U.S. patent application number 10/361078 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for knock-down furniture bracket.
Invention is credited to Smith, Danny R. JR..
Application Number | 20040155509 10/361078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32824131 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040155509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith, Danny R. JR. |
August 12, 2004 |
Knock-down furniture bracket
Abstract
The invention provides a knock-down furniture bracket assembly
which includes a mounting bracket and a slide bracket, both of
which are tapered and are configured to slidably mate with one
another. The mounting bracket attaches to a base of a piece of
seating furniture and the slide bracket attaches to a back of the
piece of seating furniture. The mounting bracket has a slot
provided therethrough and the slide bracket has a dimple extending
outwardly thereof. Upon sliding the slide bracket onto the mounting
bracket, the dimple engages the slot in the mounting bracket to
prevent movement of the slide bracket relative to the mounting
bracket. The dimple can be disengaged from the slot upon an
application of a predetermined force.
Inventors: |
Smith, Danny R. JR.; (South
Elgin, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TREXLER, BUSHNELL, GIANGIORGI,
BLACKSTONE & MARR, LTD.
105 W. ADAMS STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60603
US
|
Family ID: |
32824131 |
Appl. No.: |
10/361078 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.15 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/00 |
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A knock-down item of seating furniture comprising: a seating
base; a seating back; and a bracket assembly having a mounting
bracket and a slide bracket, said mounting bracket being attached
to one of said seating base or said seating back, said slide
bracket being attached to said other one of said seating base and
said seating back, said mounting bracket having a slot extending
therethrough, said slide bracket having integral means for engaging
said slot of said mounting bracket for locking said slide bracket
to said mounting bracket in a selectively releasable manner.
2. The knock-down item of seating furniture as defined in claim 1,
wherein said mounting bracket is tapered and wherein said slide
bracket is matingly tapered.
3. The knock-down item of seating furniture as defined in claim 1,
wherein said integral engaging means comprises at least one
suitably shaped dimple protruding from said slide bracket.
4. A bracket assembly for use in removably connecting a back to a
base of an item of seating furniture, said bracket assembly
comprising: a mounting bracket configured to be attached to one of
the back or base of the item of seating furniture; and a slide
bracket configured to be attached to the other one of the back or
base of the item of seating furniture, one of said mounting bracket
or said slide bracket having a slot provided therethrough and the
other of said mounting bracket or said slide bracket having
integrally formed means for engaging said slot.
5. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said
integrally formed engaging means comprises at least one suitably
shaped dimple.
6. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting
bracket has a lower portion and an upstanding portion, said lower
portion being configured to be attached to one of the back or base
of the item of seating furniture, said upstanding portion having
said slot provided therethrough or said integrally formed means for
engaging said slot.
7. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting
bracket is tapered and wherein said slide bracket is matingly
tapered.
8. A slide bracket for use in connection with a mounting bracket to
form a knock-down furniture bracket assembly, the bracket assembly
capable of removably connecting a back to a base of an item of
seating furniture, the mounting bracket having a slot provided
therethrough, said slide bracket comprising: a web portion having
an outer surface and an inner surface; and means for engaging the
slot of the mounting bracket, said engaging means being integrally
formed with said web portion.
9. A slide bracket as defined in claim 8, wherein said engaging
means comprises at least one suitably shaped dimple protruding from
said outer surface of said web portion.
10. A slide bracket as defined in claim 8, further including
flanges extending outwardly from said web portion and an inwardly
turned lip attached to each of said flanges to define a slot
between each said inwardly turned lip and said outer surface of
said slide bracket, the mounting bracket capable of being received
within said slots when said slide bracket is slid over the mounting
bracket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to furniture, sometimes
referred to as "knock-down" furniture, such as chairs having a seat
base and a back mounted to the base, and wherein the back is
removable from the base. The removable back of the chair is
desirable to effect a compact shipping configuration in order to
maximize the number of products shipped per unit volume, thereby
minimizing costs. However, problems have been encountered in
connection with providing an efficient, cost-effective mechanism
for engaging and disengaging the chair back to the base.
[0002] One such solution to this problem is proposed in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,525,549 which discloses a chair back equipped with a slide
bracket on each side edge. This slide bracket is composed of a web
having inwardly presenting channel sections at the sides and top.
Apertures in the web receive securing elements by which the
brackets are secured to the back. A locking arm is pivoted to each
slide bracket which draws the slide brackets into secured fixed
relation with upwardly extending links on the chair which receive
the slide brackets when moved downwardly thereover. The locking
aims secure the brackets and links against separation and retain
them in firm fixed relation against any movement when in use. By
releasing the locking arms, the back may be removed and placed upon
the seat to substantially reduce the space occupied by the chair in
storage and during shipping.
[0003] Another solution to this problem is proposed in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,082,355 which discloses a lockable back on a sofa bed which
uses slide brackets on the sofa back which mate with mounting
brackets on the sofa arms. The slide brackets on the back are
located at each end facing the rear portion of the inner surface of
the sofa arm. This inner surface of the sofa arm has attached
thereto a mounting bracket. The slide bracket includes a locking
lever pivoted thereto containing a cam face which is moved toward a
notch in the mounting bracket for locking the back to each of the
arms. This solution likewise provides a means by which the unit can
be compactly assembled for shipment or storage, or for ease of
moving the sofa through doors and the like.
[0004] A major disadvantage of the aforesaid mechanisms, however,
is that when the slide bracket is cammed into fixed engagement with
the mounting bracket, the slide bracket is difficult to separate
from the mounting bracket when it becomes desirable to do so.
[0005] In response to this disadvantage, the two prior art
knock-down bracket assemblies illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 were
devised. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the knock-down bracket assembly
20 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,284. The knock-down bracket
assembly 20 allows for removably securing a chair or sofa back 22
to a chair or sofa base 24. The bracket assembly 20 comprises a
pair of mating tapered interfitting brackets, namely a mounting
bracket 26 and a slide bracket 28. The mounting bracket 26 attaches
to the base 24 of a chair or sofa 30 and the slide bracket 28
attaches to a side of the back 22 of the chair or sofa 30. The
mounting bracket 26 has a pin 32 at an upper end which is
cooperable with a double cam lock lever 34 pivoted to an upper end
of the slide bracket 28. The double cam lock lever 34 has two cam
surfaces, one of which cams the mounting and slide brackets 26, 28
into fixed engagement, and the other of which cams the mounting and
slide brackets 26, 28 out of fixed engagement.
[0006] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate another known prior art knock-down
bracket assembly 40. The knock-down bracket assembly 40 includes a
mounting bracket 42, a slide bracket 44 and a locking clip 46. The
locking clip 46 is generally formed from spring steel. The locking
clip 46 is typically mounted to the back of a chair or sofa at the
same time the slide bracket 44 is attached to the back of the chair
or sofa. The locking clip 46 is connected to an upper end of the
slide bracket 44, and is generally provided pre-attached to the
slide bracket 46. The locking clip 46 has a tab 48 which is
designed to snap into an opening 50 in the mounting bracket 42 as
the slide bracket 44 is slid into place on the mounting bracket 42.
The tab 48 can be lifted in order to remove the slide bracket 44
from the mounting bracket 42, such that the back of the chair or
sofa can be removed from the base of the chair or sofa. The locking
clip 46 can also be disengaged from the slide bracket 44 if
necessary.
[0007] However, these two bracket assemblies which were conceived
to overcome the major disadvantage of the mechanisms in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 3,525,549 and 4,082,355, also suffer from some disadvantages.
For example, both bracket assemblies require a slide bracket, a
mounting bracket and a separate third member, i.e, the double cam
lock lever 34 or the locking clip 46, to fixedly secure the slide
bracket to the mounting bracket. The requirement of this extra
member causes higher manufacturing costs both from the extra
material costs caused by the need to form the separate members and
from the extra labor costs caused by having to attach the separate
members to the slide brackets. The third member required to
complete the assembly can also become damaged or separated from the
slide bracket such that extra third members may be needed to
complete the bracket assembly.
[0008] Therefore, an improved knock-down furniture bracket assembly
is needed which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The
present invention provides such an improved knock-down bracket
assembly. Features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent upon a reading of the attached specification, in
combination with a study of the drawings.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A primary object of the invention is to provide a knock-down
furniture bracket assembly which only requires two pieces, a
mounting bracket and a slide bracket, to effect the secure,
selectively releasable connection.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down
furniture bracket assembly which uses less parts than knock-down
bracket assemblies of the prior art.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down
furniture bracket assembly having reduced manufacturing costs in
comparison to knock-down bracket assemblies of the prior art.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down
furniture bracket assembly which enables much faster assembly and
easier selective disassembly in comparison to knock-down bracket
assemblies of the prior art.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
knock-down furniture bracket assembly while maintaining the
functional advantage of being easier to engage than to
disengage.
[0014] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a slide
bracket of a knock-down furniture bracket assembly which has a
dimple or detent formed therein which will engage a slot in a
mounting bracket of the knock-down furniture bracket assembly upon
the slide bracket being slid into the mounting bracket.
[0015] Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, a knock-down
furniture bracket assembly is provided which includes a mounting
bracket and a slide bracket, both of which are tapered and are
configured to mate with one another. The mounting bracket attaches
to a base of a piece of seating furniture and the slide bracket
attaches to a back of the piece of seating furniture. The mounting
bracket has a slot provided therethrough and the slide bracket has
a dimple extending outwardly thereof. Upon sliding the slide
bracket onto the mounting bracket, the dimple engages the slot in
the mounting bracket to prevent movement of the slide bracket
relative to the mounting bracket during normal furniture usage. If
it is desired to separate the two pieces, however, the dimple can
be disengaged upon the application of a predetermined force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The features of the present invention which are believed to
be novel are described in detail hereinbelow. The organization and
manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together
with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood
by reference to the following description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify
like elements in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a chair having
a base and a back connected together by a prior art knock-down
bracket having a mounting bracket, a slide bracket and a cam lock
lever;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the prior art knock-down
bracket illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art
knock-down bracket having a mounting bracket, a slide bracket and a
locking clip;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a top-elevational view of the prior art knock-down
bracket illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art knock-down
bracket of FIG. 4, taken through line 5-5;
[0022] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a knock-down
bracket of the present invention which has a mounting bracket and a
slide bracket;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a top-elevational view of the knock-down bracket
illustrated in FIG. 6; and
[0024] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the knock-down bracket
of FIG. 7, taken through line 8-8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0025] While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be
described herein in detail, a specific embodiment with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not
intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and
described herein.
[0026] A knock-down bracket assembly 60 is illustrated in FIGS.
6-8. The knock-down bracket assembly 60, like the knock-down
bracket assembly 20, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the
knock-down bracket assembly 40, illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, of the
prior art, allows for removably securing a chair back to a chair
base, for example. While the knock-down bracket assembly 60 is
illustrated and described herein in relation to a chair, it is to
be understood that it is equally applicable to any other item of
seating furniture which includes a seat and back rest.
[0027] The knock-down bracket assembly 60 includes a mounting
bracket 62 and a slide bracket 64. The mounting bracket 62 includes
a lower portion 65 (only a portion of which is illustrated in FIGS.
6-8) and an upstanding portion 66 extending from the lower portion
65. The lower portion 65, while not fully illustrated in FIGS. 6-8,
is similar in shape to the lower portion 36 of the mounting bracket
20 illustrated in FIG. 2, while the upstanding portion 66 is
similar in configuration to the upstanding portion 38 of the
mounting bracket 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The lower portion 65
of the mounting bracket 62 is configured to be attached to a base
of a chair with, for example, screws (not shown).
[0028] The upstanding portion 66 has a base end 68, which is
typically joined to the lower portion 65 of the mounting bracket
62, and an upper end 70. The upstanding portion 66 and the lower
portion 65 of the mounting bracket 62 are preferably integrally
formed. The upstanding portion 66 is tapered from the base end 68
to the upper end 70. The upstanding portion 66 has a slot 72
provided therethrough proximate to the upper end 70 of the
upstanding portion 66. The reason for providing the slot 72 in the
upstanding portion 66 will become evident.
[0029] The slide bracket 64 includes a web 76 having a base end 78,
an upper end 80, and side edges 82 which extend from the base end
78 to the upper end 80. The side edges 82 of the slide bracket 64
are matingly tapered from its base end 78 to its upper end 80 for
complementarily fitting onto the mounting bracket 62. The web 76
has an outer surface 84 and an inner surface 86.
[0030] The slide bracket 64 further includes flanges 88 which
extend outwardly from the side edges 82 of the web 76, and an
inwardly turned lip 90 attached to each flange 88 such that a slot
92 is provided between each inwardly turned lip 90 and the outer
surface 84 of the web 76.
[0031] The web 76 further includes a raised dimple or detent 94.
The dimple 94 protrudes from the outer surface 84 of the web 76 and
is positioned between each of the slots 92. The reasons for
providing the dimple 94 will also become readily apparent.
Moreover, upon gaining a complete understanding of the invention,
it will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
that more than one dimple 94 could be provided if desired and that
the shape of the dimple 94 would not need to be limited to the
particular shape shown in the figures.
[0032] The slide bracket 64 further includes at least one aperture
96 provided therethrough which allow means, for example, screws
(not shown), to attach the slide bracket 64 to the back of the
chair.
[0033] In operation, as the slide bracket 64 is slid downwardly
over the mounting bracket 62, the mounting bracket 62 is positioned
within the slots 92 of the slide bracket 64 to prevent outward
movement of the mounting bracket 62 relative to the slide bracket
64. As the slide bracket 64 continues to be slid downwardly over
the mounting bracket 62, the two parts frictionally engage and
elastically deform to permit the dimple 94 to engage the slot 72 of
the mounting bracket 62 such that a top edge 98 of the dimple 94
engages a wall 100 defined by the slot 72. The engagement of the
dimple 94 with the slot 72 prevents the slide bracket 64 from
disengaging from the mounting bracket 62 under normal usage. As the
slide bracket 64 and the mounting bracket 62 are engaged, the back
of the chair will be firmly secured to the base of the chair.
[0034] In order to disassemble the back of the chair from the base
of the chair, if, for instance, the chair needs to be moved, an
application of force is applied either to the slide bracket 64
directly, or to the back of the chair having the slide bracket 64
attached thereto, the slide bracket 64 and/or the mounting bracket
62 elastically deform under the force and the dimple 94 becomes
disengaged from the slot 72 of the mounting bracket 62. The slide
bracket 64 can then be slid off of the mounting bracket 62 to
separate the back of the chair from the base of the chair.
[0035] Thus, the knock-down bracket assembly 60 of the invention
performs basically the same function as the knock-down bracket
assemblies 20, 40 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, but dispenses with the
need for an extra part, i.e., the double cam lock lever 34 or the
locking clip 46. The knock-down bracket assembly 60 of the present
invention is also simpler, quicker and easier to use as compared
with those of the prior art. The knock-down bracket assembly 60 is
thus advantageous in comparison to the knock-down bracket
assemblies 20, 40. Manufacturing and labor costs are lessened as
the need for manufacturing the double cam lock lever 34 or the
locking clip 46 is removed. Assembly costs are also reduced as the
need to connect the double cam lock lever 34 or the locking clip 46
to the slide bracket is removed. Also, if the lock lever 34 or the
locking clip 46 is used and fails for any reason, either structural
or faulty installation, the mounting and slide brackets are left
unsecured, whereas the dimple 94 provided on the slide bracket 64
of the invention cannot fail as it is an integral part of the slide
bracket 64 itself. The lock lever 34 or locking clip 46 might also
become separated or lost, requiring replacement and adding to
overall costs. Further, the slide bracket with the locking clip 46
requires positive alignment which measurably slows the assembly
process of the bracket assembly 40 compared to the assembly process
of the bracket assembly 60.
[0036] It should be noted that while the mounting bracket 62 is
described as being attached to the base of the chair, and while the
slide bracket 64 is described as being attached to the back of the
chair, the opposite configuration could also be provided. Moreover,
while the slot 72 is described as being formed in the mounting
bracket 62 and the dimple 94 is described as being formed on the
slide bracket 64, the opposite configuration would be equally
effective.
[0037] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art
may devise various modifications of the present invention without
departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *