Kneeling bench

• US 20040201268A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ames True Temper Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ames True Temper Incorporated
• Inventors: Liao, Dick
• Application Number:
  US10/448,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201268A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/423.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 11/00 Benches not otherwise provided for school forms A47B39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 16/04 Prayer-stools; Kneeling stools; Kneeling supports hassocks or pouffes A47C3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/105 having several foldable or detachable legs converging in one point

Abstract

A bench that is adjustable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The bench includes a frame, a leg, and a pivot member coupled between the frame and the leg. The leg and the frame are configured to pivot about the pivot member. The bench also includes a slidable member coupled to the frame and configured to prevent relative movement between the frame and the leg when the slidable member is in a locked position. The slidable member is configured to disengage the frame to allow relative movement between the leg and the frame when the slidable member is in an unlocked position. The bench also includes a biasing mechanism positioned between the slidable member and the pivot member. The biasing mechanism is coupled to the slidable bar and configured to maintain the slidable bar at the locked position when the bench is in the unfolded configuration.

Claims

1. A bench adjustable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, comprising:

a frame;

a leg;

a pivot member coupled between the frame and the leg, the leg and the frame being configured to pivot about the pivot member;

a slidable member coupled to the frame and configured to prevent relative movement between the frame and the leg when the slidable member is in a locked position, the slidable member configured to disengage the frame to allow relative movement between the leg and the frame when the slidable member is in an unlocked position; and

a biasing mechanism positioned between the slidable member and the pivot member, the biasing mechanism being coupled to the slidable bar and configured to maintain the slidable bar at the locked position when the bench is in the unfolded configuration.

2. The bench of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.

3. The bench of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism has a first end coupled to the slidable member and a second end coupled to the pivot member.

4. The bench of claim 3, wherein the biasing mechanism is configured such that an external force is required to expand the biasing member in order to move the slidable member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

5. The bench of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a notch configured to engage the slidable member when the slidable member is at the locked position.

6. The bench of claim 1, wherein the leg comprises a connecting bridge that is pivotly coupled to the frame.

7. The bench of claim 6, wherein the connecting bridge includes an opening for receiving a portion of the slidable member and to allow the slidable member to move between the locked and unlocked positions.

8. The bench of claim 1, further comprising a seat rest coupled to a first side of the frame and a knee rest coupled to a second side of the frame.

9. The bench of claim 1, wherein the leg comprises a connecting bridge that is pivotly coupled to the frame.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a leg;

a pivot member coupled between the frame and the leg, the leg and the frame being configured to pivot about the pivot member; and

a locking mechanism including a movable member and a biasing member, the biasing member being positioned between the movable member and the pivot member, the biasing member urging the movable member towards a locked position when there is no external force,

the locking mechanism configured so that when the movable member is in the locked position it engages the frame and the leg to prevent movement of the leg relative to the frame, and when the movable member is in an unlocked position it does not prevent movement of the leg relative to the frame.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the biasing member has two ends, one end being connected to the movable member and the other end being connected to the pivot member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the biasing member is expanded when the movable member is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the leg comprises a vertical member and a connecting bridge, the vertical member being substantially vertical during usage of the apparatus, and the connecting bridge being pivotly coupled to the frame through the pivot member.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a seat rest and a knee rest coupled to the frame.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first elongated member having a notch at one end;

a second elongated member pivotly coupled to the first member through a pivot member spaced apart from the notch, the second elongated member having an opening;

an elongated locking member oriented along a direction parallel to an axis of the pivot member, an end of the locking member passing through the opening of the second elongated member; and

a biasing member that is coupled to the elongated locking member and the pivot member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the notch and the opening are positioned so that when the first and second elongated members are parallel to each other, the notch is positioned beside the opening, and the biasing member biases the locking member to engage the notch so as to prevent the first elongated member from moving relative to the second elongated member.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein to rotate the first elongated member relative to the second elongated member, an external force is required to expand the biasing member to disengage the locking member from the notch.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means to provide cushion to a user when the user either sits or kneels on the frame.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the leg is coupled to the frame through a pivot pin.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the locking means comprises a spring and a movable member, the spring being positioned between the pivot pin and the movable member.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a leg to support the frame, the frame and the leg configured to adjust between a folded configuration in which the leg is substantially parallel to the frame and an unfolded configuration in which the leg is substantially vertical to the frame;

locking means, adjustable between a locked mode and an unlocked mode, for allowing the leg and the frame to change from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration when the locking means is in the unlocked mode, and for preventing the leg and the frame from changing from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration when the locking means is in the locked mode.

23. A method of folding a bench that includes a frame, a leg, a biasing member, and a slidable member, the frame pivotly coupled to the leg through a pivot pin, the biasing member configured to bias the slidable member to engage the frame and leg to prevent the leg from moving relative to the frame during usage of the bench, the method comprising:

expanding the biasing member and simultaneously pulling the slidable member in a direction away from the pivot pin so that the slidable member does not engage the frame; and

rotating the leg about the pivot pin relative to the frame to a position so that the leg is substantially parallel to the frame.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring connected to the slidable member and the pivot pin.