Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CO~VERTIB~ FU~ITUR~
This invention relates to convertible furniture.
In recent years there has been an increase in the
interest shown by the general public in the game of
snooker, and perhaps to a lesser extent the related
games of pool and billiards. This increase in interest
has created a greater desire to play one or more of
these games at home. However, in order to play such
a game a suitable table is required and purpose built
tables for such games are not only costly but also take
up a considerable amount of space in the home, which
space is generally not available in many homes. For
this reason~ convertible tables have been produced
whereby the games table may be converted into an ordinary
domestic dining table when no-t required for playing a
game thereon. Although such an arrangement is a fairly
satisfactory compromise certain disadvantages are often
associated therewith. In many homes the dining room is
either relatively small or is simply an extension of the
living room, and in such cases it may be difficult to
accommodate a table of sufficient size so as to be
convertible into a games table of a size desired. Also
a dining table is often required several times a day for
meals and for other domestic pursuits and it can be
inconvenient to keep con~erting the table from one
configuration to another in order that it may be used
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~or its alterna-tive purposes. In addition, people
not wishing to play a game may wish to use the dining
room for other purposes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a piece of convertible furniture in use of which the
above disadvantages are avoided or at least reduced to
a substantial extent.
The invention provides convertible furniture
comprising two parts, one part having a top surface
adapted for the playing of snooker or the like game
thereon and the ot~er part being adapted to receive a
mattress thereon, said t~lO parts being interchangeably
disposable one above the other.
~y means of the invention the article of furniture,
hereinafter referred to as a games table~ is readily
convertible from a games table configuration to a bed
configuration. In general a bedroom is no-t used for
the purposes of sleeping or for any other purpose during
the day, and in consequence there will generally be no
disadvantages accruing from the bed therein being in
the configuration of a games table. The furniture of
the invention need be changed from the bed configuration
to the games table configuration and back to the bed
configuration onee in a day, or if the bedroom is one
which is not in regular use, i.e. a guest's bedroom,
then the furniture may be left normally in the games
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-table configuration and only converted into the bed
configuration when required.
Each furniture part may be of rectangular box-
like construction and of like planform.
Said one part may have a leg disposed at each
corner of its lower surface. The upper surface o~ said
one part may have six apertures therein communicating
with the interior of said box, which interior may have
a floor inclined relative to said upper surface whereby
in use a ball passing through one of said apertures will
roll to one end of said interior. An aperture may be
provided in an end wall of one part whereby a ball may
be retrieved from said interior thereofO
Said other part may be of an open-topped box-like
construction whereby a mattress may be received therein
and located by side and end walls thereof. Said other
part may also have legs attached to the vnderside thereof,
and said legs may be pivotal between operative positions
whereby said other part may be supported thereby and
inoperative positions in which each leg lies
substantially in a plane parallel with said underside.
~he furniture may also comprise a headboard which
is releasably attachable to said other part at one end
thereof.
One embodiment of furniture in accordance wi-th
the invention will now be described with reference to
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the accompanying drawings in which:-
~ig. 1 is a perspective view of the constituent
parts o~ the furniture,
~ig. 2 is a perspective view of the furniture of
Fig. 1 in the games table configuration,
and,
~ig. 3 is a perspective view of the furniture of
Fig. 1 in the bed configuration.
Referring now to ~ig. 1 there is shown two parts
11,12 of the convertible furniture, each part being of
rectangular box-like construction and the two parts being
of like planform.
One part 11 is adapted for the playin~ of snooker
or the like game -thereon. The upper surface 13 has walls
or 'cushions' 14 extending therearound and six apertures
or 'pockets' 15 as is conventional for the playing of
such games. The surface 13 and cushions 14 are covered
with a green baize or like material and surface 13 has
appropriate markings thereon (not shown) as is
conventional in the art. The pockets 15 communicate
with the interior of the part 11, which interior has a
floor 16 (shown by the dashed lines) which is inclined
relative to upper surface 13 downwardly towards one end
17 of part 11. In end 17 there is provided an aperture
18 so that balls which pass through the pockets 15 and
roll along -~loor 16 can be retrieved when required.
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~egs 19 ar e provided, one at each corner o~ the
underside of part 11.
Part 12 is of open-topped box-like construction9
having sidewalls 20, endwalls 21 and a slatted floor
220 The walls 20, 21 extend both above and below the
floor 22 thereby providing upper and lower recesses 23,
24. Upper recess 23 is of a size to receive a mattress
therein so that part 12 may be used as a bed. The part
12 is provided with legs 25 which are pivotally mounted
on the inside of side walls 20 so as to extend beneath
part 12 when in an operating position as shown, and
to lie within lower recess 24 when in a non-operating
position.
A headboard 26 is also provided, the uprights of
which are provided with bores 27. Corresponding bores
28 are provided in one end wall 21 o~ part 12 so that
the headboard 26 can be quickly and easily attached
to and removed from part 12 when desired using bolts
and wing nuts (not sho~m). Alternative forms o~
attachment of headboard 26 to part 12 will be readily
apparent to persons skilled in the art.
The furniture sho~m in Fig 1. is used as follows.
As shown in ~ig 2. part 11 may be placed above, i.e.
on top of, part 12. The two parts 11, 12 being of
like planform may be placed in alignment with each
other, as showm, legs 19 of part 11 resting on the
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corners of the side and end walls 20,21 of part 12,
The legs 25 of part 12 are extended to the operative
position~ ~he furniture is then in the games table
configuration, the combined depth of parts 11 and 12
providing that the upper surface 13 of part 11 is at a
suitable height for the playing of snooker or the like.
If part 12 has a mattress and any other bedding thereon
it can remain thereon in the desired arrangement thereof,
being located between parts 11 and 12 as shown at 29,
legs 19 allowing for the thickness of such bedding.
The headbo~rd 26 is removed from part 12 when the furniture
is in the games table configuration.
As shown in Fig 3 part 12 may be placed above, i.e,
on top of, part 11, again in alignment with each other.
In this case the furniture is in the bed configuration
and is supported on legs 19 of part 11. ~he legs 25
of part 12 are retracted into the lower recess 24 and
are preferably retained in the inoperative position by
a catch device, resilient biassing means or the like,
(not shown) in order that no damage is caused thereby to
the playing surface 13 of part 11. Since legs 25 are in
the inoperative position the overall height of the
furniture is less when in the bed configuration than
when in the games table configuration. A mattress 29
is retained in the upper recess 23 of part 12 and other
bedding as re~uired is placed in conventional manner on
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the mattress ~9. The headboard 26 is secured to part 12
whilst the furniture is in the bed configuration.
To convert the furniture from one configuration
to the other the uppermost part is simply lifted off
the lowerrnost part, legs 25 extended or retracted as
appropriate, headboard 26 ~ttached or detached as
appropriate and then the previously lowermost part placed
on top of the other ~art. No making or dismantling of
the bedding is required in either case. Hand apertures
or recesses may be provided in part 12 to assist such
conversion if desired, the legs 19 of part 11 obviating
the need for such apertures or recesses in that part.
It is envisaged that the furniture be made o-f pine,
although any suitable wood may be used, with appropriate
varnishing, staining or painting if desired. It is also
envisaged that the furniture be of standard single bed
si~e, i~e. 3 feet wide by 6 feet 3 ins. long (9lcm x
l91cm) although other si~es may be provided.
A further advantage of the furniture of the present
invention lies in the fact that a second mattress may be
placed on part 11 and the tl~o parts used separately as
single beds if desired.
Although any design of headboard may be provided it
is envisaged that the slatted type shown in Figs. 1 and
3 is suitable since a marker board for the game being
played on the table may be readily attached to, or
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formed on the back face of) the headboard is desired.
Alternatively a marker board may be provided with hooks
thereon whereby it may be hooked over the top of any
other form of headboard.
