Child's easel/table

An article of furniture convertible between an easel configuration and a table configuration, the article of furniture comprising:

• a support member;
• a hinged work surface including a first panel and a second panel positionable on the support member in one of the easel configuration wherein the first and second panels are disposed at an angle relative to each other and the table configuration wherein the first and second panels are disposed in substantially a same plane;
• and
• a handle coupled to the work surface and selectively engageable with said support member to lock said work surface to said support member in said table configuration.

An article of furniture convertible between an easel configuration and a table configuration, the article of furniture comprising:

• a support member;
• a hinged work surface including a hinge pin positioned on the support member;
• and
• a handle coupled to the hinged work surface and being movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, the handle including a cylindrical shaft portion having a longitudinal axis, a transverse hole and a pair of opposed slots each extending in a ninety degree arc from an end of the transverse hole in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the hinge pin of the work surface extends through the transverse hole to couple the handle to the work surface and the hinge pin, transverse hole and opposed slots cooperate to permit the handle to rotate about the longitudinal axis between the locking position and the unlocking position, the hinged work surface being locked to the support member in the table configuration when the handle is in the locking position.

An article of furniture convertible between an easel configuration and a table configuration, the article of furniture comprising:

• a support member including a pair of grooves;
• a hinged work surface positioned on the support member, wherein the hinged work surface includes a pair of panels and the panels are retained in the grooves of the support member in the easel configuration;
• and
• a handle coupled to the work surface being movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein when the handle is in the locking position the hinged work surface is locked to the support member in the table configuration, and when the handle is in the unlocking position the work surface is unlocked from the support member and the hinged work surface is movable between a generally planar orientation in the table configuration and an inverted V orientation in the easel configuration.

A method of converting an article of furniture including a hinged two-panel work surface having a handle coupled thereto supportable on a support structure between a table configuration and an easel configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning the panels in a substantially planar orientation wherein the panels rest on the support member to form the table configuration;
• (b) engaging the handle with the support member to lock the work surface to the support member in the table configuration;
• (c) moving the handle to an unlocked position disengaging the handle from the support member;
• (d) moving the work surface into the easel configuration wherein the panels are disposed at an angle relative to each other;
• and
• (e) repeating any of steps (a)-(d).

A kit for a convertible article of children's furniture, the article of furniture being convertible between an easel configuration and a table configuration, the kit comprising:

• a support member having an upper surface;
• a pair of panels connected to each other by a joint for movement between a first orientation, wherein the panels are in a generally parallel relationship with respect to the upper surface, and a second orientation, wherein the panels are disposed substantially non-parallel relative to each other and at an angle relative to the upper surface, the panels being disposed on the support member in the first orientation to define the table configuration and in the second orientation to define the easel configuration;
• and
• a handle attached to the panels at the joint and selectively engageable with the support member to secure the panels to the support member in the first orientation.