U.S. patent application number 10/161374 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-18 for bench having diamond plate seat, diamond plate back, and i-beam legs.
This patent application is currently assigned to Keystone Ridge Designs, Inc.. Invention is credited to Arnold, E. Paul, Slear, Arthur C..
Application Number | 20030230912 10/161374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29731934 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030230912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arnold, E. Paul ; et
al. |
December 18, 2003 |
Bench having diamond plate seat, diamond plate back, and I-beam
legs
Abstract
A bench includes a seat formed from diamond plate having a
raised pattern and a pair of spaced-apart legs formed from I-beams
for supporting said seat. The bench may also include a back formed
from diamond plate having a raised pattern. The seat and the back
may have an outer metallic surface and the pair of spaced-apart
legs may have a coating having a color. The seat may include a
frame attached to the diamond plate which defines a top surface and
downwardly-depending edges. The back may include a frame attached
to the diamond plate which defines a front surface and
downwardly-depending edges. Other embodiments of benches are also
described.
Inventors: |
Arnold, E. Paul; (Grove
City, PA) ; Slear, Arthur C.; (Butler, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HESLIN ROTHENBERG FARLEY & MESITI PC
5 COLUMBIA CIRCLE
ALBANY
NY
12203
US
|
Assignee: |
Keystone Ridge Designs,
Inc.
Butler
PA
|
Family ID: |
29731934 |
Appl. No.: |
10/161374 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/158.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 5/04 20130101; A47C
11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/158.3 |
International
Class: |
A47B 039/00; A47B
083/02 |
Claims
1. A bench comprising: a seat comprising diamond plate having a
raised diamond pattern defining a top surface; and at least one leg
comprising an I-beam for supporting said seat.
2. The bench of claim 1 wherein said at least one leg comprises a
web portion disposed along the length of said seat, and flanges
disposed perpendicular to the length of said seat.
3. The bench of claim 1 further comprising at least one
horizontally-extending leg support comprising a C-channel attached
to a lower end of said at least one leg.
4. The bench of claim 1 wherein said diamond plate comprises a
raised diamond pattern defining downwardly-depending edges.
5. The bench of claim 1 wherein said seat and said at least one leg
comprise at least one of stainless steel and aluminum.
6. The bench of claim 1 wherein said top surface comprises a
metallic surface, and said at least one leg comprises a coating
comprising a color.
7. The bench of claim 1 wherein said seat comprises a frame, said
diamond plate being attached to said frame, and said frame being
attached to said at least one leg.
8. A bench comprising: a seat comprising diamond plate having a
raised diamond pattern defining a top surface; at least one leg
comprising an I-beam for supporting said seat; and a back attached
to said at least one leg, said back comprising diamond plate having
a raised diamond pattern defining a front surface.
9. The bench of claim 8 wherein said at least one leg comprises a
web portion disposed along the length of said seat, and flanges
disposed perpendicular to the length of said seat.
10. The bench of claim 8 further comprising at least one
horizontally-extending support comprising a C-channel attached to a
lower end of said at least one leg.
11. The bench of claim 8 wherein said seat comprises diamond plate
having a raised diamond pattern defining downwardly-depending
edges.
12. The bench of claim 8 wherein said back comprises diamond plate
having a raised diamond pattern defining downwardly-depending
edges.
13. The bench of claim 8 further comprising at least one back
support attachable to said back and to said at least one leg.
14. The bench of claim 13 wherein said at least one back support
comprises a square tube.
15. The bench of claim 8 wherein said seat, said back, and said at
least one leg comprise at least one of stainless steel and
aluminum.
16. The bench of claim 8 wherein said top surface and said front
surface comprise a metallic surface, and said at least one leg
comprises an outer coating comprising a color.
17. The bench of claim 8 further comprising at least one back
support, and wherein said seat comprises a frame and said diamond
plate of said seat being attached to said frame with screws, said
back comprises a frame and said diamond plate of said back being
attached to said frame with screws, said frame of said seat being
welded to said at least one leg, said frame of said back being
welded to said back support, and said back support being welded to
said at least one leg.
18. A bench comprising: a seat comprising diamond plate having a
raised diamond pattern defining a top surface and
downwardly-depending edges; a pair of spaced-apart legs each
comprising an I-beam for supporting said seat; and wherein said top
surface and said edges of said seat comprise a metallic surface,
and said pair of spaced-apart legs comprise a coating comprising a
color.
19. The bench of claim 18 further comprising a back comprising
diamond plate having a raised diamond pattern defining a front
surface and downwardly-depending edges, a pair of spaced-apart back
supports for attaching said back to each of said pair of
spaced-apart legs, and wherein said front surface and said edges of
said back comprise a metallic surface.
20. The bench of claim 18 further comprising a pair of
horizontally-extending supports comprising a C-channel, each of
which being attached to one of the lower ends of said pair of
spaced-apart legs.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to seats for sitting and
more particularly to benches.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional benches are often are formed with painted steel
or aluminum slats, painted perforated steel or aluminum, untreated
or painted wood, or colored plastic. Problems with such
conventional benches are that the painted surfaces fade and chip
particularly on the top of the seat and on the front of the back,
the wood slowly decomposes, and the colored plastic fades over
time.
[0003] Another problem with such benches is that the seats and the
backs are often unable to withstand a heavy load. Still another
problem is that the benches typically have a design that is not
appropriate with the decor of the surrounding area.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for further benches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a bench
which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised
diamond pattern defining a top surface, and at least one leg
comprising an I-beam for supporting the seat.
[0006] The present invention provides, in a second aspect, a bench
which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised
diamond pattern defining a top surface, at least one leg comprising
an I-beam for supporting the seat, and a back attached to the at
least one leg. The back also comprises diamond plate having a
raised pattern defining a front surface.
[0007] The present invention provides, in a third aspect, a bench
which includes a seat comprising diamond plate having a raised
diamond pattern defining a top surface and downwardly-depending
edges, a pair of spaced-apart legs each comprising an I-beam for
supporting the seat, and wherein the top surface and edges of the
seat comprise a metallic surface, and the pair of spaced-apart legs
comprise a coating comprising a color. The seat may also include a
back comprising diamond plate having a raised pattern for defining
a front surface and downwardly-depending edges. The back may be
attached to the legs with a pair of spaced-apart back supports, and
the front surface and the edges of the back comprise a metallic
surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding
portion of the specification. The invention, however, may best be
understood by reference to the following detailed description of
various embodiments and accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bench in accordance with
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a reduced front elevational view of the bench
shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a reduced sectional view taken along line 3-3 in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of
a bench in accordance with the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 in
FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a bench 10 in accordance with the
present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, bench 10
generally includes a seat 20, and a pair of spaced-apart legs 40.
As described in greater detail below, seat 20 is formed from
diamond plate, and the pair of spaced-apart legs 40 are formed from
I-beams.
[0016] The bench may be installed, for example, in parks, and near
businesses and shopping centers. The bench may match existing
industrial-themed developments. For example, where abandoned
factories are converted into shopping centers, the bench formed
from diamond plate and I-beams blends into the surrounding indoor
or outdoor environment and enhances the industrial motif. Combining
the diamond plate and the I-beam for forming a bench allows
architects and designers to coordinate the appearance of their
industrial projects.
[0017] As best shown in FIG. 1, legs 40 include an elongated I-beam
having a web portion 42 and two outer flanges 44. Web portion 42
may be aligned along the length of the bench so that flanges 44 are
disposed perpendicular to the length of the bench.
[0018] Lower ends 46 of legs 42 may be attached to leg supports 50,
formed from a C-channel. For example, the C-channel may have a
width which corresponds to the width of the I-beam. The outer
surface of a web portion 52 of the C-channel may be attached to
lower end 46 of leg 40 so that downwardly-depending flanges 54 of
the C-channel are positioned to engage the ground. While the bench
may be portable, the C-channel member may be provided with holes in
the web, as shown in FIG. 1, for use in attaching and securing the
bench, for example, to a cement footing (not shown). It will be
appreciated that the ends of the I-beam legs may be suitably
secured in the ground without the leg support. The leg supports may
also comprise a square tube or other suitable configuration.
[0019] Seat 20 is formed from a sheet of diamond plate having a
raised diamond pattern or similar embossed pattern on the surface.
For example, a sheet of diamond plate may be formed to include a
top surface 22, and a front edge 24, a rear edge (not shown), and
side edges 26 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1), which are
formed by bending the peripherally-extending portions of the
diamond plate. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outermost peripheral
edges may further be turned inward under the seat.
[0020] Seat 20 may also include a frame 30 which attaches to seat
20 and to legs 40. Frame 30 may be formed from a plurality of
square tubes 32 which define a rectangular-shaped frame. A pair of
spaced-apart plates 34 span between opposite
longitudinally-extending portions of square tubes 32. A top end 48
(FIG. 4) of each I-beam 40 is attached to a respective plate member
34. The combination of the diamond plate and frame provide a rigid
structure for supporting heavy loads.
[0021] The various components forming the frame and the legs may be
welded together. As best shown in FIG. 4, frame 30 may include a
plurality of threaded nuts 38 which are attached to square tubes
32. A plurality of screws or bolts 39, such as flat head cap
screws, may extend through holes in the downwardly-depending edge
portions of seat 20 and engage the threaded nuts to attach seat 20
to frame 30.
[0022] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another bench 100 in accordance
with the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, bench
100 generally includes a seat 120, a pair of spaced-apart legs 140,
a back 160, and a pair of spaced-apart back supports 150. Seat 120
and back 160 are formed from diamond plate, and the pair of
spaced-apart legs 140 are formed from I-beams. Seat 120 and legs
140 may be formed and assembled as described above with reference
to bench 10.
[0023] Back 160 is formed from a sheet of diamond plate having a
raised diamond pattern or similar embossed pattern on the surface.
For example, as best shown in FIG. 6, a sheet of diamond plate may
be formed to include a top surface 162, and a top edge 164, a
bottom edge 166, and side edges (not shown), which are formed by
bending the peripherally-extending portions of the diamond plate.
The outermost peripheral edges may further be turned inward under
the back.
[0024] Back 160 may also include a frame 130 which attaches to back
160. Frame 130 may be formed from a plurality of square tubes 132
defining a rectangular frame. Back 160 may be attached to frame 130
using threaded bolts in a similar manner as described above with
reference to the attachment of seat 20 to frame 30.
[0025] Back 160 may be supported and attached to legs 140 by a pair
of spaced-apart back supports 150. For example, back supports 150
may comprise a plurality of square tubes which includes a lower
horizontal portion 152 and an upper generally vertical portion 154.
Portion 154 may be also be disposed on an angle from vertical, for
example, as shown in FIG. 6. Lower portion 152 of back supports 150
includes an end 156 which may be attached, e.g., by welding, to a
respective rear surface of the web of leg 140. Upper portion 154 of
back supports 150 may be attached, e.g., by welding, to frame 130.
A half round member 158 may be attached to and cover the opening of
the square tube forming the upper end of upper portion 154 of back
supports 150.
[0026] The seats, the legs, the leg supports, the backs, the
frames, and the back supports may be formed from stainless steel,
aluminum, or any suitable material. In addition, the seat and back
may be polished diamond plate having an outer metallic surface and
the legs may be powder-coated to exhibit a color surface such as
red, black, green, blue, bronze, or other suitable colors. In
addition, the back and the seat may also be powder-coated to
exhibit a color surface. The diamond plate may be about 1/8 inch to
1/4 inch thick, the downwardly-depending edges may extend about
1-1/2 to 2 inches, the I-beam may be about 4 inches wide (flange to
flange), the square tube for the frames may be a 1-1/2 by 1-1/2
square tube, and the back supports may be 2 to 2-1/2 inch square
tube.
[0027] While the benches of the present invention are illustrated
as having straight seats and backs, it will be appreciated that
seats and backs may be curved (either along the length and/or along
the width thereof) or provided with other suitable configurations.
In addition, the seat may be disposed horizontally or on an angle,
e.g., on an angle from front to back. The benches may be
manufactured in various lengths, e.g., four feet, six feet, or
eight feet in length. The combination of the diamond plate and
I-beams result in a sturdy construction and reduces the likelihood
of being damaged, and the diamond plate provides texture to the
surface of the seat and the back.
[0028] Thus, while various embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated to
those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be
made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *