Claims
- 1. A convertible bench/table apparatus (10), comprising:
- a seat member (12);
- a means for supporting said seat member;
- a backrest/tabletop member (45);
- means for pivoting the convertible bench/table apparatus (10) from a first position, exhibiting a seat (12) with an adjacent tabletop (45b), into a second position, exhibiting said seat (12) with a backrest (45a), wherein the means for pivoting the convertible bench/table apparatus (10) from said first position to said second position, and vice versa, comprises a hinge member (46);
- means for structurally supporting the backrest/tabletop (45) comprising at least one structural stop (40) engaging the seat member (12), said structural stop providing means for sustaining said tabletop (45b) when the convertible bench/table apparatus (10) is pivoted into the first position, and wherein said means for structurally supporting said backrest/tabletop (45) comprises a hingeable engagement with said seat member when the convertible bench/table apparatus is pivoted into the second position.
- 2. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat member (12) comprises at least one longitudinal seat board.
- 3. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said seat member comprises a plurality of seat support legs (20) extending substantially perpendicular to said seat member (12) and displaying a suitable height.
- 4. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said seat support legs (20) are operably connected to a cross-sectional support means (22).
- 5. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said cross-sectional support means (22) provides a surface abutment for a first end (23) of at least two support cross-braces (24) which extend substantially upward therefrom and form a connection between a second end (25) of said support cross-braces and a midsection seat brace (26) that is rigidly attached to the seat member (12).
- 6. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising a reinforcement slat (28) engaging said cross-braces (24) to provide structural support to said seat member (12), said reinforcement slat being positioned beneath and parallel to the seat member.
- 7. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said backrest/tabletop member (45) comprises at least one longitudinal slat member.
- 8. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinge member (46) comprises at least two extending arms (48a, 48b) and a substantially circular aperture (52) integrally formed therebetween, wherein said aperture houses a hinge pin (54) for pivoting said hinge member thereon.
- 9. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said extending arms (48a, 48b) of the hinge member (46) are rigidly attached to the seat member (12) and means for structurally supporting the backrest/tabletop member (30) to form a hingeable connection therebetween.
- 10. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for structurally supporting the backrest/tabletop member comprises an armrest assembly (30).
- 11. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said armrest assembly (30) comprises:
- a base board (32) hingeably attached to the seat member (12);
- a substantially rectangular second member (34) engaging said base board (32) and comprising a majority of the body of said armrest assembly (30);
- an extension member (38) formed along an upper portion of said second member (34) and extending slightly beyond the length of the second member; and
- a backboard member (36) rigidly connected to the backrest/tabletop member (45), said backboard member extending adjacent and in communication with the backside of said armrest assembly (30) and rigidly secured thereto.
- 12. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means (30) for structurally supporting said tabletop (45b) further comprises a second structural stop (42) for supporting the backrest/tabletop member (45) when pivoted into the first position, said second structural stop providing a surface abutment against the means for supporting said seat member.
- 13. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said seat member comprises a seat support leg (20) in contiguous engagement with the means for supporting said backrest/tabletop (30) when the backrest/tabletop (45) is pivoted into the first position.
- 14. A convertible bench/table apparatus (10), comprising:
- a seat member (12) including at least one longitudinal seat board;
- a means for supporting said seat member;
- a backrest/tabletop member (45);
- means for pivoting the convertible bench/table apparatus from a second position, exhibiting a seat (12) with a backrest (45a), into a first position, exhibiting a seat (12) with an adjacent tabletop (45b), wherein said means for pivoting the convertible bench/table apparatus (10) from said first position to said second position, and vice versa, comprises a hinge bracket (46); and
- an armrest assembly (30) structurally supporting the backrest/tabletop member (45), said armrest assembly comprising at least one structural stop (40) engaging said seat member (12) when the convertible bench/table apparatus is pivoted into said first position, said armrest assembly providing a hingeable engagement between said backrest (45a) and said seat member when the convertible bench/table apparatus is pivoted into the second position.
- 15. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the means for supporting said seat member further comprises:
- a plurality of seat support legs (20) formed of suitable height, said support legs extending substantially downward therefrom;
- a cross-sectional support means (22) operably connecting adjacent seat support legs (20);
- at least two support cross-braces (24) rigidly connected to said cross-sectional support means (22) at a first end (23) and extending substantially upward therefrom forming a connection between a second end (25) of said support cross-braces and a midsection seat brace (26), said midsection seat brace being rigidly attached to said seat member (12); and
- a reinforcement slat (28) positioned beneath and parallel to said seat member (12), said reinforcement slat engaging said support cross-braces (24) for providing structural support thereto.
- 16. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said hinge bracket (46) comprises at least two extending arms (48a, 48b) and a substantially circular aperture (52) integrally formed therebetween, wherein said aperture houses a hinge pin (54) for pivoting said hinge bracket thereon.
- 17. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said extending arms (48a, 48b) of the hinge bracket (46) are rigidly attached to the armrest assembly (30) and the seat member (12) to form a hingeable connection therebetween.
- 18. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said armrest assembly (30) comprises:
- a base board (32) hingeably attached to the seat member (12);
- a substantially rectangular second member (34) engaging said base board (32) and comprising a majority of the body of said armrest assembly (30);
- an extension member (38) formed along an upper portion of said second member (34) and extending slightly beyond the length of said second member; and
- a backboard member (36) rigidly connected to the backrest/tabletop member (45), said backboard member extending adjacent and in communication with the backside of said armrest assembly (30) and rigidly secured thereto.
- 19. A convertible bench/table apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said armrest assembly (30) further comprises a second structural stop (42) for supporting the backrest/tabletop member (45) when pivoted into the first position, said second structural stop forming a surface abutment between said armrest assembly and means for supporting said seat member, wherein said means for supporting said seat member comprises at least one seat support leg (20) contiguously engaging an extension member (38) of said armrest assembly in said first position.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/937,473, filed on Aug. 28,1992 for CONVERTIBLE BENCH/TABLE APPARATUS, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,172.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Easy Projects to Build & Finish," Weekend Woodcrafts, pp. 8-11, Issue 10, Aug. 1993. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
937473 |
Aug 1992 |
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