WO2015195672A1

WO2015195672A1 - Furniture assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2015195672A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/036043
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel C GEORGE II; Matthew Jung; Jean Joseph; Scot QUIST
Original assignee: Comfort Research, Llc
Priority date: 2014-06-16
Filing date: 2015-06-16
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Also published as: US20150359340A1

Abstract

A furniture assembly adapted to support a human in a seated position, including a novel core sub-assembly, wherein the novel core sub-assembly comprises a seat member, a base member, a left side, a right side, a front side, a back side, an optional back support member, an optional left arm, and an optional right arm, wherein the novel core sub-assembly preferably comprises polystyrene and is optionally associated with a polyure a coating and/or a slipcover.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

FURNITURE ASSEMBLY

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0000] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application Serial No. 62/012,823, filed June 16, 2014, entitled "Furniture Assembly," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety - including all references and appendices cited therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Field of the Invention

[0001 ] The present invention relates in general to furniture {e.g., chairs, loungers, chaises, sofas, etcetera) and, more particularly, to a furniture assembly that comprises a novel core sub-assembly.

2. Background Art

[0002] Furniture assemblies and their coatings, covers, and accessories have been known in the art for years and are the subject of a plurality of patents and publications, including: United States Patent Number 6,725,482 entitled "Frameless Chair," United States Patent Number 6,279,184 entitled "Frameless Chair," United States Patent Application Publication Number 2003/0066268 entitled "Process for Packaging a Polyurethane Foam Filled Article of Furniture," United States Patent Number 7,735,931 entitled "Portable Chair Apparatus," United States Patent Number 7,571 ,965 entitled "Molded Foam Pool Chair," United States Patent Number 7,273,251 entitled "Video Game Chair," United States Patent Number 6,997,509 entitled "Juvenile Seat Cup Holder," United States Patent Number 5,213,394 entitled "Molded Recliner Rocker Chair," United States Patent Number 5,004,296 entitled "Floating Lounge Chair," United States Patent Number 4,964,600 entitled "Insulated Cup Holder With Flexible Base Member," United States Patent Number 4,662,852 entitled "Floating, Reclining Lounge Mechanism," United States Patent Number 4,564,240 entitled "Lounger or Reclining Chair Made From a Floatable Plastic Body," United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0257530 entitled "Video Game Chair," and United States Patent Application Publication Number 2005/0242643 entitled "Ergonomic Rocker" - all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety including the references cited therein.

[0003] While the above-identified patents and publications do appear to disclose furniture assemblies, their configurations remain non-desirous and/or problematic inasmuch as, among other things, none of the above-identified furniture assemblies appear to utilize a novel core sub-assembly. Such a novel core subassembly facilitates the cost effective production of furniture assemblies having one- piece and/or simplified construction that are light weight, durable, as well as suitable for indoor and outdoor use. [0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a furniture assembly that comprises a novel core sub-assembly.

[0005] These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is directed to, in one embodiment, a furniture assembly adapted to support a human in a seated position, comprising: a novel core sub-assembly, wherein the novel core sub-assembly comprises a seat member, a base member, a left side, a right side, a front side, a back side, an optional back support member, an optional left arm, and an optional right arm.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present, the novel core sub-assembly is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a natural polymeric resin, a synthetic polymeric resin, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, bark, cork, and combinations thereof.

[0008] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polystyrene comprises a density ranging from approximately 0.8 g/cm³ to approximately 4.3 g/cm³, and more preferably comprises a density ranging from approximately 1 .0 g/cm³ to approximately 2.0 g/cm³.

[0009] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the novel core sub-assembly is at least partially covered with a slipcover. In this embodiment, the slipcover preferably comprises a padded seat member and/or a padded back support member.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the slipcover is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a natural material, a synthetic material, cotton, wool, denim, felt, vinyl, leather, rayon, polyester, and combinations thereof.

[001 1 ] Preferably, the novel core sub-assembly comprises one or more drainage apertures.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a coating is applied to at least a portion of an outer surface of the novel core sub-assembly. In this embodiment the coating preferably comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer, a saturated rubber, an unsaturated rubber, polyurea, vinyl, polyvinylchloride, and combinations thereof.

[0013] The present invention is also directed to, in one embodiment, a furniture assembly adapted to support a human in a seated position, comprising: (a) a novel core sub-assembly, wherein the novel core sub-assembly is fabricated from polystyrene and comprises a seat member, a base member, a left side, a right side, a front side, a back side, a back support member, a left arm, and a right arm; and (b) wherein the novel core sub-assembly is at least partially covered with a slipcover and/or a coating is applied to at least a portion of an outer surface of the novel core sub-assembly, wherein the coating comprises polyurea. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the acco5mpanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

[0015] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0016] Figures 1 -43 of the drawings show, furniture assemblies adapted to support a human in a seated position having a novel core sub-assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, one or more specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0018] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

[0019] Referring now to the collective drawings (Figures 1 -43), furniture assembly 10 adapted to support a human in a seated position is disclosed as generally comprising: novel core sub-assembly 12, wherein the novel core subassembly comprises seat member 14, base 16 member, left side 18, right side 20, front side 22, back side 24, optional back support member 26, optional left arm 28, and optional right arm 30. In one embodiment of the present invention, core subassembly 12 comprises a one-piece, unibody and/or unitary sub-assembly.

[0020] Preferably the novel core sub-assembly is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a natural polymeric resin, a synthetic polymeric resin, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, bark, cork, and combinations thereof.

[0021 ] In this embodiment, the polystyrene preferably comprises a density ranging from approximately 0.8 g/cm³ to approximately 4.3 g/cm³, and more preferably comprises a density ranging from approximately 1 .0 g/cm³ to approximately 2.0 g/cm³.

[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, the novel core subassembly is at least partially covered with slipcover 32. Such a slipcover may comprise padded seat member 34 and/or padded back support member 36. It will be understood that the slipcover is preferably fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a natural material, a synthetic material, cotton, wool, denim, felt, vinyl, leather, rayon, polyester, and combinations thereof. Notably, the furniture assemblies of the present invention can be fabricated without the use of staples, tacks, and adhesives - which are normally used during fabrication.

[0023] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a coating is applied to at least a portion of an outer surface of the novel core sub-assembly. Preferably, the coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer, a saturated rubber, an unsaturated rubber, polyurea, vinyl, polyvinylchloride, and combinations thereof. It will be understood that the coating may be applied via spray coating, dip coating, vacuum form coating, etcetera.

[0024] The furniture assembly may also include a novel core sub-assembly that comprises one or more drainage apertures for outdoor applications.

[0025] The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A furniture assembly adapted to support a human in a seated position, comprising:

- a novel core sub-assembly, wherein the novel core sub-assembly comprises a seat member, a base member, a left side, a right side, a front side, a back side, an optional back support member, an optional left arm, and an optional right arm.

2. The furniture assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the novel core sub-assembly is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a natural polymeric resin, a synthetic polymeric resin, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, bark, cork, and combinations thereof.

3. The furniture assembly according to claim 2, wherein the novel core sub-assembly is fabricated from polystyrene.

4. The furniture assembly according to claim 3, wherein the polystyrene comprises a density ranging from approximately 0.8 g/cm³ to approximately 4.3 g/cm³.

5. The furniture assembly according to claim 3, wherein the polystyrene comprises a density ranging from approximately 1 .0 g/cm³ to approximately 2.0 g/cm³.

6. The furniture assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the novel core sub-assembly is at least partially covered with a slipcover.

7. The furniture assembly according to claim 6, wherein the slipcover comprises a padded seat member.

8. The furniture assembly according to claim 6, wherein the slipcover comprises a padded back support member.

9. The furniture assembly according to claim 6, wherein the slipcover comprises a padded seat member and a padded back support member.

10. The furniture assembly according to claim 6, wherein the slipcover is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of a natural material, a synthetic material, cotton, wool, denim, felt, vinyl, leather, rayon, polyester, and combinations thereof.

1 1 . The furniture assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a coating is applied to at least a portion of an outer surface of the novel core sub-assembly.

12. The furniture assembly according to claim 1 1 , wherein the coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer, a saturated rubber, an unsaturated rubber, polyurea, vinyl, polyvinylchloride, and combinations thereof.

13. The furniture assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the novel core subassembly comprises one or more drainage apertures.

14. A furniture assembly adapted to support a human in a seated position, comprising:

- a novel core sub-assembly, wherein the novel core sub-assembly is fabricated from polystyrene and comprises a seat member, a base member, a left side, a right side, a front side, a back side, a back support member, a left arm, and a right arm; and

- wherein the novel core sub-assembly is at least partially covered with a slipcover and/or a coating is applied to at least a portion of an outer surface of the novel core sub-assembly, wherein the coating comprises polyurea.

15. The furniture assembly according to claim 14, wherein the polystyrene comprises a density ranging from approximately 1.0 g/cm³ to approximately 2.0 g/cm³.