NZ201719A - Furniture of slotted boards - Google Patents

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL No. 201719 DATED: 26 August 1982 KITSET FURNITURE WE, LAWRENCE ALLAN MEAD, a New Zealand citizen and CATHARINA MARIA STEVERLYNCK MEAD, a Belgian citizen, both of 1/14 Claude Road, Epsom, Auckand 3, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ^- 1710 l .\j \ / \ y This invention relates to ki-tset furniture and has particular application to the provision of kitset shelving and kitset furniture uni ts.

There 1s a need for kitset furniture which can be readily assembled 5 by the purchaser. Hitherto, kitset furniture has required the glueing, screwing, or nailing of nailing of components together.

This is not generally desirable, particularly if the furniture has to be dismantled at some time.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved kitset 10 furniture system.

In one aspect, the invention provides an article of furniture made up of two sets of members, a first set comprising at least two substantially flat elongate members of substantially uniform width, and a second set comprising at least four substantially flat elongate 15 members which are substantially half the width of those in the first set, each member having a slot adjacent each end of at least one elongate side edge thereof and at least some said members having such slots on both elongate side edges thereof, so that the members are positioned at right angles to one another with their slots 20 interengaged to form at least one rectangular module.

In another aspect, the invention provides an article of furniture including a first set of substantially flat elongate members of substantially uniform width, the members of said first set having at least two slots or dado cuts along at least one elongate side edge 25 thereof, the spacing between adjacent slots on the same side edge being common to the set, at least some said members having such slots on both side edges thereof, and a second set of substantially flat elongate members of a width which is substantially one half that of the first set of members and having slots on only one elongate side 30 edge with the spacing between the slots of the second set being substantially the same as that between the slots of the first set of members, said members of the sets being positioned at right angles to one another with their slots interengaged to form at least one rectangular module.

In a third aspect, the invention provides an article of furniture as deflned above, in pre-assembled form, together with instructions to assemble said article.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling an article of furniture, the method comprising the step of interengaging 5 the notches of the members of a pre-assembl ed article as defined above.

The word 'module' in this specification refers to a single cubicle defined by upper and lower shelves and two side walls.

Other aspects of this invention, which should be considered in all 10 its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specifications in which : Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a modular shelving unit constructed from the kitset of this Invention; and Figure 2 illustrates the various components of the kitset system, which are shown in different lengths.

In Figure 1, the single length components are labelled A, whilst the double length components are labelled B and the triple length components are referred to by the letter C.

It is preferred that the components are formed on timber, although various other materials can be used. If they are formed of timber, they are preferably provided with notches or dado cuts along their length to enable the components to interlock one with another at right angles.

Looking at component Al, it is noted that this has a pair of notches 10 (the component at the far right of Figure 2), adjacent to the ends of the component. The notches 10 are preferably of a width Z which corresponds to the thickness of the components. The depth W of the notches is preferably one quarter of the width of Al.

Al functions as a central shelf, or central upright, whilst its adjacent component A2 functions as a finishing shelf or finishing upright. This component A2 is effectively half of component Al, as if 1t had been split down the middle. Thus It has a single notch 13 at either end thereof whose width 1s Z and depth is W, being the same dimensions as notches 10 of Al. As the component A2 has a width Y 5 which is half that of the width of components Al, it is apparent that the depth of notch 13 is half Y.

The spacing between the pairs of notches 10 of component Al and the single notches 13 of A2, is spacing S, which is common to the various components of the system. This spacing can be determined by the 10 manufacturer to enable him to produce shelving of different heights and spacings between uprights.

Components B1 and B2 correspond to components Al and A2, except that they are double components having notches 15 at the ends thereof and notches 16 in the centre thereof. These notches have the same 15 spacing and thus the spacing between the outer notches 15 1s twice that of the spacing between the notches 10 of Al.

Similarly, components CI and C2 have three units and thus have outer notches 20 and central notches 21, 22.

The various components can be combined together in different forms to 20 produce different units.

In the exam pi e shown in Figure 1, the uni t is parti ally com pi eted. It has uprights formed from components B1 and B2. The horizontal components are formed from components Al and B2. These various components are labelled in the drawings. It will be apparent that 25 the various components interlock at right angles to one another. To construct the unit shown in Figure 1, it is generally convenient to construct this on its side and then turn it from the horizontal position into the vertical position as shown. To start with, the back components A2, B2 and B2 are placed parallel to one another at 30 the desired spacings, and then the first horizontal component Al is slotted in position between the two B2 components. Then the middle horizontal shelf B1 is slotted Into position connecting the components A2, B2 and B2. Then the lowest shelf B1 is slotted into position connecting the uprights A2, B2 and B2. Then the next 35 uprights are connected to the horizontal shelves. Thus upright Al is 1 171 o connected between the middle shelf B1 and the lower shelf Bl. Then the two uprights Bl, Bl are connected to the horizontal shelves Al, Bl, Bl. This results in the assembly shown in the drawings. However, it will be noted that this is not fully completed, for the 5 purpose of illustration. To complete this assembly and provide a flush finish across the face of the unit, additional components can be used. Thus the top and middle shelves can be finished with facing pieces A2 and B2.

It will thus be appreciated that the construction of the unit shown 10 in Figure 1 can be readily assembled by a purchaser, and can be readily dismantled and moved if required. The components interlock at right angles, and there is no need for screwing, glueing or the like.

The components can be produced having different notch spacings S, 15 different widths, and in different unit lengths, as required. The only requirement is that the same spacing S be used where components are to interlock to form shelving. Thus the components illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are examples of his invention, and the components can be formed in different shapes, lengths, and with many other 20 modifications or alterations. For example, decorative facing pieces could be provided having curved or scalloped edges to provide additional variety to the facing of the shelving unit produced by the main component. The same shelf unit may also include components of different widths/thicknesses.

Components may be produced which are more than three sections S long. Where items of furniture are to be assembled with some of the shelves or walls omitted, then the corresponding notches (e.g. 16, 21 or 22) may be omitted. Alternatively, although less desirably perhaps, the furniture may be constructed with those notches left unfitted.

Components may be provided with fittings, such as cupboard doors or door catches, drawer runners, internal shelf supports, cup hooks, or any other attachments, according to the nature of the item of furniture that is to be constructed. Alternatively, such fittings could be added to the furniture once the basic components have been 35 assembled.

If the units are turned on their side they can be used as planter or patio boxes. In this case it is desirable that the timber be treated with a preservative. This enables interlocking boxes of different heights to be created for landscaping or the like.

Finally, it will be appreciated that various other alterations and modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. . u

Claims (12)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An article of furniture made up of two sets of members, a first set comprising at least two substantially flat elongate members of substantially uniform width, and a second set comprising at least four substantially flat elongate members which are substantially half the width of those in the first set, each member having a slot adjacent each end of at least one elongate side edge thereof and at least some said members having such slots on both elongate side edges thereof, so that the members are positioned at right angles to one another with their slots interengaged to form at least one rectangular module.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of each slot is substantially equal to the thickness of at least one other member.

3. An article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two said members have at least one additional slot in either or both of their side edges, between said end slots.

4. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spacing between adjacent slots in each said member is constant.

5. An article as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of contiguous rectangular modules, each adjacent pair of modules sharing a side in common.

6. An article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the depth of each slot is substantially half the width of the members in the second set. -8- 40/7/</

7. An article of furniture, substantially as herein described with reference to either of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

8. An article of furniture including a first set of substantially flat elongate members of substantially uniform width, the members of said first set having at least two slots or dado cuts along at least one elongate side edge thereof, the spacing 5 between adjacent slots on the same side edge being common to the set, at least some said members having such slots on both side edges thereof, and a second set of substantially flat elongate members of a width which is substantially one half that of the first set of members and having slots on only one elongate side 10 edge with the spacing between the slots of the second set being substantially the same as that between the slots of the first set of members, said members of the sets being positioned at right angles to one another with their slots interengaged to form at least one rectangular module.

9. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 8 comprising a plurality of adjacent rectangular modules, each adjacent pair of modules sharing a side in common.

10. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 9 comprising adjacent modules in more than one row.

11. An article of furniture as claimed 1n claim 9 or 10, wherein at least some said modules are of substantially the same dimensions. ^

12. A method of assembling an article of furniture, the method comprising the step of interengaging the members set forth in any preceding claim. L.A. & C.N.S. MEAD By their Attorney JAMES U PIPER & CO ' 30 OCT 1984