Convertible stool

• US 7,219,956 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Larin Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Shouyun
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'Adamo; Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/041,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 297/195.11, 297/195.1, 297/215.16, 297/344.12, 297/423.1, 297/423.45, 297/423.36, 297/423.38, 297/461, 248/677, 248/188.8, 248/188.9, 248/346.11, 248/129, 16/37, 16/38, 16/42.T
• US Class Current: 297/195.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/00 Feet for furniture in general castors B60B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/50 Supports for the feet or the legs coupled to fixed parts of the chair coupled to other adjustable parts of the reclining or easy chair A47C1/034, A47C1/037; stand-alone rests or supports for the feet or the legs, e.g. footstools A47C16/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 9/025 Stools for standing or leaning against, e.g. in a semi-standing or half-seated position

Abstract

A convertible stool is interchangeable between a utility function which has a seat movable up and down and has casters as feet at the end of legs connected with the seat through an upstanding member. In a second use, the casters are replaced by feet to give stability to the chair on a floor or base. As such, the second use can be a furniture type use.

Claims

1. A kit for a multi-functional convertible stool comprising:

a saddle seat adjustable in height relative to a base on which the seat stands;

only a single pillar extending between multiple legs and the seat, the multiple legs being splayed radially from a central location, the single pillar being located at the central location;

the seat being able to swivel about the single pillar;

the multiple legs arranged to support the seat, the legs being connected with the seat, the legs having extremities, the legs have a bottom face, and a hole in the bottom face, and the legs having selectively removable and interchangeable feet;

feet being casters;

feet being stationary bases; and

a tool for removal of the feet;

the stool being convertible such that in one configuration with casters on the legs, the seat is movable on a base or floor and in a different configuration with stationary bases, the seat is relatively stationary on the base or floor; and

wherein both the casters and the stationary bases have a top face, wherein both the casters and stationary bases have a spindle for locating both the casters or the stationary bases in the hole depending on the selected movable or stationary configuration of the stool, wherein the top face of the respective casters and stationary bases are oppositely located with the bottom face of the respective legs and wherein the spindle of each of the casters and stationary bases enters and provides tight fitting contact with the respective hole in the bottom face of the respective legs securing the casters and stationary bases with the legs;

and wherein an interface between the top face of the caster, and stationary bases and the bottom face of the legs sufficiently receives the tool and facilitates easy removal and replacement of the feet to convert into the two different configurations.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the saddle seat is movable on a pneumatically mounted pillar which extends between the legs and the seat, thereby to vary the height of the saddle seat relative to the floor.

3. The kit of claim 1 wherein the tool is a wedge-type tool.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein the tool engages the spindle on the feet, facilitating removal of the feet.