US3084975A - Article of furniture - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1963 T. WINROW 3,084,975

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed July 12, 1960 United States Patent 3,984,975 ARTICLE 0F FURNHTURE Thomas Winrow, Chicago, llL, assignor to Futorian- Sta-afford Furniture Company, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 12, 196i), Ser. No. 42,435 3Claims. (ill. 297-11) This invention relates to an improvement in an article of funniture.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved sofa, couch or seat, provided with an extension which may be used as an end table but which also supports a removable section which forms a seat portion of the sofa. The removable section when removed becomes an independent article of furniture and may be used as a foot rest or as an article of furniture, either in conjunction with the sofa or independent thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sofa, couch or seat which by the removal of a removable section converts the sofa and the like to a combination sofa and end table and permits the removable section to be used as a separate article of furniture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an article of furniture of the foregoing character which is highly attractive and which when used solely as a sofa, couch, or the like, appears as such and does not appear as a convertible article of furniture.

Other objects will beome apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective View showing a portion of a sofa embodying this invention, with the removable section in raised position for purpose of illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a view showing the removable section removed and positioned for use as a foot rest.

FIGURE 3 is a view showing the removable section positioned contiguous to the rear of the sofa, and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the removable section in position on the sofa extension.

The invention herein disclosed may be utilized in connection with :a sofa, couch or chair, and only that portion of the sofa, couch, or the like, necessary to show the embodiment of this invention will be described. It will be understood that the general construction of the sofa, couch and/ or chair is not part of this invention, as same may be embodied in any conventionally constructed sofa, couch or chair.

As shown in the drawings, only the end portion of a sofa, couch or seat is shown and same includes a frame member, on which the upholstered seat 12 and back portion 14 are support-ed, as is well understood. The frame member includes a front wall 16, a rear wall 13, and opposite side walls suitably joined together in the conventional manner. It also includes a horizontal seat rest 19 on which the upholstered seat or cushions 12 are supported.

In conventional constructions, the opposite side walls of the frame are in substantial vertical alignment with the outer ends of the seat, thus the side wall of the frame would normally be in vertical alignment with the side 20 of the seat 12. With the construction forming this inven- "ice tion, the frame is extended so that the front and rear walls 16 and 18, respectively, of the frame continue as at 16 and 18 and are joined by a side wall -22 of the frame. This will be sometimes hereinafter referred to as the extension, although it will be understood that the frame and extension are formed as an integral unit. The extension is of a trapezoidal shape, but the invention is not restricted to the specific shape shown.

The frame extension includes a horizontal top wall or panel 24 made preferably of wood which extends over the top of the front, rear and side frame walls of the extension and forms a finished table top appearance. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the front of the frame is longer than the rear, thus the extension designated by the numeral 26 is of trapezoidal shape, however, the invention herein is not limited to the particular shape shown.

Secured to the frame in the conventional manner and .to the frame extension are leg members 28 which are similar to the legs secured to the frame in the rest of the sofa or chair. The top 24 of the extension 26 is on the same horizontal plane as the seat rest 19 of the frame. The cushion or seat 12 of the sofa is positioned or mounted on the seat rest =19 of the frame. Thus, the top of the extension 26 is below the top plane of the seat 12.

The top panel 24 of the extension 26 is provided with four spaced enlarged openings 30 which are adapted to accommodate the legs of a removable section generally designated by the numeral 32. The surface below the top panel 24 is unobstructed. The removable section 32 has a top plan configuration identical to that of the extension 26 and same is formed of a base member 34 of that configuration, formed preferably of wood, which supports an upholstered top or cushion portion 36 having a height equal to the height of the cushion or seat portion 12' of the sofa or couch.

Secured to the underside of the base 34 of the unit are four legs 38 which are so spaced that they will be accommodated in the openings 30 in the extension. When the unit 32 is secured in position on the extension 26, the legs 38 pass through the openings 30 and extend downwardly thereof, but it will be seen that the legs 38 are of a length approximating the height of the front, sides and rear of the frame so that the legs 38 will not be visible when the unit 32 is on the extension 26.

When the removable section 32 is on the extension, as shown in FIGURE 4, the removable section appears as though it is an integral part of the entire sofa or seat and the upholstered portion of the removable section appears as a continuation of the seat portion of the sofa. Thus, from an appearance standpoint the removable section 3-2 looks as though it were part of the sofa and not a removable section thereof.

When it is desired to use the extension 26 as an end table, for the purpose of placing food or beverages. thereon, or if it is desired to use the removable section as an independent piece of furniture, the removable section 32 is removed merely by lifting same. As such it may be used as a foot rest and positioned forwardly of the sofa, in the manner as shown in FIGURE 2. Since the top of the removable section 32 will be on the same plane as the top of the extension 26, it may be positioned in relation to the extension such as shown in FIGURE 3, or in other contiguous positions, for the purpose of enhancing the appearance of the article of furniture.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture including a frame member and legs for supporting said frame member, a seat rest on said frame member, a seat on said seat rest, a top wall on said frame member adjacent one end thereof and adjacent said seat rest providing an extension, said top wall having a plurality of spaced openings, a removable section having a plurality of legs arranged complementary to said openings to be accommodated in said openings when said removable section is positioned over the top of said top Wall, said last mentioned legs having a length so that when positioned in said openings the said legs will not extend below the bottom of the frame member, said removable section having a top surface substantially on the same plane as the top surface of said seat and which serves as a continuation of said seat when the removable section is on the extension, said extension serving as an end table when the removable section is removed from said extension.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the removable unit when removed from the article of furniture will serve as a leg rat.

3. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the extension and the removable section each have a trapezoidal shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,344,277 Phillips June 22, 1920 2,187,689 Jaray et 'al Jan. 16, 1940 2,466,204 Brown Apr. 15, 1949 2,690,570 Salisbury Oct. 5, 1954 2,703,411 Kelly Mar. 8, 1955 2,924,830 De Long Feb. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 786,550 France June 8, 1935

Claims (1)

1. AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE INCLUDING A FRAME MEMBER AND LEGS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME MEMBER, A SEAT REST ON SAID FRAME MEMBER, A SEAT ON SAID SEAT REST, A TOP WALL ON SAID FRAME MEMBER ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND ADJACENT SAID SEAT REST PROVIDING AN EXTENSION, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED OPENINGS, A REMOVABLE SECTION HAVING A PLURALITY OF LEGS ARRANGED COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID OPENINGS TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN SAID OPENINGS WHEN SAID REMOVABLE SECTION IS POSITIONED OVER THE TOP OF SAID TOP WALL, SAID LAST MENTIONED LEGS HAVING A LENGTH SO THAT WHEN POSITIONED IN SAID OPENINGS THE SAID LEGS WILL NOT EXTEND BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME MEMBER, SAID REMOVABLE SECTION HAVING A TOP SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE SAME PLANE AS THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID SEAT AND WHICH SERVES AS A CONTINUATION OF SAID SEAT WHEN THE REMOVABLE SECTION IS ON THE EXTENSION, SAID EXTENSION SERVING AS AN END TABLE WHEN THE REMOVABLE SECTION IS REMOVED FROM SAID EXTENSION.

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