AU2013101649A4 - Multipurpose furniture kit - Google Patents

Abstract

FURNITURE KIT A furniture kit comprises pieces able to be alternatively assembled as a box (100) or a table (100') using fasteners that removably secure the pieces as required. The kit comprises two end panels (20), two side panels (30), and a base panel (10). When assembled the side panels (30) bridge the end panels (20), and the end panels (20) extend beyond the side panels and the base panel, so that respective end panels (20) function as supporting legs when used as a box (100), and as a base and top surface when used as a table (100'). 100' FIG. l B

Description

1 MULTIPURPOSE FURNITURE KIT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multipurpose furniture kit that can be 5 assembled as a box or a table. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nursery furniture for children has a limited period of utility. This furniture thus quickly becomes obsolete within the home, in the absence of a younger sibling that can use the furniture. 10 There exist multipurpose furniture knits that are provided in 'flat-pack' form, and allow assembly of different items of furniture depending upon application. In particular, Australian Patent Publication No AU 2013101230 A4, published 24 October 2013 in the name of Boori Australia Pty Limited describes a furniture kit that can be assembled as a cot or a bed. 15 Components of this described furniture kit are designed to be selectively and judiciously deployed to assembly either a cot or a bed as required. Typically, of course, the kit is assembled as a cot, and then re-assembled as a bed as the child grows. The kit may revert to a cot as required and thus be re-used again. Re-assembly involves de-assembling selected components and then 20 assembling the remaining pieces. The work is involved is relatively minimal, but is required in any case. There is a need, in light of the foregoing, for a furniture kit that at least attempts to address these and other limitations of existing furniture kits. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25 The inventive concept arises from a recognition that a furniture kit can be designed so that assembly ensures that the resulting furniture piece can function as both a box and a table, with a minimum if any re-assembly. The furniture kit described herein is provided in 'ready-to-assemble' or 'flat pack' form, which has noted cost advantages as regards transport and storage, 30 and relies upon dowels, fasteners and fixings as required to secure assembly. The present invention, in one aspect, comprises a furniture kit comprising pieces able to be alternatively deployed as a box or a table using a series of fasteners that removably secure the pieces as required, the kit comprising: two 2 end panels, two side panels, and a base panel, wherein when assembled the side panels bridge the end panels, and the end panels extend beyond the side panels and the base panel, so that respective end panels function as supporting legs when used as a box, and as a base and top surface when used as a table. 5 Preferably, the kit further comprises at least one middle panel, wherein when assembled the middle panel extends between the side panels to function as a separator when used as a box, and shelving when used as a table. Preferably, the kit further comprises at least one door, wherein when assembled the door extends between the end panels to function as a lid when 10 used as a box, and a cabinet door when used as table. Preferably, two matching doors are provided, which each pivot at sides of the end panels along a longitudinal axis aligned with the side panels. Preferably, the base panel when assembled slots into facing recessed channels formed in opposed side panels, and functions as a base when used as 15 a box and as a cabinet back when used as a table. The kit, as configured, preferably relies for assembly as a box upon no pieces other than those used in assembly of the table. Consequently, when as is typical the kit is assembled as a box or a table, there are no ancillary pieces that are required for reassembly, thereby obviating the possibility that any such 20 ancillary pieces can be misplaced in the intervening period and frustrating reassembly. This represents a significant advantage compared to typical multipurpose 'flat-pack' furniture kits that rely upon, for assembly, use of additional, extra or ancillary pieces or assemblies that can be readily misplaced or inadvertently 25 discarded prior to reassembly. No such additional pieces, conversion kit or other parts need be stored separately when constructing either a box or table. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figs. 1A and 1B depict a furniture kit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, assembled as a box and a table respectively. 30 Fig. 2 depicts components of the furniture kit of Figs. 1A and 1B. Fig. 3 depicts hardware items used in assembly of the furniture kit of Figs. 1A and 1B.

3 Figs. 4 to 8 depict steps in the progressive assembly of the furniture kit as a box. Figs. 9 and 10 depict optional steps in progressive completion of the furniture kit as a table. 5 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1A and 1B depict a furniture kit respectively assembled as a box 100 and table 100', provided to draw contrast between these alternative applications of the furniture kit. Components of the furniture kit are supplied in ready-to assembly or flat-pack form. 10 Fig. 2 depicts the panels of the furniture kit. The constituent panels comprise a base panel 10, a pair of matching end panels 20, a pair of matching side panels 30, a middle panel 40, and a pair of matching door panels 50. As is typically the case with flat-pack furniture, components are optionally but preferably pre-drilled with suitably sized and located bores that permit 15 assembly using a series of suitable fasteners, which for convenience are supplied with the furniture kit. As an example, such fasteners may comprise broad-headed screws or connecting bolts comprising heads that having formed therein a hex socket operable by a suitably sized hex key, which for convenience is also supplied with 20 the furniture kit. This allows for attachment without any further specialty or power tools. Fig. 3 depicts hardware items which may be used in assembly of the furniture kit. These items comprise threaded bolts 2, pads 4, and a hex key 6, which can be used to fit and turn the bolts 2 via a hex bore (not shown) 25 countersunk in the head of the bolts 2. Locating dowels and complementary holes may optionally be used as and where required. As is understood, dowels can assist in co-locating and securing kit components in a desired orientation, in addition to fasteners which provide more positive engagement. 30 While pre-drilled bores are preferably formed during manufacture for ready assembly, the customer can also drill these bores during assembly (for example, using a power drill, under direction from assembly directions).

4 Similarly, pre-drilled channels can be deployed as and where required to locate and secure co-operating edges of adjacent panels. Other existing and design and constructional techniques may be deployed as required. While the furniture kit can be assembled in either form, the primary appeal 5 of the kit to prospective purchasers is that the kit can be successively deployed in one form and then another form, more particularly a box and then a table, as an child grows. Fig. 4 depicts a first stage in assembly of the furniture kit, using the component panels of Fig. 2 and certain hardware items of Fig. 3. A pair of side 10 panels 30 are placed in a spaced apart arrangement, either side of a middle panel 40, which extends between the side panels 30 intermediate their respective longitudinal extents. As depicted, pairs of locating dowels project from both sides of the middle panel 30, to mating with co-operating holes formed in the side panels 30. The 15 result is a H-shaped form. The exploded detail depicted in Fig. 4 indicates that a bevelled surface of one edge of the middle panel 40 is preferably facing upwardly during this step of assembly. Fig. 5 depicts a next progressive step of assembly of the furniture kit as a 20 box, following from that depicted in Fig. 4. An end panel 20 is attached to one end of the aligned side panels 30. Bolts 2 are deployed at each of the four corners of the end panel 20, and used to fasten the end panel 20 to the side panels 30 using the hex key 6. Locating dowels and co-operating holes are used on the end panel 20 and side panels 30 to locate the end panel 20 for alignment 25 of the bolt holes over the receiving bores formed in the ends of the side panels 30. The result is an A-shaped form. Fig. 6 depicts a yet next progressive step of assembly of the furniture kit as a box, following from that depicted in Fig. 5. In this stage a base panel 10 is slotted between the side panels 30. The facing side panels 30 as depicted have 30 formed along their lower edge facing channels which receive longitudinal sides of the base panel 10. This allows the base panel 10 to be slotted in place without lifting the partially assembled furniture off the ground.

5 Furthermore, doors 50 are positioned in place. The doors have at their longitudinal ends locating pins that act as pivots when received in co-operating bores formed in the end panels 20. The locating pins are located in the end panel 20 assembled, and can be rotated to rest in place on the side panels 30 and/or 5 middle panel 40. The exploded detail depicted in Fig. 6 indicates that pads 4, which are annular in form and preferably fabricated from a silica-based gel material, and are used around the locating pins to improve constructional quality. The use of pads 4 discourage the doors 50 from rattling, and provide some latitude to how tightly the end panels 20 are attached to provide a firm fit with the 10 doors 50. Fig. 7 depicts a final step in the assembly of the furniture kit as a box, following from that depicted in Fig. 6. This involves attaching the second and final end panel 20 via the bolts 2 and using the hex key 6. Again, locating dowels and co-operating holes are used to locate the end panel 20 relative to the side panels 15 30, and also assists in improving the structural integrity of the resulting unit. The result is the box 100 depicted in Fig. 8. The box 100 is well suited to general storage, and may be used for collecting toys and other playthings, or used to stow nursery basics such as disposable nappies, towels and so on. The placement of the middle panel 40 assists in supporting the doors 50, 20 and provides a divider that can be used to separate different types of items stowed in the box 100. The end panels 20 extend beyond the side panels 30, and the base panel 10, and according their lower edge in effect acts as legs, which rest against the supporting surface. The use of a pair of matching doors 50, rather than (for example) a single door allows for low clearance below overhanging 25 shelving - if required. Figs. 9 and 10 depict optional final assembly of the furniture kit as a table 100'. Preceding steps are as described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. The steps depicted in Fig. 9 is essentially the same as described with reference to Fig. 7, with an optional additional step of adding pads 4 to assist with fine tuning the of 30 the fit of the doors 50. The assembled end panel 20 rests on the supporting ground below while the final end panel 20 is secured in place. The final result is a table 100', which is well suited to use as a bedside table, which has internal storage space hidden from immediate view by doors 50 (that is, a cabinet). A 6 floor, upon which the table 100' rests is provided by a lower end panel 20, and an intermediate shelf provided by the middle panel 40. The other end panel 20 provides the useful surface for the bedside table. The base panel 10 acts as a cabinet back for the bedside table 100', and the doors 50 in effect act as cabinet 5 doors for the table 100' As is apparent to one skilled in the art, various components of the kit can be dimensioned as required to suit differing styles of furniture, whilst retaining the same general configuration. Various modifications can be made to the kit described above. As an 10 example, a multiplicity of middle panels may be used to provide more hidden shelving, when the kit is assembled as a bedside table. Panels of slatted or stylized construction may be alternatively used as required to provide different furniture styles. 15

Claims (5)

1. A furniture kit comprising pieces able to be alternatively deployed as a box or a table using a series of fasteners that removably secure the pieces as required, the kit comprising: two end panels, two side panels, and a base panel, 5 wherein when assembled the side panels bridge the end panels, and the end panels extend beyond the side panels and the base panel, so that respective end panels function as supporting legs when used as a box, and as a base and top surface when used as a table.

2. A furniture kit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one middle 10 panel, wherein when assembled the middle panel extends between the side panels to function as a separator when used as a box, and shelving when used as a table.

3. A furniture kit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one door, wherein when assembled the door extends between the end panels to function as 15 a lid when used as a box, and a cabinet door when used as table.

4. A furniture kit according to claim 3, wherein two matching doors are provided, which each pivot at sides of the end panels along a longitudinal axis aligned with the side panels.

5. A furniture kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base panel 20 when assembled slots into facing recessed channels formed in opposed side panels, and functions as a base when used as a box and as a cabinet back when used as a table. BOORI AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS