Abstract:
A convertible bench comprises a seat, a backrest and a pair of armrests extending between the seat and the backrest. Each armrest has a first end portion extending from the backrest and a second opposed end portion pivotally mounted to the seat for allowing the backrest to be swung about the armrests between a backrest position and a tabletop position. A stopper cooperates with the second end portion of each armrest for supporting the backrest in the backrest and tabletop positions thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to furniture and, more particularly, to a bench having a backrest that may be positioned to either serve as a backrest or as a tabletop. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Over the years various convertible benches have been developed. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,172 and 6,241,312 both issued to Watts et al. on Mar. 8, 1994 and Jun. 5, 2001 respectively, disclose a convertible bench/table apparatus having a backrest pivotable between a backrest configuration and a tabletop configuration. The apparatus further includes a seat and a pair of armrests. The backrest is supported in its backrest and tabletop positions by abutting a surface of the armrests against the top surface of the seat. Although such an arresting structure is efficient, it represents a risk of personal injuries in that the operator may drop the armrests on his/her fingers when pivoting the backrest between its backrest and tabletop positions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a convertible bench that is adapted to minimize the risk of injury while the backrest of the bench is being positioned to either serve as a backrest or as a tabletop. 
     It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a convertible bench that is easily and quickly convertible between a bench configuration and a table configuration. 
     Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a convertible bench comprising a seat, a backrest supported by a pair of armrests articulated to the seat for allowing the backrest to be pivoted between a backrest position and a tabletop position, wherein each of the armrests is articulated to the seat via a pivot, and a stopper integrated to the pivot for providing structural support to the backrest in its backrest and tabletop positions. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a convertible bench comprising a seat, a backrest, a pair of armrests extending between the seat and the backrest, each armrest having a first end portion extending from the backrest and a second opposed end portion pivotally mounted to the seat for allowing the backrest to be swung about the armrests between a backrest position and a tabletop position, and a stopper cooperating with the second end portion of each armrest for supporting the backrest in a selected one of the backrest and tabletop positions thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible bench shown in a bench configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the convertible bench shown in a picnic table configuration; 
     FIG. 3 is side elevation view of the convertible bench; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one end portion of the convertible bench shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a convertible park type bench embodying the elements of the present invention and generally designated by numeral  10  will be described. 
     As will be seen hereinafter, the convertible bench  10  comprises a backrest  12  that can be positioned to either serve as a backrest (FIG. 1) or as a tabletop (FIG.  2 ). 
     The convertible bench  10  further includes a seat  14  comprising a seat board  16  supported on a support frame  18 . The support frame  18  includes a pair of side frame members  20  adapted to receive therebetween the seat board  16 .  00015  Each side frame member  20  has an inner mounting surface  21  and a relatively smooth outer surface  23 . As best seen in FIG. 4, each side frame member  20  includes a pair of legs  22  extending integrally downwardly from opposed ends of a seat mount  24 . A C-shaped brace  26  extends between the lower end portions of the legs  22  to increase the structural rigidity thereof. The seat mount  24  has a top surface  27  and a bottom surface  28  defining therebetween a compartment  30  open on the inner side of the frame member  20  for receiving one end portion of the seat board  16 . Holes  32  are defined in the bottom surface  28  of the seat mount  24  for receiving screws (not shown) in order to secure the seat board  16  in the compartment  30 . Stiffening walls  34  extend from the outer surface  23  between the top surface  27  and the bottom surface  28  for engagement in corresponding grooves  31  defined in the adjacent end face of the seat board  16 . A beam-receiving cavity  36  is defined centrally of each side frame member  22  underneath the compartment  30  thereof for captively receiving one end of a reinforcing beam  33 . Hollow cylinders  38  extend from the outer surface  23  in the C-shaped brace  26  for receiving fasteners (not shown) in order to secure a bottom horizontal reinforcing member (not shown) between the side frame members  20 . 
     The backrest  12  includes a backrest board  40  extending between a pair of armrests  42  pivotally mounted to the support frame  18 . The armrests  42  are supported at one end only in a cantilevered fashion. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a recess  44  can be defined in each side of the backrest board  40  to removably receive interchangeable advertising panels  46 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, each armrest  42  has a backrest-mounting portion  48  defining a longitudinal compartment  50  for captively receiving one end of the backrest board  40 . The compartment  50  is circumscribed by a pair of sidewalls  52  and a pair of end walls  54  extending integrally from an outer facing side surface  56  of the armrest  42 . Stiffening members  58  extend between the sidewalls  52  to reinforce the backrest-mounting portion  48 . The stiffening members  58  are received in corresponding grooves (not shown) defined at the ends of the backrest board  40 . Holes (not shown) are defined through the outer facing side surface  56  of each armrest  42  for receiving screws  60  or the like in order to secure the backrest board  40  to the associated armrest  42 . Each armrest  42  further includes a forward arm portion  62  extending integrally forwardly from the backrest mounting portion  48  and an angled arm portion  64  depending at an angle from the forward arm portion  62 . The forward arm portion  62  and the angled arm portion  64  are integral to one another and to the backrest-mounting portion  48 . The forward arm portion  62  and the angled arm portion  64  are bounded by a top wall  66  and a bottom wall  68  extending integrally from the outer facing side surface  56  of the armrest  42 . The forward arm portion  62  and the angled arm portion  64  are preferably open on an inner facing side of the armrest  42 . Various stiffening members  67  extend from the outer side-facing surface  56  between the top and bottom walls  66  and  68  for increasing the structural integrity of the armrest  42 . The forward arm portion  62  extends generally at right angles from the backrest-mounting portion  48 . 
     The angled arm portion  64  terminates in a flattened disc end portion  70  having a central through bore  72  for receiving a pivot pin  74  and a curved slot  76  extending about the central through bore  72  along an arc of circle centered relative to the through bore  72  for receiving a stop pin  78 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 to  4 , a pair of spaced-apart parallel ears  80  extends integrally upwardly from a forward half portion of the top surface  26  of each side frame member  20  for receiving therebetween the flattened disc end portion  70  of the associated armrest  42 . As shown in FIG. 4, two sets of registering holes  82  and  84  are defined in each pair of ears  80  for respectively receiving the pivot pin  74  and the stop pin  78 . Each armrest  42  is pivotally mounted to its associated side frame member  20  by simply placing the flatted disc end portion  70  thereof between the ears  80  of the associated side frame member  20  so that the through bore  72  be in registry with the holes  82  and the curved slot  76  aligned with the holes  84 . Once properly positioned, the pivot pin  74  and the stop pin  78  are respectively inserted through the holes  82  and the central through hole  72 , and the holes  84  and the curved slot  76 . The pivot pin  74  and the stop pin  78  are then secured in position by means of nuts or the like. Disposable wear discs  90  can be provided on either sides of the flattened disc end portion  70  to prevent premature wear thereof. 
     As opposed to known convertible benches wherein the movement of the armrests is limited by the abutment of the armrest against the top surface of the seat mount, the pivotal movement of the armrest  42  relative to its associated side frame member  20  is limited by the stop pin  74  in the slot  76 . Since access to the slot  76  is prevented by the eats  80 , a user cannot pinches his fingers while pivoting the backrest  12  between a backrest position (FIG. 1) and a tabletop position (FIG.  2 ). By so integrating a stopper in the pivot itself, the risk of injury during the conversion process of the bench  10  into a table is greatly minimized. It is understood that the stopper is not limited to a stop pin engaged in a slot enclosed in a housing. For instance, a protrusion extending from the top surface  26  of the side frame member  20  between the ears  80  for engagement in a peripheral groove or recess defined in the flatted disc end portion  70  could be used as well. Any stopper enclosed in a housing could in fact be used. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the park bench  10  can be readily converted into a picnic table (FIG. 2) by simply pivoting the armrests  42  thereof in a forward direction until the stop pin  74  engages the closed end  92  of the slot  76 . To convert the table back into a bench configuration, the user simply pivots the backrest  12  about the armrests  20  in the opposite direction until the stop pin  74  engages the opposed closed end  94  of the slot  76 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each side frame member  20  is formed as one integral piece, and each armrest  42  is formed as one integral piece. The side frame members  20  and the armrests  42  can be molded from various moldable materials, such as plastic, metal (e.g. aluminum), vinyl, or any other suitable material.