EP2895029A1

EP2895029A1 - Residential foldable portable furniture system

Info

Publication number: EP2895029A1
Application number: EP13837958.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael TEREM
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-12
Filing date: 2013-09-12
Publication date: 2015-07-22
Also published as: IL237812A0; EP2895029A4; WO2014041530A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a space saving folded set of furniture that is ideal for small space living, including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can be collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported between apartments, in which one person can open and close it by himself without any tools and in which the main parts are made of one piece.

Description

Residential foldable portable furniture system FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to folded furniture, and especially to folded set of furniture's made of one piece, in which one man can open and close each one from closed to fully functional state by himself without any tools.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In our days apartments are quite small in size and very expensive. People who want to buy or rent an apartment face a difficult decision, whether to buy a big apartment with a mortgage or to buy a smaller apartment, and make do with little space. With the ever rising population, the demand for space is bound to increase with time. Many people have to live in small spaces, especially in the big cities. Modern day apartments are quite small in size and we find it hard to accommodate even the most basic furniture pieces. Tiny houses usually necessitate thinking out of the box when it comes to furniture. Standard furniture for "regular" homes may not fit into a tiny house.

[0003] In small apartments there is not enough room even for the most basic furniture pieces; therefore there is a need for small furniture or even to furniture with a multiple uses and mostly for folded furniture.

[0004] There are mainly several groups of people, for example, students, young couples, people who rent an apartment and people with children in small apartments, who need such a solution.

[0005] However, this is when folding furniture can come to the rescue and helps us in managing limited spaces. Folding furniture pieces are practical solutions as they can be collapsed when not in use and can also be easily transported. They are easy to transport when relocating, they can open up easily and when there is no need for them they can be folded up to a small flat place. [0006] In the art, there is some known foldable furniture for small spaces. Most of those folding furniture include only one piece of furniture, for example: folding chairs, folding cabinets or folding beds and so on. For more complicated furniture for example, a cabinet with shelves there is a need for some tools like screwdriver and a hammer to install and sometimes there is a need for more than one man to install it.

[0007] For example: US3965498 & W09119442 describe a bed folding into a closet, in which the closet is permanent and only the bed can fold into it. US5820208 for example relates to a collapsible integrated combination bench and table for kids. It is foldable piece of furniture which comprises a bench unit and a table unit interconnected by a common foldable member.

[0008] Therefore there is a need for some space saving furniture that would be ideal for small space living, will include the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, will be easy to install and can be easy to transport between apartments.

SUMMARY

[0009] This invention relates to a space saving folded set of furniture that is ideal for small space living, including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can be collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported between apartments.

[0010] This invention further relates to a space saving folded set of furniture's that is ideal for small space living, including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can collapse to a small surface and can be easily transported between apartments, in which one person can open and close it by himself without any tools.

[0011] This invention further relates to a space saving folded set of furniture that is ideal for small space living, including the basic pieces of furniture a man need, can install by one man without any tools, can collapse to a small surface and can be easily transport between apartments, in which the main parts are made of one piece.

[0012] The furniture of this invention includes, but is not limited to, a bed, a cabinet with or without shelves, a cupboard, a desk with or without shelves, ladder, a table and a computer desk and any other piece of furniture that is needed for an apartment. [0013] The set of furniture of this invention includes at least two of the listed options and can includes as many pieces of furniture as needed, from the following furniture options: a bed, a cabinet with or without shelves, a cupboard, a desk with or without shelves, a table, a container and a computer desk and any other piece of furniture that is needed for an apartment. There is an option to further include another desk which open up and extends the table when needed.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of this invention the set of furniture of this invention includes a bed, a cupboard, a computer desk with or without shelves, a closet, a shelving system. The most preferred set of furniture of this invention includes a bed, a computer desk, a cupboard and a ladder.

[0015] The set of furniture of this invention can be made from any kind of wood, plastic, iron, metal, Nanocrystallinecellulose (NCC), any kind of Polypropylene,

Polycarbonate Structured Sheet (PCSS), silicon or any other material which is rigid and firm.

[0016] Every piece of the set of furniture of this invention is made from one piece, which one man can open it independently, without any help and without any need of using some tools to install it. While opening this set, the divider location and spacing between the parts are designed to apply a single person opening option. While the person opens up the right and left walls the back side supports the whole set and the set is self supported. After that he opens the shelf and the support divider and so the set is stable and can be opened.

[0017] The set of furniture of this invention can be made from a Polycarbonate

Structured Sheet (PCSS) which due to its properties doesn't need any hinges and instead it folded in the right places to create the desired structure of this set. When there is a need to fold this set in order to transfer it, a person just folds it by himself, without a need of any tools or help. There is an option of adding fitted hinges known in the art to this

polypropylene instead of folding it up.

[0018] By the term man or user it means man, woman or even youngster which can open up this piece of furniture alone. [0019] By the term hinge or axle in this invention it relates to any kind or shape of a hinge which can provide the opening and closing angle needed in this invention. There are quite a lot of such hinges known in the art.

[0020] There are two kinds of hinges, one which enable the two plates to collapse adjacent to each other without any space and the other one enable the two plates to collapse close to each other with some space and allows another table to collapse between them. The second kind of hinge has two different sizes of spaces they apply.

[0021] Those sets of furniture of this invention may include no wheels, or may include one wheel or more at the bottom of each part of said set for easy transportation when it is needed. Those wheels may have a locking system in the immobile state for maximum stability of this set. In a most preferred embodiment of this invention this set of furniture includes one wheel which contributes to the system stability. This wheel can be inserted into the furniture and get out only when it has to be moved. The wheel has a magnet that keeps it in its "up" position And it can stay in this closed state indefinitely

[0022] When this set includes a bed, the bed is located above the cupboard; therefore the set includes a ladder in order to climb to the upper bed. The bed includes a surface made from a rigid material such as any kind of wood, plastic, iron, metal, silicon or any other material which is rigid and firm. On the top of this surface there is a mattress.

[0023] When this set includes a bed, to the bottom side of the bed can be attached vertically, some rails which enable 2-6 sets of cupboards or desk shelves, to be inserted. Those cupboards or desk shelves can be drawn out as required, at the rest of the time they are placed under the bed and take no additional space in the room.

[0024] When this set includes a bed, the bed is laid in one side on the cupboard and on the other side on the bookcase. If those two are of different height an addition plate is placed between them in order to compensate for the difference. The plate of the bed can be attached to the wall by pins. [0025] In another embodiment there will be an additional board placed vertically to the side of the mattress with or without shelves in order to prevent the person on the bed from falling off.

[0026] In another embodiment of this invention, the resulting furniture is formed in such a way as to comprise the steps needed for a person to climb up. Those steps can be a ladder attached to this set or by the components of the set. The set components can be designed to create the steps and the person can climb on them to the upper bed.

[0027] The ladder which includes in this set of furniture when a bed is included can be folded easily by releasing 2 hinges to the desk side and is locked easily by a shutter when not in use. This close state enables a free use of the desk. Those hinges are hinges which permit the set of furniture collapse to a small flat surface and are well known in the art.

[0028] When the set of furniture includes a bed and therefore a ladder, each step in the ladder is connected to the side wall with a hinge.

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[0029] To all of the described set of furniture there is an option to put a cover of the side walls. This cover can be in any color or texture the client wishes. In addition there is an option for covering the plate side panel with any kind of decorated covering made from various materials.

[0030] In addition there is an option to add a multi layering or any form of material addition in order to increase structural strength, for example if the user put on them books or electric equipment or other heavy things. This layering or any form of material addition can be doubled or tripled according to need. This multi layering is an additional support of the same or different material that is added in the load points, according to the intended use. In addition there is an option for deletion of material in points that do not need to carry structural stress. [0031] The set of furniture of this invention is made from an upper plate, a bottom plate, a right plate and a left plate. Those plates are connected to each other by a 90° hinges which can open up and have a support plate between them.

[0032] The size of each set of furniture will be set according to the client demands while maintaining interdependency between units and enable opening and closing this set by a single person.

[0033] When the 2 side plates are opened the support plate stabilizes the cupboard and the user can be free to open the other shelves. After the first stabilizer plate is open the user can open the shelves and the desk easily. After opening the plates and the shelves the hinges are locked.

[0034] The set of this invention can include any combination of furniture in any kind of design. Some illustrations of this invention are described in the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In order to understand the subject matter and to see how it may be carried out in practice, examples will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] Figure 1 illustrates an example of the set of furniture of this invention in the open state.

[0037] Figure 2 illustrates an example of the set of furniture of this invention in its close state.

[0038] Figure 3 illustrates an example of the set of furniture of this invention in the open state, when the ladder is in its closed state. [0039] Figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d & 4e illustrates an example of the closing process of the computer desk with the ladder unit. And Fig. 4f describes the optional hinges.

[0040] Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d & 5e illustrates an example of the opening process of the cupboard unit.

[0041] Figure 6 is an example of a wheel in this set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that some examples of the subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known stages, methods, modules, devices and systems have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the description. Referring now to the figures in more details:

[0043] Figure 1 illustrates an example of the set of furniture of this invention in its open state. This figure illustrates the most preferred set of furniture of this invention and includes a bed, a computer desk, a cupboard and a ladder. Each set of this invention is made from one multi segment piece and can be opened and closed by one man alone without any help and without the need of any tool. Each one of: the bed (2), the computer desk (4), and the cupboard (6) with the ladder (8) are made from one such piece.

[0044] In another aspect the set of furniture of this invention can include at least two of the listed options and can includes as many pieces of furniture as needed, from the following furniture options: a bed, a cabinet with or without shelves, a cupboard, a desk with or without shelves, a table, a container and a computer desk and any other piece of furniture that is needed for an apartment. There is an option to further include another desk which opens up and extends the table when needed. [0045] Figure 2 illustrates an example of the set of furniture of this invention in its close state. When all the pieces of this set are in their closed state they are flat and need only a small storage space. If there is a need to ship them they are very easy to transport.

[0046] Figure 3 illustrates an example of the set of furniture of this invention in its open state. This figure illustrates the most preferred set of furniture of this invention and includes a bed (2), a computer desk (4), a cupboard (6) and a ladder (8). In this figure the ladder is in its closed state and therefore is not hindering the user from easily using the computer desk.

[0047] Figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d & 4e illustrate an example of the closing process of the computer desk with the ladder unit. When there is a need to close this unit, for example, there is a need, in the first stage (fig. 4a) to close the ladder (8). Next there is a need to open out the side panels (9) of the desk, the main part of this desk (10) can stand alone without any need for stabilization. In this stage the user can continue and close the desk.

[0048] In the next stage (fig. 4b) the user collapses the bottom support shelf of the desk (12) and after it he can close the table plate (14) of this desk. Then he can also close the bottom plate of this desk (16) as illustrate in fig 4c. As can be seen in fig 4d, the side panels are the stabilizing parts in this system. Then the user can collapse the rest of the shelves one by one, first by closing the supporting shelf (18) between the shelves and then the shelf itself (20). Only after the user closed all the shelves, as can be seen in Fig. 4e, he can close the side panels (9). Fig. 4f describes one kind of optional hinges. The shelves are connected to the back plate by one kind of hinges (22) which allow the plates to be adjacent to each other, when the side panels are connected to the back plate with a second kind of hinges (24) which allow the plates to collapse with some space between then in order the shelves plates to stay in between. The opening process proceeds in the reverse order.

[0049] Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d & 5e illustrates an example of the opening process of the cupboard unit. Fig. 5a is the closed option of the cupboard set. At the first stage (fig. 5b) the user opens the side panels (26) of the cupboard, in this option the cupboard is stable and allows the user to open the rest of it. [0050] After it, as can be seen in Fig. 5c he can open up the bottom plate (28), the next shelf (29) and by opening the support shelf (30), he stabilizes those shelves as demonstrated in fig. 5d and can open the rest of the shelves. Fig. 5e illustrates the final stage in which the user fastens the side panels (26) so that the cupboard is ready to use.

[0051] Figure 6 illustrate one embodiment of the wheels of this invention, if exist.

Those sets of furniture of this invention may include no wheels, or may include one wheel or more at the bottom of each part of said set for easy transportation when it is needed. Those wheels may have a locking system in the immobile state for maximum stability of this set. In a most preferred embodiment of this invention this set of furniture includes one wheel which contributes to the system stability. This wheel can be inserted into the furniture and get out only when it has to be mobile. Fig. 6a describes the open position of the wheel (34), where it attached to a guide path track (36) and to a magnet (32) at the end of it. At the closed state, the wheel (34) as can be seen in Fig. 6b run over a guide path (36) until it is locked by the a magnet (32) which keeps it in the upright (internal) position and can stay in this closed state without any kind of friction.

Claims

CLAIMS;

1. A set of furniture including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, that can be collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported,

2. The^. folded set of ftirniture of claim 1. in which one person can open and close it by himself without any tools.

3. The folded set of furniture of claim 1 in which the main parts are made of one

segmented piece.

4. The folded set of furniture of any one of claims 1 in which the main parts are selected from at least two of: a bed, a cabinet with or without shelves, a cupboard, a desk with or without shelves, a computer desk, a closet, a shelving system, a container, a chest of drawers and a table.

5. The folded set of furniture of claim 1 in which the main parts are a bed, a computer desk, a cupboard and a ladder.

6. The folded set of furniture of any one of claim 1 which further comprises another desk which, opens up and extends the table when needed.

7. The folded set of furniture of any one of claim 1 in which the main parts are made from any kind of wood, plastic, iron, metal, Nanocrystallinecellulose (NCC), any kind of Polypropylene, Polycarbonate Structured Sheet (PCSS), silicon or any other material which is rigid and firm.

8. A set of furniture including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can be

collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported, characterized in that every piece of the set of furniture of this invention is made from one segmented piece, which one man can open it up by himself, without any help and without any need of using some tools to install it.

9. A set of fumiture including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can be collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported, characterized in that every piece of the set of fumiture of this invention is made from one segmented piece, which one man can open it up by himself, without any help and without any need of using some tools to install it, made from Nanocrystallinecellulose (NCC).

10.^, The folded set of furniture of claim 8 characterized in that while opening this set, the divider location and spacing between the parts enable opening and closing of this set by one person without any tools.

11. The folded set of furniture of any one of claim 8 in which the set of furniture of this invention is made from a Polycarbonate Structured Sheet (PCSS) which is folded in the right places to create the desired structure of this set without the need of hinges, or with the suitable hinges.

12. The folded set of furniture of any one of claims 1 or 8 in which the sets of furniture of this invention may include no wheels, or may include one wheel or more at the bottom of each part of said set

13. The folded set of furniture of any one of claims 1 or 8 in which the sets of fumiture of this invention include one wheel.

14. The folded set of furniture of any one of claims 1 or 8 in which further, when this set includes a bed, to the bottom side of the bed can be attached vertically, some rails which enable 2-6 sets of cupboards or desk shelves, to be inserted.

15. The folded set of furniture of any one of claims 1 or 8 in which the sets of furniture of this invention may include in addition, board placed vertically to the side ofthe mattress with or without shelves in order to prevent the person on the bed from falling off.

1^.6. The folded set of furniture of any one of claims 1 or 8 comprise the steps needed for a person to climb up.

17. The steps of claim 15 which can be a ladder attached to this set or by the components of the set.

18. A set of furniture of claim 15 including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can be collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported, which is made from an upper plate, a bottom plate, a right plate and a left plate.

19. A set of furniture including the basic pieces of furniture a person needs, can be

collapsed to a small flat surface and can be easily transported, characterized in that every piece of the set of furniture of this invention is made from one segmented piece, which one man can open and close it up by himself, without any help and without any need of using some tools to install it. The basic pieces are selected from at least two of: a bed, a cabinet with or without shelves, a cupboard, a desk with or without shelves, a computer desk, a closet, a shelving system, a container, a chest of drawers and a table with or without a ladder. Those parts are made from any kind of wood, plastic, iron, metal, any kind of Polypropylene, Polycarbonate Structured Sheet (PCSS), silicon or any other material which is rigid and firm.

20. The set of claim 18 in which the plates are covered with a decoration coating and have a wrapping.

21. The set of claim 18 in which the main segment in a segmented piece has a frame around it for added strengths

22. The set of claim 18 in which additional material can be added to the structural stress points for added structural strength or any form of addition of material.

23. The set of claim 18 in which material can be removed from non strength bearing parts in order to save in material cost and weight.