WO2021042180A1

WO2021042180A1 - A modular article of furniture

Info

Publication number: WO2021042180A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/050967
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anastasie Panagopoulos; David King
Original assignee: King Living Singapore Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-02
Filing date: 2020-09-11
Publication date: 2021-03-11
Also published as: GB2603375A; AU2020343123A1; GB202204600D0; GB2603375B

Abstract

A support assembly (10) for an article of furniture includes a frame (14). The frame (14) is arranged in spaced relationship about a periphery (18) of a substantially planar member (16). A reinforcing arrangement is carried by the planar member (16) to reinforce at least the periphery (18) of the planar member (18), the reinforcing arrangement comprising a plurality of discrete reinforcing members (20), (22), each reinforcing member (20), (22) being of a substantially rigid material and extending about a part of the periphery (18) of the planar member (16). The assembly (10) includes a plurality of elastically deformable members (24), each elastically deformable member (24) being mounted to, and extending between, the frame (14) and one of the reinforcing members (20), (22). The elastically deformable members (24) are arranged at spaced intervals about the periphery (18) of the planar member (16).

Description

"A modular article of furniture"

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2019903214 filed on 2 September 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates, generally, to articles of furniture and, more particularly, to a support assembly for an article of furniture and to a leg for an article of furniture.

Background

[0003] Support assemblies are used as rests and/or bases for articles of furniture to comfortably support a user. Support assemblies used in modular articles of furniture should be comparably comfortable and supportive to support assemblies used in non- modular articles of furniture and should also provide comparable longevity.

[0004] Larger modular articles of furniture occupy a greater volume in their packaged state due to the large size and/or quantity of some of the modular components, which can be unwieldly for both delivery company staff and/or customers destined to receive these packages, thus increasing the risk of injuries attributed to handling such large packages. Large quantities of modular components also increase the difficulty of assembly of modular articles of furniture for the user.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims. Summary

[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a support assembly for an article of furniture, the support assembly comprising: a frame; a substantially planar member defining a periphery, with the frame being arranged in spaced relationship about the periphery; a reinforcing arrangement carried by the planar member to reinforce at least the periphery of the planar member, the reinforcing arrangement comprising a plurality of discrete reinforcing members, each reinforcing member being of a substantially rigid material and extending about a part of the periphery of the planar member; and a plurality of elastically deformable members, each elastically deformable member being mounted to, and extending between, the frame and one of the reinforcing members carried by the planar member, the elastically deformable members being arranged at spaced intervals about the periphery of the planar member.

[0007] The planar member may be of a flexible material, and the periphery of the planar member may be polygonal. The reinforcing members may be arranged in end-to end relationship about the polygonal periphery of the planar member and each reinforcing member may be shaped to extend along at least two sides of the polygonal periphery of the planar member. The reinforcing members may be arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship about the polygonal periphery of the planar member.

[0008] Each elastically deformable member may comprise a spring element.

[0009] The frame may be formed from a single member configured to be formed into a shape corresponding to the periphery of the planar member.

[0010] The support assembly may further comprise a cover applied to the frame.

[0011] The support assembly may define at least part of a base of the article of furniture. The frame may carry a plurality of spaced receiving formations, each receiving formation being configured to receive a part of a leg for supporting the base in spaced relationship relative to a surface, such as a floor. Each receiving formation may comprise a pair of spaced socket defining members, each socket defining member defining a socket in which a pin carried by the leg is receivable.

[0012] In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an article of furniture which comprises a base, the base comprising a support assembly as described above; and at least one rest removably mountable to the base.

[0013] The article of furniture may further comprise a cushion attachable to the support assembly. The cushion may carry a part of a fastening arrangement for attaching the cushion to the support assembly. The fastening arrangement may be a hook and loop fastening arrangement, the support assembly carrying a first part of the hook and loop fastening arrangement, and the cushion carrying a second part of the hook and loop fastening arrangement. The article of furniture may further comprise a connecting arrangement via which the at least one rest is removably mountable to the base, the connecting arrangement and the at least one rest being configured to mount the at least one rest in different angular positions relative to the base. The connecting arrangement may comprise at least one pair of spaced, cranked connectors, the connectors being insertable into correspondingly spaced rest receiving formations and base receiving formations. The rest receiving formations may be accessible from opposed sides of the rest to provide the different angular positions of the rest relative to the base.

[0014] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a leg for an article of furniture having a base, the leg comprising: a body having a first end and an opposed second end; and a connector arranged at the first end of the body, the connector defining at least two locating formations spaced from each other and standing proud of the first end of the body and projecting away from the second end, wherein each of the at least two locating formations is removably receivable in a receiving formation of the base of the article of furniture. [0015] The base of the article of furniture may comprise a plurality of base members, and each of the at least two locating formations may be removably receivable in a receiving formation of one of the plurality of base members for connecting at least two of the plurality of base members together.

[0016] The connector may be substantially U-shaped having a pair of spaced limbs interconnected by a bridging portion, each limb defining one of the locating formations. The body may define a groove at the first end to receive the bridging portion of the connector.

[0017] The second end of the body may carry a protector member for protecting an underlying surface, in use.

[0018] The body may be substantially in the form of a frustum.

[0019] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0020] Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of a support assembly for an article of furniture;

[0022] Figure 2 shows two reinforcing members of the support assembly of Figure 1;

[0023] Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the support assembly of Figure 1 with a cover applied to the assembly; [0024] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a cushion attachable to the support assembly of Figure 1;

[0025] Figure 5 shows a side view of an element from which a frame of the support assembly shown in Figure 1 is formed;

[0026] Figure 6 shows a plan view of the frame of the support assembly of Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 7 shows a front view of an embodiment of a leg for an article of furniture;

[0028] Figure 8 shows a side view of the leg of Figure 7;

[0029] Figure 9 shows a top view of the leg of Figure 7;

[0030] Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an article of furniture in the form of a single bed base, comprising a plurality of the legs of Figures 7 to 9;

[0031] Figure 11 shows a bottom view of the bed of Figure 10;

[0032] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an article of furniture in the form of a double seat sofa, comprising a pair of the support assemblies of Figure 1 forming a base of the sofa, a plurality of rests mounted to the base and a plurality of the legs of Figures 7 to 9, cushions of the sofa being omitted for description purposes;

[0033] Figure 13 shows a bottom view of the sofa of Figure 12;

[0034] Figure 14 shows a rear view of the article of the sofa of Figure 12;

[0035] Figure 15 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the sofa encircled by Circle Έ’ in Figure 13; [0036] Figure 16 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the sofa encircled by Circle ‘C’ in Figure 13;

[0037] Figure 17 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the sofa encircled by Circle ‘D’ in Figure 14;

[0038] Figure 18 shows a sectional front view of the sofa taken along lines A-A in Figure 13;

[0039] Figure 19 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the sofa encircled by Circle Έ’ in Figure 18;

[0040] Figure 20 shows a side view of an embodiment of the article of furniture, with upholstery omitted, to show a framework of the article of furniture, showing a rest mounted to the base in a first angular position relative to the base;

[0041] Figure 21 shows a sectional side view of the article of furniture of Figure 20;

[0042] Figure 22 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the article of furniture encircled by Circle ‘F’ in Figure 21;

[0043] Figure 23 shows a side view of the article of furniture of Figure 20 with the rest mounted to the base in a second angular position relative to the base;

[0044] Figure 24 shows a sectional side view of the article of furniture of Figure 23;

[0045] Figure 25 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the article of furniture encircled by Circle ‘G’ in Figure 24;

[0046] Figure 26 shows a side view of the article of furniture of Figure 20 with the rest mounted to the base in a third angular position relative to the base;

[0047] Figure 27 shows a sectional side view of the article of furniture of Figure 26; [0048] Figure 28 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the article of furniture encircled by Circle Ή’ in Figure 27;

[0049] Figure 29 shows an exploded, rear, perspective view of the rest being mounted to the base of the article of furniture of Figure 20, with the cushion shown in Figure 4 attached to the support assembly;

[0050] Figure 30 shows an exploded, front, perspective view of the article of furniture of Figure 29;

[0051] Figure 31 shows a front view of the rest, in the form of a backrest, of Figures 29 and 30 and used as a backrest of the sofa of Figure 12; and

[0052] Figure 32 shows a front view of a rest, in the form of an armrest, of the sofa of Figure 12.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0053] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a support assembly 10 for an article of furniture 12 (Figure 12). The support assembly 10 includes a frame 14 and a substantially planar member 16 defining a periphery 18, with the frame 14 being arranged in spaced relationship about the periphery 18. The support assembly 10 further includes a reinforcing arrangement carried by the planar member 16 to reinforce at least the periphery 18 of the planar member 16. The reinforcing arrangement has a pair of discrete reinforcing members 20, 22 (Figure 2) carried by the substantially planar member 16. Each of the reinforcing members 20, 22 is of a substantially rigid material and extend about a part of the periphery 18 of the planar member 16. The support assembly 10 further includes a plurality of elastically deformable members, each in the form of a coil spring, 24 mounted to, and extending between, the frame 14 and the reinforcing members 20, 22. The coil springs 24 are arranged at spaced intervals about the periphery 18 of the substantially planar member 16. [0054] The substantially planar member is in the form of a sheet 16 of a flexible, substantially non-stretch material. The sheet 16 is folded about each reinforcing member 20, 22. The edge 19 of the sheet 16 is secured, for example by being sewn, to the sheet 16 to maintain the folded over part of the sheet 16 about the reinforcing members 20, 22. It will be appreciated that the fold of the sheet 16 may be maintained by various means including fasteners, adhesives, and the like.

[0055] The support assembly 10 is polygonal and, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially square. This aids in the assembly of a demountable article of furniture, as will be described in greater detail below, since there is no defined front or rear of the support assembly 10 and the support assembly 10 can be used with any side as the front of the article of furniture,

[0056] The sheet 16 is thus correspondingly square and each reinforcing member 20, 22 extends along at least two sides of the periphery 18, of the sheet 16 to spread a load applied to the sheet 16 by an occupant of the article of furniture 12, in use. It will be appreciated that, depending on the shape of the support assembly 10 and the associated sheet 16 more or fewer reinforcing members 20, 22 may be provided, each of which may extend along more than two sides of the polygonal periphery 18 of the sheet 16. For example, there may be provided two reinforcing members, one extending along two sides of the sheet 16 with the second reinforcing member extending along the third side of a three sided planar member.

[0057] It will further be appreciated that, instead of a polygonal support assembly and associated planar member 16, the support assembly 10 could have a curved periphery, for example, circular or elliptical, and the planar member 16 having a correspondingly curved periphery. Each reinforcing member 20, 22, where two such reinforcing members are provided, then extends about approximately half of the periphery of the planar member 16.

[0058] Spaced eyelets 28 are formed in the periphery 18 of the sheet 16 to expose the reinforcing members 20, 22 at intervals. This facilitates suspending the planar member 16 from the frame by hooking a first end of each spring 24 directly onto one of the reinforcing member 20, 22 through one of the eyelets and hooking an opposed end of the spring into an aligned opening 34 defined in the frame.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, each reinforcing member 20, 22 is a length of wire having a pair of substantially orthogonally arranged limbs interconnected by a bend 32. A free end 30 of each limb is outwardly turned at approximately 90°. These ends 30 and bend 32 of each reinforcing member 20, 22 are received in comer apertures 33 defined in the periphery 18 of the planar member 16 and serve to assist in retention of the reinforcing members 20, 22 relative to the periphery 18 of the planar member 16.

[0060] The support assembly 10 defines at least a part of a base of the article of furniture 12 (shown in Figure 12), and the frame 14 carries a plurality of spaced receiving formations 36 configured to receive a part of a leg 38 for supporting the base in spaced relationship relative to a surface, such as a floor (not shown). Each receiving formation 36 comprises a pair of spaced socket defining members which each define a socket 37 in which a pin 58, 60 (shown in Figures 7 to 9) carried by the leg 38 is receivable.

[0061] A cover 40 is applied to the frame 14 as shown in Figure 3. In an embodiment, the cover 40 is of a tricot material and forms a first part of a hook-and- loop fastening arrangement. A cushion 42 (Figure 4) is removably attachable to the support assembly 10. The cushion 42 includes a covering member 41 defining a skirt portion 43. The skirt portion 43 carries a second part 44 of the hook-and-loop fastening arrangement for releasably attaching the cushion 42 to the cover 40 of the support assembly 10. While the part 44 is illustrated in Figure 4 as being on the outside of the skirt portion 43, that is for illustrative purposes only and, in use, the part 44 is carried on an inner surface of the skirt portion 43 of the covering member 41 of the cushion 42.

[0062] In this particular embodiment, the frame 14 is formed from a single member in the form of a channel-shaped steel element 46 (Figure 5) in which four notches 48 are cut at spaced intervals. The element 46 is bent at each of the four notches 48 to form the square shape of the frame 14 (Figure 6), which corresponds to the periphery 18 of the sheet 16. It will be appreciated that the frame 14 may be formed in the shape shown in Figure 6 without the need for bending, and may also be formed from other materials such as a plastics material, aluminium, carbon fibre and the like.

[0063] Referring to Figures 7 to 9 of the drawings, each leg 38 of the article of furniture includes a body 50 having a first, operatively upper end 52 and an opposed, second, operatively lower end 54. A connector 56 is arranged at the first end 52 of the body 50. The connector 56 defines two, spaced locating formations, in the form of the pins, 58, 60 interconnected by a bridging portion 62. The pins 58, 60 stand proud of the first end 52 of the body 50 and project away from the second end 54 of the body 50. Each pin 58, 60 is removably received, in use, in one of the sockets 37 of the receiving formation 36 of the base 10 of the article of furniture 12.

[0064] The body 50 is substantially in the form of a frustum and defines a groove 64 at the first end 52 to receive the bridging portion 62 of the connector 56. The second end 54 of the body 50 carries a protector member 66 for protecting an underlying surface (not shown). The body 50 may be partially hollow, as shown in Figure 9, with spaced, radially extending reinforcing members 68. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the reinforcing members 68 of the body 50 may be omitted or the body 50 may be solid.

[0065] The legs 38 serve two purposes. Firstly, the legs 38 space an underside of the article of furniture 12 from an underlying surface such as the floor (not shown). Secondly, the legs 38 join two components of modular furniture together such as, for example, the base 11 of a two seater sofa 12 (Figure 12) or a pair of platforms 72 of a bed 70 (Figures 10 and 11), respectively.

[0066] When one of the legs 38 is being used to join the two components together, one of the pins 58, 60 of the leg 38 is removably received in one of the sockets 37 of the receiving formation 36 of one of the support assemblies 10 or the base panels 72 and the other pin 58 is received in one of the sockets 37 of the aligned receiving formation 36 of the other support assembly 10 or base panel 72 for connecting two of the support assemblies 10 or the base panels 72 together.

[0067] It will be appreciated that multiple legs 38 may be used to connect more than two base members together, for example, in a modular three seater sofa, a modular king size bed or a modular dining table. Furthermore, the leg 38 may have more than two locating formations for connecting more than two base members together.

[0068] Figures 11 and 13 provide bottom views of the single bed 70 and the sofa 12, respectively, which show some of the legs 38 in a comer position 74 (detail B, Figure 16), and some legs 38 in a connecting position 76 (detail C, Figure 15) for connecting the two support assemblies 10 of the sofa 12 or the two base panels 72 of the bed 70 together. It is noted, particularly from Figure 16 of the drawings, that each receiving formation 36 is a right angled unit so that the sockets 37 of each receiving formation 36 lie on a 45° line. Thus, when a leg 38 is in the comer position 74, as shown in Figure 16, the spacing between the sockets 37, on the 45° line, is the same as the spacing between aligned sockets 37 of adjacent receiving formations 36 of the adjacent support assemblies 10.

[0069] Figure 14 shows a rear view of the sofa 12 with the legs 38 connected in both the comer position 74 and the connecting position 76. Detail D of Figure 17 shows one of the legs 38 in the connecting position 76 from the rear view, with the pin 58 of the leg 38 being received in one of the sockets 37 of the receiving formation 36 of one of the support assemblies 10 and the other pin 60 being received in the aligned socket 37 of the receiving formation 36 of the adjacent support assembly 10.

[0070] Figure 18 shows a sectional front view of the sofa 12 showing each pin 58, 60 of one of the legs 38 being received in one of the aligned sockets 37 of the adjacent receiving formations 36 of the support assemblies 10. This is more clearly shown in detail E of Figure 19, which shows an enlarged view of the leg 38 in the connecting position 76. [0071] Figures 20 to 28 generally show a chair78 with upholstery omitted to show the framework of the chair 78. The support assembly 10 functions as the base 11 of the chair 78 and the legs 38 support the base 11. Figures 20 to 22 show the chair 78 with a rest, being a backrest, 80 mounted in a first, substantially upright angular position 82. This is achieved using a connecting arrangement comprising a first pair of spaced, cranked connectors 84 (as best seen in Figures 29 and 30), which are inserted into correspondingly spaced rest receiving formations, or socket defining members 86 and base receiving formations which, form part of the receiving formations 36 and define a pair of spaced sockets 88 (Figure 15). Each connector 84 has a pair of oppositely directed pins 85 and 87 extending from a central member 89. An included angle between the pin 85 and the central member 89 is an obtuse angle while an included angle between the pin 87 and the central member 89 is approximately 90°.

[0072] The pin 85 is received in a socket of one of the socket defining members 86 of the backrest 80 and, similarly, the pin 87 is received in a socket 88 of one of the receiving formation 36 of the support assembly 10. It is to be noted that an operatively lower part 91 of a frame 93 of the backrest 80 is angled with respect to a remainder of the frame 93. Each socket defining member 86 is angled with respect to the lower part 91 of the frame 93. This, firstly, facilitates insertion of the pins 85 into their associated socket defining members 86 and, secondly, ensures that, in the position shown in Figures 20-22, when the backrest 80 is mounted to the base 11, the lower part 91 of the frame 93 is substantially vertical relative to the base 11 and bears against an operatively rear part of the cushion 42 mounted on the support assembly 10 (not shown in Figures- 20 to 22). This improves the aesthetics of the assembled chair 78 as it minimises the gap between the backrest 80 and the cushion 42. This also reduces the likelihood of articles slipping between the backrest 80 and the cushion 42.

[0073] Figures 23 to 25 show the chair 78 with the backrest 80 mounted in a second angular position 90, by a second pair of spaced, cranked connectors 92, which are inserted into sockets of the correspondingly spaced rest receiving formations 86 and the sockets 88 of the receiving formations 36. [0074] Each connector 92 includes the pins 85 and 87 interconnected by the central member 89. However, in this embodiment, the pin 87 is dog-legged having a first portion 95 which extends at substantially 90° from the central member 89. A second portion 97 extends at an angle from the first portion 95 with an included angle between the portions 95 and 97 being an obtuse angle. Thus, when the portion 97 of each connector 92 is received in the socket of the socket defining member 86, the frame 93, the backrest 80 is raised with respect to the base 11 of the chair 78 and is at a first inclination relative to the base 11 of the chair 78.

[0075] Figures 26 to 28 show the chair 78 with the backrest 80 mounted in a third angular position 94using the second pair of spaced, cranked connectors 92. In this arrangement, the frame 93 is rotated through 180° about an axis extending parallel to side members of the frame 93 which carry the socket defining members 86. The same connectors 92 are used in the socket defining members 86 but, due to the angled arrangement of the socket defining members 86 on the frame 93, the backrest 80 is positioned at a second inclination, greater than the first inclination, relative to the base 11 of the chair 78.

[0076] In this way, the backrest 80 may be mounted to the base 11 of the chair 78 in three different angular positions using two pairs of connectors 84, 92. The rest receiving formations 86 are accessible from opposed sides of the backrest 80 to provide the three different angular positions of the backrest 80 relative to the base 11 of the chair 78. It will be appreciated that any number of angular configurations may be possible depending upon the shape of the connectors 84, 92 and/or the arrangement of the rest receiving formations 86 and/or the arrangement of the base receiving formations 88. Furthermore, there may be more than two connectors 84, 92 with more than two correspondingly spaced rest receiving formations 86 and base receiving formations 88 for mounting the backrest 80 to the base 11 of the chair 78.

[0077] Figures 29 and 30 show the chair 78 with the cushion 42 attached to the support assembly 10, and the first pair of spaced, cranked connectors 84 being inserted into the correspondingly spaced rest receiving formations 86 and the base receiving formations 88 to mount the rest 80 in the first angular position 82.

[0078] Figures 31 and 32 show the backrest 80 and an armrest 98, respectively, for use with the sofa 12 (Figure 12). The backrest 80 and the armrest 98 include first and second zip fasteners 100, 102, respectively, which are both curved and are arranged within respective undercut portions 104, 106 so as to reduce the likelihood of ensnaring an occupant of the sofa 12.

[0079] In use, to assemble, for example, the sofa 12, a pair of support assemblies 10 are provided with two backrest 80 and two armrests 98. The support assemblies 10 may be provided without the cushions 42 attached. The user mounts the cushion 42 on its associated support assembly 10 by wrapping the skirt portion of the cushion 42 around the tricot cover 40 of the support assembly and pressing the part 44 of the hook and loop fastener arrangement into locking attachment to the cover 40.

[0080] The pins 58 and 60 of the legs 38 in the centre of the sofa are inserted into aligned sockets 37 of adjacent receiving formations 36 of the adjacent support assemblies 10 to join the support assemblies 10 together.

[0081] The backrests 80 and armrests 98 are then mounted to the support assemblies 10 using the appropriate pair of connectors 84, 92 depending on the degree of inclination of the backrests 80/armrests 98 desired. As described above, this is effected by inserting the pins 85 into the sockets 88 of the receiving formations 36 and by inserting the pins 87 into the sockets of the socket defining members 86 of the frame 93 of the backrest 80/armrest 98.

[0082] It is therefore an advantage of the described embodiment that the sofa 12, bed 70 or chair 78 can be assembled without the use of any tools being required and without any technical skills being required. [0083] Advantageously, the reinforcing members 20, 22 of support assembly 10 assist in distributing a load applied to the sheet 16 by an occupant of the article of furniture 12, in use. This is due to the elastically deformable members 24 being arranged at spaced intervals about the entire periphery 18 of the substantially planar member 16, as well as the pair of reinforcing members 20, 22 each extending along two sides of the periphery 18 of the sheet 16. This force distribution improves comfort for the user as well as maintaining the longevity of the support assembly 10 by reducing the prevalence of concentrated forces throughout the support assembly 10.

[0084] The legs 38 connecting the support assemblies 10 or base panels 72 in the connecting position 76 may be used to connect base members of various articles of modular furniture. This provides a dual purpose leg 38, which may be used for both supporting the base 10 in the spaced relationship relative to the floor, and connecting at least two base members together. This dual purpose leg 38 reduces the need for base member linking components such as brackets to be included in modular furniture packages, thereby reducing the overall volume and weight of these packages and reducing the likelihood of injury attributed to handling these packages. The reduction of modular components also improves the ease of assembly of the modular article of furniture for the user.

[0085] It will be appreciated that the support assembly 10 may be used as a side rest or a back rest for an article of furniture as well as a base. It will also be appreciated that the support assembly 10 and/or the leg 38 may be used in non-modular articles of furniture.

[0086] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support assembly for an article of furniture, the support assembly comprising: a frame; a substantially planar member defining a periphery, with the frame being arranged in spaced relationship about the periphery; a reinforcing arrangement carried by the planar member to reinforce at least the periphery of the planar member, the reinforcing arrangement comprising a plurality of discrete reinforcing members, each reinforcing member being of a substantially rigid material and extending about a part of the periphery of the planar member; and a plurality of elastically deformable members, each elastically deformable member being mounted to, and extending between, the frame and one of the reinforcing members carried by the planar member, the elastically deformable members being arranged at spaced intervals about the periphery of the planar member.

2. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the planar member is of a flexible material, and wherein the periphery of the planar member is polygonal.

3. The support assembly according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing members are arranged in end-to end relationship about the polygonal periphery of the planar member and wherein each reinforcing member is shaped to extend along at least two sides of the polygonal periphery of the planar member.

4. The support assembly according to claim 3 in which the reinforcing members are arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship about the polygonal periphery of the planar member.

5. The support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each elastically deformable member comprises a spring element.

6. The support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is formed from a single member configured to be formed into a shape corresponding to the periphery of the planar member.

7. The support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover applied to the frame.

8. The support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support assembly defines at least part of a base of the article of furniture.

9. The support assembly according to claim 8, wherein the frame carries a plurality of spaced receiving formations, each receiving formation being configured to receive a part of a leg for supporting the base in spaced relationship relative to a surface.

10. The support assembly according to claim 9, wherein each receiving formation comprises a pair of spaced socket defining members, each socket defining member defining a socket in which a pin carried by the leg is receivable.

11. An article of furniture which comprises a base, the base comprising a support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims; and at least one rest removably mountable to the base.

12. The article of furniture according to claim 11, further comprising a cushion attachable to the support assembly.

13. The article of furniture according to claim 12, wherein the cushion carries a part of a fastening arrangement for attaching the cushion to the support assembly.

14. The article of furniture according to claim 13, wherein the fastening arrangement is a hook and loop fastening arrangement, the support assembly carrying a first part of the hook and loop fastening arrangement, and the cushion carrying a second part of the hook and loop fastening arrangement.

15. The article of furniture according to claim 14, further comprising a connecting arrangement via which the at least one rest is removably mountable to the base, the connecting arrangement and the at least one rest being configured to mount the at least one rest in different angular positions relative to the base.

16. The article of furniture according to claim 15, wherein the connecting arrangement comprises at least one pair of spaced, cranked connectors, the connectors being insertable into correspondingly spaced rest receiving formations and base receiving formations.

17. The article of furniture of claim 16, wherein the rest receiving formations are accessible from opposed sides of the rest to provide the different angular positions of the rest relative to the base.

18. A leg for an article of furniture having a base, the leg comprising: a body having a first end and an opposed second end; and a connector arranged at the first end of the body, the connector defining at least two locating formations spaced from each other and standing proud of the first end of the body and projecting away from the second end, wherein each of the at least two locating formations is removably receivable in a receiving formation of the base of the article of furniture.

19. The leg according to claim 18, wherein the base of the article of furniture comprises a plurality of base members, and wherein each of the at least two locating formations is removably receivable in a receiving formation of one of the plurality of base members for connecting at least two of the plurality of base members together.

20. The leg according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the connector is substantially U-shaped having a pair of spaced limbs interconnected by a bridging portion, each limb defining one of the locating formations.

INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (RULE 20.6)

21. The leg according to claim 20, wherein the body defines a groove at the first end to receive the bridging portion of the connector.

22. The leg according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the second end of the body carries a protector member for protecting an underlying surface, in use.

23. The leg according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the body is substantially in the form of a frustum.

INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (RULE 20.6)