Convertible article of furniture

• US 6,401,630 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William F. Peterson
• Original Assignee: William F. Peterson
• Inventors: Peterson, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/526,697
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 108/12, 108/145, 108/144.11, 108/120, 108/116, 108/117, 108/118, 108/115, 108/34, 248/161, 248/407, 248/157, 248/423, 248/164, 248/432, 248/688.2, 5 1/1, 511/5
• US Class Current: 108/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/16 with means for, or adapted for, inclining the legs of the table for varying the height of the top, e.g. with adjustable cross legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/62 Table beds; Billiard table beds, or like beds convertible tables A47B85/06

Abstract

A convertible article of furniture that is converted between a first position, in which the article preferably provides a relatively low, flexible, flat surface, where the article can act as a bed, and a second position, in which the article acts preferably provides a relatively high, rigid, flat surface is provided, where the article can act as a table. The transition between bed and table, and back again, is provided by changing the position of engagement of the support of the surface structure as provided by a base member with respect to the surface member. In the first position, the base member provides support distant from a central longitudinal axis of the surface, substantially about the sides of the surface, thereby allowing the surface member to be flexible along and about its central longitudinal axis and the surface is supported in a lower position. In the second position, the base member provides support to the surface member proximal to the central longitudinal axis and the surface is supported in a higher position.

Claims

1. A convertible piece of furniture comprising:

a surface member having a central longitudinal axis and that provides a surface;

a base member movable between a first position and a second position whereby;

in a first position, said base member is fixedly engaged to said surface member distant from said axis such that said surface is relatively flexible; and

in a second position, said base member is fixedly engaged to said surface member proximal to said axis and supports said surface member such that said surface member is relatively rigid.

2. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said surface member includes a plurality of channels for engaging said base member.

3. The piece of furniture of claim 2 wherein said channels are substantially parallel to said axis.

4. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said surface member comprises a plurality of flexible slats.

5. The piece of furniture of claim 4 wherein said slats are substantially perpendicular to said axis.

6. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said surface member comprises a single piece of material.

7. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said surface member comprises a single piece of material including a plurality of perforations that are substantially perpendicular to said axis.

8. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said base member is a scissor-type support structure.

9. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said surface is on one side of said surface member and said base member is engaged to a second side of said surface member.

10. The piece of furniture of claim 1 wherein said surface member comprises weights distal from said central longitudinal axis to promote rigidity of said surface member when said base member is in said second position.

11. A convertible piece of furniture comprising:

a first elongated member;

a second elongated member at a first distance from said first elongated member;

a surface member connected between said elongated members that provides a flexible surface therebetween, said surface member having a central longitudinal axis;

first and second locking members, each locking member having a first end, a second end and a midpoint, wherein the first locking member is connected to the first elongated member proximal to the first end of the first locking member and connected to the second locking member proximal to the second end of the first locking member, and the second locking member is connected to the first elongated member proximal to the first end of the second locking member and connected to the second locking member proximal to the second end of the second locking member;

a base member having first and second end portions and a support portion connected between the two end portions, the base member being connected to the locking members one of at least a first position and a second position whereby;

in the first position, said first end portion is connected proximal to said first and second ends of said first locking member and said second end portion is connected proximal to said first and second ends of said second locking member such that said surface is unsupported proximal to said axis by said support portion; and

in a second position, said first end portion is connected proximal to the midpoint of said first locking member and said second end portion is connected proximal to the midpoint of said second locking member such that said surface is supported proximal to said axis by said support portion.

12. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said first locking member includes a first plurality of sockets and said second locking member includes a second plurality of sockets corresponding to said first plurality of sockets, each of said first plurality of sockets forming a socket pair with a corresponding socket in said second plurality of sockets.

13. The piece of furniture of claim 12 wherein, in said first position, said base member is configured to be inserted in a first two socket pairs, said first pairs being distal from said axis, and, in said second position, said base member is configured to be inserted in a second two socket pairs, said second pairs being proximal to said axis.

14. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said surface member comprises a plurality of flexible slats.

15. The piece of furniture of claim 14 wherein said slats are substantially perpendicular to said axis.

16. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said surface member comprises a single piece of material having numerous perforations.

17. The piece of furniture of claim 16 wherein said perforations are substantially perpendicular to said axis.

18. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said first and second elongated members are parallel to said axis.

19. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said surface is a flat surface.

20. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said base member is a scissor-type support structure.

21. The piece of furniture of claim 11 wherein said locking members comprise a slot which permits movement of said base member between said first position and said second position.

22. A convertible piece of furniture comprising:

a first elongated member;

a second elongated member at a first distance from said first elongated member;

a surface member connected between said elongated members and that provides a flexible surface therebetween, said surface member having a central longitudinal axis;

a first locking member connected between said elongated members;

a second locking member connected between said elongated members at a second distance from said first locking member; and

a base member movable between a first position and a second position whereby;

in a first position said base member is fixedly engaged to each of said locking members distant from said axis such that said surface is relatively flexible; and

in a second position said base member is fixedly engaged to each of said locking members proximal to said axis and supports said surface such that said surface is relatively rigid.

23. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said first locking member includes a first plurality of sockets and said second locking member includes a second plurality of sockets corresponding to said first plurality of sockets, each of said first plurality of sockets forming a socket pair with a corresponding socket in said second plurality of sockets.

24. The piece of furniture of claim 23 wherein, in said first position, said base member is configured to be inserted in a first two socket pairs, said first pairs being distal from said axis, and, in said second position, said base member is configured to be inserted in a second two socket pairs, said second pairs being proximal to said axis.

25. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said surface member comprises a plurality of flexible slats.

26. The piece of furniture of claim 25 wherein said slats are substantially perpendicular to said axis.

27. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said surface member comprises a single piece of material having numerous perforations.

28. The piece of furniture of claim 27 wherein said perforations are substantially perpendicular to said axis.

29. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said first and second elongated members are parallel to said axis.

30. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said surface is a flat surface.

31. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said base member is a scissor-type support structure.

32. The piece of furniture of claim 22 wherein said locking members comprise a slot which permits movement of said base member between said first position and said second position.