U.S. patent application number 16/887798 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-03 for knock down furniture construction.
The applicant listed for this patent is Williams-Sonoma, Inc.. Invention is credited to Megan Czaja, Edward Hale.
Application Number | 20200375362 16/887798 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004913115 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200375362 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hale; Edward ; et
al. |
December 3, 2020 |
Knock Down Furniture Construction
Abstract
A furniture piece includes a seat deck and a seatback. The
seatback is pivotally connected to the seat deck so as to pivot
between a folded configuration for storage and shipping and an
upright configuration for assembly and use. A pair of arms are
removably attached to opposing side edges of the seatback and the
seat deck. Latches may be used to secure the seatback in the
upright configuration and the pair of arms to the seat deck.
Inventors: |
Hale; Edward; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Czaja; Megan; (Brooklyn, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. |
San Francisco |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004913115 |
Appl. No.: |
16/887798 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62854186 |
May 29, 2019 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/028 20130101;
A47C 17/04 20130101; A47C 4/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 4/02 20060101
A47C004/02; A47C 4/28 20060101 A47C004/28; A47C 17/04 20060101
A47C017/04 |
Claims
1. A furniture piece comprising: a. a seat deck; b. a seatback
pivotally connected to the seat deck so as to pivot between a
folded configuration and an upright configuration; and c. a pair of
arms removably attached to opposing side edges of the seatback and
the seat deck.
2. The furniture piece of claim 1 further comprising a back cushion
and a seat cushion configured to be positioned on the back rest and
the seat deck, respectively, when the seatback is in the upright
configuration.
3. The furniture piece of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
legs removably attached to a bottom surface of the seat deck.
4. The furniture piece of claim 1 further comprising a piano hinge
and wherein the back rest is pivotally connected to the seat deck
by the piano hinge.
5. The furniture piece of claim 1 further comprising a rear latch
connected to a bottom edge of the back rest and a bottom surface of
the seat deck and configured to secure the back rest in the upright
configuration.
6. The furniture piece of claim 5 wherein the rear latch includes a
draw latch.
7. The furniture piece of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of
rear latches connected to a bottom edge of the back rest and a
bottom surface of the seat deck and configured to secure the back
rest in the upright configuration.
8. The furniture piece of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of
fittings configured to secure the pair of arm sections to the seat
deck and the back rest.
9. The furniture piece of claim 8 wherein the pair of arms includes
a first arm and a second arm and the plurality of fittings
includes: d. a first upper arm fitting and a first lower arm
fitting positioned on the first arm, a first seatback fitting
positioned on the seatback and configured to be engaged by the
first upper arm fitting and a first seat deck fitting positioned on
the seat deck and configured to be engaged by the first lower arm
fitting; e. a second upper arm fitting and a second lower arm
fitting positioned on the second arm, a second seatback fitting
positioned on the seatback and configured to be engaged by the
second upper arm fitting and a second seat deck fitting positioned
on the seat deck and configured to be engaged by the second lower
arm fitting.
10. The furniture piece of claim 9 further comprising a first side
latch connected to a bottom edge of the first arm and a bottom
surface of the seat deck and a second side latch connected to a
bottom edge of the second arm and a bottom surface of the seat
deck.
11. The furniture piece of claim 10 wherein the first and second
side latches are draw latches.
12. The furniture piece of claim 9 wherein the plurality of
fittings includes tapered bed fittings.
13. The furniture piece of claim 1 further comprising a plurality
of fittings configured to secure the pair of arm sections to the
seat deck and the back rest.
14. The furniture piece of claim 13 wherein the pair of arms
includes a first arm and a second arm and the plurality of fittings
includes: d. a first upper arm fitting and a first lower arm
fitting positioned on the first arm, a first seatback fitting
positioned on the seatback and configured to be engaged by, the
first upper arm fitting and a first seat deck fitting positioned on
the seat deck and configured to be engaged by the first lower arm
fitting; e. a second upper arm fitting and a second lower arm
fitting positioned on the second arm, a second seatback fitting
positioned on the seatback and configured to be engaged by the
second upper arm fitting and a second seat deck fitting positioned
on the seat deck and configured to be engaged by the second lower
arm fitting.
15. The furniture piece of claim 14 further comprising a first side
latch connected to a bottom edge of the first arm and a bottom
surface of the seat deck and a second side latch connected to a
bottom edge of the second arm and a bottom surface of the seat
deck.
16. The furniture piece of claim 15 wherein the first and second
side latches are draw latches.
17. The furniture piece of claim 13 wherein the plurality of
fittings includes tapered bed fittings.
18. The furniture piece of claim 1 wherein the furniture piece is a
sofa.
19. The furniture piece of claim 1 wherein the furniture piece is a
chair.
20. A method of assembling a furniture piece comprising the steps
of: a. pivoting a seatback from a folded configuration to an
upright configuration with respect to a seat deck; b. securing the
seatback in the upright configuration by latching a bottom edge of
the seatback to a bottom surface of the seat deck; and c. attaching
a pair of arms to opposing side edges of the seatback and the seat
deck.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/854,186, filed May 29, 2019, the contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to furniture and,
more particularly, to a furniture construction that allows a piece
to be placed in a compact shipping configuration with ease of
assembly after delivery.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Furniture products often must be shipped from manufacturers
or retailers to customers. A compact shipping configuration is
desirable in order to save valuable cargo space during transport
and to also protect the furniture piece from breakage. In addition,
furniture items are typically stored in inventory after
manufacture, where space is also of premium value.
[0004] Customers, however, must assemble the furniture piece upon
receipt. A furniture piece featuring a knock-down construction and
that is easily assembled is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] There are several aspects of the present subject matter
which may be embodied separately or together in the methods,
devices and systems described and claimed below. These aspects may
be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the
subject matter described herein, and the description of these
aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these
aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in
different combinations as set forth in the claims appended
hereto
[0006] In one aspect, a furniture piece includes a seat deck, a
seatback pivotally connected to the seat deck so as to pivot
between a folded configuration and an upright configuration and a
pair of arms removably attached to opposing side edges of the
seatback and the seat deck.
[0007] In another aspect, a process is provided for assembling a
furniture piece and includes the steps of pivoting a seatback from
a folded configuration to an upright configuration with respect to
a seat deck, securing the seatback in the upright configuration by
latching a bottom edge of the seatback to a bottom surface of the
seat deck and attaching a pair of arms to opposing side edges of
the seatback and the seat deck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
furniture piece of the disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the furniture piece of FIG.
1 in a disassembled configuration;
[0010] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the seat deck and seatback
of the furniture piece of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating pivoting of
the seatback from a folded configuration to an upright
configuration;
[0011] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the seatback of FIG. 3A
being latched in the upright configuration;
[0012] FIG. 4A illustrates the seatback and seat deck of FIGS. 3A
and 3B in the upright configuration
[0013] FIG. 4B illustrates assembly of a pair of arms to the
seatback and seat deck of FIG. 4A;
[0014] FIG. 4C illustrates the pair of arms being latched to the
seat deck of FIGS. 4A and 4B;
[0015] FIG. 5A illustrates legs being attached to the furniture of
FIG. 4C;
[0016] FIG. 5B illustrates seat cushions being placed on furniture
piece of FIG. 5A;
[0017] FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the assembled furniture
piece of FIGS. 5A and 5B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0018] A sofa that features an embodiment of the construction of
the disclosure is indicated in general at 10 in FIG. 1. It is to be
understood that while a sofa is illustrated and described below,
the furniture piece instead could be a chair or other type of
furniture item. In the illustrated embodiment, the sofa 10 knocks
down to a compact shipping configuration so that it may be shipped
and stored in a single box. In addition, the construction of the
sofa 10 enables it to be assembled using a minimal number of, or in
some embodiments no, tools.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sofa includes a back
rest or seatback 12 and a seat deck 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2,
the seatback 12 and seat deck 14 are joined via a hinge 16 which,
as an example only, may be a piano hinge. As a result, the seatback
12 may be folded from an upright position (illustrated in FIG. 2)
to a folded position (with the front surface of the seatback
resting against the top surface of the seat deck) for shipping, as
illustrated by arrow 18. The piano hinge 16 may run approximately
the full length of the seatback and seat deck. In alternative
embodiments, a single hinge of a different width, or multiple
hinges may be used in place of the piano hinge.
[0020] With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sofa also
includes a pair of arms 22a and 22b, a pair of back cushions 24a
and 24b and seat cushions 26a and 26b. The arms 22a and 22b ship in
a disassembled configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and are
attached to backrest 12 and seat deck 14, as explained in greater
detail below.
[0021] While pairs of back cushions and seat cushions are
illustrated, the sofa may instead include a different number of
each.
[0022] When the sofa is in the disassembled configuration
illustrated in FIG. 2, and with the backrest 12 folded down against
the seat deck 14, in the direction of arrow 18, the pieces may be
compactly stored in a container, such as a box, for economical
shipping and storage. As described below, legs illustrated at 32a,
34a and 32b, 34b in FIG. 1 are secured to the bottom of the seat
deck 14 after shipping.
[0023] Assembly of the sofa 10 of 1 and 2 after receipt by a
customer will now be described.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the seat back 12 is pivoted in
the direction of arrow 36 into an upright configuration with
respect to seat deck 14 as an initial step during assembly of the
sofa for use. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, rear latches 40a-40d
extend between the bottom surface of the seat deck 14 and the
bottom end of the seatback 12 when fastened and are used to
secure/fix the seatrest 12 in the upright configuration. As an
example only, the rear latches 40a-40d may be draw latches. An
enlarged view of rear latch 40c is provided in circle 42. Any other
latch assembly known in the art may be used, and the number of
latches may differ from the four rear latches 40a-40d shown.
[0025] With the seat deck 14 positioned on a surface and the
seatback 12 generally upright, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, assembly
of the pair of arms to the side edges of the seat deck and seatback
is ready to begin. FIG. 4B illustrates the arms 22a and 22b being
connected to the seatback 12 and seat deck 14. This may be
accomplished via mating fittings which may be, as an example only,
tapered bed fittings. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4B,
the arm 22b is provided with a lower arm fitting 44b and an upper
arm fitting 46b. As illustrated in FIG. 2, corresponding seatback
fittings and seat deck fittings are provided at 52b and 54b,
respectively. With continued reference to FIG. 2, arm 22a is
provided with lower and upper arm fittings 44a and 46a, while with
reference to FIG. 4B, the seatback 12 is provided with seatback
fitting 52a while the seat deck is provided with seat deck fitting
54a. Enlarged views of lower arm fitting 44b and seat deck fitting
54b are provided in oval 56 of FIG. 4B, and enlarged views of upper
arm fitting 46b and seatback fitting 52b are provided in oval 58.
Arm fittings 44a and 46a of arm 22a slidingly engage seat deck
fitting 54a and seatback fitting 52a, respectively, while arm
fittings 44b and 46b of arm 22b engage seat deck fitting 54b and
seat back fitting 52a, respectively so that the pair of arms 22a
and 22b are attached to the seatback and seat deck, as illustrated
in FIG. 4C.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 4C, side latches 62a, 64a, 62b and
64b, which may be draw latches (such as draw latch 40c in FIG. 3B),
are then used to secure the arms 22a and 22b to the seat deck
14.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 5A, the legs 32a, 32b, 34a and 34b
may be attached to the bottom of the seat deck 14 and the bottom
edge of the seatback 12 by fasteners known in the art. As examples
only, the fasteners may be screws or bolts or each leg may be
provided with a threaded stud or other fastener that engages a
corresponding socket or mating fastener positioned on the seat deck
bottom or seatback bottom edge. In alternative embodiments, all of
the legs may be attached to the bottom of the seat deck or to the
bottom edges of the arms 22a and 22b or combinations of the arm and
seatback bottom edges and seat deck bottom. The number of legs
illustrated may be varied (i.e. the sofa may be provided with six
legs instead of the illustrated four). The legs 32a, 32b, 34a and
34b may optionally be interchangeable in that a single sofa may be
provided with multiple sets of legs that may alternatively be used
to provide a purchaser with the ability to customize or vary the
appearance of the sofa.
[0028] Turning to FIG. 5B the user completes assembly of the sofa
by placing the seat cushions 26a and 26b on the seat deck 14 and
the seatback cushions 24a and 24b against the seatback 12. The
assembled sofa, illustrated in FIGS. 5C and 1 is then available for
use.
[0029] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
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