Furniture that converts into a massage device

Abstract

A convertible furniture assembly ( 10 ) for positioning on a floor ( 18 ) includes a furniture frame ( 20 ), a top assembly ( 22 ), and a mover assembly ( 24 ). The furniture frame ( 20 ) engages the floor ( 18 ). The top assembly ( 22 ) is generally flat. The mover assembly ( 24 ) couples the top assembly ( 22 ) to the furniture frame ( 20 ). The mover assembly ( 24 ) allows the top assembly ( 22 ) to move between a furniture configuration ( 12 ) in which top assembly ( 22 ) and the furniture frame ( 20 ) cooperate to define a piece of furniture, and a massage configuration ( 14 ) in which the top assembly ( 22 ) provides a generally flat massage upper surface ( 16 B) for supporting a person during a massage. For example, the top assembly ( 22 ) can positioned a greater distance from the floor ( 18 ) in the massage configuration ( 14 ) than in the furniture configuration ( 12 ). With this design, the furniture assembly ( 10 ) easily converts between the piece of furniture in the furniture configuration ( 12 ) and the massage table in the massage configuration ( 14 ). As a result thereof, the furniture assembly ( 10 ) has multiple functions.

1 . A convertible furniture assembly for positioning on a floor, the convertible furniture assembly comprising: 
 a furniture frame that engages the floor;    a generally flat top assembly; and    a mover assembly that couples the top assembly to the furniture frame, the mover assembly allowing the top assembly to move between a furniture configuration in which top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to define a piece of furniture, and a massage configuration in which the top assembly provides a generally flat massage upper surface for supporting a person during a massage, wherein top assembly is positioned a greater distance from the floor in the massage configuration than in the furniture configuration.    
   
   
       2 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 1  wherein the top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to form a bench in the furniture configuration and wherein the top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to form a massage table in the massage configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 1  wherein the top assembly includes a first top section and a second top section, and wherein the mover assembly allows the first top section to move relative to the furniture frame independently from the second top section.  
   
   
       4 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 3  wherein the mover assembly pivots the first top section relative to the furniture frame and the second top section during movement between the configurations.  
   
   
       5 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 4  wherein the mover assembly pivots the second top section relative to the furniture frame and the first top section during movement between the configurations.  
   
   
       6 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 4  wherein the top assembly includes a third top section that fits between the first top section and the second top section after the first top section and the second top section have been moved to the massage configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 1  wherein the top assembly includes at least one top section that can be stored within the furniture frame.  
   
   
       8 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mover assembly includes a mover bias that urges the top assembly to the massage configuration when the top assembly is away from the furniture configuration.  
   
   
       9 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 8  wherein the mover bias urges the top assembly to the furniture configuration when the top assembly is near the furniture configuration.  
   
   
       10 . A convertible furniture assembly for positioning on a floor, the convertible furniture assembly comprising: 
 a furniture frame that engages the floor;    a top assembly; and    a mover assembly that couples the top assembly to the furniture frame, the mover assembly allowing the top assembly to move between a furniture configuration in which top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to define a piece of furniture and a massage configuration in which the top assembly provides a generally flat massage upper surface for supporting a person during a massage, wherein the top assembly includes a first top section and a second top section, and wherein the mover assembly allows the first top section to move relative to the furniture frame independently from the second top section.    
   
   
       11 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 10  wherein the top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to form a bench in the furniture configuration, and wherein the top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to form a massage table in the massage configuration.  
   
   
       12 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 10  wherein the mover assembly pivots the first top section relative to the furniture frame and the second top section during movement between the configurations.  
   
   
       13 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 12  wherein the mover assembly pivots the second top section relative to the furniture frame and the first top section during movement between the configurations.  
   
   
       14 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 13  wherein the top assembly includes a third top section that fits between the first top section and the second top section after the first top section and the second top section have been moved to the massage configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 10  wherein the top assembly includes a third top section that can be stored within the furniture frame.  
   
   
       16 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 10  wherein the mover assembly includes a mover bias that urges the top assembly to the massage configuration when the top assembly is away from the furniture configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 16  wherein the mover bias urges the top assembly to the furniture configuration when the top assembly is near the furniture configuration.  
   
   
       18 . A convertible furniture assembly for positioning on a floor, the convertible furniture assembly comprising: 
 a furniture frame that engages the floor;    a generally flat top assembly; and    a mover assembly that couples the top assembly to the furniture frame, the mover assembly allowing the top assembly to move between a furniture configuration in which top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to define a piece of furniture, and a massage configuration in which the top assembly provides a generally flat massage upper surface for supporting a person during a massage; wherein top assembly is positioned a greater distance from the floor in the massage configuration than in the furniture configuration; wherein the top assembly includes a first top section and a second top section; wherein the mover assembly allows the first top section to move relative to the furniture frame independently from the second top section; and wherein the mover assembly includes a mover bias that urges the top assembly to the massage configuration when the top assembly is away from the furniture configuration.    
   
   
       19 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 18  wherein the top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to form a bench in the furniture configuration and wherein the top assembly and the furniture frame cooperate to form a massage table in the massage configuration.  
   
   
       20 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 18  wherein the mover assembly pivots the first top section relative to the furniture frame and the second top section during movement between the configurations; and wherein the mover assembly pivots the second top section relative to the furniture frame and the first top section during movement between the configurations.  
   
   
       21 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 18  wherein the top assembly includes a third top section that fits between the first top section and the second top section after the first top section and the second top section have been moved to the massage configuration.  
   
   
       22 . The convertible furniture assembly of  claim 18  wherein the mover bias urges the top assembly to the furniture configuration when the top assembly is near the furniture configuration.