Collapsible sheltered bench

Abstract

A collapsible sheltered bench operable to have a first collapsed configuration and a second erect configuration. The sheltered bench includes a base member comprising a bench surface for sitting. The sheltered bench further includes a canopy member having first and second support members and a cover. In the erect configuration the first and second support members extend from a first side of the sitting surface to a second substantially opposed side of the sitting surface along opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the sitting surface. The first and second support members support the cover such that the cover extends over at least a portion of the sitting surface.

Claims

1. A collapsible sheltered bench operable to have a first collapsed configuration and a second erect configuration, the collapsible sheltered bench comprising a base member comprising a bench sitting surface, and a canopy member comprising first and second support members and a cover, wherein in the erect configuration the first and second support members extend from a first side of the sitting surface to a second substantially opposed side of the sitting surface along opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the sitting surface, and wherein the first and second support members support the cover such that the cover extends over at least a portion of the sitting surface, wherein the base member comprises a plurality of repeating support units, wherein the first and second canopy support members are under longitudinal and lateral tension in the erect configuration, wherein the base member comprises a first canopy attachment member operable to form an attachment with the first canopy support member and a second canopy attachment member operable to form an attachment with the second canopy support member, and wherein the first and second canopy attachment members each comprise a bore operable to receive a projection of the respective canopy member, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bores of the first and second canopy attachment members are slanted when the collapsible sheltered bench is in the erect configuration, wherein, in the erect configuration, the cover comprises a front edge that extends from beyond the front edge of the sitting surface, and further comprises a rear edge that extends beyond the rear edge of the sitting surface.

2. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the base member is a collapsible base member operable to be moved from a first open position in which the sitting surface is suitable for sitting to a second collapsed position in which the base member is compact compared to the first position.

3. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the support units of the base member each comprise at least two pairs of support members wherein the support members of each pair are pivotally connected together such that each pair of support members are operable to move from a spaced configuration in the first open position of the base member to an adjacent configuration in the second compact position.

4. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the support units each comprise a first longitudinally extending pivotally connected pair of support members and a first laterally extending pivotally connected pair of support members, with respect to the sitting surface.

5. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the base member comprises joining members operable to attach pairs of support members within a support unit and optionally also to attach adjacent support units, suitably, the joining members comprising pivotal connections.

6. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 5, wherein the base member further comprises vertical support members extending between joining members.

7. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the sitting surface is a pliable sitting surface.

8. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the base member and the canopy member are operable to form a reversible attachment.

9. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the base member comprises at least two canopy attachment members arranged at substantially opposite sides of the sitting surface in the erect configuration.

10. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a first and a second canopy attachment member at a first side of the sitting surface and a third and a fourth canopy attachment member at a second side of the sitting surface.

11. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 10, wherein the first and second canopy attachment members of the base member, and/or the third and fourth canopy attachment members of the base member, are off-set from vertical by substantially the same amount.

12. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second support members of the canopy member each comprise base member attachment portions operable to form an attachment with the canopy attachment members of the base member in the erect configuration.

13. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second canopy support members are operable to be collapsed along the longitudinal length.

14. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the cover of the canopy member is pliable.

15. The collapsible sheltered bench according to claim 1, wherein the cover is operable to be held under tension in the erect configuration.

16. A kit of parts for a collapsible sheltered bench operable to have a first collapsed configuration and a second erect configuration, the kit of parts comprising a base member comprising a bench sitting surface, a canopy member comprising first and second support members and a cover, wherein the canopy member is operable to form a reversible attachment with the base member to provide a cover over at least a portion of the sitting surface of the base member, wherein in the erect configuration the first and second support members extend from a first side of the sitting surface to a second substantially opposed side of the sitting surface along opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the sitting surface, and wherein the first and second support members support the cover such that the cover extends over at least a portion of the sitting surface, wherein the base member comprises a plurality of repeating support units, wherein the first and second canopy support members are under longitudinal and lateral tension in the erect configuration, wherein the base member comprises a first canopy attachment member operable to form an attachment with the first canopy support member and a second canopy attachment member operable to form an attachment with the second canopy support member, and wherein the first and second canopy attachment members each comprise a bore operable to receive a projection of the respective canopy member, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bores of the first and second canopy attachment members are slanted when the collapsible sheltered bench is in the erect configuration, wherein, in the erect configuration, the cover comprises a front edge that extends from beyond the front edge of the sitting surface, and further comprises a rear edge that extends beyond the rear edge of the sitting surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a front view of an erect sheltered bench according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a perspective front view of the erect sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the sheltered bench of FIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration, with base member and canopy member in a collapsed configuration.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a front view of the sheltered bench of FIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration, with a front view of the collapsed base member of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the base member of FIG. 3 in the open configuration.

(6) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged front view of the repeating base member support units of the base member of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 shows an enlarged side view of the canopy attachment members of the base member of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a enlarged front view of the canopy attachment members of the base member of FIG. 5

(9) FIG. 9 shows a side perspective view of the base member of FIG. 5 and an assembled first support member of the canopy member of FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a side perspective view of an assembled first support member of the canopy attached to the open base member of the sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

(11) FIG. 11 shows a side perspective view of the base member of FIG. 5 and of an assembled second support member of the canopy member of FIG. 1.

(12) FIG. 12 a side perspective view of the assembled first support member of the canopy member and second support member of the canopy member attached to the open base member of the sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

(13) FIG. 13 shows a side perspective view of the erect sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

(14) FIG. 14 shows an enlarged side perspective view of the erect sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

(15) FIG. 15 shows an enlarged from front view of the erect sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

(16) FIG. 16 shows a perspective rear view of the erect sheltered bench of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(17) FIGS. 1 and 2 show erected sheltered bench 100 according to the present invention. Sheltered bench 100 is formed of collapsible base member 102 and collapsible canopy member 104.

(18) Base member 102 is formed of bench sitting surface 106, bench backrest surface 108 and repeating base member support units 110a-h.

(19) Each base member unit 110a-h has an open bottomed cuboidal shape, the sides walls of which are formed of a plurality of inflexible metal hollow cylindrical supporting members and joining members. Each of base member units 110b-f is formed of four vertical supporting members 124, one positioned on each vertical edge of the cuboidal shape; four pairs of pivotally attached support members 112, 114, 116, 117 wherein one pair extends along each vertical face of the cuboidal shape; and eight joining members 120, wherein one joining member is positioned on each vertex of the cuboidal shape. Support member pairs 112 and 114 extend longitudinally relatively to the longitudinal length of the sitting surface, with support member pair 112 forming the front face of the cuboidal shape and pair 114 forming the rear face of the cuboidal shape. Support member pairs 116 and 117 extend laterally relatively to the longitudinal length of the sitting surface, with support member pairs 116 and 117 extending along the side faces of the cuboidal shape. Repeating base member units 110b-f are fixedly attached in series such that base member support pairs 116, 117 are shared between adjacent units.

(20) Each pair of supporting members 112, 114, 116, 117 are formed of two supporting members that are pivotally connected together about the midpoint of each member such that they can be in either an open or compact configuration: when in an open configuration the terminal ends of the members are spaced apart and the pair are in a cross-like configuration; when in a compact configuration the terminal ends of the members are relatively adjacent and the support members are substantially vertically orientated. When the base member is in an open configuration the support members of each pair 112, 114, 116, 117 are both in a slanted position, off-set 45° from the vertical. Pairs of supporting members are pivotally connected using pins 118 centred to mid-point of each supporting member.

(21) Joining members 120 of units 110b-g are each pivotally attached to an end of one support member from each of two pairs of longitudinally extending support member pairs and an end of one support member from one laterally extending support member pair. In this way, the pairs of each unit at fixedly attached and adjacent units are attached.

(22) Vertical support members 124, 126 extend vertically between upper and lower joining members 120 of the base support units 110b-g. Vertical support members form the vertical edges of the cuboidal shape of the base member units 110b-g such that each unit has two vertical support members on the front side of the sitting surface 124, and two vertical support members on the rear of the sitting surface 126. Adjacent base member units 110 share vertical supporting members 124, 126.

(23) Front vertical supporting members 124 are fixed non-pivotally to the upper and lower joining members. Front vertical supporting members 124 are telescopic and able to move from a shorter retracted position when the base member unit is in an open configuration to a longer extended position when the base member unit is in a collapsed configuration.

(24) Rear vertical supporting members 126 are not telescopic and the lower end is fixedly attached to the lower joining members only 120b. The upper end of the rear vertical supporting members extend slidably through and above the upper joining member 120a to provide a backrest support for bench backrest surface 108.

(25) Bench sitting surface 106 is formed from pliable fabric which extends across the central six base member units 110b-g and has the same width as one base member unit. Outer base member units 110a, 110h are on either side of the terminal edge of bench seating area 106 and as such are not covered by the sitting surface. The bench sitting surface 106 is fixedly attached to the front upper joining members 120a. The bench sitting surface 106, is slidably attached to rear vertical support members.

(26) Bench backrest surface 108 is formed from pliable fabric which is the same length as six base member units and in integrally formed with the bench sitting surface. The backrest surface 108 is formed of attachment members 109 which attach the backrest surface to the backrest support portion 127 formed by the portions of rear vertical support members 126 protruding above the upper joining members.

(27) The outer base member units 110a, 110h are the same as base member units 110b-g except that they do not contain a vertical supporting member at all four vertical edges, but only at the connecting edges with the inner base member units 110b and 110g, respectively. Further, the outer laterally orientated slanted support member pair of units 110a and 110h extend above the upper joining members and are open ended to provide open ended bores 130 operable to function as canopy attachment members 128. Furthermore, the outer joining members of the units 110a and 110h are only attached to the ends of one longitudinally extending support member. Accordingly, base member 102 has four canopy attachment members 128, two each on opposing ends of the sitting surface 106. In the open position, canopy attachment members 128 are off-set 45° from the vertical in opposite directions. Slanted bore 130a-d is each able to receive an end of a support member of the canopy 134, 136.

(28) Canopy member 104 in formed of two canopy support members 134, 136 and cover 148

(29) Canopy support members 134, 136 are collapsible along their longitudinal length. In a dissembled configuration the length of the canopy support members 134, 136 have a significantly reduced longitudinal length compared to an assembled configuration. Support members 134 and 136 are each formed of a plurality of stiff linear flexiglass portions 142a-g each being of substantially the same length. Portions 142a-g are reversibly attachable in series using ferrules 140, in which each ferrule has a first open end and a second open end operable to receive the end of a portion 142a-g. Each end of portions 142a-g are elastically attached to one end of a respective ferrule 140, except for one end of each of portions 142a and 142g. In the collapsed configuration, one end of each portion 142b-f are removed from a ferrule to allow the support member to be collapsed along the longitudinal length. When in an assembled configuration, but not attached to the base member, canopy support members 134, 136 form three linear portions: two linear end portions 137 and one linear intermediate portion 139. Two curved ferrules, one provided at each of one end of portions 140a and 140g provide an assembled support member in which the longitudinal axis of the linear end portions are arranged off-set relative to the longitudinal axis of the linear intermediate portion.

(30) When canopy member 104 is attached to base member 102, opposing ends of canopy support members 134, 136 are each inserted into bores 130a and 130c, and 130b and 130d respectively. Canopy support member 134 is attached to the two slanted bores 130a and 130c and canopy support member 136 is attached to the two slanted bores 130b and 130d such that canopy support members 135 and 136 extend from a first side of the sitting surface to a second substantially opposed side of the sitting surface along opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the sitting surface. Canopy support members when assembled require a small longitudinal deformation to fit into the slanted bores and accordingly, are held under tension along the longitudinal lengths of the support members when attached to the base member.

(31) Canopy support member 134 is reversibly attached to cover 148 along substantially all of the intermediate portion of the support member in the erect configuration using cover attachment members 150. Cover 148 is also reversibly attached to base member 102 using base attachment member clips 152. In the erect configuration cover 148 extends from support member 134 over support member 136 and is clipped to the rear of base member 102. In this configuration, the cover extends from beyond the front edge of the sitting surface, over the sitting surface to beyond the rear edge of the sitting surface and is held under tension. The lateral tension required to attach the canopy member 104 to the base member 102 results in the end portions of canopy support members 134, 136 being off-set compared to the longitudinal axis of the bores of canopy attachment members 128. The angle off-set compared is shown as theta in FIG. 14. As such, in the erect configuration canopy support members are held under lateral tension by holding the support members against the bias of the support members toward a greater lateral separation between the support members along their longitudinal lengths. The cover also extends from the canopy attachment members 130a,b over the sitting surface to attachment members 130c,d under tension.

(32) As shown by FIGS. 3 to 16, the collapsed sheltered bench apparatus shown in FIG. 3 may be assembled into an erect configuration by folding base member 102 into the open configuration (FIG. 5) and assembling the canopy support members 134 and 136 before inserting the ends of the support members into the respect canopy attachment members of the base member (FIGS. 9 to 12) to place the support members under longitudinal tension. The cover 148 of the canopy member can then be arranged over support member 136 and attached to the rear of the base member to secure the cover in position and place the support members under lateral tension to thereby hold the cover under tension over the sitting surface (FIGS. 12 to 16).

(33) Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

(34) All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

(35) Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

(36) The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.