Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6206473
-
Patent Number
6,206,473
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, November 24, 199825 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 27, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Cuomo; Peter M.
- White; Rodney B.
Agents
- Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton, Moriarty & McNett
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 297 4401
- 297 44012
- 297 44013
- 297 44014
- 297 161
- 297 162
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An article of collapsible furniture includes a top member and a base having multiple panels, each of the panels being hingedly connected to at least one other of the panels, and wherein the base has a collapsed storage condition wherein the panels are folded atop one another, and the base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein the panels are unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon, the polygon being a concave octagon. A connection assembly includes a series of slotted tabs that engage with a corresponding series of hooked slots to releasably lock the top member in a load supporting position atop the base.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly to the construction of knockdown furniture from lightweight and foldable panel material such as fiberboard or cardboard and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a fairly diverse market for lightweight, portable furniture such as tables and chairs that can be easily transported and assembled or erected on site and that can be disassembled or “knocked down” for easy disposal or stored for another day. Such furniture finds particular application for picnics, parties and college student living quarters. Such furniture should be easy to assemble or erect and knock back down to a storage condition. It should also be inexpensive to ship in bulk and easy to display in a variety of different stores, such as hardware stores, drug stores, department stores, variety stores, and bookstores. Furniture that is shipped and sold in a generally flat, unassembled condition and is made of cardboard or fiberboard or the like is ideal for such purposes.
Over the years, a number of furniture constructions have been developed whereby the furniture piece is erected or constructed from one or more components made of cardboard or a similar material and from a generally flat, and unassembled or folded condition. Examples of these and similar furniture constructions may be found in the following U.S. Patents:
|
Patent No.
Inventor
|
|
1,662,121
Moncrieff
|
2,279,865
Eide
|
2,361,875
Sachs
|
3,262,405
Sutton
|
3,566,808
Slate Jr.
|
3,620,175
Crane et al.
|
3,714,908
Notko
|
3,724,399
Notko et al.
|
3,866,550
Geschwender
|
4,078,502
Barna
|
4,084,517
Guess
|
4,138,951
Nelson
|
4,348,052
Roland
|
4,632,040
Sheffer
|
4,632,345
Barley
|
4,841,882
Ehrman
|
4,926,759
Vitsky et al.
|
5,018,454
Negus
|
5,069,144
Williford
|
5,263,766
McCullough
|
5,580,131
Ribot
|
5,682,623
Fenoglio
|
JP406237832 A
Maruni Kagu Kogyo K.K.
|
GB2151473 A
Jedzinski
|
FR002505636 A3
Roch
|
|
The articles of furniture disclosed in the above-referenced patents are assembled from either a single cut blank with fold lines and assembly tabs and slots, or from two or more pre-cut and/or pre-assembled sections that are interfitted together using a series of shaped tabs and slots. In each case, it is believed that the resulting structure may be made lighter and easier to assemble, or may be pre-packaged in a smaller, easier to carry package. In furniture of this type, it is desirable to reduce the weight and bulk of the components, while at the same time increasing the strength and stability of the assembled product. Furthermore, it is desirable that assembly of the article of furniture be sufficiently uncomplicated so that a person could assemble the furniture article with little or no instructions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, there is provided an apparatus and method for constructing furniture from a lightweight, rigid and foldable material such as fiberboard or cardboard where the components are in a substantially flat and compact storage condition and may be assembled therefrom into a substantially rigid furniture piece.
An article of collapsible furniture includes a top member and a base having multiple panels, each of the panels being hingedly connected to at least one other of the panels, and wherein the base has a collapsed storage condition wherein the panels are folded atop one another, and the base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein the panels are unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon, the polygon being a concave octagon. A connection assembly includes a series of slotted tabs that engage with a corresponding series of hooked slots to releasably lock the top member in a load supporting position atop the base.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved article of furniture that is assembled from a generally flat, folded condition.
It is further object of the present invention to provide an improved article of paperboard furniture.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an article of collapsible furniture
10
in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and shown in the collapsed condition.
FIG. 2
is perspective view of the base
12
of the article of furniture
10
of
FIG. 1
, and shown in the flat, unfolded condition.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the base
12
of
FIG. 2
, and shown in the expanded, load supporting condition.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the article of furniture of
FIG. 1
, and shown in the assembled condition.
FIG. 5
is a plan view that a bottom, plan view of the article of collapsible furniture
10
of
FIG. 1
drawing on the left half marking tabs and the flat storage condition and base
12
indicated that's shown in phantom and the right half is
12
and seat member
11
shown in the assembled condition.
FIG. 6
is a side view of a portion of base
12
showing slot
65
.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a portion of base
12
and seat member
11
and showing a locking tab
86
in the pre-assembly condition.
FIG. 8
is a view of a portion of seat member
11
in base
12
in the assembled condition and showing locking tab
86
engaged with seat connection slot
66
.
FIG. 9
is a perspective view of a portion of seat member
11
in base
12
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention to the manner of securing base
12
to seat member
11
.
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of the base
12
of part of an embodiment of
FIG. 9
, and shown in the flat, unfolded condition.
FIG. 11
is a perspective view of a portion of leg
60
of base
12
of FIG.
10
.
FIG. 12
is a perspective view of an article of knockdown or collapsible furniture in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention with the article here being a table
130
.
FIG. 13
is an end view of base
132
of table
130
of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 14
is an end view of the table top support
163
of table top
131
of the table
130
of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 15
is an end view of the cover member
164
of table top
131
of table
130
of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 16
is a perspective view of the base
132
of the table
130
of
FIG. 12
, and shown in the flat, unfolded position.
FIG. 17
is a perspective view that is a bottom perspective view of the table
130
of FIG.
17
.
FIG. 18
is a plan view of table top support
163
shown in the flat, unfolded condition.
FIG. 19
is a bottom of table
130
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and any alterations or modifications in the illustrated device, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
As used herein, the term cardboard refers to the corrugated paperboard construction generally comprising a pair of flat, parallel, and paperboard sheets with a third paperboard sheet interposed therebetween in a generally sinusoidal or triangular ripple pattern. The two outer sheets are typically bonded to the central rippled sheet with an appropriate adhesive. The resulting, generally planar structure is more resistant to bending than would be the three paperboard sheets simply stacked and glued flat together, and is more resistant to bending in a direction across the grain than with the grain. As used herein, the grain is generally considered as being lengthwise along the individual sinusoidal or similarly shaped ripples of the center sheet. It is understood that the term cardboard may also refer to other paper products that are stiffened by other means, and the present invention contemplates being manufactured from these or other materials that would provide sufficient rigidity to support a person or persons or articles for which it is intended. Included in such other materials are any of the variety of synthetic materials such as plastic and fiberglass, whether in a corrugated configuration or not. Nevertheless, the preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates the use of corrugated paperboard as shown herein and as referred to herein generally as cardboard.
Referring now to
FIGS. 1-8
, there is shown an article of knockdown or collapsible furniture
10
in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the article of furniture
10
is shown and described as a seat (also referenced by the number
10
), but the invention is applicable to other furniture items, at least one alternative embodiment of which is shown in
FIGS. 12-19
and described hereinbelow. Seat
10
generally includes a seat member
11
and a base
12
. In its collapsed storage condition (FIG.
1
), base
12
is folded to a flat, stackable condition which, along with flat seat member
11
, has a generally square profile and may be easily stored and transported. As used herein, the term “flat” or the phrase “flat, stackable condition” refers to configurations where the panel members are disposed in substantially mutually parallel planes and are in a generally back-to-back configuration as shown, for example, in
FIG. 1
, and as opposed to an expanded condition as shown, for example, in FIG.
3
. Seat member
11
comprises upper and lower, square and flat pieces of cardboard
14
and
15
, respectively, that are fixedly connected to each other by appropriate means such as by glue. The grains of cardboard pieces
14
and
15
are oriented orthogonally to each other to enhance their combined resistance to bending in all directions and to provide sufficient strength, along with base
12
, to support a person sitting thereon. The thickness of the cardboard used for pieces
14
and
15
is preferably about 0.125 inches. However, the thickness of cardboard pieces
14
and
15
may be made dissimilar and may be of alternative thickness and composition to achieve a desired strength, weight or other characteristic.
Base
12
is made from a single rectangular sheet of cardboard
17
as shown in FIG.
2
. Sheet
17
defines opposing lower and upper long edges
18
and
19
, respectively, and opposing short edges
20
and
21
. The grain of sheet
17
is parallel to short edges
20
and
21
. Primary creases
24
-
28
are mutually parallel and are made in sheet
17
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, so that sheet
17
may be folded along lines parallel to the grains and at creases
24
-
28
to its flat storage condition shown in FIG.
1
. Secondary creases
30
-
39
are made in sheet
17
parallel to creases
24
-
28
, all of which are thus parallel to the opposing short edges
19
and
20
. Creases
24
-
28
and
30
-
39
together define sixteen identically sized rectangular panels
41
-
56
. Creases
25
,
28
and
30
-
39
essentially act as joints to permit panels common thereto to hingedly pivot about such creases. Specific ones of panels
41
-
56
are connected together by appropriate means such as gluing so that, in conjunction with the pivotal bending about creases
25
,
28
, and
30
-
39
, base
12
can be opened from its collapsed storage condition of
FIG. 1
to its expanded, load supporting condition shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. Specifically, panels
41
and
56
are glued back to back and mutually form a radially extending support leg
59
. Likewise, panels
44
and
45
, panels
48
and
49
, and panels
52
and
53
are glued back to back to form radially extending support legs
60
,
61
, and
62
, respectively.
Referring to FIGS.
3
and
5
-
8
, identically shaped seat connection slots
65
-
68
are defined at the top of, and extend downwardly from the upper edges
69
of each of legs
59
-
62
. Reference will now be made to just slot
65
, it being understood that slots
66
-
68
are identically shaped. Slot
65
is generally defined by inner vertical edge
70
, bottom edge
71
, outer lower edge
72
, horizontal locking edge
73
, outer upper edge
74
, and opposing outer and inner, upper beveled edges
75
and
76
, respectively. The width of slot
65
at its lower portion, between opposing vertical edges
70
and
72
is approximately one and one half times the thickness of lower cardboard piece
15
of seat
11
. The width of slot
65
at its upper portion, between opposing vertical edges
70
and
74
is approximately equal to the thickness of lower cardboard piece
15
of seat
11
. This configuration of slot
65
defines an inwardly extending hook
78
that is bounded at its bottom by horizontal locking edge
73
. The upper corner of hook
78
is cut off at an angle to define the outer, upper beveled edge
75
, which is slightly larger than the opposing inner, upper beveled edge
76
. Together, beveled edges
75
and
76
provide clearance to facilitate the entry of a locking tab as will be described herein. Slots
65
-
68
may be formed by cutting the specific shapes out of legs
59
-
62
after the particular panel pairs (
41
and
56
,
44
and
45
,
48
and
49
, and
52
and
53
) are glued together, or they may be formed by cutting the individual slot shapes in each of the corresponding panels (
41
,
44
,
45
,
48
,
49
,
52
,
53
, and
56
) of sheet
17
before it is folded and glued.
Referring to
FIGS. 5 and 7
, inner and outer generally U-shaped cuts
81
and
82
are made proximal to each of the four comers of lower cardboard piece
15
to define locking tabs
85
-
88
. Each of the pairs of cuts
81
and
82
are centered along a corresponding diagonal line
90
,
91
that extends from opposing corners of the square lower cardboard piece
15
. Outer U-shaped cuts
82
extend approximately one half inch farther outwardly along their diagonal line (
90
or
91
) than inner U-shaped cuts
81
whereby crescent-shaped sections are thus defined and removed from lower cardboard piece
15
, outwardly of each of tabs
85
-
88
. The removal of the crescent-shaped sections creates a crescent-shaped finger access opening
92
at the outermost edge of each of tabs
85
-
88
. A crease
93
is made, orthogonally to the corresponding diagonal, and at and between the innermost termini of each of the U-shaped cuts. Crease
83
thus creates a bend line to bend each tab
85
-
88
downwardly from the flat storage condition, whereby each tab
85
-
88
is substantially coplanar with the rest of cardboard piece
15
(left half of FIG.
5
), to a pre-assembly condition whereby each tab
85
-
88
extends approximately 90° downwardly from the rest of cardboard piece
15
, the pre-assembly condition being shown in FIG.
7
. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein tabs
85
-
88
are separate pieces that are attached as by gluing to seat member
11
. In this or similar configurations, the flat storage position includes tabs
85
-
88
being substantially coplanar, that is in the same plane or just above or below the plane of the seat member.
A rectangular section is cut out of each tab
85
-
88
to define hook receiving slots
94
-
97
, respectively. Each slot
94
-
97
is centered over the corresponding diagonal
90
and
91
and is defined by opposing side edges
98
and
99
and opposing inner and outer edges
100
and
101
, respectively. Inner edge
100
is located at or just outwardly of crease
93
. The length of each slot
94
-
97
, measured between inner and outer edges
100
and
101
, is approximately equal to the vertical distance between upper edge
69
of a leg (
59
-
62
) and the horizontal locking edge
73
of a slot (
65
-
68
). The width of each slot
94
-
97
, measured between side edges
98
and
99
, is approximately equal to the thickness of each leg
59
-
62
, that is, approximately twice the thickness of cardboard sheet
17
.
While base
12
has been described as being made from a single sheet of cardboard or similar material, it is understood that base
12
may be made from two or more appropriately cut pieces, glued together to achieve the collapsed storage configuration of FIG.
1
and the expanded, load supporting condition shown in
FIGS. 3-5
.
In use, seat
10
operates as follows: in the collapsed, storage condition (FIG.
1
), seat
10
comprises (in one embodiment) seat member
11
and base
12
; measures approximately 16 inches square and approximately 0.75 inches thick total; and, weighs 21.5 ounces. To assemble seat
10
, base
11
is expanded from its flat storage condition (
FIG. 1
) to its expanded, load supporting condition (FIGS.
3
and
4
). Tabs
85
-
88
are bent along their corresponding creases
93
from their flat storage condition (left side of FIG.
5
and at
105
in
FIG. 7
) to their pre-assembly condition extending approximately 90° downwardly from the rest of cardboard piece
15
(FIG.
7
). Seat member
11
is positioned atop base
12
(or, in the alternative, with seat member
11
inverted with tabs
85
-
88
extending up, base
12
is positioned atop seat member
11
) and tabs
85
-
88
are, each, positioned within and locked one of the corresponding cutouts
65
-
68
. Referring to FIG.
8
and tab
86
, for example, this is done by inserting tab
86
down into corresponding cutout
66
until hook
78
of cutout
66
enters slot
95
of tab
86
, releasably locking tab
86
to leg
60
. The dimensions and locations of tabs
85
-
88
and cutouts 65-68 are provided so that, when tabs
85
-
88
are inserted into and releasably locked with their corresponding cutouts
65
-
68
, tabs
85
-
88
are bent back slightly more than 90° (as shown in
FIG. 8
) from their mutually coplanar, storage conditions at
105
. The cardboard or other material comprising piece
15
has some degree of elasticity, and tabs
85
-
88
therefore seek to return to their mutually coplanar storage conditions at
105
. Furthermore, base
12
naturally seeks to return to or nearly to the collapsed storage condition of
FIG. 1
, which means that, when assembled and in the expanded load supporting condition of
FIGS. 3 and 4
, support legs
59
-
62
are biased substantially radially inwardly which, in turn, pulls the corresponding tabs
85
-
88
radially inwardly (to the left in
FIG. 8
, for example). Thus, in order for tabs
85
-
88
to be released from within cutouts
65
-
68
, they must each be pulled inwardly even further and against their inherent outward, bias, and the corresponding leg
59
-
62
must be pulled generally radially outwardly (to the right in
FIG. 8
) to enable outer edge
101
to move clear horizontal of locking edge
73
. This configuration resists tabs
85
-
88
from releasing from cutouts
65
-
68
spontaneously.
In the configuration described herein, base
12
could be expanded and held so that non-glued, central panels
42
,
43
,
46
,
47
,
50
,
51
,
54
and
55
form a square in cross-section. However, in the preferred embodiment, base
12
is manufactured to retain the flat storage condition of
FIG. 1
upon removal from any packaging, and it must be manually pulled into the expanded load supporting condition of FIG.
3
. After one or more assemblies of base
12
, as described below, base
12
will preferably retain some inherent structural bias to return toward the flat storage position of
FIG. 1
rather than to stay in the expanded condition of FIG.
3
. Because base
12
inherently seeks to return toward the collapsed storage condition, when base
12
is expanded and assembled with seat member
11
, central panels
42
,
43
,
46
,
47
,
50
,
51
,
54
and
55
form a simple, concave polygon (an octagon). That is, the contours (panels) of the polygon have no self-intersections (hence “simple”), and not all of the diagonals of the polygon lie inside the polygon (i.e. a horizontal line from crease/vertex
31
to crease/vertex
36
lies within the polygon; but a horizontal line from crease/vertex
32
/
33
to crease/vertex
30
/
39
lies outside of the polygon) (hence “concave”). The resulting octagon forms a generally four-pointed star in horizontal cross-section. This configuration enhances the strength of base
12
and its resistance to buckling under the weight of someone sitting on seat
10
. Other configurations of the present invention are contemplated wherein the resulting central supporting, simple polygon has other shapes. For example, a base having three legs and a resulting central supporting polygon having just six panels is contemplated. Also contemplated is a central polygon that is convex—that is, whose diagonals all lie within the polygon, such as, for example, an equilateral hexagon or an equilateral octagon.
Seat
10
may be disassembled by removing each of tabs
85
-
88
from cutouts
65
-
68
, bending tabs
85
-
88
back to their storage condition, and collapsing base
12
to its generally flat, collapsed storage condition of FIG.
1
.
Referring to
FIGS. 9-11
, there is shown an alternative method for securing seat member
11
to base
12
. Instead of the slot (
65
-
68
) and tab (
85
-
88
) combination of
FIGS. 1-8
, each leg
59
-
62
the embodiment of
FIGS. 9-11
is provided with a pair of bendable tabs
108
and
109
extending upwardly from each radially extending support leg
59
-
62
. A corresponding oval-shaped slot
110
is defined in lower cardboard piece
15
of seat member
11
. More specifically, the sheet
17
which comprises base
12
is originally formed with four pairs of tabs
108
and
109
extending outwardly from upper edge
18
and from panels
44
and
45
,
48
and
49
,
52
and
53
, and
56
and
41
, as shown in FIG.
10
. The four pairs of tabs
108
and
109
extending outwardly from sheet
17
are aligned with respect to the corresponding panels so that when sheet
17
is folded and glued into the configuration shown in
FIG. 3
, each pair of tabs
108
and
109
align with each other, as shown in FIG.
11
. When the four pairs of panels
44
and
45
,
48
and
49
,
52
and
53
, and
56
and
41
are glued together as described above, no adhesive is applied to the pairs of tabs
108
and
109
so that each of the four pairs of tabs
108
and
109
may be bent along a crease
111
to a storage condition (shown at
114
and
115
). Tabs
108
and
109
may then be bent along creases
111
from the storage condition (at
114
and
115
) to pre-assembly condition (at
117
and
118
) whereby tabs
108
and
109
are substantially coplanar and define an oval-shaped configuration. Slot
110
is of complementary size and shape to the oval-shaped configuration of the tabs
108
and
109
in the pre-assembly condition, as shown in FIG.
9
.
When upper and lower cardboard pieces
14
and
15
are manufactured, an appropriate adhesive substance (not shown) is applied to upper cardboard piece
14
so that such adhesive is exposed through slot
110
. A protective film
120
is applied to lower piece
15
to cover slot
110
and protect the adhesive therein from contamination and deterioration prior to usage.
In use, after base
12
is expanded and ready to be secured with seat member
11
, the four pairs of tabs are pivoted at creases
111
from their storage conditions
114
and
115
to their pre-assembly conditions
117
and
118
. Protective film
120
is removed from lower cardboard piece
15
to expose slot
110
and the adhesive therein. Seat member
11
and base
12
are then brought together and each pair of tabs
108
and
109
is firmly seated within its corresponding and complementary shaped slot
110
so it engages with the adhesive and bonds tabs
108
and
109
to the bottom of upper cardboard piece
14
, thereby bonding base
12
with seat member
11
.
The adhesive used within slots
110
may be of any suitable type which retains a desired level of adhesion and which provides sufficient bonding to firmly secure tabs
108
and
109
within their corresponding slots
110
. Such adhesive could be chosen so that tabs
108
and
109
are substantially permanently bonded to seat member
11
, thus strongly bonding seat member
11
in place with base
12
, but destroying the ability to knockdown and reuse the furniture article. Alternatively, such adhesive could permit the removal of tabs
108
and
109
from seat member
11
, without removing the adhesive material from within slot
110
or destroying its adhesive quality, and thus enabling the furniture article to be disassembled and reused. Alternative embodiments are also contemplated wherein the adhesive action between tabs
108
and
109
and seat member
11
is accomplished by treating just tabs
108
and
109
with an appropriate adhesive or by treating both tabs
108
and
109
and seat member
11
with an appropriate substance or material that causes adhesion between tabs
108
and
109
and seat member
11
when tabs
108
and
109
are brought in contact with seat member
11
within slot
110
. It should be understood that appropriate forms of adhesion between these members may be accomplished with materials other than adhesive compounds such as glue or tape-like substances, for example, Velcro®. In this vein, alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein a slot
110
is replaced by an alternative structure, mechanism or substance which provides the connection and positionment of tabs
108
and
109
relative to seat member
11
. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein seat member
11
has a shape other than a square. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein panels
41
-
46
are not substantially identical. For example, the panels
41
,
44
,
45
,
48
,
49
,
52
,
53
and
56
that form legs
59
-
62
may be made wider or of a different shape than the panels
42
,
43
,
46
,
47
,
50
,
51
,
54
and
55
that form the central supporting polygon. Alternative embodiments are also contemplated wherein two or more bases
12
may be used in conjunction with a larger seat member
11
to form a bench, or to form a table.
Referring to
FIGS. 12-19
, there is shown an article of knockdown or collapsible furniture made from cardboard in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the furniture article is shown and described as a table
130
. Table
130
generally includes a table top
131
and a base
132
. Like base
12
of seat
10
, base
132
is foldable from a collapsed storage condition (
FIG. 13
) to an expanded support condition (FIG.
17
). Referring to
FIG. 16
, base
132
is constructed of a single sheet
133
and is provided with a number of creases
134
to enable sheet
133
to be folded at creases
134
into a table base
132
in the configuration shown in FIG.
17
. The creases
134
divide sheet
133
into ten substantially identically sized and rectangular panels
137
-
146
. Specific panel pairs are secured back to back with each other with an appropriate adhesive. That is, referring to
FIG. 17
, the following panel pairs are secured to each other back to back:
137
and
138
;
140
and
141
,
142
and
143
; and,
145
and
146
. This configuration enables base
132
to be folded to the collapsed storage condition shown in FIG.
13
and to be unfolded into the expanded table top support condition shown in FIG.
17
. With the panel pairs
137
/
138
,
140
/
141
,
142
/
143
, and
145
/
146
bonded to each other, support legs
126
-
129
, respectively, are thereby formed. Sections
149
are cut out of opposing sides and at the top of panels of
139
and
144
(
FIG. 16
) which, when base
132
is unfolded to the expanded support condition of
FIG. 17
, defines a pair of slots (one shown at
150
) in the resulting center, combination panel
139
/
144
. These resulting slots
150
are sized and configured to receive therein the longitudinal support beams
151
and
152
described below.
As with the embodiment of seat member
11
and base
12
of
FIGS. 9-11
, base
132
is cut to define a plurality of tabs
155
extending upwardly from selected panels, specifically, panels
137
,
138
,
140
,
141
,
142
,
143
,
145
, and
146
, as shown in FIG.
16
. When sheet
133
is folded and glued together to form the table base
132
shown in
FIG. 17
, the tabs
155
extending upwardly from the base
132
form pairs of locking tabs that operate like those of
FIGS. 9-11
.
In the preferred embodiment, the width of center, combination panel
139
/
144
is slightly greater than the width of legs
126
-
129
to enable legs
126
-
129
to be folded to the collapsed storage position as shown in FIG.
13
.
Table top
131
comprises a table top support
163
and a cover member
164
. Referring to
FIGS. 14 and 18
, table top support
163
is formed from a single sheet
156
cut as shown, and is provided with a plurality of mutually parallel creases
157
-
162
. Creases
157
-
162
define three substantially identically shaped, rectangular table sections
173
-
175
and two pairs of table beam sections
176
-
179
. Portions of sheet
156
are cut out to define V-shaped sections
165
-
168
on opposing sides of sheet
156
. The V-shaped sections
165
-
168
are identically shaped, and the length of the edges of V-shaped sections
165
-
168
and the angles formed thereby are identical and are bounded by creases
157
-
162
, as shown. In the preferred embodiment, the width
180
of the table beam sections
176
-
179
is between one third and one half of the width
181
of the outer table sections
173
and
175
.
Like the oval slots
110
defined in lower cardboard piece
15
of
FIG. 9
, sheet
156
is provided with eight oval slots
169
, placed as shown in FIG.
18
. The locations of the eight slots
169
are set to correspond with the location of tabs
155
of base
132
. That is, upon assembly of table
130
, when base
132
is secured to table top
131
, the pairs of tabs
155
will correspond to and be firmly seated within slots
169
. The general positionment of base
132
relative to table top
131
is indicated in dashed lines at
170
on sheet
156
in FIG.
18
and is shown in the bottom view of assembled table
130
in FIG.
19
.
Referring to
FIGS. 12 and 15
, cover member
164
comprises a single cardboard sheet that is creased at
171
right down the middle to enable it to be folded from a collapsed storage condition (
FIG. 15
) to an assembled flat condition (in FIG.
12
).
In assembly, as with the seat
10
of
FIGS. 1-11
, base
132
is unfolded from its collapsed storage condition (
FIG. 13
) to its expanded support condition (FIG.
17
). Table top support member
163
is folded along creases
157
-
162
to bring table beam sections
176
and
177
together and table beam sections
178
and
179
together, and whereby rectangular table sections
173
,
174
, and
175
are substantially mutually planar. With sheet
156
thus folded and turned upside down, as shown in
FIG. 17
, table beam sections
176
-
179
define the pair of parallel, longitudinal support beams
151
and
152
. The pair of table bases
132
are lowered into position whereby beams
151
and
152
are received within the slots
150
. The tabs
155
of base
132
are bent accordingly and seated within oval slots
169
of table support
163
.
Since table support
163
and cover member
164
are not fixed together before assembly, no adhesive is automatically provided within oval slots
169
, as is the case with slots
110
of FIG.
9
. In this embodiment, adhesive may be provided on the appropriate sides of tabs
155
with an easily removable protective film applied over the adhesive. In this configuration, the film may be removed and the adhesive will be on the proper side of tabs
155
for adhesion to cover member
164
as described below. Alternatively, adhesive may be provided in the proper place on cover member
164
to bond with the tabs
155
. In one embodiment, referring to
FIG. 18
, strips of adhesive
182
are provided on opposing sides of the top of sheet
156
with removable protective films
183
applied thereover. Upon assembly, protective films
183
are removed, and cover member
164
is unfolded and pressed onto the top of the assembled table support
163
, the adhesive strips
182
bonding with cover member
164
to secure cover member
164
to table support
163
. Alternatively, adhesive material may be applied to the cover member
164
instead of to table support
163
, and additional adhesive material may be positioned on cover member
164
to align with oval slots
169
so that tabs
155
, upon being seated within slots
169
, may engage such additional adhesive on cover member
164
and be secured thereto.
While table
130
has been described using the tab
108
/
109
and slot
110
configuration for joining table top
131
to bases
132
, it is contemplated that the slotted tab (
85
-
88
) and hooked slot (
65
-
68
) configuration of seat
10
may be used to connect table top
131
to bases
132
, as well. This configuration would facilitate reuse of the table. That is, once the table with the adhesive method of construction is assembled, disassembly would likely damage or destroy the effectiveness of the adhesive strips. In the alternative, the slotted tab and hooked slot configuration lends itself well to reuse. Likewise, other methods of connection of the table top to its bases, as contemplated herein, such as Velcro®, would also permit reuse. It is also contemplated that table
130
may be made larger or in a different shape than that disclosed herein wherein, for example, more than two bases
132
are used to support table top
131
, or table top support
163
has more or less support beams
150
/
151
.
While the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
- 1. An article of collapsible furniture, comprising:a top member; a one piece base, separate from said top member and having multiple panels, each of said panels being hingedly connected to at least one other of said panels and wherein said base has a collapsed storage condition wherein said panels are folded atop one another and said base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein said panels are unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon the polygon having at least four eight sides and being a simple concave polygon; connection means for releasably locking said top member in a load supporting position atop said base; and, wherein the expanded load supporting condition includes said panels being unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon with vertices and with a support leg extending outwardly from at least four of the vertices.
- 2. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 1 further including an assembled condition wherein said top member and said base are connected together by said connection means and form a seat.
- 3. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 2 wherein said connection means includes each of the legs having a top edge and defining a slot opening upwardly from the top edge, and further including a plurality of locking tabs extending downwardly from said top member, at least one of the locking tabs being sized and configured to be releasably lockingly received within a corresponding one of the slots to hold said top member releasably connected with said base.
- 4. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 3 wherein each of the legs includes a hook that extends laterally into a corresponding slot, and wherein each locking tab defines an opening that is sized and positioned to releasably lockingly engage with the hook of a slot when the locking tab is positioned within the corresponding slot.
- 5. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 4 further including biasing means for urging said base to hold each locking tab within its corresponding slot.
- 6. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 4 wherein said top member and said base are made of corrugated cardboard.
- 7. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 4 wherein said base is made of a single sheet of material, folded and creased to define said multiple panels, and wherein at least one of said multiple panels is glued back-to-back to another of said multiple panels.
- 8. An article of collapsible furniture, comprising:a seat member; a base formed from a single sheet of material folded and creased along substantially parallel lines to define a plurality of rectangular panels, the panel at one end of said sheet being secured to the panel at the opposite end of said sheet, wherein said sheet has a thickness and said panels each have a width and said sheet is separate from said seat member; a connection assembly including at least one tab extending from one of said seat member and said base and engagable with the other of said seat member and said base to releasable locking connect said seat member in a load supporting position atop said base; wherein said base member has a collapsed storage position wherein said panels are folded atop one another and wherein said base has a maximum width and a maximum thickness and, in the collapsed storage position the maximum width of said base is approximately equal to or less than twice the average width of said panels and, in the collapsed storage positions the maximum thickness of said base is approximately equal to or less than four times the thickness of said sheet; wherein said base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein said panels are unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon, the polygon having at least four sides; and, wherein said base in said expanded load supporting condition includes a plurality of substantially radially extending legs, each leg comprising two of said plurality of panels.
- 9. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 8 wherein said panel at one end is secured back-to-back to said panel at the opposite end.
- 10. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 9 wherein said panel at one end is glued back-to-back to said panel at the opposite end.
- 11. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 8 wherein said polygon is an octagon.
- 12. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 8 wherein said seat member and said base are made of cardboard.
- 13. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 8 wherein said connection assembly includes a plurality of tabs extendable downwardly from said seat member and a plurality of seat connection slots defined in said base, each of said slots being sized and configured to releasably lockably receive a corresponding one of said tabs.
- 14. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 13 wherein said base in said expanded load supporting condition includes a plurality of substantially radially extending legs, each of said legs defining one of said slots.
- 15. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 14 wherein said base includes a top edge and each of said slots opens upwardly from said top edge.
- 16. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 15 wherein said connection means further includes said base including at least one hook extending into at least one of said seat connection slots and includes at least one of said tabs defining a hook receiving slot that is sized and configured to releasably lockably receive a corresponding one of said hooks.
- 17. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 13 wherein said seat member and said base are made of cardboard.
- 18. An article of collapsible furniture, comprising:a top member; a base having multiple panels, each of said panels being hingedly connected to at least one other of said panels, and wherein said base has a collapsed storage condition wherein said panels are folded atop one another, and said base has an expanded load supporting condition including said panels being unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon with vertices and at least four sides and with a support leg extending outwardly from at least one of the vertices; and, connection means for releasably locking said top member in a load supporting position atop said base.
- 19. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 18 wherein there are at least four vertices and there are four support legs extending outwardly from the at least four vertices.
- 20. An article of collapsible furniture, comprising:a top member; a base having multiple panels each of said panels being hingedly connected to at least one other of said panels and wherein said base has a collapsed storage condition wherein said panels, are folded atop one another, and said base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein said panels are unfolded to form in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon, the polygon having at least four sides, connection means for releasably locking said top member in a load supporting position atop said base, said connection means including said panels defining top edges and defining a plurality of slots opening upwardly from the top edges, and further including a plurality of locking tabs extending downwardly form said top member, at least one of the locking tabs being sized and configured to be releasably lockingly receiving within a corresponding one of the slots to hold said top member releasably connected with said base; and, wherein the expanded load supporting condition includes said panels being unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon with vertices and with a support leg extending outwardly from at least one of the vertices, the support leg having a top edge.
- 21. The article of collapsible furniture of claim 20 wherein there are at least four vertices and there is a support leg extending outwardly from each of the at least four vertices, and the slots are located in the top edges of the support legs.
- 22. An article of collapsible furniture, comprising:a seat member; a base formed from a single sheet of material, folded and creased along substantially parallel lines to define a plurality of rectangular panels, the sheet having opposing ends, the panel at one end of said sheet being secured to the panel at the opposite end of said sheet, wherein said sheet has a thickness and said panels each have a width and said sheet is separate from said seat member; a connection assembly including at least one tab extending from one of said seat member and said base and engagable with the other of said seat member and said base to releasably locking connect said seat member in a load supporting position atop said base; wherein said base has a collapsed storage position wherein said panels are folded atop one another and wherein said base has a maximum width and a maximum thickness and, in the collapsed storage position, the maximum width of said base is approximately equal to or less than twice the average width of said panels and, in the collapsed storage position, the maximum thickness of said base is approximately equal to or less than four times the thickness of said sheet; wherein said base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein said panels are unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon, the polygon being an octagon; and, wherein said base in said expanded load supporting condition includes a plurality of substantially radially extending legs.
- 23. An article of collapsible furniture, comprising:a seat member; a base formed from a single sheet of material, folded and creased along substantially parallel lines to define a plurality of rectangular panels, the sheet having opposing ends, the panel at one end of said sheet being secured to the panel at the opposite end of said sheet, wherein said sheet has a thickness and said panels each have a width and said sheet is separate from said seat member; a connection assembly including at least one tab extending from one of said seat member and said base and engagable with the other of said seat member and said base to releasably locking connect said seat member in a load supporting position atop said base; wherein said base has a collapsed storage position wherein said panels are folded atop one another and wherein said base has a maximum width and a maximum thickness and, in the collapsed storage position, the maximum width of said base is approximately equal to or less than twice the average width of said panels and, in the collapsed storage position, the maximum thickness of said base is approximately equal to or less than four times the thickness of said sheet; and, wherein said base has an expanded load supporting condition wherein said panels are unfolded to form, in horizontal cross-section, a central load-supporting polygon, the polygon being an octagon, and wherein said base in said expanded load supporting condition includes a plurality of substantially radially extending legs, each leg comprising two of said plurality of panels.
US Referenced Citations (43)