Multipurpose furniture assembly

Abstract

A multipurpose furniture assembly which includes a dining chair mode in an upright position combined with a rocker configuration or a desk chair configuration by rotating the assembly about a horizontal axis. Cross panels engage and are connected between side frames by means of mating projections and slotted openings in the side frames. Cross panels and side frames are locked in a rigid configuration by positioning of a center panel which holds key cross panels in engaged position relative to the side frames. Side frames are ultimately held against cross panels by cross rods or dowels, one of which is connected to the center panel to secure it in place. Cross rods or dowels are secured by simple screw fasteners.

1 . A multipurpose furniture assembly comprising;
 a pair of spaced upright side frames having front edges and convexly curved rear edges and a plurality of matching elongated side frame slots,   a dining seat cross panel including a bottom surface, an upwardly facing dining seat surface and at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots to support the seat between the side frames,   a dining seat back rest panel extending upwardly from said dining seat surface, said back rest panel including at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots to support the panel between the side frames,   a rocker seat panel having a bottom surface and a rocker seat surface extending downwardly from the bottom surface of said dining seat panel and terminating in a bottom edge, said rocker seat panel including at least one projection on each side edge thereof adjacent the dining seat panel and extending into mating side frame slots,   said rocker seat panel projections including slotted portions positioned to engage and capture the respective side frames when the rocker seat is moved into abutment with the bottom surface of said dining seat panel,   a foot rest cross panel including a bottom surface and a foot rest surface positioned to support the feet of an occupant seated on said rocker seat, said foot rest surface being substantially parallel with said rocker seat panel and spaced therefrom with at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots adjacent the curved rear side edges of the side frames,   said foot rest panel projections including slotted portions movable to an engaged position to capture the respective side frames,   a locking panel located between and substantially parallel to said side frames and substantially normal to said rocker seat panel, said locking panel having a first edge removably attached to said foot rest surface and a second edge removably attached to and supporting the bottom edge of said rocker panel,   first and second cross members connected between the top and bottom portions of the front edges respectively of said side frames, said locking panel being mounted on said second cross member, said second cross member being positioned to provide hand grip surfaces for an occupant seated on said rocker seat surface,   whereby said rocker panel and said foot rest panel are locked in engagement with said side frames adjacent the rear edges thereof and said cross members connected adjacent the front edges of the side frames to maintain the furniture assembly rigid,   said furniture assembly presenting a dining chair mode in the upright position, and a rocker chair mode when rotated about a horizontal axis to rest on said curved rear edges of the side frames, the bottom surface of said rocker seat panel providing a desk seat and the bottom surface of said foot rest panel providing a desk surface when the assembly is rotated about a horizontal axis from the upright position to rest on the front edges of said side frames, said second cross member being positioned to provide an occupant's foot rest.   
   
   
       2 . The furniture assembly of  claim 1  wherein;
 said rocker seat panel is moved into abutment with the bottom surface of said dining seat panel in a first direction,   said foot rest panel is moved into the engaged position in a second opposite direction,   said locking panel and said foot rest panel being connected by means of a pin and slot connection,   said locking panel and said rocker seat panel including interfitting mating slots providing support for said rocker seat panel, and   said second cross member extending through the body of said locking panel to fix the locking panel in position.   
   
   
       3 . The furniture assembly of  claim 2  wherein said elongated side frame slots comprise through openings in the side frames, said cross panel projections extending therethrough. 
   
   
       4 . The furniture assembly of  claim 3  wherein said dining seat panel, said dining seat back rest panel and said foot rest panel all include multiple spaced projections for extending through mating side frame slots. 
   
   
       5 . The furniture assembly of  claim 2  wherein said locking panel comprises a simulated amusement configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The furniture assembly of  claim 2  wherein said front edges of the side frames are convex forming support surface legs on the opposite ends thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The furniture assembly of  claim 4  wherein the opposite ends of said first and second cross members are seated in conforming recesses formed in the respective surfaces of said side frames, and
 the opposite ends of said first and second cross members being connected to the respective side frames with screw threaded fasteners when seated in said conforming recesses,   said first cross member providing hand grips and a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining seat surface.   
   
   
       8 . The furniture assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first cross member comprises a T configuration with a horizontal extent connected between the side frames and a vertical extent anchored in the dining seat surface providing a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining chair surface astraddle the cross member vertical extent. 
   
   
       9 . The furniture assembly of  claim 7  wherein said dining seat panel includes a rear portion extending beyond said dining seat back rest panel,
 whereby said dining seat back rest panel and the dining seat rear portion provide a storage shelf in the dining seat and desk chair modes, the dining seat bottom surface providing a rocker seat back rest in the rocker seat mode.   
   
   
       10 . The furniture assembly of  claim 7  wherein said assembly is erected by the steps including;
 first inserting the projections on the dining chair seat panel and the dining chair back rest panel into mating slots in one of said side frames,   then placing the rocker seat panel and the foot rest panel in position with their projections inserted into mating slots in the side frames,   then aligning the appropriate side frame slots and placing the other side frame onto the assembled cross panels,   then positioning the frames in the upright position and moving the rocker seat panel and foot rest panel in opposite directions to engage the slotted projections into engagement to capture the respective side walls,   then inserting the first cross member into the recesses in the side panels and connecting the cross member to the side panels with appropriate fasteners,   then positioning the assembly in the rocker chair mode with the second cross member passing through said locking panel,   then engaging the locking seat panel and rocker seat notches and engaging the pin and slot connection between the locking panel and the foot rest panel and snapping the second cross member into the recess in the respective side panels and connecting the second cross member to the side frames with appropriate fasteners.   
   
   
       11 . In a multipurpose furniture assembly having dining seat and back rest cross panels extending between upright side frames, said side frames having a plurality of elongated slots and front edges and convexly curved rear edges, said dining seat having a bottom surface and a top dining seat surface, a rocker and desk panel locking structure comprising;
 a rocker seat cross panel extending downwardly substantially normal to the bottom surface of said dining seat panel and terminating in a bottom edge, said rocker seat panel including a rocker seat surface on one side thereof and at least one projection on each side edge thereof adjacent the dining seat panel extending into mating side frame slots,   said rocker seat panel projections including means for locking engagement to capture the respective side frames when moved into an engaged position,   a foot rest cross panel extending substantially parallel to said rocker seat panel and spaced therefrom with at least one projection on each opposite side edge thereof extending into mating side frame slots adjacent the curved rear edges of the side frames, said foot rest panel including a foot rest surface on one side thereof positioned to support the feet of an occupant seated on said rocker seat,   said foot rest panel projections including means for locking engagement to capture the respective side frames when moved to an engaged position,   a locking panel located between and substantially parallel to said side frames, said locking panel having a first edge removably attached to said foot rest surface and a second edge removably attached to and supporting the bottom edge of said rocker panel,   a cross member connected between the bottom portions of the front edges of said side frames, said locking panel being fixed relative to said cross member, said cross member being positioned to provide hand grip surfaces for an occupant seated on said rocker seat surface,   whereby, when in the engaged position, said rocker seat panel, said foot rest panel, said locking panel and said cross member maintain the furniture assembly rigid,   said furniture assembly providing a dining chair mode in the upright position, a rocker chair mode when supported on said curved rear edges of the side frames and a desk chair mode when supported on the front edges of the side frames, the reverse surfaces of said rocker seat panel and said foot rest panel providing a desk seat and desk working surface respectively.   
   
   
       12 . The furniture assembly of  claim 11  wherein;
 said rocker seat panel is moved into abutment with the bottom surface of said dining seat panel in a first direction,   said foot rest panel is moved into the engaged position in a second opposite direction,   said locking panel and said foot rest panel being connected by means of a pin and slot connection,   said locking panel and said rocker seat panel including interfitting mating slots providing support for said rocker seat panel, and   said second cross member extending through the body of said locking panel to fix the locking panel in position.   
   
   
       13 . The furniture assembly of  claim 12  wherein said elongated side frame slots comprise through openings in the side frames, said cross panel projections extending therethrough. 
   
   
       14 . The furniture assembly of  claim 13  wherein said assembly includes first and second cross members connected between the top and bottom portions of the front edges respectively of said side frames,
 the opposite ends of said first and second cross members being seated in conforming recesses formed in the respective surfaces of said side frames, and   the opposite ends of said first and second cross members being connected to the respective side frames with screw threaded fasteners when seated in said recesses,   said first cross member providing hand grips and a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining seat surface.   
   
   
       15 . The furniture assembly of  claim 14  wherein said first cross member comprises a T configuration with a horizontal extent connected between the side frames and a vertical extent anchored in the dining seat surface providing a safety restraint for an occupant seated on the dining chair surface astraddle the cross member vertical extent. 
   
   
       16 . The furniture assembly of  claim 14  wherein said assembly is erected by the steps including;
 first inserting the projections on the dining chair seat panel and the dining chair back rest panel into mating slots in one of said side frames,   then placing the rocker seat panel and the foot rest panel in position with their projections inserted into mating slots in the side frames,   then aligning the appropriate side frame slots and placing the other side frame onto the assembled cross panels,   then positioning the frames in the upright position and moving the rocker seat panel and foot rest panel in opposite directions to engage the slotted projections into engagement to capture the respective side walls,   then inserting the first cross member into the recesses in the side panels and connecting the cross member to the side panels with appropriate fasteners,   then positioning the assembly in the rocker chair mode with the second cross member passing through said locking panel,   then engaging the locking seat panel and rocker seat notches and engaging the pin and slot connection between the locking panel and the foot rest panel and snapping the second cross member into the recess in the respective side panels and connecting the second cross member to the side frames with appropriate fasteners.   
   
   
       17 . In a multipurpose furniture assembly having cross panels including a dining seat panel extending between upright side frames, said dining seat having a bottom surface and a top dining seat surface, a rocker and desk panel locking structure comprising in combination;
 a rocker seat cross panel extending substantially normal to the bottom surface of said dining seat panel and including means for capturing the respective side frames when moved to an engaged position,   a foot rest cross panel spaced from and substantially parallel to said rocker panel and positioned to support the feet of an occupant seated thereon, said rocker panel including means for capturing the respective side frames when moved to an engaged position,   a locking panel located between and extending substantially parallel and positioned to support one edge of the rocker seat panel,   said locking panel including means to removably connect said foot rest panel and said rocker seat panel thereto in fixed engaged position, and   a cross member connected between the edges of said side frames and fixed to said locking panel,   whereby, when in the engaged positions, said rocker seat panel, said foot rest panel, said locking panel and said cross member maintain the furniture assembly rigid.