Portable configurable furniture

The present invention relates to lightweight collapsible portable and configurable furniture. In one embodiment, a table includes a collapsible top with optional slat(s), a collapsible top support frame, a collapsible leg frame and leg extenders. The top support frame provides tension to the top. The leg frame is coupled to top support frame. The leg extenders extend independently from the leg frame to provide stability. In another embodiment, a cot includes collapsible top(s), corresponding pair(s) of support bars and legs. The legs are coupled to the support bar pairs to provide support and tension to the top(s).

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to systems and methods for portable configurable furniture. In particular, the invention relates to portable, lightweight and collapsible stable furniture well suited for camping and travelling.

Conventional portable furniture is not truly portable and easily configured for outdoor use and cannot accommodate usage on a hillside or uneven terrain. Examples of such portable furniture include folding chairs, folding tables and folding cots. Generally, the user are unable use most of these furniture comfortably, e.g., to sit comfortably on a hillside or on uneven terrain. Further, the user has to anticipate her/his needs ahead of time, and then lug a complete set of portable furniture into the field.

Thus, there is a need for portable and configurable furniture. These improved portable furniture need to be strong, lightweight, stable, collapsible and configurable, and to be well suited for use in the field, including on uneven terrain often encountered outdoors.

SUMMARY

To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the present invention, systems and methods for constructing portable furniture is provided. In particular, the invention provides portable, lightweight, collapsible, stable and configurable furniture well suited for camping and travelling.

In one embodiment, a portable configurable table includes a collapsible top with one or more optional slats, a collapsible top support frame, a collapsible leg frame and a plurality of leg extenders. The collapsible top support frame provides tension to the top. The collapsible leg frame is operatively coupled to top support frame, and the leg frame includes a plurality of stabilizers and a cross member. The plurality of leg extenders are configured to independently extend from the leg frame thereby providing stability on uneven ground.

In some embodiments, the top support frame includes a couple of hinges and is configured to fold thereby providing compactness when disassembled, and configured to unfold thereby providing tension to the top. The slats can be coupled to the top by adhesive or Velcro. Alternatively, the top can include at least one slot configured to accommodate the optional slats. The top support frame and/or the leg frame can include at least one elastic cord configured to guide assembly.

In another embodiment, a portable configurable cot includes one or more collapsible tops, one or more corresponding pairs of support bars configured to provide support to the tops and at least two legs. Each of the two legs are configured to be operatively coupled to at least one pair of the at least one pair of support bars thereby providing tension to the at least one top.

Note that the various features of the present invention described above may be practiced alone or in combination. These and other features of the present invention will be described in more detail below in the detailed description of the invention and in conjunction with the following figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for constructing portable, lightweight, collapsible, stable and configurable furniture well suited for camping and travelling. To facilitate discussion,FIGS. 1A to 7illustrate several embodiments of portable and configurable furniture in accordance to the present invention.

I. Portable Configurable Tables

As shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, the portable and configurable table100includes a collapsible top110, a top support frame120and a leg frame130configured to provide at least three points of contact with a ground surface (not shown). Top support frame120is configured to slide inside and provide tensioning for collapsible top110. Leg frame130is configured to be coupled to the corners of top support frame120.

FIGS. 2A to 2Fare perspective views illustrating alternate embodiments of tops110,220,230,240,250and260for the portable table100. Tops110,220,230. . .260can be made from a variety of suitable natural and/synthetic materials such as canvas, polyester and Gore-Tex and nylon. As shown inFIG. 2A, a plurality of optional stiffening slats215a,215b,215c. . .215kcan be secured to top110by, for example, adhesive, Velcro, rivets and/or stitching. Slats215a,215b,215c. . .215kcan be made from suitable materials including plastic, wood, bamboo, metals, composites and resin-impregnated materials such as carbon fiber and fiberglass. Accordingly, reinforced top110is more stable and capable of supporting glassware filled with fluids thereby reducing the risk of spillage.

FIGS. 2D, 2E and 2Fare perspective views of alternate embodiments of tops240,250and260incorporating a plurality of slots configured to accommodate a plurality of stiffening slats (not shown). For example, top240includes a plurality of slots245a,245b,245c. . .245nformed by, for example, stitching pockets using two or more layers of a suitable material. Similarly, top250includes a plurality of slots255a,255b,255c. . .255mfor accommodating stiffening slats. As shown inFIG. 2F, top260includes a first plurality of slots265a,265b,256c. . .265mhaving a first orientation, and further includes a second plurality of slots268a,268b,268c. . .268nhaving a second orientation, thereby substantially improving the stability and load capability of top260.

Referring now toFIGS. 3A and 3B, perspective and exploded views illustrate exemplary top support frame120having two substantially parallel pairs of hinged bars310,350coupled to each other via hinges360, two substantially parallel bars340and four corner joints330. The bar pairs310,350are coupled to corresponding bars340via the corresponding corner joints330, and further configured to be assembled and disassembled with the guidance of one or more elastic and/or static cords372,374,376,378. During the assembly process, hinged bars310and320can be straightened out to provide tension to top110. Frame120can be stabilized by sliding sleeves320towards and over hinges360and secured by aligning the respective buttons315and holes325. Upon assembly, bars310,350and bars340substantially form a rectangular shape.

As shown in the perspective and exploded views ofFIGS. 4A and 4B, exemplary leg frame130include a cross member410, four stabilizers420, four legs430coupled to respective extension joints440, and four leg extenders450. Each stabilizer420is configured to be assembled between cross member410and a corresponding extension joint440, and further configured to be assembled and disassembled with the guidance of one or more cords472,474,476,478, respectively. Leg extenders450are coupled to corresponding legs430, and configured to be independently adjustable with respect to legs430, thereby enabling the user to level the table100on a hillside or on uneven terrain.

Note that frame120is further stabilized when the bottom protrusions, e.g., male or female, of corner joints330are secured to the corresponding mating interfaces located on the top of legs430. As discussed above, frames120,130can include cords, e.g., cords372. . .378and cords472. . .478, configured to run through the respective structures and function to pull the bar sections, legs, and/or joints together. The cords372. . .378and cords472. . .478can be elastic and/or cords, but may alternatively be any other suitable material such as fabric, plastic, metal, or a metal spring.

The frames120,130can be one of several variations. For example, bars340(and/or stabilizers420) can be cylindrical rods, but may alternatively have any suitable geometry and may have varying geometries along their respective length. The bars are straight or linear bars, but may alternatively be curved, bent, or have any other suitable geometry. The bars can be made of metal (such as 7075 T9 aluminum tubes (and/or rods) with a diameter of approximately 0.4″ to 1.0″ and a wall thickness of approximately 0.03″ to 0.15″), or plastic, but may be alternatively made from any suitable material. The bars may be collapsible or foldable such that they include multiple sections that can be assembled to support the sling and the weight of the user and can be disassembled for easy transportation and storage. Each of the bars can be straight, but may alternatively be curved or angled. Each bar may have the same radius of curvature or angle, but alternatively each bar may have a different radius of curvature or angle. Further, exemplary bars340and stabilizers420can be a single section or comprise multiple sections.

In this embodiment, as illustrated byFIGS. 5A and 5B, cot500can be configured using one or more of the tops described above, for example, tops220to260. In this example, cot500includes three tops220, three pairs of support bars515, four legs530, and four sets of couplers520. Each coupler520includes substantially horizontal interfaces522,524, e.g., male or female, for securing the support bars515to each other, thereby forming a substantially flat platform well suited for the user to sleep on. Each coupler520also includes a substantially vertical interface526, e.g., male or female, for securing the support bars515to legs530, and also to provide tension to the tops.

As discussed above, tops can include slots for suitable inserts. Accordingly when tops are configured for a cot, one or more foam strips can be inserted in the slots of tops, e.g., top250, for additional support and also to provide insulation in cooler weather. Other suitable supporting and/or insulating materials for the strips are also contemplated. Although three tops are described for cot500to accommodate the average user, it is also possible to assemble cots with one top, two tops, and four tops for a toddler, a child and a tall person.

The components of cot500, e.g., support bars515(and legs530) can be cylindrical rods, but may alternatively have any suitable geometry and may have varying geometries along their respective length. The bars are straight or linear bars, but may alternatively be curved, bent, or have any other suitable geometry. The bars can be made of metal (such as 7075 T9 aluminum tubes (and/or rods) with a diameter of approximately 0.4″ to 1.0″ and a wall thickness of approximately 0.03″ to 0.15″), or plastic, but may be alternatively made from any suitable material. The bars may be collapsible or foldable such that they include multiple sections that can be assembled to support the sling and the weight of the user and can be disassembled for easy transportation and storage. Each of the bars can be straight, but may alternatively be curved or angled. Each bar may have the same radius of curvature or angle, but alternatively each bar may have a different radius of curvature or angle. Further, exemplary support bar515can be a single section or comprise multiple sections.

In some embodiments (not shown), legs may be adjustable height-wise to accommodate uneven ground surfaces. Alternatively, rubber bumpers of different thicknesses may also be added to the bottom of legs530to accommodate uneven ground. The components of cot500may also include cords (not shown) configured to run through the respective structures and function to pull the bars, legs, and/or joints together. These cords can be elastic and/or static cords, but may alternatively be any other suitable material such as fabric, plastic, metal, or a metal spring.

III. Additional Embodiments of Portable Configurable Furniture

FIGS. 6 and 7are perspective views illustrating two additional embodiments of a lounge chair600and an upright chair700, reconfigured using the construction techniques described above and using some of the components of table100and cot500, together with a top bar680and a pair of joints620and720, respectively.

The components of exemplary chairs600,700may also include cords (not shown) configured to run through the respective structures and function to pull the bars, legs, and/or joints together. These cords can be elastic and/or static cords, but may alternatively be any other suitable material such as fabric, plastic, metal, or a metal spring.

Many modification and additions to the above described embodiments are also possible. For example, instead of the “fabric-like” top110described above, a more “solid” top can be made from strips of a suitable stiff material, such as wood or plastic, suitably “hinged” together along the respective sides, thereby eliminating the need for a supporting fabric-like material.

While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. Although sub-section titles have been provided to aid in the description of the invention, these titles are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.