Automatic deployable, foldable furniture system

Abstract

Auto-deployable furniture having a top panel and a collapsible base movable between collapsed and deployed positions. The base has opposing side panels spaced apart when in the deployed position and are adjacent to each other when in the collapsed position. A top brace spans between the opposing sidewalls and is fixed to the top panel at an off-center portion. Movement of the base between the deployed and collapsed positions causes the top brace to automatically fold or unfold at the intermediate portion, thereby automatically pivoting the top panel relative to the base. In the deployed position, the top panel is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base, and in the flat, collapsed position, the top panel is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An auto-deployable, foldable furniture unit, comprising:
 a top panel that defines a first plane;   a collapsible base having a longitudinal axis and being movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position, the base having opposed side panels oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the side panels having an upper portion and a lower portion, the side panels being spaced apart from each other when in the deployed position, and the side panels being immediately adjacent to each other at the upper and lower portions when in the collapsed position; and   a top brace having an intermediate portion between first and second end portions, the intermediate portion having an attachment portion adjacent to the first end portion, the first and second end portions being fixedly attached to the upper portions of the side panels and being movable with the side panels as a unit when the base moves between the collapsed and deployed positions, the top brace end portions being spaced apart from each other when the base is in the deployed position and being substantially immediately adjacent to each other with the top brace being folded at the intermediate portion when in the collapsed position, the attachment portion being fixed to the top panel at an off-center portion of the top panel, wherein movement of the base between the deployed position and the collapsed position causes the top brace to automatically fold at the intermediate portion automatically pivoting the top panel relative to the base between a first position, wherein with the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a second position wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the top panel is supported by the upper portions of the base when the base is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture unit of  claim 1  wherein the top brace has a folding portion between one end portion of the top brace and the attachment portion, wherein the top brace folds at the folding portion when the base moves from the deployed position to the collapsed position. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture unit of  claim 1  wherein the top brace has a first folding portion between one end portion of the top brace and the attachment portion, and a second folding portion positioned with the attachment portion between the first and second folding portions, wherein the top brace folds at the first and second folding portions when the base moves from the deployed position to the collapsed position. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture unit of  claim 1  wherein the base is a collapsible tubular member that defines a column when in the deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture unit of  claim 1  wherein the base is a unitary member with end portions secured to each other and a plurality of fold lines intermediate the end portions and configured to fold and define the side panels when the base is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom brace fixedly attached to the lower portions of the side panels and folding at a bottom brace intermediate portion when the base moves between the collapsed and deployed positions, the end portions of the bottom brace being spaced apart from each other when the base is in the deployed position and being substantially immediately adjacent to each other when in the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture unit of  claim 6  wherein the base has an interior area between the side panels, and the bottom brace has a folding portion in the intermediate portion, and the bottom brace folds at the intermediate portion when the base moves from the deployed position to the collapsed position. 
     
     
         8 . The furniture unit of  claim 6  wherein the base has an interior area between the side panels, and the bottom brace folds and projects into the interior area of the base when the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         9 . The furniture unit of  claim 6  wherein the base has an interior area between the side panels, and wherein the bottom brace folds and projects away from the interior area of the base when the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture unit of  claim 1  wherein the top panel is a planar member defining a table top or seat. 
     
     
         11 . The furniture unit of  claim 1  wherein the top panel and base are made of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . The furniture unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first retention member connected to the top panel and a second retention member connected to the top brace, the first and second retention members being in engagement with each other when the base is in the deployed position securely retaining the top panel in engagement with the top brace, and the first and second retention members being out of engagement with each other when the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         13 . The furniture unit of  claim 12  wherein the first and second retention members are hook-and-loop fastener elements. 
     
     
         14 . The furniture unit of  claim 1 , wherein the top brace is adhered to the base and to the top panel while allowing the top panel to pivot relative to the base. 
     
     
         15 . An auto-deployable furniture unit, comprising:
 a top panel that defines a first plane;   a collapsible base having a longitudinal axis and being movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position, the base having opposed side panels oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the side panels having an upper portion and a lower portion, the side panels being spaced apart from each other when in the deployed position, and the side panels being immediately adjacent to each other at the upper and lower portions when in the collapsed position; and   a folding top brace having a first intermediate portion between first and second end portions, the first intermediate portion having an attachment portion adjacent to the first end portion, the first and second end portions being secured to the side panels to move with the side panels when the base moves between the collapsed and deployed positions, the top brace being folded at the first intermediate portion with the end portions adjacent to each other when in the collapsed position, the attachment portion being secured to a surface of the top panel wherein movement of the base between the deployed and collapsed positions causes the top panel to automatically pivot between first and second positions, respectively, the top panel in the first position is positioned with the first plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and with the top panel supported by the base, and the top panel in the second position is positioned with the first plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   a bottom brace fixedly attached to lower portions of the side panels and configured to fold at a second intermediate portion when the base moves between the collapsed and deployed positions.   
     
     
         16 . The furniture unit of  claim 15  wherein the top brace has a first folding portion between one end portion of the top brace and the attachment portion, and a second folding portion positioned with the attachment portion between the first and second folding portions, wherein the top brace folds at the first and second folding portions when the base moves from the deployed position to the collapsed position. 
     
     
         17 . The furniture unit of  claim 15  wherein the base is a collapsible tubular member that defines a column when in the deployed position. 
     
     
         18 . The furniture unit of  claim 15  wherein the base is a unitary member with end portions secured to each other and a plurality of fold lines intermediate the end portions and configured to fold and define the side panels when the base is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         19 . The furniture unit of  claim 15  wherein the base has an interior area between the side panels when in the deployed position, and the bottom brace has a folding portion in the intermediate portion, and the bottom brace folds at the intermediate portion when the base moves from the deployed position to the collapsed position. 
     
     
         20 . The furniture unit of  claim 15  wherein the base has an interior area between the side panels, and the bottom brace folds and projects into the interior area when the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         21 . The furniture unit of  claim 15 , further comprising a first retention member connected to the top panel and a second retention member connected to the top brace, the first and second retention members being in engagement with each other when the base is in the deployed position securely retaining the top panel in engagement with the top brace, and the first and second retention members being out of engagement with each other when the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         22 . The furniture unit of  claim 21  wherein the first and second retention members are hook-and-loop fastener elements. 
     
     
         23 . The furniture unit of  claim 21 , wherein the top brace is adhered directly to the base and to the top panel while allowing the top panel to pivot relative to the base. 
     
     
         24 . An auto-deployable furniture unit, comprising:
 a corrugated top panel that defines a first plane and that has opposing top and bottom surfaces;   a corrugated collapsible base fixedly interconnected to the top panel for pivotal movement relative to the base, the base having a longitudinal axis and being movable between a flat, collapsed position and a deployed position, the base having first and second side panel portions oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the first and second side panel portions having an upper portion and a lower portion, the first and second side panel portions being spaced apart from each other at the upper and lower portions when in the deployed position, and the first and second side panel portions being immediately adjacent to each other at the upper and lower portions when in the flat, collapsed position, the base having an interior area between the first and second side panel portions when in the deployed position;   a corrugated bottom brace having a first intermediate portion between opposing bottom brace end portions, the bottom brace end portions being fixedly attached to the lower portions of the first and second side panels of the base and being movable with the first and second side panels as a unit when the base moves between the flat, collapsed position and the deployed position, the bottom brace end portions being spaced apart from each other when the base is in the deployed position and being substantially immediately adjacent to each other with the bottom brace being folded substantially at the first intermediate portion when in the folded, collapsed position; and   a corrugated top brace having a second intermediate portion between opposing top brace end portions, the second intermediate portion having an attachment portion adjacent to one of the top brace end portions, the top brace end portions being fixedly attached to the upper portions of the first and second side panels and being movable with the first and second side panels as a unit when the base moves between the flat, collapsed position and the deployed position, the top brace end portions being spaced apart from each other when the base is in the deployed position and being substantially immediately adjacent to each other with the top brace being folded at the intermediate portion when in the folded, collapsed position, the attachment portion being fixed to the bottom side of the top panel at an off-center location, wherein movement of the base from the deployed position to the collapsed position causes the top brace end portions to move toward each other and causing the top brace to fold at the intermediate portion automatically pivoting the top panel relative to the base from a first position wherein the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, to a second position wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein movement of the base from the collapsed position to the deployed position causes the top brace end portions to move away from each other, thereby automatically pivoting the top panel from the second position parallel to the longitudinal axis to the first position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis with the top panel being supported by the deployed base.   
     
     
         25 . The auto-deployable furniture unit of  claim 24  wherein the top brace has a first fold line between the one end portion of the top brace and the attachment portion, and a second fold line positioned with the attachment portion between the first and second fold lines, wherein the top brace folds at the first and second fold lines when the base moves from the collapsed position to the deployed position. 
     
     
         26 . The auto-deployable furniture unit of  claim 24  wherein the base is a tubular member made of corrugated material that defines a column when in the deployed position. 
     
     
         27 . The auto-deployable furniture unit of  claim 24  wherein the base is a unitary folded member with end portions attached to each other and a plurality of fold lines intermediate end portions and configured to fold and define side panels when the base is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         28 . The auto-deployable furniture unit of  claim 24  wherein the bottom brace folds and projects into the interior area of the base when the base is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         29 . The auto-deployable furniture unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first retention member connected to the top panel and a second retention member connected to the intermediate portion of the top brace, the first and second retention members being in engagement with each other when the base is in the deployed position securely retaining the top panel in engagement with the top brace, and the first and second retention members being out of engagement with each other when the base is in the flat, collapsed position.