Modular upholstered furniture construction

• US 6,367,880 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Windtalker Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alfred G. Niederman
• Inventors: Pate, Travis D., Niederman, Alfred G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/435,165
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 297/440.1, 297/440.14, 297/440.15, 297/440.16, 297/440.22
• US Class Current: 297/440.14
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 13/005 Modular seating chairs connectible into a row A47C1/124
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/02 Dismountable chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/028 Upholstered chairs, e.g. metal, plastic or wooden chairs

Abstract

An easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system is disclosed. The furniture system includes a base frame having a front member, a first side member, a second side member and a rear member. A plurality of furniture modules including a first arm module, a second arm module and one of a spring nest module and a sleeper module are mounted to the base frame using a plurality of fastener assemblies. Each fastener assembly includes two portions: a stud member and an aligning receptacle bracket. Each of the stud members and said brackets are secured to opposing locations of the base frame and at least one of the modules so that the modules may be positioned upon the frame by engaging the aligning receptacle brackets upon the corresponding stud members without the use of tools.

Claims

1. An easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of furniture modules including a first arm module, a second arm module, a backrest module and a seat suspension module, said seat suspension module having a rear end pivotally engageable on said base frame and a stud member for engaging an aligning receptacle bracket;

a plurality of fastener assemblies having a stud member and an aligning receptacle bracket;

one of said stud member and said bracket being secured to opposing locations of said base frame and at least one of said modules so that said modules may be positioned upon said frame by engaging said aligning receptacle brackets upon said corresponding stud members without the use of tools.

2. A method of assembling the furniture system of claim 1 comprising:

engaging said fastener assemblies secured to said seat suspension module and to said base frame;

rotating said seat suspension module;

engaging a second fastener assembly secured to said seat suspension module and to said base frame;

inserting a bar into a chamber defined by one of two opposing sheath brackets, said opposing sheath brackets being secured to said base frame and a backrest module; and

engaging said bar with the other of said opposing sheath brackets; and

engaging said fastener assemblies secured to said arm module and to said base frame.

3. The furniture system of claim 1 wherein said brackets have laterally extending notch portions so that at least one of said first and second arm modules are engageable upon said base frame in a sliding looking motion.

4. The furniture system of claim 1 further including a foot mounted on a gooseneck foot bracket and wherein a front member of said base frame is provided with a sofa foot mounting aperture and a chair foot mounting aperture for receiving said gooseneck foot bracket.

5. The furniture system of claim 1 further including at least one stop member on said base frame for engaging said seat suspension module.

6. The furniture system of claim 1 further including at least one fastener clip on said base frame for receiving a threaded fastener.

7. The furniture system of claim 6 wherein each said at least one clip is positioned on said frame for securing said first and second arm modules and said seat suspension module to said base frame.

8. The furniture system of claim 1 further including a backrest module configured for engagement upon said base frame, and a backrest fastener assembly.

9. The furniture system of claim 8 wherein said backrest fastener assembly includes opposing sheath brackets on said base frame and at least one of said modules, said opposing sheath brackets defining a chamber, and a bar configured for insertion into said chamber.

10. The furniture system of claim 8 wherein each said arm module has an inner surface for engaging said base frame, said inner surface including one of said fastener assemblies for engaging said frame and one of said fastener assemblies for engaging said backrest module.

11. The furniture system of claim 10 wherein each of said fastener assemblies on said arm modules is said aligning receptacle bracket.

12. The furniture system of claim 8 wherein said backrest module has a first side and a second side, at least one of said sides being provided with one of said stud member and said aligning receptacle bracket for engagement with a corresponding member on a corresponding one of said first and second arm modules.

13. The furniture system of claim 12 wherein said arm modules extend over a portion of said first side and said second side of said backrest module.

14. The furniture system of claim 12 wherein said backrest module includes a portion that extends over a portion of said arm modules.

15. An easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of furniture modules including a first arm module, a second arm module and a seat suspension module;

a backrest module and a backrest fastener assembly, said backrest fastener assembly includes opposing sheath brackets on said base frame and said backrest module, said opposing sheath brackets defining a chamber, a bar configured for insertion into said chamber;

a plurality of fastener assemblies, each said fastener assembly including two portions;

a stud member and an aligning receptacle bracket; and

one of said stud member and said bracket being secured to opposing locations of said base frame and at least said arm modules, said backrest modules and said seat suspension module so that said modules maybe positioned upon said frame by engaging said aligning receptacle brackets upon said corresponding stud members without the use of tools.

16. The furniture system of claim 15 further including a foot mounted on a gooseneck foot bracket, and wherein a front member of said base frame is provided with a sofa foot mounting aperture and a chair foot mounting aperture for receiving said gooseneck foot bracket.

17. An easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of furniture modules taken from a group comprised of a first arm module, a second arm module and a backrest module;

at least one fastener assembly for securing at least one of said modules to said base frame, said at least one fastener assembly including opposing sheath brackets on said base frame and on at least one of said modules, said opposing sheath brackets defining a chamber, and a bar configured for insertion into said sheath bracket on one said module, so that upon assembly of adjacent modules, said bar is enclosed within the chamber defined by the opposing sheath brackets.