Modular furniture

• US 6,877,824 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christine Elizabeth Winkless
• Original Assignee: Christine Elizabeth Winkless
• Inventors: Winkless, Christine Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/369,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 312/107, 312/111, 312/198, 312/203, 312/257.1
• US Class Current: 312/107
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/008 Rectangular cabinets or racks in a side-by-side arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/02 stackable ; stackable and linkable by means of separate corner elements being in common with both the vertical and horizontal parts, e.g. corner bars for panels, nodes for rods A47B47/0016, A47B47/0025
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0292 each casing having a cross-section with a closed periphery

Abstract

A system for modular furniture is provided, consisting of a plurality of modules, each having a front wall, a back wall, a left wall, a right wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the top wall having a recess and the bottom wall having at least one projection corresponding to and operable to fit within and securely engage the recess when a first of the modules is vertically stacked atop of a second of the modules. The modules can be interengagingly and securely stacked either directly atop other modules or staggered atop two or more others to provide a desired configuration. A number of adapters can be used with the modules to provide a number of customized solutions.

Claims

1. A system for providing modular furniture, comprising:

a plurality of modules, each having a front wall, a back wall, a left wall, a right wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall having one, substantially centrally located, recess which defines a lip having a first thickness, and which lip extends substantially completely around a perimeter of said top wall of said module, and said bottom wall having at least one projection offset from the edges of said wall by the distance of said first thickness in order to define an offset perimeter, and wherein said projection extends substantially completely around said offset perimeter of said bottom wall so as to correspond to and operably fit within and securely engage said recess when a first of said modules is vertically stacked atop of a second of said modules.

2. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 1, wherein said modules have at least two projections projecting from said bottom wall with at least one channel between said projections operable to receive a lip from at least two of said modules such that a first module is operable to securely engage at least two of said lips within at least one of said channels when said first module is stacked atop of two or more additional modules.

3. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 1, wherein said at least one projection is dimensioned to allow one of said modules to be placed atop and securely engage said recesses of at least two other of said modules.

4. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 1, additionally comprising:

at least one functional adapter operable to securely engage said recess of at least one module.

5. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 4, wherein said at least one functional adapter is selected from the group consisting of a seat adapter, a mattress support, a headboard adapter, a finishing adapter, lateral cover adapters, a crib adapters.

6. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 4, wherein said at least one functional adapter is selected from the group consisting of retainer clips, seat adapters, mattress support adapters, headboard adapters, table adapters, desk adapters, finishing adapters, lateral cover adapters, crib adapters, base projection frames and desk base projection frames.

7. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a base projection frame operable to fit around said base projections of one or more of said modules.

8. The system for providing modular furniture of claim 7, wherein said base projection frame is operable to fit around said base projections of two or more of said modules to restrict horizontal movement of said modules.

9. A module of furniture component, comprising:

a front wall;

a back wall;

a left wall;

a right wall;

a top wall having one, substantially centrally located, recess which defines a lip having a first thickness, and which lip extends substantially completely around a perimeter of said top wall of said module, and a bottom wall having at least one projection offset from the edges of said wall by the distance of said first thickness in order to define an offset perimeter, and wherein said projection extends substantially completely around said offset perimeter of said bottom wall so as to correspond to and operably fit within and securely engage said recess in the top wall of another modular furniture component.