U.S. patent number 3,811,728 [Application Number 05/268,545] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-21 for plastic modular furniture.
Invention is credited to Richard K. Redemske.
United States Patent |
3,811,728 |
Redemske |
May 21, 1974 |
PLASTIC MODULAR FURNITURE
Abstract
This invention relates to a new concept for plastic modular
furniture using a unique system to combine individual modular
components into a plurality of combinations for seating, sleeping,
or storage. The invention comprises a plurality of individual
molded plastic base modules having a plurality of grooves formed on
one face thereon, and a plurality of shells for sitting, sleeping,
storage, and table tops, having a perimetal ridge suitable for
engaging anyone of the plurality of grooves on said base module.
The positioning of the perimetal ridge into the grooves enables a
plurality of combinations to be formed into sitting, sleeping, and
storage units.
Inventors: |
Redemske; Richard K. (Chicago,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
23023465 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/268,545 |
Filed: |
July 3, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.14;
312/107; 5/2.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
87/00 (20130101); A47C 13/005 (20130101); A47B
83/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/00 (20060101); A47B 83/00 (20060101); A47c
007/00 (); A47b 057/08 (); A47b 047/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/440 ;312/107,111
;46/25 ;5/2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Faber; Irving
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent in the
United
1. Modular styled furniture suitable for combining a multiple of
modules into a plurality of furniture combinations, each module
comprising, in combination:
one of a plurality of base modules, said base module having a
plurality of grooves integral therewith; and
one of a plurality of shells having a perimetal ridge for engaging
the integral grooves of the base module;
wherein the combination of the base module and shell forms a
modular piece of furniture, said modular piece of furniture being a
chair, couch, bed, table, lounge, and the like, said shells being
interchangeable with said base modules and said modules being
interchangeable with one another by engagement of the perimetal rim
of the shell with one of the plurality of
2. Modular styled furniture as defined in claim 1 wherein one of
said plurality of shells is a seating shell having means for
receiving a seating member, said seating member having a horizontal
support member and a vertical support member, wherein said
horizontal and vertical support members have a filling material
coupled thereto and a fabric material
3. Modular styled furniture as defined in claim 1 wherein one of
said plurality of shells is a storage shell having an enclosed
shelf unit with a perimetal rim suitable for engaging the base
module at one end thereof
4. Modular styled furniture in claim 1 wherein one of said
plurality of shells is a top shell having a perimetal rim suitable
for engaging the base module, said top shell having means for
receiving one of a plurality
5. Modular styled furniture as defined in claim 1 wherein said base
modules have a plurality of slots for receiving a clip enabling
said base modules
6. Modular styled furniture as defined in claim 2 wherein a
plurality of
7. Modular styled furniture as defined in claim 6 further
comprising a sleeping member coupled to the sleeping shell said
sleeping member having
8. Modular styled furniture as defined in claim 1 wherein a
plurality of base modules and storage units are positioned one on
the other to adjust
9. Modular styled furniture comprising in combination:
a plurality of base modules each of said plurality of base modules
having a plurality of grooves integral therewith on one face
therewith;
a plurality of shells for sitting, sleeping, storage, table tops
and the like for engaging the base modules;
means for coupling said base modules to form a plurality of
furniture pieces, wherein each of the plurality of shells has means
for engaging the base modules;
a plurality of slots positioned perimetally on the sides of said
base modules, wherein said means for coupling said base modules are
clips suitable for engaging the slots of said base modules, said
clips being removable when base configuration is changed;
a seating member coupled to one of the plurality of shells;
a storage member coupled to one end of the plurality of shells;
and
a sleeping member coupled to one of the plurality of shells.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and useful apparatus that combines
individual modular components into a plurality of combinations for
seating, sleeping, and storage and in particular to a system of
mass produced movable modules using several basic forms for bases,
seating shells, storage units and so on.
Modular furniture is fast becoming the life style of modern
America. Its versatility, uniqueness of design and most of all its
cost lends itself to furnishing any apartment or home inexpensively
and in good taste. The simplicity of modular furniture makes it
easy to move it, not only from one room to another, but from one
abode to another. It eliminates the back breaking drudgery of
lifting heavy furniture which is generally of a clumsy design. The
existing modular furniture uses the unit design to form one piece
of furniture. Existing modular furniture generally requires some
mechanical fabrication of elements to create the final piece; such
mechanical fabrication being by the positioning of fasteners to
connect one element to another or by the use of cumbersome tools.
The elements that form one piece of furniture are not
interchangeable nor adaptable to form a different piece of
furniture. The elements that make up the existing modular furniture
known to the inventor can only be assembled into a specific
furniture design. Further, the modular design of large pieces of
furniture only enable the interchangeability of the smaller
elements within the larger frame or base. There are modular
furniture systems incorporating specific individual elements to
form a piece of furniture. However, they are individual pieces used
to form seating groups and are not able to be transformed into
other pieces of furniture.
To the best knowledge of the inventor there presently is no modular
furniture that enables the modular elements to be interchanged with
one another to form a plurality of sitting, sleeping, and storage
units. Modular furniture that is comprised of individual modules
that can be formed into a variety of furniture units is very
advantageous over the existing forms of modular furniture. It
enables a person to furnish his, hers, or their home inexpensively
and when they want to change, to recombine their existing modular
elements into a whole new arrangement of different pieces.
The present invention is an innovation in the modular furniture art
enabling one to create a plurality of different furniture pieces
from the same basic modular units without the necessity of
combersome tools, fasteners or the like.
The present invention is the first in the modular furniture art to
have the ability to be transformed easily and inexpensively from
one piece of furniture into another.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention incorporates a plurality of basic module
forms, that when cobmined form a plurality of seating, sleeping,
and storage facilities. The component nature of the system enables
one to form a great variety of unique furniture by simply
rearranging the modular units.
The individual modules comprise bases, seating shells, top shells,
storage units, cushions, top inserts, door plugs. It is the
combination of these units that form the seating, storage, and
sleeping units.
The invention uses a system of grooves on one face of the modular
base elements suitable for engagement by a perimetal rim of a
modular shell designed for sitting, sleeping, or the like. The
perimetal rim frictionally engaging the groove.
The principal object of this invention is to provide a plurality
modular elements that can easily be transposed into one of a
plurality pieces of furniture for sitting, sleeping, or
storage.
A further object of this invention is to provide a versatile,
inexpensive means for creating a plurality of different furniture
pieces from the same modular units.
Still a further object of this invention is to provide modular
furniture pieces formed from individual modular units that does not
require the use of tools, fasteners, or the like.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective a plurality of modular
elements.
FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective a series of basic modular bases
and shells in combination.
FIG. 3 illustrates in plan view a series of modular bases with
grooves placed thereon.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a series modular furniture
embodied by this invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a lounging unit as
embodied by this invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a storage unit and table
as embodied by this invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a chair as embodied by
this invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeping unit as embodied by
this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, in perspective, a plurality of modular
elements, the grouping of said elements being designated by the
numeral 10. The grouping 10 is comprised of a base module 12,
storage module 14, seating shell 16, top shell 18, and cushions 20.
The base module 12 is comprised of a plurality of grooves 22 that
are integral therewith. The base module 12 as well as the storage
module 14, seating shell 16, and top shell 18 are molded from a
plastic composition which has suitable qualities, such as hardness,
durability, texture, and strength, for furniture use. There are
many such plastic compositions well known in the art, and I will
not elaborate further on them. It is understood that other
materials than plastic can be used, however, plastic is the most
desirable due to its flexibility and ease of molding. It is also
possible to use wood, or metal, however wood cannot be molded and
metal of any kind is more expensive than plastic. The grooves form
a plurality of rectangular and/or square elements 24 as best
illustrated in FIG. 3. It is understood that other shapes such as
circles, trapazoids, and so on could be used if the corresponding
geometrical configuration of the perimetal rim of the shells is
also changed so as to be compatible for engaging the groove 22. The
base units 12 illustrated in FIG. 3 are coupled together by means
of a plurality of slots 23 and flexible clips 25. The clips are
easily inserted into the slots of adjacent base units and when a
new piece of furniture is desired, the clips are easily
removed.
The seating shell 16 is comprised of a vertical upright member 26
and a horizontal member 28, said members being coupled together and
angularly disposed to one another. A perimetal ridge 30 of the
shell 18 matingly engages the grooves 22 of the base module to
which it is being applied to. A seating member 32 is comprised of a
vertical support element 34, and a horizontal support element 36,
having a soft filling material 38 attached thereto and a fabric 40
attached to each of the support elements 34 and 36. The filling
material 38 is interposed between said fabric 40 and each of the
support elements 36 and 38. An elongated flange 42 coupled to the
vertical support element 34 suitable for engaging the upright
member of the seating shell 18. The vertical and horizontal support
elements 34 and 36 are angularly disposed to one another 50 that
when the flange 42 is engaging the vertical member 26, the width of
the filling material 38 and fabric 40 attached thereto abuts the
material 40 attached to the horizontal member 36 enabling one to
sit comfortably on the seating shell 18. It is understood that the
seating member 32 can be made of two separate elements adaptable to
be attached to the sitting shell 16 without deviating from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
In FIG. 4, a series of base modules 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are
illustrated with various shells being placed thereon, and coupled
together by means of base clips 25. A storage unit shell 44 having
a perimetal rim 46 is coupled to base module 12a. The perimetal
ridge 46 matingly engages the grooves 22 of the base module 12a. A
table top shell 48 having a perimetal ridge 50 is illustrated being
coupled to the base modules 12a and 12b engaging the grooves 22 of
said base modules. The table top shell is designed with a recess
suitable for receiving a table insert 49. The insert 49 could be of
various materials and finishes. A table top shell 52 is also
illustrated on top of the storage cabinet 44 and is suitable for
receiving a table insert 49. Seating shells 54 and 56 having
perimetal ridges 58 and 60 respectively are illustrated in FIG. 4;
the perimetal ridges engaging the grooves 22 of the base modules
12c and 12d.
FIG. 5 illustrates a combination shell unit 62 suitable for
lounging. The combination 62 is comprised of a seating shell 18
illustrated in FIG. 7, similar numerical designations being used in
both figures and a cushion shell 20. The cushion shell 20 has
perimetal ridges 64 suitable for engaging the grooves 22. A filling
material 66 and fabric 68 similar to the material and fabric 38 and
40 is attached to the cushion shell 20; the filling material 66
being interposed between the cushion shell 20 and the fabric
68.
FIG. 6 illustrates the storage unit 44 and table top shell 52 in
the combination illustrated in FIG. 3. The storage unit is
comprised of a plurality of shelves 70 and a grooved top 72 having
molded grooves 74; the top 72 being similar to the base module 12.
The table top shell 52 has a perimetal ridge 76 suitable for
engaging grooves 72.
FIG. 8 illustrates a sleeping unit 80 comprised of a plurality of
base units 12. The base units or modules 12 are coupled together by
means of base clips 25 inserted into slots 23. A sleeping member 82
is comprised of material similar to a mattress and is attached to a
sleeping shell 84 suitable for positioning on said base units. The
height of the sleeping unit 80 is adjustable by adding or
subtracting base units in elevation. The storage units can also be
used for achieving a desired elevation, a base unit 12 being
coupled to the top of the storage unit and the sleeping member 82
be coupled thereto.
The elevation of the seating shell 16 is adjustable relative to the
floor by simply adding or subtracting base units 12. It is also
possible to adjust the elevation of all pieces of furniture by
combining, in elevation, base units and/or storage units.
Only a few of the several combinations of base modules 12, and
shells for storage, seating, cushions and table tops have been
illustrated in the drawings. It is understood that with a pluraltiy
of said base modules and shells a myriad of combinations for
seating, sleeping, and storage can evolve and the artistic nature
for each possible combination is up to the individual, and that any
of said possible combinations does not deviate from the spirit and
scope of this invention.
The modules and shells will be available at furniture stores or
other retail outlets. The purchaser decides on what pieces he wants
and then buys or rents the base modules 12 and suitable shells to
form the desired pieces of furniture. The cushions will come in a
choice of fabrics and colors and the table top shells with inserts
in a choice of finishes. The modules and/or shells are either taken
by the purchaser or the retailer will deliver it. It must be
remembered that the modules and shells are durable, lightweight,
inexpensive and easy for one person to pick up and carry. Once the
modules and shells arrive at the purchaser's home he simply forms
the furniture pieces he desires. When the purchaser tires of the
existing combinations all that is required is for him to
interchange base modules and shells to form new combinations. The
perimetal rims of all the shells are suitable for matingly engaging
the grooves 22 of the base modules.
It is believed that the invention has been described in such detail
as to enable those skilled in the art to understand the same, and
it will be appreciated that variations or modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *