Lounge construction

• US 4,657,302 A
• Filed: 03/11/1985
• Issued: 04/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fixtures Manufacturing Corp (MITY Holdings of Delaware, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fixtures Manufacturing Corp (MITY Holdings of Delaware, Inc.)
• Inventors: Snyder, Bobbie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US06/710,589
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 297/232, 297/440, 297/442, 297/443, 297/248, 297/250, 297/233, 108/64, 108/114, 108/153, 108/59, 108/155, 108/157, 108/156
• US Class Current: 297/232
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/124 Separate chairs, connectible together into a row

Abstract

A lounge construction is disclosed for grouping a plurality of furniture units, such as chairs, together. The chairs or other furniture units have frames supported by a plurality of generally vertical leg posts, which extend laterally of either side of the frame. A central lounge frame is included for connecting two furniture units, and the lounge frame is adapted to receive one of several types of furniture pieces, including a table top or chair seat and back. The central lounge frame has a support structure with front and rear transverse members connected by a crossbrace. A socket is attached at each end of the respective transverse members, and each socket receives an upper end of one of the leg posts whereby the central frame shares the inner legs of the neighboring furniture units. Each of the sockets has a slot therein which is aligned with a transverse support member of the furniture unit when the central frame is in place. The slots are arranged on each socket to accommodate the transverse support members of the furniture unit and to properly position the central lounge frame. The slots extend along a portion of the length of the socket so that the vertical positioning of the central lounge frame is also controlled.

Claims

1. A furniture construction comprising:

(a) a central frame and two laterally spaced furniture units, each of said furniture units having a frame with supporting outer and inner leg posts, said inner leg posts having an upper portion;

(b) said central frame comprising a support structure for supporting a furniture module and a plurality of terminal members attached to said support structure, said terminal members being spaced apart in a fixed pattern;

(c) said inner leg post upper portions forming a pattern corresponding to said terminal member pattern; and

(d) said terminal members being vertically disposed sockets coaxially receiving said upper portions upwardly thereinto for support of said central frame, thereby simultaneously linking said furniture units by said central frame and providing vertical support for said central frame by said furniture units.

2. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said spaced furniture units are chairs.

3. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) a chair seat on said central frame.

4. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 1, including:

(a) a tabletop on said central frame.

5. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said sockets include means for engaging a portion of said furniture unit frames to form a locking arrangement between said central frame and said furniture unit frames.

6. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said means for engaging a portion of said furniture unit frames comprise vertically extending slots directed upwardly into the wall of said sockets and positioned to receive a portion of one of said furniture unit frames.

7. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said sockets comprise cylindrical housings.

8. The furniture construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said inner leg post upper portions are coaxial with respective inner leg posts.

9. A furniture construction comprising:

(a) a central frame and two laterally spaced furniture units, each of said furniture units having a frame with supporting outer and inner leg posts, said inner leg posts having an uppr portion;

(b) said central frame comprising a support structure for supporting a furniture module and a plurality of terminal members attached to said support structure, said terminal members being spaced apart in a fixed pattern;

(c) said inner leg post upper portions forming a pattern corresponding to said terminal member pattern; and

(d) each of said terminal members being generally vertically disposed and having one of a socket and a post;

each of said inner leg post upper portions being generally vertically disposed and having the other of said socket and said post, said sockets coaxially receiving corresponding posts thereinto for support of said central frame, thereby simultaneously linking said furniture units by said central frame and providing vertical support for said furniture units.