Article of furniture

The invention provides an article of furniture including a closable cabinet (10) of six-sided rectangular configuration, having top and bottom walls, rear and front walls, and a pair of upright side walls. The front wall constitutes a displaceable panel hingedly mounted on the bottom wall to permit pivotal displacement of the panel from an upright closed position in which it closes the cabinet to an open position in which it is disposed in a substantially horizontal position coplanar with a support surface provided by the bottom wall. At least one foldable support leg is provided on the displaceable panel, a leg being comprised of at least two sections hingedly connected together at a hinge point intermediate of its two extreme ends. The one extreme end is pivotally secured to the displaceable panel and the other extreme end is pivotally secured to a stationary part of the article. In the open position the panel is supported on the foldable legs.

This invention relates to an article of furniture. More particularly the 
invention relates to a versatile and utilitarian article of furniture 
intended to be used as a storage cabinet, desk, computer work station, 
book case, liquor cabinet, cabinet for a sewing machine, food processor or 
similar appliance, and for many other useful purposes. 
According to the invention there is provided an article of furniture which 
includes an operatively horizontally disposed support surface; 
at least one displaceable panel hingedly mounted to be displaceable from an 
upright closed position to an open position in which it is disposed in a 
substantially horizontal position level with the support surface; 
at least one foldable leg provided on the displaceable panel, the foldable 
support leg being comprised of at least two sections hingedly connected 
together at a hinge point intermediate of its two extreme ends; 
the one extreme end of the support leg being pivotally secured to the 
displaceable panel and the other extreme end being pivotally secured to a 
stationary part of the article; the arrangement being such that the 
displaceable panel can be brought to an upright closed position in which 
is obscures the support surface and in which the support leg is in a 
straightened condition, and to an open position in which it gives access 
to the support surface and is disposed substantially horizontal to provide 
a work surface level with the support surface, and in which position the 
support leg is folded into an angular configuration to be supported on the 
hinge point and with one section thereof extending between the article and 
the hinge point and another section disposed substantially upright to 
support the said displaceable panel in the open position. 
When the foldable support leg is in the straightened condition it may 
conveniently be arranged snugly adjacent an outer face of the article, to 
present a neat appearance. 
The article may include a closable cabinet having opposed top and bottom 
walls and upright side walls to define an enclosed space. The bottom wall 
of the closable cabinet may preferably constitute the horizontally 
disposed support surface, and an upright wall of the cabinet, preferably 
the front wall of the cabinet, may constitute the displaceable panel. The 
front wall may thus be displaceable from an upright closed position in 
which it closes the cabinet, to an open position in which it is disposed 
in a substantially horizontal position coplanar with the support surface 
provided by the bottom wall. 
The displaceable wall may thus be mounted on the unit in such a manner that 
when it is in the open position, it will be disposed substantially 
coplanar with the support surface in the cabinet, so as to provide an 
extended or enlarged working surface. As indicated above, the support 
surface in the cabinet may be provided by the bottom wall of the cabinet. 
In use, the area of the extended or enlarged working surface will comprise 
the total of the area of the support surface and the area of the 
displaceable wall. 
The cabinet may have a six-sided rectangular configuration, in use having 
rectangular spaced and parallel top and bottom walls, rectangular spaced 
and parallel upright rear and front walls, and a pair of rectangular 
spaced and parallel upright side walls. As indicated above, the upright 
front wall may conveniently be the displaceable wall. 
The front wall constituting the displaceable panel may be hingedly mounted 
on the bottom wall along its lower edge, to permit pivotal displacement of 
the front wall around an axis extending substantially parallel to its 
lower edge, its three other sides not being secured to the side and top 
walls, the arrangement being such that it can be displaced pivotally from 
an upright closed position, in which its three unsecured edges are located 
adjacent the side and top walls so that it closes the cabinet, to an open 
position in which it is disposed substantially horizontal and coplanar 
with the bottom wall to constitute with the bottom wall an extended or 
enlarged work surface. 
Support means may be provided to support the cabinet at such a height that 
the bottom wall thereof will be located on desktop level. The support 
means may comprise four stationary legs, one at each of the four corners 
of the rectangular bottom wall of the cabinet. The stationary legs may be 
of such a height that the bottom wall of the cabinet will be located on 
desktop level. 
Alternatively, the support means may comprise side panels forming part of a 
secondary storage compartment located below the cabinet and having at 
least one closable door arranged to open and close below the displaceable 
panel when the latter is in the open position. The secondary compartment 
may be utilised for storing equipment or accessories, and may optionally 
be provided with one or more shelves. 
Two laterally spaced foldable support legs may conveniently be provided to 
support the displaceable panel when it is in the open position, the legs 
being positioned to support the said panel at unsupported edge regions 
thereof, e.g. at or near each of the two unsecured corners of the said 
panel. As indicated above, a foldable support leg may be comprised of two 
elongated sections hingedly secured together in co-axially aligned 
relative positions. One free end of either support leg may be connected 
hingedly to the displaceable panel at or near an unsecured corner thereof. 
The other free end of a support leg may be connected pivotally, such as by 
means of a transverse pin, to a stationary part of the cabinet, e.g. to 
the stationary legs of the cabinet where such legs are provided, or to the 
side panels forming part of a secondary compartment. The said pivotal 
connection of the foldable legs may preferably be to points at or near the 
lowermost or basal part of the article, i.e. to be located at or near the 
floor when the article is used. 
In use, when the displaceable wall is brought to its open position, i.e. a 
position in which it is disposed substantially horizontal and coplanar 
with the bottom wall of the cabinet, its forward unsupported corners will 
be supported by the foldable support legs, which support legs will have 
been extended into supports of angular configuration supported on their 
hinge points. One section of either support leg, i.e. the section hingedly 
secured to an unsupported corner of the displaceable wall, will be 
positioned substantially upright to serve as a leg, while the other 
section of a support leg, i.e. the section pivotally secured to the basal 
or lowermost part of the article, will extend between the article and the 
hinge point. In practice this will usually be along the ground, thus 
providing a stable and sturdy support structure. 
When the displaceable wall is brought to the closed position in which it is 
disposed upright to form the front wall of the cabinet so as to close the 
cabinet, both foldable support legs are drawn up and straightened until 
they are positioned adjacent the front face of the cabinet. 
The article according to the invention may be made of wood, to serve as a 
useful piece of furniture. For example, the unit may be used as a 
fold-away desk, in which case the cabinet may have one or more shelves or 
drawers for books and other items. The unit may also be used as a 
fold-open book case for containing books, so that the folded-out front 
wall may provide a working area where a book may be read or otherwise 
used. 
In a preferred embodiment, the unit may be used as a cabinet for a sewing 
machine, a food processor or the like. Thus, the cabinet may be used to 
house a sewing machine, and if desired also an overlocking machine. In 
this case, a special displaceable platform may be provided on which the 
appliance, e.g. the sewing machine, may be placed. The platform may be 
placed on the bottom wall of the cabinet, and it may be displaceable from 
an inoperative retracted position on the bottom wall within the cabinet, 
to an operative extended position on the extended work surface provided by 
the displaceable panel in its open position. For example, the platform may 
be rotatably secured to the bottom wall by a single rotational pin or peg, 
so as to be capable of being pivoted or swivelled around the pin or peg 
from an inoperative position on the bottom wall within the cabinet, to an 
operative position on the extended work surface. 
Alternatively, the platform may be slidably displaceable, and a slide track 
may be provided to control the displacement of the platform, the track 
having stop means to permit limited linear sliding displacement of the 
displaceable platform along the track from the inoperative retracted 
position to the operative extended position. In this manner the appliance 
may be brought into a more accessible position, where it is within easy 
reach for an operator to work on. 
When the appliance is not being used, it may be moved away on its platform 
to the inoperative position, the cabinet may be closed, and the work area 
will look tidy. 
The unit may also be used as a work station for a personal computer, word 
processor, typewriter or the like. If desired, the computer, word 
processor or typewriter may again be placed on a displaceable platform as 
described herein, to be displaced from an inoperative position at the back 
of the cabinet, to an operative position in front on the extended wall. 
Where the appliance is a computer or a word processor having a separate 
keyboard, the keyboard may be mounted on the displaceable wall, 
conveniently on the upper surface thereof. When the wall is then moved to 
the closed position, the keyboard will be put away inside the cabinet, 
where it may for example hang suspended against the inside of the said 
wall. 
The unit according to the invention may be of any suitable dimensions, as 
required in use. If desired, it may be of such lateral dimensions that 
more than one appliance may be positioned therein, one adjacent the other. 
The invention and the manner in which it may be put into practice will now 
be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying 
diagrammatic drawings.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided in accordance with the 
invention an article of furniture in the form of a cabinet for an 
appliance such as a sewing machine, computer work station, etc. which 
comprises a closed rectangular cabinet generally shown as 10, having a 
bottom wall 12, a top wall 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, and side 
walls 20, 22. The cabinet 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is supported on four 
stationary legs 24, 26, 28, 30 provided at the four corners of the bottom 
wall 12, the legs being of such a height and configuration that the bottom 
wall 12 of the cabinet is located on desktop level. A transverse strut 32 
is provided between the two rear legs 26, 30. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cabinet 10 is supported on the side 
panels 70, 72 the upper parts of which form the side walls 20, 22 of the 
cabinet 10. The lower parts of the side panels 70, 72 form part of a 
secondary compartment generally indicated as 74, as explained more fully 
further below. 
The front wall 16 of the cabinet is mounted on the bottom wall 12 by means 
of hinges 34, 35 and 36 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to enable it to be 
displaced from an upright closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, in which it 
closes the cabinet 10 and obscures its contents from view, and an open 
position as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which it is disposed 
substantially horizontally and level with the bottom wall 12 of the 
cabinet 10. 
It will be evident that the bottom wall 12 of the cabinet constitutes a 
support surface 12.1 on which appliances or other items may be supported. 
When the displaceable wall 16 is brought to its open position, it provides 
a work surface 16.1 level with the support surface, and together the two 
surfaces constitute an enlarged working area. 
Two foldable support legs generally shown as 38 and 40 are provided to 
support the displaceable wall 16 in its open position. Each support leg 
comprises two elongated sections 38.1, 38.2 and 40.1, 40.2 respectively, 
the two sections of a leg being secured together by means of hinges 42, 
44. One free end of each support leg 38, 40 is secured near the free 
corners of the displaceable wall 16 by means of hinges as shown at 46, 48. 
The other free end of each support leg 38, 40 is pivotally connected to a 
stationary part of the article, preferably at a point close to the ground. 
Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable legs 38, 40 
are secured to the front stationary legs 24, 28 of the cabinet 10, by 
means of transverse pins 50, 52. As shown in the drawings, these ends of 
the foldable legs 38, 40 so connected are rounded, as shown at 54, 56, to 
enable the foldable legs 38, 40 to pivot relative to the stationary legs 
24, 28. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the foldable legs 38, 40 are pivotally 
connected to the side panels 70, 72 by means of pins 76, 78. The end 
configuration of the legs is again rounded, as shown at 80, to permit 
pivotal movement. 
In use, when the displaceable wall 16 is brought to its open position, as 
depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the foldable legs 38, 40 are extended into 
supports of angular configuration, with sections 38.2 and 40.2 extending 
along the floor between the stationary supports 24, 28 and 70, 72 and the 
hinge points 42, 44, and sections 38.1 and 40.1 being positioned 
substantially upright to support the wall 16 in the open position. The 
hinge points 42, 44 rest on the ground. 
When the displaceable wall 16 is brought to the closed position, as 
depicted in FIG. 2, in which it is disposed upright to form the front wall 
of and to close the cabinet 10, both foldable support legs 38, 40 are 
drawn up and straightened until they are positioned adjacent the front 
face of the cabinet 10. If necessary, suitable clip-in securing devices 
(not shown) may be provided in suitable positions on the foldable legs 38, 
40 and the displaceable wall 16, to secure the legs 38, 40 against the 
wall 16 when the latter is in the closed position. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a secondary closable storage compartment 
74 is provided below the cabinet 10. This compartment will serve to 
support the cabinet 10, and will provide additional storage space. The 
compartment 74 is provided with closable doors 82, 84 which open below the 
displaceable panel 16, and may have one or more shelves 86, as may be 
required in practice. 
The unit according to the invention may be made of wood, to serve as a 
versatile and useful piece of furniture. For example, the unit may be used 
as a fold-away desk, in which case the cabinet 10 may have one or more 
shelves or drawers for books and other items. The unit may also be used as 
a fold-open book case for containing books, so that the folded-out front 
wall may provide a working area where a book may be read or otherwise 
used. 
In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the unit may 
be used as a cabinet for a sewing machine, food processor or the like. 
Thus, the cabinet 10 may be used to house a sewing machine (not shown). In 
this case, one or more special displaceable platforms 58, 59, 61 are 
provided on which the appliance, e.g. the sewing machine and/or 
overlocking machine (not shown), may be placed. The platforms 58, 59, 61 
are placed on the bottom wall 12 of the cabinet, and are displaceable from 
an inoperative retracted position on the bottom wall 12 of the cabinet 10 
(as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2), to an operative extended position on 
the extended work surface 16.1 of the displaceable wall 16 (as shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 3). 
For example, the displaceable platform 58 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be 
rotatably secured by a single upright pin or peg 60, so as to be capable 
of being pivoted or swivelled around the pin or peg 60 from an inoperative 
retracted position on the bottom wall within the cabinet (as shown in 
broken lines in FIG. 2), to an operative extended position on the extended 
front wall 16, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the displaceable 
platforms 59, 61 shown in FIG. 3 may be linearly slidable by way of slide 
tracks in the form of grooves 88 formed in the underside of the platform 
59, 61 and shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 and depicted in FIG. 4, and 
stop buttons, 90, to permit linear sliding displacement of the platforms 
from the retracted inoperative position within the cabinet 10, to the 
extended operative position as depicted in FIG. 3. 
In this manner the appliance placed on a platform may be brought into a 
more accessible position, where it is within easy reach for an operator to 
work on. 
When the appliance is not being used, it may be displaced on its platform 
to the retracted inoperative position, the cabinet 10 may be closed, and 
the work area will look tidy. 
It should be understood that further utility features may be added to the 
article, to improve its versatility and utility. Thus, as illustrated in 
FIG. 3, pegs 94 may be mounted against the rear wall 18 of the cabinet 10 
to hold reels of cotton (not shown) where the cabinet is to be used for 
housing a sewing machine. An additional drawer 96 may also be provided. 
The unit may also be used as a work station for a personal computer, word 
processor, typewriter or the like. If desired, the computer, word 
processor or typewriter may again be placed on the platform 58, 59 or 61 
to be displaced from an inoperative retracted position at the back of the 
cabinet, to an operative extended position in front on the extended wall 
16. Where the appliance is a computer or a word processor having a 
separate keyboard, the keyboard may be mounted on a specially provided 
shelf (not shown), or it may be mounted on the surface 16.1 of the 
displaceable wall 16. When the wall 16 is then moved to the closed 
position, the appliances will be put away inside the cabinet 10, where 
they will be stored in a safe and tidy manner.