BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The multisided magnetized removable furniture section(s) of the invention are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary variety of consoles, peripherals and storage showing exemplary need for storage furniture;
FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate exemplary prior art furniture structures for enclosing a storage area of a furniture item;
FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate the interchangeability of a multi-sided section of a furniture item in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate exemplary retention of a multisided section of furniture in connection with a furniture item in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 4A to 4F illustrate exemplary retention of a multisided section of furniture in connection with a furniture item via magnetization in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 5A to 5F illustrate exemplary retention of a multisided section of furniture in connection with a furniture item via magnetization in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary non-limiting implementation of the multisided furniture section retention enabled by the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
Overview
As described in the background, traditional storage furniture has not allowed the flexibility to interchange sides of a multisided storage enclosure section of the storage furniture. As mentioned, hinged doors are either open (one side of the door shows) in a first position or shut (the other side of the door shows) in a second position, and drawers always display the same side to observers (the front of the drawer).
Accordingly, in various embodiments, the invention provides multisided removable furniture section(s) including first retention mechanisms for a furniture item that includes second retention mechanisms near a storage space opening. When any side of the multisided removable furniture section(s) is placed so that the first retention mechanisms engage the second retention mechanisms, the multisided removable furniture section(s) substantially cover the storage space opening irrespective of which side is faced outwards from the furniture item. In this fashion, multiple patterns can be outwardly displayed enabling a host of visual experiences and/or practical scenarios (e.g., games) for a user or observer of the furniture.
In one embodiment, the second retention mechanisms include any number of magnets, and the first retention mechanisms are provided as metal (e.g., steel or iron attracted to the magnets), or vice versa, although any mechanical means known to those of skill in the art of mechanical attachments could be used for a similar retention purpose.
In a non-limiting implementation, a lid of a cubical storage space includes metal that is attracted to magnets positioned substantially near the storage space so that either side of the lid may adhere to the magnets. In this fashion, the cubical storage space can be oriented in any direction, e.g., horizontally, without the lid falling off the storage space, and an observer can view either side of the lid. While lids typically are flat surfaces, any geometry with multiple sides is contemplated. For instance, 3-D polygons with three or more sides that can adhere to the retention mechanism of the storage space are contemplated. The retention structures of the present invention, e.g., metal portions and corresponding magnets, can be applied in any corresponding numbers, types of storage areas (i.e., irrespective of the shape of the storage area) and kinds of furniture items (towers, coffee tables, display stands, shelves, etc.).
Exemplary Non-Limiting Retention Structures for a Section of Furniture
In various non-limiting embodiments described herein, the invention enables a multisided section of furniture to join to a furniture item via any of the multi-sides of the section. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively, a section 210 of furniture has a first side 210A1 having a first pattern P1 and the section 210 of furniture has a second side 210A2 having a second pattern P2. Thus, as described in more detail below and shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, when the section 210 is applied to or positioned on a furniture item 200 in accordance with the invention, a user may, at his or her option, either outwardly display side 210A1 as shown in FIG. 2C or side 210A2 as shown in FIG. 2D.
In more detail, and as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the invention provides a one or retention zones for a section 211 of a furniture item wherein retention mechanisms, such as section retention mechanisms RRM1 and RRM2, are positioned on the section 211 on both sides 211A1 and 211A2. In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 3D, a furniture item 201 including a storage area 220a to be covered by section 211 of FIGS. 3A and 3B also includes storage area retention mechanisms SARM1 and SARM2, which correspond spatially to the retention mechanisms RRM1 and RRM2 of section 211. Thus, when section 211 is brought into alignment contact with the storage area 220a, as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F, either side 211A1 or side 211A2 may be outwardly displayed from the furniture item 201. In either case, the retention mechanisms engage operating to retain the section 211 on top of the storage area. While only diagonal lines are shown for side 211A1 and vertical lines shown for side 211A2, one of ordinary skill in the furniture arts can appreciate that any pattern can be applied for either functional and/or aesthetic purpose, and that the sides 211A1 and 211A2 may include different textures, different three-dimensional ornamentation, different carving, different colors, etc.
FIGS. 4A to 4F illustrate an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention wherein one or more metal surfaces, such as metal surfaces MS1 and MS2, can be incorporated into a section 212 having two different sides 212A1 and 212A2, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Correspondingly, magnets M1 and M2 are placed near the enclosure of a storage area 220b of a furniture item 202 as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D. In this fashion, when magnets M1 and M2 come into contact with metal surfaces MS1 and MS2 of section 212, respectively, section 212 is retained in place by the magnetization, and as a result, either side 212A1 or side 212A2 of section 212 may be outwardly displayed to an observer of the enclosed storage area.
FIGS. 5A to 5F, in a similar fashion to FIGS. 4A to 4F, illustrate that any number of magnets (i.e., greater than 2 magnets) can be used to secure a multisided section of furniture to a furniture item. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in addition to metal surfaces MS1 and MS2, metal surfaces MS3 and MS4 are added to a section 213 to provide additional retention support. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, additional magnets M3 and M4 are positioned on a furniture item 203 which exposes storage area 220c. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F, the additional metal surfaces MS3 and MS4 are shown to engage with magnets M3 and M4, or M4 and M3, respectively depending on the orientation of section 213 and which side 213A1 or 213A2 is outwardly displayed. For similar reasons, due to symmetry, magnet M1 can mate with metal surface MS2 and magnet M2 can mate with metal surface MS1 (shown the other way around in FIGS. 5E and 5F).
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary, non-limiting implementation of a furniture item in accordance with the invention, wherein the furniture items are capable of being stacked, or otherwise interconnected. For instance, as shown, nine substantially cubicle storage elements are shown in a 3×3 stacked array. In this implementation, for aesthetic arrangement, the cubical storage elements, such as cubical storage element CSE1, each have a storage area enclosure section such as cubical storage element lid CSEL1, for enclosing a storage area housed by each cubical storage element. As illustrated, each storage element lid has a first side, which is a first color (green) and a second side which is a second color (silver). Where a lid is present in FIG. 6, thereby covering the corresponding storage area underneath, it is indicated whether the side of the lid that is silver is outwardly displayed (silver side SS) or the side of the lid that is green is outwardly displayed (green side GS). As shown in the storage areas without lids, magnetized elements ME are placed so that the lids, such as cubical storage element lid CSEL1, when positioned to cover the storage area, are retained by way of magnetization to corresponding metal found in the cubical storage element lids.
In addition, one or more holes, handles, indented portions, etc. HO may be provided on the lids, such as lid CSEL1, in order to enable a user to engage and disengage the lid without pinching the user's fingers at the edge. The storage furniture of the invention thus includes a removable multi-sided section having ways to grip or grab the removable multi-sided section so that a user can counteract a retention force maintained by the at least one first and second retention mechanisms. While the implementation of FIG. 6 simply shows a two-colored lid, any two patterns and any two geometries whether flat or surfaced in some fashion may be considered to apply to a lid in accordance with the invention. In addition, as mentioned, any multisided geometry, i.e., greater than two sides, is contemplated in accordance with the invention.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various Figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention as described in the present application may apply to any storage furniture including a storage area that is covered by a hinged door, drawer, or single sided removable panel. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080012454
