Chairs and seats – Simulation; e.g. – animal or vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-10-30
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Simulation; e.g., animal or vehicle
C297S188010, C297S188040, C108S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309016
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to table/shelf units for organizing and holding objects.
COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A need exists for attractive, whimsical shelf units to organize and store objects in many areas of the home. U.S. Pat. Nos. 218,370, 230,916, and D320,322 relate to shelf-type units wherein the side panels represent various figures, specifically, a superhero, an elephant and a dinosaur, respectively. U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,237, relates to a stand for children's clothing, wherein an upright panel representing a figure of a clown has means for hanging clothes attached to the rear. None of the patents relate to a furniture piece wherein the horizontal elements of the piece represent part of the figure, such as the legs or arms. None of the patents relate to a furniture piece wherein functional parts of the piece also represent body parts of a figure, such that the piece is a three-dimensional representation of a figure and at the same time functions as an object holder and organizer
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide furniture pieces, including tables, shelf units, chairs and combinations of these, wherein parts of the furniture, such as the back, sides, and shelves, represent parts of the body of a figure, such that the furniture piece is a three-dimensional representation of the figure. In this context, the term “figure” denotes a pictorial or sculptural representation of a person, cartoon character or an animal, typically, an outline delineating the outward appearance of a person or an animal.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an object holder and organizer for supporting a plurality of objects. The object holder and organizer comprises a first side member, a second side member, a horizontally-extending member for supporting the objects, attached to the first side member and the second side member, and a rear member disposed behind the first side member, the second side member, and the horizontally-extending member, wherein the rear member represents at least an upper portion of a figure. Preferably, the rear member, the first and second side members, and the horizontally extending member form a three-dimensional representation of the figure. The horizontally-extending member is preferably disposed generally at a height corresponding to an elbow of the figure and represents at least a portion of an arm of the figure. A base may be attached to at least one of the first side member, the second side member, and the rear member, thereby defining a compartment for holding the objects. The first and second side members may extend below the horizontally-extending member. A member in the form of at least a portion of a hand may be attached to a front portion of the horizontally-extending member. The figure may be a human figure, such as an angel, an animal figure or a cartoon figure. A second horizontally-extending member for supporting the objects may be attached to and extend between the first and second side members, representing at least a portion of an arm of the figure. A pair of vertically-extending members may be attached to at least a front portion of the second horizontally-extending member and to the side members, representing at least a portion of a leg of the figure. A third horizontally-extending member for supporting the objects may be attached to and extend between the first and second side member. At least one pocket may be attached to the horizontally-extending member, or to the rear member. A third horizontally-extending member for supporting the objects may be attached to the rear member, wherein the third horizontally-extending member is disposed generally at a height corresponding to a shoulder of the figure.
In another aspect, an object holder according to the present invention comprises a base defining one or more compartments for holding objects, a rear member disposed behind the base, wherein the rear member represents a figure. The figure is preferably a recumbent figure. The base and the rear member preferably form a three-dimensional representation of the figure. A vertically-extending divider for the base, may be provide, wherein the divider is disposed generally at a position corresponding to hips of the figure and representing at least a portion of legs of the figure. A member in the form of at least one foot may be attached to a side portion of the base. The figure may be a human figure, such as an angel, an animal figure, or a cartoon figure.
In yet another aspect, a combination chair and object holder according to the present invention comprises at least two front legs, at least two back legs, a horizontally-extending seat, attached to the at least two front leg and the at least two back legs, a vertically-extending back disposed behind the horizontally-extending seat, wherein the back member represents an upper portion of a figure, the horizontally-extending seat represents an upper portion of the legs of the figure, and the at least two front legs represent lower portions of the legs of the figure. At least one horizontally-extending arm, attached to the back, extending above the horizontally-extending seat, may be disposed generally at a height corresponding to an elbow of the figure, representing at least a portion of an arm of the figure. The horizontally-extending arm may represent a forearm and hand of the figure. The figure may be a human figure, such as an angel, an animal figure, or a cartoon figure.
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Industrial Design, p. 89, Sep. 1965.*
Sidley: A Hallmark Of Quality, Syd Leach, Inc, 3005 Bellevue Road, Toledo, Ohio 43606, Bubba Bear, Sep. 1965.
Cuomo Peter M.
Heslin Rothenberg Farley & & Mesiti P.C.
White Rodney B.
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