Patent Application
20080029000
This invention relates generally to durable, outdoor furniture, and more particularly to lounge type furniture having very durable weatherproof construction and methods of making same.
There is continual need for inexpensive, attractive, and durable, block type outdoor furniture, of single, easy to manufacture construction. There is also need for block type furniture items of unusually advantageous layered construction, modes of operation or use, and having associated useful results.
It is a major object of the invention to provide furniture pieces satisfying the above expressed needs. Basically, the new and useful article of furniture comprises, in combination
a) a core body consisting of first plastic foam material,
As will be seen, a plastic foam bottom layer may be bonded to the second layer.
Another object is to provide a method of integrating the body, layers and outer covering, as referred to.
A further object is to optimize the construction and use of such block type furniture by providing the core body to consist of expanded polystyrene or other fairly rigid polymer foam for load bearing seat requirements; providing the first layer cushioning material to consist of soft polyethylene foam which may be located at the body sides, and polyurethane foam at the body top; providing the second waterproofing layer to consist of polyolefin plastic sheet material; and providing the outer sheet removable cover to consist of vinyl upholstery grade material such as woven acrylic thread and at the bottom of cross-linked polyethylene (YLPE) foam. In this way, the in situ cover can be exposed to rain or other water sources, and will dry in sunlight, and the second waterproof layer will protect the first layer and core from contact with water to retain maximum cushioning function irregardless of the wetted condition of the cover and irregardless of whether the cover is on or off the block.
Additional objects include provision of articles of furniture having the above construction and also having configuration of a disc of diameter D1 and height H1 overlying and merging with a cylinder of diameter D2 and height H2 where
D1>D2
H1<H2;
and further with the disc overhanging the cylinder by a radial amount R where R<D1; and further with an optimized canopy overlying and spaced above part of the disc, and an upright strut connecting the canopy to the disc.
Other furniture configurations include a base beneath an upright cylinder and offset radially inwardly relative to the cylinder periphery; a tray supported at an upper surface of the block which may have various shapes as will be seen; and a lounge configuration with upper surface sections sloping at several varying angularities, as will be seen.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:
a shows a modification to
a is a view of a tray applicable to the top of the
Referring first to
Another layer 122 may be used and consist of polyurethane foam provided to add cushioning on top of 13a; rigid or semi-rigid lower corner supports 121 may also be employed, as shown and as referred to.
The core body 11 typically consists of EPS, i.e. expanded polystyrene foam; the first layer 13 typically consists of polyethylene foam, with adhesive connecting it to 11; the layer 122 typically consists of polyurethane foam, and corner supports 121 may consist of molded plastic material at four locations about the core; the second layer 14 typically consists of polypropylene film, heat shrunk into a over layer 13 about the entireties of 11 and 13 and 122; and the outer sheet 15 is fitted over sheet 14 and releasably connected in position, as for example by a draw string or strip 17 passed through loops 16 at the lower edge of 15, beneath the edge portions of the body such as below 14d. String or strings 17 pull the loops 16 toward a zone beneath the lower medial portion of the body 11, for tightening outer layer 15 in position maintaining substantially sharp or crisp upper edges 13f, 14f, and 15f of 13, 14 and 15, respectively. Velcro fastening is an alternative. Layer 15 is easily removable, as for cleaning.
A base 19 is shown adhered (as by adhesive) at 20 to the lowermost extent 14d of the film 14 under the body 11, to extend inwardly of and below the levels of loops 16, for their protection. Base 19 typically consists of cross-linked polyethylene foam which provides high strength.
The thickness t1 of the various elements are as follows:
Accordingly, the furniture provides cushioning; waterproofing; and wearability of an outer layer 15, removable for cleaning or replacement; and sturdy support on a base 19 of width which is over 60% of body width, to prevent overturning when the article of furniture is sat upon, as near its top edge. The illustrated article is a cube of approximately 18 inch edge dimensions.
Referring now to
D1>D2
H1<H2.
As shown, the disc and cylinder are coaxial and the disc peripheral zone 21a annularly overhangs the cylinder by a radial amount R where
R<<D1.
Each of 21 and 22 embody
In
The furniture 50 of
α3>α1
−|α2|<α1
−|α2|<α3
Kindly amend the paragraph beginning at page 6, line 19, as follows:
This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/802,692 filed May 24, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60802692 | May 2006 | US |
