Abstract
Provided in this disclosure is a table having a multi-section design that combines the functions of a coffee table and an ottoman. One or more rotatable sections are independently rotatable between a hard table surface or cushioned ottoman surface facing up. One or more fixed sections are provided for table functionality, even if one or more rotatable sections are rotated to the ottoman surface. When all rotatable sections are rotated to the table surface, a large, continuous surface is created that is perfect for dining or entertaining. The fixed section(s) also include one or more drawers for storing remotes, coasters, and other small essentials. When a user wants to convert a rotatable section, a release handle is pulled on the side of the frame. This allows the side section to rotate freely until either the table surface or ottoman surface is in position and locks in place automatically.
Claims
1. A convertible article of furniture comprising: a frame, a fixed center section, at least one rotatable section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the fixed center section and the distal end attached to the frame, and an axle assembly carried by the frame and running through the fixed center section and the at least one rotatable section, wherein the at least one rotatable section is rotatable about the axle assembly.
2. A convertible article of furniture, as in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises: at least one vertical support assembly.
3. A convertible article of furniture, as in claim 1, wherein the fixed center section is a table.
4. A convertible article of furniture, as in claim 1, wherein the at least one rotatable section comprises: an elastically deformable surface.
5. A convertible article of furniture, as in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises: a spring loaded, sliding bolt.
6. A convertible article of furniture, as in claim 1, wherein the axle assembly is affixed to the fixed center section.
7. An article of furniture, as in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises: a bolt handle.
8. A convertible article of furniture comprising: a frame, a fixed center section, at least one rotatable section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the fixed center section and the distal end being biasedly releasably attached to the frame, and an axle assembly carried by the frame and running through the fixed center section and the at least one rotatable section, wherein the at least one rotatable section is rotatable about the axle assembly.
9. An article of furniture, as in claim 8, wherein the frame comprises: at least one vertical support assembly.
10. An article of furniture, as in claim 8, wherein the fixed center section is a table.
11. An article of furniture, as in claim 8, wherein the at least one rotatable section comprises: an elastically deformable surface.
12. An article of furniture, as in claim 8, wherein the frame comprises: a spring loaded, sliding bolt.
13. An article of furniture, as in claim 8, wherein the axle assembly is affixed to the fixed center section.
14. An article of furniture, as in claim 8, wherein the frame comprises: a bolt handle.
15. A convertible article of furniture comprising: a frame, a fixed center section, at least one rotatable section having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end adjacent to the fixed center section and the distal end being biasedly releasably attached in a lock position to the frame, and an axle assembly carried by the frame and running through the fixed center section and the at least one rotatable section, wherein the at least one rotatable section is rotatable about the axle assembly.
16. An article of furniture, as in claim 15, wherein the frame comprises: at least one vertical support assembly.
17. An article of furniture, as in claim 15, wherein the fixed center section comprises: a table surface.
18. An article of furniture, as in claim 15, wherein the fixed center section comprises: a table surface and a receptacle configured to accept one or more drawer assemblies.
19. An article of furniture, as in claim 15, wherein the frame comprises: a spring loaded, sliding bolt.
20. An article of furniture, as in claim 15, wherein the axle assembly is affixed to the fixed center section.
Description
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The disclosed convertible coffee table assembly may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, aspects of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a complete coffee table assembly including at least one rotatable section with a cushion surface facing up and another rotatable section with a table surface facing up in accordance with an exemplary aspect.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of the complete coffee table assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary aspect.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the present coffee table assembly having the rotatable sections removed to clearly show the components underneath and hidden elements in the rotatable sections in accordance with another exemplary aspect.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side view of the coffee table assembly that shows hidden components of the locking mechanism and a rotatable section in a horizontal and locked state in accordance with another exemplary aspect.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a portion of a front view of the coffee assembly that exposes hidden elements of the locking mechanism and also shows a rotatable section in its horizontal and locked state in accordance with another exemplary aspect.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a side view of the coffee table assembly that shows hidden components of the locking mechanism and a rotatable section in the process of rotating between the ottoman and table modes in accordance with another exemplary aspect.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a portion of a front view of the coffee assembly that exposes internal elements of the locking mechanism and also shows a rotatable section in the process of rotating between the ottoman and table modes in accordance with another exemplary aspect.
[0023] FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 4 but with components of another exemplary aspect.
[0024] FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 5 but with components of another exemplary aspect.
[0025] FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 6 but with components another exemplary aspect.
[0026] FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 7 but with components of another exemplary aspect.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a side view of another exemplary aspect showing the rotation of a rotatable section about a horizontal axis.
[0028] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of another exemplary aspect showing the rotation of one rotatable section about a horizontal axis and the other rotatable section in a locked position with the table surface facing up.
[0029] FIG. 14 is an isometric view of another exemplary aspect.
[0030] FIG. 15 is also an isometric view of another exemplary aspect.
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Reference is now made to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating aspects of the article only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows an article of furniture 1 that is convertible between the functions of a table and an elastically deformable surface (colloquially known as an ottoman), including a pair of vertical support assemblies 14 that are connected to each other by a base assembly 16. In FIG. 1, the pair of vertical support assemblies 14 and the base assembly 16 collectively form a frame 17. However, without departing from the teachings of the invention, the frame 17 could be formed by the pair of vertical support assemblies 14 without the base assembly 16. Referring again to FIG. 1, between the vertical support assemblies 14 and adjacent to them are two rotatable sections 18, which may be positioned with either a soft cushioned surface 24 or hard table surface 26 facing upwards. Between the two rotatable sections 18 is a fixed center section 20, which includes a hard table surface 28. The construction of this fixed center section 20 includes a receptacle 20a configured to accept one or more drawer assemblies 22.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a front view of the complete coffee table assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary aspect. The article of furniture 1 includes a pair of vertical support assemblies 14 that are connected to each other by a base assembly 16. Collectively, the pair of vertical base assemblies 14 and the base assembly 16 form a frame 17. However, frame 17 could be formed without the base assembly 16. Referring back to FIG. 2, between the vertical support assemblies 14 and adjacent to them are the two rotatable sections 18. Between the two rotatable sections 18 is a fixed center section 20, which contains a draw assembly 22.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical support assemblies 14 are also connected by an axle assembly 30. The axle assembly 30 goes through and connects with the fixed center section 20, keeping it in a fixed position. While in one aspect of the present teaching a single axle is used, a similar connection between the vertical support assemblies 14 and the fixed center section 20 could be made with two separate axles on either side of the fixed center section 20. In this figure, the drawer assembly 22 is shown in its open position, coming out of the fixed center section 20. Rotatable sections 18 are shown here in phantom and separated from the rest of the assembly to expose hidden components. Each rotatable section 18 includes a tabletop 36, which is attached to an outer mounting bracket 32a and an inner mounting bracket 34. The bases of these mounting brackets 32a, 34 are secured to the tabletop 36 and keepers 45 are bolted to the bases around axle assembly 30, which goes through axle holes 40, allowing the rotatable sections 18 to freely rotate about a horizontal axis. A cushion component 38 is affixed to the tabletop 36 by hook and loop fasteners or similar means.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, on the side of each vertical support assembly 14 is a spring loaded, sliding bolt 44a, which is connected to a bolt handle 46. When a rotatable section 18 is in a horizontal position with either its cushioned surface 24 or table surface 26 facing up, the sliding bolt 44a lines up with, and engages with, one of the bolt catch holes 42 in the outer mounting bracket 32a.
[0036] FIGS. 4 through 7 further clarify the relationship between the sliding bolts 44a and the outer mounting brackets 32a. FIG. 4 is a side view of the article of furniture 1 and includes a phantom view showing several hidden components, including: the outer mounting brackets 32a, the tabletop 36, axle holes 40, the top bolt catch holes 42, the sliding bolt 44a, and the bolt handle 46. With the rotatable section 18 in a horizontal position, here shown with the tabletop 36 on the bottom, the sliding bolt 44a lines up with the top bolt catch hole 42 in the outer mounting bracket 32a.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows this same configuration in a portion of the front view with the hidden components exposed. The sliding bolt 44a is biased towards a locked position by a spring 48, seating it within the top bolt catch hole 42 and an indentation in the outer mounting bracket 32a in vertical support assembly 14. This prevents the rotatable section 18 from rotating and fixes its position relative to the vertical support assembly 14.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a rotatable section 18 in the process of rotating. Rotation is achieved by pulling outward on the bolt handle 46, as shown in FIG. 7. This disengages the sliding bolt 44a from the bolt catch hole 42 and pulls it fully within the hole in vertical support assembly 14. Once rotation of the rotatable section 18 begins, the sliding bolt 44a is held inside the vertical support assembly 14 in the unlocked position by the face of the outer mounting bracket 32a. At this point, the user no longer needs to pull out on the bolt handle 46.
[0039] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the rotatable section 18 at 90 degrees from horizontal as an example, but the sliding bolt 44a will remain in the unlocked position at any angle other than horizontal. When the user has rotated the rotatable section 18 back to horizontal, the spring 48 will automatically return the sliding bolt 44a to the locked position.
[0040] FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show the same views as FIGS. 4 through 7, but with alternate outer mounting bracket 32b and bolt 44b. Outer mounting bracket 32b does not include bolt catch holes 42. Bolt 44b is a rectangular bar with a flat bottom surface 44c. In the locked position with the hard table surface 28 and rotatable sections 18 horizontal, the bottom surface 44c of bolt 44b makes contact with the top surface 32c of outer mounting bracket 32b, preventing rotatable section 18 from rotating about the axle assembly 30.
[0041] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the rotation of the rotatable section 18 about a horizontal axis.
[0042] FIGS. 14 and 15 show alternate methods of construction, and as in FIG. 3, the rotatable sections 18 have been removed to expose hidden components. In FIG. 15, the pair of vertical support assemblies 14 can stand via connection of the keepers 45 to the axle assembly 30. These alternatives specifically relate to how the fixed center section 20 can be connected to the other components to create a three-section design with the two rotatable sections 18 and the fixed center section 20 in a single piece of furniture. In both figures, the sides 29 of the fixed center section 20 have been extended down to where they now act as vertical supports. In FIG. 10, the fixed center section 20 now directly connects with the base assembly 16, fixing its position relative to the vertical support assemblies 14. With this construction, the axle assembly 30 need not be affixed to the fixed center section 20 and it can pass through it without connecting. In FIG. 11, the base assembly 16 is not used, and instead the vertical support assemblies 14 and the fixed center section 20 make direct contact with the ground. Here, the fixed center section 20 is held in a fixed position relative to the vertical support assemblies 14 by the axle assembly 30, or a pair of axle assemblies. Both alternate constructions are shown with an additional drawer assembly 50.
[0043] Material used for the construction of the present coffee table assembly can vary, but for all of the components excluding the cushion components 38 and the springs 48, wood, metal, or any other similarly rigid material can be used. The cushion components 38 can be made of foam, elastically deformable material, or similar soft, resilient material and likely covered with upholstery. The springs 48 can be made of resiliently formed metal, though any material that could sufficiently bias the sliding bolt 44a or 44b into the locked position could alternatively be used without departing from the present teaching.
[0044] In addition, the vertical support assemblies 14 can form a frame 17 with or without the base assembly 16. These different configurations are within the general scope of the present teaching.
[0045] Numerous aspects have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the present teaching. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
