CN110179274A - Objects of furniture and methods of use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an article of furniture and a method of using the same. The article of furniture comprises an n-sided substantially prismatic core and n pads, each pad having a base defined by a circular segment. The pads are connected end to end, with one end of one of the pads preferably connected to the core. The pads are configured so that a desired number of pads can be arranged as a lounge chair, or wrapped around the core to form a footrest of selectable height. A handle is preferably secured to one end of the core or to a selected pad for transporting the article of furniture.

Description

Objects of furniture and methods of use thereof

technical field

The present invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly, to furniture that is easily transported and easily configurable as a lounge chair of selectable length and/or footrest of selectable height.

Background technique

People like to lie on lounge chairs and prop their feet up on the footrests while sitting on the chair. However, conventional lounge chairs and footrests have several disadvantages associated therewith. For example, lounge chairs and footrests come in one size and require considerable space to store when not in use. Footrests are also generally heavy and therefore difficult to move.

Accordingly, there is a need for lounge chairs and footrests that are space efficient, configurable, lightweight, and easy to move and store.

Contents of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an article of furniture comprising: an n-sided substantially prismatic core having a base delimited by an n-sided polygon; and n cylindrical pads each having: - a circular segment, a flat Base for edge and arc boundaries. The pads are connected end-to-end, with one end of one pad connected to the core. The pads are configured such that any number of pads can be arranged as a lounge chair or around the core to form a footrest. A handle is preferably secured to one end of the core or to a selected pad for transporting the furniture item.

A method for utilizing an article of furniture comprising an n-sided substantially prismatic core having a base bounded by an n-sided polygon and n cylindrical pads connected end-to-end, wherein one end of a pad is connected to the core, the method comprising the steps of arranging a desired number of pads as a lounge chair, or surrounding the core to form a footrest.

It will be appreciated that the present invention offers several advantages over the prior art. For example, the use of the present invention saves more space and is easier to store and move than conventional lounge chairs and footrests. The length of the lounge chair or the height of the footrest is also easily configurable.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Description of drawings

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture embodying features of the present invention, wherein the core element is illustrated as a prism with a triangular base;

Figures 2 to 4 depict the furniture item of Figure 1, wherein the outer cushions are spread out in different numbers to use the furniture item as a lounge chair;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an article of furniture embodying features of the present invention, wherein a ribbed core element is illustrated with a square base;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view depicting the article of furniture of FIG. 5 with the outer pads spread out to use the article of furniture as a lounge chair;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the furniture item of Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an article of furniture embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 9A is a top view of the furniture item of Figure 8 as viewed along line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 9B is an expanded view of section 9B of Figure 9A;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of an article of furniture embodying features of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a top view of the article of furniture of FIG. 10 as viewed along line 11 - 11 of FIG. 10 .

Figure 12 is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of an article of furniture having a removable pad embodying features of the present invention.

Detailed ways

In the discussion of the figures, the same reference numbers will be used throughout to refer to the same or similar components. For the sake of brevity, various other components known in the art, such as magnets, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, and the like, have not been shown or discussed. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

In addition to the foregoing, as used herein, the term "substantially" should also be considered an approximation. use the terms interchangeably and "hook and loop" material to refer to the same material.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 100 generally designates an article of furniture embodying features of the present invention. The furniture item 100 includes a substantially prismatic core 102 , exemplified as having a base 102b bounded by triangles reproducing the core as a triangular prismatic core, and wherein the base 102b is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the prismatic core. Although the base 102b is bounded by a triangle, the base may be substantially any n-sided polygon, ie, a polygon having n sides, n being an integer equal to 3 or greater. As illustrated below in Figures 5 and 6, n can be 4 to define the base as a square. Each side and angle of the polygon is preferably equal to the corresponding side and angle of each other. Handles 112 are preferably positioned on core 102 for lifting and transporting furniture items.

Three cylindrical pads 104 , 106 and 108 are configured to surround core 102 . Cylindrical pads 104, 106 and 108 preferably have: - respective bases 104b, 106b and 108b bounded by circular segments, respective corresponding flat sides 104a, 106a and 108a, and respective corresponding arcuate sides 104c, 106c and 108c, As discussed in more detail below with respect to FIG. 4 . One end 108d of the pad 108 is secured via any suitable means (e.g., sutures, zippers, adhesives, or the like) to the edge 102c of the core 102, and the other end 108e of the pad 108 is connected to the end 106d of the pad 106. Similarly, the other end 106e of pad 106 is connected to end 104d of pad 104 . Pads 104, 106 and 108 are thus connected in series end-to-end. The connecting member can be a fabric extending across the entire pad or any other suitable member, such as a hook and loop material (e.g., 8, 9A and 9B below), zippers (discussed below with respect to FIGS. 11 and 12), and the like.

To the extent the magnets surround the core, magnets 110 are positioned at strategic locations on the core 102 and pads 104, 106, and 108 to secure the pads to the core. It should be appreciated that other suitable techniques may be used to secure the pads to the core, such as discussed in more detail below.

Both the core 102 and pads 104, 106, and 108 have an outer covering that preferably includes fabric, nylon, plastic (eg, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), reinforced polyurethane, and/or the like). Furthermore, the core 102 and pads 104, 106 and 108 preferably comprise a filler comprising at least one of foam, pods, polystyrene clumps, crushed recycled plastic bottles, water and air.

2-4 depict how pads 104, 106 and 108 may be rolled out from core 102 for use as a lounge chair. Specifically, FIG. 2 depicts mat 104 being rolled out from core 102 . FIG. 3 depicts mats 104 and 106 rolled out from core 102 . FIG. 4 depicts all three pads 104 , 106 and 108 being rolled out from the core 102 . Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the cushions of article 100 can be rolled out to form lounge chairs of three different lengths.

Further to FIG. 4 , each pad 104 , 106 and 108 includes a respective flat side 104 a , 106 a and 108 a having a length 126 and a width 120 . Core 102 includes three sides 102a each of which also has a length 126 and a width 120 . Thus, in a preferred embodiment, each side 102a, 104a, 106a, and 108a is substantially the same size. By way of example and not limitation, width 120 may be any suitable width, for example, in the range of about 14" to 26", and preferably in the range of about 18" to 22". Furthermore, length 126 may be any suitable length, for example, in the range of about 16" to 28", and preferably in the range of about 20" to 24". Using standard geometric equations, core 102 has a height 124, which can be approximated by the product of width 120 times 0.87 (ie, half the square root of 3). Similarly, the segment height 122 of a pad 104, 106, or 108 can be approximated by the product of the width 120 times 0.29 (ie, 1 divided by the square root of 2 times 3). With all pads surrounding core 102, as depicted in FIG. 1, object 100 has a diameter 128, which can be approximated by the product of width 120 times 1.15 (ie, 2 divided by the square root of 3). It should be appreciated that article 100 can be used as a footrest in three configurations resulting in three different heights, that is, as shown in FIG. 128). A median height equal to diameter 128 (if width 120 is 20 inches, then median height is about 23 inches) can be obtained by wrapping all the pads around the item (as shown in FIG. 1 ) but placing the item on its side (as in FIG. 2 shown) to achieve. The minimum height of height 124 (if the width is 20 inches, then the minimum height is about 17.4 inches) can be achieved by configuring the item as shown in FIG. 2 (or alternatively, FIGS. 3 or 4).

As discussed above, the base 102b of the core 102 is preferably an n-sided polygon, illustrated in Figures 1-4 as three sides and three pads. 5 and 6 illustrate an article 200 having a substantially prismatic core 202 similar to prismatic core 102, but n being 4 to have four pads 204, The square base 202b of 206, 208 and 210 configures square prisms. Moving further to item 100, the cushions of item 200 can be laid out as shown in Figure 6 to form lounge chairs of up to four different lengths, or item 200 can take four positions for use as a footrest. Specifically, article 200 can be upright as shown in FIG. 5, it can be positioned on the side as shown in FIG. 206, 208 and 210 surround core 202, wherein core flat side 202a rests on the floor (not shown), or it can be positioned on the side, but wherein all four pads 204, 206, 208 and 210 surround core 202 (not shown) ), thereby providing four different heights, the object 200 can be used as a footrest of four different heights. Given the core height 224 and circular segment height 222, various heights can be readily determined, which can be approximated as the product of the core height 224 and 0.21 (ie, half the difference between the square root of 1 and 2). As with item 100 , item 200 preferably includes a pull handle 212 mounted to base 202 b of core 202 . The operation of article 200 as a lounge chair or footrest is also substantially similar to that of article 100, except that core 202 is configured with a square base and four pads.

FIG. 7 illustrates an item of furniture 300 similar to item 100 described above with respect to FIGS. ) straps to secure the pads 304, 306, and 308 to the core 302. Pads 304, 306, and 308 are similar to pads 104, 106, and 108, and core 302 is similar to core 102, except that three sides of core 302 are provided with strips of hook and loop material 314, 316, and 318, and the flat sides of the pads 304a, 306a and 308a have corresponding strips 324, 326 and 328 of hook and loop material. As pads 304, 306, and 308 are looped onto core 302, strips 328 and 318 are bonded, then strips 326 and 316 are bonded, and finally strips 324 and 314 are bonded. As also illustrated on FIG. 7 , the pull handle 312 may be positioned on the pad rather than on the end of the core 302 . The operation of article 300 as a lounge chair or footrest is substantially similar to that of article 100, except that hook and loop material is used to secure the pads to core 302 .

8, 9A and 9B illustrate a furniture item 400 similar to item 100 discussed above with respect to FIGS. )connected. Thus, as shown most clearly in FIG. 9B , a strip of hook material 410 is attached to the fabric 404a of one end of each pad 404 via stitching 408, and a strip of loop material 414 is attached to each respective pad 404 via stitching 406. The other end of the fabric 404a. One or more pads 404 are optionally attached to core 402, similarly as pads 104, 106, and 108 using, for example, sutures, adhesives, Magnets and the like are attached and fixed to the core 102 described above. As shown most clearly in FIG. 9A , pull handle 412 is preferably attached to the end of core 402 , but may alternatively be attached to pad 404 , similarly as shown in FIG. 7 . The operation of article 400 as a lounge chair or footrest is substantially similar to that of article 100, except that hook and loop material is used to attach the pads together.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an item of furniture 500 similar to item 100 discussed above with respect to FIGS. One or more pads 504 are optionally attached to core 502, similarly as pads 104, 106, and 108 using, for example, sutures, adhesives, Magnets and the like are attached and fixed to the core 102 described above. Pull handles 512 are preferably attached to the ends of core 502, but may alternatively be attached to pads 504, similarly as shown in FIG. 7 . The operation of article 500 as a lounge chair or footrest is substantially similar to that of article 100, except that zippers are used to connect the pads together.

Figure 12 illustrates a furniture item 600 having an n-sided substantially prismatic core 602, illustrated as a triangular substantially prismatic core 602, made of a relatively hard material (e.g. wood, particle board, hard material such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)) or the like), and defines a hollow interior 602a that is open at one or both ends thereof. One or more pads, illustrated as three pads 604, 606, and 608, are preferably removably secured to the exterior of core 602 using any suitable means, such as magnets 610, hook and loop material, or the like. One or more pads 604, 606, and 608 may be removed and stored (or "stacked") from the exterior of the core 602 as desired in the interior 602a of the core. Optionally, all or part of the flat portions 604a, 606a, and 608a of the respective pads 604, 606, and 608 may also be fabricated from a relatively stiff material, such as wood, particle board, hard plastic (e.g., high-density polyethylene (HDPE)), or the like . Pull handles (not shown) may optionally be positioned on the ends of the item 600 or on selected pads 604, 606, or 608 for transporting the item. The structure and operation of article 600 are otherwise substantially similar to the structure and operation of article 100 described above with respect to FIGS. 1-4 .

Compared with conventional lounge chairs and footrests, the use of the present invention saves more space, is easier to store and move, and can be easily configured.

It should be understood that the invention can take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several changes may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, hooks, snaps, turn lock fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, and the like can be used instead of magnets 110 and 314 fasteners. All or part of the flat portion of the pad (eg, flat side 104a of pad 104) may be fabricated from a relatively stiff material, such as wood, particle board, hard plastic (eg, high-density polyethylene (HDPE)), or the like.

Having thus described this invention by reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be noted that the disclosed embodiments are illustrative rather than restrictive in nature and a wide range of variations are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure, Modifications, changes and substitutions are made, and in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without the corresponding use of other features. Many such changes and modifications may be apparent and desirable to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are to be interpreted broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

1. An article of furniture comprising: an n-sided substantially prismatic core having a base bounded by an n-sided polygon; and n cylindrical pads connected end-to-end, each of said pads having: a base substantially defined by a circular segment, a flat side, and an arcuate boundary, wherein said flat side of said pad can be Removably securable to the core, and wherein the pads are configured such that a desired number of the n pads can be arranged end-to-end as a lounge chair, or around the core to form a footrest of selectable height. 2. The article of claim 1, further comprising a handle secured to at least one of a base of the core or a selected pad for transporting the article of furniture. 3. The article of claim 1, wherein n is 3 to configure the polygons and bases as triangles. 4. The article of claim 1, wherein n is 4 to configure the polygon and base as a square. 5. The article of claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to removably secure one or more of the pads to the core, the fastener selected from the group consisting of Groups of at least one magnet, at least one zipper, at least one hook and loop fastener, at least one snap hook, at least one snap button, at least one turn lock fastener, and at least one hook and eye fastener. 6. The article of claim 1, wherein said core and said n pads are filled with a filler comprising foam, pods, polystyrene clumps, crushed recycled plastic bottles, water, and air at least one of the . 7. The article of claim 1, wherein the core and pad have an outer covering made of at least one of fabric or plastic. 8. The article of claim 1, wherein the core and pad comprise an outer covering made of at least one of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and reinforced polyurethane. 9. The article of claim 1, wherein the core is fabricated from at least one of wood, particle board, or hard plastic. 10. The article of claim 1, wherein the core is manufactured from at least one of wood, particle board, or hard plastic, and the core defines a hollow interior. 11. The article of claim 1, wherein the flat side of the pad is fabricated from at least one of wood, particle board, or hard plastic. 12. A method for utilizing an article of furniture having an n-sided substantially prismatic core and n pads connected end-to-end, wherein one end of a pad is detachably connected to said core, said method comprising At least one of the steps: lay out the desired number of up to n pads as lounge chairs, or alternatively, A desired number of up to n pads is wrapped around the core to form a footrest. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the furniture item further comprises a handle secured to at least one of a base of the core and a selected pad, and the method further comprises transporting the Steps to describe furniture objects. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein n is 3 to configure the polygons as triangles. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein n is 4 to configure the polygon as a square. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the article includes fasteners for securing the pad to the core, and the method further comprises using at least one of the fasteners to secure the pad to the core. The step of securing the pads to the core. 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the article comprises fasteners for securing the pad to the core, the fasteners comprising at least one magnet, at least one zipper, at least one hook and loop fastener components, at least one snap hook, at least one snap button, at least one turn lock fastener, and at least one hook and eye fastener, and the method further includes using at least one of the fasteners to secure the pad to The core steps. 18. A method for utilizing an item of furniture having an n-sided substantially prismatic core and n pads connected end-to-end, wherein one end of a pad is detachably connected to said core, wherein said core is formed by Manufactured from at least one of wood, particle board or hard plastic, and the core defines a hollow interior, the method comprising at least one of the following steps: lay out the desired number of up to n pads as lounge chairs, wrapping a desired number of up to n pads around the core to form a footrest, and/or At least one pad pack is packed within the hollow interior of the core. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the article includes fasteners for securing the pad to the core, and the method further comprises using at least one of the fasteners to secure the pad to the core. The step of securing the pads to the core. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the article comprises fasteners for securing the pad to the core, the fasteners comprising at least one magnet, at least one zipper, at least one hook and loop fastener components, at least one snap hook, at least one snap button, at least one turn lock fastener, and at least one hook and eye fastener, and the method further includes using at least one of the fasteners to secure the pad to The core steps.