Abstract:
Disclosed is a transformable seat-table. The seat-table has at least two operable configurations, the first configuration is a seat and the second configuration is a table. The seat-table includes a support structure that should have at least two horizontal members, one upper horizontal member and one lower horizontal member. The seat-table further includes two boards, the first of which has an adjustment mechanism or a releasable snap. If an adjustment mechanism is used, it is slidingly and rotatably engaged with the upper horizontal member. The two boards are connected by a hinged connecting mechanism. The second board should be at least rotatably connected to the lower horizontal member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention is related to a desk-chair combination arrangement. By using its embedded adjustment mechanism, this arrangement becomes interchangeable between a desk and a chair in order to satisfy different needs.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As technologies progress rapidly, the general public&#39;s demand for better quality of life is also moving higher. In addition to providing aesthetic appearances, consumers also require furniture to be multi-purpose, expandable and easy-to-use.  
         [0003]     Conventionally, desk and chair are functioning independently. When space and budget are limited, adding additional desks or chairs to suit temporary needs can be inconvenient and costly. To improve this single-use of a desk or a chair, the most popular desk-chair combination design is to have the desk top (board) attached to the armrest. Under this design, the board, when needed, has to be extended either sideway or forward which can cause imbalance of the entire setup. To compensate this, a smaller board is sometime used which can cause discomfort or inconvenience to the user. Furthermore, for chairs with no armrests, this design is rendered worthless.  
         [0004]     Currently, most home and office furniture serves a single use: chairs for sitting, desks and tables for work surfaces, beds for sleeping, shelving for storage, etc. With a few exceptions, home and office furniture cannot be re-used or transformed to serve a number of uses in more than one aesthetic style.  
         [0005]     While the creation of single-use furniture is well-known, novel furniture innovations are still being developed even to this day. In particular, the field of creating furniture for a plurality of uses is still a wide-open field of development. Some single-use furniture types do have some minor flexibility of use within the larger constraint of serving as a single type of furniture, for instance cabinets with adjustable height shelves.  
         [0006]     Another disadvantage of the previous attempts is that extraneous portions of the furniture must be added in order to adjust or reposition the furniture. These parts can be easily broken off and damaged rendering the furniture useless. For example, a reclining chair requires a special handle to adjust the angle of the back relative to the seat; and lounge chairs and futons use slats or attached legs to hold them in a certain position. Thus, the adjusting feature requires additional appendages not integral to the frame of the furniture.  
         [0007]     Another disadvantage is style. Previous attempts at convertible furniture are only capable of one style. For instance, the reclining chair is not capable of changing style or appearance.  
         [0008]     Single or dual-use pieces of furniture serving limited functions are relatively much more expensive because once their function is no longer needed they are discarded, for instance if the use of a particular style chair might not be aesthetically desired or ergonomically correct. The economic cost and impact on the environment of manufacturing wood and other materials, and of discarding furniture with limited utility in landfills, is large. Most furniture not in use is stored in attics or basements taking up a great deal of space. Also, most furniture is shipped fully assembled, which takes more space and therefore creates larger transportation costs, rather than being shipped disassembled or flat.  
         [0009]     Finally, the desk-chair combination type may not be required at all time by all users. A new design to satisfy the single need of having only a desk or a chair but can be easily transformed by users is clearly warranted.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTIVE ASPECTS  
       [0010]     The disclosed inventive seat-table includes an embodiment that is transformable between a seat configuration and a desk (or table) configuration. The inventive seat-table generally includes a first board, which has an attached adjustment mechanism, a second board, and a connecting mechanism that rotatably connects the first board to the second board. The seat-table should include a support structure that has an upper horizontal member, which slidingly and rotatably engages with the adjustment mechanism, and a lower horizontal member, which rotatably engages with the second board. The seat-table adjustment mechanism can include a locking mechanism and an adjustment handle that makes the locking mechanism releasable by application of force to the adjustment handle.  
         [0011]     Another embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a desk (or table) configuration. The inventive seat-table should include a support structure that has at least one horizontal member. Attached to the horizontal member is a first board that is comprised of an adjustment mechanism that has a releasable snap holder for attaching the adjustment mechanism to the horizontal member. The snap holder can be released by application of force to an adjustment handle, which can be included on the attachment mechanism. Also, a second board is rotatably connected to at least the first board by a connecting hinge.  
         [0012]     An additional embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a table (or desk) configuration. This embodiment of the seat-table should include a support structure, which should have an upper support member, a first lower support member and a second lower support member. This embodiment should also include a first board, which rotatably connects to the upper support member, a first connecting arm that is attached at one end to a lower portion of the first board and attached at its other end to the first lower support member. Also, a second connecting arm is attached at one end to a lower portion of the first board and attached at its other end to the second lower support member. To help transform the seat from the table or vice versa, the inventive seat-table can include a handle.  
         [0013]     Yet another embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a table (or desk) configuration. This embodiment of the seat-table should include a support structure, which should have an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member. A first board is rotatingly and slidingly attached to the upper horizontal member by an adjustment mechanism. A second board is connected to the first board by a connecting hinge and is rotatingly connected to the lower horizontal member.  
         [0014]     Finally, a further embodiment of the inventive seat-table is transformable between a seat configuration and a table (or desk) configuration and includes a support structure having an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member. The support structure should be comprised of a first seat support rail and a second seat support rail. A first board having a retractable protrusion is attached to and rotatable about the upper horizontal member. A second board having a first recess, which has a first recess inlet and a second recess inlet, is included in the lower horizontal member. When the seat-table is in the seat configuration, the retractable protrusion is engaged with the first recess inlet; and when the seat-table is in the table configuration, the retractable protrusion is engaged with the second recess inlet. A releasing mechanism for retracting the retractable protrusion should be attached to the retractable protrusion. A biasing means can be attached to a hinge of either the first board, the second board, or both boards to urge either or both of the boards to a seat or table configuration.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   a  is a side view of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a chair configuration;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a table configuration;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a frame of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4   a  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4   b  is a front view of a base of the locking mechanism positioned within the adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table showing the mechanism in a first locked position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4   c  is a front view of the base of the locking mechanism positioned within the adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table showing the mechanism in an unlocked position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4   d  is a front view of the base of locking mechanism positioned within the adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment of the inventive seat-table showing the mechanism in a second locked position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows an adjustment mechanism of the second embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows the second embodiment of the inventive seat-table in mid transformation;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8   a  shows a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a seat configuration;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8   b  shows a side perspective view of the third embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a table (desk) configuration;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8   c  shows a lower side perspective view of the third embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a table (desk) configuration;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8   d  shows a front perspective view of the third embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a table (desk) configuration;  
         [0031]      FIG. 8   e  shows a perspective view of an adjustment mechanism of the third embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8   f  shows a first hinge joint of the third embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0033]      FIG. 8   g  shows a second hinge joint of the third embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  shows a fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a seat configuration;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  shows the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a table configuration;  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  shows the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in mid transformation;  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a table configuration;  
         [0038]      FIG. 13   a  shows a rear perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a chair configuration;  
         [0039]      FIG. 13   b  shows an adjustment mechanism of the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table;  
         [0040]      FIG. 14   a  shows a front perspective view of a plurality of the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a stack; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 14   b  shows a side view of a plurality of the fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table in a stack.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0042]      FIGS. 1, 2   a  and  2   b  show a first embodiment of the inventive transformable furniture as a seat-table  100 , which is transformable between a first configuration—that of a chair—as shown in  FIG. 2   a  and a second configuration—that of a desk—as shown in  FIG. 2   b . The seat-table  100  includes a first board  1 , a second board  2  and a support structure  3 . An adjustment mechanism  4  is embedded in the first board  1 ; and a connecting mechanism  5  is positioned between the first board  1  and the second board  2  and rotatably connects the first board  1  to the second board  2 .  
         [0043]     With further reference to  FIG. 2   b , connecting mechanism  5  is composed of a first board connector  51  attached to the first board  1 , a second board connector  52 , attached to the second board  2 , and a connecting axle  53 . With this configuration, the first board  1  and the second board  2  can be rotated about the connecting axle  53 .  
         [0044]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , support structure  3  includes a first frame portion  31  and a second frame portion  32 . The first frame portion  31  includes two support legs  312  and  312   b , a first frame horizontal beam  311  between the two legs  312  and  312   b , and two coasters  313  and  313   b  at the bottom of the legs  312  and  312   b , respectively, for easy moving. Coasters  313  and  313   b  include coaster locks  21   a  and  21   b.    
         [0045]     The second frame portion  32  includes two second frame portion support legs  322  and  322   b  and a second frame portion horizontal beam  321  between the two second frame portion support legs  322  and  322   b . The horizontal beam  311  is positioned higher in the support structure  3  than the second frame portion horizontal beam  321 .  
         [0046]     With further reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , when the invention is in the “chair” configuration, the first board  1  is connected to the horizontal beam  311  of the frame  31 , and the second board  2  is fixed and supported by the second frame portion horizontal beam  321 . In this configuration, the first board  1  is the backrest of the chair and the second board  2  is the sitting area of the chair.  
         [0047]      FIG. 2   b  shows the side view of a transformed desk configuration. The first board  1  is transformed into desk top via adjustment mechanism  4  and connecting mechanism  5 . The second board  2  helps to support the first board  1  (now functioning as a desk top). In this configuration, the second board acts as a modesty panel to provide privacy for a person sitting at the desk.  
         [0048]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown with at least one armrest  34  added between the support leg  312  of the first frame portion  31  and support leg  322  of the second frame portion  32 . The armrest  34  is equipped with a first armrest connector  341  and a second connector  342  at opposite ends of the armrest  34 . The support leg  312  of the first frame portion  31  and the support leg  322  of the second frame portion  32  are connected with the first armrest connector  341  and the second armrest connector  342  via connecting elements  314  and  323 .  
         [0049]     To assemble an embodiment of the seat/chair having an armrest, insert the vertical part of the horizontal beam  311  of the first frame portion  31  through the first armrest connector  341  and connecting element  314 , and then into the support leg  312 . Secure the structure by inserting and tightening an armrest tightening screw  344  from the back side on the support leg  312  through connecting element  314  and horizontal beam  311 . The same procedure should be followed for connecting the second armrest connector  342  to second frame portion  32 .  
         [0050]     With particular reference to  FIG. 4   a  and general reference to  FIGS. 4-4   d , the adjustment mechanism includes an outer shell  41 , a base  42  (shown in  FIG. 4   a ), an adjustment handle  43  between the outer shell  41  and the base  42 , two springs  44   a  and  44   b , two L-shaped brakes  45   a  and  45   b , a built-in block  46  with relief  463 , and two sliders  47   a  and  47   b  installed on the base  42 . The inner side of the outer shell  41  has a concavity  411  in which a horizontal slot  412  is cut. Screw holes  413   a  and  413   b  are pre-drilled on both sides of the opening. On the inner side of the outer shell  41 , two vertical sliding slots  414   a  and  414   b  are cut and surrounded by vertical sliding slot frames  415   a  and  415   b , respectively. The vertical sliding slot frames  415   a  and  415   b  are also used as sliding tracks  416   a  and  416   b . The adjustment handle  43  has an extruded adjustment handle grip  431 , one pre-drilled screw hole  432  at an upper part thereof and two holes  433   a  and  433   b  at a lower part thereof.  
         [0051]     Brakes  45   a  and  45   b  each have a respective locking area  453   a  and  453   b , which each have a lower locking key  451   a  and  451   b  and a lower locking key  452   a  and  452   b . Each brake  45   a  and  45   b  also has a horizontal slot  454   a  and  454   b , and a pre-drilled screw hole  455   a  and  455   b  for fastening the respective brake to the outer shell  41 .  
         [0052]     On the side facing the adjustment handle  43 , the built-in block  46  has an upper extrusion  461  and two lower extrusions  462   a  and  462   b  that correspond with the adjustment handle  43  pre-drilled holes  432 ,  433   a  and  433   b , respectively.  
         [0053]     On the side facing the vertical sliding slots  414   a  and  414   b , sliders  47   a  and  47   b  each have a respective snap-on holder  471   a  and  471   b  and sliding groove  473   a  and  473   b  on each side corresponding with the sliding tracks  416   a  and  416   b  on the outer shell  41 . A respective stopper  474   a  is installed above the snap-on holder  471   a  and  471   b  to prevent the respective holders  471   a  and  471   b  from moving upward in the respective vertical sliding slots  414   a  and  414   b . Each slider also has a respective slider locking key  472   a , to correspond with locking keys  451   a  and  452   a , and  472   b  to correspond with the locking keys  451   b  and  452   b.    
         [0054]     To assemble the adjustment mechanism, push the extruded adjustment handle grip  431  through the horizontal slot  412  on the outer shell  41  and secure the brakes  45   a  and  45   b  to the outer shell  41  by tightening screws  456   a  and  456   b  through the brake pre-drilled holes  455   a  and  455   b  and outer shell screw holes  413   a  and  413   b . The horizontal slots  454   a  and  454   b  on the brakes  45   a  and  45   b  should now be lined up with the adjustment handle grip holes  433   a  and  433   b  on the adjustment handle  43 . Next, push the built-in block extrusions  462   a  and  462   b  on the built-in block  46  through the locking key horizontal areas  454   a  and  454   b  on the brake  45 . Connect the built-in block extrusions  462   a  and  462   b  with the adjustment handle grip holes  433   a  and  433   b  on the adjustment handle  43 . The upper extrusion  461  on the built-in block  46  will also be connected to the pre-drilled screw hole  432  on the adjustment handle  46 .  
         [0055]     The sliders  47   a  and  47   b  are now placed between the outer shell  41  and the base  42  with the snap-on holders  471   a  and  471   b  and stoppers  474   a  and  474   b  extending through the respective vertical sliding slots  414   a  and  414   b . With the interactions between the respective springs  44   a  and  44   b , locking keys  451 ,  452  and  472  and locking area  453 , the sliders  47   a  and  47   b  can be moved smoothly and securely inside the vertical sliding slots  414   a  and  414   b.    
         [0056]     With reference to  FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c , an explanation for transforming the seat/chair from a chair configuration into a desk configuration is provided. When the invention is in the chair configuration, the locking key  472  on the slider  47  is seamlessly positioned inside the locking area  453  on the brake  45 . By lifting the adjustment handle  43  (not shown in this figure) upward through the relief  463  above the built-in block  46 , the locking area  453  will retract from the slider locking key  472  on the slider  47 . The snap-on holders  471  now hold the horizontal beam  311  of first frame portion  31  with sliding motion allowed in the vertical sliding slot  414 . When pushing the connecting mechanism  5  upward, the first board  1  (backrest) will be rotating horizontally whereas the second board  2  (sitting area) will be rotating vertically. The space required for rotating the first board  1  is achieved by sliding the snap-on holders  471   a  and  471   b  in the vertical sliding slots  414   a  and  414   b . When the rotations are completed and the desk configuration is reached, the locking key  472  on the slider  47  is positioned above the locking key  452  of the brake  45 .  
         [0057]     An alternative embodiment of the seat/table is one in which the snap-on holder  471   a  and  471   b  do not slide but rather they release from the horizontal beam  311  of the first frame portion  31 . Whether a sliding or non-sliding snap-on holder is used, changing the seat-table from either a seat configuration or a table (or desk) configuration into the other configuration is carried out by simply unsnapping the snap-on holders  471   a  and  471   b  from the horizontal beam  311 , rotating the first board  1  and the second board  2  about the connecting axle  53 , and re-snapping the snap-on holders  471   a  and  471   b  back to the horizontal beam  311 . Also, in this embodiment or in the previous “sliding” embodiment, snap-on holders  471   a  and  471   b  can be replaced by a single snap-on holder (not shown) that, in the previous embodiment, is slidable within a single vertical sliding slot and, in the present embodiment, is unsnappable from the horizontal beam  311 .  
         [0058]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , an additional embodiment of the seat-table  500  is transformable between a first configuration as a seat and a second configuration as a chair. As with some of the earlier embodiments of the present invention, the frame of this embodiment of the seat-table  500  includes a support structure  3  having an upper horizontal member  14  and a lower horizontal member  18 . Also included in this embodiment of the inventive seat-table are: a first board  501  comprised of an adjustment mechanism  504 ; and a second board  506  that is connected to the first board  502  by a connecting hinge  508 . The second board  506  is rotatingly connected to the lower horizontal member  18 .  
         [0059]     With respect to  FIG. 6 , the adjustment mechanism  504  includes an adjustment mechanism handle  510  and an adjustment mechanism sliding track  512  positioned on each side of the adjustment mechanism  504 . The upper horizontal member  14  passes through the adjustment mechanism sliding track  512  and is retained in an adjustment mechanism sliding track locked section  516  by adjustment mechanism sliding track retaining member  514 . The adjustment mechanism sliding track retaining member  514  is elastically deformable such that it gives way when enough force is applied to the upper horizontal member  14  to move the adjustment mechanism sliding track  512  past the adjustment mechanism sliding track retaining member  514 . However, the adjustment mechanism sliding track retaining member  514  is rigid enough to withstand gravitational forces and to retain the adjustment mechanism sliding track retaining member  514  within the adjustment mechanism sliding track locked section  516 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the seat-chair  500  in mid transformation between a seat configuration and a table configuration. To transform the seat-table from a seat into a table, a person must lift the adjustment mechanism handle  510  upward with enough force to so that the adjustment mechanism sliding track retaining member  514  gives way to release upper horizontal member  14  from the adjustment mechanism sliding track lock section  516 . Sliding motion is now allowed in the adjustment mechanism sliding track  512 . When pulling the first board upward, the adjustment mechanism sliding track  512  allows enough space for the first board  502  to slide and rotate about the upper horizontal member  14  to an angle one-hundred and eighty degrees to that of the second board  506 , which rotates about lower horizontal member  18 . When the transformation is completed and the table configuration is reached, the upper horizontal member  14  will have been reinserted into the adjustment mechanism sliding track locking section  516  so that the table will not easily lose its stability in the table configuration.  
         [0061]     A third embodiment of the present inventive transformable furniture  800  is shown in  FIGS. 8   a - 8   c  and includes a seat-table transformable between a seat configuration (shown in  FIG. 8   a ) and a table (or a desk) configuration as shown in  FIG. 8   b - 8   d . Similar to the previous embodiments, this embodiment includes a support structure  802  having an upper support member  804 , at least one transverse support member  818 , a first longitudinal lower support member  806  and a second longitudinal lower support member  808 . A first board  810  is rotatably connected to the upper support member  804 , and an adjustment mechanism  816  (most easily seen in  FIG. 8   e ), which is configured similarly to the adjustment mechanism  4  of the previous embodiments, is attached to the first board  810 .  
         [0062]     A first connecting arm  812 , is connected at one end to the transverse support member  818  and is connected at its other end to the first board  810 . Similarly, a second connecting arm  814  is located on a side of the first board  810  opposite that of the first connecting arm  812  and is connected at one end to the transverse support member  818  and is connected at its other end to the first board  810 . As can be seen in  FIG. 8   g , using connecting arm  812  as an example, the connection between connecting arm  812  and first board  810  includes a hinge  822 . Also, the first board includes a corner protecting cover  824 . With reference to  FIG. 8   f , the end of the connecting arm  812  that is opposite the end connected to the first board  810  also includes a second hinge  826 . However, the second hinge  826  is comprised of a ring  828  that at least substantially surrounds the transverse support member  818 .  
         [0063]     Yet a fourth embodiment of the inventive seat-table is shown in  FIGS. 9-14   b . The seat-table  900  is transformable between a first configuration as shown in  FIG. 9  and a second configuration  900 ′ as shown in  FIG. 10 . The seat-table  900  includes a support structure  902  that has an upper horizontal member  904 , a first side frame  906  that is attached to a first end  908  of the upper horizontal member  904 , and a second side frame  910  attached to a second end  912  of said upper horizontal member  904 . Also, the support structure  902  should include a first longitudinal support member  932  and a second longitudinal support member  934 .  
         [0064]     A first board  914  is attached to the upper horizontal member  904  such that the first board  914  is able to rotate about the upper horizontal member  904 . The first board  914  includes a retractable protrusion  916  (more easily seen in  FIG. 11 ) located on a bottom edge thereof. A second board  918  is attached to the frame  902  such that the first side frame  906  is attached to a first edge of the second board  918  and the second side frame  910  is attached to an edge opposite the first edge of the second board  918 . When in a seat configuration, the second board  918  is supported by first longitudinal support member  932  and the second longitudinal member  934 . The second board  918  has a recess  920  that is comprised of a first recess inlet  922  that receives the retractable protrusion  916  when the seat-table is in the seat configuration. The recess  920  is also comprised of a second recess inlet  924  that receives the retractable protrusion  916  when the seat-table is in the table configuration. As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , the second board  918  serves as a modesty panel when the seat-table is in a table configuration to provide privacy to a person seated at the table.  
         [0065]     With reference to  FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b , the location and configuration of a retractable protrusion mechanism  926  can be seen. The retractable protrusion mechanism  926  is situated within the first board  914  and includes a handle  928  and the retractable protrusion  916 , which is retractable by applying an upward force to the handle  928 . The retractable  916  protrusion should be outwardly biased (from the first board  914 ) using a spring (not shown). The retractable protrusion mechanism  926  also includes a channel  930  in which upper horizontal member  904  is inserted. Through the connection between channel  930  and upper horizontal member  904 , the first board  914  can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the upper horizontal member  904 .  
         [0066]     The first board  914 , the second board  918  or both boards can be biased in either a seat or a table position by using a biasing means  950 . The biasing means  950  can be any mechanism that urges the board in one direction or the other such as a torsion spring, a leaf spring, or helical springs. The biasing means can be located within the boards, within the support structure  902  or at a position in between the boards and the support structure  902 .  
         [0067]     For ease of transport, storage, etc. the inventive seat-chair can be stacked as shown in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b.    
         [0068]     In conclusion, the aforementioned invention has distinctly satisfied all relevant conditions and requirements to be patentable. For those who with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical fields creating and implementing equivalent modifications and/or variations based on concepts and spirits of this invention shall be deemed as covered under the Claimed Scope (attached hereinafter) of this patent application.