Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C4/00—Foldable, collapsible or dismountable chairs
  • A47C4/02—Dismountable chairs
  • A47C4/028—Upholstered chairs, e.g. metal, plastic or wooden chairs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C17/00—Sofas; Couches; Beds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
  • A47C7/02—Seat parts
  • A47C7/28—Seat parts with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type
  • A47C7/30—Seat parts with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type with springs meandering in a flat plane

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to ready-to-assemble (“RTA") furniture. More specifically, the present invention relates to RTA sofas, RTA love seats, RTA chairs and similar articles of RTA furniture that are configured for rapid assembly from a partially assembled state to a fully assembled state after shipping and storage stages.
• RTA ready-to-assemble
• This present invention an article of RTA furniture, although a sofa is generally described, the present invention is suitable in RTA chairs, love seats, sofas, etc. and includes a base assembly, a back assembly and left and right arm assemblies that are constructed and arranged for minimizing packaging volume in a partially assembled state and for rapid assembly from said partially assembled state to a fully assembled state with minimal effort and tools.
• the invention comprises an upholstered furniture system comprising: a first assembled configuration for seating; a second unassembled configuration for storage and shipping, comprising : a horizontal seat support frame having front and rear support frame members; wherein said rear support member comprises at least two male fasteners for receiving complementary female fasteners from a seat back frame; left and right side support frame members, wherein said left and right side support frame members each comprise at least 2 orifices for receiving two male fasteners for interacting with complementary female fasteners from a respective arm member; a back member, having male fasteners for assembling with
• each of said left and right arm members having a female fastener for receiving male fasteners attached to said horizontal seat support frame; and wherein said horizontal seat support frame comprises a cavity to contain, in said unassembled configuration, each of said arm members to be used with said furniture system.
• the cavity may, in one embodiment, further contain cushions used in said assembled configuration.
• said unassembled configuration is substantially rectangular. Previous to construct a furniture system as per the present invention were unsuccessful because those attempts did not account for storage of arm portions. The present invention provides that in said unassembled state, arm portions nest within a cavity formed within the border of said horizontal seat support frame.
• Said arm portions may interconnect in a dissembled state such that they nest within the boundary of said cavity in said horizontal seat support frame.
• Said back member is constructed and arranged to connect to said horizontal seat support frame by a male-female connection.
• each of said left and right arm members attach to said horizontal seat support frame by interacting with male connection of placed through said frame with orifices on each of said left and right arm members and said left and right arm members are secured with hand tightening nuts, such as wing nuts.
• This assembly system provides a process that allows assembly without the use of tools.
• a method of shipping Ready to Assemble (RTA) furniture comprising the steps of: a) providing RTA components of furniture comprising: a horizontal seat support frame; left and right side pieces; a back frame; cushions ; b) assembling said RTA components such that they form a rectangular configuration, wherein said rectangular
• the present invention is an upholstered furniture system consisting of: a first assembled configuration for seating; a second unassembled configuration for storage and shipping, comprising : a horizontal seat support seat support frame having front and rear support frame members; wherein said rear support member comprises at least two male fasteners for receiving
• left and right side support frame members wherein left and right side support frame members each comprise a pair of male fasteners for receiving complementary female fasteners from a respective arm member; a back member, having male fasteners for assembling with complementary female fasteners secured to said horizontal seat support frame; left and right arm members, each of said left and right arm members having an female fastener for receiving male fasteners attached to said horizontal seat support frame; and wherein said horizontal seat support frame comprises a cavity to contain each of said arm members and cushions to be used with said furniture system.
• the cavity may, in one embodiment, further contain cushions used in said assembled configuration.
• said unassembled configuration is
• the present invention provides that in said unassembled state, arm portions nest within a cavity formed within the border of said horizontal seat support frame. Said arm portions may interconnect in a dissembled state such that they nest within the boundary of said cavity in said horizontal seat support frame .
• Said back member is constructed and arranged to connect to said horizontal seat support frame by a male-female connection.
• each of said left and right arm members attach to said horizontal seat support frame by interacting with a male connection placed through said frame with orifices on each of said left and right arm members and said left and right arm members are secured with wing nuts, or hand tightening nuts.
• the base assembly includes a base frame having a storage cavity for receiving the left and right arm assemblies for storage during shipment and storage of the article of furniture.
• Use of movable supports transversing the storage cavity facilitates storage of the arm assemblies when the supports are moved out of the way and provides needed strength and rigidity when the supports are moved into a support position during final assembly of the article of RTA furniture.
• This novel feature of storing the arms in the base cavity allows for a significant reduction of shipping volume per unit of furniture, which in turn greatly reduces shipping and handling costs.
• the RTA arms would be shipped in a shipping box separate from the box housing the base and back assemblies.
• the base frame is a box frame having a base front frame portion, a base rear frame portion, and right frame portion and left frame portion.
• the moveable support members comprise swing gates.
• the base frame also includes right and left base extensions for receiving the left and right arm assemblies for rapid assembly of the RTA article of furniture.
• the frame extensions each include a lower arm mounting assembly upon which an upper arm mounting assembly of the respective arm assembly is received.
• Fast operating fastener components pre-mounted upon the upper and lower arm mounting assemblies allow for rapid attachment of the arm to the base frame extension.
• wing-nut fastener assemblies are used.
• snap-in fasteners are used.
• the base assembly also includes base cushions and a cushion support, such as interwoven webbing or box springs.
• the base assembly further includes upholstery covering portions of the base frame.
• the base assembly further has a quick connecting bracket either receiving or being received by the opposite gendered bracket of the back assembly.
• the base cushions and the back cushions (if detachable) are vacuum packed and stacked between the base assembly (with the arms placed in the storage cavity) and the back assembly in a minimal volume configuration.
• the RTA article is optionally compressed further and placed in a storage
• container such as a shipping box.
• the present invention is An upholstered furniture system comprising: (a) a first assembled configuration for seating; (b) a second unassembled configuration for storage and shipping, said upholstered
• a horizontal seat support frame said frame having opposing front and rear panels and opposing side panels, said panels arranged fixedly and
• said frame further comprising a fixed support members extending generally perpendicularly between said front and rear panels and within said cavity, said support members has opposing vertical sides that are parallel and adjacent to an inner surface of each of said front and rear panels and is positioned within said cavity and extend in a perpendicular orientation between each of said front and rear panels, said support member defines a portion of said cavity into at least two subcavities, wherein each
• subcavity receives arm members and cushions configured to nest in said sub cavity in said unassembled configuration; (ii) a back frame member; (iii) left and right arm members; (iv) wherein said rear support panel connects with said back frame through male-female fasteners; (v) wherein said left and right side support frame panels connect to respective arm member utilizing male-female connectors; and wherein in said second unassembled configuration said arm members and a plurality of cushions to be used in said system are positioned in said cavity each in a subcavity.
• RTA Ready to Assemble
• RTA components of furniture comprising: i) a horizontal seat support frame, said frame having opposing front and rear panels and opposing left and right side panels, said panels arranged fixedly and
• said frame further comprising a fixed support members extending generally perpendicularly between said front and rear panels and within said cavity, said support members has opposing vertical sides that are parallel and adjacent to an inner surface of each of said front and rear panels and is positioned within said cavity and extend in a perpendicular orientation between each of said front and rear panels, said support member defines a portion of said cavity into at least two subcavities, wherein each
• subcavity receives arm members and cushions configured to nest in said sub cavity in said unassembled configuration; (ii) a back frame member; (iii) left and right arm members; (iv) wherein said rear support panel connects with said back frame through male-female fasteners; (v) wherein said left and right side support frame panels connect to respective arm member utilizing male-female connectors; and wherein in said second unassembled configuration said arm members and a plurality of cushions to be used in said system are positioned in said cavity each in a subcavity; (b) assembling said RTA components such that they form a rectangular configuration, wherein said
• the present invention is an upholstered furniture system comprising: (a) a first assembled configuration for seating; (b) a second unassembled configuration for storage and shipping, said upholstered furniture system comprising: (i) a horizontal seat support frame, said frame having opposing front and rear panels and opposing side panels, said panels arranged fixedly and continuously to define a rectangular storage cavity, said frame further comprising a movable support member extending generally perpendicularly between said front and rear panels and within said cavity, said support is
• said support member defines a portion of said cavity into at least two subcavities, wherein each subcavity receives arm members and cushions configured to nest in said sub cavity in said unassembled configuration; (ii) a back frame member; (iii) left and right arm members; (iv) wherein said rear support panel connects with said back frame through male-female fasteners; (v) wherein said left and right side support frame panels connect to respective arm member utilizing male-female connectors; and wherein in said second unassembled configuration said arm members and a plurality of cushions to be used in said system are positioned in said cavity each in a subcavity.
• the horizontal frame is substantially rectangular.
• the rectangular configuration is defined by horizontal planes corresponding to upper and lower sides of said horizontal seat support frame when said frame is resting on a surface in an environment of use.
• Arm portions interconnect in a dissembled state such that said arm portions nest within the boundary of a single subcavity in said horizontal seat support frame.
• the horizontal support frame supports a back longitudinal frame member having a vertical angular offset.
• Each arm member is constructed and arranged providing each arm member, in said assembled configuration, has a base portion that affixes to the uppermost portion of said support frame. There may be an extending portion along the front of the furniture in the assembled configuration, but the connecting of the arms is the planer base connecting to the top of the support frame.
• each arm member has a base portion that
• the present invention is also a method of shipping Ready to Assemble (RTA) furniture comprising the steps of: (a) providing RTA components of furniture comprising: i) a horizontal seat support frame, said frame having opposing front and rear panels and opposing side panels, said panels arranged fixedly and continuously to define a rectangular storage cavity, said frame further comprising a movable support member extending generally perpendicularly between said front and rear panels and within said cavity, said support is positioned within said cavity and extend in a perpendicular orientation between each of said front and rear panels, said support member swivels on a pivot
• said support member defines a portion of said cavity into at least two subcavities, wherein each subcavity receives arm members and cushions configured to nest in said sub cavity in said
• the cushions are vacuum packaged to reduce volume of space needed for storage and shipping.
• the present invention is also an upholstered furniture system comprising: (a) a first assembled configuration for seating; (b) a second unassembled configuration for storage and shipping, said upholstered furniture system comprising: (i) two horizontal seat support frames, said frames having opposing front and rear panels and opposing side panels, said panels arranged fixedly and continuously to define a rectangular storage cavity, said frames each defining a storage cavity, wherein each cavity receives arm members and cushions configured to nest in said cavity in said unassembled configuration; (ii) a back frame member for each frame; (iii) at least one arm member; (iv) wherein said rear support panel connects with said back frame through male-female fasteners; (v) wherein said left and right side support frame panels connect to respective arm member utilizing male-female connectors; and wherein in said second unassembled configuration said arm members and a plurality of cushions to be used in said system are positioned in said cavity each in a cavity.
• Each horizontal support frame is constructed and arranged to detachably connect to the other in an assembled configuration to form a single article of furniture.
• the detachable connection is through male-female connectors.
• the horizontal frames may be either detachably connected one to another, or each frame, in an assembled configuration, is an independent article of furniture.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled (A)
• FIG. 2 shows perspective (A) and side views (B) of one
• FIG. 3 shows close up views of the male-female connectors (A) for the back frame and the connected arrangement (B) and the disconnected arrangement (C) for the back frame portion of the sofa to the frame.
• FIG. 4 shows close up views (A) and (B) depicting the attachment of the back and side portions to the frame.
• FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment whereby side pieces and cushions nest within a cavity on the underside of the frame for shipping.
• the cushions are vacuum packaged to reduce volume of space needed for storage and shipping.
• Fig. 6 is a close up partial cross section showing connection of a screw attaching into a t-nut set into a sidepiece.
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the support frame with a swivel swing gate in a vertical position relative to the frame.
• Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the support frame with a swivel swing gate moved along directional arrow from a vertical
• Fig. 9 is a side view of an assembled sofa.
• Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a sofa frame with end portions in an elevated horizontal plane relative to the
• Fig. 10A is an expanded view from Fig. 10 showing a swivel pin and insertion orifice in the frame.
• Fig. 10B is an expanded view from Fig. 10 showing the swivel of the swing gate about the axis of the inserted swivel pin.
• Fig. IOC is an expanded view from Fig. 10 showing the horizontal planer offset of the frame end piece to the longitudinal frame portion .
• Fig. 10D is an expanded view from Fig. 10 showing the movement of the swivel swing gate in the frame.
• Fig. 11 is a perspective view of disassembled components near points of assembly.
• Fig. 12 is a partial expanded view of arm and back portions to be assembled on the frame.
• Fg. 12A shows an embodiment of male-female connectors.
• Fig. 12B is an expanded view showing male-female connectors attaching back portion to frame.
• Fig. 13A shows connectors used in attaching side arm portions.
• Fig. 13B is an expanded view showing arm portion attaching to frame and secured with connectors from Fig. 13A.
• Fig. 14 shows a disassembled sofa and directional arrows for component placement.
• Fig. 15 is an expanded view of arm extension.
• Fig. 16 is an expanded view of arm extension.
• Fig. 17 is an expanded view of a corner of the frame.
• Fig. 18 is an expanded view of back portion placement.
• Figs. 19-21 show expanded view of male-female connectors for back portion connecting to the sofa frame.
• Fig. 22 is a partial perspective view showing the horizontal offset utility in accommodating storage in the cavity when a support spring is present.
• Fig. 23A is an expanded view showing connection of side arm portion to frame.
• Fig. 23B is an expanded view showing connection of side arm portion to frame.
• Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing arms and cushions nested within a frame.
• Fig. 25 shows the frame with central support member.
• Fig. 30 is a partial perspective view of the sofa of the present invention wherein the cushion is configured to wrap around the front of the arm piece.
• Fig. 31 is a separated partial perspective view showing arm portion 20A separated from frame 40.
• Fig. 32 is a partial connected view of a sofa of the present invention .
• Fig. 33 is a partial separated view showing arm 20B separated from frame 40.
• Fig. 34 is a view of arm portion 20B of the present invention showing a portion of upholstery that is folded upward, as indicated by directional arrow, for an unassembled configuration, and is extended downward when the arm is used in an assembled configuration.
• Fig. 35 is a partial perspective view showing placement of cushions within the frame of the present invention and showing that support springs are movable along the horizontal axis on the underside of the frame.
• Fig. 36 is one embodiment showing swivel swing gate of the present invention with an orifice in the frame for receiving a swivel swing gate swivel pin.
• Fig. 37 is a partial view showing swivel swing gate in an upright position so as to not interfere with storage within the storage cavity.
• Fig. 38 is expanded view of the swivel swing gate of the present invention .
• Fig. 39 is an expanded view showing the swivel swing gate rotation of the present invention rotating on a swivel from perpendicular downward, to parallel with the horizontal frame, to perpendicular upward relative to the frame.
• Fig. 40 is a perspective view of the frame of the present invention .
• Fig. 41 is a partial view of the present invention in the embodiment of two frame portions.
• Fig. 42 is a separated view of the arm piece and frame of the present invention.
• Fig. 43 is a view of a single assembled sofa of the present invention when the invention is formed of two or more frame portions .
• Fig. 44 is a view of a single assembled sofa of the present invention when the invention is formed of two or more frame portions showing removal of the arm portion.
• Fig. 44a is a view of a single assembled sofa of the present invention when the invention is formed of two or more frame portions showing the side portion configured for connection to a corresponding frame.
• Fig. 44b is a partial cut away view of a single assembled sofa of the present invention when the invention is formed of two or more frame portions showing the side portion configured for connection to a corresponding frame.
• Fig. 45 is a separated view of a sofa in which 2 frames are configured to be ultimately be assembled and attached one to another .
• Fig. 46 is a detail from Fig. 45 showing assembled configuration of two back portions into a single article of furniture.
• Fig. 47 is a separated view of connectors used to connect either arms to the frame or to connect 2 frames one to another.
• Fig. 48 is view of the components of the sofa of the present invention in which 2 frame portions are packaged in an
• Fig. 49 shows a single frame configuration with arm portions nested within frame cavity.
• Fig. 50 shows an embodiment having the back portion provide as two pieces that are connected in the assembled configuration.
• Fig. 51 shows a configuration with arm portions nested within a frame cavity and cushions positioned on top of the unassembled configuration .
• Fig. 52 shows the stacking of 2 frame portions whereby the are storage cavities are on the outside of the stacked unassembled configuration and the arm portions are stored between the stacked frames
• Fig. 53 shows a single unassembled frame with arm portions stored in the storage cavity.
• FIG. 1A is one embodiment of the fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted fully-reacted
• RTA frame 5 and is shown including the base assembly frame 40 and the left and right arm frames 20 connected to each side portion 30 with a screw 60, and the back frame 10 joined to rear portion of frame 50 by male connector 70 and female
• FIG. IB shows a perspective view with each of the aforementioned elements separated from their attached configuration.
• FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the
• the front of the frame 40 side portion of frame 30, and, in the shown embodiment, cushions 90 are shown placed on top of frame 40 for storage to substantially form a rectangular configuration.
• Said rectangular configuration is defined as a horizontal planes corresponding to each side of said horizontal seat support frame. That is to say, component pieces do not extend outward past the sidepieces of the
• FIG. 2B a side view whereby arm portions 20 are placed in a nesting arrangement in a cavity inside frame 40.
• Back portion 10 is placed on top of frame 40 and cushions 90 are on top of back portion 10.
• FIG. 3A a detail of the embodiment, as is shown in male connector 70, which was shown in FIG. 1 attached to the rear portion of the frame interacts with female connector 80, which was shown in FIG. 1 connected to back frame portion 10.
• the interaction of the male-female 70 and 80 connection allows the back portion to be secured to the frame. In a preferred embodiment, no tools are required to effectuate the interaction and connection.
• FIG. 1 a detail of the embodiment, as is shown in male connector 70, which was shown in FIG. 1 attached to the rear portion of the frame interacts with female connector 80, which was shown in FIG. 1 connected to back frame portion 10.
• the interaction of the male-female 70 and 80 connection allows the back portion to be secured to the frame. In a preferred embodiment, no tools are required to effectuate the interaction and connection.
• FIG. 3B shows a view of the male connector 70 and female connector 80 attaching along transverse portion of support frame 50 in their interconnected state and FIG. 3C shows male connector 70 and female connector 80 attaching along transverse portion of support frame 50 in their disconnected positions.
• Female connector 217 is connected to rear portion of frame 50 and connects to the back portion through complimentary male connector 216.
• FIG. 4A is a cut away view of the upper drawing shows side 20 that will receive mounting screw 60 through an incorporated orifice.
• the lower drawing shows a close up view of the attachment of side 20.
• a T-nut (shown in FIG. 6 close-up) is permanently attached to sidepiece 20 and the inner portion of T-nut creates a
• FIG. 4A further show receiver 65 whereby the shaft of screw 60 is inserted into a central orifice in receiver 65 and the shaft interconnects with T-nuts located within channel 75 incorporated into sidepiece 20.
• Cushions 90 may be placed in a vacuum sealed bag to reduce the volume required and make them smaller to ship because typically, cushions are foam or feather and contain a significant volume of space occupied by air.
• a T-nut 64 is mounted onto sidepiece 20 in channel 75 (previously shown) .
• the t-nut 64 has inner
• circumferal threaded portion 66 that forms a circular channel 68.
• the inner circumferal threaded portion 66 interacts with the screw threaded shaft 62 of screw 60 and serves to secure
• support brace 35 is a swivel swing gate that supports frame 50 in a vertical orientation and pivots to a horizontal orientation resulting in an unobstructed cavity within the sofa frame.
• Figs. 7-8 show progressive steps of swivel swing gate moving from vertical to horizontal
• the components are separated and the frame is placed in an upright position, e.g. positioned upright so as to receive the component parts and be usable upon assembly.
• Back portion 10 is connected to the back frame 50 using the male-female
• each sidepiece is connected to the frame through use of hand screws interacting with T-nuts
• the assembled system may now receive any appropriate upholstery covering for the side and back portions.
• the assembly of the present invention may be any appropriate upholstery covering for the side and back portions.
• the assembly of the present invention may be any appropriate upholstery covering for the side and back portions.
• the RTA system of the present invention provides not only a cost savings in shipping, but also a savings in labor for assembling.
• One the article is unpacked from shipping configuration; it comprises 4 major components and assembles quickly. Attach the back with the aforementioned male- female connectors, attach each of the sidepieces and secure with hand screws, and the RTA assembly is completed. Additionally, the manufacturing costs are reduced because the majority of the system is assembled from 4 major components.
• the assembled sofa has a back 10 with an angular deflection "D" relative to a
• the back portion is substantially
• the present invention provides, angular deflection that allows a back portion to extend beyond the periphery of the frame.
• the angular deflection is from about 10°and 35° relative to a perpendicular line to the horizontal frame and towards the front on the sofa, as indicated by
• a typical sofa has a frame of depth "C".
• distance "A” is not required in the depth of the frame such that the frame only has a depth "B” and provides a shorter depth which is advantageous in packaging the sofa for shipping.
• the present invention includes an offset frame configuration as shown in Figs. 10, IOC, and 10D.
• Frame ends pieces 50b are offset above the horizontal plane along the top of long frame member 50a by a distance represented by dimension "R" .
• the distance of dimension "R” is between about 0.5-2 inches. The offset has been shown to accommodate the
• one embodiment provides a swivel pin 210 on swivel swing gate 35a that inserts into pin receiving socket 210a.
• Receiving socket is any acceptable complimentary structure for receiving swivel pin and includes an orifice incorporated in frame 50 and structures attached to frame 50 or to long frame member 50a for facilitating
• swing gate 35 may be positioned between the front and back panels in each of the assembled and unassembled configurations. in an assembled configuration, the swing gate provides the desired structural support of an
• arm piece 20 is constructed and arranged such that attachment to the frame is on the topside of frame 50 where the underside of arm side piece 20 attaches along the top of frame 50, and arm side piece 20 has a side extension portion 211 in which lip 212 secures under frame edge.
• the lip 211 provides a region where a covering placed on arm side piece 20 is attached such that said attachment is not visible in the assembled configuration.
• back piece 10 is now similarly constructed with an extension member 213 terminating in lip 214. Lip 214 provides an area for attachment of covering material over back portion 10 such that the attachment is not viewable in the assembled configuration.
• Covering 215 covers the frame and panel and has closure
• a covering over each of side pieces 20 and back piece 10 are performed in manners known in the art such has hook and loop fasteners, snaps, zippers, and the like.
• the shape and configuration provides the advantage that in an assembled configuration, the point of attachment is not easily seen or readily apparent.
• arm side piece 20 has a forward extension 20P constructed and arranged to extend along the vertical face of the assembled frame.
• connector 205 that fastens to complementary connector 200 to provide a fastening of side arm piece 20 to the assembled sofa and further provides additional strength and support to the assembled structure.
• the connector 205 attached to 20P and connector 200 attached to the frame are complimentary male- female connectors. They may also be male-female connectors with a snap-fit configuration.
• side arm portion 20 connects on top of the base to keep the height of the arm (20) short in height so that both arms side portions 20 can be packed in an unassembled configuration side by side within the cavity in the unassembled configuration. This saves space to allow packing cushion and other parts within the cavity in the unassembled configuration.
• Arm portions 20 can further be provided completely upholstered or semi upholstered with removable upholstery positioned such that assembly portions on arm portions 20 are accessible.
• rigid central support 35b is fixed and does not move. While there are distinct advantages to the swivel gate 35 as described herein, the present invention has a configuration in which the central support is rigid central support 35b.
• the present invention recognizes that the basic support frame 50a must have transverse support extending generally perpendicular from the front to the back of frame 50a.
• Each arm section 20 is constructed and arranged such that in an unassembled configuration, they will nest within a portion of the cavity defined by rigid central support 35a.
• Cushions 90 are similarly configured to nest within a portion of the cavity defined by rigid central support 35a. Although described as a "central support” it is not necessary that rigid central support 35a be precisely centered and may be somewhat off centered by +/- 20% of the length the long side of the frame while still being substantially perpendicular to each of the front and back longitudinal sides.
• cushion 90a is configured to extend around the front of arm piece 20a.
• cushion 90b is flush along the legth of arm piece 20b.
• the present invention includes each arm section 20 configured to attach on top of support frame 50a.
• RTA furniture typically is shipped without padding on features such as arms and backs.
• the present invention in one embodiment, has provided not only RTA furniture, but also done so in a manner such that padding and covering are shipped in a preassembled and preconfigured arrangement.
• arm 20A affixes on to frame 40
• arm 20A has an extension portion 306A with a bottom portion 302 and a corner portion 301 that assists for affixation on to frame 40.
• spring portions 220 are constructed and arranged such that they have sufficient movement in order to facilitate placement of arm portions 20a within the cavity of frame 40. As shown in Figs.
• Swivel swing gate 307 swivels by virtue of connection into opening 308 of frame 50A.
• Swivel swing gate has a generally perpendicular position when frame 58 is assembled as a sofa and generally perpendicular orientation is moved to a parallel orientation as shown in Fig. 39. This rotation of either parallel to the general horizontal plane of frame 58 or in the alternative rotation 180 degrees from its downward perpendicular to an upward perpendicular orientation. This upward perpendicular orientation further facilitates placement of arm pieces 20A within frame 40.
• RTA furniture products do not come with articles such as upholstery and padding affixed thereto.
• the present invention has developed a unique configuration whereby RTA furniture, specifically RTA sofa and RTA chairs, are shipped with padding and upholstery affixed thereto. Affixation of upholstery is in any manner.
• the preferred embodiment provides the upholstered arm and back portions in which upholstery is affixed using hook and loop fasteners as is known in the art.
• the upholstery is affixed using hook and loop fasteners as is known in the art.
• upholstery has a general configuration corresponding to the shape of an arm or back portion.
• One edge preferably the lower edge on which the arm or back portion attaches to the frame, has hook and loop fasteners that both hold the upholstery in place, and provide access to the male-female connectors used to fasten the arm or back portion to the frame.
• arm pieces are affixed to the top of a frame without the need to have any portion of an arm piece extend downward along side a frame.
• an arm piece is still able to be securely attached to a frame and provide ease of assembly of an RTA piece of furniture.
• RTA sofa and chairs of the present invention are shipped with a back portion fully upholstered and padded such that affixation of the back portion onto the frame constitutes the complete assembly of the back portion of the RTA furniture.
• a decorative panel on the front of the arm piece extends downward along the height of the frame, as best seen in Figs. 32 and 43.
• support springs 220 can be constructed to move along the horizontal portion of frame 50a such that any desired distance, such as distance represented by dimension "E" and "F” in Fig. 35 can be varied as desired.
• a swivel swing gate 307 in Fig. 35 is swiveled out of the storage cavity to provide maximum storage volume form arm pieces 20a stored within .
• swivel swing gate 307 is rotatable 360 degrees on a swivel through connection in swivel cavity 308 in frame 50a. This allows swing gate 307 to extend downward, perpendicular to the frame in an assembled configuration and swing out of the storage cavity in an
• Frame 601 has a support 606 and connecting panel 605. There are also legs 608 along and
• connection of 2 or more frames at panel 605 and support 606 is through any
• RTA connection utilizes male-female connectors such as connecting screws 607.
• each frame 604 is stacked in opposition such that arm pieces 20a are contained there between.
• the back portion can be split into 2 or pieces. This can be in combination with a single frame
• a frame with a length denoted by dimension "F" is used as a single article of
• furniture can serve a dual purpose of a single article, or assembled as an attached article to one or more additional frames.
• Fig. 53 even though a particular frame 601 can be used as a single article without attachment, it still may be required to have swing gate 307 incorporated therein in order to provide support such that springs 220 do not urge horizontal portions of frame 50a towards each other and distort the rectangular orientation of either 50a 601 or both.
• the present invention contemplates one taking a

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