GB2362821A

GB2362821A - A furniture system

Info

Publication number: GB2362821A
Application number: GB0112365A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lewis Hunt Norris; Thomas Luke Pynn
Original assignee: ADVANCED INELLECTUAL PRODUCTS
Current assignee: ADVANCED INELLECTUAL PRODUCTS
Priority date: 2000-05-31
Filing date: 2001-05-21
Publication date: 2001-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-21
Also published as: GB0112365D0; GB2362821B; GB0013216D0

Abstract

A furniture system is disclosed which can be configured to form a table, desk, a wall table or a settee. The system comprises a pair of rectangular side members 21 and a surface member. The side members have feet formed by cut out portions which allows either a long or a short edge to be used as the base. The surface member comprises two rectangular components hinged together so that it can be folded in half. Spacers hold the side members together and the whole system can be dismantled for storage.

Description

2362821 FURNITURE SYSTEM This invention relates to a furniture system with

components which can be configured to form tables, desks or chairs.

Most articles of furniture serve a single purpose and lack versatility. For example, a traditional table or chair with fixed members can only be used as such. Some multi-purpose articles of furniture have been proposed but they are complex to manufacture and use and have limited versatility.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fully versatile furniture system which can be configured as several different articles of furniture. Further, this invention is simple to manufacture and can be dismantled for easy storage.

According to the present invention a furniture system comprises a base and a surface member, and in which the components can be configured to form a table or a seat.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a furniture system has a base comprising a pair of rectangular side members joined together by three rectangular spacer members, and a surface member comprising two rectangular components, which can be attached at adjacent long sides with hinges to form a folding surface.

The side members of the base are provided with feet formed by cut out portions on one short side and one long side. This helps to stabilise the base when it is positioned on its end or on its side for different furniture configurations.

The side members are also provided with an inclined cut out portion on the opposite long side which is substantially the length of the short side of one section of the surface member, and is at least substantially the same depth at its deepest point as the thickness of the hinged surface member. This provides an inclined slot for positioning the surface member when the system is configured as a seat. The cut out portion can be shorter than the short side of one section of the surface member, and deeper at its deepest point than the thickness of the hinged surface member, to allow for a more reclined and stable seating position.

When the system is configured as a table the base is stood on the feet on its shorter side and the surface member is disposed on top of the base, in either a fully folded position to create a desk or wall table, or an unfolded flat position to create a larger free standing table. The spacer members can act as storage shelves underneath the table surface.

When the system is configured as a settee the base is stood on the feet on its longer side and the surface member is unfolded to a desired reclining angle and positioned in the inclined cut out portions. The middle spacer member is removed from the base and positioned on its shorter end between the back of the seat and the floor to hold up the seat.

In an alternative embodiment of this invention a pair of multi-purpose support struts are.provided. When the system is configured as a table one strut can be positioned underneath the surface member to provide support, and another can be positioned underneath the base to provide further stability. When the system is configured as a settee the struts can be positioned between the back of the seat and the floor or the base to hold up the seat.

In both the embodiments all the components of the system are releasably attached by means of nuts and bolts, screws or dowels or similar, so the system can be taken apart for storage. Further, once the system has been configured as an article of furniture the various components can be securely attached to ensure stability and safety.

All the components of the system are preferably made from wood, chipboard, particle board, MW or a similar wood based material. Such material is available in sheet form so the various components can be easily made from a single piece. The components of the system can be 10 to 40mm thick, and preferably about 15mm thick.

The outside dimensions of the side members are preferably 700 by 340mm, the surface member components preferably 2100 by 520mm, and the spacer members preferably 800 by 30 mm. The outside dimensions of the support struts provided in the second embodiment are preferably 60 by 750mm.

When the system is configured as a settee padded seating can be positioned on the surface member. The padded seating must be removable and preferably can be stored on the shelves formed by the spacer members when the system is configured as a table and it is not required.

The invention can be performed in various way but two embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a side member according to the present invention; Figure 2a is a front view of the furniture system according to the present invention configured as a wall table; Figure 2b is a side view of the furniture system as shown in Figure 2a; Figure 3a is a front view of the furniture system according to the present invention configured as a settee; Figure 3b is a side view of the furniture system as shown in Figure 3a; Figure 4a is a front view of the furniture system according to the present invention configured as a table; Figure 4b is a side view of the furniture system as shown in Figure 4a; Figure 5 is a cross sectional side view of a second embodiment of a furniture system according to the invention configured as a table; and, Figure 6 is a cross sectional side view of the furniture system show in Figure 5 configured as a settee.

As shown in Figure 1, the side member 1 is a substantially rectangular sheet of wood composite. It has a cut out portion 2 on one long side and a cut out portion 3 on one short side. As a result feet 4, 5, 6 and 7 are formed. The opposite long side has an inclined cut out portion 8. The portion 8 is approximately 10 per cent shorter than the length of the short side of one section of the surface member, and is approximately twice as deep at its deepest point as the thickness of the surface member. The side member 1 is provided with a series of holes 9 through which thumbscrews are passed for attachment to the spacer members.

As shown in Figures 2a and 2b the furniture system can be configured as a wall table. The two side members 20 and 21 form a base with spacer members 22, 23 and 24. The ends of the spacer members 22, 23 and 24 are attached to the side members 20 and 21 by thumbscrews 31. The base is rested on feet 6 and 7 provided on its shorter edges. A table surface is formed by placing the sections of the, surface member 25 and 26 on top of each other and on the upper edges of the side members 20 and 21.

As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the furniture system can be configured as a settee. The two side members 20 and 21 form a base with the spacer members 22 and 24. The ends of the spacer members 22 and 24 are attached to the side members 20 and 21 by thumbscrews 31. The base is rested on feet 4 and 5 provided on its longer edges. A seating surface is formed by placing one section of the surface member 25 on top of the side members 20 and 21 so that it rests in the inclined cut out portions 8 of the side members. A back rest is formed by the second section 26 of the surface member, which can be attached to the first section 25 by hinges (not shown). The rear surface of the back rest formed by section 26 is supported by one end of spacer member 23 whose other end rests on a ledge (not shown) provided on spacer member 24 (not shown) which is secured to the side members 21 and 22 by thumbscrews 31 passed through the holes 9 closest to the edge. In order to soften the surface when in use a pair of resilient pads 27 and 28 are placed on the seat formed by section 25. Similarly a second pair of resilient pads 29 and 30 are placed on the back support formed by section 26.

As shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the furniture system can be configured as a table. The two side members 20 and 21 form a base with spacer members 22, 23 and 24. The ends of the spacer members 22, 23 and 24 are attached to the side members 20 and 21 by thumbscrews 31. The base is rested on feet 6 and 7 provided on its shorter edges. A table surface is formed by placing the sections of the surface member 25 and 26 side by side on the upper edges of the side members 20 and 21. The two adjacent edges of the sections 25 and 26 of the surface member can be attached by hinges (not shown) to facilitate the change in configuration from the wall table described in Figures 2a and 2b to the free standing table described in Figures 4a and 4b. To stabilise the surface formed by sections 25 and 26, it is attached to the base by means of hinged back supports 32 and 33 provided on the side members 20 and 21. The supports 32 and 33 can be stowed away flush with the associated side member when not required. A centrally located table support 34 can also be used to hold the table surface formed by sections 25 and 26 flat and secure. Spacer member 24 is secured to the side members 21 and 22 by thumbscrews 31 in a position which provides a surface for table support 34.

As shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 4a and 4b, the spacer members 22, 23 and 24 for shelves within the base. These can be used for storage and are particularly useful to store the resilient pads 27, 28, 29 and 30.

As shown in Figure 5 an alternative embodiment of a furniture system according to the present invention can be configured as a table. The same reference numerals have been used as in Figures 1 to 4 to designate the components. The table in Figure 5 has been configured in a similar manner to the table in Figures 4a and 4b. However, support struts 50 and 51 have been included. Spacer member 24 is secured to the side members 20 and 21 by thumbscrews 31 in a position which provides a surface for support strut 50, which has been placed between spacer member 24 and the sections of the surface member 25 and 26, to act as a supporting and stabilising beam under the table surface. Spacer member 22 is secured to the side members 20 and 21 by thumbscrews 31 in a position which is the thickness of support strut 51 above floor level. Support strut 51 has been placed underneath spacer member 22, to act as a stabilising support for the base. Support struts 50 and 51 are held in place by means of thumbscrews 52 and 53 which co-operate with holes 54 and 55 in spacer members 22 and 24, and tapered inserts 56 and 57 in the support struts 50 and 51.

The table shown in Figure 5 can be configured in the manner of the wall table shown in Figures 2a and 2b by removing the support struts 50 and 51 and folding the sections 25 and 26 of the surface member on top of one another.

As shown in Figure 6 the alternative embodiment of a furniture system can be configured as a settee. The settee in Figure 6 has been configured in the same manner as the settee in Figures 3a and 3b. However, support struts 50 and 51 have been included (51 is not shown). Support strut 50 has been placed between stop 60 provided on the rear of the second section 26 of the surface member, and bracket means 61 mounted at the corner of the base on the inner faces of spacer member 24 and side member 20. A further stop and bracket (not shown) are provided for support strut 51. With this arrangement the support struts 50 and 51 provide support for the seat provided by the surface member. In addition, the wooden stop 60 can be made adjustable in a vertical plane on the rear of the surface member, so that the seat angle can be adjusted for comfort, with the first section 25 of the surface member moved further forward over the front edge of the base in the direction of arrow A.

Variation of the dimensions of the three major members comprising these furniture systems permits further items and styles of furniture to be created beyond those described and illustrated. For reasons of cost and convenience the invention has been described with reference to wood or wood composite materials. It would however be possible to achieve the objects of the invention using members fabricated from synthetic plastics both new and re-cycled. With strengthening ribs sheet metal could be used.

In one alternative embodiment (not shown) the sections of the surface member 25 and 26 can be constructed as a frame with a ply wood covering, so that recesses to receive the resilient pads 27, 28, 29 and 30 can be provided.

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Claims

1. A furniture system comprising a base and a surface member, and in which the components can be configured to form a table or a seat.

2. A furniture system as claimed in claim 1 in which the base comprises two side members disposed substantially parallel to one another, which are linked by at least two spacer members disposed between them.

3. A furniture system as claimed in claim 2 in which at least three spacer members are disposed at right angles to the facing surfaces of the side members, and are adapted to be removably fitted at any number of positions therein.

4. A furniture system as claimed in claim 3 in which the side members are substantially rectangular and are adapted to stand on one short side and on one long side.

A furniture system as claimed in claim 4 in which the side members are provided with feet formed by cut-out portions on one short side and one long side.

6. A furniture system as claimed in any of claims 1-5 in which the surface member comprises two rectangular components.

7. A furniture system as claimed in claim 6 in which the side members are provided with an inclined cut-out portion on the long side opposite the side adapted to stand, which is substantially the length of the short side of one section of the surface member, and is substantially the same depth at its deepest point as the thickness of the surface member.

8. A furniture system as claimed in claim 7 in which the inclined cut out portion is less than the length of the short side of one section of the surface member, and is more than the depth at its deepest point as the thickness of the surface member.

9. A furniture system as claimed in claim 8 in which the rectangular components of the surface member are attached at one long side by hinges.

10. A furniture system as claimed in claim 9 in which the components are configured as a table with the base standing on the feet provided on the short side of the side members, and the surface member disposed on top of the base in either a fully folded or unfolded flat configuration.

11. A furniture system as claimed in claim 9 in which the components are configured as a seat with the base standing on the feet provided on the long side of the side members, and the surface member unfolded to an approximate human sitting or reclining angle and positioned in the inclined cut out portions.

12. A furniture system as claimed in claim 11 in which one spacer member is disposed between the rear of the surface member and the base, to act as a seat-back support.

13. A furniture system as claimed in claim 12 in which the components comprising the system are held together with releasable attachment means.

14. A furniture system as claimed in claim 13 in which the attachment means comprise nuts and bolts, screws, dowels, or similar, or any combination thereof.

15. A furniture system as claimed in claim 9 which is provided with additional support struts adapted to be disposed between the base and the surface member to act a supporting beam, and to be disposed underneath the base to act as a stabiliser, when the components are configured as a table.

16. A furniture system as claimed in claim 15, in which the support struts are adapted to be disposed between the rear of the upright component of the surface member and the base or floor to act as seat-back supports.

17. A furniture system as claimed in claim 16, in which bracket means are mounted at the rear inside corners of the base which are adapted to cooperate with the support struts, and stopper means are provided on the rear of the upright section of the surface member, and which are also adapted to co-operate with the support struts, and which are adjustable in a vertical plane.

18. A furniture system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the components comprising the system are constructed from wood or a woodbased material for example chipboard, particle board or MDF.

19. A furniture system as claimed in any of claims 1-17 in which the components comprising the system are constructed from metal.

20. A furniture system as claimed in any of claims 1- 17 in which the components comprising the system are constructed from a plastics material.

21. A furniture system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the surface member is provided with padded seating means on its upper surface.

22. A furniture system as claimed in claim 21 in which the padded seating means are removable.

23. A furniture svstem as claimed in claim 21 in which the two components of the surface member comprise an inner frame and an outer surface member which is provided with indentations dimensioned to receive the padded seating means.

24. A furniture system substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.