Modular furniture

Abstract

Furniture connectors and modular furniture systems are disclosed. The furniture connectors can be configured to include furniture-engaging portions of the connectors that are inserted into grooves that extend along edges of furniture members. The connectors can include at least two furniture-engaging portions that may be fastened to multiple furniture members to connect furniture members together in a secure manner in a variety of assembly configurations. The modular furniture systems disclosed may use easy-to-assemble connectors and reversible connections that may permit disassembly and reassembly, optionally, into a different furniture configuration than the one disassembled.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to modular furniture and more specifically to furniture member connectors, modular furniture systems, and methods of connecting and disconnecting furniture members. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART [0002] Furniture assembly, whether performed by the consumer or the furniture manufacturer, can be a time-consuming process involving the use of tools, numerous pieces of hardware, and extensive, complex instructions. The relative ease or difficulty of assembly often has an impact on the cost to manufacture and / or the marketability to the consumer. Additionally, the ease of assembly can also have a substantial effect on the utility of a modular furniture system. [0003] Furniture that is shipped as a packaged kit of separate furniture parts and is intended to be assembled by a retailer or a consumer is often referred to as knock-down furniture or assembly furniture. Knock-down furniture kits are typically shipped in large flat pack...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a kit of parts for assembling furniture that can be readily disassembled and reassembled comprises a plurality of furniture members and a plurality of furniture connectors, at least one connector thereof having first and second furniture-engaging portions, each furniture-engaging portion having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width. The kit of parts further comprises instructions directing a user to assemble the connectors and the furniture members into a first configuration of a plurality of assembly configurations, instructions directing the user to disassemble the first configuration, and instructions directing the user to assemble the connectors and furniture members into a second configuration of the plurality of assembly configurations.

Problems solved by technology

Furniture assembly, whether performed by the consumer or the furniture manufacturer, can be a time-consuming process involving the use of tools, numerous pieces of hardware, and extensive, complex instructions.

The relative ease or difficulty of assembly often has an impact on the cost to manufacture and / or the marketability to the consumer.

Typical knock-down furniture kits include furniture members and other components that are not designed to permit easy disassembly without a deterioration in the usefulness or aesthetic quality of the furniture members and / or other components, such as connectors.

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