Chairs and seats – With table – desk – or easel – Table with opposed seating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-04-03
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
With table, desk, or easel
Table with opposed seating
C297S143000, C297S17400R, C312S235900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209952
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a table and chair assembly, more particularly to a table and chair assembly which is detachable and can be used in different ways and readily contracted so that space can be saved efficiently.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,600 (Kuo) proposes a combined table and chair assembly providing play and storage areas for the myriad of toys, books and other assorted treasures which children are noted for collecting. Kuo shows a flat table top including 4 identical panels to cover a receiving space in the table with 2 inner folding panels pivotable lie on respective fixed panels to uncover the receiving space. It is found difficult for children to separate the folding panels from the fixed panels with fingers when trying to lift the folding panels for pivoting to cover the receiving space. Children's fingers may be accidentally snapped by the panels when laying the folding panels on the fixed panels. Also, the fixed panels extend inwardly beyond ends of the receiving space and form odd corners in the receiving space. Moreover, Kuo does not disclose a detachable structure of the table and chair assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,339,669 (Rapp) proposes foldable furniture which can be converted into a bed or combination desk and settee, or folded together into the form of a box or cabinet to occupy the least possible space. Rapp shows a desk and a settee being connected together by means of longitudinal dove-tails on outer faces of the settee engaging correspondingly shaped grooves in sides of the desk. However, the longitudinal dove-tailed engagement is frictional in sliding and children have difficulty in moving the settee to extend or contract the furniture. Moreover, the uncovered sliding dove-tails are accessible by children creating a risk of injuring children's fingers and toes when sliding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a children table and chair assembly and particularly to a detachable table and chair assembly.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly in which the chair is movably connected to a table and adapted to contract and fit in the table so that space can be saved efficiently when not in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which is formed with storage compartments in the table and chair.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which has a foldable top pivotable to open and provide access to the storage compartment in the table.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which has a play area on top of the table and adjacent to the chair.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which is safe in structure for children to use.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a detachable table and chair assembly which can be dismantled for packing.
Accordingly, the detachable table and chair assembly of the present invention comprises a table, a bumper panel attached to a vertical end of the table and a chair movably connected to the table with a pair of parallel side bars. The table has spaced apart side panels mounted securely on one end of the side bars, a first bottom piece transversely supported on the side panels to define a first receiving space and a flat table top mounted on top of the side panels to cover the first receiving space. The table top includes a fixed panel adjacent to the chair and secured to the table side panels and a folding panel disposed between the fixed panel and bumper panel and pivotally connected to the fixed panel so as to be pivotable between a first position to close the first receiving space and a second position to access the first receiving space. The chair has spaced apart side panels mounted on the side bars and movable towards and away from the table side panels, spaced apart front and rear panels disposed between the chair side panels to integrally define a second receiving space, a second bottom piece supported on the front and rear panels to close a bottom opening of the second receiving space and a seat panel pivotally mounted on an open top end of the second receiving space so as to be pivotable between a first position to close the second receiving space and a second position to access the second receiving space.
Preferably, an inner end of the fixed panel of the table top terminates at an outer end of the first receiving space so as to diminish any odd corner in the first receiving space and, in the second position, the folding panel extends outwardly beyond the fixed panel to provide an extension for children to grasp with fingers in swinging the folding panel.
Preferably, conventional ball-bearing tracks are used in the side bars in which the ball-bearing tracks engage chair side panels and side bars so that the chair is slidable towards and away from the table smoothly.
Preferably, table side panels and chair side panels are respectively secured to the side bars to form substantially flat side combinations and the transverse panels including the bumper panel, table top, chair front and rear panels, first and second bottom pieces are supported on the side combinations so that the assembly can be dismantled and stacked for packing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 187429 (1877-02-01), Skykes
patent: 1314240 (1919-08-01), Besner et al.
patent: 1339669 (1920-05-01), Rapp
patent: 3301590 (1967-01-01), Young
patent: 4277856 (1981-07-01), Damin
patent: 5547270 (1996-08-01), Dang
patent: 5685600 (1997-11-01), Kuo
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Barfield Anthony D.
Lin-Bing Liang
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