US2564338A - Convertible furniture - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1951 E. w. M CARROLL CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Filed June 2'7, 1945 fl ,By 1704/ WW 23? Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims;

The inventionrelatesto furniture.

One object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture which has utility as a stool, a" writing desk and a storage compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture which is useful for several purposes where little space is available.

Other objects of the invention'will appear from the" detailed description.

The invention consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly definedby claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of an article of furniture embodying the invention and illustrating it" as used fora stool'or rest.

Fig; 2 is a perspective of a base, the compartment-unit being removed.

Fig. 3 is a transversesection.

Fig. 4'is'a perspective of thecompartment-unit inverted for use as a writing desk or work support.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section ofthe compartment-unit inverted for use ofits bottom as a writing desk or work support.

Fig. 6 is: a detail illustrating one of the spring latches for locking the closures of the compartment-unit.

The invention comprises generally, a supporting structure or base and an invertible box-unit which is adaptedto be detachably supported on the structure and includes a seat-forming. top for adapting the article for use as a stool when the unit is supported on the structure, and a bottom which, when the unit is inverted and held on the lap of a user, is adapted for use as a work rest. The box has a top whichis hinged, to provide access to the articles stored in the compartment while the unit is supported on the structure and a bottom which is hinged, to provide access to the compartment while the unit is inverted and held on the lap of a user.

The supporting structure or base comprises legs II and a rectangular frame I0 rigidly secured to the upper ends of the legs and adapted to support the box-unit at the desired elevation for use as a seat or stool. The frame I0 is provided with a bottom 9. Frame I0 and bottom 9 form a chamber With an open top, for the storage of articles under the box-unit, where they will be accessible when the box-unit is removed from the structure.

The box-unit provides a compartment for the storage of articles and comprises a rectangular frame I2 which fits on and conforms to the top of the frame I0 of the supporting structure, and is detachably supported on the supporting struc- 2 tur'e" b'ydowel pins I3 which are adapted to ex: tend intovertical sockets I4 in frame I2. The box-unithas a seat forming top which includes arigid member I5 which fits over the top of frame- I2, padding I6, and a covering IT. The margins of the covering I! are secured to the edges of top member I5 and secure the padding on member IS. The top of the box-unit is hinged as at I8; to one of the ends of frame I2,- for access to the contents of the compartment in' the unit while the latter is on frame I0 of the supporting structure. The box-unit has a bot-f tom 20 which fits in the frame I2 so' that it"w'ill be-s'ubstan'tially flush with the lower edge or said frame. Bottom 20 is hinged as at 2|, to one end of frame I2, for access to the compartment in the box-unit, as illustrated in' dotted lines in Fig. 5, when the unit is inverted as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. I

Bottom 20" is held seated against a stop" 22 fixed to the inner face of one of the ends of frame I2 by a; latch which includes a springpressed'dete'nt 23 having beveled endswhichare engageable' with a lug 24 on stop as illustrated in Fig. 6, for holding the bottom 20 inits' closed position. A tab 25 is secured to bottom 20 by whichthe latter may be opened for access to the compartment in the box-unit while the unit is inverted. The seat-forming top of the box unit is locked in its closed position by'a similar latch- 23, for holding said top closed while the box-unit is inverted.

The rigid supporting structure is adapted to rest on the floor and to support the box -unitso that its seat-forming top will be supported at the desired elevation to adapt the article for use as a'sto'ol. The compartment in the box-unit may be used for conveniently storing article's therein for ready accessthereto, by lifting said cover. The box-unit is invertible when detached from the rigid supporting structure, so that its bottom 20 can be used as a writing desk or work support, while the inverted unit is held on the lap of a user. The bottom 20 and lower edge of frame I2, are substantially flush, to provide a flat surface for writing purposes. The hinge connection between the bottom 20 and frame I2, provides for access to the articles in the compartment while the box-unit is inverted, so that writing materials or other articles stored in the compartment, will be accessible while the box-unit is removed from the supporting structure. The dowels I3 detachably hold the box-unit on the supporting structure when the article is used as a seat or stool. The latching device for the seat- 3 forming top of the box-unit, holds said top in its closed position, so that the cover will be rewhich access may be had by lifting the box-unit off the supporting structure.

The invention exemplifies an article of furniture which comprises a rigid supporting struc-.

ture and an invertible box-unit which is detachably mounted on the structure so that the top of the box-unit will be supported at the desired elevation, for use of the article as a seat or stool, and which has a bottom which is adapted for convenient use on the lap of a user, as a Writing desk. The invention also exemplifies an article of this type in which the top of the box-unit is hinged to provide for access to the compartment in the invertible box-unit while the article is used as a seat and in which the bottom is hinged for access to the compartment While the unit is inverted and used on the lap of a user. The entire assembly occupies little space and may be conveniently set in and moved under a table or into the corner of a room.

The invention is not to be understood as limited to the details described, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of furniture, comprising: a rigid supporting structure including legs and a frame rigidly connected to the upper ends of the legs; an invertible box-unit detachably fitting on the top of the frame, defining a closed storage compartment, and including a seat-forming top and a bottom, said structure being adapted to support the top at an elevation for use of the article as a stool, said top being hinged to the unit to provide access to the compartment while the unit is supported on the frame, the bottom of the unit having a substantially flat outer face adapted for use as a portable Work rest when the unit is inverted and held on the lap of a user; means for resiliently holding the top in its closed position and means for detachably holding the unit on the frame. 7

2. An article of furniture, comprising: a rigid supporting base structure including legs and a frame rigidly connected to the upper ends of the legs; an invertible box-unit detachably fitting on the top of the frame, defining a closed storage compartment, and including a top and a bottom, said structure being adapted to support the top for use as an elevated support, said top being hinged to the unit to provide access to the compartment while the unit is supported on the frame, the bottom of the unit having a substantially fiat face adapted for use as a portable work rest and being hinged to the frame to provide access to the compartment when the unit is inverted and held on the lap of a user, means for detachably holding the unit on the frame; and means for resiliently locking the hinged top and bottom in their closed positions during inversion of the unit.

3. An article of furniture, comprising: a supporting structure including legs, a frame rigidly connecting the upper ends of the legs, and a bottom, the bottom and frame forming a storage chamber with an open top; an invertible box-unit detachably fitting on the top of the frame, forming a top for said chamber, defining a closed storage compartment, and including a top and a bottom, said structure being adapted to support the top at an elevation for use as a support, the frame and the unit having conforming and substantially flush sides, said top being hinged to provide access to the compartment while the unit is supported on the frame, the bottom of the unit being substantially fiat and adapted for use as a portable work rest or support when the unit is inverted and supported on the lap of a user; and dowel pins for detachably holding the unit on the structure.

EDWARD W. MCCARROLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 188,566 Barnes Mar. 20, 1877 254,867 Graham et a1 Mar. 14, 1882 491,602 Schulte Feb. 14, 1893 614,722 Isaacs Nov. 22, 1898 1,225,958 Hopwood May 15, 1917 1,411,765 Worthington Apr. 4, 1922 1,423,714 Fry July 25, 1922 1,454,467 Crooks May 8, 1923 1,991,030 Schimmel Feb. 12, 1935 2,099,932 Isaacson Nov. 23, 1937 2,103,552 Radyx Dec. 28, 1937 2,299,673 Zalkind Oct. 20, 1942

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