Modular furniture assembly

• US 20060279124A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lovesac Company
• Original Assignee: Sac Acquisition LLC (SAC Acquisition)
• Inventors: Nelson, Shawn D., Rich, Matt, Nappi, Daniel, Underwood, David, White, Verdi III
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/440.140
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 13/005 Modular seating chairs connectible into a row A47C1/124
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/045 Seating furniture having loose or by fabric hinge connected cushions changeable to beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/028 Upholstered chairs, e.g. metal, plastic or wooden chairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7164 One rod held between bight and other rod extending through aperture in leg of connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7176 Resilient clip

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular furniture assembly that is convenient and versatile. One embodiment of the modular furniture assembly comprises a base and a transverse member manually, detachably coupled to the base by a coupler. The base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship which enables a variety of different types, configurations and sizes of furniture assemblies to be formed therefrom. Further, the base is configured such that the transverse member can be coupled to the base in a first position to form a first furniture assembly, and can be coupled to the base in a second position to form a second furniture assembly.

Claims

1. A modular furniture assembly, comprising:

a base;

a transverse member; and

a coupler configured to detachably couple the transverse member to the base, wherein the transverse member can be detachably coupled to the base in a first position with respect to the base so as to form a first furniture assembly, and wherein the transverse member can be detachably coupled to the base in a second position with respect to the base so as to form a second furniture assembly.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one substantially flat portion that abuts a substantially flat portion of the transverse member.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first and second removable liner detachably coupled to the transverse member and the base, respectively.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse member is configured to be positioned such that the longitudinal axis is transverse to the plane of a support surface.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse member can be positioned so as to be a backrest or an arm rest.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises at least one foot coupler configured to facilitate the detachable coupling of the transverse member to the base.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a frame of the base and a frame of the transverse member each have a corresponding aperture therein that receives a portion of the coupler therein.

8. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a ratcheting coupler, one portion of the ratcheting coupler being coupled to the transverse member and another portion of the ratcheting coupler being coupled to the base, such that the transverse member and base are coupled upon connecting each of the portions of the coupler together.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a U-shaped member that sandwiches a portion of the transverse member and a portion of the base between the U-shaped member.

10. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupler substantially prevents the transverse member from moving in at least a first direction.

11. An assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a second coupler that substantially prevents the transverse member from moving in at least a second direction.

12. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship, wherein the length (x) of the base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the base and the width (z) of the transverse member.

13. An assembly as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one of:

(i) a second base having substantially the same configuration as the first base member such that the bases are interchangeable; and

(ii) a second transverse member having substantially the same configuration as the first transverse member such that the transverse members are interchangeable, and such that a variety of different furniture assemblies can be formed.

14. An assembly as recited in claim 13, further comprising a third transverse member having the same configuration as the first and second transverse members such that the transverse members are interchangeable and such that the first, second and third transverse members can each be used as at least one of a back rest and an arm rest.

15. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the base comprises:

a frame assembly; and

a cushion mounted on the frame assembly.

16. An assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the cushion comprises different types of cushioning material.

17. An assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the cushion comprises memory foam.

18. An assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the cushion comprises first and second foam members having different densities.

19. A modular furniture assembly comprising:

a base configured such that the base has a length (x) and a width (y);

a transverse member configured such that the transverse member has a length (x′

) and a width (z);

wherein the base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship, the defined spatial relationship being;

the length (x) of the base is substantially equal to the length (x′

) of the transverse member, and

the length (x) of the base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the base and the width (z) of the transverse member, such that different furniture configurations can be formed.

20. An assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship, wherein the length (x) of the base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the base and the width (z) of the transverse member.

21. An assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the height (h′

) of the transverse member is substantially greater than the height (h) of the base.

22. A modular furniture assembly comprising:

a base configured to support the weight of a user while sitting on the base, the base having a plurality of abutting surfaces;

a transverse member having an abutting surface, wherein the abutting surfaces of the base and the abutting surface of the transverse member are adapted to facilitate detachable coupling of the base to the transverse member, the abutting surface of the transverse member being configured to correspond with at least one of the abutting surfaces of the base when the base is placed in an abutting relationship with the transverse member; and

a coupler configured to manually, detachably couple the base to the transverse member when the abutting surface of the transverse member is substantially aligned with an abutting surface of the base, and such that the base can be manually, detachably coupled to the transverse member in a first position and such that the base can be manually, detachably coupled to the transverse member in a second position.

23. An assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship, wherein the length (x) of the base is a substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the base and the width (z) of the transverse member.

24. An assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the abutting surface of the base comprises a substantially flat surface.

25. An assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the abutting surface of the transverse member comprises a substantially flat surface.

26. An assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the abutting surface of the base comprises a substantially flat surface of the base and the abutting surface of the transverse member comprises a substantially flat surface of the transverse member.

27. An assembly as recited in claim 22, wherein the coupler comprises a two-part coupler having one portion connected to the base and another portion connected to the transverse member, the portions of the coupler being manually, detachably coupled to each other.

28. A modular furniture assembly comprising:

a base;

a first transverse member;

a second transverse member;

a third transverse member, wherein the transverse member have substantially the same configuration such that the transverse members are interchangeable;

a first coupler detachably coupling the first transverse member to the base;

a second coupler detachably coupling the second transverse member to the base; and

a third coupler detachably coupling the third transverse member to the base, to thereby form a chair.

29. An assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship, wherein the length (x) of the base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the base and the width (z) of the transverse member.

30. A modular sofa assembly comprising:

a first base;

a second base having substantially the same dimensions as the first base, such that the bases are interchangeable;

a first transverse member;

a second transverse member;

a third transverse member; and

a fourth transverse member, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth transverse members have substantially the same dimensions, such that the transverse members are interchangeable,

wherein the bases and transverse members can be positioned in a first position to form a first sofa assembly, and wherein the bases and the transverse members can be positioned in a second position so as to form a second sofa assembly having a different configuration than the first sofa assembly.

31. The sofa assembly as recited in claim 30, further comprising a first U-shaped coupler configured to couple the first base to the second base;

and second, third, fourth, and fifth U-shaped couplers configured to couple the first, second, third and fourth transverse members, respectively, to at least one of the first and second bases.

32. An assembly as recited in claim 31, wherein the bases and the transverse members have a defined spatial relationship, wherein the length (x) of the base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the base and the width (z) of the transverse member.

33. A modular furniture assembly, comprising:

a base;

a transverse member; and

a first coupler that substantially prevents the transverse member from moving in at least a first direction; and

a second coupler that substantially prevents the transverse member from moving in at least a second direction.

34. An assembly as recited in claim 33, wherein the first coupler couples an abutting surface of the base to an abutting surface of the transverse member, and wherein the second coupler couples at least one foot of the base to at least one foot of the transverse member.