Abstract:
A folding bench that can be sat on and hold food thereon and transport food and other objects has a pair of substantially similar halves hingedly connected to each other. Each half has a frame with a slatted seating surface. A leg is foldably attached to each frame and folds within the confines of the frame when the bench is closed for transport and unfolds when the bench is open and in use. As the two halves come together to close the bench, an interior space is formed which interior space can hold various objects. Retaining apparatus can be located on one or both halves for securing the objects securely within the interior space. Each half has a handle which may have one or more arcuate openings that can hold a cylindrical object such as a drink cup.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a folding bench that folds into a compact carrying case which has internal capacity to carry items within the case. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     When the weather is pleasant, picnickers are to be found everywhere. Pack a lunch into a basket or similar carrying item, find a nice spot, unpack and enjoy. On particularly gorgeous weekend days, some parks and recreation areas find picnickers jockeying for the best spots. Picnicking is one of life&#39;s great yet relatively inexpensive pleasures. The classic picture of picnicking has a person sitting with his favorite girl on a blanket with a picnic basket and food spread everywhere. While this classic model continues to be widely employed, many fans of the picnic arts are adding an increment of sophistication to the sport of picnicking. 
     Many picnickers desire to have the food sit off of the ground, including off of the blanket spread on the ground so that ants and other ground crawling bugs do not share in the festivities as well as to prevent certain open containers from being easily spilled on a relatively uneven ground surface. Some picnickers want to sit off of the ground either because the ground is wet and will soak through a covering blanket, or due to the passage of years, sitting on the ground becomes increasingly difficult (or at least getting up from the sitting position at the end of the day). 
     One solution to the sophisticated picnicker&#39;s dilemma is to picnic at established picnicking sites. Such sites tend to have tables, chairs, and sometimes other paraphernalia such as grills, roof cover, water supply, etc. While this may prove adequate to some, others find them too restricting. The tables and chairs are located at a fixed location which may not be at the most desirable spot, or even at a very desirable spot. Such spots tend to have multiple users giving a crowded feeling to all. Many such sites tend to be built over a concrete ground covering which detracts from the feeling of being outdoors. Although relatively comfortable, such sites are avoided by the more dedicated of picnickers. 
     To overcome an “urban” picnic experience, yet to obtain elevation above the ground for food, picnickers, or both, many picnickers bring a table and/or chairs along with their food so that above ground seating or serving can be accommodated. The problem with this approach is that the picnickers are loaded up like Santa at Christmas with chairs and tables and food and anything else desired at the picnic. If the picnic ground is some distance from the parking spot, the portage may prove anything but relaxing in each direction. To combat this problem, several devices have been proposed that allow packing of multiple picnic items in a single bundle for relatively easy transport. However, many such carriers are themselves bulky and difficult to transport or are difficult to get into and out of a typical automobile. Other such devices tend to be relatively complicated in design and manufacture making such devices relatively expensive to purchase thereby effectively eliminating the devices from a large portion of the picnicking public. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a device that brings sophistication to the average picnic by allowing food to be served off of the ground and off of a blanket spread on the ground and by allowing the picnickers to sit off of the ground and blanket. Such a device must be able to carry needed picnicking items without the device being bulky or difficult to transport or to load or unload into a typical vehicle. Such a device must be of relatively simple design and construction so that it is readily affordable to a wide segment of the picnicking public. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The folding bench of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The folding bench is a device that brings sophistication to the average picnic by allowing food to be served off of the ground and off of a blanket spread on the ground and by allowing the picnickers to sit off of the ground and blanket. The folding bench can carry needed picnicking items and is not bulky or difficult to transport. The folding bench is relatively easy to load and unload into a typical vehicle. The folding bench is of relatively simple design and construction so that it is inexpensive and affordable to a wide segment of the picnicking public. Ease of operation of the folding bench is inherent in its design. 
     The folding bench of the present invention is comprised of a first frame member that has a first end, a second end, a first top, and a first bottom. A first leg is foldably attached to the first frame member such that the first leg articulates between a folded position wherein the first leg is stored within the confines of the first frame member and an unfolded position wherein the first leg extends downwardly from the first bottom of the first frame member. A first seating surface is attached to the first top of the first frame member. A second frame member has a third end that is hingedly attached to the first end, a fourth end, a second top, and a second bottom. A second leg is foldably attached to the second frame member such that the second leg articulates between a folded position wherein the second leg is stored within the confines of the second frame member and an unfolded position wherein the second leg extends downwardly from the second bottom of the second frame member. A second seating surface is attached to the second top of the second frame member. The bench articulates between a closed position wherein the first leg and the second leg are each in the folded position and the first bottom of the first frame member faces and abuts the second bottom of the second frame member and an open position wherein the first leg and the second leg are each in the unfolded position and the first seating surface and the second seating surface are located on the same plane an uninterrupted seating area. The first frame member is latched to the second frame member when the folding bench is in the closed position. An appropriate retaining means is attached to either the first frame member, the second frame member, or both, for retaining objects within an interior space formed by the abutting first frame member and the second frame member whenever the folding bench is in the closed position. The retaining means may comprise a strap, a bungee cord, a clip, etc. A first handle portion is attached to the second end of the first frame member while a second handle portion is attached to the fourth end of the second frame member. The first handle portion has a first arcuate opening and the second handle has a second arcuate opening that corresponds with the first opening whenever the bench is in the closed position such that the first opening and the second opening are each adapted to receive a cylindrical object therein for holding (e.g. a cup holder). The first seating surface comprises a plurality of first slats arranged in parallel with each other while the second seating surface comprises a plurality of second slats arranged in parallel with each other and with the plurality of first slats. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view of the folding bench of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a right side perspective view of the folding bench of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the folding bench in a partially unfolded position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the leg pivot/bracket detail. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the folding bench in an unfolded position. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the folding bench of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a pair of substantially similar halves  12  and  14  with the first half  12  comprised of a first frame member  16  that has a first end  18 , a second end  20 , a first top  22 , and a first bottom  24 . A first seating surface is attached to the first top  22  of the first frame member  16 . As seen, the first seating surface comprises a plurality of parallel first slats  26  arranged transverse to the longitudinal sides of the first frame member  16  and having spaces between each slat  26 . A first leg  28  is foldably attached to the first frame member  16  such that the first leg  28  articulates between a folded position wherein the first leg  28  is stored within the confines of the first frame member  16  and an unfolded position wherein the first leg  28  extends downwardly from the first bottom  24  of the first frame member  16 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first leg  28  is comprised of a pair of lower struts  30  pivotally attached to the first frame member  16  by a lower spindle  32 . An upper spindle  34  also connects the two lower struts  30 . A pair of upper struts  36  are pivotally attached to the upper spindle  34  at a medial point on each upper strut  36 . A lower cross arm  38  connects the pair of upper struts  36 , while an upper cross arm  40  also connects the pair of upper struts  36 . One or more brackets  42  are attached to some of the plurality of first slats  26  such that each bracket  42  forms a channel  44  and such that the lower cross arm  38  is confined to travel within the channel  44  so that the brackets  42  define the limits of travel of the upper struts  36  and thus the folding and unfolding of the first leg  28 . When the first leg  28  is in the folded position, both the lower pair of struts  30  and the upper pair of struts  36  are positioned within the confines of the first frame member  16  and generally flush against the plurality of first slats  26 . In this position, the lower cross arm  38  abuts against the distal end of the channel  44  (the end that is closer to the second end  20  of the first frame member  16 ). When the first leg  28  is in the unfolded position, the lower struts  30  are pivoted away from the plurality of first slats  26  such that the lower struts  30  angle downwardly from the first bottom  24  of the first frame member  16 . The upper struts  36  are pivoted until they extend generally downwardly from the first bottom  24  of the first frame member  16 . In this position, the lower cross arm  38  abuts against the proximal end of the channel  44  formed by the bracket  42 . 
     A second frame member  46  has a third end  48  that is hingedly attached to the first end  18  of the first frame member  16  by an appropriate hinge  50 , a fourth end  52 , a second top  54 , and a second bottom  56 . A second seating surface is attached to the second top  54  of the second frame member  46 . As seen, the second seating surface comprises a plurality of parallel second slats  58  arranged transverse to the longitudinal sides of the second frame member  46  and having spaces between each slat  58 . The plurality of first slats  26  and the plurality of second slats  58  are parallel to one another and when the folding bench  10  is in the unfolded position, form an uninterrupted seating area. A second leg  60  is foldably attached to the second frame member  46  such that the second leg  60  articulates between a folded position wherein the second leg  60  is stored within the confines of the second frame member  46  and an unfolded position wherein the second leg  60  extends downwardly from the second bottom  56  of the second frame member  46 . The architecture and articulation of the second leg  60  is substantially similar to that of the first leg  28  such that the second leg  60  is comprised of a pair of lower struts  62  pivotally attached to the second frame member  46  by a lower spindle  64 . An upper spindle  66  also connects the two lower struts  62 . A pair of upper struts  68  are pivotally attached to the upper spindle  66  at a medial point on each upper strut  68 . A lower cross arm  70  connects the pair of upper struts  68 , while an upper cross arm  72  also connects the pair of upper struts  68 . One or more brackets  74  are attached to some of the plurality of second slats  58  such that each bracket  74  forms a channel  76  and such that the lower cross arm  70  is confined to travel within the channel  76  so that the brackets  74  define the limits of travel of the upper struts  68  and thus the folding and unfolding of the second leg  60 . When the second leg  60  is in the folded position, both the lower pair of struts  62  and the upper pair of struts  68  are positioned within the confines of the second frame member  46  and generally flush against the plurality of second slats  58 . In this position, the lower cross arm  70  abuts against the distal end of the channel  76  (the end that is closer to the fourth end  52  of the second frame member  46 . When the second leg  60  is in the unfolded position, the lower struts  62  are pivoted away from the plurality of second slats  58  such that the lower struts  62  angle downwardly from the second bottom  56  of the second frame member  46 . The upper struts  68  are pivoted until they extend generally downwardly from the second bottom  56  of the second frame member  46 . In this position, the lower cross arm  70  abuts against the proximal end of the channel  76  formed by the bracket  74 . 
     The folding bench  10  articulates between a closed position wherein the first leg  28  and the second leg  60  are each in the folded position and the first bottom  24  of the first frame member  16  faces and abuts the second bottom  56  of the second frame member  46  and an open position wherein the first leg  28  and the second leg  60  are each in the unfolded position and the first seating surface and the second seating surface are located on the same plane and the first end  18  of the first frame member  16  faces the third end  48  of the second frame member  46 . One or more latches  78  of any appropriate design are used to latch the first frame member  16  to the second frame member  46  whenever the folding bench  10  is in the closed position. 
     Between the first frame member  16  and the struts  30  and  36  and brackets  42  of the first leg  28  of the first half  12  sufficient space exists to store various objects O such as the illustrated drink containers. Similarly, sufficient space also exists between the second frame member  46  and the struts  62  and  68  and brackets  74  of the second leg  60  of the second half  14  to also store various objects O. When the folding bench  10  is in the closed position, the depth of the first frame member  16  and the abutting second frame member  46  is sufficient to form a generous sized interior space to hold relatively large objects O. An appropriate retaining means  80  is provided for retaining the objects O stored within the interior space. As seen, the retaining means  80 , which may be located on the first half  12 , the second half  14 , or both can include a bungee cord with appropriate hooks  82 , a strap, retainer brackets, etc. The retaining means  80  on the first half  12  may be configured differently than the retaining means  80  on the second half  14  so that each half  12  and  14  can hold different objects O. 
     A first handle portion  84  is attached to the second end  20  of the first frame member  16  while a second handle portion  86  is attached to the fourth end  52  of the second frame member  46 . The first handle portion  84  has one or more first arcuate openings  88  and the second handle portion  86  has one or more second arcuate openings  90  that corresponds with the first openings  88  whenever the folding bench  10  is in the closed position. The first handle portion  84  and the second handle portion  86  form an overall carrying handle whenever the folding bench  10  is in the closed position. 
     In order to use the folding bench  10  of the present invention, the folding bench  10  is placed into the open position with the first leg  28  and the second leg  60  each in the folded position various objects O are placed into the first half  12 , the second half  14 , or both. The various retaining means  80  are used to secure the objects O in place as needed. The folding bench  10  is placed into the closed position by bringing the first half  12  and the second half  14  together such that the first bottom  24  of the first frame member  16  faces and abuts the second bottom  56  of the second frame member  46 . The two halves  12  and  14  are latched together via the latches  78 . The folding bench  10  is carried via the handle formed by the first handle portion  84  and the second handle portion  86 . As the folding bench  10  has a relatively slim profile when in the closed position, transport, loading and unloading of the folding bench  10  is relatively simple. Upon arrival at the desired destination, the two halves  12  and  14  are unlatched from one another and the folding bench  10  is unfolded into the open position such that that plurality of first slats  26  and the plurality of second slat  58  rest on the ground. The objects O are unloaded from the two halves  12  and  14  as needed. The first leg  28  and the second leg  60  are each placed into the unfolded position. The folding bench  10  is flipped over so that it rests on the pair of unfolded legs  28  and  60 . The users can sit on the plurality of first slats  26  and the plurality of second slats  58  or can use the slats  26  and  58  as a table top. The arcuate openings  88  of the first handle portion  84  and the arcuate openings  90  of the second handle portion  86  can be used as typical cup holders to hold cylindrical objects that have either a lip or a slight taper. When picnic time is over, the folding bench  10  is loaded up, folded up, and the users are on the way back home. 
     The various structural components of the folding bench  10  (first frame member  16 , second frame member  46 , first leg  28 , second leg  60 , first slats  26 , second slats  58 ) can be made from any appropriate sturdy and light material such as plastic, wood, etc. The length of each frame member  16  and  46  can be as long as needed, advantageously, at least sufficiently long to comfortably seat two people, but should be only so long so as to allow the folding bench  10  to be easily carried by the handle portions  84  and  86  whenever the folding bench  10  is in the closed position. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.