Abstract:
Furniture capable of being assembled in one way to produce a step stool and in another way to produce a kneeler. The furniture includes a base unit and a lid releasably secured to the base unit to produce the step stool or to produce the kneeler. The furniture includes an armrest and a connecting member. The kneeler is configured for use alongside a bathtub.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY  
         [0001]    This disclosure relates to convertible furniture, and particularly, to furniture that is convertible from one configuration to another configuration. More particularly, this disclosure relates to step stools and kneelers.  
           [0002]    Caregivers are often called upon to kneel alongside a tub during bathroom time for a juvenile under their care. Maintaining such a posture can be uncomfortable. At the same time, juveniles oftentimes are unable to access a sink or countertop on a bathroom vanity. Caregivers and juveniles would welcome bathroom furniture configured to address the foregoing kneeling and access problems.  
           [0003]    According to the present disclosure, a furniture unit includes several pieces which cooperate to provide a furniture kit. These pieces can be combined in the field in one way to produce a step stool and in another way to produce a tubside kneeler. The furniture unit includes a base unit formed to include a receptacle, a lid sized to fit into the receptacle, and a kneeler accessory sized to be stored in the receptacle in a space between the base unit and the lid.  
           [0004]    In one step stool configuration, the lid is mounted on the base unit to provide an elevated step and to provide a storage space in the receptacle under the lid. The kneeler accessory is sized to be stored under the lid in the storage space when the pieces in the furniture unit are assembled to produce a step stool.  
           [0005]    In an illustrative embodiment, the kneeler accessory comprises a foldable armrest that can be unfolded to mount on a rim or ledge of a bathtub and folded to fit into the storage space between the base unit and the lid. The kneeler accessory further comprises a pliable web coupled at one end to the armrest and configured at the other end to be coupled to the base unit to link the base unit to the armrest when the furniture unit pieces are assembled to produce a tubside kneeler.  
           [0006]    In one tubside kneeler configuration, the lid is inverted and nested in the receptacle formed in the base unit (after the kneeler accessory has been removed from the storage space) to provide a kneeler that can be placed on the floor alongside a bathtub. The armrest is then unfolded and mounted on the rim of the bathtub and the pliable web is allowed to drape along the outer wall of the tub. A lower end of the pliable web is coupled to the base unit to link the armrest to the base unit. Bath accessories can be stored in pockets provided on an exposed surface of the draped pliable web.  
           [0007]    Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying Figures in which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure in the form of bathroom furniture in a “step stool” mode wherein the lid is mounted on the underlying base unit to cause an elevated step included in the lid to extend upwardly from the base unit to form a one-step step stool;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the lid, with portions broken away, to reveal one of two releasable latch mechanisms housed in the lid and used to anchor the lid to the base unit in either the step stool mode shown in FIG. 1 or a “tubside kneeler” mode shown in FIG. 4 and showing removal of the lid from the base unit to expose a kneeler accessory stored in the receptacle formed in the base unit;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing removal of the kneeler accessory (e.g. an armrest and a pliable web) from a receptacle formed in the base unit and showing reversal of the lid to cause a knee pad included in the lid to face upwardly and the elevated step included in the lid to face downwardly so that the lid is oriented to be mounted to the base unit in the tubside kneeler mode shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1-3 showing the bathroom furniture in the tubside kneeler mode wherein the elevated step included in the lid is placed in the receptacle formed in the base unit to expose the knee pad on the lid so that the base unit and the lid cooperate to form a kneeler located adjacent to a bathtub, the armrest is assembled and mounted on the ledge of the bathtub to allow a person using the kneeler to rest their arms comfortably on the armrest, and the pliable web is arranged to extend downwardly from the armrest to the base unit to connect the armrest to the kneeler and to provide pockets for storing bathroom accessories;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective broken view of a portion of the lid showing one of the releasable latch mechanisms and the latch-receiver pocket defined by the lid;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a broken sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 1 showing the releasable latch mechanism in a secured or locked position to anchor the lid to the base unit;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a broken sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing movement of the latch mechanism to a released position to allow a user to remove the lid from the base unit;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a broken perspective assembly view showing the two-part armrest of FIGS. 1-4 including the lower portion coupled to the upper end of the pliable web and the upper portion adapted to set on the ledge of the bathtubside wall before the lower and upper portions are mated to convert the armrest to the unfolded L-shaped configuration;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a broken perspective view of the armrest and the portion of the pliable web coupled to the armrest showing pivoting movement of the upper portion of the armrest relative to the lower portion of the armrest during a first stage of converting of the armrest to the unfolded, L-shaped configuration following removal of the armrest and pliable web from the receptacle formed in the base unit;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 9;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of FIG. 9;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 showing the second stage of converting the armrest;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 12;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of FIG. 12;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 9 and 12 showing a final third stage of converting the armrest;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of FIG. 15; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of FIG. 15.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    The present disclosure is directed to furniture which, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-17, for example, is in the form of bathroom furniture  10  comprising a base unit  12 , a lid  14 , a pair of releasable latch mechanisms  16  associated with lid  14 , and a kneeler accessory  17  configured to be stored in base unit  12  when not in use. Kneeler accessory  17  comprises an armrest  18 , a pliable web or connecting member  20  and a pair of suction members  22  associated with armrest  18 . The bathroom furniture  10  can be converted from a step stool (see, e.g., FIG. 1) to a kneeler (see, e.g., FIG. 4) and vice versa.  
         [0027]    Base unit  12  in the illustrative embodiment comprises four hollow leg members  30 , a pair of opposed first rails  32 ,  34 , a pair of opposed second rails  36 ,  38 , and a bottom  40  which defines a receptacle  42  as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the four leg members  30  defines a slot  44  for engaging one of the releasable latch mechanisms  16  to retain lid  14  in a step stool position as shown in FIG. 1 or a kneeler position as shown in FIG. 4 as described hereinafter.  
         [0028]    Base unit  12  also includes four rubber footings  46  removably engaged with leg members  30  to reduce slippage of bathroom furniture  10  on a bathroom floor (not shown). First rail  32  includes three downwardly-extending hooks  50  for engaging slits  254  formed in connecting member  20  and lying adjacent openings  52  as suggested in FIG. 3. Each of first rails  32 ,  34  includes a ledge  56  for engaging lid  14 . Each of second rails  36 ,  38  also includes a ledge  58  for engaging lid  14 , but also defines an external longitudinally extending recess  60  for receiving fingers to facilitate ready manual disengagement of lid  14  from base unit  12 . Bottom  40  defines a plurality of holes  62  for drainage and ventilation purposes. Base unit  12  is constructed of any suitable material such as, for example, any suitable polyethylene.  
         [0029]    Lid  14  in the illustrated embodiment includes a step side  64 , a kneel side  66 , a peripheral lip  68 , a plurality of walls  70 , and a knee pad  72  in the form of foam or rubber padding overmolded or otherwise retained on kneel side  66 . Kneel side  66  includes a ridge  76  surrounding knee pad  72  and defining a cavity (not shown) that receives knee pad  72 . Lid  14  defines a pair of latch-receiver pockets  86  adjacent its opposed ends. Each latch-receiver pocket  86  is defined by a pair of walls  90 , a pair of curved biasing surfaces  92 , and a rear wall  94  including a plurality of stops  96 .  
         [0030]    Lid  14  also includes inwardly curved surfaces  100  to define indentations to receive leg members  30 . Lid  14  defines a pair of holes  110  and a slot  112  adjacent each of its ends to receive each of releasable latch mechanisms  16 . Latch-receiver pockets  86 , curved surfaces  100 , holes  110 , and slots  112  are substantially closer to kneel side  66  than step side  64 . Lid  14  is constructed of any suitable material such as, for example, any suitable polyethylene.  
         [0031]    Each of releasable latch mechanisms  16  in the illustrated embodiment comprises a button  120 , a pair of lateral latches  122 , and a pair of flexible arms  124  connecting button  120  with latches  122 . Each of releasable latch mechanisms  16  is received by one of latch-receiver pockets  86  such that a lead portion of the button  120  extends through a respective slot  112 , and latches  122  extend through a respective pair of holes  110  for releasable securement to base unit  12 . The curved biasing surfaces  92  engage flexible arms  124  and bias releasable latch mechanism  16  toward the latching or securing position. When releasable latch mechanism  16  is moved from the secured position to the unlatched or unsecured position, stops  96  limit the movement of button  120 . Button  120 , lateral latches  122 , and flexible arms  124  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, any suitable polyethylene.  
         [0032]    Releasable latch mechanisms  16  are releasably securable to base unit  12  in two alternative positions of lid  14 , namely, a step position in which step side  64  faces up (see, e.g., FIG. 1) and a kneeler position in which kneel side  66  faces up (see, e.g., FIG. 4). Because releasable latch mechanisms  16  are located closer to kneel side  66  than step side  64 , the combined height of base unit  12  and lid  14  is greater when lid  14  is in the step stool position than when lid  14  is in the kneeler position. Accordingly, such construction enables the step stool to have an increased elevation.  
         [0033]    Armrest  18  in the illustrated embodiment has a two-part construction and comprises an upper portion  130  adapted to set on or otherwise engage a top ledge  11  of a bathtub  13  (see FIG. 4) and a lower portion  132  coupled to pliable web or connecting member  20 . Armrest  18  is foldable between a compact or folded position and an L-shaped unfolded configuration (see, e.g., compare FIG. 2 with FIG. 4).  
         [0034]    Upper portion  130  of armrest  18  includes a support portion  134  and a lip portion  136  as shown, for example, in FIG. 8. Support portion  134  includes a rim  140  and a central support  144  integral with rim  14 . Rim  140  and central support  144  may be constructed of any suitable material such as, for example, any suitable polyethylene. Upper portion  130  also includes a rubber overmold  146  engaged with rim  140  and central support  144  to provide support and comfort to the caregiver. Rubber overmold  146  includes an elongated top portion  150  and a pair of mating portions  152  received by a pair of openings  160  defined by rim  140  and central support  144 . Rubber overmold  146  is molded onto rim  140  and central support  144  in any suitable manner. Rubber overmold  146  includes staking portions  162  that extend through the holes (not shown) of rim  140  and are molded onto rim  140  during the overmold process. Lower portion  132  also includes a pair of holes  170  for receiving and engaging suction members  22 .  
         [0035]    Upper and lower portions  130  and  132  include a pair of releasable latch assemblies  180  and a releasable latch-and-hinge assembly  182  disposed between releasable latch assemblies  180  to facilitate the ready conversion of armrest  18  between the compact and unfolded positions. Releasable assemblies  180  and  182  releasably secure armrest  18  in the L-shaped configuration and enable the ready release of releasable assemblies  180 ,  182  and pivoting of lower portion  132  relative to upper portion  130  so that armrest  18  can be readily folded to the compact position. Releasable assemblies  180  and  182  maintain releasable engagement between upper and lower portions  130  and  132  and also permit unlatching of the lower portion and rotation thereof to the folded position.  
         [0036]    Each of releasable latch assemblies  180  includes a wall  190  extending from lip portion  136  defining a rectangular receptacle  192  and an aperture  194 , and a tongue  196  of lower portion  132  received by the rectangular receptacles. Each tongue  196  includes a flexible latch  200  adapted to be received by aperture  194  and engage wall  190  adjacent the aperture. Releasable latch assemblies  180  can be readily disengaged by pressing latches  200  and pulling lower portion  132 .  
         [0037]    Releasable latch-and-hinge assembly  182  includes a first wall  210  extending from lip portion  136  that defines a receptacle  212  and a pair of opposed slots  214 , a second wall  216  within the receptacle  212  that includes a tab  220 , and a pair of camming surfaces  222  that define a pocket  224 . Releasable latch-and-hinge assembly  182  also includes a first tongue  230  extending from lower portion  132  for extending into receptacle  212  and a second tongue  232  adapted to extend into pocket  224  and releasably engage tab  220 . First tongue  230  includes a pair of pins  240  received within slots  214  of the wall  210  to facilitate sliding and rotation of first tongue  230  relative to lip portion  136 . First wall  210  includes necking portions  242  defining slots  214  to releasably lock pins  240  in place when armrest  18  is in the L-shaped configuration. Lip portion  136  prevents lower portion  132  from rotating more than 90° away from lip portion  136  when armrest  18  is converted to the L-shaped configuration. First tongue  239  also defines a cut-out  234  above second tongue  232 . When armrest  18  is engaged in the L-shaped configuration (see, e.g., FIGS. 9-11), tongues  196  and  230  are received by receptacles  192  and  212 , respectively; latches  200  are engaged with walls  190 ; tongue  232  is received by pocket  224 ; and pins  240  are engaged with neck portions  242 .  
         [0038]    Conversion of armrest  18  from the L-shaped configuration to the folded position may occur in stages. First, lower portion  132  is releasably disengaged from lid portion  136  of upper portion  130 , by manually pulling lower portion  132  relative to lip portion  136 , which causes latches  200  to disengage from apertures  194  and pins  240  to disengage from neck portions  242  and the lower portion to slide relative to the lip portion  136  (see, e.g., FIGS. 12-14). As this occurs, tongues  196  and  230  slide relative to walls  190 , respectively; tongue  230  maintains contact with wall  210 ; and pins  240  slide within slots  214 . Next, lower portion  132  is rotated relative to lip portion  136 . As this occurs, pins  240  permit rotation of lower portion  132  while also maintaining engagement between lower and upper portions  130  and  132  (see, e.g., FIGS. 15-17).  
         [0039]    Connecting member  20  in the illustrative embodiment is a pliable web and is configured to connect base unit  12  with armrest  18 . Connecting member  20  includes an upper portion  250  that defines a pair of holes  252  for receiving suction members  22  and defines three slits  254  for engaging hooks  50  of base unit  12 . Connecting member  20  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, a pliable mesh material. Connecting member  20  defines pockets  260  for receiving bathing accessories, such as, for example, a brush, shampoo, soap, etc . . . .  
         [0040]    Each suction member  22  in the illustrative embodiment includes an engaging stem  272  and a suction cup  274 . The stems  272  extend through holes  252  of connecting member  20  and holes  170  of armrest  18  to engage armrest  18 . Each suction member  22  also includes a cap  276  for maintaining suction member  22  in engagement with armrest  18 . Suction cups  274  are configured to engage side walls  15  of bathtub  13 .  
         [0041]    Bathroom furniture  10  in the illustrated embodiment is convertible between a step stool position and a kneeler position. In the step stool position, armrest  18  and connecting member  20  are received by receptacle  42  of base unit  12 , with armrest  18  in its folded position and connecting member  20  rolled around it. Lid  14  is releasably secured to base unit  12  such that step side  64  faces up and lid  14  encloses receptacle  42 . The step stool may be used for any suitable bathroom or other purpose, such as for example, enabling a child to use a bathroom sink or toilet.  
         [0042]    Bathroom furniture  10  may be converted to the kneeler position in any suitable manner. For example, lid  14  may be disengaged from base unit  12  by depressing buttons  120 , grasping lid  14  on both ends, and lifting lid  14  upward. Recesses  60  facilitate grasping of lid  14 . Connecting member  20  is unrolled and armrest  18  is converted to the unfolded position. The one end of connecting member  20  is secured to base unit  12  by hooks  50 . Armrest  18  is then engaged with ledge  11  of bathtub  13 , and suction members  22  of connecting member  20  may be engaged with side  15  of the bathtub  13 . Lid  14  is “flipped” over and releasably secured to base unit  12 , such that kneel side  66  faces upward. Bathroom furniture  10  can be used to bathe a child in bathtub  13  by kneeling on kneel side  66  and using armrest  18 . Because of the location of releasable latch mechanisms  16 , the height of the combination lid  14  and unit  12  is less than the height of the combination when it is in the step stool position. Pockets  60  of connecting member  20  may be used to hold bathing accessories as suggested in FIG. 4.  
         [0043]    Bathroom furniture  10  may be converted back to the step stool position in any suitable manner. For example, lid  14  may be disengaged from base unit  12 , and armrest  18  disengaged from ledge  11  of bathtub  13 . Armrest  18  is folded to a compact position by pulling lower portion  132  to release releasable assemblies  180  and  182 , and thereafter rotating lower portion  132  (see above). Connecting member  20  may then be rolled around armrest  18 . Connecting member  20  may be maintained in engagement with base unit  12  by hooks  50 , or may be disengaged. Armrest  18  and connecting member  20  may then be placed into the storage space provided in receptacle  42  of base unit  12 . Lid  14  is flipped over and re-engaged with base unit  12  such that step side  64  faces up and lid  14  covers the stored armrest  18  and connecting member  20 . Armrest  18  also can be used just with a kneeler that is not convertible to a step stool or in applications other than bathroom furniture  10  described herein.