Field of the invention

The present invention belongs to the field of furniture, more precisely to the field of furniture with a special construction that allows changing the functionality of a furniture piece. The invention relates to a multifunctional table, which has a preferred dual function of a table and a footstool, so that the assembly can be used as a table or as a footstool for legs or even as an additional seat.

Background of the invention and the technical problem

Furniture is an important part of each space, regardless of whether it is a living space or a business space. Due to limited room space or equipment optimization, furniture pieces with combined functionalities have been developed, so that they can be used in more than one way. Such furniture pieces also decrease the costs for furnishing living and working areas, as only one piece is needed instead of two or even three.

One example of multifunctional furniture pieces is a table that can be transformed into a footstool for legs or even functioning as an additional seat. The combination table-footstool is especially interesting for apartments, where it can be used together with a sofa or an armchair. For example, during a meal one can use such elements as a table, while it is used as a footstool during resting or watching TV. The described solution saves a lot of space, which remains free or can be used for other equipment.

The technical problem is thus the design of a furniture piece, which will be able to function as a table and a footstool, wherein changing of functionalities should be simple and without additional pieces that would have to be moved or removed. State of the art

Several different solutions of a furniture piece combining the function of a table and a footstool are known. Some available solutions on the market are basically footstools having an additional plate to be mounted on the footstool, so that the plate represents a solid surface of a table. One of the known solutions is also a table with a hollow interior structure able to hold a soft pillow, which can be taken out and put on the top of the table, thereby creating a soft surface for resting legs. Albeit these solutions are simple and effective, they require movement of elements and their separate storage. Similar solutions are described in documents GB2217590 and US2005046243.

Document US2470011 describes a simple solution for a table-footstool combination, comprising an upper plate and a bottom plate, which are connected with intermediate plates that can turn into a footstool when the table is turned to its sides. Functionality of the combination is achieved by turning the table-footstool similarly as described in patent application US3982784.

Patent application US5727476 discloses a multifunctional footstool, which comprises a basic unit and an upper unit, which can be placed on the basic unit in two different heights. The higher height is for use as a table, while the lower one is for use as a footstool.

Patent application US5597199 describes a footstool having an interior with a pull- out table. When the footstool is to be used as a table, the upper plate of the footstool is moved, while the pull-out table is pulled out with the help of guides mounted in the footstool interior.

Patent US6174026 discloses a furniture element with three functions, namely as a footstool, a table and a storage space, wherein the pillows for the footstool are turned to both sides in order to reveal a solid table plate composed of two sides and a middle part, on which the pillows were placed during use as a footstool. The mentioned middle part can be lifted to gain access to the storage space for storing various things in a hollow structure of the element.

Description of the solution of the technical problem

The essence of the multifunctional table according to the invention is in that an upper plate is equipped with a rod or an axle, which allows turning of the upper plate to any of its two different surfaces, wherein preferably one solid surface is provided for creating a table and a preferably soft surface is provided for creating a footstool. The rod or the axle is mounted into two sides or legs of the table in suitable mounting points, wherein the upper plate may rotate around the rod or the axle or the whole structure of the upper plate and the axle can rotate in the mounting points. The position of the upper plate is fixed with at least one locking element having two states - locked and unlocked. When the locking element is in its locked state, the upper plate cannot be rotated. In case one requires change of the table functionality, the locking element is unlocked, thereby rendering the position of the upper plate unlocked so that it can be rotated. After that the locking element is locked again and the new position of the table is fixed. The locking element may lock the upper plate and/or (only) the axle. In contrast to already known solutions the present multifunctional table solves the technical problem without any redundant elements, which should be moved, turned, lifted, removed and/or stored elsewhere.

The multifunctional table according to the invention allows the user to increase the functionality of the table or just changing its appearance. For example, one side of the table may have a regular wooden structure, while the other is rubberised, or made of glass or metal. In this way the table can be used for different purposes and also in different environments, as its appearance can be altered with respect to designer’s or user’s wishes. Even if both sides of the upper plate are made from the same material, they may differ in their colour or print, which allows the user to make different combinations in the living area.

Preferably the multifunctional table has a function of a table and a footstool, so that one surface of the upper plate is made of wood or laminated wood, while the surface for the footstool is made from any upholstery material such as leather, artificial leather, microfabric or fabric.

The upper plate may be made of one part or several parts, wherein one or more parts rotate around at least one axis, while the other parts may be fixed. In embodiments including more parts of the upper plate, more axles may be provided, for example one axle for each part. The axle may not be provided only in the middle (centre) of the upper plate, but can also be provided at any of the sides, so that the plate can rotate upwards, downwards or in the same plane as the rest of the upper plate. These described embodiments also require at least one locking element for each of the movable parts; preferably each part has two or more locking elements in order to improve structure stability. Such execution of the upper plate enables numerous arrangements and functions of the multifunctional table, thereby further increasing its usability.

Changing of the functionality of the multifunctional table is enabled by rotation of the upper plate around the axle, while the axle is mounted in two sides of the table. The axle may be mounted in any suitable way known in the field. The side of the multifunctional table may be made in one piece or more, wherein the latter is preferably designed with two vertical legs and one horizontal bar linking both legs. The axle is then mounted into the horizontal bars. In case the side is integrally made, it may have any shape; preferably it is a full side or has an opening in the middle part, so that its shape is similar to the letter U turned upside down.

The axle may be made of any suitable material having the ability to hold the weight of the upper plate; preferably it is made of metal such as iron, steel and similar. The length of the axle is optional and depends on the size of the table, while the position of the axle is preferably central, as rotation of the upper plate is easiest.

At least one locking element is provided for each axle, preferably at least two are used, but can be even more depending on the size of the multifunctional table and the weight of the upper plate. In case the locking element locks the upper plate, the multifunctional table is preferably equipped with four locking elements, one for each of the four corners. Said locking elements may be any suitable known solution for safe attachment of the upper plate to the sides, which allow locking and unlocking. In the preferred embodiment of the invention so called »tip-on« locking elements are used, which are usually provided in furniture elements to be opened by pressing on the door or drawer. Such locking elements release a movable element upon pressure, the movable element creating a gap between the side and the upper plate of the table, so that the upper plate can be rotated. Upon next application of pressure, the movable element returns to its original position and the gap is closed. Consequently, the upper plate cannot rotate anymore. In case the locking elements lock the axle, the latter has to be fixedly mounted in the table, while the locking elements are installed in suitable holes in or near the axle mounting point in the sides of the table. The holes are made through the axle, each of the holes receives one locking element, which in the locked state protrudes through the axle, while in the unlocked state the locking element is located outside the hole in the axle. This solution offers minimum stability in the locked state; hence it is preferably combined with locking elements for the upper plate.

The multifunctional table may have additional stabilization bars, for example connecting both sides, in which the axle is mounted, or any other elements, such as decorations.

The multifunctional table according to the invention enables manufacturing of the table in different dimensions, materials and combinations, thereby ensuring complete adaptation to the area in which the table will be used. Preferably, the frame of the table (sides or legs and optional bars) is made of wood or laminated wood, while the upper plate for use as a table is made from wood, laminated wood, glass, plastic or any other suitable material, and the upper plate for use as a footstool is made from any upholstery material such as leather, artificial leather, microfabric and fabric. The upper plate may have any shape, preferably rectangular, square or circular. The height of the table may be any, but it is desired to have the height at least one half of the length or diameter of the upper plate, so that rotation of the upper plate can be performed without lifting of the whole table.

The multifunctional table will be described in further detail based on possible embodiments and figures, which show:

Figure 1 The multifunctional table according to the first embodiment

Figure 2 The multifunctional table according to the second embodiment

Figure 3 The multifunctional table according to the third embodiment

Figure 4 The multifunctional table according to the fourth embodiment

Figure 5 The multifunctional table according to the fifth embodiment

Figure 6 The multifunctional table according to the sixth embodiment

As shown in figure 1 a multifunctional table 1 according to the first embodiment comprises two sides 2a and 2b and one rectangular upper plate 3 having two surfaces, one hard surface 3a and one soft surface 3b for the footstool. Sides 2a and 2b are formed as integral pieces, each of the sides being provided in the corner with one locking element 4 (two locking elements on the second side 2b are not visible in the figure), while an axle 5 is provided in the centre. The upper plate 3 can rotate around the axle 5. The table 1 has an additional supporting bar 6 in the bottom part in order to increase the stability of the table, the supporting bar 6 being mounted in both sides 2a and 2b of the table 1.

Figure 2 shows the multifunctional table T according to the second embodiment, which comprises two rounded sides 2a' and 2b' and one circular upper plate 3', having a hard surface 3a' and a soft surface 3b' similar as in the first embodiment. An axle 5' is mounted in the centre of both sides 2a' and 2b', while four locking elements 5' are provided (two on the second side 2b' are not visible in the figure).

The multifunctional table 1" according to the third possible embodiment comprises two sides 2a" in 2b", each of them comprising two legs 2c" and one connecting bar 2d". An upper plate 3" is together with an axle 5" mounted in the centre of the connecting bars 2d" and four locking elements 4" are provided, one for each corner (two on the second side 2b" are not visible in the figure).

As shown in figure 4 the multifunctional table 11 according to the fourth embodiment comprises two sides 12a and 12b and an upper plate 13, which has a movable part 13' and a fixed part 13". An axle 15 is mounted in the centre of the movable part 13', and the locking element 14 is provided on each of the sides (one on the second side 12b is not visible in the figure) in order to allow locking and unlocking rotation of the movable part 13'.

According to the fifth embodiment shown in figure 5 the multifunctional table 21 comprises two sides 22a and 22b and an upper plate 23, having two movable parts 23' and 23'" and one fixed part 23". A first axle 25a of the first movable part 23' is installed in the centre, while a second axle 25b of the second movable part 23'" is installed at the side near the fixed part. The second movable part 23'" thus has three possible positions, namely lifted upwards, lowered downwards and horizontal in the same plane as the fixed part 23". Each of the movable parts has its own at least one locking element 24 to lock and unlock positions.

Sixth embodiment of the multifunctional table 31 (figure 6) comprises two sides 32a and 32b and an upper plate 33 divided into two parts, namely one movable part 33' and one fixed part 33". One axle 35 is centrally installed and runs through the entire upper plate 33. When the locking elements 34 are unlocked, only the movable part 33' rotates, while the fixed part 33' remains in the same position. This embodiment allows that one part of the table functions as a footstool, while the other part remains functional as a table, thereby rendering such furniture pieces simultaneous dual function. The upper plate according to the sixth embodiment may also be made of more than two parts, the number of parts (fixed and movable) being arbitrary.

Within the scope of the invention as described herein and defined in the claims, other embodiments of the multifunctional table that are clear to person skilled in the art may be possible, which does not limit the essence of the invention as described herein and defined in the claims.