US3695742A

US3695742A - Combination table bar cabinet

Info

Publication number: US3695742A
Application number: US39099A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmo Paul Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-05-20
Filing date: 1970-05-20
Publication date: 1972-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-03

Abstract

A furniture unit including a cabinet enclosure having a chamber therein and a shelf in the chamber intermediate the ends to provide a top and bottom compartment. A table top member having legs is adapted to cover the chamber with the legs extending through openings in the shelf. In another position the table top member may be used as a table separate from the cabinet and thereby exposing the chamber and shelf in the cabinet. A plurality of receptacles are provided in the shelf for storing ice and bottles when the top member is on the cabinet and exposing them for use when the top member has been removed.

Description

United States Patent Allen [54] COMBINATION TABLE BAR CABINET [72] Inventor: Elmo Paul Allen, 401 Elm St., An-

keny, Iowa 50021 [22] Filed: May 20, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 39,099

[52] US. Cl. ..312/237, 297/119, 297/462, 108/14 [51] Int. Cl. .....A47b 83/00, A47b 85/04, A47c 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..312/235, 237, 240; 297/277, 297/119, 461, 462,105,111,l43;108/38,

33, 1ll4; 206/46 FN; 229/14 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D151,984 12/ 1948 Guertin ..297/462 X 2,265,841 12/ 1941 Zanowski ..297/462 X 2,812,227 1 1/1957 Hill ..297/462 X 3,084,975 4/1963 Winrow ..297/1 19 2,919,169 12/1959 Jackson ..312/235 R 3,425,764 2/1969 Budd ..297/462 X [451 Oct. 3, 1972 3,536,359 10/1970 Amos ..297/462 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 227,603 5/ 1963 Austria .206/46 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A furniture unit including a cabinet enclosure having a chamber therein and a shelf in the chamber intermediate the ends to provide a top and bottom compartment. A table top member having legs is adapted to cover the chamber with the legs extending through openings in the shelf. In another position the table top member may be used as a table separate from the cabinet and thereby exposing the chamber and shelf in the cabinet. A plurality of receptacles are provided in the shelf for storing ice and bottles when the top member is on the cabinet and exposing them for use when the top member has been removed.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COMBINATION TABLE BAR CABINET In many homes and offices it is either not desirable, practical or possible to have a permanent or even a portable bar set up due to many practical considerations such as space or appearance. Consequently the serving of drinks is made inconvenient.

The combination table bar cabinet of this invention makes it possible to have a furniture piece in the home or office which can normally function as a decorator type table or cabinet and when desired be converted into a bar cabinet and provide an additional cocktail table. The cocktail table functions as a top for the cabinet and may be removed exposing the interior of the cabinet and used as a cocktail table. A shelf is provided intermediate the ends of the chamber in the cabinet and includes openings formed therein through which the legs of the table extend. These openings serve to maintain the table top in a centered position on the cabinet. The table top is approximately the same size as the cabinet but large enough to rest on the top peripheral edge.

The shelf also includes receptacles for storing bottles and a center insulated receptacle for keeping ice.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination table bar cabinet.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the cabinet top removed and exposing the interior chamber of the cabinet.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cabinet in use as a bar with the cabinet top functioning as a cocktail table.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cabinet; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

The combination table bar cabinet of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10.

The combination table bar cabinet includes an upstanding continuous wall structure 12 forming an enclosure about a chamber 14. The continuous wall 12 is formed from a series of interconnected flat wall portions 16 and as seen in the drawings there are ten wall portions as illustrated.

A shelf structure 18 is provided intermediate the ends of the cabinet in the chamber 14 and provides top and bottoni compartments 20 and 22 (FIG. 5). Three rectangular in

shape receptacles

24, 26 and 28 are uniformly provided in the shelf 18 and surround a center circular receptacle 30. The shelf 18 and, the receptacles may be formed from plastic material using a vacuum drawing method.

A top member 40 circular in shape rests on the top peripheral edges 42 of the wall portion 16 and as seen in FIG. 5 is substantially similar in area to the cross-sectional area of the interior of the cabinet. A trio of legs 46 are provided on the top member 40 and extend downwardly through openings 48 in the shelf 18 and terminate in the lower compartment 22 just above the cabinet bottom wall 50. It is seen that the openings 48 are large enough to allow the legs to easily pass in and out but small enough to function as guides for centering the table top on the cabinet as seen in FIG. 5.

The shelf 18 may have any number of different uses but as seen in FIG. 3 the center receptacle 30 functions as an ice receptacle and a lid 60 covers it to maintain the ice over a period of time in the insulated receptacle. The

outer receptacles

24 and 28 are used for storing bottles and the other receptacle 26 may be used to store glasses and other bar type equipment. The top member 40 is also seen removed from the top of the cabinet 12 and being used as a cocktail type table.

In use it is seen that in an office or a home the

outer receptacles

24, 26 and 28 may be stocked with bottles of refreshment drinks along with needed glassware and the like. The center receptacle 30 may be later used for storing ice for drinks to be served from the unit 12. The top member 40 is in position on the cabinet 12 concealing the interior of the cabinet and its contents. The top member 40 thus functions as seen in FIG. 1 as a con ventional cabinet top and cooperates with the cabinet 12 to make a very attractive and useful furniture piece. When it is desired to serve drinks the top member 40 is lifted upwardly as seen in FIG. 2, with the legs 46 being withdrawn from the openings 48 in the shelf 18 whereupon it is then placed on the floor to be used as a cocktail table as seen in FIG. 3. The bottles of liquid refreshment 70 are now exposed and may be easily reached for serving drinks in glasses (not shown) in the cabinet. Ice may be placed in the receptacle 30 and covered by the lid 60 and used as needed. When it is desired to clean up after serving drinks the glasses and the like may be returned to the cabinet either on the shelf or in the receptacles and covered by the returning of the top member 40. The openings 48 in the shelf will function as guides for centering the top member 40 on the cabinet 12 thereby returning the cabinet bar to an attractive table cabinet.

I claim:

1. A combination table bar cabinet comprising,

an upstanding continuous wall structure forming an enclosure about a chamber,

a horizontally disposed shelf in said chamber below the top of said wall structure and defining a compartment above and below said shelf,

a top member in one position extending over said chamber and wall structure and being supported by said wall structure, and

said top member having a plurality of legs extending through openings in said shelf when said top member is in said one position, and when in a second position said legs support said top member as a table and expose said top compartment and shelf in said chamber, wherein said top member has approximately an area equal to the transverse cross-sectional area of said chamber, but, sufficiently larger for said top member to engage said wall structure adjacent its outer peripheral surface when in said one position, and said openings in said shelf are of such size that they guide and limit movement of said legs extending therethrough thereby maintaining said top member centered on said wall structure.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shelf includes a plurality of receptacles and one of said receptacles being sufficiently deep for storing bottles therein under said top member.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said plurality of receptacles includes one receptacle in the center of said shelf and at least two receptacles spaced outwardly thereof.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said outwardly spaced receptacles include three receptacles uniformly spaced around and outwardly of said center receptacle.

5. The structure of claim 4 and said top member includes three legs uniformly spaced apart and said openings in said shelf being uniformly spaced between said three outer receptacles.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said top member is round and said continuous wall forming said enclosure structure includes a plurality of interconnected straight side portions.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said center A receptacle is circular and said outer receptacles are

Claims

1. A combination table bar cabinet comprising, an upstanding continuous wall structure forming an enclosure about a chamber, a horizontally disposed shelf in said chamber below the top of said wall structure and defining a compartment above and below said shelf, a top member in one position extending over said chamber and wall structure and being supported by said wall structure, and said top member having a plurality of legs extending through openings in said shelf when said top member is in said one position, and when in a second position said legs support said top member as a table and expose said top compartment and shelf in said chamber, wherein said top member has approximately an area equal to the transverse cross-sectional area of said chamber, but, sufficiently larger for said top member to engage said wall structure adjacent its outer peripheral surface when in said one position, and said openings in said shelf are of such size that they guide and limit movement of said legs extending therethrough thereby maintaining said top member centered on said wall structure.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said center receptacle is circular and said outer receptacles are rectangular in shape.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein a lid is adapted to be positioned over said center receptacle and said center receptacle is formed of insulative material whereby ice may be stored therein.

9. The structure of claim 6 wherein said plurality of interconnected straight side portions includes ten uniform in size side portions.