Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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P00772FI APP
(a) TITLE OF THE INVENTION
"COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT SURliACE AND SEATING APPARATUS"
(b) TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES
The present invention relates to the field of collapsible furniture in general, and in
particular to a collapsible support surface and seating apparatus such as a table or desk
and chair apparatus, having a novel and unique cooperation between the support surface,
the support legs and the seat member; and a novel and unique connection of a support
unit for the support surface and the seat member or unit.
(c) BACKGROUND ART
Prior art constructions of collapsible furniture devices are disadvantageous in
failure to provide a simple, efficient, and compact arrangement for a collapsible surface,
such as table or desk, and chair apparatus, wherein the apparatus occupies the mi--imum
possible storage space while not in use and which is very easy to deploy in its operative
mode, while also providing a very stable platform surface for both the table or desk and
chair or seat members.
21921~
p~O772FlAPP 2
For example, the currently available collapsible table and bench or chair
arrangements are difficult to assemble, require too much storage space when not in use,
and are difficult to transport from one location to another.
Educators in a limited space multi-use classroom environment and parents with
5 pre-schoolers have long realized the benefit of having a well constructed collapsible table
and chair apparatus that could be employed by young children for work, play, eating,
studying, etc.
In addition, target shooters are always looking for collapsible shooting bencheshaving a stable support for their firearms and accessories while also providing a
10 con~'ortable seating arrangement.
Accordingly, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved
collapsible surface, such as table or desk and chair apparatus that is simple to use,
compact during storage, adapted for a variety of functional purposes, and provides
extremely stable work and torso supporting surfaces for the user, and the provision of
15 such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.
(d) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a support surface and seating apparatus
which includes a support surface comprising at least one support surface member having
20 a top surface and bottom surface; a first pair of support legs pivotally secured to the
bottom surface of the support surface member at a first location; a second pair of
support legs pivotally secured to the bottom surface of the support surface member at a
second location; wherein, the intermediate portions of the first and second pairs of
support legs are pivotally secured to one another; and a seat unit pivotally associated
25 with at least one of the pairs of support legs and the bottom surface of the support
surface member.
In one embodilnent of the present invention, the at least one support surface
member is a single support surface member, wherein the bottom surface of the support
surface member is provided with a pair of channel track elements; and the upper ends of
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P00772FIAPP 3
the second pair of support legs are slidably and pivotally received in the channel track
elements.
For purposes of the present invention, the seat unit comprises a seat member; a
pair of seat support arms fixedly secured on one end to the seat member and pivotally
5 secured on the other end to one of the pairs of support legs. The seat unit also incllldes
means for ",~;"~ -g the seat member in a ho.i ~onlal disposition. The seat unit also
in~llldes an angled brace element which is pivotally connected on one end to the bottom
surface of the desk member and pivotally secured on the other end to the pair of seat
support arms, wherein the first pair of support legs are tlim~n~ioned to nest within the
10 second pair of support legs, and wherein the seat support arms are dimensioned to nest
within the first pair of support legs.
The app~ s ofthe present invention also in~ des biasing means for biasing the
first and second pairs of support legs into an open position relative to one another.
Preferably the means for biasing includes spring means operatively associated with the
15 first and second pairs of support legs for biasing the pairs of support legs into a spring
biased open position.
For purposes of the present invention, the first pair of support legs are
substantially longer than the second pair of support legs, and the second pair of support
legs are substantially wider than the first pair of support legs, wherein the first pair of
20 support legs have a slightly outwardly flared lower portion, and the second pair of
support legs have a slightly inwardly flared upper portion and a substantially outwardly
flared lower portion.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one support surfacecomprises two support surface top halves wherein each support surface top half is
25 operatively attached to a pair of table support arms, and each of the support surface top
halves are pivotally associated with the first and second pair of support legs, and whel eh
the seat unit comprises a pair of seat support arms which are pivotally connected to a
pair of the support legs.
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P0077ZFI APP 4
The apparatus of the present invention also inrllldes means associated with the
seat unit for ~ g the at least one seat member in a horizontal disposition when
the seat unit is deployed in the operative mode, wherein the means for l~ inil~gcomprises a seat brace element pivotally secured on one end to the pair of seat support
5 arms and pivotally secured on the other end to a portion of the table unit, and the seat
brace element is pivotally secured on the other end to one of the pair of table support
arms.
In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the pair of support
surface support arms, both of the pairs of table support legs, and the pair of seat support
10 arms are provided with the same generally contoured configuration. For purposes of the
present invention, the same general contoured configuration includes a generally narrow
parallel portion; an outwardly fiared intermediate portion; and a generally wide parallel
portion, wherein the contoured pair of seat support arms and the pair of contoured
support surface support arms nest between one of the pairs of tale support legs.The present invention is also directed to a collapsible support surface and seating
appa,~L,ls comprising a pair of support surface top halves wherein each support surface
top half is pivotally associated with a selected one of two pairs of support legs including
a first pair of support legs and a second pair of support legs wherein the pairs of support
legs are pivotally connected to one another; and a pair of seat members wherein each
20 seat member is pivotally associated with one of the pairs of support legs and provided
with means for ,..~;"~ the seat member in a fixed position relative to the one ofthe
pairs of support legs, in addition to an auxiliary leg assembly pivotally connected to the
two pairs of support legs, wherein, the auxiliary leg assembly inc]lldes a pair of relatively
short leg members pivotally connected to one another, and each of the relatively short
25 leg members comprise a pair of contoured leg elements, wherein, one of the pair of
contoured leg elements are dimensioned to be received within the other pair of
contoured leg elements, wherein, each support surface top half is provided with a pair of
support arms having an outboard end rigidly secured thereto and an inboard end
pivotally connected to one of the pair of support legs, and, wherein, the outboard ends of
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P007~2FI APP 5
the support arms of each support surface top half substantially overlap the inboard ends
of the support arms of each other.
In accordance with the present invention, where one of the pairs of support legsis elongated so that they will extend a greater distance beyond the table unit, the seat unit
5 which is pivotally associated with the elongated pair of support legs advantageously can
be spaced from the overhang of the table unit. Also, where the other pair of support legs
is both slidably and pivotally associated with the track elements disposed beneath the
table unit, both pairs of support legs advantageously may be disposed into a spring
biased opening movement relative to the table unit.
Also in accordance with the present invention, where both pairs of support legs
are elongated and extend beyond the table unit, the seat unit which is pivotally associated
with the elongated pairs of support legs advantageously can be spaced from the
overhang of the table unit.
In addition, the appa~ s is specifically designed and contoured to accommodate
adjacçnt portions of the apparatus advantageously to produce the smallest possible
app~LLIs profile during storage and/or transport. Furthermore, the various support
arms and legs of the appal~ s are spaced from one another such that advantageously
they not only do not interfere with one another, but, in some instances captively
surround each other to further dimini~h the apparatus profile.
In either embodiment, the collapsible support surface and seating apparatus, such
as the desk or table and chair appa~ s, that forms the basis of the present invention,
includes a support surface unit, such as a table unit or desk unit, a table or desk support
unit pivotally connected to the table or desk unit, and a seat unit pivotally connected to
the table or desk support unit. The support unit includes two pivotally connected pairs
of support legs that comprise the plilllaly support structure for the appala~-ls.
As used herein, the terms support surface, table, and desk may be used
interchangeably. As used herein, the terms seat, bench, and chair may be used
interchangeably.
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PoO772Fl.APP 6
Accordingly, in a pleîel~ed embodiment ofthe present invention, the support
surface and seating apparatus comprises a one piece desk member having a top surface
and bottom surface; a first pair of support legs pivotally secured to the bottom surface of
the desk member at a fixed location; a second pair of support legs pivotally secured to
5 the bottom surface of the desk member at a moveable location; wherein, the intermediate
portions of the first and second pairs of support legs are pivotally secured to one
another; and a seat unit pivotally associated with one of the pairs of support legs and the
bottom surface of the desk member.
In another p,erelled embodiment, the collapsible support surface and seating
10 appal allls comprises a table unit including two table top halves wherein each table top
half is operatively attached to a pair of table support arms; a table support unit including
a first pair of support legs and a second pair of support legs; wherein, the support legs
are pivotally secured to one another and each of the table top halves are pivotally
associated with one of the pair of support legs; and a seat unit including at least one seat
15 l.lelllber provided with a pair of seat support arms, which are pivotally connected to one
of the pairs of support legs; and means associated with the seat unit for l"~i"~ the
at least one seat member in a horizontal disposition when the seat unit is deployed in the
operative mode.
(e) DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In the accompanying draw~ng~
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment apparatus that forms the basis of~5 the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the appa. ~L~Is in the collapsed mode;
FlG. 3 is a rear plan view of the appa.~us in the collapsed mode;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the upper portions of the table support unit;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus in the operational mode;
- 21921~
P00772FI APP 7
FlG. 6 is a front elevation view of the apparatus in the operational mode; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the apparatus in the collapsed mode.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one version of the combined table and chair
apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention deployed in its operative mode;
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the first version of the apparatus in the
collapsed mode;
FIG. l 0 is a front elevation view of the first version of the apparatus in the
operative mode;
FIG. l l is a front elevation view of the first version of the appa~lus depicted in
the collapsed mode;
FIG. 12 is an above eye level pel~pe~ re view ofthe first version ofthe invention
in the operative mode;
FIG. l 3 is a perspective view of the second version of the combined table and
chair apparatus; and,
FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the second version of the apparatus in the
collapsed mode.
(f) ONE MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particularly to FIG. l, the
collapsible support surface and seating appal ~lus that forms the basis of the present
invention is de~i~n~ted generally by the reference number 10. The appal~lus 10
comprises in general, a desk unit 11, a desk support unit 12, and a seat unit 13. These
units will now be described in seriatim fashion.
As shown in FIGS. l through 4, the desk unit 11 comprises an enlarged generally
rectangular one-piece desk member 20 having a top surface 21, and a bottom surface 22
provided with a pair of elongated channel track elements 23 disposed in a parallel and
spaced apart relationship relative to one another. The purpose and function of the
channel track elements 23 will be explained presently.
219213~
poo7 72FI APP 8
As can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the desk support unit 12
comprises two pairs 30,30 and 31,31 of support legs that are operatively associated
with the bottom surface 22 of the desk member 20 and pivotally secured to one another
as at 32,32 proximate their respective midpoints.
The first pair of support legs 30,30 are pivotally and fixedly secured on their
upper ends 33 to the bottom surface 22 of the desk member 20. The second pair ofsupport legs 31,31 are pivotally and movably connected on their upper ends 34,34within the channel track elements 23 for reasons that will be explained in greater detail
further on in the specification.
As caIl be appreciated particularly by lerel-ellce to FIG. 3, the first pair of support
legs 30, 30 are subst~nti~lly straighter and longer than the second pair of support legs 31,
31. The upper and intermediate portions ofthe support legs 30,30 are relatively closely
spaced and parallel to one another. The lower portion of the support legs 30,30 are
slightly outwardly flared and connected to one another by a relatively short cross-piece
member 35.
Still referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the second pair of support legs 31,31
have a contoured configuration incl~l~ing a slightly inwardly flared intermediate portion
and a substantially outwardly flared lower portion wherein the lower portions of the
support legs 31, 31 are connected to one another by an elongated contoured cross-piece
member 36 having an outwardly bowed intermediate portion dimensioned to
accommodate the lower portion of the first pair of support legs 30, 30 when the
apparatus 10 is disposed in the collapsed mode.
Returning once more to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the seat unit 13
comprises in general a seat member 40 provided with a pair of contoured seat support
arms 41, 41 which are fixedly secured on their outboard ends to the seat member 40 and
are pivotally secured on their inner ends as at 42,42 to the intermediate portion of the
first pair of support legs 30, 30.
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pO0772FI APP 9
In addition, the seat unit 13 further inçl~ldes an angled brace element 43 which is
pivotally secured on its lower end to the intermediate portions of the contoured seat
support arms 41,41 and which is pivotally secured on its upper end as at 45 to the
bottom surface 22 of the desk member 20.
At this juncture, it should be noted that in the pl~Çel-ed embodiment of the
invention depicted in FIG. 4, both the pivoted connection of the upper end of the angled
brace element 43 and the upper ends of the first pair of support legs 30, 30 areaccomplished via an intermediary pair of contoured support arms 50, 50 which arerigidly secured to the bottom surface 22 of the desk member 20. Whereas, the
intermediary pair of contoured support arms 50,50 are provided primarily for thepurpose of providing rigidity and support to the desk member 20. It is to be understood
that individual conventional pivot support structures (not shown) could be substituted
therefor, and still fall within the teaçhing~ of this invention.
It should further be noted by reference to FIG. 4, that the first 30, 30 and second
31,31 pairs of support legs are normally biased into their open disposition by a pair of
spring elements 38 which are in operative contact with adjacPnt pairs of support legs at
their pivoted connection 32 to f~.ilit~te the transition ofthe appa~aLLls 10 from the
collapsed mode of FIGS. 2 and 7 to the operative mode of FIGS. 5 and 6.
In addition, a handle member 60 is rigidly affixed to the bottom surface 22 of the
desk member 20 to f~cilitate the transport ofthe appal~LLIs 10 from one location to
another. A pair of stop elements 25,25 are positioned adjacent the open end of the
channel track elements 23,23 to prevent the second pair of support legs 31,31 from
becoming disengaged with the channel track elements 23,23.
As can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, the first pair of table
support legs 30, 30 are subst~nti~lly longer than the second pair of support legs 31, 31
for the simple reason that the seat unit 13 must be cantilevered out from the desk
member 20 in its operative mode of disposition. Furthermore, while the upper ends of
the first pair of table support legs 30,30 are connected to the underside 22 of the desk
member 20 in a straightforward pivoted fashion, the upper ends of the second pair of
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Poo772FlApP 1 0
support legs 31, 31 are both pivotally and movably disposed in the channel trackelements 23 so that the second pair of support legs 31, 31 can be tr~n~l~ted from the
storage position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to the operative position of FIGS. 5 and 6.
When the appalaLLIs 10 is in the fully collapsed mode depicted in FIG. 7, the
5 width of the apparatus 10 equals the combined width of the outer pair of support legs 31
plus the thickness of the desk member 20. This exceptionally slim profile is made
possible both by the nesting contour of the structural components illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4, as well as the unique moveable pivot arrangement produced by the channel track
elements 23.
Since the plilll~y purpose and function ofthe apparatus 10 is in a classroom
environment, this invention also contemplates the provision of a removable and/or
retractable privacy screen 60 as depicted in phantom in FIG. 5.
As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 8, the
collapsible support surface and seating appala~lls that forms the basis of the present
invention is design~ted generally by the reference numeral 110. The appal~ s 110comprises in general, a table unit 111, a table support unit 112, and a chair unit 113.
These units will now be described in seriatim fashion.
As shown in FIGS. 8 thru 12, the table unit 111 comprises a pair oftable top
halves 120 and 121 wherein one table top half 120 is fixedly secured on the outboard end
of a first pair of outer generally straight table support arms 122 and the other table top
half 121 is fixedly secured on the outboard end of a second pair of inner contoured table
support arms 123.
In addition, as can best be seen by reference to Fig. 12, the outerboard ends ofboth pairs of table support arms 122, 123 substantially overlap the inboard ends of each
other to provide substantial underlying support to the table top halves 120, 121.
Referring to FIGS. 10 thru 12, it can be seen that the table support unit 112
comprises a first pair of outer elongated contoured support legs 132 and a second pair of
inner contoured support legs 133 wherein the first and second pairs of support legs 132
and 133 are pivotally secured to one another as at 131. In addition, each pair of support
219213~
legs 132 and 133 have a flared portion disposed proximate to, but spaced from, their
lower ends. The lower ends of each pair of support legs 132 and 133 are provided with
~li~e.~ g cross piece member 134; and, a handle element 135 is disposed on a cross-
piece element 136 which extends between the upper portion ofthe support legs 133.
As can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the free ends of the generally
straight support arms 122 are pivotally secured to the upper ends of the elongated pair of
support legs 133 and the free ends of the contoured table support arms 123 are pivotally
connected to the upper ends of the support legs 132.
As shown in FIGS. 8 thru 12, the seat unit 113 comprises a pair of seat members
140 wherein each seat member 140 is fixedly secured to the outboard ends of a pair of
contoured seat support arms 141 wherein the inboard ends of the seat support arms 141
are pivotally secured to the elongated support legs 132 and 133 respectfully. In addition,
an angled seat brace element 142 has a lower end plvotally secured to the interme.1i~te
portion of the seat support arms 141 and an upper end pivotally secured to the
contoured table support arms 122.
As can best be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 2 through 5, both pairs of
support legs 132,133, the seat support arms 41 and the contoured table support arms
123 have the same general overall configuration which incllldes a somewhat narrow
parallel portion, and outwardly flared intermediate portion and a generally wide parallel
portion wherein the contoured portions are dimensioned and d~signed to cooperate with
one another in a generally nesting fashion to produce the smallest possible storage profile
for the combined table and chair apparatus 110.
To that end the upper portion of the seat brace element 142 nests between the
contoured table support arms 123. The contoured table support arrns 123 nest between
the seat support arms 141 and the table support legs 132. The relatively elongated table
support legs 132 nest between the relatively short table support legs 133. Furthermore,
all of the support arms and legs, as well as the brace ~l~m~nt, have the same width and
all of the pivoted connections are vertically aligned when the combined table and chair
appa~ s 110 is disposed in the collapsed mode as shown in FIG. 9.
219213~
po~77ZFIAPP 1 2
Accordingly, the total width ofthe plerelled version ofthe table and chair
apparatus equals the combined width of the support legs 132,133 plus the combined
thickness of both table top halves 120 and 121, which is the smallest possible structural
storage profile that can be achieved for a two piece collapsible table let alone the
5 combined table and chair apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention.
In the alternate version ofthe prerel,ed embodiment depicted in FIGS. 13 and
14, a structural difference involves an auxiliary leg assembly 150 comprising a pair of
relatively short auxiliary leg members 151 and 152 wherein the auxiliary leg members
151,152 ate pivotally connected to one another on their lower ends; and, pivotally
connected on their upper ends relatively to the pairs of support legs 132 and 133
proximate the pivoted connection of the seat support arms 141 with the support legs
132,133.
It should also be noted that each of the auxiliary leg members 151 and 152
comprise a pair of contoured leg elements wherein the pair of leg elements of auxiliary
15 leg members 151 are dimensioned to be received within the pair of leg elements of
auxiliary leg member 152.
It should further be noted that the pl erel l ed embodiment of the invention
depicted in FIGS. 8 thru 12 is designed for use with children; whereas, the alternate
version depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 is designed for adults and requires the presence of the
20 auxiliary leg assembly. Furthermore, as shown in the dashed line portion of FIG. 3, this
invention also contemplates the provision of stepped shoulders 138 on each pair of
support legs 132,133 such that the stepped shoulders 138 may serve as a foot rest for
the users.
