Convertible stool |
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申请号 | US11041140 | 申请日 | 2005-01-21 | 公开(公告)号 | US20060102816A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2006-05-18 |
申请人 | Shouyun Zhang; | 发明人 | Shouyun Zhang; | ||||
摘要 | A convertible stool is interchangeable between a utility function which has a seat movable up and down and has casters as feet at the end of legs connected with the seat through an upstanding member. In a second use, the casters are replaced by feet to give stability to the chair on a floor or base. As such, the second use can be a furniture type use. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/629,123, filed Nov. 17, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 1. Field This disclosure relates to a stool which has multiple purposes. 2. General Background It is desirable to have stools that can perform different functions and purposes and as such can have different characteristics and uses. This disclosure relates to a stool that serves a utility function and in this sense has a seat which can move upwardly and downwardly as required by a user. The user can operate a pneumatic mechanism to make the seat settle at a desired height so that utility functions can be performed. The seat is preferably mounted on a single pneumatic post and there are legs splayed out from the post and casters at the end of the legs, which act as movable feet for this stool. The stool acts as a utility stool with maneuverability as required by a user. In a different sense, the casters are replaceable and stationary feet are put in location on the legs. This permits the stool to constitute furniture-like function that is stationary on its base. The stool can be raised or lowered as necessary on the central spindle or pillar. Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. As shown in As shown in In FIGS. 1 to 4 the seat as shown resembles a saddle similar to a motorcycle seat. The pneumatic adjustment of the rod and cylinder permits the seat to move between about 21 inches and 31 inches. The footrest in In As can be seen when the stationary feet are used the outside surface of these feet meets with a relatively harmonious interface with the outside surface of the ends of the legs so that there is an aesthetically satisfying appearance achieved when the stationary feet are in place and stool is to be used as a furniture item. The top of the feet at the interface with the spindle is in mating engagement with bottom of the interface 23 so as to have tight fitting contact which is aesthetically pleasing. The tool can engage around the spindle 25 and be urged like a fork with tines that fit to either side of the spindle and between the ends of the legs and the top of the feet so that the feet can thereby be wedged from their engaged position in the hole. To have the feet with the spindle-leg configuration and conformation provides an effective mechanism for easy exchange of the feet as desired. The tool is illustrated in The stool can be packaged as a set or kit with the wedging tool so that the appropriate feet can be used as desired by the consumer at the appropriate time. In this manner there is provided a stool that is convertible between multi-functional purposes. When the feet are in place, the stool can provide an effective furniture item which can be used for instance in a bar, and in this sense, the seat 10 can be raised or lowered as necessary to a particular counter height. Alternatively, the stool in its fixed relationship can be a useful furniture item in a home, such as in a kitchen or the like. As such there is provided a kit for a multi-functional convertible stool which comprises a saddle seat adjustable in height relative to a base on which the seat stands. There are multiple legs arranged to support the seat, the legs being connected with the seat, the legs having extremities and the legs having selectively removable feet. There are feet being casters and feet being stationary feet. The stool is convertible such that in one configuration with casters on the legs, the seat is movable on a base or floor and in a different configuration with stationary feet, the seat is relatively stationary on the base or floor. The saddle seat is movable on a pneumatically mounted pillar which extends between the legs and the seat, thereby to vary the height of the saddle seat relative to the floor. A method of converting a stool which is multifunctional as a utility stool in a first mode including the steps of applying removable casters to feet for a stool such that the stool can be moved on casters that facilitate rolling movement on a floor so as to permit movement around a workspace without the need for a user to get off a seat. The seat is permitted to be raised or lowered according to the suitable height for use as a utility function around the workspace. When the casters are removed and removable non-movable feet are applied in a second mode the stool acts as a furniture item which is not rollable on the floor. The legs including the non-movable feet are such that the stool can be located in a fixed relationship relative to a floor except if physically dragged in a non-rolling manner to a different location. While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. |