U.S. patent application number 10/950412 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for modular furniture system.
Invention is credited to Nir Nagar.
Application Number | 20060071533 10/950412 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36045422 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060071533 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagar; Nir |
April 6, 2006 |
MODULAR FURNITURE SYSTEM
Abstract
A modular furniture system including a plurality of generally,
straight elongate bars, a plurality of connectors for connecting
the bars to one another, the connectors including rounded,
non-sharp corners and being constructed of an elastomeric material,
and a plurality of furniture accessories adapted for connecting to
at least one of the bars and connectors.
Inventors: |
Nagar; Nir; (Hong Kong,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEKEL PATENT LTD., DAVID KLEIN
BEIT HAROF'IM
18 MENUHA VENAHALA STREET, ROOM 27
REHOVOT
76209
IL
|
Family ID: |
36045422 |
Appl. No.: |
10/950412 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 13/005 20130101;
A47B 47/005 20130101; A47B 47/0008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.14 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/00 20060101
A47C007/00 |
Claims
3. The modular furniture system according to claim 6, wherein the
six-sided polyhedron body has equal sides.
4. A modular furniture system comprising: a plurality of generally,
straight elongate bars; a plurality of connectors for connecting
the bars to one another, said connectors comprising rounded,
non-sharp corners and being constructed of an elastomeric material;
and a plurality of furniture accessories adapted for connecting to
at least one of the bars and connectors, wherein each connector has
at least one peripheral groove formed therein, and each of said
elongate bars comprises at least one internal tooth which fixedly
sits in said at least one peripheral groove when each connector is
inserted in said elongate bar.
5. The modular furniture system according to claim 6 wherein said
furniture accessories comprise at least one of a black board panel,
a magnetic panel, a marker board, a mirror board, a basketball
board, a compartment for storing recording media, a compartment for
storing stationery, a storage box, a set of drawers, a book end, a
shelf unit, and a cushion.
6. A modular furniture system comprising: a plurality of generally,
straight elongate bars; a plurality of connectors for connecting
the bars to one another, said connectors comprising rounded,
non-sharp corners and being constructed of an elastomeric material;
and a plurality of furniture accessories adapted for connecting to
at least one of the bars and connectors, wherein each of said
connectors comprises a six-sided polyhedron body with connector
arms extending perpendicularly outwards from die polyhedron body,
wherein said elastomeric material comprises a thermoplastic rubber
polymer.
7. The modular furniture system according to claim 4, wherein said
furniture accessories comprise at least one of a black board panel,
a magnetic panel, a marker board, a mirror board, a basketball
board, a compartment for storing recording media, a compartment for
storing stationery, a storage box, a set of drawers, a book end, a
shelf unit, and a cushion.
8. The modular furniture system according to claim 4, wherein said
elastomeric material comprises a thermoplastic rubber polymer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to modular furniture and more
particularly to a modular furniture system particularly suited to
the needs of children.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Modular furniture assemblies are known in the art. Typical
known furniture assemblies include modular furniture bases that may
be set on a floor and serve as platforms for supporting several
different auxiliary components. The modular furniture bases and the
auxiliary components couple together to build different assemblies
of furniture, e.g., a chair, a sofa, a table and so on.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,728 describes a furniture
base assembly, which has a rectangular bottom edge for sitting on
the floor, a rectangular top surface positioned above the bottom
edge, and a four-sided wall interconnecting the top surface with
the bottom edge. The top surface is recessed with several
criss-crossed slots. The top surface is also recessed along the
four sides of its perimeter with slender, rectangular openings. For
coupling two such modules together, there are inverted-U shaped
clips, with legs having cross-sections in the shape of slender
rectangles, for insertion one apiece into the slender, rectangular
openings of the top surfaces. Thus two modules can be coupled
together to build a modular assembly of a furniture base. Some
auxiliary components couple with the furniture base to build chair
or sofa assemblies, or table, shelf or bed assemblies.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,554 to Santana describes a modular
furniture construction system employing a main body element
consisting of a longitudinal element as well as two secondary body
elements extending transversely from the longitudinal element. Each
of the secondary body elements is provided with a key-shaped
guiding hole in which a fastening device is inserted adapted to
join two main body elements together. These main body elements can
be joined together in a number of different ways to form, along
with one or more support elements, various pieces of furniture,
such as chairs, tables, desks shelves and other similar
devices.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,501 to Ruther describes modular
furniture which includes a frame and an insert plate to be mounted
in the frame by corner fittings. Each corner fitting is detachably
mounted on the insert plate and comprises at least one laterally
accessible receptacle parallel to the plane of the plate for a
retaining pin mounted on the frame as well as a locking mechanism
for the retaining pin to be arrested in the receptacle.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,597 to Rogers describes a modular
furniture assembly for children to build and rebuild their own
assemblies of school furniture. The assembly components include, as
general categories, base components and interchangeable auxiliary
components. The auxiliary components can be releasably coupled with
the base components to build school-related assemblies including
chair assemblies with adjustably high seating surfaces; a notice
board assembly for supporting notices or a chalk board or the like;
a stage assembly for theatrical productions; symbol display
assemblies, as for displaying the alphabet in block letters; and
desk assemblies with adjustably high desk tops. In some embodiments
of the present invention, the furniture base is not just a unitary
component but an assembly of modules. Accordingly, there are
modules which can be releasably coupled together to build a modular
assembly of a furniture base. The modular base assembly, in turn,
can be releasably coupled with several different auxiliary
components to build a variety of assemblies including chair
assemblies, desk assemblies, drawing board assemblies, sofa
assemblies, and bed assemblies.
[0007] Some shortcomings of the prior art relate to the safety of
the assemblies. For example, prior art assemblies may have sharp
corners which may present a hazard to small children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention seeks to provide a modular furniture
system utilizing a relatively small number of elements to construct
various pieces of furniture, such as but not limited to, chairs,
work tables, screens, blackboards and the like, by joining the
relatively small number of construction pieces together in
different manners, as is described in detail further hereinbelow.
The present invention addresses the problem of safety and provides
rounded corners and soft outer materials to provide maximum safety
for even small children.
[0009] The present invention has advantages over the prior art due
to several features. For example, as far as design and quality are
concerned, the materials, dimensions and colors are chosen
carefully to fit children's requirements and to have a long service
life. The modular system affords unlimited assembly options to fit
any space and need. The assembly may be remodeled to match
children's growth. The system is washable and user friendly,
requiring no screws for assembly.
[0010] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention a modular furniture system including a
plurality of generally, straight elongate bars, a plurality of
connectors for connecting the bars to one another, the connectors
including rounded, non-sharp corners and being constructed of an
elastomeric material, and a plurality of furniture accessories
adapted for connecting to at least one of the bars and
connectors.
[0011] The furniture system may include one or more of the
following features. For example, each of the connectors may include
a six-sided polyhedron body with connector arms extending
perpendicularly outwards from the polyhedron body. Each of the
connector arms may have one or more peripheral grooves formed
therein, and each of the elongate bars may include one or more
internal teeth which fixedly sit in the one or more peripheral
grooves when the connector arm is inserted in the elongate bar.
[0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
the furniture accessories may include a black board panel, a
magnetic panel, a marker board, a mirror board, a basketball board,
a compartment for storing recording media, a compartment for
storing stationery, a storage box, a set of drawers, a book end, a
shelf unit, and/or a cushion or any combination thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be understood and appreciated
more fully from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an elongate
and connector of a modular furniture system, constructed and
operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F are simplified pictorial
illustrations of different connectors for use with the modular
furniture system of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a simplified cutaway illustration of the connector
inserted in the elongate bar;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of a furniture accessory
being inserted in a partially assembled modular furniture assembly,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0018] FIGS. 5 and 6 are simplified pictorial illustrations of two
examples of modular furniture systems, constructed and operative in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2A-2F and 3, which
illustrate basic construction elements of a modular furniture
system, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] The modular furniture system may include a plurality of
generally, straight elongate bars 10 and a plurality of connectors
12 for connecting the bars 10 to one another. The bars 10 are
illustrated as having a rectangular or square cross sectional
shape, but the present invention is not limited to this shape and
the bars may be round or have any other arbitrary shape.
[0021] The connectors 12 have rounded, non-sharp corners 14 (seen
best in FIG. 3) and are constructed of an elastomeric material,
such as but not limited to, plastic injection molds of ABS
(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PP (polypropylene) and/or TPR
(thermoplastic rubber or elastomer) polymers. TPR polymer is a
polymer blend or compound, which above its melt temperature,
exhibits a thermoplastic character that enables it to be shaped
into a fabricated article. Accordingly, the modular furniture
system of the present invention provides rounded corners and soft
outer materials to provide maximum safety for even small
children.
[0022] Reference is now particularly made to FIGS. 2A-2F, which
illustrate various versions of connectors 12. In accordance with a
non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, each of the
connectors 12 includes a six-sided polyhedron body 16 with
connector arms 18 extending perpendicularly outwards from the
polyhedron body 16. The six-sided polyhedron body 16 may have equal
sides (e.g., cube) or non-equal sides (e.g., prism).
[0023] The connector arms 18 may have one or more peripheral
grooves 20 formed therein. As seen in FIG. 3, the elongate bar 10
may have one or more internal teeth 22 which fixedly sit in the
grooves 20 when the connector arm 18 is inserted in the elongate
bar 10.
[0024] Reference is now made to FIG. 4. A plurality of furniture
accessories are provided for connecting to the bars 10 and/or
connectors 12. For example, a furniture accessory 24 may comprise a
shelf board, which is inserted in a space defined by four bars 10
connected by connectors 12. The shelf board may have a rim 26 that
fits over and rests on the bars 10, wherein the rest of the shelf
board "clicks" or "snaps" into place.
[0025] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illustrate two
examples of modular furniture systems, constructed and operative in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
[0026] The modular furniture system of FIG. 5 comprises a set of
shelves 27, wherein some of the furniture accessories include a
black board panel 28, a magnetic panel 29, a marker board 30, a
mirror board 31, a storage box 32, a set of drawers 33, a book end
34, a cushion 35, a compartment for storing recording media 36 and
a compartment for storing stationery 37.
[0027] The modular furniture system of FIG. 6 comprises a set of
shelves 27, wherein some of the furniture accessories include
storage boxes 32 and a basketball board 38. It is appreciated that
these are just two examples of modular furniture which may be built
with the present invention and the invention is not limited to
these examples.
[0028] It is appreciated that various features of the invention
which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate
embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which
are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment,
may also be provided separately or in any suitable
subcombination.
* * * * *