FR3148186A1 - MULTIFUNCTIONAL PIECE OF FURNITURE INTENDED TO EQUIP A LIVING VEHICLE AND LIVING VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH PIECE OF FURNITURE - Google Patents

Abstract

Multifunctional furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle. The invention relates to a piece of furniture (1) comprising a body (2) and a cover (4) carried by the body (2) and mounted so as to be movable in circular translation relative to the latter between a low position and a high position, said cover (4) comprising a support structure which includes panels (5, 6), said support structure being designed to evolve between a folded configuration, in which said panels (5, 6) are one on top of the other, and an unfolded configuration in which said panels (5, 6) are side by side, said piece of furniture (1) forming, when the cover (4) occupies said low position, a low seat, with the support structure in the folded configuration forming a seat, while when the cover (4) occupies said high position, said piece of furniture (1) forms a table, with the support structure in the unfolded configuration forming a tray. Furniture for habitable vehicle. Abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

MULTIFUNCTIONAL PIECE OF FURNITURE INTENDED TO EQUIP A LIVING VEHICLE AND LIVING VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH PIECE OF FURNITURE

The present invention relates to the general technical field of furniture intended to equip habitable vehicles such as vans, camper vans or caravans, for example.

The present invention relates more particularly to a piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, as well as a habitable vehicle equipped with such a piece of furniture.

Habitable land vehicles are well known. These are vehicles that, in addition to being able to travel on roads, can be used as housing. These vehicles can be self-propelled (for example: van, converted minivan or minibus, or even a camper van) or be intended to be towed by a motor vehicle (caravan).

These habitable vehicles include a living compartment with various amenities for accommodation, such as seats and tables, bunks, a kitchen area, or storage spaces. The layout of such a living compartment can be a real challenge, particularly given the available space, which is often very limited.

The problem of having a functional and ergonomic interior layout is particularly difficult to resolve for small vehicles (such as vans or converted minibuses) equipped with a pop-up roof to create a temporary living space. In this case, it is necessary to equip the living compartment not only with all the usual furniture required (bed(s), table, seat(s), kitchen area, toilet area, etc.), but also to provide a device such as a ladder or staircase to facilitate access to the upper compartment created by raising the roof, while maintaining sufficient free space for living and moving around on board.

The objects assigned to the invention therefore aim to respond to the above problem and to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which while being extremely compact, allows both to store and/or conceal items or equipment and to alternately play the role of a " high " table or a " low " seat.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which is particularly reliable and simple to use.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which while being very ergonomic, is particularly light and space-saving.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which can facilitate access to a space high up in the habitable compartment of the vehicle, for example to a space created by temporarily raising the roof of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, of extremely simple and robust construction.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which is particularly practical and intuitive to use.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which makes it possible to create a toilet area in a particularly simple, discreet and practical way.

Another object of the invention aims to propose a new multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, which presents a high degree of security.

A complementary object of the invention aims to propose a new habitable vehicle equipped with a multifunctional piece of furniture which meets all of the aforementioned objectives.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a multifunctional piece of furniture intended to equip a habitable vehicle, said piece of furniture comprising a box delimiting an interior storage space, said box extending vertically between a base, intended to rest stably on a floor of said vehicle, and an opposite top, said piece of furniture also comprising a cover carried by the box and mounted so as to be movable in circular translation relative to the latter between a stable low position in which it covers said top to close the box, and a stable high position in which it is vertically spaced from the top, said cover comprising a support structure which includes at least a first and a second panel, said support structure being designed to evolve between a stable folded configuration, in which said panels are one on top of the other, and a stable unfolded configuration in which said panels are side by side, said piece of furniture forming, when the cover occupies said low position, a low pouf-type seat, with the support structure in the folded configuration forming a seat, while when the cover occupies said high position, said piece of furniture forms a table, with the support structure in the unfolded configuration forming a top.

The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved by means of a habitable vehicle comprising a habitable compartment with a floor, said habitable vehicle including a multi-function piece of furniture according to the invention, said multi-function piece of furniture resting on said floor.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear and emerge in more detail on reading the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings, given solely as purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, in which:

illustrates, in a schematic perspective view from the front, a multifunctional piece of furniture in accordance with the invention, which is in a configuration (lid in low position, drawer in closed position and upper step in storage position) in which it forms a low seat of the pouffe or low stool type.

illustrates, according to a schematic perspective view from behind, the multifunctional piece of furniture of the , in the same configuration.

illustrates, in a front perspective view, the cabinet of Figures 1 and 2 with the cover in the raised position and the support structure in the folded configuration.

illustrates, in a schematic perspective view from behind, the multifunctional piece of furniture of the preceding figures, in the same configuration as that illustrated by the .

is similar to the , except that the support structure has been rotated a quarter turn, and is thus in an intermediate configuration.

is identical to , except that the support structure is now in a stable unfolded configuration, thus forming a table top.

illustrates, in a schematic perspective side view, the multifunctional piece of furniture of the preceding figures, which is this time in a configuration in which the cover occupies its low position, the drawer is in the closed position, and an upper step is in an intermediate position between a storage position and a deployed position.

illustrates, according to a schematic perspective view from the front, the multifunctional piece of furniture of the , with the top step this time in the deployed position.

illustrates, in a schematic perspective view from the front, the multifunctional piece of furniture of figures 1 and 2, with a drawer in the open position.

illustrates, according to a schematic perspective view from the front, the multifunctional piece of furniture of the with a portable toilet (WC) module embedded in the drawer receptacle, the latter being in the open position, to allow a user to use the toilet in question.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a multifunctional piece of furniture 1 intended to equip a habitable vehicle.

Said habitable vehicle comprises a floor on which said multifunctional piece of furniture is intended to rest.

The habitable vehicle in question may be of any known type. It is preferably a habitable land vehicle, and more precisely a habitable road vehicle, such as a van, a minibus, a converted van or pickup truck, or a camper van. Preferably, the habitable vehicle in question is a motorized, automobile vehicle, such as a converted van. However, it is entirely conceivable, without departing from the scope of the invention, that the habitable vehicle in question is rather formed by a non-motorized vehicle, which is intended to be towed by a motor vehicle, such as a caravan.

According to a second aspect, the invention also relates as such to a habitable vehicle which comprises a floor and a multifunctional piece of furniture in accordance with the description which follows, said multifunctional piece of furniture resting on said floor, and preferably being attached to the latter. More precisely, the habitable vehicle includes a habitable compartment designed to be able to serve as housing, the floor of the vehicle on which the multifunctional piece of furniture is intended to rest being advantageously formed by the floor of said habitable compartment.

As illustrated in the figures, the piece of furniture 1 according to the invention comprises a box 2 delimiting an interior storage space 3. Said interior storage space 3 thus forms an empty, enclosed space. More precisely, the box 2 extends vertically between a base 2A, intended to rest stably on the floor of the vehicle, and an opposite top 2B, which corresponds to the top of the box 2. The base 2A thus forms a shaped base to allow the box 2 to rest stably on a flat floor. Preferably, and as illustrated in the figures, the box 2 has a generally parallelepiped shape, with at least first and second faces 20, 21 which rise, in line with and at a distance from each other, between the base 2A and the top 2B. The first face 20 advantageously corresponds to a front face of the body 2, while the second face 21 advantageously corresponds to a rear face of the body 2, said first and second faces 20, 21 extending generally substantially parallel to each other. Advantageously, the body 2 also has third and fourth lateral faces 22, 23 which connect the first and second faces 20, 21 together at their respective lateral edges. Preferably, the box 2 further includes a bottom 24 which thus contributes, with the first, second, third and fourth faces 20, 21, 22, 23, to delimiting the interior storage space 3. However, it is perfectly conceivable, without departing from the scope of the invention, for the box 2 to be devoid of a bottom, in which case the interior storage space 3 is delimited directly by the floor of the vehicle on which the furniture 1 is intended to rest. The walls of the box 2, which form said first, second, third and fourth faces 20, 21, 22, 23 and the bottom 24, may be solid or openwork (for example with openwork). The box 2 may be made of a wood-based material (natural or artificial), such as for example medium-density fiberboard (MDF) cut and assembled together by any known technique. It is also possible to alternatively use plastic and/or metal materials, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Advantageously, the piece of furniture 1 is provided with an anchoring device (not shown) for fixing the base 2A to the floor of the vehicle to be equipped. The anchoring device in question thus makes it possible to secure the body 2, and therefore the piece of furniture 1, to the floor, (i) for example by eliminating all degrees of freedom between said floor and base 2A, or on the contrary (ii) by allowing a relative movement of the latter, for example a horizontal sliding of the base 2A relative to the floor, with or without the possibility of locking the base 2A in position relative to the floor. In the first case (i) of producing a built-in connection between the base 2A and the floor by the anchoring device, the latter may for example have an irreversible, non-removable character (e.g. glue or weld bead). Alternatively, the anchoring may be removable, in which case the anchoring device includes for example a screw system or a locking flange with knee pad for example, which makes it possible to make the piece of furniture 1 movable and/or removable. In the aforementioned case (ii) where the anchoring device allows relative movement of the base 2A and the floor, said anchoring device comprises for example a rail secured to the floor and a slide integral with the base 2A and which engages said rail so as to be able to slide along the latter. Preferably, the anchoring device includes in this case an activatable/deactivatable locking member to block the base 2 in position relative to the rail when it is activated. The anchoring device thus advantageously forms a lockable/unlockable anchoring device which advantageously makes it possible to move the box 2 on the floor, then to lock the box 2 in position. This embodiment can itself be broken down into several sub-variants. According to a first sub-variant, there is only one lockable position of the box 2 relative to the floor (corresponding to a transport position), and outside of this transport position, the anchoring device allows the free movement of the box 2 relative to the floor (possibly along a rail as mentioned above). According to a second sub-variant, the box 2 can be blocked in a multitude of different positions, at the user's choice.

As illustrated in the figures, the piece of furniture 1 also comprises a cover 4 carried by the box 2, and advantageously permanently attached to the latter. The cover 4 is mounted to move in circular translation relative to the box 2 between a stable low position (illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 to 10), in which the cover 4 covers said top 2B to close the box 2, and a stable high position (illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6) in which the cover 4 is vertically spaced from the top 2B. In other words, the distance, in the vertical direction, between the cover 4 and the top 2B has, when the cover is in the low position, a value which is less than the value it has when the cover is in the high position. The distance between the cover 4 and the base 2A thus increases when the cover moves from its low position to its high position.

The cover 4 comprises a support structure which itself includes at least a first panel 5 and a second panel 6. Said panels 5, 6 are preferably substantially identical, at least as regards their dimensions (length/width/thickness). They advantageously have a substantially planar and flat character, and preferably a substantially rectangular shape. Each panel 5, 6 is for example made of wood (natural or artificial), for example from medium density fiberboard (MDF). The support structure is designed to evolve between on the one hand a stable folded configuration (illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 to 10), in which said panels 5, 6 are one on top of the other, that is to say that they are at least partially superimposed (with for example, as illustrated, the first panel 5 arranged under the second panel 6) and on the other hand a stable unfolded configuration (illustrated by the ), in which said panels 5, 6 are side by side, that is to say that they are arranged in the extension of one another to form a resulting flat surface. In a stable unfolded configuration, the panels 5, 6 are advantageously laterally adjoining, as illustrated by the , such that said resulting flat surface advantageously has a substantially continuous character.

Advantageously, the cover 4 comprises a plate 7 which carries said support structure, and therefore the panels 5, 6 which compose the latter. The plate 7 comprises for example, as illustrated, a plate 7A framed by two lateral cheeks 7B, 7C. The first panel 5 of the support structure is preferably pivotally connected to said plate 7, along a vertical pivot axis A, which preferably passes through a zone of said first panel 5 which is close to one of the corners of the latter, as illustrated. The first panel 5 is thus designed to pivot in a horizontal plane, preferably parallel to the plate 7A of the plate 7, on and against the latter. Advantageously, in order to guide this rotational movement of the first panel 5 relative to the plate 7, a pivot connection with a pivot axis A is produced between the first panel 5 and the plate 7, for example by means of a trunnion. A guide rail is also advantageously provided, for example in the form of a groove 70 in an arc of a circle (in this case a quarter circle) formed on the surface of the plate 7A. In this embodiment, said groove 70 is engaged by a slide carried by the first panel 5. The first panel 5 can thus advantageously pivot according to a quarter circle stroke between a first stop position, in which the first panel 5 is advantageously superimposed on the plate 7 without projecting laterally from the latter (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7 to 10) and a second stop position ( ) achieved by pivoting a quarter turn along the vertical pivot axis A of the first panel 5, in which the latter is arranged transversely to the plate 7, so as to extend laterally beyond the latter, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Advantageously, and in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first and second panels 5, 6 are hinged together, so as to allow the transition from the stable folded configuration to the stable unfolded configuration by relative rotation of said first and second panels 5, 6.

For this purpose, the first panel 5 is connected to the second panel 6 for example by a hinge 8. Said hinge 8 advantageously connects one side (lateral edge) of the first panel 5 to a corresponding side of the second panel 6. The hinge 8 thus ensures a pivot connection, with an axis of rotation B, between the first and second panels 5, 6. Said axis of rotation B extends substantially horizontally, and sees its orientation in the horizontal plane change depending on the relative position of the first panel 5 and the plate 7. Thus, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the transition from the stable folded configuration to the stable unfolded configuration is carried out initially by rotation through 90°, along the vertical pivot axis A, of the first panel 5 (and also of the second panel 6 superimposed on, and resting on, the first panel 5, and connected to the latter by the hinge 8), until reaching the position illustrated by the . Then the first and second panels 5, 6 are unfolded by rotation of the second panel 6 along the axis of rotation B of the hinge 8, to reach the configuration illustrated by the , in which the panels are arranged side by side, preferably in a contiguous manner, to form a resulting flat surface corresponding to the stable unfolded configuration.

As mentioned above, the cover 4 is guided in circular translation relative to the body 2, such that the movement of the cover 4 relative to the body 2 when moving from the stable low position to the stable high position (and vice versa) is a movement in circular translation. The use of a circular translation makes it possible to permanently maintain the orientation of the cover 4, and therefore of the support structure carried by the latter, which is a significant advantage when objects rest on the support structure.

Preferably, the piece of furniture 1 comprises a deformable parallelogram mechanism which ensures the circular translational connection of the cover 4 and the body 2. Said deformable parallelogram mechanism advantageously comprises at least a first connecting rod 9 and a second connecting rod 10, which are each articulated on the one hand to the body 2 and on the other hand to the cover 4. Thus, the body 2, the first and second connecting rods 9, 10 as well as the cover 4 together form said deformable parallelogram.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the first connecting rod 9 is pivotally mounted relative to the body 2 along a first horizontal pivot axis C which extends parallel to, and in the vicinity of, said first face 20 of the body 2. For example, as illustrated, the first connecting rod 9 is pivotally mounted, along the first horizontal pivot axis C, on the third face 22 of the body 2, preferably in the vicinity of the top 2B as illustrated. The second connecting rod 10 is preferably mounted to pivot relative to the body 2 along a second horizontal pivot axis D which extends parallel to said first horizontal pivot axis C, between the latter and the second face 21. Preferably, said first and second pivot axes C, D associated respectively with the first and second connecting rods 9, 10 are arranged in line with a first front half of the body 2. This makes it possible to fold the cover 4 exactly in line with the top 2B of the body 2, the cover 4 advantageously having a profile complementary to that of the top 2B, so that the cover 4 fits onto said top 2B in a stable low position, preferably matching, both horizontally and vertically, the contour of said top 2B.

As mentioned above, the first connecting rod 9 is also pivotally mounted relative to the cover 4 along a third horizontal pivot axis E. For example, the first connecting rod 9 extends between, on the one hand, a first end pivotally connected to the third face 22 of the body 2, and on the other hand, a second end pivotally connected to the side cheek 7B of the plate 7 which is part of the cover 4. The second connecting rod 10 is also pivotally connected to the cover 4, along a fourth horizontal pivot axis F. The second connecting rod 10 thus extends, for example, between a first end pivotally connected to the third face 22 of the body 2, and a second end pivotally connected to the side cheek 7B of the plate 7 which is part of the cover 4.

Advantageously, the first connecting rod 9 has a generally rectilinear shape while said second connecting rod 10 (rear connecting rod which is further from the first face 20 than the first connecting rod 9) preferably has a generally bent shape, which defines a concavity arranged opposite the first connecting rod 9. Such a design leads to a particularly compact construction, according to which the cover 4 can come exactly in line with the apex 2B in the low position, to match the contour of said apex 2B, and be projected forwards and upwards when moving from the low position to the high position by concomitant rotation of the first and second connecting rods 9, 10.

The first connecting rod 9 is advantageously provided with a stop surface which comes to bear against a rim of the top 2B, as illustrated in the figures, in order to block, in a stable manner, the cover 4 in the high position. In this high position, the first connecting rod 9 is inclined forwards, so that the exercise of a downward vertical support on the cover 4 does not lead to the return of the latter to the low position. The return to the low position can only be obtained by first exerting a rearward traction force on the cover 4, to initiate the circular translation movement which will return the latter to the stable low position.

The use of only a first and a second connecting rod 9, 10 is conceivable, but it is preferable, as illustrated in the figures, to use a symmetrical arrangement with a total of four connecting rods (two front connecting rods and two rear connecting rods), connected two by two by spacers to stiffen the mechanism. In this case, the other two connecting rods are arranged symmetrically to the first and second connecting rods 9, 10, relative to a median vertical plane.

According to the invention, the piece of furniture 1 forms, when the cover 4 occupies said low position ( ), a low pouf-type seat, with the support structure in a folded configuration forming a seat. For this purpose, the height of the piece of furniture 1, measured between the base 2A and the second panel 6 which forms the top of the piece of furniture 1, is chosen to allow a user of average height, for example between 1.30 m and 2.00 m, to sit on the piece of furniture 1, i.e. on the panel 6, while having his feet resting on the floor on which the piece of furniture 1 is arranged. For example, said height of the low seat formed by the piece of furniture 1 in the configuration of the is advantageously between 20 and 50 cm, even more preferably between 20 and 40 cm. Of course, the elements that make up the piece of furniture 1 are designed and sized to withstand the weight of the seated person. In this low seat configuration ( ), the piece of furniture 1 has a monolithic shape, for example generally parallelepiped, the panels 5, 6 being identical and superimposed on each other on the top 2B, the dimensions of which (width and length) preferably correspond exactly to those of said first and second panels 5, 6, which makes it possible to prevent said panels 5, 6 from overhanging the box 2.

When the cover 4 occupies the high position, the piece of furniture 1 this time forms a table, with the support structure in the unfolded configuration ( ) forming a top. In this table configuration, the first second panels 5, 6 are associated to form a top, while the body 2 and the connecting rod system 9, 10 together form the base of said table. Thanks to the circular translational guidance of the cover 4 relative to the body 2, the top of the table in question is at a sufficient height to allow comfortable and ergonomic use. The unfolding of the first and second panels 5, 6 also offers a large useful surface which extends beyond the aforementioned base, and whose area is greater than that of the seat of the chair of the .

The invention thus makes it possible, in an extremely practical, reliable and simple manner, to use a single piece of furniture as a low seat and as a table, the low seat configuration being moreover particularly compact while, on the contrary, the table offers a large top.

It is also possible to use the piece of furniture as a coffee table by simply unfolding the support structure while the cover remains in the low position, by rotating the panels 5, 6 about the vertical pivot axis A, then unfolding the panels 5, 6 to form the top of the coffee table in question.

Optionally, the piece of furniture 1 further comprises an upper step 11, which advantageously has a removable character, that is to say that the step 11 can advantageously pass from a functional configuration to a non-functional configuration and vice versa. The upper step 11 is advantageously carried by the box 2 and is mounted mobile relative to the latter between on the one hand a stable storage position (illustrated in FIGS. 6, 9 and 10), in which said upper step 11 is stored against the box 2, and preferably pressed against the latter, and on the other hand a stable deployed position (illustrated by the ), in which said upper step 11 extends in line with and at a distance from said cover 4, so that said support structure in the folded configuration (with in this case the cover 4 in the low position) and said upper step 11 respectively form two consecutive steps of a staircase or a ladder. In the case of a staircase as illustrated, the upper step 11 extends, in the deployed position, in line with only a part of the second panel 6, that is to say that the upper step 11 does not entirely overhang the first panel 6 and leaves a part of it free to form a step.

Advantageously, the piece of furniture 1 comprises a mechanism for guiding said upper step 11 between said storage position and deployed position. Said guide mechanism comprises for example at least a first guide path with a first straight section 12, a second straight section 13 parallel to said first straight section 12 and shorter (i.e. of lesser length) than the latter, as well as a third quarter-circle section 14 connecting said first and second sections 12, 13. Said first guide path is for example formed by a groove arranged externally on the surface of the wall forming the third face 22 of the body 2. The guide mechanism of the upper step 11 also advantageously comprises a first connecting arm 15 which carries the upper step 11. Said first connecting arm 15 extends for example substantially perpendicular to the upper step 11, and is preferably, as illustrated, in the form of a substantially rectangular panel whose width corresponds substantially to that of the upper step 11. Said first connecting arm 15 further carries first and second slides (not visible in the figures) which cooperate with said first guide path so that, when moving from the storage position to the deployed position:
- said first and second slides first engage respectively said first and second sections 12, 13 to guide said first connecting arm 15 in horizontal translation,
- then the second slide engages the third section 14 to guide said first connecting arm 15 in rotation along an axis of rotation passing through said first slide engaged by the first section 12.
The first connecting arm 15 then pivots around the first slide housed in the first section 12, according to an angular travel of 90° which brings the first step 11 into the position illustrated in the figure. .

It is then possible to slide the first and second sliders in the first section 12 to block the upper step 11 in its deployed position, the presence of the first and second sliders in the first straight section 12 making it possible to support the weight exerted by the user on the step 11 and prevent the latter from returning to its initial storage position.

Preferably, in order to reinforce the mechanical strength of the guide mechanism, the latter also comprises a second connecting arm 16, symmetrical to the first connecting arm 15, and which cooperates with a second guide path provided on the fourth face 23, said second guide path being advantageously symmetrical to the first guide path provided on the third face 22. Thus, the guide mechanism advantageously includes a subassembly having an overall U shape, where the legs of the U are respectively formed by the first and second connecting arms 15, 16, while the core of the U corresponds to the upper step 11. Thanks to the preferred arrangement described and illustrated, the upper step 11 is first of all, in its storage position, arranged vertically, parallel to the second face 21 of the box 2, against the latter. It then moves away from said second face 21 by rectilinear translation ( ), before undergoing a quarter-turn rotation which brings it into a functional orientation. It is then sufficient to slide the arms 15, 16 forward so that the two slides are engaged by the same first section 12, thus stabilizing the upper step in the deployed position.

Advantageously, the box 2 comprises a drawer 17 with a receptacle 18 and a front panel 19 secured to the receptacle 18. The drawer 17 is advantageously designed to slide between, on the one hand, a closed position (illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8) in which the receptacle is housed within said interior storage space 3, the front panel 19 in this case forming at least part of the first face 20, and on the other hand an open position ( and 10) in which the receptacle 18 is, at least in part, outside said interior storage space 3. The receptacle 18 advantageously comprises a bottom wall 18A and side walls 18B, 18C which extend from the front facade 19 and from the bottom wall 18A.

The drawer 17 thus provides easy access to equipment stored in the interior storage space 3. For example, the equipment in question may be formed by a portable toilet (WC) module 30 (see ). The portable toilet module 30 can thus be housed in the receptacle 18 and hidden from view when the drawer 17 is in the closed position. To use the portable toilet module (portable toilet), the user only has to slide the drawer 17, by pulling on the front panel 19, to bring it into the open position ( ), thereby freeing up access to the portable toilet module 30 which can be used directly, while remaining housed in the receptacle 18.

The invention also relates as such to a piece of furniture 1 conforming to the description above, which further comprises a portable toilet module 30 embedded in the receptacle 18.

Advantageously, the drawer 17 comprises a rim 19A carried by said front facade 19 and which projects horizontally from the latter to form, when the drawer 17 is in the closed position, a step of said staircase (or said ladder) mentioned previously and illustrated in . In other words, the rim 19A extends outwards from the front face 19 of the drawer 17 to act as a first step, a second consecutive step being formed by the free part of the second panel 6, while a third step is formed by the upper step 11 (as visible in the ).

Ultimately, the piece of furniture 1 according to the invention allows multiple uses and functionalities, while having an extremely compact and practical character.

Claims (12)

Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) intended to equip a habitable vehicle, said piece of furniture (1) comprising a box (2) delimiting an interior storage space (3), said box (2) extending vertically between a base (2A), intended to rest stably on a floor of said vehicle, and an opposite top (2B), said piece of furniture (1) also comprising a cover (4) carried by the box (2) and mounted mobile in circular translation relative to the latter between a stable low position in which it covers said top (2B) to close the box (2), and a stable high position in which it is vertically spaced from the top (2B), said cover (4) comprising a support structure which includes at least a first and a second panel (5, 6), said support structure being designed to evolve between a stable folded configuration, in which said panels (5, 6) are one on top of the other, and a stable unfolded configuration in which said panels (5, 6) are side by side, said piece of furniture (1) forming, when the cover (4) occupies said low position, a low pouf-type seat, with the support structure in the folded configuration forming a seat, while when the cover (4) occupies said high position, said piece of furniture (1) forms a table, with the support structure in the unfolded configuration forming a top. Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a deformable parallelogram mechanism which ensures a circular translational connection of the cover (4) and the body (2), said deformable parallelogram mechanism comprising at least a first and a second connecting rod (9, 10) which are each articulated on the one hand to the body (2) and on the other hand to the cover (4). Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said box (2) has a generally parallelepiped shape with at least first and second faces (20, 21) which rise, in line with and at a distance from each other, between the base (2A) and the top (2B), said first connecting rod (9) being pivotally mounted relative to said box (2) along a first horizontal pivot axis (C) which extends parallel to, and in the vicinity of, said first face, while said second connecting rod (10) is pivotally mounted relative to said box (2) along a second horizontal pivot axis (D) which extends parallel to said first horizontal pivot axis (C), between the latter and said second face. Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said first connecting rod (9) has a generally rectilinear shape while said second connecting rod (10) has a generally bent shape which defines a concavity arranged opposite said first connecting rod (9). Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (4) comprises a plate (7) which carries said support structure, said first panel being pivotally connected to said plate (7) along a vertical pivot axis, said first and second panels (5, 6) being articulated together. Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a removable upper step (11) which is carried by said box (2) and is mounted to move relative to the latter between a stable storage position in which said upper step (11) is stored against the box (2), and a stable deployed position in which said upper step (11) extends in line with and at a distance from said cover (4), so that said support structure in the folded configuration and said upper step (11) respectively form two consecutive steps of a staircase or ladder. Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for guiding said upper step (11) between said storage position and deployed position, said guiding mechanism comprising at least on the one hand a first guide path with a first straight section (12), a second straight section (13) parallel to said first straight section (12) and shorter than the latter, as well as a third quarter-circle section (14) connecting said first and second sections (12, 13), and on the other hand a first connecting arm (15) which carries said upper step (11) and first and second sliders, said first and second sliders cooperating with said first guide path so that, when moving from the storage position to the deployed position, said first and second sliders first engage respectively said first and second sections (12, 13) to guide said first connecting arm (15) in horizontal translation, then the second slider engages the third section (14) for guiding said first connecting arm (15) in rotation along an axis of rotation passing through said first slide. Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box (2) comprises a drawer (17) with a receptacle (18) and a front panel (19) secured to the receptacle (18), said drawer (17) being designed to slide between a closed position in which the receptacle (18) is housed within said interior storage space (3) and an open position in which the receptacle (18) is outside said interior storage space (3). Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to the preceding claim and any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said drawer (17) comprises a rim (19A) carried by said front panel (19) and which projects horizontally from the latter to form, when the drawer (17) is in the closed position, a step of said staircase or said ladder. Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a portable toilet module (30) embedded in said receptacle (18). Multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with an anchoring device for fixing said base (2A) to said floor. Habitable vehicle comprising a floor and a multifunctional piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, said multifunctional piece of furniture (1) resting on said floor.