RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/661,174 filed Mar. 11, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compact table and seating arrangement wherein the entire seat assembly is stored below the underside of the tabletop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rich variation in furniture design abounds. Sets of tables with matching chairs for adults or scaled down in size for children's use are also in common use. Sometimes for the sake of compactness and/or resistance to toppling over, the seats for children's sets are attached to the table in various manners such as rigidly attached benches or on swing-out hinges. One typical example is a scaled down picnic table with integral benches. Round tables with chairs that nest under the tabletop are also available. Conventional chairs with seat backs and four legs are common as are backless stools. Stools with three legs and triangular seat have also been used.

The prior art does not reveal a children's table and stool set with synergy of design to provide compactness, low cost, aesthetic appeal, comfort, ease of shipping and assembly, and also has the ability to promote good behavior in cooperative tabletop activities.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a children's table and stool set to accommodate up to four children for tabletop activities which is compact as assembled and compact to fit into a standard shipping box of modest dimensions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table and stool set of aesthetic appeal at relatively low cost and with very robust construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide the comfort of a cushioned seat on the stool.

Also an object of this invention is to provide stools which are unattached to the table to provide convenience of ingress and egress.

An object of this invention is to provide stools which are topple resistant and give stable support to a seated child.

Another object of this invention is to provide a storage chamber with space for toys and other materials within the space of each stool.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide cushion covers that can be removed for washing or changing color schemes and then replaced.

Also an object of this invention is to provide a check on intentional or inadvertent kicking of one child by another while seated at the table by virtue of a natural barrier to such activity inherent to the table design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, this table and stool set for children is equally useful for the individual household as for institutional use in a typical nursery school. While the children's table and stool seating set of this invention can be scaled up or down in relative size to accommodate different target markets, the features will be described as a set targeted for pre-school toddlers up to age five years, although the construction can be used for older children. For this market, the tabletop is preferably circular and 30â€³ in diameter, and it is 20â€³ high. The stools are sector (i.e. â€œpie-sliceâ€ ) shaped and stand 12â€³ high. Yet this table and stool set is shipped in a standard international shipping container (or box) measuring 82 cmÃ—82 cmÃ—47 cm high (32.28â€³Ã—32.28â€³Ã—18.5â€³) with four fully assembled stools and the table in knockdown form. All rigid parts are preferably wood products including hardwood, plywood, veneer, and wood particle board, although other synthetic plastic materials or metals may be used. They are preferably finished in natural wood tone with grain features visible. The stools have cushions, which may be stationary, but preferably are removable cushions, with preferably bright fabric covers that can be removed for washing. Contrasting colors such as one each of yellow, green, blue and red can be used for the four stools as an aid in learning â€œcolorsâ€ .

The table top is preferably attached to a pedestal made from a horizontal base, preferably X-shaped, supporting two orthogonal notched sheets forming sector shaped areas under the tabletop, such as one or more areas, preferably four sector shaped areas. The four such regions receive the four stools which nest under the tabletop for compact storage. The preferably curved back side of each stool preferably has a large open bin, such as a storage chamber area, where toys, books or other materials can be stored within the stool in the lower storage chamber bin area. When pulled out from under the tabletop, each stool provides easy entry and exit for a child. When pulled closer to the table, each child's legs are within his or her private sector space as delineated by the pedestal; this prevents one from accidentally or intentionally kicking an adjacent child thereby making for better cooperative use of a common tabletop. Each stool has an ergonomic design with the wide curved backside behind the center of gravity of the child sitting on it, and the sides preferably meeting at a ninety degree point in front, although the angle may vary depending upon the number of stools. The stool is thereby topple resistant and comfortable to use. The elimination of a backrest also enhances accident resistance while reducing space and weight, and also insuring a low center of gravity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the table and stool set of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the tabletop with dashed lines showing the position of the four stools and the attachment of the supporting pedestal;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a child sitting at the table on one of the stools;

FIG. 4 is a wordless assembly instruction sheet showing all of the parts and illustrating the three major steps involved in the assembly of the table which is shipped in a knockdown form;

FIG. 5 is a close up perspective view of the stud portion of the fastener pair used to attach the pedestal to the tabletop;

FIG. 6 is a close up perspective view of the quarter-turn cam portion of the same fastener pair;

FIG. 7 is a crossection detail of the tabletop and pedestal sheet showing method of attachment using the quarter-turn fastener pair;

FIG. 8 is a back elevation of a stool showing the various parts;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a stool showing the fasteners used in its factory assembly; and,

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the position of the various items and parts stacked within a shipping container or box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the table and stool set 1 of this invention with table 2, and stools 3. Although in the preferred embodiment the tabletop 4 is round as shown, a square tabletop can be used as well.

As viewed from the top (see FIG. 2), it can be appreciated that stools 3 have a circular sector shape and nest into table 2 adjacent to the sector regions described by preferably an X-shaped base 18 supporting pedestal 6 formed of intersecting sheets. Note that stools 3 have a fabric covered cushion 13 on top and a large opening between top curved band 9 and bottom curved band 11. This opening permits access to storage chamber bin region 17 where toys, books and/or other school supplies can be placed as shown. A hand opening 15 is conveniently provided for a child on the floor to move stool 3. The two flat sides 7 of each stool 3 are structural load bearing members.

FIG. 3 shows the relation between a child 20 and the table and stool set 1. In this view, a cutout contour 8 on the periphery of each pedestal is visible. It is in the form of an upwardly extending parabola; besides being aesthetically pleasing, the removed section reduces weight of the pedestal while it is fully serving its structural function. Note that while appearing non-constraining by virtue of contoured periphery 8, pedestal 6 still confines the child's feet to the sector region under the table partially occupied by his stool 3. Note also that the center of gravity of child 20 when seated on stool 3 is well within the contour of the sector shape toward the widest region for stability.

FIG. 4 is the assembly sheet for table 2 of the set. Every part, including fasteners and tool are represented as A-I in the packing list. Note in step 1 that each of the pedestal sheets B and C is a slotted trapezoid with a parabolic cutout on the two vertical edges. Notched wood blocks D and E are attached to the bottom of the pedestal sheets using screws from the bottom completing the assembly of pedestal 6. A key area of structural integrity is the attachment of tabletop 4 to pedestal 6 since this must be able to overcome substantial cantilever loading from children leaning on the edge, or even sitting on the table edge. Eight quarter-turn cam furniture assembly fasteners are used in this critical area. These are two-part fasteners designated as G and H on the assembly sheet.

FIGS. 5-7 show details of their use to fasten and insure tightness of the joint between pedestal 6 and tabletop 4.

In FIG. 5 the stud portion 21 is shown with machine thread 23 at one end stud body 22 and screw head 24 at the other end.

FIG. 6 shows the quarter-turn cam 27 which has features on its round periphery (shallow slanted teethâ€”not shown) that prevent backwards rotation once they are tightened. Groove 28 engages under head 24 of the stud portion.

FIG. 7 shows the assembly method of the quarter-turn fasteners. Factory mounted metal or plastic inserts 31 with a threaded center hole are precisely installed in tabletop 4. The customer will thread studs 21 into these inserts as shown. The studs 21 will then be in a pattern in registration with blind holes 33 factory bored in the top end of the pedestal sheets 30. These are of a diameter to receive the stud body 22. After the studs are inserted into holes 33, cams 27 are pushed into orthogonal blind holes 34 (also precisely factory bored) in such an orientation as to capture stud head 24. When cams 27 are turned clockwise using a Phillips screwdriver, they will draw pedestal 6 toward tabletop 4 and lock the joint in place.

FIG. 8 is a back view of stool 3 showing the insides of flat side panels 7, and curved bands 9 and 11.

The side view of FIG. 9 shows the method of factory assembly using screws 35 to attach the front end of one side 7 to the other. Screws 39 attach each of sides 7 to the recessed panel underneath the seat cushion. Screws 37 attach each side 7 to the bottom panel which also serves as the inside bottom of the toy storage area.

FIG. 10 shows the layered stacking of the various items and parts inside a shipping container (or box). Packing material is not shown. The box is square with width W equal to depth D, and with height H. The four fully assembled stools 3 are shown at the bottom arrayed as a circle. Next table top 4 is stacked, next pedestal sheets 30 (shown as B & C on assembly sheet) and base blocks D & E on the side. Solid StyrofoamÂ® sheets and blocks are used between each of stool 3 flat sides 7 sides and between and around the other parts as is normal practice. Other scratch preventing soft packing material may also be used. By judiciously shipping fully assembled stools, only five parts need to be assembled together by a customer to form table 2. Having a single assembly sheet with clear wordless illustrations is much less daunting to a typical customer than a long multi-page manual with many paragraphs. The assembly is quite intuitive; parts will just not fit the wrong way.

In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, at least one stool may be provided, fitting within at least one sector region formed by the pedestal sheets.

It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.