Convertible Table With Integrated Bench

Abstract

A convertible table having a base frame, a bench element attached to one side of the base frame, a rotating arm mechanism attached at a first side to the base frame, and a table element attached to a second side of the rotating arm mechanism, wherein the table element is displaceable between a table mode having a coplanar top surface, and a bench mode having a raised table surface above and apart from a bench surface. The convertible table may be used as one would use a coffee table, dining table or desk.

1 . A convertible table comprising:
 a. a rectangular base frame comprising a first pair of legs positioned at opposing distal ends of a first longitudinal side of the frame;   b. a second pair of legs positioned at opposing distal ends of a second longitudinal side of the base frame;   c. a first lateral support beam extending between adjacent legs at a first end of the frame;   d. a second lateral beam extending between adjacent legs at a second opposing end of the frame;   e. a bench element extending between the top ends of the first pair of legs;   f. a longitudinal support element extending between the top ends of the second pair of legs;   g. a pair of planar table supports extending inwardly from opposing ends of the longitudinal support element;   h. a third pair of legs, each leg connected to an adjacent lateral support beam and supporting a corresponding planar table support;   i. a planar rectangular table element;   j. table element displacement means connected at a first side to a corresponding planar table support and at a second side to opposing ends of the lower surface of the planar table element; 
 wherein the table element is displaceable between a table mode having the table element coplanar with the bench element, and a bench mode having the table element displaced a selected distance above and away from the bench element. 
     
     
         2 . The convertible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table element displacement means comprise a rotating arm structure having a pair of spaced arms. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table element displacement means include one or more hydraulic cylinder slow hinges. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible table of  claim 1 , wherein in the bench mode, the bench element comprises between 20 and 50% of the top surface area. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible table of  claim 4  wherein in the bench mode, the bench element comprises between 20 and 35% of the top surface area. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table is rectangular in the table mode. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table is triangular in the table mode. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible table of  claim 1 , wherein the table is circular in the table mode. 
     
     
         9 . A convertible table having a base frame, a bench element attached to one side of the base frame, a rotating arm mechanism attached at a first side to the base frame, and a table element attached to a second side of the rotating arm mechanism, wherein the table element is displaceable between a lower table mode having a co-planar top surface, and a bench mode having a raised table surface above a bench surface. 
     
     
         10 . A method of converting the convertible table of  claim 1  from a table mode to a bench mode comprising a table having an integrated bench, the method comprising the step of manually moving the table element upwardly and distally away from the bench element until the table element displacement means is fully extended. 
     
     
         11 . A convertible table comprising:
 a. a rectangular base frame comprising a first pair of legs positioned at opposing distal ends of a first longitudinal side of the frame;   b. a second pair of legs positioned at opposing distal ends of a second longitudinal side of the base frame;   c. a first lateral support beam extending between adjacent legs at a first end of the frame;   d. a second lateral beam extending between adjacent legs at a second opposing end of the frame;   e. a first bench element extending between the top ends of the first pair of legs;   f. a second bench element extending between the top ends of the second pair of legs;   g. a pair of planar table supports extending inwardly from opposing ends of the longitudinal support element;   h. a third pair of legs, each leg connected to an adjacent lateral support beam and supporting a corresponding planar table support;   i. a pair of table elements;   j. a pair of table element displacement means, each table element displacement means connected at a first side to a corresponding planar table support and at a second side to opposing ends of the lower surface of a corresponding table element; 
 wherein each table element is displaceable between a table mode having the table element coplanar with an adjacent bench element, and a bench mode having the table element displaced a selected distance above and away from the bench element in a fully overlapping position with the opposing table element. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible table of  claim 11 , wherein the table element displacement means comprise a rotating arm structure having a pair of spaced arms. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible table of  claim 11 , wherein the table element displacement means include one or more hydraulic cylinder slow hinges. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible table of  claim 11 , wherein in the bench mode, the bench element comprises between 20 and 50% of the top surface area. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible table of  claim 14  wherein in the bench mode, the bench element comprises between 20 and 35% of the top surface area. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible table of  claim 11  wherein the table is rectangular in the table mode. 
     
     
         17 . The convertible table of  claim 11 , wherein the table is triangular in the table mode. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible table of  claim 11 , wherein the table is circular in the table mode. 
     
     
         19 . A convertible table having a base frame, a first bench element attached to a first side of the base frame, a first pivoting arm mechanism attached at a first side to the base frame, a first table element attached to a second side of the first rotating arm mechanism; a second bench element attached to a second side of the base frame, a second pivoting arm mechanism attached at a first side to the base frame, and a second table element attached to a second side of the second rotating arm mechanism, wherein each table element is displaceable between a lower table mode having a co-planar top surface, and a bench mode having a two-layer overlapping raised table surface above a bench surface. 
     
     
         20 . A method of converting the convertible table of  claim 10  from a table mode to a bench mode comprising a table having at least one integrated bench, the method comprising the steps of:
 a. manually moving a first table element upwardly and distally away from a first bench element until a first table element displacement means is fully extended; and 
 b. manually moving a second table element upwardly and distally away from a second opposing bench element until a second table element displacement means is fully extended.