Abstract:
A convertible stool is interchangeable between a utility function which has a seat movable up and down and has casters as feet at the end of legs connected with the seat through an upstanding member. In a second use, the casters are replaced by feet to give stability to the chair on a floor or base. As such, the second use can be a furniture type use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/041,140, filed on Jan. 21, 2005, and which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/629,123, filed Nov. 17, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    This disclosure relates to a stool which has multiple purposes. 
         [0004]    2. General Background 
         [0005]    It is desirable to have stools that can perform different functions and purposes and as such can have different characteristics and uses. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This disclosure relates to a stool that serves a utility function and in this sense has a seat which can move upwardly and downwardly as required by a user. The user can operate a pneumatic mechanism to make the seat settle at a desired height so that utility functions can be performed. The seat is preferably mounted on a single pneumatic post and there are legs splayed out from the post and casters at the end of the legs, which act as movable feet for this stool. The stool acts as a utility stool with maneuverability as required by a user. 
         [0007]    In a different sense, the casters are replaceable and stationary feet are put in location on the legs. This permits the stool to constitute furniture-like function that is stationary on its base. The stool can be raised or lowered as necessary on the central spindle or pillar. 
         [0008]    Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stool showing the extended position of the seat relative to the legs of the chair in a first format. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a stool showing the extended position of the seat relative to the legs of the chair in a second format. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the stool in a lowered format as a utility stool. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the stool in a lowered format as a furniture item. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an underside view of a leg showing the extremity of the leg for locating either a caster or a foot. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view of kits of casters with a spindle and fixed feet with a spindle. The wedging tool to facilitate removal is also shown. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a stool with a seat  10  extended above a spindle  11 . The spindle  11  includes at least two components, a rod  12  which moves pneumatically inside a cylinder  13 . A circular removable footrest  14  is arranged around the cylinder  13 . Splayed outwardly from the pillar  11  are legs  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 . A further leg is also part of the structure such that there are five legs for the stool. The legs are equidistant from a radial sense. At the end of each of the legs as shown in  FIG. 1 , there is a caster  19 ,  20 ,  21  and  22 , respectively. This permits the stool in  FIG. 1  to be rolled fairly easily on a surface on which a utility worker such as a garage worker would be working. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the rod  12  is compressed inside the cylinder  13 . In this manner, the utility chair can be used around the surface, but the seat  10  is relatively lower. In this position the footrest is removed. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  there is the configuration where the stool is a fixed furniture item, namely where the feet are fixed elements. In place of the casters  19 - 22  and the fifth caster, there are fitted  5  feet. 
         [0018]    In  FIGS. 1 to 4  the seat as shown resembles a saddle similar to a motorcycle seat. The pneumatic adjustment of the rod and cylinder permits the seat to move between about 21 inches and 31 inches. The footrest in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can be formed of a heavy-duty chrome material. In  FIG. 3 and 4  there is no footrest in that configuration. Thus, the footrest is removable, as required. When in a more compressed state, it may be unnecessary for a footrest. In the elongated state of  FIG. 1 and 2 , the footrest becomes more necessary. It is possible in both the configurations of  FIGS. 1 to 4  as shown to have the seat rotate or swivel  3600  around the pillar  11 . 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 5 , the underside  23  of a foot  15  can be seen. There is a central located axial hole  24  for engaging the spindle  25  of either the casters  19 ,  20 ,  21  and  22  and the fifth caster or of stationary feet  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  or  30  as shown in  FIG. 1-4 .  FIG. 6  shows the kits of casters and fixed feet which would interface with the different legs for the stool. A wedging-type tool can be used to pry the casters  19 ,  20 ,  21  or  22  from the legs and replace them with the feet, or vice versa. The spindle  25  for the casters and for the stationary or fixed feet is sized to be the same so that it can easily fit in the hole at the underside of each of eh extremities of the forward portions of the legs. 
         [0020]    As can be seen when the stationary feet are used the outside surface of these feet meets with a relatively harmonious interface with the outside surface of the ends of the legs so that there is an aesthetically satisfying appearance achieved when the stationary feet are in place and stool is to be used as a furniture item. 
         [0021]    The top of the feet at the interface with the spindle is in mating engagement with bottom of the interface  23  so as to have tight fitting contact which is aesthetically pleasing. The tool can engage around the spindle  25  and be urged like a fork with tines that fit to either side of the spindle and between the ends of the legs and the top of the feet so that the feet can thereby be wedged from their engaged position in the hole. To have the feet with the spindle-leg configuration and conformation provides an effective mechanism for easy exchange of the feet as desired. The tool is illustrated in  FIG. 6  with the two tine-like formations or a groove for location to either side of the spindle. The body of the tool is relatively thin with a narrowed or tapered forward part to facilitate the placement between the top of the feet and the bottom of the legs. 
         [0022]    The stool can be packaged as a set or kit with the wedging tool so that the appropriate feet can be used as desired by the consumer at the appropriate time. 
         [0023]    In this manner there is provided a stool that is convertible between multi-functional purposes. When the feet are in place, the stool can provide an effective furniture item which can be used for instance in a bar, and in this sense, the seat  10  can be raised or lowered as necessary to a particular counter height. Alternatively, the stool in its fixed relationship can be a useful furniture item in a home, such as in a kitchen or the like. 
         [0024]    As such there is provided a kit for a multi-functional convertible stool which comprises a saddle seat adjustable in height relative to a base on which the seat stands. There are multiple legs arranged to support the seat, the legs being connected with the seat, the legs having extremities and the legs having selectively removable feet. There are feet being casters and feet being stationary feet. The stool is convertible such that in one configuration with casters on the legs, the seat is movable on a base or floor and in a different configuration with stationary feet, the seat is relatively stationary on the base or floor. 
         [0025]    The saddle seat is movable on a pneumatically mounted pillar which extends between the legs and the seat, thereby to vary the height of the saddle seat relative to the floor. 
         [0026]    A method of converting a stool which is multifunctional as a utility stool in a first mode including the steps of applying removable casters to feet for a stool such that the stool can be moved on casters that facilitate rolling movement on a floor so as to permit movement around a workspace without the need for a user to get off a seat. 
         [0027]    The seat is permitted to be raised or lowered according to the suitable height for use as a utility function around the workspace. 
         [0028]    When the casters are removed and removable non-movable feet are applied in a second mode the stool acts as a furniture item which is not rollable on the floor. The legs including the non-movable feet are such that the stool can be located in a fixed relationship relative to a floor except if physically dragged in a non-rolling manner to a different location. 
         [0029]    While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.