U.S. patent application number 12/722055 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-07 for modular furniture system.
This patent application is currently assigned to KETER PLASTIC LTD.. Invention is credited to Nisim ELIYAHU, Efraim HAIMOFF.
Application Number | 20100253127 12/722055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42237247 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100253127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAIMOFF; Efraim ; et
al. |
October 7, 2010 |
MODULAR FURNITURE SYSTEM
Abstract
The invention provides a modular furniture system. The system
includes one or more deck-backs that are can be used as a deck of a
chair as well as a back of a chair. The system also includes one or
more side-elements that can be used as a right-side of a chair as
well as a left-side of a chair.
Inventors: |
HAIMOFF; Efraim; (Mevaseret
Zion, IL) ; ELIYAHU; Nisim; (Holon, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE NATH LAW GROUP
112 South West Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
KETER PLASTIC LTD.
Herzelyia
IL
|
Family ID: |
42237247 |
Appl. No.: |
12/722055 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61202544 |
Mar 11, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/028 20130101;
A47C 13/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.14 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/00 20060101
A47C007/00 |
Claims
1. A modular furniture system comprising: (a) one or more
deck-backs, each deck-back being configured for use as a deck of a
chair and further being configured for use as a back of a chair;
(b) one or more side-elements, each side-element being configured
for use as a right-side of a chair and further being configured for
use as a left-side of a chair.
2. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein each
deck-back comprises a panel and a frame.
3. The modular system according to claim 2, wherein the panel of
each deck-back is integral with the frame of the deck-back.
4. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein each
side-element comprises a panel and a frame.
5. The modular system according to claim 4, wherein the panel of
each side-element is integral with the frame of the
side-element.
6. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, wherein each
deck-back comprises a panel, each side-element comprises a panel,
and the dimensions of a deck-back panel are essentially equal to
the dimensions of a side-element panel.
7. The modular furniture system according to claim 3, wherein the
panel and frame of a deck-back are produced in a single injection
molding processes.
8. The modular furniture system according to claim 5, wherein the
panel and frame of a side-element are produced in a single
injection molding processes.
9. The modular furniture system according to claim 1, adapted for
the construction of any one of an armchair, sofa, ottoman, and
table.
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more
side cover panels configured to be attached a frame of a deck-back
and further configured to be attached to a frame of a
side-element.
11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more
front panels.
12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more
cushions.
13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more
brackets.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of prior U.S.
provisional patent application No. 61/202,544 filed Mar. 11, 2009,
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to furniture, and more particularly
to modular furniture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known to provide modular furniture that can be
assembled from pre-fabricated components. Modular furniture is more
convenient and efficient to store and transport than non-modular
furniture since the un-assembled components can be packed
efficiently and shipped from the manufacturing facility to a store
or home and then assembled, thereby reducing shipping costs. Also,
some pieces of furniture are too heavy or are awkwardly-shaped to
be conveniently moved through doorways, hallways or staircases.
Modular furniture, on the other hand, can be delivered unassembled
and then assembled in the room where it is to be used. Modular
furniture is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,800 to
Kogan.
[0004] A sofa or armchair is typically constructed with a seat base
(or deck) section, a left arm rest and a right armrest, and a seat
back. The left and right armrests are usually mirror images of each
other. Thus, the manufacture of a modular sofa or arm chair
requires the manufacture of at least four distinct elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a modular furniture system.
The modular furniture system of the present invention can be
implemented by manufacturing two distinct elements. The system of
the invention comprises two or more of a first structural
component, referred to herein as a "deck-back". The system further
comprises two or more of a second structural component, referred to
herein as a "side-element". Various types of furniture can be
assembled using these two components. For example, a chair can be
assembled using a first deck-back as the deck of the chair, a
second deck-back for the back of the chair, a first side-element
for the left side of the chair, and a second side-element for the
right side of the chair. The modular system of the invention can
also be used, for example, to construct a couch, sofa, ottoman, or
table.
[0006] The invention thus provides a modular furniture system
comprising: [0007] (a) one or more deck-backs, each deck-back being
configured for use as a deck of a chair and further being
configured for use as a back of a chair; [0008] (b) one or more
side-elements, each side-element being configured for use as a
right-side cover of a chair and further being configured for use as
a left-side cover of a chair, or as the back side of the chair or
sofa.
[0009] In the modular furniture system ov the invention each
deck-back may comprise a panel and a frame. The panel may be
integral with the frame of the deck-back. Similarly, each
side-element may comprise a panel and a frame, and the panel may be
integral with the frame. The panel of the deck-back may have
dimensions essentially equal to the dimensions of a side-element
panel. The panel and frame of a deck-back or of a side-element may
be produced in a single injection molding processes.
[0010] The modular furniture system of the invention may be adapted
for the construction of any one of an armchair, sofa, ottoman, and
table.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by
way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a modular furniture system in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIGS. 2a to FIG. 2n show assembly of the modular furniture
system of FIG. 1 into an arm chair;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a modular furniture system in accordance with a
second embodiment of the invention; and
[0015] FIGS. 4a to FIG. 4r show assembly of the modular furniture
system of FIG. 3 into a sofa.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a modular furniture system 1 in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention. The modular furniture system 1
comprises one or more deck-backs 2 and one or more side-elements 4.
The deck-backs 2 and the side-elements 4 may be made of any
material known to be used in the manufacture of furniture. In a
preferred embodiment, the deck-backs 2 and the side-elements 4 are
made from plastic. Each deck-back comprises a panel 6 attached to a
frame 8. In a preferred embodiment, the panel 6 is integral with
the frame 8. The panel 6 and the frame 8 may be from plastic and
produced, for example, in a single injection molding process.
Similarly, each side-element 4 comprises a panel 10 attached to a
frame 12, and the panel 10 and the frame 12 may be integral with
each other. The frame 12 includes a plurality of notches 13 into
which a nut retainer 15 may be inserted to retain a nut may, as
explained below. In a preferred embodiment, the panel 6 is
identical to the panel 10.
[0017] The system 1 may further comprise one or more side cover
panels 14 that are configured to be attached to either the frame 8
of a deck-back 2 or the frame 12 of a side-element 4, and a front
panel 20. The system 1 may also include one or more cushions 16, 18
that can be incorporated into a piece of furniture assembled from
the system. The system may also include various brackets, for
example, the brackets 22, and 24, which can be used to attach an
side cover panel 14 to either one of the frames 8 and 12, or to
provide structural reinforcement to a piece of furniture. The
system my further comprise parts for assembling the deck-backs 2
and the side-elements 4 into a piece of furniture. Such parts may
include, for example, screws 26, nuts 28, clips 30, and an assembly
wrench 32. Gliders 34 may also be provided for attachment to the
underside of a piece of furniture in order to facilitate sliding of
the piece over a floor.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows assembly of an armchair 36 from the system 1
(the assembled armchair is shown in FIG. 2n). First, as shown in
FIGS. 2a to 2c, a left-side frame 36 for the armchair 36 is
assembled. One of the brackets 24 is snap-fitted onto the frames 12
of one of the side-elements 4 (FIG. 2a). Then a side cover panel 14
is attached as indicated 30 by the arrows in FIG. 2b. Nut retainers
15 are inserted into the appropriate notches 13 and nuts 28 are
inserted into the nut retainers 15 (FIG. 2c). The gliders 34 are
then attached to the ends of the frame 12. Now, as shown in FIGS.
2d to 2f, a right-side frame 38 for the armchair 36 is assembled.
Another one of the brackets 24 is snap-fitted onto the frame 12 of
another one of the side-elements 4 (FIG. 2d). Then a side cover
panel 14 is attached (FIG. 2e). Nuts 28 are then inserted into the
nut retainers 15 and the gliders 34 are attached to the ends of the
frame 12 (FIG. 2f).
[0019] FIG. 2g shows the assembly of a chair back 40 for the
armchair 36. A side cover panel 14 is screwed onto brackets 42 that
are integral with a deck-back 2. The brackets 42 are angled
relative to the panel 6 of the deck-back, so that the side cover
panel 14 is angled relative to the panel 6. FIGS. 2h and i show the
right-side frame 38, the chair back 40 and the left-side frame 37,
being assembled together using the screws 26 and the wrench 32.
[0020] Now, as shown in FIG. 2j, a chair deck 44 is assembled from
another deck-back 2 and a front panel 20. The front panel 20 of the
chair deck 44 is attached at a right angle to the deck-back 2. A
clip 30 is then attached to each of the two lateral sides of the
deck-back. The chair deck 44 is then assembled onto the assembly
formed by the left and right side frames and the back (FIGS. 2k and
l). One of the brackets 22 is then inserted into the underside of
the chair, as shown in FIG. 2m, in order to enhance the sturdiness
of the armchair. Cushions 16 and 18 may then be placed on the arm
chair, as indicated in FIG. 2n, and assembly of the armchair 36 is
complete.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a modular furniture system 100 in accordance
with another embodiment of the invention. The modular furniture
system 100 has several components in common with the modular
furniture system 1 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the modular furniture
system 100 comprises one or more deck-backs 2 and one or more
side-elements 4, where each side-element 4 comprises a panel 10
attached to a frame 12, and each deck-back comprises a panel 6
attached to a frame 8. The system 100 further comprises one or more
side cover panels 14 that are configured to be attached to either
the frame 8 of a deck-back 2 or the frame 12 of a side-element 4,
as shown below. The system 100 also includes front panels 20, and
one or more cushions 16, 18 that can be incorporated into a piece
of furniture assembled from the system. The system may also include
various brackets, for example, the brackets 21, 22, 23, 24 and 29,
which can be used to attach a side cover panel 14 to either one of
the frames 8 and 12, or to provide structural reinforcement to a
piece of furniture. The system my further comprise parts for
assembling the deck-backs 2 and the side-elements 4 into a piece of
furniture. Such parts may include, for example, screws 26 and 27,
nuts 28, and the wrench 32, and connectors 17 and 19. Gliders 34
may also be provided for attachment to the underside of a piece of
furniture in order to facilitate sliding of the piece over a
floor.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows assembly of a sofa 102 from the system 100 (the
assembled sofa is shown in FIG. 4r). First, as shown in FIGS. 4a to
4c, a left-side frame 136 for the sofa 102 is assembled. One of the
brackets 24 is snap-fitted onto the frame 12 of one of the
side-elements 4 (FIG. 4a). Then a side cover panel 14 is attached
(FIG. 4b). Nut retainers 15 are inserted into the appropriate
notches 13 and nuts 28 are inserted into the nut retainers 15 (FIG.
4c). The gliders 34 are then attached to the ends of the frame 12.
Now, as shown in FIGS. 4d to 2f, a right-side frame 138 for the
sofa 102 is assembled. Another one of the brackets 24 is
snap-fitted onto the frame 12 of another one of the side-elements 4
(FIG. 4d). Then a side cover panel 14 is attached (FIG. 4e). Nut
retainers 15 are inserted into the appropriate notches 13 and nuts
28 are inserted into the nut retainers 15. The gliders 34 are then
attached to the ends of the frame 12 (FIG. 4f).
[0023] FIG. 4g shows the assembly of a chair back 140 for the sofa
102. A side cover panel 14 is screwed onto brackets 42 that are
integral with a deck-back 2. The brackets 42 are angled relative to
the panel 6 of the deck-back, so that the side cover panel 14 is
angled relative to the panel 6. A second chair back 140 is then
assembled, and then, as shown in FIG. 4h and i, the two chair backs
140 are joined together using one of the connectors 17 and the nuts
28.
[0024] FIGS. 4j and k shows assembly of a deck for the sofa 102 by
joining together two deck-backs 2 using another one of the
connectors 17 and the nuts 28. In FIG. 4l, two front panels 20 are
joined together using a connector 19, nuts 28 and the bracket 23.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4m, the back assembly and the side frames
are joined together. The deck of the sofa is then inserted (FIG.
4n), and secured with the bracket 29 (FIG. 4o). The two brackets 22
are then inserted into the underside of the sofa, as shown in FIG.
4p, in order to enhance the sturdiness of the sofa. The front panel
assembly is then attached (FIG. 4q). Cushions 16 and 18 may then be
placed on the arm chair, as indicated in FIG. 4n, and assembly of
the sofa 102 is complete.
* * * * *