand, particularly by apartment dwellers who have but a minimal amount of storage space available to them. The need for such products has been greatly accentuated in recent years because the greatly increased cost of living accommodations has caused people to take apartments or houses with a fewer number of rooms than was formerly the case, thus requiring that a given room serve a multiplicity of purposes. For example, it is quite common for the kitchen to double as a laundry room.

An ironing board is virtually a necessity in any well run household. It must necessarily be of appreciable size'if it is to be effective, and consequently it presents an appreciable storage problem. Moreover, it is often no. mean task for the average housewife to lift an ironing board and carry it to its assigned storage space. Chairs are also a necessity. It is therefore not surprising-that there have in the past been many proposals forthe construction of combined chairs with ironing boards. These prior art structures have, however, suifered from the drawback that the effectiveness of the ironing board had to be sacrificed to the eifectiveness of the chair, or viceversa. This is particularly the case insofar as the height of the'ironing board above the floor is concerned. Eitherthe chair was too high or the ironing board was too low. Moreover, and this is symptomatic even of ironing boards per se, the ironing surface is usually at a fixed height above the floor, which is appropriate for a person of a standard height but-which is inappropriate and often most uncomfortable for persons either taller or shorter than that standard height.

Accordingly the ironing board-chaircombination of the present invention has been so designed that the height of the ironing board above the floor can be adjusted to fitith e needs of the. particular person utilizing the same, while at the sametime the ironing board can be folded up tolan unobtrusive position which it constitutes an operative part of a chair. Insofar as the combinative aspects of this structure are concerned, this permits the seat'ofthe chair to be positioned at optimum height above the floor without in any way restricting or limiting the height of the ironing board. I convertible chair-ironing board in which the height of the ironing board maybe adjusted is disclosed in my application Serial No. 682,185, filed September 5, 1957 and; entitled Convertible Article of Furniture, now PatentNo. 2,888,062. In the structure there specifically disclosed the ironing board is mounted on a portion of the sea-t, the seat portion being pivotable between a horizontal ,chair position and a vertical ironing board position. There are, with such a structure, certain drawbacks in comfort when the device is used as a chair. In addition, the seat is subject to excessive wear, manufacturingproblems are involved if the seat is to be upholstered, and ability of the seat to function as an s s of Fig. 1;

article-supporting surface when the device is converted to use as an ironing board is but minimal.

In accordance with the present invention the above disadvantages are eliminated and a device is produced which is considerably more attractive, particularly when in its stand-by condition functioning as a chair.

In addition the device of the present invention difiers from that disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 682,185 in the manner in which the adjustable height feature of the ironing board is structurally accomplished and the manner in which the second panel of a two-panel ironing board is supported in extended position, that panel support here being directly connected to the means of adjustable operative length which carries the main ironing board panel, so that the operation of the second panel support means is independent of the height of the ironing board.

To accomplish the above objectives the seat of the chair may be of conventional one-piece construction. The panel which alternately functions as the back of the chair or the ironing board, depending upon its position, is carried by an element independent of the seat which is articulately mounted on the chair frame beneath the seat. When the device is to function as a chair this element is secured in a substantially horizontal position, and the panel carried thereby is positioned behind the seat so as to function as a back for the chair. The element may be swung downwardly to a substantially vertical position, in which event the panel carried thereby is moved to a position above and substantially parallel to the seat, where it can function as an ironing board. The seat may be connected to the element in such a way as to slide forwardly when the device is converted to an ironing board in order to provide clearance for the other moving parts. This element is provided with a bracket having apertures through which one or more rods are slidable, those rods in turn being connected to the panel which functions both as a chair back and ironing board. Simple and inexpensive means are provided within the bracket for selectively engaging or releasing the rods so that the position of the panel relative to the bracket may be adjusted. Where, as is here specifically disclosed, the ironing board is defined by a pair of articulately connected panels, an over-center linkage is provided which is carried by and moved with the rods and which is adapted to engage the underside of the second ironing board panel after the linkage has been moved to overcenter position.

- The overall structure is simple yet reliable. Its parts need not be made with any special degree of precision, and consequently the structure is inexpensive tomanufacture.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the structure of an ironing board-chair combination as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a three-quarter perspective view of the device arranged to function as a chair;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the device in an intermediate position between its chair and ironing board positions;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the device in its ironing board position, the ironing board being shown in solid lines in a lower position and in phantom in a raised position;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along 7*7 of Fig. 6;- I V t Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along 88 of Fig. 6; and

- Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along 9-9 of Fig.- 8.

The device of the present invention includes a support comprising legs 2 connected at their bottoms by cross pieces 4 and at their upper ends by integral forwardly extending portions 6 to which laterally extending plate 8 is secured by bolts 10. If desired, steps may be fastened in any appropriate manner between the front legs 2 so that the device can be used as a step ladder.

The plate 10 is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending slots 12 (see Fig. and the seat 14, which may be of one-piece construction and provided with any suitable upholstery, has a plurality of headed studs 16 extending down therefrom, the shanks of which are slidably receivable in slots 12 and the heads of which are receivable beneath the plate 8, thereby to mount the seat 14 on the plate 8 and to permit it longitudinal sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly of the device.

A pair of brackets 18 are mounted on the rear legs 2 adjacent their upper ends, and pins 20 are receivable therein, those pins extending inwardly toward one another. Mounted between the forwardly extending bars 6 is a plate 22, that plate having upwardly extending side rims 24 through which the pins 20 pass, those pins therefore constituting an axis about which the plate 22 is pivotal between the horizontal position shown in Fig. 4 and the vertical position shown in Fig. 6. A spring catch 26 is mounted at the forward end of the plate 22 and is adapted, when the plate 22 is in its horizontal position, to engage with a lip 28 extending forwardly from the plate 8, thereby to retain said plate 22 in that horizontal position. The catch has a forwardly projecting part 30 which may be manually actuated when it is desired to disengage the catch 26 from the lip 28. Means are also provided for retaining the plate 22 in its vertical position. As here specifically disclosed that means comprises a bracket 32 on the outside of the plate 22 which is adapted, when the plate 22 is in a vertical position, to be wedged against a bracket 34 mounted between the rear legs 2. Any other suitable structure, such as a spring catch similar to the catch 26, could be employed either additively or alternatively.

Mounted on the undersurface of the plate 22 is a substantially U-shaped laterally extending bracket 38 provided with two pair of aligned apertures 40 and 42. Rods 44 slidably pass through the apertures 40 and 42 and, at their outer ends, have susbtantially right angled extensions 46 to which a panel 48 is secured in any appropriate manner. A second panel 50 is secured to the lower end of the panel 48 by means of hinge 52, the panel 50 being movable between a position substantially parallel to the panel 48 (see Fig. 4) and a position substantially in line therewith (see Figs. 3 and 6). The lower portions of the rods 44 are guided and supported in rails 54 extending from the underside of the plate 22.

A rod 56 extends between the rods 44 adjacent their lower ends, and a metal strap 58 is pivotally mounted at one end thereon, a link 60 being connected to the other end thereof by means of hinge 62, the adjacent extremities of strap 58 and link 60 engaging one another after the strap 58 and link 60 have been moved past their in-line position to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which they make a large obtuse angle with one another. The underside of the panel 50 is provided with a bracket 64 against which the free end of the link 60 is adapted to abut when the panel 50 is in line with the panel 48 and when the linkage 58, 60 has been placed in its over-center position as described. A wire spring 66 is pivotally connected to the link 60 adjacent its free end and is also the line the line the line pivotally connected to flanges 68 extending from the lower surface of the panel 50. The spring 66 serves to guide the free end of the link 60 into engagement with the bracket 64.

A pair of washers 68 are loosely mounted in the bracket 38, as by means of lugs 70 extending out through appropriately positioned apertures in the rear wall of the bracket 38, those washers 68 having apertures 72 therein located in line with the apertures 40 and 42 and somewhat larger than the rods 44 which are slidable therethrough. Springs 74 are compressed between the washers 68 and the upper walls of the bracket 38, those springs serving to bias the washers 68 to their inclined position best shown in Fig. 9, in which position the washers 68 engage the rods 44 and lock them against longitudinal movement. A plate 76 is mounted in the bracket 38 beneath the washer 68, arm 78 being connected thereto and extending out through the bottom of the bracket 38. When the arm 78 is moved in the direction of the arrow 80 of Fig. 9 from the solid line position to the position shown in phantom, the plate 76 will be correspondingly pivoted, the plate 7 then engaging the underside of the washers 68 and moving them to a substantially horizontal position shown in phantom in Fig. 9, in which position the washers 68 will no longer engage the rods 44, the rods 44 then being free for sliding movement through the apertures 40 and 42 in the bracket 38.

A hinge linkage 82 is connected between the rear end of the plate 22 and the undersurface of the seat 14 adjacent its rear end in order to impart to the seat 14 a forward and rearward movement as the plate 22 is moved between its horizontal and vertical positions, that movement of the seat 14 being permitted by reason of its connection to the fixed plate 8 via the studs 16 receivable in the slots 12. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the seat 14 to move forwardly in order to provide clearance for the rear portion of the plate 22 when the latter is positioned vertically.

When the device here disclosed is to be used as a chair the plate 22 is positioned horizontally beneath the seat 14 (see Figs. 1 and 4) and is held in that position by engagement between the catch 26 and the lip 28. The rods 44 position the panel 48 vertically behind the seat 14, so that it can function as the back of the chair. The panel 50 is pulled up parallel to the panel 48 and is retained in that position in any appropriate manner, as by sliding a covering sheet 84 of fabric or other flexible material thereover. In this position the linkage 82 is in bent position and the seat 14 is positioned rearwardly relative to the plate 8.

When it is desired to convert the device to an ironing board the catch 26 is disengaged from the lip 28 and the plate 22 is swung downwardly to its vertical position, the bracket 32 engaging with the bracket 34 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 6). During this movement the linkage 82 causes the seat 14 to slide forwardly. The panel 48 will then be positioned over and substantially parallel to the seat 14 so as to function as an ironing board. The panel 50 is swung to its position in line with the panel 48, and the linkage 58, 60 is moved to its over-center position, the free end of the link 60 engaging with the bracket 64, thereby reliably supporting the panel 50 in its horizontal position. The panels 48 and 50 define the ironing board. In order to adjust the height of the ironing board it is merely necessary to grasp the handle 78 and move it in the direction of the arrow 80, after which the panels 48 and 50 can be lifted to the desired height, the rods 44 sliding freely through the bracket apertures 40 and 42. Since the linkage 58, 60 which supports the second panel 50 is carried by the rods 44 it will move along with the panels 48 and 50 so as not to detract from the support of the panel 50. When the ironing board has been positioned at the desired height the handle 78 may be released and the spring 74 will cause the washers 68 to assume their inclined position shown in solid lines in Fig. 9, thereby preventing any further sliding movement of the rods 44. r l 1 To reconvert the device to a chair the panels 48 an 50 may be moved downwardly, the locking washers 68 first being released through actuation of the handle 78, the catch 32 is disengaged from the bracket 34, and the plate 22 is swung upwardly to its horizontal position, where it is held by the catch 26. v

Itwill be noted that the plate 24, when its horizontal position conditioning the device to function as a chair, is housed inside the leg connecting pieces 6 and is therefore-substantially invisible when viewed from normal angles. Thus the device has the appearance of a conventional chair, particularly when the panels 48 and 50 are, covered by thesheet 84 so as to disguise that the back of the chair is in fact formed of two individual panels. .Thus, although the device is a convertible piece of furniture, in its normal condition it is substantially ass-ant 6v element" and said. seat for-moving said seat forwardly when said element is in said second position and rearwardly when said element is in said first position, said panel being secured to said element by a member the operative length of which is adjustable, whereby, when said element is in said second position, the height of said panel'may be adjusted.

3. An ironing board-chair combination compnsmg a frameincluding legs, a seat mounted on said frame, an

element articulately mounted on said frame beneath said seatfnormally located in a first position substantially parallel "to said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said seat,

, means for releasably retaining said element in said reindistinguishable in appearance from a conventional chair,

so that its esthetic attributes are substantially unimpaired.

It maybe noted that when the device is in use as an ironing board and when the panels 48 and 50 are raised from their lowermost positions, a space is defined between the panel 48 and the seat. 14, so that the seat 14 can be used tosupport objects, such as pieces of clothing which have been ironed or arev to. be ironed, and that the entire normal area of the seat 14 is thus available.

The arrangement, of .the. present invention, it will be seen, therefore producesa piece of furniture convertible between chairruse and ironing board use by means of relatively simple and inexpensive structure, and produces an object which is attractive as well as useable, while at the same time providing for the very desirable feature of adjustable height for the ironing board.

While but a single embodiment of the present inven- I A tion has been here specifically disclosed, it Will be apparent that many variations may be made therein all within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An ironing board-chair combination comprising a frame including legs, a substantially horizontal seat mounted on said frame and having front and rear ends, an element articulately mounted, at a point adjacent the rear end thereof corresponding to the rear end of said seat, on said frame beneath said seat, normally located in a first position substantially parallel to Said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said horizontal seat, means for releasably retaining said element in said respective positions, a panel positioned at the rear end of and substantially perpendicular to said element, and a part extending from said panel substantially at right angles thereto and secured to said element, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is in said first position, thereby serving as a back for said seat, and being located above and substantially parallel to said seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board.

2. An ironing board-chair combination comprising a frame including legs, a seat mounted on said frame, an element articulately mounted on said frame beneath said seat, normally located in a first position substantially parallel to said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said seat, means for releasably retaining said element in said respective positions, a panel, and means securing said panel to said element in a position substantially perpendicular thereto, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is in said first position, thereby serving as a back for said seat, and being located above and substantially parallel to said seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board, said seat being articulately mounted on said frame for movement forwardly and rearwardly, means operatively connected between said spective positions, a panel, and means securing said panel to i said element in a position substantially perpendicular thereto, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is in said first position,-thereby serving as. a back for said seat, and

' being located above and substantially parallel to Said seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board, said seat being articulately mounted on said frame for movement forwardly and rearwardly, means operatively connected between said element and said seat formoving said seat forwardly when said element is in said second position and rearwardly when said element is in said first position, said element comprising an apertured bracket, an elongated member fixed to said panel and slidable through said bracket, a plate within said bracket and having an aperture larger than said member through which said memberpasses, means biasing said plate to an acute angular position relative to said bracket, whereby said plate will engage said member and prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and control means for moving said plate to a position approaching perpendicularity relative to said member, thereby to release said member for longitudinal movement and permitting the spacing of said panel from said element to be adjusted.

4. An ironing board-chair combination comprising a frame including legs, a seat mounted on said frame, an element articulately mounted on said frame beneath said seat, normally located in a first position substantially parallel to said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said seat, means for releasably retaining said element in said respective positions, a panel, and means securing said panel to said element in a position substantially perpendicular thereto, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is in said first position, thereby serving as a back for said seat, and being located above and substantially parallel to said seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board, said panel being secured to said element by a member the operative length of which is adjustable, whereby, when said element is in said second position, the height of said panel may be adjusted.

5. An ironing board-chair combination comprising a frame including legs, a seat mounted on said frame, an element articulately mounted on said frame beneath said seat, normally located in a first position substantially parallel to said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said seat, means for releasably retaining said element in said re spective positions, a panel, and means securing said panel to said element in a position substantially perpendicular thereto, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is in said first position, thereby serving as a back for said seat, and being located above and substantially parallel to said seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board, said element comprising an apertured bracket, an elongated member fixed to said panel and slidable through said bracket, a plate within said bracket and having an aperture larger than said member through which said member passes,-means biasing said plate to an acute angular position relative to said bracket, whereby said plate will engage said member and prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and control means for moving said plate to a position approaching perpendicularity relative to said member, thereby to release said member for longitudinal movement and permitting the spacing of said panel from said element to be adjusted. V

6. An ironing board-chair combination comprising a frame including legs, a seat mounted on said frame, an element articulately mounted on said frame beneath said seat, normally located in a first position substantially parallel to said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said seat, means for releasably retaining said element in said respective positions, a panel, and means securing said panel to said element in a position substantially perpendicular thereto, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is in said first position, thereby serving as a back for said seat, and being located above and substantially parallel tosaid seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board, a second panel articulately connected to said first panel and movable to a position in line therewith and constituting a prolongation thereof, and an over-center linkage operatively connected to said element and engageable with the underside of said second panel when said element is in said second position and said second panel is in line with said first panel, thereby supporting said second panel.

7. An ironing board-chair combination comprising a frame including legs, a substantially horizontal seat mounted on said frame and having front and rear ends, an element articulately mounted, at a point adjacent to the rear end thereof corresponding to the rear end of said seat, on said frame beneath said seat, normally located in a first position substantially parallel to said seat, and movable downwardly to a second position substantially perpendicular to said horizontal seat, means for releasably retaining said element in said respective positions, a panel, and means securing said panel to said element in a position substantially perpendicular thereto at said rear end thereof, said panel being located behind and substantially perpendicular to said seat when said element is 1 in said first position, thereby serving as a back for said seat, and being located above and substantially parallel to said seat when said element is in said second position, thereby serving as an ironing board, said seat being articulately mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement forwardly and rearwardly, and means operatively connected between said element and said seat for moving said seatforwardly when said element is in said second position and rearwardly when said element is in said first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 182,902 Kemph May 27, 1958 1,218,322 Sandell Mar. 6, 1917 1,982,111 King Nov. 27, 1934 1,984,506 Walters Dec. 18, 1934 2,024,960 Allerding Dec. 17, 1935 2,691,405 Hinch Oct. 12, 1954 2,814,334 Lane Nov. 26, 1957 2,888,062 Lockwood May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 437,535 Great Britain Oct. 31, 1935 473,529 Canada May 15, 1951

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