Modular furniture including interchangeable upholstery

• US 6,827,407 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Windtalker Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alfred Niederman
• Inventors: Niederman, Alfred G., Pate, Travis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/346,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.1, 297/228.13, 297/440.14, 297/440.16, 297/440.22, 297/440.15, 297/440.21, 297/DIG.6, 297/440.24, 248/200
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/42 of detachable or loose type

Abstract

An easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system includes a base frame, a plurality of furniture modules including a first arm module, a second arm module, a seat suspension module and a backrest module, at least one fastener assembly for securing at least one of the modules to the base frame or the modules to each other. Also included is a replaceable upholstery cover for a corresponding one of at least one of the modules, the cover including a sheet of fabric with a first releasable fastener for tensioning the fabric in a first direction upon assembly to the module, and a second releasable fastener for tensioning the fabric in a second direction upon assembly to the module.

Claims

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

a base frame;

a plurality of furniture modules taken from the group consisting of a first arm module, a second arm module, a seat suspension module and a backrest module;

at least one fastener assembly for securing at least one of said modules to said base frame or said modules to each other; and

a replaceable upholstery cover for a corresponding one of at least one of said modules, said at least one cover including a sheet of fabric with a first releasable fastener for tensioning said fabric in a first direction upon assembly to said corresponding module, and a second releasable fastener for tensioning said fabric in a second direction upon assembly to said corresponding module, said first and second releasable fasteners disposed on said cover for tensioning said fabric by joining adjacent portions of said fabric;

wherein at least one of said first and second releasable fasteners is a zipper configured for uniformly and consistently tensioning said fabric.

2. The system of claim 1 in which said first direction is generally normal to said second direction.

3. The system of claim 1 in which said first direction is generally vertical and said second direction is generally horizontal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said backrest module includes a front edge with an inner surface fitted substantially along its length with one of said first and second releasable fasteners including one of a hook and loop fastener material, and said at least one replaceable upholstery cover is configured for engaging said backrest module and is provided with a front edge having said one of said first and second releasable fasteners also including the other of said hook and loop fastener material, and a pair of side panels, at least one of said side panels being equipped with the other of said first and second releasable fasteners including a zipper for exerting generally horizontal tension on said cover over said module.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said arm modules have a sculptured arm configuration and an elongate slot, and wherein said replaceable upholstery cover includes an edge roll constructed and arranged to engage said slot, said first releasable fastener being a first zipper projecting in a generally vertical direction near a rear end of said module, and said second releasable fastener being a second zipper projecting in a generally horizontal direction along a bottom of said module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said first zipper is disposed on said sheet to be hidden by said backrest module upon assembly of said system.

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

a base frame;

a plurality of furniture modules taken from the group consisting of a first arm module, a second arm module, a seat suspension module and a backrest module;

at least one fastener assembly including opposing sheath brackets on said base frame and at least one of said modules, or on adjacent modules, said opposing sheath brackets defining a chamber, and a bar configured for insertion into said chamber and said chamber is configured so that at least a portion of said bar is fully surrounded by said chamber;

wherein said bar is a separate member distinct from the base frame and said modules.

8. A replaceable upholstery cover for use in an easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system including a base frame, a plurality of furniture modules including a first arm module, a second arm module, a seat suspension module and a backrest module, at least one fastener assembly for securing at least one of the modules to the base frame or the modules to each other, said cover comprising:

a sheet of fabric with a first releasable fastener for tensioning said fabric in a first direction, and a second releasable fastener for tensioning said fabric in a second direction, said directions being normal to each other;

wherein the arm modules have a sculptured arm configuration and an elongate slot, and wherein said replaceble upholstery cover includes an edge roll constructed and arranged to engage said slot, said first releasable fastener being a first zipper projecting in a generally vertical direction and disposed on said sheet to be located near a rear end of the module upon installation, and said second releasable fastener being a second zipper projecting in a generally horizontal direction and disposed to be located along a bottom of the module upon installation.

9. A replaceable upholstery cover for use in an easily assembled and disassembled modular furniture system including a base frame, a plurality of furniture modules including a first arm module, a second arm module, a seat suspension module and a backrest module, at least one fastener assembly for securing at least one of the modules to the base frame or the modules to each other, said cover comprising:

a sheet of fabric with a first releasable fastener for tensioning said fabric in a first direction, and a second releasable fastener for tensioning said fabric in a second direction, said directions being normal to each other, said first and second releasable fasteners disposed on said cover for tensioning said fabric in said two directions by joining adjacent portions of said fabric;

wherein at least one of said first and second releasable fasteners is a zipper configured for uniformly and consistently tensioning said fabric.

10. The cover of claim 9 wherein the backrest module includes a front edge with an inner surface fitted substantially along its length with a portion of one of said first and second releasable fasteners including one of a hook and loop fastener material, and said cover is configured for engaging the backrest module and is provided with a front edge having said one of said first and second releasable fasteners also including the other of said hook and loop fastener material for engaging said front edge of the module, and said cover further including a pair of side panels, at least one of said side panels being equipped with the other of said first and second releasable fasteners including a zipper for exerting generally horizontal tension on said cover over the module.

11. The cover of claim 9 wherein the arm modules have a sculptured arm configuration and an elongate slot, and wherein said replaceable upholstery cover includes an edge roll constructed and arranged to engage said slot, said first releasable fastener being a first zipper projecting in a generally vertical direction and disposed on said sheet to be located near a rear end of the module upon installation, and said second releasable fastener being a second zipper projecting in a generally horizontal direction and disposed to be located along a bottom of the module upon installation.