Modular seating apparatus and corresponding systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10548400-B2
Application number	US-201514845235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A bench (100) includes an upper member (101), a first leg member (103), and a second leg member (102). The first leg member and the second leg member can be selectively attachable to the upper member. The upper member includes a substantially planar portion (104), a first side end portion (105), and a second side end portion (106). The substantially planar portion can define a seat (113) for a user, where the seat defines a seat width (116) and a seat length (117). The first leg member and the second leg member can define a leg member length (120) that is coextensive with seat length and the lengths of the side end portions. The leg members can include an adjustment mechanism (203) to selectively alter a height (207) of the one or both of the first leg member or the second leg member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bench, comprising:
an upper member comprising:
a substantially planar portion;
a first side end portion; and
a second side end portion;
the substantially planar portion defining a seat;
the first side end portion extending substantially orthogonally from the seat along a first side of the seat; and
the second side end portion extending substantially orthogonally from the seat along a second side of the seat;
the second side of the seat located distally opposite the seat from the first side end portion;
the seat defining a seat width and a seat length;
the first side end portion and the second side end portion defining a side end portion length and a side end portion width; and
the seat length coextensive with the side end portion length;

a first leg member, selectively attachable with at least a first boss extending from the first leg member to an end of the first side end portion, and defining a first leg member length that is coextensive with the side end portion length; and
a second leg member, selectively attachable with at least a second boss extending from the second leg member to an end of the second side end portion, and defining a second leg member length that is coextensive with the side end portion length;
one or both of the first leg member or the second leg member comprising and adjustment mechanism to selectively alter a height of the one or both of the first leg member or the second leg member.

2. The bench of claim 1 , the seat comprising:
a textured surface disposed along a first major face of the seat; and
one or more apertures disposed along the seat to allow water to flow therethrough.

3. The bench of claim 2 , the seat further comprising one or more support ribs disposed along a second major face of the seat.

4. The bench of claim 1 , the upper member defining one or more threaded apertures, further comprising:
a bench accessory; and
one or more threaded retention devices to couple the bench accessory to the upper member by engaging the one or more threaded apertures.

5. The bench of claim 4 , the bench accessory comprising a backrest.

6. The bench of claim 4 , the bench accessory comprising an armrest.

7. The bench of claim 4 , the bench accessory comprising a combination soap dish and shower head holder.

8. The bench of claim 4 , the one or more threaded retention devices each comprising a handle to enable tool-less rotation of the one or more threaded retention devices in the one or more threaded apertures to couple the accessory to the upper member.

9. The bench of claim 8 , the handle defining a square cross section.

10. The bench of claim 1 , the adjustment mechanism comprising a push button to selectively protrude through one aperture of a plurality of apertures disposed along a sidewall of the one or both of the first leg member or the second leg member.

11. The bench of claim 10 , the one or both of the first leg member or the second leg member comprising:
a casing sleeve; and
a foot insert disposed within the casing sleeve; and
a compressible biasing device;
the compressible biasing device disposed between the push button and the foot insert to apply a preloading force biasing the push button away from the foot insert and through the one aperture.

12. The bench of claim 11 , the casing sleeve defining an ovular cross section, the first boss and the second boss defining another ovular cross section, the ovular cross section larger than the another ovular cross section.

13. The bench of claim 12 , the first leg member further comprising a snap mechanism to retain the first leg member to the first side end portion when the at least a first boss is inserted into the end of the first side end portion.

14. The bench of claim 13 , the foot insert comprising a rubber grip foot disposed at an end of the foot insert.

15. The bench of claim 11 , the foot insert selectively removable from the casing sleeve.

16. The bench of claim 15 , further comprising a coupler to insert into the casing sleeve, the coupler to attach the bench to another bench.

17. The bench of claim 16 , the coupler comprising:
a footer;
a first side section; and
a second side section;
the first side section extending substantially orthogonally from a first end of the footer, the second side section extending substantially orthogonally from a second end of the footer.

18. The bench of claim 17 , the footer having a width of at least two inches to allow a shower curtain to pass between the bench and the another bench when coupled together by the coupler.

19. A bench assembly, comprising:
a first bench comprising:
a first upper member defining a seat, a first side end portion, and a second side end portion, the first side end portion and the second side end portion extending distally from a first end of the seat and a second end of the seat, respectively;
a first leg member attached to the first side end portion and having a first major dimension that is coextensive with a major dimension of the first side end portion;
a second leg member attached to the second side end portion and also having the first major dimension;

a second bench comprising:
a second upper member defining a second seat, a third side end portion, and a fourth side end portion, the third side end portion and the fourth side end portion extending distally from ends of the second seat, respectively;
a third leg member attached to the third side end portion;
a fourth leg member attached to the fourth side end portion; and

a coupler attaching a terminal end of one of the first leg member or the second leg member to another terminal end of one of the third leg member or the fourth leg member;
the coupler having a width sufficient for a shower curtain to pass between the first bench and the second bench when the coupler is attached to the terminal end of the one of the first leg member or the second leg member and the another terminal end of the one of the third leg member or the fourth leg member.

20. The bench assembly of claim 19 , further comprising:
at least one bench accessory; and
one or more threaded retention devices to couple the at least one bench accessory to one of the first bench or the second bench;
the one or more threaded retention devices each comprising a handle to enable tool-less attachment of the at least one bench accessory to the one of the first bench or the second bench.

Assignees

• Medline Ind Inc

Inventors

• Paterson Michael
• Costello Matt
• Trendafilov Kristian
• Westra Luke

Classifications

• A47C4/021 Primary

  connected by slotted joints · CPC title

• A61H2201/0107

  modular · CPC title

• A61H2201/0192

  Specific means for adjusting dimensions · CPC title

• A61H33/067

  Installations for the inside of such cabins, e.g. seats · CPC title

• A47C13/005

  Modular seating · CPC title