GB2351902A - A folding bench having folding roof - Google Patents

Abstract

A bench has a seat element 4, a roof, and at least two fore roof supports 6, 10, and at least one rear roof support 8, 12. Each roof support is pivotably connected to the seat element. The at least one rear roof support is pivotably connected to the roof. The bench is moveable between an opened out configuration for sitting on the seat 4 sheltered by the roof in which each fore roof support 6, 10 is separated from the, or the corresponding, rear roof support 8, 12, and a flattened configuration for transport in which each fore roof support 6, 10 is closer or in contact with the, or the corresponding, rear roof support 8, 12.

Description

A BENCH The present invention relates to a bench.

Conventional benches such as used in sportshalls and gymnasia are well known. These are rigid and bulky. When used outside, in sportsfields, fixed frame canopies have been used over known benches to protect from rain and sun.

The present invention provides a bench having a seat element, a roof, and at least two fore roof supports and at least one rear roof support, each roof support being pivotably connected to the seat element and the at least one rear roof support being pivotably connected to the roof, the bench being selectably configurable in a configuration for sitting on the seat sheltered by the roof in which each front roof support is separated from the, or the corresponding, rear roof support, and in a flattened configuration for transport in which each fore roof support is closer or in contact with the, or the corresponding, rear roof support.

Preferably, there are two fore roof supports and two rear roof supports.

The roof is preferably separately manually moveable between a folded down position for transport and a folded out position for use, and the roof is selectably securable in its folded out position to the fore roof supports which thereby support the roof, and to the or each rear roof support in its folded down position, by fasteners. The fasteners preferably comprise removable locking pins.

Alternatively, the roof is preferably also pivotably connected to the fore roof supports, the roof moving to its folded out position as the bench is configured for sitting on and the roof moving to its folded down position as the bench is configured for transport.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the Figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a preferred bench in its opened out configuration; Figure 2 is a front view of the bench shown in Figure I in its opened up configuration; Figure 3 is a section view along the line A-A shown in is Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 4 around the seat; Figure 5 is a perspective front view of the bench shown in Figures 1 to 4 in an intermediate configuration between opened out and closed up configurations; Figure 6 is a perspective front view of the bench shown in 25 Figures 1 to S in its closed up configuration for transport and storage; Figure 7 is a perspective front view of a second embodiment in its opened out configuration; 30 Figure 8 is a perspective front view of the second embodiment in its intermediate configuration; and Figure 9 is a perspective front view of the second 35 embodiment in its closed up configuration.

As shown in Figure 1, the preferred movable bench 2, which is foldable and manually moveable, consists of an aluminium seat 4, four aluminium legs 6, 8, 10, 12, two feet 14, 16 and a roof 18. One end 20 of the seat 4 is connected to two of the legs 6, 8; and the other end 22 of the seat 4 is connected to the other two legs 10, 12. The pairs of legs 6, 8; 10, 12 at each end are connected to a corresponding foot 14; 16.

- Feet Each foot 14, 16 is a steel bar of substantially rectangular cross section to which a respective pair of parallel steel plates 24, 26 are fixed so as to provide each foot 14, 16 with an extending toe portion 28 and a similarly shaped exending heel portion 30. The parallel plates 24, 26 can be considered as an ankle portion. A wheel 32 is fixed to each heel portion 30 such that the two wheels 32, 32 lie in the same plane, and in the opened-out configuration of the bench 2 shown in Figure 1 do not contact the ground.

The front legs 6, 10 each connect to the corresponding pair of parallel plates 24, 26 by a respective pin 34, 36. The rear legs 8, 12 each connect to the corresponding pair of parallel plates 24, 26 by a respective pin 38, 40. The pins 38, 40 for the rear legs are further from the heel portion than the pins 34, 36 for the front legs are from the toe portion 28, and there is play between the plates 24, 26 and legs connected thereto allowing each foot 14, 16 to be selectably angled upwards relative to the legs 6, 8, 10, 12, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 which will be described in more detail later.

Seat As shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 6, the seat 4 includes a sitting portion 42 having a bent-down front edge 44 and a bent-down rear edge 46. The sitting portion 42 is perforated for airflow and comfort by perforations 48.

Between the front legs 6, 10 there is an aluminium crossbar around which is an aluminium housing 52 running along the length of the crossbar 50. The housing 52 is of top hat cross section as shown in Figure 4, having flanges 54 riveted to the underside 56 of the sitting portion 42 by rivets 58. The housing 52 is held in position on the crossbar 50 by pivot pins 60 which lie across opposing sides is 62, 64 of the housing 52.

Between the rear legs 8, 12, there is another aluminium cross bar 66 adjacent the rear edge 46 of the sitting portion 42 of the seat 4. The seat 4 is held to this crossbar 52 by two retaining brackets 68 each of which is riveted to the underside 56 of the sitting portion 42 by rivets 70.

Roof The legs 6, 8, 10, 12 all extend above the seat 4. The two front legs 6, 10 are connected together at their upper ends by a further crossbar 72. The two rear legs are connected together at their upper ends by another crossbar 74.

The roof consists of three curved aluminium roof battens 76 onto which a rigid forward curving polycarbonate canopy 78 is f ixed. The canopy can be transparent, translucent or opaque. The canopy has a front edge 80 bent over the front ends of the battens 76. The canopy is fixed to the rear upper crossbar 74 by three hinge brackets 82.

Each front leg 61, is connected to its nearest rear leg 8 near their upper ends by linking members 84 which aid in keeping the left and right pairs of 6, 8; 10, 12; parallel.

At least some of the metal components can be painted. Closed up configuration The moveable bench 2 can take a closed up configuration 10 (shown in Figure 6) in which it is suitable both for storage and for movement to a desired location by wheeling along the ground. Each side surface 86 of each rear leg 8, 12 includes an aperture 88 and each parallel plate 24, 26 includes an aperture 90. The apertures 88, 90 are adapted 15 to accommodate a manually insertable locking bolt 92 as shown in Figure 6 so as to hold the feet 16, 18 in a wheels down position. The left and right of the three battens 76 include apertures 20 94 in their side surfaces near their ends 96 distal from the upper rear crossbar 74. There are corresponding apertures 98 through the rear legs 8, 12 configured such that when the roof is folded down a manually insertable bolt 100 is fittable through the respective apertures 94, 98 to secure 25 the roof near its front edge 80 to the rear legs 8, 12, for transport. In this configuration, the sitting portion 42 of seat 4 is folded up substantially parallel with the legs 6, 8, 10, 12. 30 Opening out the bench for use Once the close up bench as shown in Figure 6 has been positioned in a desired location it is laid down so that toe 35 portions 28 and heel portions 30 of the feet 14, 16 touch the ground. The two locking bolts 92 are then removed, and by lifting front upper crossbar 72 the bench 2 is readily shifted through the intermediate configuration shown in Figure 5 until the legs 6, 8, 10, 12 are substantially upright as shown in Figure 1. It will be seen that the seat 4 is shifted from a "'closed up" position shown in Figure 6 where the sitting portion 42 is substantially parallel to the legs to an "opened out" position shown in Figure 1 where the sitting portion 42 is substantially perpendicular to the legs.

Once the bench 2 is opened out, the two locking bolts 92 are then inserted through apertures 90 in the parallel plates 24, 26 and corresponding apertures 102 in the side surfaces of each front leg 6, 10 so as to fix the legs 6, 8, 10, 12 upright. The roof 18 is then raised by removing the two further locking bolts 100 to release the roof 18, then lifting its front edge so as to rotate the roof 18 into its opened out position. Each of the two further locking bolts is inserted through further apertures 104 in the side surfaces of a respective front legs 6, 10 and through the apertures in the respective left or right battens 76.

Closing up the bench for wheeling to a different location To close up the bench 2, basically the reverse steps are undertaken. The locking bolts 100 are removed. The roof 18 is then lowered and secured near its front edge 80 to the rear legs 8, 12 by the locking bolts 100.

The locking bolts 92 are removed and the crossbar 72 is pulled manually down and forward so that the bench 2goes through its intermediate configuration shown in Figure 5 before lying flat on the ground. The locking bolts 92 are then inserted into corresponding apertures 88, 90 to secure the feet 16, 18 in their wheels down position.

The bench 2 is then turned so that its wheels 32 contact the ground as shown in Figure 6. In this configuration and orientation it is readily manually moved to a new desired location.

Another Example An alternative bench 2' is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

This has front legs 61, 81 and rear legs 10", 121. Each pair 61, 101; 81, 121 of front and rear legs are pivotally connected by parallel base plates 241, 261 which allow the legs to move from a separated configuration shown in Figure 7 through an intermediate configuration shown in Figure 8 to a close together configuration shown in Figure 9. Each pair of base plates 24', 261 is connected to a corresponding toe portion 281 on the end of which a corresponding wheel 321 is attached.

The legs 61, 81, 10', 121 extend above the seat 4'. The front legs 61, 101 are each connected to and support respective sides 3, 5 of a roof 181. These connections 7 allow pivoting movement. In each pair, front leg 61, 101 is connected to rear leg 81, 121 by a pivoting link member 84'.

The rear legs 81, 12' are each connected by brackets 13 to support a respective side 3, 5 of the roof 181 near the rear edge 9 of the roof 181.

The seat 41 is pivotally connected to and supported by the front and rear legs 61, 81, 10", 121 by a crossbar (not shown) between the front legs 61, 10' and a second cross bar (not shown) between the rear legs 81, 121. The second crossbar is enclosed in a housing 11.

After being wheeled to the desired location, the alternative bench 21 is laid on its back with toe portions 281 on the ground. The roof 18' and legs 6', 8', 101, 121 are then lifted to a position where the legs are vertical and the seat 41 is ready to be sat on. After use, the bench 21 is flattened onto its back (closed up configuration) then pulled up for wheeling along the ground (Figure 9).

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A bench having a seat element, a roof, and at least two fore roof supports, and at least one rear roof support, each roof support being pivotably connected to the seat element and the at least one rear roof support being pivotably connected to the roof, the bench being selectably configurable in a configuration for sitting on the seat sheltered by the roof in which each fore roof support is separated from the, or the corresponding, rear roof support, and in a flattened configuration for transport in which each fore roof support is closer or in contact with the, or the corresponding, rear roof support.

2. A bench according to claim 1, in which there are two fore roof supports and two rear roof supports.

3. A bench according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the roof is separately manually moveable between a folded down position for transport and a folded out position for use, and the roof is selectably securable in its folded out position to the fore roof supports which thereby support the roof, and to the or each rear roof support in its folded down position, by fasteners.

4. A bench according to claim 3, in which the fasteners comprise removable locking pins.

5. A bench according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the roof is also pivotably connected to the fore roof supports, the roof moving to its folded out position as the bench is configured for sitting on and the roof moving to its folded down position as the bench is configured for transport.