Patent Publication Number: US-2003230912-A1

Title: Bench having diamond plate seat, diamond plate back, and I-beam legs

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates generally to seats for sitting and more particularly to benches.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Conventional benches are often are formed with painted steel or aluminum slats, painted perforated steel or aluminum, untreated or painted wood, or colored plastic. Problems with such conventional benches are that the painted surfaces fade and chip particularly on the top of the seat and on the front of the back, the wood slowly decomposes, and the colored plastic fades over time.  
       [0003] Another problem with such benches is that the seats and the backs are often unable to withstand a heavy load. Still another problem is that the benches typically have a design that is not appropriate with the decor of the surrounding area.  
       [0004] Therefore, there is a need for further benches.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a bench which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface, and at least one leg comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat.  
       [0006] The present invention provides, in a second aspect, a bench which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface, at least one leg comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat, and a back attached to the at least one leg. The back also comprises diamond plate having a raised pattern defining a front surface.  
       [0007] The present invention provides, in a third aspect, a bench which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a top surface and downwardly-depending edges, a pair of spaced-apart legs each comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat, and wherein the top surface and edges of the seat comprise a metallic surface, and the pair of spaced-apart legs comprise a coating comprising a color. The seat may also include a back comprising diamond plate having a raised pattern for defining a front surface and downwardly-depending edges. The back may be attached to the legs with a pair of spaced-apart back supports, and the front surface and the edges of the back comprise a metallic surface. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bench in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a reduced front elevational view of the bench shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 1;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in FIG. 1;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a bench in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0015]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bench  10  in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, bench  10  generally includes a seat  20 , and a pair of spaced-apart legs  40 . As described in greater detail below, seat  20  is formed from diamond plate, and the pair of spaced-apart legs  40  are formed from I-beams.  
     [0016] The bench may be installed, for example, in parks, and near businesses and shopping centers. The bench may match existing industrial-themed developments. For example, where abandoned factories are converted into shopping centers, the bench formed from diamond plate and I-beams blends into the surrounding indoor or outdoor environment and enhances the industrial motif. Combining the diamond plate and the I-beam for forming a bench allows architects and designers to coordinate the appearance of their industrial projects.  
     [0017] As best shown in FIG. 1, legs  40  include an elongated I-beam having a web portion  42  and two outer flanges  44 . Web portion  42  may be aligned along the length of the bench so that flanges  44  are disposed perpendicular to the length of the bench.  
     [0018] Lower ends  46  of legs  42  may be attached to leg supports  50 , formed from a C-channel. For example, the C-channel may have a width which corresponds to the width of the I-beam. The outer surface of a web portion  52  of the C-channel may be attached to lower end  46  of leg  40  so that downwardly-depending flanges  54  of the C-channel are positioned to engage the ground. While the bench may be portable, the C-channel member may be provided with holes in the web, as shown in FIG. 1, for use in attaching and securing the bench, for example, to a cement footing (not shown). It will be appreciated that the ends of the I-beam legs may be suitably secured in the ground without the leg support. The leg supports may also comprise a square tube or other suitable configuration.  
     [0019] Seat  20  is formed from a sheet of diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern or similar embossed pattern on the surface. For example, a sheet of diamond plate may be formed to include a top surface  22 , and a front edge  24 , a rear edge (not shown), and side edges  26  (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1), which are formed by bending the peripherally-extending portions of the diamond plate. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outermost peripheral edges may further be turned inward under the seat.  
     [0020] Seat  20  may also include a frame  30  which attaches to seat  20  and to legs  40 . Frame  30  may be formed from a plurality of square tubes  32  which define a rectangular-shaped frame. A pair of spaced-apart plates  34  span between opposite longitudinally-extending portions of square tubes  32 . A top end  48  (FIG. 4) of each I-beam  40  is attached to a respective plate member  34 . The combination of the diamond plate and frame provide a rigid structure for supporting heavy loads.  
     [0021] The various components forming the frame and the legs may be welded together. As best shown in FIG. 4, frame  30  may include a plurality of threaded nuts  38  which are attached to square tubes  32 . A plurality of screws or bolts  39 , such as flat head cap screws, may extend through holes in the downwardly-depending edge portions of seat  20  and engage the threaded nuts to attach seat  20  to frame  30 .  
     [0022]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another bench  100  in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, bench  100  generally includes a seat  120 , a pair of spaced-apart legs  140 , a back  160 , and a pair of spaced-apart back supports  150 . Seat  120  and back  160  are formed from diamond plate, and the pair of spaced-apart legs  140  are formed from I-beams. Seat  120  and legs  140  may be formed and assembled as described above with reference to bench  10 .  
     [0023] Back  160  is formed from a sheet of diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern or similar embossed pattern on the surface. For example, as best shown in FIG. 6, a sheet of diamond plate may be formed to include a top surface  162 , and a top edge  164 , a bottom edge  166 , and side edges (not shown), which are formed by bending the peripherally-extending portions of the diamond plate. The outermost peripheral edges may further be turned inward under the back.  
     [0024] Back  160  may also include a frame  130  which attaches to back  160 . Frame  130  may be formed from a plurality of square tubes  132  defining a rectangular frame. Back  160  may be attached to frame  130  using threaded bolts in a similar manner as described above with reference to the attachment of seat  20  to frame  30 .  
     [0025] Back  160  may be supported and attached to legs  140  by a pair of spaced-apart back supports  150 . For example, back supports  150  may comprise a plurality of square tubes which includes a lower horizontal portion  152  and an upper generally vertical portion  154 . Portion  154  may be also be disposed on an angle from vertical, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. Lower portion  152  of back supports  150  includes an end  156  which may be attached, e.g., by welding, to a respective rear surface of the web of leg  140 . Upper portion  154  of back supports  150  may be attached, e.g., by welding, to frame  130 . A half round member  158  may be attached to and cover the opening of the square tube forming the upper end of upper portion  154  of back supports  150 .  
     [0026] The seats, the legs, the leg supports, the backs, the frames, and the back supports may be formed from stainless steel, aluminum, or any suitable material. In addition, the seat and back may be polished diamond plate having an outer metallic surface and the legs may be powder-coated to exhibit a color surface such as red, black, green, blue, bronze, or other suitable colors. In addition, the back and the seat may also be powder-coated to exhibit a color surface. The diamond plate may be about ⅛ inch to ¼ inch thick, the downwardly-depending edges may extend about 1-½ to 2 inches, the I-beam may be about 4 inches wide (flange to flange), the square tube for the frames may be a 1-½ by 1-½ square tube, and the back supports may be 2 to 2-½ inch square tube.  
     [0027] While the benches of the present invention are illustrated as having straight seats and backs, it will be appreciated that seats and backs may be curved (either along the length and/or along the width thereof) or provided with other suitable configurations. In addition, the seat may be disposed horizontally or on an angle, e.g., on an angle from front to back. The benches may be manufactured in various lengths, e.g., four feet, six feet, or eight feet in length. The combination of the diamond plate and I-beams result in a sturdy construction and reduces the likelihood of being damaged, and the diamond plate provides texture to the surface of the seat and the back.  
     [0028] Thus, while various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.