Reconfigurable furniture

• US 7,370,907 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelle G. Leong
• Original Assignee: Michelle G. Leong
• Inventors: Leong, Michelle G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/718,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20050121948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 297/440.23, 297/1, 297/2, 297/3, 297/440.14, 297/118
• US Class Current: 297/2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 13/00 Convertible chairs, stools or benches step-stools requiring conversion between the step and seat functions A47C12/02

Abstract

A furniture system has a frame portion that may be set in one configuration to operate as a chair and can be readily reconfigured into a table. A frame portion provides support for an operating surface. In the table configuration, the frame is positioned in a first orientation with a working surface supported by the top of the frame. To change the configuration, the working surface is temporarily removed and the frame turned on its side (i.e., rotated 90°) such that a portion of the frame that was previously a leg now becomes part of the frame on the floor while a portion of the frame that was previously on the floor now becomes legs for a chair configuration. Following rotation of the frame, the working surface is reinstalled in a new orientation to complete the change and configuration.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable furniture system resting on a support surface, comprising:

a first side frame having first and second opposing portions and third and fourth opposing portions, the first opposing portion being coupled to a first end of the third portion and a first end of the fourth portion, the second opposing portion being coupled to a second end of the third portion and a second end of the fourth portion;

a second side frame opposing the first side frame, the second side frame portion having first and second opposing portions and third and fourth opposing portions, the first opposing portion of the second side frame being coupled to a first end of the third portion of second side frame and a first end of the fourth portion of second side frame, the second opposing portion of second side frame being coupled to a second end of the third portion of second side frame and a second end of the fourth portion of second side frame;

a first support member being coupled to the first portion of the first side frame proximate the fourth portion of the first side frame and to the first portion of the second side frame proximate the fourth portion of the second side frame;

a second support member being coupled to the second portion of the first side frame proximate the fourth portion of the first side frame and to the second portion of the second side frame proximate the fourth portion of the second side frame;

a first cross-member coupling the first and second side frames;

a second cross-member coupling the first and second side frames; and

an operating surface member being positioned on and supported by the first and second cross-members when the furniture system is in a first configuration with the second portion of the first side frame and the second portion of the second side frame resting on the support surface in the first configuration, wherein the first configuration is a seat configuration and the operating surface member comprises first and second operating surface portions, the first operating surface portion being positioned to function as a seat bottom and the second operating surface portion being configured to function as a seat back; and

a retaining member on the first operating surface portion to receive and releasably retain the second operating surface portion, the operating surface member being positioned proximate and supported by the first and second support members when the furniture system is in the second configuration with the third portion of the first side frame and the third portion of the second side frame resting on the support surface in the second configuration, whereby the entire operating surface member is maintained in a substantially planar arrangement when the furniture system is in the second configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second portions of the first and second side frames are positioned to rest on a floor surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portions of the first and second side frames are positioned at opposite sides of the operating surface and project outwardly from the first support member to serve as first and second arm rests, respectively.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the retaining member on the first operating surface portion comprises a channel having sufficient depth to receive and releasably retain the second operating surface portion.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hinge to couple the first and second operating surface portions.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second configuration is a table configuration and the operating surface member is positioned to function as a table top.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the third portions of the first and second side frames are positioned to rest on a floor surface.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second side frames, the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are made from metal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are coupled to the first and second side frames by welding.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are removably coupled to the first and second side frames.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are coupled to the first and second side frames by bolts.

12. A reconfigurable furniture system comprising:

first and second opposing side frames each having first and second sets of side frame members, the first set of side frame members providing vertical support when the furniture system is placed in a first configuration and the second set of side frame members providing vertical support when the furniture system is placed in a second configuration;

first and second support members coupled to the first and second side frames, the first and second support members defining a plane that is vertically oriented when the furniture system is placed in the first configuration and horizontally oriented when the furniture system is placed in a second configuration;

first and second cross-members coupled to the first and second side frames at a location spaced apart from the first and second support members;

an operating surface member resting on and supported by the first and second cross-members when the furniture system is placed in the first configuration, the operating surface member resting on and supported by the first and second support members and not being supported by either the first or second cross-members when the furniture system is placed in the second configuration;

wherein the first configuration is a seat configuration and the operating surface member is resting on and supported by the first and second cross-members to function as a seat bottom;

an additional operating surface member being positioned approximate to and supported by the first operating surface member and the first support member to function as a seat back when the furniture system is in the first configuration; and

a retaining member on the first operating surface member to receive and releasably retain the second operating surface member.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the retaining member on the first operating surface member comprises a channel having sufficient width and depth to receive and releasably retain the second operating surface member.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a hinge to couple the operating surface member and the additional operating surface member.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the first set of side frame members are positioned to provide vertical support as legs when the furniture system is placed in the first configuration.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the second configuration is a table configuration and the operating surface member is resting on and supported by the first and second support members to function as a table top when the furniture system is placed in the second configuration.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second set of side frame members are positioned to provide vertical support as legs when the furniture system is placed in the second configuration.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second side frames, the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are made from metal.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are coupled to the first and second side frames by welding.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are removably coupled to the first and second side frames.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first and second support members and the first and second cross-members are coupled to the first and second side frames by bolts.