US20100244501A1

US20100244501A1 - Cushion that converts into an ottoman

Info

Publication number: US20100244501A1
Application number: US12/410,918
Authority: US
Inventors: Ming Chiang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-25
Filing date: 2009-03-25
Publication date: 2010-09-30

Abstract

A cushion that converts into an ottoman includes a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container and a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including padding. The top of the collapsible container is open. The bottom of the rigid container is open, and a top and all sides of the rigid container are closed. The padding is disposed on the top of the rigid container. The collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the collapsible container is collapsed to generate a cushion. The top of the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the ottoman is un-collapsed to generate an ottoman.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a cushions and ottomans, and more particularly to a cushion that convert into an ottoman.
2. Discussion of Related Art
The seat of a chair, for example, a wooden kitchen chair, is made more comfortable by placing a cushion on the seat. An ottoman is a cushioned footstool that is typically of a height that corresponds to the resting portion of a corresponding couch. A typical ottoman has a rigid frame for supporting weight. While the typical cushion may have a height on the order of a few inches, the typical ottoman may have a height on the order of a few feet, typically higher than the backing of the chair that the cushion rests on. While the ottoman has a cushioned surfaced, due to its excessive height, it would be impractical to use the ottoman as a cushion for the chair. Accordingly, individuals need to own both a cushion and an ottoman to receive the benefits of both items.
For those living in a small apartment or those having a room in a home or office where space is minimal, it is not always possible to furnish such an apartment or room with many different pieces of furniture. Furniture that is convertible from one structural configuration to another may be used to maximize existing space. By way of example, folding sofas, which provide seating, are known to be convertible to a bed for sleeping. Accordingly, a user can gain the benefits of multiple functions from the same piece of furniture, without having to own more than a single piece.
Therefore, it would be beneficial for some apartment dwellers and home owners to have access to single pieces of space conserving furniture, which can be folded or collapsed to establish different structural configurations having correspondingly different functions, but without the expense and requirement that individual pieces be purchased and used to perform the same functions.
Thus, there is a need for a cushion that can be converted into an ottoman.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cushion that converts into an ottoman. The cushion includes a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container and a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including padding. The top of the collapsible container is open. The bottom of the rigid container is open, and a top and all sides of the rigid container are closed. The padding is disposed on the top of the rigid container. The collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the collapsible container is collapsed to form a cushion. The top of the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the ottoman is un-collapsed to form an ottoman.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cushion that converts into an ottoman. The cushion includes a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container having an open top and a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including a padded top. The collapsible container includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth rigid walls encapsulated by a flexible material. The first and second walls oppose one another, and the third, fourth, and fifth walls oppose the sixth, seventh, and eighth walls. The first wall is substantially perpendicular to the fourth wall. The fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth walls are substantially the same size. The third and sixth walls are substantially the same size. The length of the fourth wall ranges between four to eight times the length of the third wall. The bottom of the rigid container is open, and a top and all sides of the rigid container are closed. The collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the collapsible container is collapsed to generate a cushion. The top of the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the ottoman is un-collapsed to generate an ottoman.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cushion that converts into an ottoman. The cushion includes a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container and a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including padding. The top of the collapsible container is open. The bottom of the rigid container is open, and a top and all sides of the rigid container are closed. The padding is disposed on the top of the rigid container. The collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the collapsible container is collapsed to generate a cushion. The collapsible container includes a divider wall attached at one end to a side wall of the collapsible container to enable the wall to swing and an opposing end of the divider wall includes a first part of a fastener to be attached to a second part of the fastener on an opposing side of the collapsible container. The top of the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the ottoman is un-collapsed to generate an ottoman. The fastener may be Velcro.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention can be understood in more detail from the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cushion that can be converted into an ottoman according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a collapsible container of the cushion of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a collapsible container of the cushion of FIG. 1 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a cushion that according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cushion 100 that can be converted into an ottoman 400 according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is broken up into FIGS. 1A-E to more clearly illustrate the constituent elements of the cushion 100 and how the cushion 100 may be converted into the ottoman 400.
Referring to FIG. 1A, the cushion 100 includes a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container 300 and a rigid, hollow, rectangular container 200 including padding. The padding is disposed on the top of the rigid container. The collapsible container 300 may include a pair of handles 306, where each is disposed on an opposing side of collapsible container 300.
Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1C, the cushion 100 can be separated into the collapsible container 300 and the rigid container 200 by lifting the rigid container 200. The bottom of the rigid container 200 is open, and a top and all sides of the rigid container are closed. When compressed flat or substantially flat, as shown in FIG. 1B, a side of the collapsible container 300 is dimensioned to be received by and mated with the hollow portion of the rigid container 200 using the top opening of the rigid container 200. The bottom surface 303 of the collapsible container 300 is made of a flexible fabric such as canvas, polyester, etc.
Referring to FIGS. 1D and 1E, when completely un-collapsed, the collapsible container 300 forms a rectangular or square container. The top of the collapsible container 300 is open and is dimensioned to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container 200 using the opening of the rigid container 200 to form the ottoman 400.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the collapsible container 300 of FIG. 1. The collapsible container 300-1 of FIG. 2 includes a supporting rigid plate 304 attached on a first one of its edges to an inside edge of the collapsible container 300-1. The inside edge of the collapsible container 300-1 may be adjacent a first side 301A and a bottom side 303 of the collapsible container 300-1. The supporting rigid plate 304 can be swung away from the first side 301A to be flush with the bottom side 303, which offers structural support to the collapsible container 300-1. The supporting plate 304 may be configured to swing through a range of about 90 degrees. The shape and size of the supporting plate 304 is substantially the same as the bottom side 303. An opposing edge of the supporting plate 304 may include a handle 307, which enables a user to pull the supporting plate 304 back towards the first side 301. The collapsible container 300-1 may be un-collapsed when the supporting plate 3-4 is flush with the bottom side 303.
The collapsible container 300 or 300-1 includes opposing side walls 301A and 301B, and opposing pairs of side walls (302A-1 and 302A-2) and (302B-1 and 302B-2), that are each substantially perpendicular to the side walls 301A and 301B. The opposing side walls 301A and 301B respectively include a first and second rigid plate. Each side wall of the first pair of side walls (302A-1 and 302A-2) respectively includes a third and a fourth rigid plate. Each side wall of the second pair of the side walls (302B-1 and 302B-2) respectively includes a fifth and sixth rigid plate.
When the supporting plate 304 is not flush with the bottom side 303, application of pressure to the space between each pair of side walls (302A-1 and 302A-2) and (302B-1 and 302B-2) can be used to inwardly collapse the walls until the collapsible container 300 is substantially flat (see e.g., FIG. 1C and FIG. 1B). The first through sixth rigid plates may be encapsulated by a flexible material such as canvas or polyester. The encapsulating material may include a pair of creases 305A and 305B, where each crease corresponds to the above described spaces. The creases 305A and 305B may make it easier to collapse collapsible container 300 or 300-1. Each of the plates of the pairs of side walls 301A and 301B may be substantially the same size. Each of the plates of the pairs of side walls (302A-1 and 302A-2) and (302B-1 and 302B-2) may be substantially the same size. Each of the plates of the side walls 301A and 301B may be substantially the same size.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the supporting plate 304 is configured to be removably attached to the inside edge of the collapsible container 300-1, for example, by Velcro. The removed supporting plate 304 can then serve as divider and structural support when placed between opposing side walls of the collapsible container 300-1. The divider wall may be fitted between the pairs of rigid plates such that a first edge of the divider rests in a gap (or crease) between plates of side walls 302A-1 and 302A-2 and a gap (or crease) between plates of opposing sides 302B-1 and 302B-2.
FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the collapsible container 300 of the cushion of FIG. 1 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the collapsible container 300-2 includes a first rigid wall 301A, a second rigid wall 301B, third-fifth rigid walls 320A-322A, and sixth-eighth rigid walls 320B-322B encapsulated by a flexible material or fabric such as canvas, polyester, etc.
The fabric may include creases 325A and 325B respectively at areas between the fourth-fifth rigid walls 321A-322A and between the seventh-eight rigid walls 321B-322B. The fabric may also include creases respectively between the third-fourth rigid walls 320A-321A and the sixth-seventh rigid walls 320B-321B.
The first and second rigid walls 301A and 301B oppose one another and the third-fifth rigid walls 320A-322A oppose the sixth-eighth rigid walls 320B-322B. The first and second rigid 301A and 301B walls are substantially perpendicular to third-fifth rigid walls 320A-322A and the sixth-eighth rigid walls 320B-322B. The fourth-fifth rigid walls 321A-322A and seventh-eighth rigid walls 321B-322B are substantially the same size as one another. The third and sixth rigid walls 320A and 320B are substantially the same size as one another.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the length of the fourth-fifth rigid walls 321A-322A and seventh-eighth rigid walls 321B-322B range between four to eight times the length of the third-fourth rigid walls 320A-320B. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the length of the fourth-fifth rigid walls 321A-322A and seventh-eighth rigid walls 321B-322B range between seven to eight times the length of the third-fourth rigid walls 320A-320B.
The collapsible container 300-2 is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container 200 when the collapsible container 300-2 is collapsed to form a cushion 100. When un-collapsed, the top open portion of the collapsible container 300-2 is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container to form an ottoman. Each of the rigid walls includes a rigid plate.
Although not shown in FIG. 3, the collapsible container 300-2 may include the supporting plate 304 that is attached at one edge to an inside bottom edge of the container 300-2. The inside edge may be adjacent the back rigid wall 301A and a bottom flexible side 303 of the container 300-2. The supporting plate 304 has a thickness that is less than the length of the first and second rigid walls 320A and 320B. The first and second rigid walls 320A and 320B do not collapse, and thus when the supporting plate 304 is flush with the back wall 301A, and the container 300-2 is collapsed inward at creases 325A and 325, an area is left for the supporting plate 304. This area may be configured such that it is large enough to include a divider that can be placed between the creases 325A and 325B.
The cushions/ottomans of FIG. 1-3 are illustrated as being square-like. However, all major sides of an ottoman/cushion of the present invention need not be the same size, as the ottoman can have any rectangular configuration. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a cushion that converts into an ottoman 400-1 according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which has a longer length than those illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.
Referring to FIG. 4, the ottoman 400-1 includes a rectangular collapsible container 300-3 and a rigid container 200-1. Other than being longer, the collapsible container 300-3 and rigid container 200-1 are similar to the collapsible container and rigid container FIG. 2. For example, the collapsible container 300-3 may be collapsed inwardly by application of pressure to creases 325A and 325B until substantially flat. The flattened container 300-3 may then be inserted into the bottom opening of the rigid container 200-1, enabling the combination to be used as a cushion.
The collapsible container 300-3 includes a rigid divider wall 308 attached at one end to a side wall of the collapsible container 300-3 to enable the divider wall 308 to swing a range of about 180 degrees. An opposing end of the divider wall 308 includes a fastener 309, which allows the divider wall 308 to be fastened to the opposing side wall. The divider wall 308 serves as a divider and also gives structural support to the container. The fastener 309 may be made out of a first fastening part from Velcro. A second fastening part of the Velcro may be attached to the opposing side wall so that the first fastening part may be attached to the second fastening part. For example, FIG. 4A shows the divider wall 308 un-attached to the opposing side wall, while FIG. 4B shows the divider wall 308 attached to the opposing side wall.
Although not shown in FIG. 4, the collapsible container 300-3 may instead include the supporting plate 304 attached at one edge to an inside bottom edge of the container 300-3. The inside edge may be adjacent to a back rigid wall and a bottom flexible side of the container 300-3.
The collapsible containers (300, 300-1, 300-2, or 300-3), when un-collapsed have a height that is substantially greater than the height of the rigid containers (200, or 200-1). In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the height ranges between 3 to 5 times the height of the rigid container (200 or 200-1).
The rigid plates/walls may be made of any rigid material, such as wood, cardboard, metal, plastic, etc. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the height of each of the walls of the collapsible container (300, 300-1, 300-2, or 300-3) varies between about 10 to about 36 inches.
Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one of ordinary skill in the related art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cushion that converts into an ottoman, the cushion comprising:

a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container, wherein the top of the container is open; and

a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including padding,

wherein the bottom of the rigid container is open, and a top and all sides of the rigid container are closed,

wherein the padding is disposed on the top of the rigid container,

wherein the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the collapsible container is collapsed to generate a cushion, and

wherein the top of the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the ottoman is un-collapsed to generate an ottoman.

2. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the collapsible container includes a rigid plate attached on a first one of its edges to an inside edge of the collapsible container, wherein the inside edge is adjacent to a first side and a bottom of the collapsible container.

3. The cushion of claim 2, wherein the rigid plate is removably attached to the edge and the removed rigid plate is configured to serve as a divider between the pairs of rigid plates.

4. The cushion of claim 2, wherein a second edge and third edge of the rigid plate that are both substantially perpendicular to the first edge are flush with a second and third side of the collapsible container.

5. The cushion of claim 2, wherein a fourth edge of the rigid plate that opposes the first edge includes a handle that enables the rigid plate to swing from a first position flush with the bottom of the collapsible container to a second position flush with the first side of collapsible container.

6. The cushion of claim 1, wherein a first side of the collapsible container includes a first pair of rigid plates, a second side of the collapsible container that opposes the first side includes a second pair of rigid plates, a third side of the collapsible container includes a first single rigid plate, a fourth side of the collapsible container that opposes the third side includes a second single rigid plate, and each pair of rigid plates are substantially perpendicular to one of the single rigid plates.

7. The cushion of claim 6, further comprising a divider wall that is configured to be fitted between the pairs of rigid plates such that a first edge of the divider rests in a gap between the first pair of rigid plates and a second opposing edge of the divider rests in a gap between the second pair of rigid plates.

8. The cushion of claim 6, wherein the first and second pair of rigid plates and the first and second single rigid plates are encapsulated by a fabric.

9. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the collapsible container is covered by a fabric.

10. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the top and each side of the rigid container respectively comprises single rigid plates.

11. The cushion of claim 10, wherein the rigid plates of the rigid container are encapsulated by a fabric.

12. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the height of the collapsible container when un-collapsed is at least four times greater than the height of the rigid container.

13. The cushion of claim 1, wherein each side of a pair of opposing sides of the collapsible container includes a handle.

14. A cushion that converts into an ottoman, the cushion comprising:

a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container having an open top, the collapsible container comprising:

first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth rigid walls encapsulated by a flexible material,

wherein the first and second walls oppose one another, the third, fourth, and fifth walls oppose the sixth, seventh, and eighth walls,

wherein the first wall is substantially perpendicular to the fourth wall,

wherein the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth walls are substantially the same size,

wherein the third and sixth walls are substantially the same size, and

wherein the length of the fourth wall ranges between four to eight times the length of the third wall;

a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including a padded top,

15. The cushion of claim 14, wherein the length of the fourth wall ranges between seven to eight times the length of the third wall.

16. The cushion of claim 14, wherein the collapsible container includes a rigid plate attached on a first one of its edges to an inside edge, wherein the inside edge is adjacent to a first side and a bottom of the collapsible container.

17. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the rigid plate is configured to swing through a range of about 90 degrees.

18. The cushion of claim 15, wherein the ottoman is un-collapsed when the rigid plate is flush with the bottom of the collapsible container.

19. A cushion that converts into an ottoman, the cushion comprising:

a collapsible, hollow, rectangular container, wherein the top of the collapsible container is open; and

a rigid, hollow, rectangular container including padding,

wherein the padding is disposed on the top of the rigid container,

wherein the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the collapsible container is collapsed to generate a cushion,

wherein the collapsible container includes a divider wall attached at one end to a side wall of the collapsible container to enable the wall to swing and an opposing end of the divider wall includes a first part of a fastener to be attached to a second part of the fastener on an opposing side of the collapsible container, and

wherein the top of the collapsible container is configured to mate with the hollow portion of the rigid container when the ottoman is un-collapsed to form an ottoman.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the fastener is Velcro.