AU2006100647A4 - A modular furniture component - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 KING FURNITURE (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: A modular furniture component The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Field of the Invention This invention relates to modular furniture. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular furniture component and to modular furniture including the component.

Background to the Invention Modular furniture makes use of various components which are interchangeable to form different configurations and arrangements of furniture. Generally, these components have some form of complementary locating formations for locating one component with respect to another component.

Typically, these locating formations make use of rods, whether tubular or solid, received in sleeves. Because the components can be arranged in different orientations with respect to one another, there are some configurations where some of the locating formations on the base unit may be exposed. A problem with this arrangement is that the exposed locating formations can render the chosen configuration unsightly.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular furniture component which includes a frame arrangement; a plurality of mounting formations arranged at spaced intervals about the frame arrangement, a locating member being removably attachable to each mounting formation; and a cover covering the frame arrangement, the cover having an access opening aligned with each of at least certain of the mounting formations for enabling a locating member to be inserted through a selected opening to be attached to the underlying mounting formation.

Each mounting formation may comprise a lug defining a screw threaded opening into which a threaded stud of the locating member is received so that the locating member, in use, stands proud of an outer surface of the cover. The locating member may be in the form of a tapered spigot extending from one side of a stabilising member. The stabilising member may be a flange and the threaded stud may project from an opposed side of the flange.

The frame arrangement may be a box frame having an operatively upper frame member and an operatively lower frame member interconnected by cross members, the lugs being secured at spaced intervals about the upper frame member. Preferably the frame is a metal frame and the lugs are welded to the upper frame member. The frame may be upholstered.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided modular furniture which includes a component, as described above, forming a base unit; a plurality of locating members removably mountable at selected positions on the base unit; and at least one further component removably mounted on the base unit.

The at least one further component may carry at least one receiving formation on an operatively lower surface in which a locating member projecting from the base unit is receivable for locating the at least one further component with respect to the base portion.

Brief Description of Drawings An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of a modular furniture component, in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of modular furniture, in accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the invention; and Fig. 3 shows an exploded, three dimensional view of a connector for use with the modular furniture of Fig. 2.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiment Referring initially to Fig. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a modular furniture component, in accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the invention. The component 10 includes a frame arrangement 12. A plurality of mounting formations 14 are arranged at spaced intervals about the frame arrangement 12. A locating member 16 of a connector assembly 18 (Fig. 3) is removably received on one of at least certain of the mounting formations 14 to project upwardly from the frame arrangement 12.

A cover 20 (Fig. 2) covers the frame arrangement 12. The cover 20 has an access opening 22 of an inconspicuous appearance aligned with each of the mounting formations 14. More particularly, each access opening 22 is a button-hole type opening which has minimal visibility when a locating formation 16 is not inserted through it.

The frame arrangement 12 is a stainless steel box frame having an upper frame member 24 and a lower frame member 26 interconnected by cross members 28. The upper frame member 24 and the lower frame member 26 are substantially rectangular in outline. The lugs 14 are arranged at spaced intervals about the upper frame member 24. The frame arrangement 12 is sprung and upholstered and the cover 20 covers the upholstery of the frame arrangement 12.

Each lug has a screw threaded opening 30 extending through it.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the connector assembly 18 is described in greater detail. The locating member 16 comprises a locating pin 32 projecting from one side of a stabilising flange 34. The pin 32 tapers towards its free end 36. A threaded stud 38 projects from an opposed end of the flange 34 and is screw-threadedly received in the opening 30 of a selected lug 14.

The locating member 16 is used with a corresponding socket defining member of the connecting assembly 18. The socket defining member 40 defines a tapered socket 42 having an exit opening 44 through which the free end 36 of the pin 32 projects, in use. The socket defining member 40 projects from a flange 46. The flange 46 has a radiused inlet opening 48 to facilitate insertion of the pin 32 into the socket 42.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, modular furniture in accordance with an embodiment of a further aspect of the invention is illustrated and is designated generally by the reference numeral 50. The modular furniture 50 includes the component 10 which forms a base unit of the modular furniture. At least one further modular component, for example, an armrest 52 is removably mounted on the base unit For this purpose, the desired number of locating members 16 are mounted through the openings 22 on the lugs 14 by screw threading the stud 38 into the opening 30 of the selected lug 14. One such locating member 16 is shown mounted in position in Fig.

2 of the drawings. An operatively underside of the component 52 carries a corresponding number of socket defining members 40, one being shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Referring again to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a part of a frame of the component 52 is shown and is designated generally by the reference numeral 54. The frame 54 carries a pair of opposed tubular members 56. A socket defining member 40 acts as a sleeve liner for each tubular component 56. The socket defining member 40 is a snug fit within its associated tubular member 56 and is slidably received therein to be retained in position.

Thus, in use, when it is desired to form a configuration of furniture, for example, a sofa, the appropriate locating members 16 are mounted at the selected locations on the base unit 10, through the openings 22, as described above. The various other components making up the sofa, a backrest and armrest units are then secured to the base unit 10 by inserting the locating members 16 into the associated socket defining members 40 of these components.

When it is desired to change the configuration of the modular furniture 50, the components on the base unit 10 are removed. The locating members 16 are also removed by unscrewing them from their associated lugs 14. When this occurs, i.e.

when the locating members 16 are removed from their lugs 14, the button-hole type openings 22 effectively close over their associated lugs 14 minimising the presence of the location of the lugs 14. If a further configuration of modular furniture 50 is formed where some of the openings 22 are exposed, the presence of these openings 22 is not as noticeable as would otherwise be the case.

Thus, it is an advantage of the invention that a modular furniture component and modular furniture 50 are provided which has a more attractive appearance and which lends itself for changing configurations as, and when, desired. Exposed openings 22 have minimal visual presence and the appearance of the modular furniture is, accordingly, enhanced.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (4)

1. A modular furniture component which includes a frame arrangement; a plurality of mounting formations arranged at spaced intervals about the frame arrangement, a locating member being removably attachable to each mounting formation; and a cover covering the frame arrangement, the cover having an access opening aligned with each of at least certain of the mounting formations for enabling a locating member to be inserted through a selected opening to be attached to the underlying mounting formation.

2. The component of claim 1 in which each mounting formation comprises a lug defining a screw threaded opening into which a threaded stud of the locating member is received.

3. The component of claim 1 in which the frame arrangement is a box frame having an operatively upper frame member and an operatively lower frame member interconnected by cross members, the lugs being secured at spaced intervals about the upper frame member.

4. Modular furniture which includes a component, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, forming a base unit; a plurality of locating members removably mountable at selected positions on the base unit; and at least one further component removably mounted on the base unit. The furniture of claim 4 in which the at least one further component carries at least one receiving formation on an operatively lower surface in which a locating member projecting from the base unit is receivable for locating the at least one further component with respect to the base portion. Dated this first day of August 2006 King Furniture (Australia) Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO