US20020014792A1

US20020014792A1 - Multi-functional furniture

Info

Publication number: US20020014792A1
Application number: US09/775,734
Authority: US
Inventors: Francesco Casini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-21
Filing date: 2001-04-02
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-21
Also published as: US6367874B2

Abstract

A multi-functional children's convertible furniture article which can be utilized for a number of different purposes including a bassinet, cradle, bench, desk, rocking bench, high chair, or changing table. The device includes a main frame h shaped member and two supported sides that are rotatable. The furniture article achieves all of its intended uses without disassembly. The main frame component is flat on one edge and curved on the opposite edge allowing for a rocking action in one disposition and stabilization when capsized. The main frame component allows for attachable legs to achieve its high position components. The rotatable sides have been designed to swivel up or down, singly or in unison. All of the furniture articles positions are achieved when combining one or more of the units actions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used throughout the specification and the appended claims, the term “children's knock down furniture” is intended to mean childrens furniture which has a great deal of modularity and ability to be easily assembled, disassembled, reconfigured, and reassembled to change from one furniture unit to another by the simple rearrangement of the components which make up a given unit, by changing the manner in which said components are placed in juxtaposition to one another.

Also included within the definition of “known down” furniture is the ability, to add on additional components such as “legs” to change the vertical dimensions of the particular unit to which said legs or vertical extensions are attached, handles, which, when attached, can be used for providing leverage in moving the particular unit to which they are attached, and snap-on wheels as means of locomotion.

Still another aspect of the definition of children's “knock down” furniture is the differential shapes (flat, and curved or bevelled) associated with the top and bottom of the front and rear components which allow for the changing of the function of the assembled or reassembled unit when the top and bottom of the components of the unit are flip-flopped.

For instance, when the bottom of the front and rear components is flat, there is provided a stable unit configuration which does not sway backward and forward.

This type of unit is suitable for a bassinet, a changing table, a bench, and any furniture unit which requires a stable configuration. [0005]
When the unit is configured with the curved or bevelled side of the front and rear components in the downward orientation, the unit is suitable for a cradle, or a rocking chair or any type of unit which is designed to provide a rocking motion or to sway back and forth. [0006]
The term “detachable means of locomtion” is intended to refer to a snap-on wheel assembly which can be easily attached to the bottom of the front and rear components when said components are in the configuration wherein the flat side of the front and rear components are oriented in the down position. [0007]
Additionally, the front and rear components may be scaled down in size, and attached in juxtaposition to one another such that when they are attached to a detachable means of locomotion, they provide an ideal size for a stroller. [0008]
Additionally, the scaled down components may be provided in multiple sets so as to allow for multiple stroller configurations in a side by side or front and back multiple stroller configuration. [0009]
The phrase “use of said article of manufacture in a local, intended sphere of use” is intended to refer to the ability of the invention to be converted to a stroller-type unit for the transportation of a child in a local sphere such as the home, the supermarket, the park, or some other local instrumentality. It is noted that the phrase “use of said article of manufacture in a local, intended sphere of use”, is not intended to be limited to the original “local sphere of use”, in which the unit was situated. [0010]
This term is read broadly enough to encompass a sphere of use in which the unit ultimately is utilized on a temporary or permanent basis. [0011]
For example, the unit might be purchased, and utilized in location A. Any utilization of the unit in a sphere of use which is local to location A would be a local sphere of use. [0012]
The unit is transported to location B which is a city somewhat distant, and is assembled for use as a means of transportation of the child. [0013]
The use of the unit in spheres of use of location B would fit within the definition of local spheres of use. [0014]
The phrase “means of transport of said article of manufacture in its dissembled state to different places for reassembly and use in a remote sphere of use, said means of transport being adaptable, upon the attachment of means of elevation, to be provided with the ability to be utilized as a table”, is intended to refer to a carrying case which can be utilized to transport the entire set of components in their broken down dissassembled condition from one place to another, after which the unit can be reassembled for use in the new location. [0015]
The carrying case can be adaptable to be fitted with means of locomotion, in particular, wheels, so that it can be easily transported by the alleviation of the weight of carrying. [0016]
Said carrying case is also provided with fittings to allow the attachment of verticle extensions or “legs” so that once it has been utilized to transport the unassembled or disassemled unit, the elevation of the carrying case by the attachment of the “legs” make it suitable for use as a table. [0017]
The term “means of connection of front component to rear component” refers to but is not limited to, metal threaded rods which fit into holes in the front and rear components, and slide through slots which extend lengthwise into the side and bottom components in order to connect the front and rear components to said side and bottom components. [0018]
Said metal threaded rods are held in place at the front and rear components by knobs which are provided with receiving threads which can easliy be screwed into place without the need for tools. Said knobs which hold the metal threaded rods in place are an integral part of the afore-mentioned connection means, and are intended to fit squarely within that definition. [0019]
It can readily be appreciated that the metal threaded rod and metal threaded receiving knob methodology of connection can facilitate the ability of the side components to quickly and easily swivel up or down to arrive at the desired configuration. [0020]
For example, side components, [0021] 2, can be swiveled upward or downward, or completely detached and re-attached in a different position to double as various types of components to arrive at a specific configuration.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture composed of breakdown furniture comprising:

A front component;

A rear component;

A bottom component;

Side components;

all of the aforesaid components being provided with means of connection of front component to rear component, said means of connection being slideably disposable within said components, allowing for said side and bottom components to be swivelly movable around an axis of motion, and in so being swivelly movable around an axis of motion, having the ability to facilitate the rearrangement of said side components and bottom component such that said side components can be placed in juxtaposition to said front, rear, and bottom components and one another, so as to create a number of different resulting furniture unit configurations, and to facilitate convenient assembly, dissassembly, and reassembly.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said means of connection of front component to rear component is metal threaded rods affixable to knobs provided with receiving threads.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2 wherein said front and rear components are flat at the top or bottom side and curved at the opposite side.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said means of connection of said front component to said rear component is a knob containing threads which can be disposed within receiving threads which are seated within the first inch or so of a groove in said side components.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said article of manufacture is provided with handles.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 5 wherein said article of manufacture is provided with detachable means of locomotion such that said means of locomotion allows for use of said article of manufacture in a local, “sphere of use”.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6 wherein said detachable means of locomotion is a wheel assembly.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said article of manufacture is provided with means of transportation of said article of manufacture in its unassembled or disassembled state to different places for reassembly and use in a “remote sphere of use”, said means of transportation being a carrying case which when affixed with legs can be utilized as a table.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a low bassinet

10. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a cradle.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a rocking chair

12. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a rocking chair with desk

13. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a bench.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a bench with desk.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said article of manufacture is provided with elevation means.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 wherein said elevation means are legs.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a high chair.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a. changing table.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 wherein said resulting furniture unit is a high bassinet.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said resulting furniture unit contains a potty.