U.S. patent application number 11/941773 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for modular barstool.
This patent application is currently assigned to COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.. Invention is credited to Sergio S. de Oliveira.
Application Number | 20080143166 11/941773 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39521280 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080143166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de Oliveira; Sergio S. |
June 19, 2008 |
MODULAR BARSTOOL
Abstract
A furniture unit includes several components configured to be
coupled together to form a modular barstool.
Inventors: |
de Oliveira; Sergio S.;
(Troy, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
39521280 |
Appl. No.: |
11/941773 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60869880 |
Dec 13, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/02 20130101; A47C
4/03 20130101; A47C 9/007 20130101; A47C 13/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.14 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/00 20060101
A47C007/00 |
Claims
1. A furniture unit comprising a frame unit including a pair of
frames pivotably coupled to one another for movement about a
vertical axis of rotation between a collapsed position of the frame
unit and a use position of the frame unit, each frame including a
front leg and a rear leg, a rigid back brace releasably coupled to
the rear legs only when the frame unit is in the use position, and
a rigid seat releasably coupled to the frame unit only when the
frame unit is in the use position.
2. The furniture unit of claim 1, further comprising a rigid leg
brace releasably coupled to the front legs only when the frame unit
is in the use position.
3. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein the rigid back brace is
releasably coupled to the rear legs without the use of tools.
4. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein the rigid seat is
releasably coupled to the frame unit without the use of tools.
5. The furniture unit of claim 2, wherein the rigid leg brace is
releasably coupled to the front legs without the use of tools.
6. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein each frame further
includes an upper cross-member interconnecting the front and rear
legs and a lower cross-member interconnecting the front and rear
legs, the upper cross-members are pivotably coupled to each other,
the lower cross-members are pivotably coupled to each other, and
the upper and lower cross-members are configured to rotate about
the vertical axis of rotation to place the frame unit in the
collapsed position and the use position.
7. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein each leg includes a
recess and a pin located in the recess and the rigid back brace
includes a connector configured to be received in the recess and to
be releasably coupled to the pin when the rigid back brace is
mounted on the rear legs in the use position of the frame unit.
8. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein each leg includes a
recess and a pin located in the recess and the leg brace includes a
connector configured to be received in the recess and to be
releasably coupled to the pin when the leg brace is mounted on the
front legs in the use position of the frame unit.
9. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein the rigid seat includes a
pair of side skirts and a rear skirt, each of the skirts extends
downwardly from an underside of the rigid seat, the rear skirt is
interconnected with each of the side skirts to form a pair of
notches at each interconnection, and each notch provides a spacing
such that when the rigid seat is releasably coupled to the frame
unit in the use position, the side skirts and the rear skirt do not
engage the rear legs of the frame unit.
10. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein the rigid seat includes
a pair of side skirts and a front skirt, each of the skirts extends
downwardly from an underside of the seat and is configured such
that a spacing exists between the front skirt and each of the side
skirts such that when the rigid seat is releasably coupled to the
frame unit, the side skirts and the front skirt engage the front
legs of the frame unit.
11. The furniture unit of claim 1, wherein when the rigid seat is
releasably coupled to the frame unit and a portion of the rigid
seat overlies the front legs but does not overlie the rear
legs.
12. The furniture unit of claim 6, wherein the rigid seat includes
an underside and a first connector fastened to the underside and
the connector is configured to be releasably coupled to a first of
the upper cross-members when the rigid seat is mounted on the frame
unit in the use position.
13. The furniture unit of claim 12, wherein the rigid seat includes
a second connector fastened to the underside of the rigid seat and
the second connector is configured to be releasably coupled to a
second of the upper cross-members when the rigid seat is mounted on
the frame unit in the use position.
14. The furniture unit of claim 13, wherein the first upper
cross-member lies in a plane above that of the second upper
cross-member and the first connector includes a recess allowing the
first connector to be releasably coupled to the first upper
cross-member and the second connector to be releasably coupled to
the second upper cross-member.
15. The furniture unit of claim 13, wherein the first connector
includes an elongated clamp having a recess, the second connector
includes a pair of spaced-apart clamps each having an upper
shoulder and a lower shoulder, the recess allowing the elongated
clamp to be releasably coupled to the first upper cross-member, and
the shoulders provide a stable coupling of the pair of spaced-apart
clamps to the second upper cross-member.
16. A furniture kit including a plurality of components capable of
being assembled in the field without tools to produce a furniture
unit, the furniture kit comprising a frame unit including a pair of
frames adapted to be pivotably coupled to one another for movement
between a collapsed position of the frame unit and a use position
of the frame unit, each frame including a front leg and a rear leg,
a rigid back brace adapted to be releasably coupled to the rear
legs only when the frame unit is in the use position, and a rigid
seat adapted to be releasably coupled to the frame unit only when
the frame unit is in the use position.
17. The furniture kit of claim 16, further comprising a rigid leg
brace adapted to be releasably coupled to one of the front legs and
the rear legs only when the frame unit is in the use position.
18. The furniture kit of claim 16, further comprising a rigid leg
brace adapted to be releasably coupled to the rear legs only when
the frame unit is in the use position and a rigid leg brace adapted
to be releasably coupled to the front legs only when the frame unit
is in the use position.
19. The furniture kit of claim 16, wherein the releasable couplings
of the rigid back brace and the rigid seat are accomplished without
the use of tools.
20. The furniture kit of claim 17, wherein the releasable coupling
of the rigid leg brace is accomplished without the use of
tools.
21. A furniture rack display including a plurality of different
components arranged on the display for selection as part of a
furniture kit, the components of the kit being capable of being
assembled in the field without tools to produce a furniture unit,
the furniture display comprising a plurality of frame units of
different sizes for selection by a customer to accommodate a
desired seat width, each frame unit including a pair of frames
adapted to be pivotably coupled to each other for movement about a
vertical axis of rotation between a collapsed position of the
furniture unit and a use position of the furniture unit, each frame
including a front leg and a rear leg, and the frame unit further
including a rigid leg brace adapted to be releasably coupled to the
front legs only when the frame unit is in the use position, a
plurality of different rigid back braces for selection by a
customer to accommodate a desired design, each of the rigid back
braces adapted to be releasably coupled to the rear legs of the
selected frame unit only when the selected frame unit is in the use
position, and a rigid seat adapted to be releasably coupled to the
selected frame unit only when the selected frame unit is in the use
position.
22. A method of assembling components of a furniture kit, the
components including a first frame having a front leg and a rear
leg, a second frame having a front leg and a rear leg, the second
frame being pivotably coupled to the first frame for movement
between a collapsed position of the frame unit and a use position
of the frame unit, a rigid back brace, a rigid leg brace, and a
rigid seat, the method steps comprising spreading the frames apart
to the use position, then releasably coupling the rigid back brace
to the rear legs, releasably coupling the rigid leg brace to one of
the front legs and the rear legs, and releasably coupling the seat
to the frame unit.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the releasably coupling
steps occurs without the use of tools.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the rigid seat includes a
connector mounted on an underside of the rigid seat, each frame
includes an upper cross-member interconnecting the front and rear
legs, and the connector is configured to be releasably coupled to
one of the upper cross-members without the use of tools when the
rigid seat is releasably coupled to the frame unit in the use
position.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein the rigid seat includes a pair
of side skirts, a rear skirt extending downwardly from an underside
of the rigid seat and interconnected with each of the side skirts
to form a pair of notches at each intersection of the side and rear
skirts, and a front skirt extending downwardly from the underside
of the rigid seat and configured such that a spacing exists between
the front skirt and each of the side skirts, and when the rigid
seat is releasably coupled to the frame unit in the use position,
the side skirts and the rear skirt do not engage the rear legs and
the side skirts and the front skirt do engage the front legs.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/869,880,
filed Dec. 13, 2006, which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to furniture units, and
particularly barstools. More particularly, the present disclosure
relates to folding or collapsible modular barstools.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to the present disclosure, a furniture unit, or
modular barstool, includes several components. The components are
adapted to cooperate to provide a furniture kit or, for example, a
modular barstool kit. The kit includes a frame unit, a rigid back
brace, and a rigid seat. Each frame unit includes a front leg and a
rear leg.
[0004] In an illustrative embodiment, the rigid back brace and the
rigid seat are configured to be coupled to the frame unit only when
the furniture unit is in a use position to form the modular
barstool. In another illustrative embodiment, the kit further
includes at least one leg brace configured to be releasably coupled
to the frame unit only when the frame unit is in the use
position.
[0005] In an illustrative embodiment, the releasable coupling of
the rigid back brace, the rigid seat, and the rigid leg brace are
accomplished without the use of tools. In another illustrative
embodiment, the several components of the kit are adapted to be
displayed on a rack so that a customer may select from a variety of
frame unit dimensions and back brace designs.
[0006] Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the
best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently
perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a furniture unit, for
example, a modular barstool, showing components of a modular
barstool kit in an assembled, use configuration, according to the
present disclosure, the components including a frame unit having
two frames, each frame including a front leg, a rear leg, an upper
cross-member (see FIGS. 3-5), and a lower cross-member, and the
components further including, for example, a pair of rigid leg
braces, a rigid back brace, and a rigid seat;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of a rack display showing components
of the modular barstool of FIG. 1 available for selection by a
consumer, the components shown including a choice of rigid seats, a
choice of frame size which includes, for example, the frame unit
and rigid leg braces, and a choice of rigid back brace design;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a frame unit of the modular
barstool shown in FIG. 1, the frame unit having first and second
frames, each frame including a front leg and a rear leg, and
showing the frame unit having been folded into a collapsed position
about a vertical axis of rotation formed by pins connecting the
first and second frames;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame unit of FIG. 3
showing the frame unit in an unfolded, use position having been
rotated about the axis of rotation formed by the pins, as suggested
by the movement arrows;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the modular barstool of FIG. 1
showing components of the modular barstool kit, the components
including a frame unit having first and second frames which have
upper cross-members and lower cross-members coupled together by
pins that form a vertical axis of rotation for moving the frame
unit between a collapsed position and a use position, the
components further including rigid leg braces configured to
interconnect front and rear legs of the frame unit, a rigid seat
configured to be coupled to the frame unit and to overlie the
cross-members, and a sample selection of rigid back braces
configured to be coupled to the rear legs of the frame unit;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an underside of the rigid
seat of FIG. 5, showing the seat including front, rear, and side
skirts fastened to the seat and configured to fit within respective
spaces located between the legs of the frame unit, and further
showing an elongated clamp and two spaced-apart clamps fastened to
the underside of the rigid seat, each of the clamps being
configured to be coupled to a cross-member of the frame unit;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 7-7 of
FIG. 1 and showing the elongated clamp and the spaced-apart clamps
of FIG. 6 coupled to, respectively, a top upper cross-member (shown
in cross-section) and a bottom upper cross-member of the frame
unit;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 8-8 of
FIG. 6 and showing the elongated clamp coupled to the top upper
cross-member of the frame unit and the two spaced-apart claims
coupled to the bottom upper cross-member of the frame unit;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 9-9 of
FIG. 8 and showing one of the spaced-apart clamps coupled to the
bottom upper cross-member of the frame unit, the spaced-apart clamp
including an upper and a lower shoulder configured to provide a
stable coupling of the spaced-apart clamp to the cross-member;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of the legs
shown, for example, in FIG. 5 and a cut-away view of, for example,
one of the rigid leg braces or rigid seat backs shown in FIG. 5,
and showing that the rigid leg brace includes a pair of hooks
configured to mate with a pair of pins located in recesses of the
leg, as suggested by the movement arrows;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional and cut-away view,
similar to FIG. 10, showing the hooks being inserted into the
recesses and overlying the pins in preparation for being forced
downward and over the pins, as suggested by the downward facing
arrows; and
[0019] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional and cut-away view,
similar to FIG. 10, showing the hooks having been pushed downward
over the pins and fully into the recesses to couple the rigid leg
brace to the leg, as suggested by the downward facing arrow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] A modular barstool 10, shown, for example, in FIG. 1,
includes various components which have been combined to produce the
modular barstool 10. Those components include a frame unit 12 and
may include one or more rigid leg braces 14, shown herein as a pair
of rigid leg braces 14. The components also include a rigid back
brace 16 and a rigid seat 18.
[0021] Modular barstool 10 is configured to be sold as a kit with
the various components displayed for consumer selection on, for
example, a rack display 20, as shown in FIG. 2. As suggested in
FIG. 2, frame unit 12, is available in, for example, two sizes, a
24'' or 29'' frame to accommodate a particular seat width and
includes a variety of rigid back brace designs 16, 16a, 16b, and
16c. For purposes of display, frame unit 12 may include rigid leg
braces 14 as part of its packaging.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, frame unit 12 is in a collapsed position
or configuration and includes a first frame 22 and a second frame
24. Each frame 22, 24 includes a front leg 26 and a rear leg 28.
Each leg 26, 28 includes slots or recesses 30 configured to receive
connectors such as, for example, hooks 32 as shown, for example, in
FIG. 5 on leg braces 14 and back braces 16. First frame 22 includes
an upper cross-member 34 and a lower cross-member 36 and second
frame 24 includes an upper cross-member 38 and a lower cross-member
40. Upper cross-members 34 and 38 are connected together by a
connector, for example, a pin 42. Likewise, lower cross-members 36
and 40 are connected together by, for example, a pin 42. Pins 42
form a vertical axis of rotation 44 about which frames 22, 24 can
rotate between the collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 3 and a use
position, as shown in FIG. 4 and as suggested by movement arrows
46.
[0023] As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 5, frame unit 12 is in
the use position and the leg braces 14, seat 18 and one of the
variety of back braces 16 are configured to be releasably coupled
to frame 12 to form modular barstool 12 only when the frame unit 12
is in the use position. As suggested in FIG. 5, seat 18, when
coupled to frame unit 12, is configured to be coupled to and
overlie upper cross-members 34, 38, as further suggested in FIGS.
6-9.
[0024] Seat 18, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a front skirt 48, side
skirts 50, a rear skirt 52, a top side 54, and an underside 56.
Side skirts 50 and rear skirt 52 are interconnected, or may be
formed monolithically or integrally, and form a notch 58 at their
intersections, as shown in FIG. 6. Notch 58 is configured to
provide a spacing 53 (see FIG. 1) such that the side skirts 50 and
the rear skirt 52 do not engage the rear legs 28 when seat 18 is
coupled to frame unit 12 in the use position. Side skirts 50 and
front skirt 48 are configured such that a spacing 60 exists between
the front skirt 48 and each of the side skirts 50 such that, when
seat 18 is coupled to frame unit 18, the side skirts 50 and front
skirt 48 may engage the front legs 26 of the frame unit 12 as
suggested in FIG. 1. As further suggested in FIGS. 1 and 5, when
seat 18 is releasably coupled to the frame unit 12, a portion of
seat 18 overlies front legs 26 but seat 18 does not overlie rear
legs 28.
[0025] Seat 18 further includes a connector 62, shown as an
elongated clamp 62, which may be a spring clamp, and two connectors
64, shown as spaced-apart clamps 64 fastened to the underside 56 of
seat 18 by fasteners 65, such as, for example, screws, as suggested
in FIG. 6 and shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Clamps 62, 64 are configured
to be releasably coupled to upper cross-members 34, 38 of frame
unit 12, only when the frame unit 12 is in the use position as
suggested in FIG. 7. Elongated clamp 62, as shown in FIG. 7, is
coupled to upper cross-member 38 (shown in cross-hatch) and
spaced-apart clamps 64 are coupled to upper cross-member 34. Upper
cross-member 38 lies in a plane above that of upper cross-member
34, with upper cross-member 38 being a top upper cross-member and
upper cross-member 34 being a bottom upper cross-member. Thus,
elongated clamp 62 includes a notch or recess 66 to allow elongated
clamp 62 to be coupled to upper cross-member 38 and permit
spaced-apart clamps 64 to be coupled to the bottom, or lower-lying
upper cross-member 34. It is within the scope of the present
disclosure that any combination of elongated clamps 62 and
spaced-apart clamps 64 are conceivable, as are the type and
functioning of clamping mechanisms included in clamps 62, 64.
[0026] Views of the coupling of elongated clamp 62 to upper
cross-member 38 and spaced-apart clamp 64 to upper cross-member 34
are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively. As suggested in FIG. 9
and also in FIG. 6, spaced-apart clamp 64 includes an upper
shoulder 68 and a lower shoulder 70, both shoulders 68, 70 being
configured such that spaced-apart clamp 64 provides a stable
coupling to upper cross-member 38.
[0027] The leg braces 14 are coupled to the front and rear legs 26,
28 in essentially the same manner that the back brace 16 is coupled
to the rear legs 28. That is, both the leg braces 14 and back brace
16 include hooks 32 appended to an outer portion 15, as shown in
FIGS. 10-12, as well as FIG. 5. Also, front and rear legs 26, 28
include recesses 30 and pins 72 configured to receive the hooks 32
to couple the leg braces 14 and the back brace 16 to their
respective front and rear legs 26, 28.
[0028] Using leg brace 14 and front leg 26 as an example, FIGS.
10-12 illustrate their coupling together. As shown in FIG. 10, leg
brace 14 includes hooks 32 and front leg 26 includes recesses 30
and a pin 72 located within each recess. Leg 14 and front leg 26
are brought together such that hooks 32 initially overlie pins 72
(see FIG. 11) and then leg brace 14 is moved inwardly and
downwardly such that hooks 32 ride over and clamp down on pins 72
to couple the leg brace 14 securely to the front leg 26, as
suggested by the movement arrows 74, 76, and 78.
[0029] The modular barstool kit disclosed herein includes
components that can be used "in the field" to set-up the modular
barstool 10 in a series of steps that do not require tools (such
as, for example, screwdrivers, or wrenches etc.). The "set-up"
steps include spreading the frames 22, 24 of the frame unit 12
apart to a use position by pivoting the frames 22, 24 about pivot
axis 44 formed by pins 42. Back brace 16 may then be coupled to
rear legs 28 and secured in place by hooks 32, recesses 30 and pins
72. Leg braces 14 may then be coupled to the front and rear legs
26, 28 in the same manner as the coupling of the back brace 16. The
seat 18 can then be coupled to the upper cross-members 34, 38 of
the frame unit 12 using elongated clamp 62 and spaced-apart clamps
64 to secure the entire modular barstool 10 in the open or use
position. It is within the scope of this present disclosure that
after spreading the frames 22, 24 apart to the use position, the
remaining components of the kit may be assembled in any order. To
disassemble or knock-down the assembled modular barstool 10, the
components may be taken apart in reverse order of assembly or in a
different order.
[0030] It is within the scope of the present disclosure that hooks
32, recesses 30 and pins 72 may be replaced by tabs and slots to
provide an interference or similar fitting between the leg braces
14 and the legs 26, 28 as well as between the back brace 16 and the
rear legs 28.
[0031] It is within the scope of the present disclosure that pins
42 may be removable to provide a knock-down of the frames 22, 24 of
the modular barstool kit.
[0032] It is within the scope of the present disclosure that seat
18 may include a cushion coupled to the top side 54 of the seat
18.
[0033] It is within the scope of the present disclosure that leg
braces 14 may include a variety of designs similar to or different
from the variety of designs shown for the back brace 16.
[0034] It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the
coupling of the legs braces 14 and back brace 16 to the front and
rear legs 26, 28, and the coupling of the seat 18 to the frame unit
12 may require the use of tools.
* * * * *