Patent Application
20210059411
The present disclosure relates to a table, and particularly to a table with attached stools. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a table with attached stools that are swingable between a retracted-storage position and an extended-use position.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a table includes a frame, a table top coupled to an upper portion of the frame, and a plurality of stools coupled to legs of the frame. The stools are swingable relative to the frame from a retracted-storage position to an extended use-position. The stools are arranged to engage with a surface beneath the table in the extended-use position to support a user of the table relative to the table top.
In illustrative embodiments, the stool is arranged at a first height above the surface in the retracted-storage position and the stool is arranged at a second height above the surface in the extended-use position, and the second height is less than the first height.
In illustrative embodiments, the stool includes a hinge and a seat. A first end of the hinge is coupled to the frame and the seat is coupled to a second end of the hinge spaced apart from the first end. The hinge is configured to allow movement of the seat relative to the frame, and the seat is configured for movement toward and away from the surface relative to the hinge.
In illustrative embodiments, in the extended-use position, the seat is configured to engage with the surface in response to a user sitting on the seat to support the user relative to the table top.
In illustrative embodiments, the frame includes a leg and a cross-brace coupled to the leg. The first end of the hinge is coupled to the leg, and the hinge is configured to engage with the cross-brace to support the stool in the retracted-storage position.
In illustrative embodiments, the hinge includes a base tube arranged at the first end of the hinge, a swing tube arranged at the second end of the hinge, and an arm coupled between the base tube and the swing tube. The seat extends into the swing tube, and the base tube is coupled to the leg and configured to allow pivoting and sliding movement of the hinge relative to the frame.
In illustrative embodiments, a shaft extends through the base tube and is coupled to the leg to support the hinge on the frame.
In illustrative embodiments, the base tube is configured to pivot around the shaft and to slide along the shaft.
In illustrative embodiments, a biasing element is coupled to the seat and to the hinge. The seat is configured to slide along the swing tube of the hinge, and the biasing element is configured to bias the seat away from the surface.
In illustrative embodiments, the biasing element is a gas cylinder.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a table includes a frame having a plurality of legs, a table top coupled to the frame for supporting the table top above a surface, and a plurality of stools coupled to the plurality of legs of the frame. Each stool of the plurality of stools is configured for movement relative to the frame between a retracted-storage position and an extended-use position. The plurality of stools are arranged at a first height above the surface in the retracted-storage position and the plurality of stools are arranged at a second height above the surface in the extended-use position, and the second height is less than the first height.
In illustrative embodiments, each stool in the plurality of stools includes a hinge and a seat. A first end of the hinge is coupled to the frame, and the seat is coupled to a second end of the hinge spaced apart from the first end. The hinge is configured to allow movement of the seat relative to the frame. The seat is configured for movement toward and away from the surface relative to the hinge.
In illustrative embodiments, in the extended-use position, the seat is configured to engage with the surface in response to a user sitting on the seat to support the user relative to the table top.
In illustrative embodiments, a cross-brace is coupled to the plurality of legs of the frame. The hinges of the stools in the plurality of stools are coupled to the plurality of legs, and the hinges are configured to engage with the cross-brace to support the corresponding stool of the plurality of stool in the retracted-storage position.
In illustrative embodiments, each hinge includes a base tube arranged at the first end of the hinge, a swing tube arranged at the second end of the hinge, and an arm coupled between the base tube and the swing tube. The seats extend into the swing tubes, and the base tubes are coupled to the plurality of legs and configured to allow pivoting and sliding movement of the hinges relative to the frame.
In illustrative embodiments, shafts extend through the base tubes and are coupled to the plurality of legs to support the hinges on the frame.
In illustrative embodiments, the base tube is configured to pivot around the shaft and to slide along the shaft.
In illustrative embodiments, biasing elements are coupled to the seats and the hinges. The seats are configured to slide along the swing tubes of the respective hinges, and the biasing elements are configured to bias the seats away from the surface.
In illustrative embodiments, each biasing element is a gas cylinder.
In illustrative embodiments, at least two stools of the plurality of stools are coupled to the same leg of the plurality of legs.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a table includes a frame having a leg and a cross-brace, a table top coupled to the frame for supporting the table top above a surface, and a stool having a hinge and a seat. The hinge is coupled to the leg and the seat is coupled to the hinge. The hinge is configured to allow movement of the seat relative to the frame between a retracted-storage position and an extended-use position. The seat is arranged at a first height above the surface in the retracted-storage position and the seat is arranged at a second height above the surface in the extended-use position, and the second height is less than the first height. The seat moves away from the table top and toward the surface with movement of the seat from the retracted-storage position to the extended-use position, and the hinge engages with the cross-brace to support the stool in the retracted-storage position.
Other aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the attached drawings wherein like numerals designate like structures throughout the specification.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:
In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure.
An illustrative embodiment of a table 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
The frame 12 includes the legs 21, 23, 25, 27, an upper cross-brace 22, and a lower cross-brace 24 as shown in
As illustrated by stool 11, each stool 11, 13, 15, 17 includes a seat 30 and a hinge 40 as shown in
The seat 30 includes a seat pad 32 coupled to a post 36 as shown in
A gas cylinder 34 (sometimes called a lift piston or strut) is coupled between the hinge 40 and the seat pad 32 to bias the seat 30 relative to the hinge 40 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, a tab 43 is coupled to the swing tube 42 for supporting the stools 11, 13, 15, 17 in the retracted-storage position as suggested in
The seats 30 of the stools 11, 13, 15, 17 are arranged at a first height H1 relative to the surface G under the table 10 in the retracted-storage position as illustrated by stool 13 in
The above description in relation to stools 11, 13, and any components thereof, applies equally to stools 15, 17.
Another embodiment of a table 210 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
The table 10 includes four stools 11, 13, 15, 17, and the table 210 includes six stools 211, 213, 215, 217, 218, 219. In some embodiments, more or less stools can be used without departing from the present disclosure. The exemplary tables 10, 210 assume rectangular shapes, but can assume other polygonal or non-polygonal shapes without departing from the present disclosure. The exemplary frames 12, 212 of the tables 10, 210, respectively, assume rectangular shapes, but can assume other polygonal or non-polygonal shapes without departing from the present disclosure.
The embodiment(s) detailed hereinabove may be combined in full or in part, with any alternative embodiment(s) described.
A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.
The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications, uses, adaptations, and equivalent arrangements based on the principles disclosed. Further, this disclosure is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within at least the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalent structures and functions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims.
