[0001] This invention relates to interchangeable use multipurpose equipment/furniture.
[0002] In particular, but not exclusively the present invention is concerned with the provision
of a system of furniture or equipment forming components involving a seat frame which
can be selectively altered/modified to provide an alternative function for example,
as a low or high seat unit, as a bed or so-called lounger unit, or as a trolley unit
etc.
[0003] It is intended that a particular usage for the system is in relation to sporting
activities that call for a sports person to be at rest or otherwise constrained to
a particular location for considerable periods of time.
[0004] Such sporting activities can include, for example, match fishing, specialist sports
fishing, bird watching, animal studying and the like.
[0005] In commenting upon a particular activity it is convenient to consider briefly, specialist
sports fishing activities during the course of which the fisherperson sets out to
catch a particular type of fish and/or perhaps fish exceeding a particular weight,
size or combination thereof. For example, bream, catfish, roach, pike, and/or carp.
The fishing of particular species of fish involves a very wide range of fishing techniques
whereby the specialist fisherperson becomes involved with a very wide range and quantity
of actual fishing equipment and also fishing activity support equipment.
[0006] Whilst, as is very well known, the techniques involved in the specialist fishing
of species such as above mentioned differ considerably from fish species to species
there is, however,a factor common to all of them namely the need for the fisherperson
to spend a great deal of time constrained to a particular location. Consequently,
there is a prime need for some form of fisherperson furniture to assist in his ongoing
comfort and well being. For instance. a seat upon which the fisherperson may sit.
In addition, as is also well known, it is a common practice for at least the more
highly enthusiastic fisherperson to remain fishing for long periods not only during
the daytime but also into and even through the night, and at least for this reason
it is a common practice for such fisherpersons to include amongst their fishing equipment
some form of a portable bed or lounger unit.
[0007] In addition, to the articles above mentioned the fisherperson usually requires not
only an extensive range of actual fishing equipment, such as a variety of rods, and
an associated selection of line reels but also a very large number of the many items
considered important as aids for successful fishing. These aids include items such
as keep-nets, keep-sacks, rod supports, bait containers, hooks etc. Furthermore, there
remains the various requirements for the personal comfort of the fisherperson, such
as equipment for making hot beverages and food together with possibly various articles
specifically intended for protecting the fisherperson against the environment such
as wind shields, umbrellas.
[0008] From the forgoing it is very clearly apparant that the specialist sports fisherperson
has considerable logistical problems in transporting such equipment not only to and
from the place of fishing but also from fishing swim to fishing swim.
[0009] It will also be appreciated that whilst a fisherperson is located at the place of
fishing his equipment will be disposed around him at locations convenient to the various
operations involved in connection with his particular fishing techniques and in relation
to the local terrain.
[0010] As is very well known a fisherperson frequently finds it necessary to change or vary
the particular place or swim at which he is fishing in order to enhance his chances
of catching success. As will be clear from the above in view of the plethora of equipment
the problems involved in moving from a fishing location to location are considerable
and in consequence time consuming, bearing in mind the routes, paths or the like involved
in such position change are rarely easy to negotiate and that the amount of equipment
to be physically handled.
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system of interchangeable function
furniture which seeks to at least reduce problems and disavantages such as above mentioned.
[0012] Broadly, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a multipurpose
furniture/equipment, wherein a seat frame is provided with stub legs adapted intechangeably
to receive differing constructions of leg assemblies and attachments therefore, the
arrangement being such as to enable establishment of differing user functions for
the furniture/equipment.
[0013] Conveniently said seat frame is provided with stub legs which are each pivotable
between a stowed or folded position and an erected or use position, and wherein the
free end region of each stub leg is adapted to receive extension leg arrangements,
[0014] Preferably, each leg arrangement is selectively lengthwise adjustable thereby to
enable selective adjustment of user height of the seat frame.
[0015] Conveniently, the leg arrangements are connected together in such manner to provide
assemblies each including two leg arrangements whereby after their mounting to associated
stub legs the leg arrangements are mechanically braced.
[0016] In a preferred construction there is provided a unit of furniture incorporating a
basic seat frame provides a section adapted interchangeably to receive differing constructions
of leg assemblies and attachments therefor which enables establishment of differing
functions for the unit of furniture.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the invention the seat frame is adapted to mount
a back rest which is foldable between open and closed positions, and also to provide
a pulling handle arrangement for a trolley produced by providing wheels on on selected
ones of the leg assemblies.
[0018] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into
effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a very schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a seat rest unit
of a system of readily convertible multi-purpose unit of furniture/equipment of the
invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a detail of a leg assembly;
Figure 3 is a very schematic representation of a first embodiment of a leg frame unit
incorporating leg assemblies of the invention;
Figure 4 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a chair incorporating the
concepts of the invention;
Figure 5 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of a chair convertible into
a bed or lounger and incorporating the concepts of the invention;
Figure 6 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a chair converted to provide
a trolley and incorporating the concepts of the invention;
Figure 7 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of a chair converted to provide
a trolley and incorporating the concepts of the invention; and
Figure 8 schematically illustrates to an enlarged scale of a wheel assembly for use
with the chair of the present invention.
[0019] Referring now to the drawings it is convenient to note that for convenience of explanation
it is proposed to consider the formation of the system of the invention by progressively
introducing constructional features that can be involved in the system.
[0020] Thus referring now to Figure 1 this Figure very schematically shows a seat rest frame
unit 1 comprising two side rails 2 positioned in side-by-side spaced apart relationship.
Each side rail can be formed from solid or tubular metal bar or rod. A leg assembly
support element 3 is provided at each end of each side rail 2. Each element includes
a mounting portion 4 by which it is connected to the associated side rail and a relatively
short stub leg 5 which provides a mounting element for readily releasably receiving
either externally or internally leg extension forming assemblies (not shown in Figure
1) or wheel assemblies.
[0021] The mounting portion 4 is pivotally mounted by pivot means 6 to its associated side
rail 2 such that it is pivotable between a folded or stowed setting in which the stub
leg 5 lies effectively against and lengthwise of the associated side rail and an extended
operational setting as shown in the Figure 1. When in this latter setting the stub
legs 5 are so inclined with respect to their associated mounting portions 4 that the
associated leg assemblies will incline outwardly in line with the direction of the
associated side rails 2 when in the extended setting to enhance the operational stability
of this frame unit.
[0022] As is indicated in the Figure 1 the side rails are conveniently bridged by a seat
rest 7 comprising a woven material such as a natural or man-made fibre fabrics such
as a canvas, Nylon or from other suitable material such as a plastics sheet fabric.
If desired, the seat rest 7 can comprise a solid shaped seat pan (not shown) and adapted
releasably to connect with the side rails. Bridging bars 8 serve to hold the side
rails 2 in a predetermined spaced apart relationship relative to each other. These
bridging bars can be foldable so as ro facilitate the packaging of the seat frame.
[0023] As so far described it will be noted that the proposals of the invention provide
for various seat rest formations for a readily foldable low level seat rest or stool.
[0024] In the case of the Figure 2 this illustrates a foot rest 9 for spreading the pressure
exerted by a leg 5 on the ground over a larger area. These foot rests 9 can be particularly
used in an embodiment with the rigid seat pan 7 or one using the bracing bars 8.
[0025] The foot units 9 include a stem 10 engageable with the stub legs 5 and a load spreader
plate 11. The addition of the foot units 9 facilitates the use of the stool with the
short stub legs. The foot units are held in place by spring loaded locking pins arrangements
schematically shown at 12 engaging with holes 13 on the stem 10.
[0026] Constructions of the leg assemblies 14 incorporating the features of the invention
for mounting to the stub legs 5 will now be considered in relation to Figure 3 in
which two separate leg assemblies 14 are coupled in spaced apart arrangement by a
stetcher bar 15 which can be of such design as to be readily interchangeable with
alternative stretcher bar constructions. The Figure schematically illustrates two
forms of stretcher bar, one in full lines and the other 15A in dashed lines. Each
leg assembly 14 includes an upper section 16 which is tubular and conveniently of
square cross-section and which is adapted for engagement with a stub leg 5. The upper
section 16 can engage internally or externally with the stub leg. In the Figure 2
internal fitting is shown. The upper section is releasably lockable in place by a
resiliently loaded pin and locating hole arrangement schematically indicated by a
pin 12. It will be appreciated that the length of the stretcher bar 15 allows the
leg asseblies upper sections 16 to engage simultaneously with adjacent stub legs 5.
[0027] To enable further adjustment of the working height of the seat rest 7 during use
each leg assembly is provided with a positionally adjustable foot forming member 17
including a stem 18 telescopically engageable with the upper section 16. The stem
can be selectively set to any of a number of possible settings by engagement of a
locking pin 19 mounted to the upper section 16 and engageable with location bores
20 provided in the stem 18. The lowermost ends 21 of the stems 18 are provided with
load spreader plates 22 which are intended to reduce the extent of penetration of
the feet into soft ground.
[0028] The spreader plates can be of any convenient form. It should be understood that any
suitable form of interconection arrangement may be used for coupling the stems 18
to the member 17. For example a U-shaped leaf spring (not shown) carrying adjacent
the end of one of its arms of he U-shape a detent that is permanently engaged in a
bore provided in the inner one of the interengageable mambers and which is intended
to engage into a selected one of a lengthwise series of bores provided in the other
member. With this arrangement as soon as one of the latter mentioned bores aligns
with the detent the latter automatically engages therewith. Release is effected by
depressing the detent and exerting relative displacement force on the interengaging
members.
[0029] If desired, the stretchers 15 can be shaped and oriented so as to provide shaped
support elements for carrying a readily removable platform (not shown) which thus
provides beneath the seat rest 7 a shallow storage space.
[0030] In the case of the fisherperson the shaped stretcher bars 15 or 15A could serve as
a foot rest or pressure bar to assist in control of the line when playing a fish.
[0031] If it is desired to provide a chair rather than a stool as hitherto discussed two
of the adjacent end regions of the seat rails are provided with mounting brackets
23 for mounting a back rest frame 24. This proposal is shown in Figure 4. As shown
the back rest frame 24 comprises a U-shaped hoop having a curved portion 25A and side
rails 25 whose free ends 26 are provided with mounting brackets 27 adapted for pivotal
mounting to mounting brackets 23 provided at adjacent ends of the side rails 2 in
such position that movement of the back rest does not impede positional adjustment
of the leg assemblies 14.
[0032] The back rest 24 can be mounted as to be pivotal between a folded setting lying adjacent
the seat rails 2 and selectable angular raised settings relative to the seat rails
plane. For this purpose the mounting brackets 23 and 27 respectively comprise a flat
circular plate 28,29 which plates 28 and 29 are intended to mate in face-to-face relationship.
The two mating pairs of plates 28 and 29 are pivotally connected by a retaining bolt
or the like 30. A resiliently loaded detent member 31 is provided in/on one of the
plates 28,29, the detent member 31 being intended selectively to engage in and locate
with any one of a plurality of bores 32 provided in the other associated plate. It
will be understood that the angle of the back rest relative to the seat rest 7 is
determined by the particular selection of the location hole.
[0033] The back rest 24 can be covered by a suitable cover (not shown) which effectively
bridges the side rails 25 of the hoop.
[0034] As an alternative possibility the complete back rest frame can be enclosed by a unitary
cover. If desired, this cover can be adapted or arranged to provide both the back
rest abd the seat rest material so that when in use a waist level strip of the user's
back regions is not exposed.
[0035] As so far described the system of multipurpose furniture or equipment is seen to
include a low level stool or seat with short stub legs together with heightwise adjustable
leg assemblies to provide higher adjustable level seating facility and a readily removeable
back rest which converts the stool into a chair. In practice, the back rest when detached
can be utilised as a wind break of shade.
[0036] The other ends of the side rails 2 are adapted pivotally to mount a second U-frame
33. Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the proposals of the invention when provided
with the second U-frame.
[0037] The second frame 33 is so pivotally connected to the side rails 2 that it is pivotal
between a position in which it extends forwardly of the seat rest rails 2 and a stowed
setting in which it overlies the seat rest rails 2. Arrangements can be provided for
locking the second frame 33 at desired pivotal angles to the plane of the seat frame.
The mounting arrangements can be similar to those used for the back rest. Alternatively
if it is considered that the second frame 33 should be restricted in the extent of
the angular movement allowable, the pivotal connection with the side rails can be
such that when in the generally horizontal extended setting the second frame locks
against the seat rest side rails.
[0038] With the back rest 24 and the second frame 33 both arranged in a horizontal setting
the unit provides a so-called couch or bed lounger structure.
[0039] Conveniently, in consequence of the bed function, the seat rest, the back rest and
the second frame can be provided with a cover arrangement (not shown in Figure 5)
which presents a continuous surface without breaks or gaps along the length thereof.
[0040] The arrangement of Figures 4 and 5 can be readily converted into a wheeled trolly
by replacing the foot forming sections by wheels units. Figure 6 illustrates a first
arrangement for converting the bed forming unit into a two wheeled trolley. As will
be seen the leg assemblies adjacent the back rest 24 have been folded to their retracted
positions, and the second frame 33 folded to its inboard lowered setting. The feet
of the still extended leg assemblies 14 are have been replaced by castorable wheel
assemblies 34. Obviously non-castorable wheels may be used if desired.
[0041] Figure 7 schematically illustrates a second form of trolley, namely a four wheeled
trolley. The wheel assemblies indicated at shown in greater detail in Figure 8 in
which the wheel 35 is carrried from an axle 36 connected with a stub leg 37 adapted
for entry into the lower end of a leg menber 14. The stub leg 37 is held in place
by a detent 38 carried by an arm 39 of a U-form leaf spring 40 and normally projecting
through an aperture 41 in the stub leg. The detent is intended to lock into apertures
42 provided in the leg member 14. It will be undertood the the frame 33 can be as
shown, vertical, or otherwise positioned as desired.
[0042] Figure 7 illustrates a fragment of a bed forming cover 43 which is continuous so
that the frames 24 and 33 can combine to provide a surface onto which articles that
are required to be moved can be loaded. If desired, the second frame 33 can be left
in a raised setting during loading and subsequently folded downwards to assist in
retaining a load in place.
[0043] The above described trolley is conveniently towed by the back rest. For this purpose
the cover can be provided with a leather or other material towing handle (not shown).
As a further possiblity a opening 44 is provided in the seat cover arrangement 43
so as to leave exposed a short length of the curved region 25A of the frame 24 so
that the back rest can be used for the towing function.
[0044] If a towing handle or leash is used the back rest can be used to retain a load on
the trolley.
1. Multipurpose furniture/equipment, wherein a seat frame is provided with stub legs
adapted interchangeably to receive differing constructions of leg assemblies and attachments
therefore, the arrangement being such as to enable establishment of differing user
functions for the furniture/equipment.
2. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in claimn 1, wherein said seat frame
is provided with stub legs which are each pivotable betwwen a stowed or folded position
and an erected or use position, and wherein the free end region of each stub leg is
adapted to receive extension leg arrangements.
3. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein each leg arrangement
is selectively lengthwise adjustable thereby to enable selective adjustment of user
height of the seat frame.
4. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the leg arrangements
are connected together in such manner to provide assemblies each including two leg
arrangements whereby after their mounting to associated stub legs the leg arrangements
are mechanically braced.
5. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4, wherein the end
of each leg stub leg or leg arrangement that is remote from the seat frame when fitted
to the associated stub leg is adapted interchangeably to receive a load spreader means.
6. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the load spreading
means is lengthwise positionally adjustable with respect to the associated leg arrangement
or stub leg.
7. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein
wheel assemblies are adapted for connection to the stub legs or leg arrangemnts whereby
the furniture/equipment can be wheeled from place to place.
8. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein means
provided for operationally locking interengaging elements together includes a resilient
means enterable into one of the elements to be connected and carrying a detent or
the like which is adapted for locking engagement with the other of the elements to
be joined.
9. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the resilient means
includes a U-form leaf spring enterable into the interior of the inner one of a pair
of telescopically engageable elements and carrying on one of the arms of the U an
outwardly directed detent that projects outwardly of said inner one of the elements
and which is adapted for engagement in a bore or selected ones of a series of bores
provided in the outer one of the telescopically engageable elements.
10. Multipurpose furniture/equipment as claimed in any of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein
any back rest or bed cover arrangement provided for the furniture/equipment is adapted
to leave a portion of the back rest exposed, thereby to provided a hand gripping region
for the purposes of wheeling the furniture/equipment .