# Patent

## Title
Bowling table with multiple seating arrangements

## Abstract

A furniture unit that includes a substantially triangular table and a first and second plurality of seats fixedly attached along two sides of the table. A directional view of the third side of the table is unobstructed as viewed from any of the first and second plurality of seats. A support structure is provided that maintains the table and the first and second plurality of seats at a certain distance and provides for unobstructed leg-area. A third set of seats may be provided along each of the three sides of the substantially triangular table and may be interconnected by a support structure that provides a substantially unobstructed ingress and egress to each seat.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/438,874 filed May 16, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,741, which, in turn, is a continuation application of U.S. Design Application No. 29/162,606, filed Jun. 17, 2002, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. D478,427 both of which are incorporated by reference, herein, their entirety.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a furniture unit, and more specifically, a table with sets of seats attached along the sides of thereof arranged for unimpeded viewing.
2. Background Description
Various types of tables with seating arrangements are known. However, a table with attached seats arranged to provide a socially friendly configuration with consideration for convenience of entry and exit are of limited availability. In certain settings, such as for example, a bowling alley setting or the like, a table can contribute to the motif and ambiance and provide functional convenience for the clientele or user. Whether the table is used in a working session/meeting type of situation (e.g., a school or the like) or in a social setting (e.g., a bowling alley) the table should be easy and convenient to access while entering, remaining in, or exiting a seat. Table and seat configurations and support structures should be oriented to minimize undue interference when entering or exiting a seat, and the seat should be conveniently oriented in relation to the table. The orientation of the seats should also provide optimum-viewing directivity in applications requiring directed views.
Currently, there are several known types of table and chair arrangements used in bowling alley settings. But none of these configurations are known to provide ease of viewing, regardless of the seating position of the user, easy ingress and egress as well as other advantages. By way of example, it is known to use rectangular-type tables with seats positioned on both sides of the table. In this type of configuration, the users sit at the table, facing one another; however, there is no clear view of the bowling lanes, thus provided an impediment to the viewing of the game, itself. This makes an uncomfortable setting. In other types of arrangements, it is known to place seats on all sides of the table, also contributing to the hindrance of viewing and enjoyment by the participants. Another known type of seating arrangement is the “scoring table” configuration. This same type of configuration can be used in other applications throughout the bowling alley setting. In this configuration, only two seats are provided adjacent to one another. This, of course, is not conducive for conversation and is limited to the seating of two people.
The present invention overcomes the above problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an aspect of the present invention, a furniture unit is provided comprising a substantially triangular table with a first and second plurality of seats positioned along a first and second side, respectively. The third side of the substantially triangular table is devoid of fixedly attached seats such that the position of the first and second plurality of seats provides an unobstructed view towards the third side of the substantially triangular table.
In another aspect of the present invention, a furniture unit is provided comprising a substantially triangular table with a first and second plurality of seats positioned along a first and second side, respectively. The position of the first and second plurality of seats provides an unobstructed view towards a view of the third side of the table. A support structure provides support to the substantially triangular table and each seat of the first and second plurality of seats. The support structure maintains and supports the table and each seat at a predetermined distance.
In an aspect of the present invention, a furniture unit is provided consisting essentially of a substantially triangular table and a first and second plurality of seats positioned along a first and second side of the substantially triangular table. A support structure supports the substantially triangular table and each seat of the first and second plurality of seats. The support structure includes horizontal support members and vertical support members. Each seat of the first and second plurality of seats are attached to respective ones of the vertical support members and at least one of the vertical support members is attached to an underside of the substantially triangular table. The horizontal support members are fixedly attached between the at least one of the vertical support member and the respective ones of the vertical support members. A third side of the substantially triangular table is devoid of fixedly attached seats such that the position of the first and second plurality of seats provides an unobstructed view towards the third side of the substantially triangular table.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention, according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the present invention, according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention, according to FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the present invention, according to FIG. 4.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A DETAILED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, generally denoted as reference numeral 10. In this configuration, the present invention includes a substantially triangular table 15 with a first set of seats 20a fixed along a first side of the substantially triangular table 15 and a second set of seats 20b fixed along a second side of the substantially triangular table 15. The substantially triangular table may be a cam-shaped having acutely angled sides with respect to a third side such that the seats placed on the acutely angled sides allow for an unobstructed view towards the third side in accordance with the present invention. The seats 20a and 20b may be more than two seats on each side of the table 15, depending on the particular use, the space requirements and the like. In this embodiment, a third side 25 of the substantially triangular table 15 is devoid or free from a third set of seats. In this manner, the seats 20a and 20b provide the participants an unobstructed view towards a third side 25 of the substantially triangular table 15 when any or all of the seats are occupied. This arrangement allows for both a socially friendly configuration and permits unobstructed viewing towards the third side 25. This type of arrangement would be suitable for various types of settings, such as for example, bowling alleys or the like.
Still referring to FIGS. 1–3, the sides of the substantially triangular table 15 may include substantially concave edges 40. The substantially triangular table 15 may also be a substantially equilateral triangular table, although, other triangular configurations are also contemplated by the present invention. The corners 42 of the substantially triangular table 15 may be rounded to prevent the “snagging” of clothing and the like. A support structure, generally denoted by reference numeral 30, is further provided on an underside of the table 15. The support structure provides support to the substantially triangular table 15 and to each seat of the first and second set of seats 20a and 20b. The support structure 30 includes horizontal support members 36 and vertical support members 35a–35c. 
In the configuration of FIGS. 1–3, the seats 20a and 20b are attached to a respective one of the vertical support members 35b. The seats may be attached via any known swivel mechanism to allow for easy ingress and egress. The swivel 37 also provides for a return of the seat to an original position, thus having the seat remain in an orderly fashion. At least one vertical support member 35a or 35c is also attached to the substantially triangular table 15. In an embodiment, at least one of the vertical support members 35a and 35c provides support of the substantially triangular table 15 when attached to the underside of the substantially triangular table 15. At least one of the vertical support structures is supported on a supporting surface such as a floor. In the embodiment of the present invention, the vertical support member 35a is attached between an underside of the substantially triangular table 15 and to the horizontal support members 36. The vertical support member 35a may be fastened by an appropriate manner, such as for example, a set of bolts, welds or the like. The horizontal support members 36 maintain the substantially triangular table 15 and each of the first and second set of seats 20a and 20b at a predetermined distance from a respective supporting structure 35a or 35c and hence the table, itself.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the horizontal support members 36 are fixedly attached to the vertical support members 35a and to each first and second set of seats 20a and 20b. Similarly, the horizontal support members 36 may also be attached to the vertical support members 35c. The horizontal support members 36 also fixedly attach to the vertical support members 35b of the first and second set of seats at a substantially fixed, i.e., predetermined, distance from the substantially triangular table 15. This creates a leg-area between the substantially triangular table 15 and each seat of the first and second set of seats 20a and 20b, so that the leg-area is substantially unobstructed by any part of the present invention. This arrangement maintains the relationship between the substantially triangular table 15 and the first and second set of seats, 20a and 20b, and also provides for unobstructed ingress and egress, thereto and therefrom, respectively, denoted by reference numeral 55 (FIG. 2).
The first and second set of seats, 20a and 20b may also include contoured backs 21 and contoured seat platforms 22. These contours provide for a certain level of comfort to any occupant. As shown in FIG. 3, each seat of the first and second set of seats 20a and 20b are attached to a corresponding vertical support member 35b by an attachment mechanism 60, located under each of the respective seats. This arrangement maintains each the first and second set of seats 20a and 20b at a predetermined height. The horizontal support members 36 may also include curved shaped sections, shown as reference numeral 31. The curved shaped sections 31 may be joined together by a connecting bracket 65. The ends of the curved sections 31 attach to the vertical support members 35b or 35c, as appropriate. Vertical support members 35a may also be supported as necessary by the horizontal support member 36, which may include curved sections 31.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with a first, second and third set of seats on three sides, respectively, of a substantially triangular table. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are a top view and a bottom view, respectively, of the embodiment of FIG. 4. The features of this embodiment are similar to the features discussed previously. In this embodiment, however, a third set of seats 20c are positioned along the third side 25 of the substantially triangular table 15. The supporting structure 30 is similarly arranged as previously described, including horizontal support members 36, that may include curved sections 31. The vertical support members 35a and 35b are substantially the same as previously discussed, but typically includes one additional vertical support member 35a to support the substantially triangular table 15. In this embodiment, the vertical support member 35c is typically not employed. The horizontal support members 36 is now generally symmetrical in three directions in support of the first, second, and third set of seats positioned along the three sides of the substantially triangular table 15. The horizontal support members 36 maintain a predetermined distance between the substantially triangular table and each seat of the first, second and third sets of seats 20a, 20b and 20c. 
While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications and in the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

## Claims

1. A furniture unit, comprising:
a substantially triangular table;
a first plurality of seats along the substantially triangular table along a first side thereof;
a second plurality of seats along the substantially triangular table along a second side thereof; and
a support frame extending underneath the substantially triangular table and extending to the first plurality of seats and the second plurality of seats, wherein the support frame includes:
a substantially vertical support member extending from underneath the substantially triangular table to a supporting surface; and
a horizontal support structure, the horizontal support structure including at least a first member and a second member extending from the substantially vertical support member, the first member extending towards the first side and the second member extending towards the second side.

2. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein:
the support frame includes at least one vertical support and the horizontal support structure includes at least one a horizontal support member,
at least one seat of the first and second plurality of seats are attached to the at least one horizontal support member, and
the substantially vertical support member is attached to an underside of the substantially triangular table.

3. The furniture unit of claim 2, wherein each seat of the first and second plurality of seats is further associated with the horizontal support structure for spacing the each seat at a distance from the substantially triangular table.

4. The furniture unit of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first and second seats are associated with the horizontal support structure so that a leg-area between the substantially triangular table and each seat of the plurality of first and second seats is substantially unobstructed.

5. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein the substantially triangular table has rounded corners.

6. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein the substantially triangular table has concave sides.

7. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein a third side of the substantially triangular table is devoid of seats to provide an unobstructed view towards the third side of the substantially triangular table from the first side and the second side.

8. A furniture unit with attached seats, comprising:
a substantially triangular table;
a first set of seats positioned along a first side of the substantially triangular table;
a second set of seats positioned along a second side of the substantially triangular table; and
a support structure having a vertical support member extending from an underside of the substantially triangular table to a supporting surface and further including horizontal supporting members extending toward each seat of the first and second set of seats, wherein at least two of the horizontal supporting members are attached to the vertical support member.

9. The furniture unit of claim 8, wherein a third side of the substantially triangular table is devoid of or free from seats in order to provide an unobstructed view from the first set and second set of seats towards the third side.

10. The furniture unit of claim 8, wherein the first side and second side of the substantially triangular table have approximately a same length and a third side of the substantially triangular table has a length smaller that the first side and the second side.

11. A furniture unit, comprising:
a substantially triangular table having a first side, a second side and a third side;
a first plurality of swivel seats along a first side of the substantially triangular table;
a second plurality of swivel seats along a second side of the substantially triangular table
at least one vertical support member extending from an underside of the substantially triangular table to a supporting surface; and
at least one horizontal frame member extending from the at least one vertical support member towards the first plurality of swivel seats and the second plurality of swivel seats,
wherein the third side of the substantially triangular table is devoid of fixedly attached seats.

12. The furniture unit of claim 11, wherein the third side of the substantially triangular table is devoid of fixedly attached seats such that the position of the first and second plurality of seats.

13. A furniture unit, comprising:
a substantially triangular table having rounded corners;
a first set of seats positioned along a first side of the substantially triangular table;
a second set of seats positioned along a second side of the substantially triangular table; and
a support structure having a vertical support member extending from an underside of the substantially triangular table to a supporting surface and including at least horizontal supporting members extending from the vertical support member towards at least one seat of each of the first and second set of seats.

14. A furniture unit, comprising:
a substantially triangular table;
a first pair of seats mounted to a supporting frame extending from an underneath of the substantially triangular table, the first pair of seats positioned on a first side of the substantially triangular table;
a second pair of seats mounted to the supporting frame along a second side thereof, the second pair of seats positioned on a second side of the substantially triangular table;
a third side of the substantially triangular table being devoid of any seats; and
the support frame having at least one vertical member extending from an underside of the substantially triangular table to a supporting surface and the support frame further having horizontal support members extending from an underside of each of the seats of the first pair of seats and the second pair of seats.