CA1271985A - Structural and functional building and furniture assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure The present invention relates to a method of constructing components for use in furniture or building structures, comprising the steps of (a) providing one or more sheets of material; (b) severing said sheet or sheets of material to provide striplike portions; and (c) assembl-ing said striplike portions one to another to provide one or more L-shaped and/or one or more U-shaped components. The invention also relates to items of furniture comprising components constructed in accordance with said method of constructing and also to the assemblage of said components as a package or packages for shipment to a destination prior to assembly. The invention further relates to the utiliza-tion of said so constructed items of furniture as structural members of a building. Also disclosed are furniture and building components fabricated in accordance with the above-noted method.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of constructing components for use in furniture or building structures. It also relates to items of furniture compris-ing components constructed in accordance with said method of constructing and also to the assemblage of said compon-ents as a package or packages for shipment to a destination prior to assembly. The invention further relates to the utilization of said so constructed items of furniture as structural members of a building.
Major drawbacks in respect of the known construct-ions including "kit-like" construction components, are their limited versatility or uses. Also, the high cost of fabrica-ting components for use in constructing both buildings and furniture and also the high cost of transporting, particularly when destined for use as furniture.
It is therefore a feature of the present invention to overcome said major drawbacks.
According to the present invention, modular furni-ture and building units are provided, also modular combination furniture and building units. The modular units according to the present invention comprise assemblies such as roof, floor or wall structure, as well as providing different articles of furniture, which include wall units comprising cabinets and shelving, desks, tables, benches, chairs and stools, etc.
Some units serve a single function, i.e. as articles of furni-ture, for example a chair, a desk, a work shelf, etc., while others serve a multiple function, for example as a wall cabinet comprising furniture and at the same time as a structural wall member supporting the roof or a floor thereabove, thus forming part of the building housing the furniture.
An important aspect of the present invention and a factor in the relatively low cost of construction 71~35 stemming therefrom, is that many components according to the invention, whether for use in furniture or building construction, are produced from sheet or plate like material. The latter may comprise plywood, particle board, sandwich or laminated board, plastic board, stone panels, etc. According to the invention the sheet or plate like material is cut into predetermined size strips or planks for use in creating separate components or assemblies. The strips or planks are used for shelving or structural up-rights. Where structural rigidity is required, the uprights are joined in sets to form elements having an L or a U shape in cross section, or to form box members. The uprights are also used as load supporting studs or beams in building panel assemblies, or as legs in tables, stools, chairs and cabinets.
The pre-cut panels, referred to hereinafter as non-striplike portions, are used alone or in combination with the said strips or planks, as tops of tables, chairs, benches, or as doors and extended sides of cabinets.
The individual components comprising boxes, uprights and strips, are interconnected into assemblies, for example by means of screws and bolts which are inserted into pre-drilled holes. Thus the present invention affords storage and delivery of the component assemblies in dis-mantled or partially erected sub-assemblies, which can be erected into the final assemblies on a self-help basis, even by an untrained user, following the instructions provided.
The whole set of furniture or room or house structure and furniture combination according to the inven-tion, can ~e delivered in a single or in a few (depending on 1~71!~5 the size or number of assemblies) boxes or crates comprising minimum volume and cost of transportation.
The assemblies can also be easily dismantled and re-assembled, i.e. reused, at a new location if required.
As briefly mentioned above in connection with the prior art, traditionally different building components or furniture assemblies such as wall panel, floor panel, chair, table, or cabinet, are designed individually using different materials and structure for each assembly. Such is labour intensive and expensive. The present invention is directed to universal, modular building and furniture assemblies where the same material, simple structural scheme, and simple method and element of connection are used to produce a variety of different articles.
Traditionally, different building and furniture assemblies are designed to serve a specific single function, i.e. as a chair, a table, a storage shelf or cabinet, an internal wall panel, an external wall panel, a floor panel, etc.
The present invention is directed to assemblies which can serve multiple combined functions, i.e. of parti-cular furniture and of building structure, simultaneously.
The present invention demonstrates the use of furniture articles such as book shelves or storage cabinets or combinations of storage cabinets and desks, simultaneously, serving as modular structural panel, able to support floor or roof structure above and constituting a finished modular segment of partition wall or external building envelope.
Such a panel can also be equipped with integrated window or door and, where required, can be supplemented with thermal insulation.

1;~71~35 The present invention also affords floor and roof panels to be constructed using similar material and structural design.
The type of material selected to produce the assemblies in accordance with the present invention will of course influence their cost, performance and durability, which may thus be controlled as desired. As aforementioned, the present invention makes it possible to use a variety of board or factory produced sheet materials, such as plywood, particle and laminated panels, plastic and sandwich boards, cut stone, etc.
The present invention allows to design and have delivered in one shipment a complete set of modular assemblies to build a complete room, or a house structure complete with a set of integrated and detached furniture matching each other in style, structure and material. All assemblies can be easily erected and if necessary dis-assembled and moved to a new location.
Thus, from the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a variety of universal modular building and furniture assemblies made using similar material, similar structural system, and similar simple method and element of connection. Moreover, accord-ing to the present invention, factory produced sheet board material is used to produce all assemblies, a variety of materials being used as indicated. Further, that standard sheets are cut into strips, planks and panels of defined dimensions. Pre-cut strips are then interconnected into component elements of L- or U-shaped section, referred to as the uprights, and together with panels, into elements in the form of boxes. The uprights have inherent rigidity and strength to support loads and are used as vertical structural elements for cabinets ancl wall panels, for legs of tables, benches, stools, or as horizontal beams and stiffening elements where required. The planks are used as shelves. The panels or box components are used as tops for cabinet assemblies, tables, desks or doors and sides of cabinets, sides and backs of sofas and chair assemblies. Further, that the component elements required to form a particular assembly are interconnected by means of bolts which are inserted into holes which are pre-drilled.
A number of assemblies, such as modular panels, cabinets, or combinations of bookshelves with back panels, can be interconnected in a similar manner by means of bolts into a continuous wall to form a whole room or a house. As will be realized, other methods of connecting can also be used including screws, nails, glues, etc. The use of bolts, however, in addition to being simple and accessible to the untrained person, allows easy assembling and dismantling, thus easy transport and reuse of assemblies.
Finally, the present invention offers a system where a number of various buildings and furniture assemblies can be delivered in components or sub-sets, at minimum volume, and thus transportation cost, in one or a few boxes or crates. One delivery may contain the whole set of furni-ture assemblies or the combination wall, whole room or whole house and furniture articles desired.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing com-ponents for use in furniture or building structure, compris-ing the steps of (a) providing one or more sheets of material, (b) severing the sheet or sheets of material to provide 1~7~85 striplike portions; and (c~ assembling the striplike portions one to another to provide one or more L-shaped and/or one or more U-shaped components.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material marked to define striplike and rectangular non-striplike portions in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 2 illustrates various components (a) - (g) constructed from the parts defined in Figure 1, FIGURE 3 illustrates basically a variety of furniture pieces constructed from the various components shown in Figure 2, such including a stool, a bench, a chair or a table;
FIGURE 4A illustrates a further item of furniture, namely a bench, constructed from selected ones of the components shown in Figure 2, namely U-shaped com-ponents and a non-striplike component, FIGURE 4B illustrates an assemblage of the components for shipment; and FIGURE 4C illustrates a variation of the item of furniture, i.e. where the top thereof is swingably hinged;
FIGURE 5A illustrates a perspective view of a further item of furniture, namely a chair constructed from selected ones of the components shown in Figure 2;
FIGURE 5B illustrates a collapsed assembly of the components for shipment; and FIGURE 5C illustrates a side elevational view showing the possible swinging hinging of the seat:
FIGURE 6 illustrates a further item of furni-1.;~71~35 ture, namely a table, constructed from selected ones ofthe components shown in Figure 2, FIGURES 7A and 7B illustrate a still further item of furniture, namely a pair of drafting boards, (A) being a perspective view of the same and (B) an assemblage of the components comprising the item for purposes of shipment FIGURES 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate a yet further item of furniture, namely three types of modular wall assemblies which may be used as furniture per se or as a combination-wall structure, the three types being depicted (A), (B) and (C) each comprising a front elevational view, side sectional view, and plan view;
FIGURES 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate the modular wall assemblies shown in Figure 8 arranged in spaced rela-tion one to another wherebYto comprise an example of econo-mical wall structure assembly, (A), (B) and (C) identifying the units shown in Figure 8, also the use of other components, i.e. striplike portions according to the present invention placed therebetween, FIGURE 10 illustrates an architectural plan view of a building constructed using selected ones of the components shown in Figure 2, some of which have been apertured for windows: and FIGURE 11 is a typical sectioned elevational view of the building using selected ones of the components shown in Figure 2, including box ones containing thermal insulation.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, in Figure 1 there is seen a sheet of plywood having a plurality of marked lines 2 thereon defining striplike S

portions 3 and 4 and non-striplike portions 5 and 6. As will be evident, and understood, Figure 1 discloses simply one example of how a sheet of plywood 1 may be divided up for subsequent severing thereof to provide material for components according to the present invent-ion~ It will be realized that the dividing up of sheet 1 of plywood is determined by the size and shape of com-ponents to be produced for a given piece of furniture and/or building component.
Figure 2 discloses components constructed using the portions severed from sheet 1, the securing of the portions being effected by screws or bolts (not shown). Component (a) comprises striplike portion 3.
Component (b) comprises a pair of striplike portions 3 assembled to provide an L-shaped component. Component (c) it will be seen is constructed in similar manner to that of component (b) except that part of one striplike portion 3 has been coped at 31. Component (d) comprises two striplike portions 4 secured to a non-striplike por-tion 5. Component (e) comprises two striplike portions 3 and 4 secured to one another and to non-striplike portion 5' not shown in Figure 1, being severed from an alternative marking of sheet 1. Components (f) and (g) as clearly seen comprise respectively striplike portion 4 and non-striplike portion 5.
Primed letters and numbers have been used throughout the-present disclosure to denote similar items but of differing dimension.
Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a typical example of a number of pieces of furniture resulting from particular assembly of the components shown in Figure 2.

~;~71~5 In one instance, a stool or table is provided by assembling together, as shown, two each of items (d) and (f) and one item (g), all seen in Figure 2. A chair is provided by adding and securing by bolting to the stool or table, a chair back comprising non-striplike portion (g').
As seen in Figure 3, items (d) may be assembled in one or two ways, the alternative being depicted by dotted lines. A bench is provided by assemb~ing together using bolting (not shown) the following items seen in Figure 2, namely four items (b) secured by two items (a) and two items (a') the latter being similar to (a) but produced from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1, and one item (g"~ again being similar to item (g) but produced from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 4, (A) illustrates a further design of a bench, or table, or desk, which may be produced utilizing components of the type shown in Figure 2. In this instance, two items (d) comprise the bench or table legs which are secured in spaced position one to another by a further item (d'), the latter being produced from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1, and a top (g"') secured to item (d') and/or items (d) by screws or bolts, not shown. Top (g"') again is produced from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4B illustrates the components of the bench or table prior to assembly and arranged as a shipment package. Such arrangement, it will be seen, comprises legs (d) straddling item (d'), all of which rest upon item (g"').
Figure 4B illustrates the simple inexpensive furniture design afforded by the present invention and the _ 9 _ ~;~71~35 further benefit stemming therefrom, i.e. the ability to create small compact packages thereof to aid transporta-tion of the same.
Figure 4C illustrates the optional feature of hingedly mounting the top (g"') via a hinge or hinges (not shown). Further the aspect of item (dl) forming a storage compartment accessed via the hinged top (g"').
Referring to Figure 5, views (A) and (C) illustrate a chair design similar to that shown in Figure 3, view (C), illustrating the alternative hinge mounting of the chair seat. Figure 5, view (B) illustrates the chair in dismantled condition ready for shipment.
The chair design shown in Figure 5 further differs slightly from that shown in Figure 3. The design being specific to a chair allows the chair back to be integrated into the chair leg. This is clearly seen from Figure 5, view (B). Thus, the leg and chair back combina-tion comprises an item (g"") and a pair of items (f') being in contrast to the remaining front chair legs, item (d), the latter being similar to those shown in the chair of Figure 3. ~gain, the hinge mounting of the chair seat is provided by a conventional hinge unit.
Referring to Figure 6, it illustrates a table design similar to the one shown in Figure 3 except for an alternative arrangement of mounting the table legs. In this instance, legs (b') have been rotated through 90 and, as a result, item (al) has been repositioned inwardly of the table.
Referring to Figure 7, it illustrates in view (A) the dual drawing board table having legs mounted in the manner aforedescribed with respect to Figure 6. In this ~L~71~

instance, the table tops comprise two items (g) which are hingedly mounted (not shown). Tops (g) are respectively hinged from opposite sides of the table and include stay-securing members (not shown) for use in securing tops (g) at a selected incline relative the horizontal.
Figure 7, view (B) illustrates the dismantled components comprising the drawing board table, arranged ready for shipment.
Figure 8, views (A), (B), (C) illustrate further items of furniture respectively three types of modular wall unit assemblies which, as indicated previously, may be used as furniture per se, or as a combination furniture-wall structure. Referring to view (A), it will be seen that thè unit, which like the others seen in Figure 8 is self-supporting, comprises components similar to ones shown in Figure 2. As in the case of all the com-ponents according to the invention, the unit contains pre-drilled holes for receiving bolting (not shown) and like conventional wall units contain many pre-drilled holes -affording a variety of shelf and cabinet arrangements, etc.,to be assembled.
Referring to view (B), it will be seen the unit, being somewhat similar to that seen in view (A), again com-prises components similar to the ones shown in Figure 2. In the case of the present unit, it comprises a deepened cupboard portion instead of the shallow shelving and in-cludes a pair of doors (g).
View (C) discloses a full cupboard or wardrobe unit utilizing U-shaped components (d"') being of similar size to those shown in the unit in view (B) cupboard portion and having doors extending the full length of the unit.

1~7~5 Referring to Figure 9, as aforementioned, it discloses the modular furniture units shown in Figure 8, arranged in spaced relation one to another to provide a structural wall for a building and with the space between the modular units comprising shelving. The latter shelving may of course be an optional feature and, thus, has been shown in dotted lines for this reason. In such arrangement, the top of the units (A), (B) and (C) denoted R in Figure 9, would support a floor or roof structure and thus serve the dual purpose of furniture and building structure.
From the foregoing, it will be seen it is possible to create numerous furniture and building com-ponents and combinations thereof, utilizing the basic parts comprising L- and U-shaped components, striplike and non-striplike portions shown in Figure 2, all of which are created using sheet material.
As further evidence of the flexibility of the components according to the invention, attention is directed to Figure 11 showing a plurality of components noted (e) as in Figure 2, assembled to form a wall comprising studding and ceiling panels. Similar assemblies are seen in the plan view of a building shown in Figure 10, where such in some cases have been apertured to receive window units (not shown). As shown in Figure 11, as a typical installation, components (e) may include thermal insulation, designated I.
As may be realized, components (e~ may include further striplike portions and a further non-striplike portion secured thereto whereby to completely close off and provide a closed box-like member with the insulation therein. The latter may thus be used as a modular floor panel.

Claims (22)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of constructing components for use in furniture or building structures, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing one or more flat sheets of material;
(b) severing said sheet or sheets of material to provide strip-like and sheet-like portions, said portions having rectangular contours;
(c) assembling said strip-like and/or sheet-like portions one to another to provide one or more L-shaped and/or one or more U-shaped compo-nents; and (d) securing said portions together by inter-connecting at least one side edge of at least some of said portions with a flat surface of another, each adjoining one of said inter-connected pieces being disposed at 90° to the other, said strip-like and sheet-like portions being free of any interlocking cut-out sections.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of severing said sheet or sheets of material to provide at least one rectangular non-striplike portion and assembling ones of said striplike portions thereto to provide at least one U-shaped component.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of assembling at least two of said L-shaped components one to another whereby to provide a U-shaped component.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of assembling at least two of said L-shaped components one to another whereby to provide a T-shaped component.

5. A method as defined in claims 1 or 2 including the step of erecting a plurality of said L-shaped and/or U-shaped components whereby to comprise wall studding and thus a building wall structure.

6. A method as defined in claims 1 or 2 including the step of erecting a plurality of said L-shaped and/or U-shaped components whereby to comprise wall studding and assembling said striplike portions intermediate said erected components whereby to provide a combination wall structure and furniture piece or pieces.

7. A method as defined in claim 2 including the step of, prior to severing, marking said sheet or sheets of material to define striplike and rectangular non-striplike portions.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 including the step of aperturing at least one of said portions to facilitate assembly of the portions one to another to provide said com-ponents.

9. A table comprised of one or more flat sheets of material severed to provide strip-like and sheet-like portions, said portions having rectangular contours, said portions being secured together by inter-connecting at least one side edge of at least some of said portions with a flat surface of another, each adjoining one of said inter-connected pieces being disposed at 90° to the other, said strip-like and sheet-like portions being free of any interlocking cut-out sections, said table including a pair of spaced apart upstanding legs comprising respectively U-shaped components and a top comprising a rectangular non-strip portion.

10. A table as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said U-shaped components comprises a pair of L-shaped components.

11. A table as defined in claims 9 or 10 including a further rectangular non-strip portion secured to or adjacent a selected one of said legs whereby to project upwardly of said top and define a chair back portion with said top defining the chair seat.

12. A table as defined in claim 9, or 10 including a pair of said striplike portions each of which is secured adjacent the free ends thereof to said respective legs below but adjacent to said top.

13. A table as defined in claim 9 including a further U-shaped component which is secured adjacent the free ends thereof to said respective legs below but adjacent to said top.

14. A table as defined in claim 13 in completely dismantled form and arranged and secured as an assembly for shipping said assembly comprising said further U-shaped component resting on top of said top and both of said U-shaped leg components stradling said further U-shaped component.

15. A table comprised of one or more flat sheets of material severed to provide strip-like and sheet-like portions, said portions having rectangular contours, said portions being secured together by inter-connecting at least one side edge of at least some of said portions with a flat surface of another, each adjoining one of said inter-connected pieces being disposed at 90° to the other, said strip-like and sheet-like portions being free of any interlocking cut-out sections, said table including four spaced apart upstanding legs comprising respectively L-shaped components, striplike portions inter-connecting said legs adjacent the tops thereof and a top comprising a rectangular non-striplike portion secured directly or indirectly to said legs.

16. A table as defined in claim 15 wherein said top comprises two portions both of which are hinged adjacent a peripheral edge thereof to provide adjustable inclined positioning of the respective top portions relative to the horizontal plane of said non-inclined top.

17. A table as defined in claim 16 in completely dismantled form and arranged and secured as an assembly for shipment, said assembly comprising said top portions placed flat in side-by-side position, said L-shaped components arranged in pairs to form respective U shaped while on the respective top portions and the striplike portions stacked within said formed U shapes.

18. A furniture piece adapted to provide a building wall or a portion thereof and capable of supporting ceiling or floor means thereabove, said furniture piece comprising components constructed of one or more flat sheets of material severed to provide strip-like and sheet-like portions, said portions having rectangular contours, said portions being secured together by inter-connecting at least one side edge of at least some of said portions with a flat surface of another, each adjoining one of said inter-connected pieces being disposed at 90° to the other, said strip-like and sheet-like portions being free of any interlocking cut-out sections said furniture piece including a pair of spaced apart upstanding L-shaped components defining a U shape; said L-shaped components being held erect by a plurality of cross members comprising striplike and U-shaped components bolted thereto and extending in a planar direction normal to that of said upstanding L-shaped components to provide shelf space.

19. A furniture piece as defined in claim 18 including at least one further of said furniture pieces positioned in spaced relation thereto whereby to provide an extended wall or a portion thereof, and a plurality of striplike members extending therebetween and secured to said furniture pieces, providing a shelving arrangement intermediate said furniture pieces.

20. A furniture piece as defined in claim 18 including said ceiling means, said ceiling means including further striplike portions to provide a boxlike member U-shaped in cross - section.

21. A furniture piece as defined in claim 20 including thermal insulation within said boxlike member.

22. A plurality of modular building components constructed of one or more flat sheets of material severed to provide strip-like and sheet-like portions, said portions having rectangular contours, said portions being secured together by inter-connecting at least one side edge of at least some of said portions with a flat surface of another, each adjoining one of said inter-connected pieces being disposed at 90° to the other, said strip-like and sheet-like portions being free of any interlocking cut-out sections, each of said components including further striplike portions to provide a boxlike member having a U shape in cross section, said plurality of components being erected in side-by-side relation to form an extended surface which may form a wall, floor or roof.