US2996770A - Matching element for sectional furniture - Google Patents

Description

1961 w. N. NORMAN 2,996,770

MATCHING ELEMENT FOR SECTIONAL FURNITURE Filed May 4, 1959 I INVENTOR.

VV/LL/AM No/eMA/v BY Jam ATTO/Q/VEY 2,996,770 MATCHING [ELEMENT FOR SECTIONAL FURNITURE William N. Norman, 1500 W. Elm Ave., Fullerton, Calif. Filed May 4, 1!?59, Ser. No. 810,712

4 Claims. Cl. 20-74) This invention relates to means for spanning the seam formed by the abutting edges of sectional fm'niture, such as sofas, and has for an object to provide separable strip elements that not only improve the appearance of the seam or joint where sections are abutted but also aid in registering or the sections and imparting to the same a unitary appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a matching element as above contemplated that includes means adapted to be disposed between abu-tted furniture sections and be clamped thereby and thus held in operative position when the furniture is in use.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construc- 1110 11 and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes, preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a piece of sectional furniture with matching elements of the present invention in operative position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the matching elements shown in FIG. 1, a portion thereof being broken to show detail.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1, the view showing fragments of abutting furniture sections rather than the single section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partly broken perspective view of a modification.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof similar to FIG. 3.

While sectional sofas and the like are ordinarily upholstered, parts thereof, such as the back, may have no padding. Regardless how otherwise made, such sectional furniture items each has at least one end that is usually transverse to the length of the item and exactly matches a similar end of another section that may be abutted thereagainst. The exactness or nicety of match of the seam formed when two such furniture pieces are abutted has heretofore depended on the care taken in matching up the ends 10. The present matching element not only aids such matching register but also provides an enhanced appearance as well as imparting continuity or the appearance of being unitary to abutted sectional pieces.

As shown in FIG. 1, the matching elements 11 and 12 respectively cover the scam at the backs 13 and at the forward portions of the seats or seat frames 14. Each said element comprises, generally, a thin metal strip 15 that may be provided with a fabric cover or sheath 16, and a clip fitting 17 on at least one end of the strip 15. The element 11 uses two such clip fittings.

The element 11 is formed by suitable bends to have a front portion 18 that is adapted to span across the seam at the front of the backs of abutted sectional furniture, a top portion 19 that is adapted to span across the top of States Patent said backs and a rear portion 20 that may extend to the lower end of the back or, if desired, terminate adjacent the top portion 19. In any case, the fittings 17 are provided on the free ends of the portions 18 and 20.

Said clip fittings are each shown as provided with a thin extension 21 that extends from the medial line of the element 11. Thus, with the extensions 21 disposed in the seam between abutted ends 10 and the portions 18, 19 and 20 in respective overstanding engagement with the front, top and rear of the backs of the abutted sectional pieces, on each side of said scam, the latter is completely hidden from view and the element thus provided performs the functions herein-above set out. The single clip fitting of the element 12 is similar, said element in other respects and except for the length of its portions 22 and 23 being structurally comparable to the ele ment 11.

I The clip fittings 17 each comprises a sheet metal strip that has a portion 24 that encircles the fabric-covered strips 15 and conforms to the flattened form thereof, parallel arms 25 of said encircling portion and which, together, make up the extensions 21, and a returnabend end 26 on one arm 25 and in clamping engagement with the end of the other arm 25. Of course, the encircling portion is formed according to the cross-sectional form of the strip 15, regardless whether or not flat. The resilience of the fabric cover 16 assures tight fit of the fitting 17 and assures that the elements 11 or 12, or both, will be held in operative position across the seam of abutting sectional pieces when the abutting ends 10 of said pieces clamp the extensions 21 between them.

The flexible nature of the metal strips 15 provides for adjustment of conforming fit, and it will be understood that other materials, such as plastics, for instance, may be substituted for the metal strip 15. Of course, the strips 15 may be uncovered rather than sheathed and the gauge of the same, as well as its color or design, may be varied as desired.

The fabric-provided elements above described have their fabric sheaths clamped against end shifting by the fittings 17 and no other means is needed to lock the fabric in place.

The modification of FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a matching element that is of rigid construction and is advantageously made of wood with a fabric cover where the same is exposed. Accordingly, the portions 18a and 19a are operatively related to the seam of abutment of two sectional units, as are the portions 18 and 19, except that the same are formed to the shape to which fitted. Wooden strips 15a covered by fabric 16a product the portions 18a and 19a, the fabric being secured by tacks 17a since clip fittings are not needed for this purpose. Instead of th extensions 21, the element of FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided with a rigid wooden rib 21a that serves the same purpose of being clamped by the furniture units. Said rib, of course, may be made in sections instead of extending for the full length of the item.

While the foregoing specification illustrates and describes what I now contemplate to be the best modes of carrying out my invention, the constructions are, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, I do not desire to restrict the invention to the particular forms of construction illustrated and described, but desire to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A matching element for sectional furniture comprising a flexible strip of flat material provided with transverse beuds to conform the strip to the contour of abutting portions of two section of such furniture, sa d formed strip being adapted to span the seam or line of abutment and cover adjacent portions of the sections, a fabric sheath covering said flat strip, and securing means of flat strip clamped around the exterior of at least one fabric-covered end of the flat strip and provided with a plate like extension disposed in the seam between the furniture sections and adapted to be clamped by said sections to frictionally hold the element and the fabric sheath thereon in position when said sections are secured together.

2. In a matching element, a seam-covering strip, and a clip fitting of flat strip secured to and around the surfaces of an end of said strip and provided with a transverse plate-like portion adapted to fit in the seam covered by the seam covering strip, said plate-like portion being provided by parallel extensions of the clip fitting in face to face abutting relation.

3. In a matching element according to claim 2 in which one said plate-like portion is provided with an end bent back on the other plate-like portion to clamp the extensions together.

4. A matching element extending over the seam between abutted parts of sectional furniture comprising: a

length of fiat strip positioned to extend along and over the seam; and securing elements of short lengths of flat strip folded at points to lie flat against the outer and inner surfaces of the strip and to project as a plate-like extension normal to the back of the fiat strip at about the center thereof to a distance sufiicient to be inserted in the joint between sectional furniture parts and frictionally clamped therein when the parts are secured together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,722,226 Kessler July 23, 1929 2,013,598 Brooke Sept. 3, 1935 2,464,160 Stanitz Mar. 8, 1949 2,599,322 Drain June 3, 1952 2,888,684 Icenhower June 2, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 185,218 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1922 769,469 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1957

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