MODULAR FURNITURE ASSEMBLY WITH DUAL COUPLING MECHANISMS

• US 20160174715A1
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lovesac Company
• Original Assignee: Sac Acquisition LLC (SAC Acquisition)
• Inventors: Nelson, Shawn D., Pearson, Spencer, Kostek, Chelsea, Kuchler, Brian, Underwood, David M.
• Application Number:
  US15/058,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 13/005 Modular seating chairs connectible into a row A47C1/124
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/002 Corner seating furniture, e.g. corner sofas changing corner couches into double bed A47C17/36
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/045 Seating furniture having loose or by fabric hinge connected cushions changeable to beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/003 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/028 Upholstered chairs, e.g. metal, plastic or wooden chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/18 having foamed material included in cushioning part foamed material mattresses A47C27/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/20 with reinforcement in the foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/626 directly under the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/628 accessible by displacement of seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 1/00 Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/00 Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior F16B2/00 - F16B11/00 take precedence; fastening means per se F16B13/00 - F16B47/00; wood-working B27
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/81 Use of a material of the hooks-and-loops type
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• 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

A modular furniture assembly comprising first and second members (e.g., base and transverse member) may have convenient dual coupling mechanisms, for example, a magnetic coupling mechanism and a mechanical (e.g., hook and loop) coupling mechanism. The first member and/or second member may include a fabric or other cover over a foam or other body (e.g., fabric over foam, or other cover over a skeleton). Either or both members may include a rigid core (e.g., a board, skeleton, etc.). The coupling mechanisms may be such as to not detract from any soft, cushioned characteristics of a fabric over foam construction, if such is provided. The coupling structure in the first member and/or the second member may be tethered to the rigid core of the particular member to reduce tenting of the fabric or other cover of the first member and/or the second member as the tethered coupling structure is pulled.

Claims

1. A modular furniture assembly configured such that the furniture assembly can be selectively positioned into various selected positions, the furniture assembly comprising:

a base member;

a transverse member comprising a rigid board core encapsulated by three pieces of foam, including a first piece of foam on one face of the rigid board core, and the second and third pieces of foam being on the opposite face of the rigid board core;

dual coupling mechanisms including a magnetic coupling assembly and an upper mechanical coupling assembly for selectively, removably coupling the base member to the transverse member wherein;

the magnetic coupling assembly comprises corresponding components that are magnetically attracted to one another, a portion of which components are mounted to a lower portion of the base member, another portion of which components are mounted to a lower portion of the transverse member, the magnetic coupling assembly being configured to selectively orient the base member and the transverse member into desired positions; and

the upper mechanical coupling mechanism is disposed above the lower magnetically attractive coupling mechanism, and comprises a base member mechanical coupling portion mounted to a portion of the base member and a transverse member mechanical coupling portion mounted to a portion of the transverse member, which base member mechanical coupling portion and transverse member mechanical coupling portion can be selectively engaged with one another to couple the base member to the transverse member, reducing movement of a top portion of the transverse member relative to the base member;

wherein the transverse member mechanical coupling portion of the upper mechanical coupling mechanism includes a strap attached to the rigid board core of the transverse member, which strap is attached to a first zipper portion of an interior zipper, the strap and first zipper portion being disposed between the second and third pieces of foam.

2. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic coupling assembly comprises at least one magnet mounted to a portion of the base member or the transverse member and at least one attracted member mounted to a portion of other of the base member or the transverse member.

3. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the upper mechanical coupling mechanism comprises a hook and loop coupling mechanism, wherein the transverse member mechanical coupling portion comprises hook or loop material disposed on a tab which extends laterally from a mid-section of the transverse member, and the base member mechanical coupling portion comprises the other of the hook or loop material on a top surface of the base member, so that the hook or loop material of the tab engages the hook or loop material of the top surface of the base member when the transverse member is coupled to the base member.

4. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the transverse member and the base member both comprise a fabric cover over a foam body.

5. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the base member further comprises a rigid core about which the foam body is disposed.