This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/076,6009 titled CANTILEVERED (FLOATING) FURNITURE SYSTEM, DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS filed on Sep. 10, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates in general to the construction and furniture fields, and in particular to a system, devices and associated methods for cantilevered or “floating” furniture (e.g. beds, tables, shelves, etc.).
In general, there are various approaches to building or providing what is referred to as a “floating bed” design. The conventional approaches appear to provide a floating bed but most include the use of ceiling mounted cables, a pedestal or other ground support.
Other cantilevered or floating constructions may be directed to shelving units or tables, for example. U.S. Pat. No. 10,294,679 to Muth and titled “Support bracket for shelving and scaffolding” is directed to a support bracket for securement to a vertically extending wall stud and providing cantilevered support of a horizontally disposed plank, the support bracket incorporating a vertically oriented laterally adjustable stud gripping mechanism to enable securement and connection of the bracket where desired on studs of differing widths.
None of the conventional systems provide a true cantilevered furniture mounting system, without ground support, that can structurally withstand sheer forces over 1000 lbs or even up to 3000 lbs.
Thus, it may be desirable to provide a reliable, bolt-on cantilevered system and devices for relatively heavy furniture, such as floating beds, shelves, tables etc.
The above publications are identified herein in recognition of a duty of disclosure of related subject matter, which may be relevant under 37 CFR 1.56, and specifically incorporated herein by reference with respect to the conventional approaches and constructions taught therein.
This background section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of typical technology that may be related to various aspects or embodiments of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be useful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects and embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in light of, and not as admissions of, the prior art.
It is an object of the present embodiments to provide a reliable, bolt-on cantilevered mounting system and devices for relatively heavy floating furniture such as beds, shelves, tables etc., without a need for ground support, that can structurally withstand sheer forces over 1000 lbs or even up to 3000 lbs or more.
This and other objects, advantages, and features in accordance with the present embodiments may be provided by a cantilevered mounting system including horizontal cantilever supports, trusses, and a support system having vertical spine reinforcements, various spacers, frame brackets and support brackets configured to be installed on a wall frame that includes wall studs.
The support system and devices are configured to be mounted to the wall frame prior to drywall or plastering. Additionally, the support system and devices may be installed after the wall is complete in a retro-fit approach, which may also increase the amount of labor needed. The support system includes the vertical spine reinforcements, spacers, frame brackets and support brackets. The horizontal cantilever supports, or arms, and multiple trusses extending between the horizontal cantilever supports, define a platform, e.g., a bed platform. An outer box may also be installed to surround the horizontal cantilever supports and multiple trusses extending therebetween.
An embodiment is directed to a cantilevered furniture mounting system configured to be mounted to a wall frame that includes wall studs that vertically extend between a top plate and a bottom plate, and support a piece of furniture (e.g., a bed or table). The cantilevered furniture mounting system includes at least two horizontal cantilever supports and a plurality of trusses spaced apart and extending between the at least two horizontal cantilever supports. A cantilever support system includes at least two vertical spine reinforcements with each being configured for colinear installation on a respective wall stud, a plurality of top frame L-brackets with each being configured to extend between the top plate and a respective wall stud to mount a top end of one of the vertical spine reinforcements to the respective wall stud, a plurality of bottom frame L-brackets with each being configured to extend between the bottom plate and a respective wall stud to mount a bottom end of one of the vertical spine reinforcements to the respective wall stud, and at least two support T-brackets with each being configured to be mounted on a portion of one of the vertical spine reinforcements between the top end and the bottom end thereof, with a trunk of the support T-bracket extending outwardly from the vertical spine reinforcement to mount a respective one of the horizontal cantilever supports thereon.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports and the plurality of trusses extending therebetween define a platform.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, an outer box is configured to be installed to surround the horizontal cantilever supports and multiple trusses extending therebetween.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports comprise metal horizontal cantilever supports having a box profile that slides onto the trunk of a respective support T-bracket.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, a distance between the horizontal cantilever supports is selectable by an installer based upon a size of the furniture piece to be supported.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports are configured to support the furniture piece in an arrangement that is parallel to the wall frame or transverse to the wall frame.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the vertical spine reinforcements comprise metal vertical spine reinforcements having a C-shaped profile. Spine spacers are configured to be positioned within an interior space of the metal vertical spine reinforcements adjacent the top and bottom frame L-brackets to define a solid stack and prevent distortion of the vertical spine reinforcements.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the cantilevered furniture mounting system includes spine reinforcement spacers, wherein the respective vertical spine reinforcement and the respective spine reinforcement spacer together sandwich the corresponding wall stud, the spine spacer, and the frame L-bracket, and are held together via lag bolts.
Another embodiment is directed to a cantilevered furniture mounting system configured to be mounted to a wall frame that includes wall studs, and support a piece of furniture (e.g., a bed or table). The cantilevered furniture mounting system includes two horizontal cantilever supports, and a plurality of trusses spaced apart and extending between the two horizontal cantilever supports. A cantilever support system includes two vertical spine reinforcements with each being configured for colinear installation on a respective wall stud, two top frame brackets with each being configured to mount a top end of one of the vertical spine reinforcements to the respective wall stud, two bottom frame brackets with each being configured to mount a bottom end of one of the vertical spine reinforcements to the respective wall stud, and two support brackets with each being configured to be mounted on a respective vertical spine reinforcement, with a trunk of the support bracket extending outwardly from the vertical spine reinforcement to mount a respective one of the horizontal cantilever supports thereon.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports and plurality of trusses extending therebetween define a platform.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports comprise metal horizontal cantilever supports having a box profile that slides onto the trunk of a respective support bracket.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the vertical spine reinforcements comprise metal vertical spine reinforcements having a C-shaped profile. Spine spacers are configured to be positioned within an interior space of the metal vertical spine reinforcements adjacent the brackets to define a solid stack and prevent distortion of the vertical spine reinforcements.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the system includes spine reinforcement spacers, wherein the respective vertical spine reinforcement and the respective spine reinforcement spacer together sandwich the corresponding wall stud, the spine spacer, and the frame bracket, and are held together via lag bolts.
Another embodiment is directed to a cantilevered bed mounting system to be mounted to a wall frame that includes drywall positioned on wall studs that vertically extend between a top plate and a bottom plate and support a bed. The cantilevered bed mounting system includes at least two horizontal cantilever supports, and a plurality of trusses spaced apart and extending between the at least two horizontal cantilever supports. A cantilever support system includes at least two vertical spine reinforcements with each being colinearly installed on a respective wall stud, a plurality of top frame L-brackets with each extending between the top plate and a respective wall stud to mount a top end of one of the vertical spine reinforcements to the respective wall stud, a plurality of bottom frame L-brackets with each extending between the bottom plate and a respective wall stud to mount a bottom end of one of the vertical spine reinforcements to the respective wall stud, and at least two support T-brackets with each being mounted on a portion of one of the vertical spine reinforcements between the top end and the bottom end thereof, with a trunk of the support T-bracket extending outwardly from the vertical spine reinforcement, through the drywall, to mount a respective one of the horizontal cantilever supports thereon. An outer box surrounds the horizontal cantilever supports and multiple trusses extending therebetween to define a bed platform.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports comprise metal horizontal cantilever supports having a box profile that slides onto the trunk of a respective support T-bracket.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the horizontal cantilever supports are configured to support the bed in an arrangement that is parallel to the wall frame or transverse to the wall frame.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the vertical spine reinforcements comprise metal vertical spine reinforcements having a C-shaped profile. Spine spacers are configured to be positioned within an interior space of the metal vertical spine reinforcements adjacent the top and bottom frame L-brackets to define a solid stack and prevent distortion of the vertical spine reinforcements.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the system includes spine reinforcement spacers, wherein the respective vertical spine reinforcement and the respective spine reinforcement spacer together sandwich the corresponding wall stud, the spine spacer and the frame L-bracket, and are held together via lag bolts.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.
Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.
Furniture refers to movable or immovable objects intended to support various human activities such as sitting (e.g., chairs, stools, and sofas), eating (tables), and sleeping (e.g., beds). Furniture is also used to hold objects at a convenient height for work (as horizontal surfaces above the ground, such as tables and desks), or to store things (e.g., cupboards and shelves).
With the present approach, a stronger, more reliable, accurate and precise floating furniture installation is provided. This may also reduce the materials needed for a floating furniture design. Also, the labor times for installers may be reduced.
Referring to the drawings
An example embodiment of the cantilevered mounting system 10, will be described.
The support system includes vertical spine reinforcements 18, frame L-brackets 20, various spacers 22 and support T-brackets 24 installed on the wall frame 16.
The cantilevered mounting system 10 further includes the horizontal frame supports 26, or arms, and multiple trusses 28 extending between the horizontal cantilever supports 26. An outer box 30 may also be installed to surround the horizontal cantilever supports 26 and multiple trusses 28 extending therebetween, to define a platform, e.g., a bed platform as shown in
The trusses 28, 28′ may be modified to create a space for electronics within the outer box 30 between the horizontal cantilever supports 26. Such electronics may include a television and associated automated retraction system that selectively positions the television vertically at the foot of the bed, for example.
Accordingly, the cantilevered mounting system 10 of the present embodiments provides a stronger, more reliable, accurate and precise floating furniture installation. For example, a king bed platform weighing 1000-2000 lbs (with lighting and associated electronics) can support 1000-2000 lbs of additional weight from humans, etc. The cantilevered mounting system 10 is a bolt-together system that does not require any welding by the installer.
The present invention may have also been described, at least in part, in terms of one or more embodiments. An embodiment of the present invention is used herein to illustrate the present invention, an aspect thereof, a feature thereof, a concept thereof, and/or an example thereof. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process that embodies the present invention may include one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or different ones.
The above description provides specific details, such as material types and processing conditions to provide a thorough description of example embodiments. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the embodiments may be practiced without using these specific details.
Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan. While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the eventual claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
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