Modular furniture assembly with dual couplers

• US 10,123,623 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lovesac Company
• Original Assignee: Lovesac Company
• Inventors: Nelson, Shawn D., Underwood, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US15/836,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20180098631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 2974401, 29744014, 29744015, 29744016, 29745227, 2972716, 2972721, 403395, 403397, 2483451, 248188, 2481882, 2481888, 2481889
• 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 includes: a base member having a frame assembly, a transverse member having a frame assembly, a foot configured to contact a support surface, and a mounting platform having a plurality of apertures therethrough. The mounting platform is configured to be mounted on the base member frame assembly and the transverse member frame assembly, thereby connecting the frame assemblies. The foot is selectively mounted on the mounting platform, such that the foot is configured to contact the support surface when the modular furniture assembly is in an upright configuration. The mounting platform connects the base and transverse member frame assemblies together and also acts as a platform for receiving a variety of different types of feet.

Claims

1. A modular furniture assembly comprising:

a base member providing a seating surface;

a transverse member having a height that is substantially greater than the height of the seating surface of the base member;

a first coupler configured to selectively couple the base member to the transverse member; and

a second coupler, spaced apart from the first coupler, the second coupler being configured to selectively couple the base member to the transverse member, wherein the second coupler is positioned lower than the first coupler, so as to selectively couple together a lower portion of the base member to a lower portion of the transverse member;

wherein the first coupler selectively couples together a higher portion of the base member to a higher portion of the transverse member.

2. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse member provides an armrest for the modular furniture assembly.

3. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse member provides a backrest for the modular furniture assembly.

4. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the second coupler is positioned below at least one of a frame assembly of the base member or a frame assembly of the transverse member.

5. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the base member and the transverse member each comprise a frame assembly, a foot being positioned below at least one of the base member frame assembly or the transverse member frame assembly.

6. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second couplers manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member.

7. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the first and second couplers manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member without use of a hammer, screwdriver, or other tool.

8. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the base member consists of a generally rectangular shape, providing the seating surface.

9. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a foot of the transverse member is coupled by the second coupler to a foot of the base member.

10. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first coupler clamps the higher portion of the base member to the higher portion of the transverse member.

11. A modular furniture assembly comprising:

a base member providing a seating surface;

a transverse member having a height that is substantially greater than the height of the seating surface of the base member;

a first coupler configured to manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member; and

a second coupler, spaced apart from the first coupler, the second coupler also being configured to manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member, wherein the second coupler is positioned lower than the first coupler, so as to selectively couple together a lower portion of the base member to a lower portion of the transverse member;

wherein the first coupler is positioned both above and rearward relative to the second coupler, so as to selectively couple together a rearward portion of the base member to a rearward portion of the transverse member.

12. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a foot configured to contact a support surface, the foot being selectively coupleable to at least one of the base member or the transverse member.

13. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the base member comprises a frame assembly and a foot positioned thereunder.

14. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the transverse member comprises a frame assembly and a foot positioned thereunder.

15. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein one or both of the first and second couplers is configured to manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member without use of a hammer, screwdriver, or other tool.

16. A modular furniture assembly comprising:

a base member providing a seating surface;

a transverse member having a height that is substantially greater than the height of the seating surface of the base member;

a foot positioned under the transverse member, the foot being configured to contact a support surface;

a first coupler configured to manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member without use of a hammer, screwdriver, or other tool; and

a second coupler, spaced apart from the first coupler, the second coupler also being configured to manually detachably couple the base member to the transverse member, without use of a hammer, screwdriver, or other tool, wherein the second coupler is positioned lower than the first coupler, so as to selectively couple together a lower portion of the base member to a lower portion of the transverse member;

wherein both the first and second couplers are quick release couplers.

17. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the first coupler, which is positioned higher than the second coupler, comprises a mechanical hook and latch system.

18. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the first or second couplers comprise a mechanical hook and latch system.

19. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the mechanical hook and latch system comprises two parts, where a first portion is connected to the base member and a second portion is connected to the transverse member, wherein the two portions may be manually, detachably coupled to each other.

20. A modular furniture assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein no screws couple the base member to the transverse member.