WO1992005724A1

WO1992005724A1 - Interchangeable modular furniture

Info

Publication number: WO1992005724A1
Application number: PCT/CA1990/000315
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen P. O'neill; Linda C. O'neill; James A. O'neill
Original assignee: Neill Stephen P O; Neill Linda C O; Oneill James A
Priority date: 1990-09-27
Filing date: 1990-09-27
Publication date: 1992-04-16

Abstract

There is disclosed an interengageable modular structure (10). Each structure includes a first wall (12) and a spaced apart second wall (14) with a pair of side walls (18, 16) therebetween. The first and second walls include first (20) and second (24) cooperating elements respectively which are adapted to engage respective second and first cooperating elements of a similar structure. This permits the similar structure to be interengaged with a similar structure in a superposed relationship. There is also disclosed an adapter structure (26) having similar first and second cooperating elements which can be used with the above-mentioned interengageable structure.

Description

INTERCHANGEABLE MODULAR FURNITURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to modular structures. More particularly, it relates to interengageable modular furniture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides interengageable furniture components where the components are engaged in a superposed relationship.

Interengageable structures are generally known in the art such as that as exemplified in U.S. Patent No. 3,644,008. In this document, Overby discloses a modular cabinet construction where modules are vertically stacked and regularly horizontally sequenced. The modules comprise a plurality of vertical and horizontal walls, with each top wall of one module providing the bottom wall of the above module.

U.S. Patent No. 2,614,016, disclosed by Regenhardt provides interlocking filing cabinets. The cabinets each include an upper and lower surface thereof and means for engaging a lower and upper surface of subsequently superposed cabinets.

This arrangement, as in that disclosed by Overby in '008 both are limited by on primary drawback - they both cannot provide superposed engagement when the modules or units are laterally angularly inclined in relation to each other.

Other arrangements of interlocking structures are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,374,917, 4,458,961 , in Italian Patent No. 34697 and in German Patent No.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 186 , 388 .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides interengageable modular furniture structures; more particularly, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular structure having a first wall, a spaced apart second wall and a pair of side walls, each of the first and second walls having means adapted for engagement with similar engaging means of a similar modular structure in a superposed relationship, and in which there is provided the improvement wherein the means of the first wall for engagement comprise first cooperating engaging means extending outwardly of a platform member, the first cooperating engaging means having a circumferentially extending wall; the means of the second wall for engagement comprising a second cooperating engaging means, the means being dimensioned to receive the platform member; whereby when a pair of the furniture structures are stacked, the first cooperating engaging means of the first wall of one of the structures register in alignment with the second cooperating engaging means of a second wall of a superposed modular structure.

The first and second cooperating means being circular and adapted for frictional engagement, provides versatility when assembling the structure. The individual structures may be assembled in a superposed relationship upon one another in a laterally angularly inclined manner or, the structures may be assembled in a tiered manner. The individual furniture structures can be combined to form standard furniture sizes and additionally share common features e.g. drawer size, alignment of drawer knobs or fixtures to provide a uniform appearance when stacked. The structures preferably comprise a rigid material for example, wood, plastic or other resilient materials adapted for lengthy use. In view of the aforementioned advantages, it is thus an object of the present invention to provide modular structures having such versatility in assembly.

In an alternate form, the side walls may include first and second cooperating engaging means for communication with juxtapositioned stacks of superposed structures. Similarly, the back walls of such structure may include cooperating engaging means for back to back interengagement.

This assembled unit may additionally be stacked in a superposed relationship with other structures.

Further, although circular cooperating engaging means are indicated herein as being preferred, any shape of recess and mating projection would suffice which would additionally allow some degree of lateral angular inclination of respective units e.g. equilateral triangles, squares, etc.

With the present invention, various types of furniture construction may be utilized to include the features of this invention; for example, furniture such as desks, drawers, bookcases, shelves, tables, credenzas, night tables, headboards for beds etc.

In the structures incorporating the improvements of the present invention, the number of projections will vary depending on the size, i.e. length and/or width of the surfaces having the projections and recesses. In smaller pieces of furniture, such as night tables, 2 to 6 projections and corresponding recesses can be provided; in the case of larger items, such as tables, 4 to 12 projections may be utilized.

The size of the projections can vary depending on the type of furniture and the effect and structural integrity required for coupling units together. Likewise, mating corresponding recesses will be similarly dimensioned. Typically, these projections, and corresponding recesses, will be dimensioned to have diameters ranging from e.g. 2" to 8" or more and will have a height ranging from e.g. .5" to 3" or 4" or more.

In the case of furniture formed by a molding operation, the recesses and projections will preferably be integrally molded with the article of furniture; in other cases, the projections can be formed of separate components by suitable molding techniques in the case of synthetic materials or in the case of e.g. wood or metal, by fabrication of the projections by cutting operations or punch operations, respectively. When the projection is formed as a separate component, suitable means may be used for securing the projections to a base or substrate, such as adhesives, screws or nails or the like. Correspondingly, recesses may be formed by appropriate drilling or punch and dye techniques. In all cases, the recesses and projections are formed in registry with one another on the separate components.

In positioning the recesses and projections, preferably they are spaced inwardly from the edges of the furniture and desirably, they form a symmetrical geometrical pattern. In the case of tables or desks, one or more rows of such projections and recesses formed in a spaced apart configuration are desirable where the projections and recesses form a symmetrical pattern such as a rectangular or circular pattern. In the case of book case or other similar structure of a relatively narrow elongated configuration, a single row of axially aligned projections and recesses may be employed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter member for use with the modular structures. The adapter member being dimensioned substantially less in height than the individual structure, and having first and second cooperating means associated therewith, functions to space structures between which it is placed. This is particularly useful when a structure cannot be stacked upon an assembled stack of structures due to insufficient height, etc.

In addition, the adapter may include a planar surface with one of the two cooperating means on opposed surface for cooperation with, for example, a desk top.

In a further alternative, the adapter may include apertures extending therethrough. In such an arrangement, the adapter can overlie a desk top having first cooperating means projecting therefrom, for example, to work cover the same thus providing a planar work surface while creating the appearance of a posted desk top.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a modular structure having a decorative aspect.

A further object of the present invention provides a modular structure which does not require the use of fastening means. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular structure which circumvents the limitations of arrangements known in the art.

Further objects will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed disclosure.

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the structure of the present invention in one possible form;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the top platform wall of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front view of an assembled unit illustrating the individual structures;

Figure 5A is an exploded view of the components of the unit of Figure 5;

Figure 6A is a side view of an adapter member according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6B is a side view of an adapter member according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6C is a side view of an adapter member according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a front view of an assembled unit incorporating the adapter members of Figure 6B and 6C; and

Figure 7A is an exploded view of the components of the unit of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure l, shown is a perspective view of the modular structure of the present invention generally indicated by numeral 10. The structure is shown in one form as a drawer unit having a drawer 11 therein.

The unit comprises a first top wall 12 spaced apart from a bottom wall 14 and two parallel side walls 16 and 18. The structure 10 preferably includes a plurality of first cooperating means e.g. pegs or projections 20 extending outwardly and upwardly from the top platform wall 12. The circular projections 20 are preferably sequentially arranged thereon and are equidistant from an adjacent projection 20.

Figure 2 illustrates a side elevational view of platform 12 more clearly showing the outwardly and upwardly extending projection 20. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, shown are bottom and sectional views of the structure 10. The bottom wall 14 preferably includes second cooperating engaging means e.g. recesses 24 sequentially arranged within the wall 14. The spaced apart recesses 24 are preferably equidistant from adjacent recesses 24 thereon. The recesses 24 are sufficient in depth and dimensioned to receive the circumferential walls 22 and the projections 20 functionally therein, when an end 14 of structure 10 is superposed on top wall 12 of a similar structure 10 such as that illustrated in Figure 5.

The structure engaging means of the present invention may be applied to a variety of furniture including a dresser, desk, etc. all of which comprise a plurality of individual and interengaged structures. The top structure as illustrated in Figure 5 may be left without having a further superposed structure 10 thereon, thus leaving the projections 20 exposed. This provides a decorative aspect to the stacked structure e.g. a tallboy, dresser, etc. Figure 5A illustrates an exploded view more clearly showing the individual components. For application where projections 20 may be inconvenient e.g. for a desk etc., applicant provides an adapter member 26 as illustrated in Figure 6A. The adapter is preferably much less than the height of a respective structure for association therewith. Similar to the structures 10 herein previously described, the adapter member includes a pair of spaced apart first and second walls 28 and 30. The adapter 26 can take many forms. One form is illustrated in Figure 6A. In this form, the adapter is well suited for use with a desk as illustrated in Figure 7. The adapter 26 includes a planar top wall 28 while the bottom wall 30 includes the spaced apart and sequentially arranged recesses 24 as illustrated in Figure 4. With this adapter, a desk can be made to have a planar surface. The exploded view of Figure 7A more clearly illustrates the relationship between the components.

Further, the adapter 26 may, in another embodiment illustrated in Figure 6B include a planar bottom wall 30, while top wall 28 includes the similar projections 20 in Figure 2. In this arrangement, the adapter 26 may be placed beneath the desk to function as a desk mat.

In another embodiment, the adapter may include both projections 20 and recesses 24 to each on a wall to function as a spacer between superposed structures 10, where height restriction may preclude the superposition of another structure.

In yet another embodiment shown in Figure 6C, the adapter 26 may include a combination of recesses 24 and projections 20 thereon to provide a greater degree of freedom when assembling the structures 10.

In a further embodiment, the adapter may include apertures 32 extending therethrough to receive projections 20 on a furniture structure e.g. a desk top. In such an arrangement, the desk top provides a "posted" appearance.

As those skilled in the art will realize, these preferred illustrated details can be subjected to substantial variation, without affecting the function of the illustrated embodiments. Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modification form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. In a modular structure having a first wall, a spaced apart second wall and a pair of side walls, each of said first and second walls having means adapted for engagement with similar engaging means of a similar modular structure in a superposed relationship, the improvement wherein:

said means of said first wall for engagement comprising first cooperating engaging means extending outwardly of a platform member, said first cooperating engaging means having a circumferentially extending wall;

said means of said second wall for engagement comprising a second cooperating engaging means, said means being dimensioned to receive said platform member;

whereby when a pair of said structures are stacked, said first cooperating engaging means of said first wall of one of said structures register in alignment with said second cooperating engaging means of a second wall of a superposed modular structure.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said first cooperating engaging means comprises a plurality of circular members extending outwardly of said platform member.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said second cooperating means comprises a plurality of recesses extending inwardly of said second wall.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said first cooperating means of said first wall frictionally engage said second cooperating means of said second wall.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said circular members are sequentially arranged on said platform member.

6. The structure as defined in claim, wherein adjacent circular members are spaced apart.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said circular members are equidistant.

8. The structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said recesses are sequentially arranged within said second wall.

9. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein adjacent recesses of said second wall are spaced apart.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9, wherein said adjacent recesses are equidistant.

11. The structure as defined in claim, wherein said structure further includes an adapter member, said adapter member having a first wall and a spaced apart second wall with at least one of said walls having at least one of said first or said second cooperating engaging means associated with said first or said second walls thereof for connection with at least one of said cooperating means of said modular structure.

12. The structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said cooperating engaging means comprises a plurality of circular members extending outwardly of at least one of said first or said second walls.

13. The structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said cooperating engaging means comprises recesses extending inwardly of at least one of at said first or said second walls.

14. The structure as defined in claim 12, wherein adjacent circular members are sequentially arranged on at least one of said first or second walls.

15. The structure as defined in claim 14, wherein said adjacent circular members are equidistant.

16. The structure as defined in claim 13, wherein said recesses are sequentially arranged within said first or second wall.

17. The structure as defined in claim 16, wherein adjacent recesses are spaced apart.

18. The structure as defined in claim 17, wherein said adjacent recesses are equidistant.