Versatile modular furniture unit

Abstract

An all inclusive, standard unit of modular furniture where same units link together contiguously to create larger furniture configurations. The unit of furniture disclosed, has the ability to convert from a table to an ottoman, to a chair by the manipulation of a table top panel's positioning within a base structure or storage compartment 27 . The storage compartment 27 is formed by four support walls; two parallel facing table top support walls 24 and two parallel facing seat support walls 26 . A slot system 32 comprising varying angles 32 a and 32 b , is routed from the seat support walls 26 . The angles accept and hold in place, the table top panel 36 . Once in place, the table top panel functions as the seat back of the chair. The varying angles of the slots 32 a and 32 b create the seat back positions which range from upright to reclined. When a table is desired, the table top panel 36 is removed from slot system 32 and placed horizontally across the top edges of table top support walls 24 . Outer, rigid panels 38 wrap storage compartment 27 . A base bar of rigid material 30 a is attached within a shallow notch 38 a at the center, top edge of each outer panel 38 . A smaller bar 30 b bridges over two aligned connector bases 30 a from two side by side units, linking these units together. Cushions 40 and 42 , specifically designed to store inside the base structure, may be added for comfort.

1 . A unit of furniture to support a sitting human being, comprising: 
 a base structure having an inside compartment, a table top panel,    a seat panel, and a support for holding said table top panel in both a suitable position to support the back of a seated human being as well as a position for holding items used by a seated human being.    
   
   
       2 . The base structure of  claim 1  being a square, rectangular, round, trapezoidal, or triangular in shape and made from a rigid material suitable for furniture construction.  
   
   
       3 . The base structure of  claim 1  having a floor panel onto which legs of any desired height or shape may be fixed.  
   
   
       4 . The base structure of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of sheets of rigid material, having both an outer and inner surface, are vertically fixed to said base structure's outside perimeter.  
   
   
       5 . The sheets of rigid material of  claim 4  wherein said sheets have a shallow notch centrally located on said sheet's top edge.  
   
   
       6 . The sheets of rigid material of  claim 4  wherein said sheets are fixed to one another, end to end, in a perpendicular relationship, in such a manner that the resulting form is suitable in strength to be used independently as the base structure of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       7 . The base structure of  claim 1  wherein pairs of seat support walls are vertically fixed, in parallel relationship to one another, in which the top edges of said walls horizontally support the seat panel of  claim 1 , whereby creating a suitable surface to support a seated human being.  
   
   
       8 . The inside surface of the sheets of rigid material of  claim 4  wherein pairs of table top support walls are vertically fixed, in parallel relationship to one another, in which the top edges of said walls horizontally support the table top panel of  claim 1  whereby creating a suitable surface for holding items used by a seated human being.  
   
   
       9 . The inside surface of the sheets of rigid material of  claim 4  wherein pins or brackets are fixed, having the means to horizontally support the table top panel of  claim 1  whereby creating a suitable surface for holding items used by a seated human being.  
   
   
       10 . The base structure of  claim 1  wherein slot systems are attached to or routed from the support walls of said base structure, each in mirror relationship, whereby said table top panel of  claim 1  may be manually inserted and held in place in order to support the back of a seated human being.  
   
   
       11 . The base structure of  claim 1  wherein a hinge, pivot , pins, or brackets being the means for supporting table top panel of  claim 1  in both horizontal and inclined positions.  
   
   
       12 . The base structure of  claim 1  wherein bottom stops in combination with the inner boundaries of said base structure being the means for supporting table top panel of  claim 1  in an inclined position whereby said table top panel may be manually inserted and held in place in an inclined position to support the back of a seated human being.  
   
   
       13 . A base bar of rigid material having a centrally located channel being of the same width of said base bar, and a length of no less than two times it's width.  
   
   
       14 . The base bar of rigid material of  claim 13  having three holes through the base of the channeled region of said base bar.  
   
   
       15 . The base bar of rigid material of  claim 13  wherein said bar is held in place, within the notch of  claim 5 , by a threaded fastener through the center hole located at the base of the channeled region of said base bar.  
   
   
       16 . A second, smaller bar of rigid material, having an underside, and sized to loosely fit the channel of  claim 13 , having a pair of prongs fixed in perpendicular relationship to said underside of said smaller bar.  
   
   
       17 . The base bar of rigid material of  claim 13  and the smaller bar of rigid material of  claim 16  wherein both said bars are made of metal with a plated finish.  
   
   
       18 . The prongs of  claim 16  being the means for holding the smaller bar of rigid material of  claim 16  in place by the insertion of said prongs into drilled holes of  claim 14 .  
   
   
       19 . The smaller bar of  claim 16  having the means to manually lift, rotate, and reinsert into a position bridging across two aligned bars of  claim 13 , whereby linking two units together.  
   
   
       20 . The bridging function of  claim 19  being the means to link a plurality of like units being claimed, whereby making an infinite number of configurations of varying lengths, depths, and shapes.