BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to furniture; tables, stools and chairs, and generally to supports of planar undersides of arbitrarily shaped structures.
The usage and maintenance flexibility of space in commercial, educational and premises for social gatherings may be greatly enhanced by the ability to stack units of furniture. Also, in these premises, there usually may be a need to periodically secure furniture, in limited spaces, against harsh weather conditions, vandalism and thievery. Whilst there are in existence many ways of stacking simple chairs, stable and efficiently stacked table arrangements are generally rarely encountered. Sights of stacked chairs besides scattered table units, that cannot be effectively stacked and stored, are a common in many gathering places with seating arrangement needs. This inability to effectively stack, may limit, in some establishments, the actual number of tables in use at any given time and often may lead to customers at, say, busy restaurants being told that “unfortunately, there are no more free tables”. Furthermore, establishments may wish to limit the number of free tables to not project an impression of unpopularity. Thus, the ability to vary the number of tables in such places may be very desirable. Also, in cramped dwellings there may be frequent need to serve food on and socialize around tables that can easily be stacked, or discretely tucked away, to free up space. Also, there may be a need for alternatives to the normal stackable chairs in contemporary use, of more complex shaped tops and with, say, foot- and armrests that provide better comfort and are, therefore, more ideal for large or frequent gatherings like conferences that may last over long time periods. The most common form of stacking chairs in use today are usually of the simple types that only a few units can be stably stacked.
There also may be a need for effective and quick ways for assembling, dismantling and storage of the units that comprise structures with large surface areas like temporary platforms or long banquet tables used for indoor or outdoor arrangements. Presently, the logistics of handling such large flat structures can be cumbersome and costly. For large elevated surfaces, assemblages of folding tables are alternatives that are commonly in use, but these usually may not be sufficiently stable and mostly have limited loadbearing capacity.
Stacking tables in present usage are usually of the relatively simple types where consideration to the ability to stack may greatly compromise other useful functionalities. A variety of stackable tables, in contemporary use by Swanson et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,871,073; Jakobsen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,148; Polsky et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,869, usually are of the type with rectangular shaped table tops and pairs of legs that have offsets from the edges of the table tops. The tops of the legs usually act as receiving ends on which tables above in the stack rest. Successive tables are stacked whilst the Centre of Gravity of the stack follows either an outward sloping linear or a circular path upwards in relation to the first unit in the stack. This usually constrains both the number of units that can be stacked and the inherent stability of the stack against toppling and the possibility of structural failure of its different component units. Furthermore, the interaction of the different unit parts during stacking and in the stacked configurations usually may easily lead to wear and tear. Thus, to achieve desired functionalities and properties, the materials used to manufacture the tables may render them relatively expensive.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To eliminate or decrease the disadvantages and problems mentioned above, a need therefore exists for robust stackable structural support and top units that may easily be assembled to form functional tables, chairs, stools and platforms.
One aspect is a relatively light and robust stackable frame comprising an inverted square tray structure with an inner square cavity, made of metal, near whose corners may connect the top of vertical pipe members that may slope outwards first as a long straight segment that then continues downward to an outward concave bend; then as a small straight segment that merges to an outward convex bend that continues to a straight segment that may slope outwards and on whose lower end may be disposed leg footings. The vertical members may connect each other through outward convex curved pipe members disposed on or near their short straight segments between the bends. Rigidity of the top of the frame may be enhanced by the connection to the metal tray structure of, say, a block of wood or plastic with a central hole that accommodates the receiving unit that an aggregate top may connect to. The shape and the features of the frame may both constrain global rotational displacement of adjacent stacked frame units and secure the attachment of an aggregate tops. Attachment of aggregate tops to a frame, or vice versa, may comprise alignment of the centers of the units, application of rotational force to firmly couple corner attachments on the underside of the tops to the top of the frame and finally triggering a locking mechanism to prevent any relative displacement during usage.
Another aspect is a stackable frame with a relatively high load bearing capacity and of which a relatively large number of identical units may form a stable stack with the units interacting minimally and thus causing little wear and tear over time. The lowest frame in the stack may bear the weight of the whole stack above it, but displacement of each member of the stack may be constrained by interaction with adjoining units. The Centre of Gravity of the stack may always follow a straight vertical line running through the middle of the frames whilst the position of identical components of the frames may follow a helical path upwards around the center of the stack. The number of frames in a stack and its height may only be limited by the loadbearing capacity of the lowest supporting frame and the available vertical space.
Yet another aspect may be detachable aggregate tops that may easily and firmly attach to the top of the stackable frames. Pairs of embodiments of the aggregate tops, for tables, may be nested and stacked in configurations that preserve their surfaces that are most exposed during usage. Also, instead of being stacked, these aggregate tops may individually be attached to walls for storage or as displays.
Still another aspect is a frame when used to form a table, stool or chair, the stiffened intermediate level may act as comfortable footrests, on all its four sides, that may ease the strain on feet whilst sitting over long periods in, say, conferences or school classrooms. Also, the parameters of the units of this intermediate level and the lower part of the frame may be varied to achieve better functional stability of the frame.
Another aspect is that when used as a table, the centrally placed holes on the top plate of the frame and the table tops may be used for the placement of parasols, serving trays and placement of poles to secure stacked aggregate top units.
Still yet another aspect is the flexibility and interchangeability afforded in combining different embodiments of the stackable frame and aggregate tops to form different functional structures like stools, chairs and tables. Furthermore, a stackable frame unit may, on its own, have enough load-carrying capacity to function as, say, a stool or other general vertical load support.
Yet still another aspect is that large platforms or tables of large sizes, used for banquets or conferences, may be quickly and easily assembled, and tucked away, using multiple stackable frame units to support large flat surfaces of arbitrary shape or even a foldable flat top that can be unfolded. There may, thus, be no constraints to the shape of what the frames may support.
Still another aspect is that the ability to stack frames and nested tops may ease the logistics of handling and storage by retailers.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, the drawings, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The appended drawings contain figures of exemplary embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present inventions. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the inventions and are not intended to limit their scope. The inventions will be described and explained with the additional specificity and detail using the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary stackable frame that may act as support to a top to form, say, a low coffee table or stool.
FIG. 2A is a top view of the frame shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional plan view along the line 2B-2B shown in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A is an exploded upper perspective view showing the components of the frame shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the assembled frame shown in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4A-D are bottom perspective, side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a square tray disposed at the top of the frame shown in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 5A-B are perspective and top views of a thick solid board that may fit into the square tray shown FIGS. 4A-D. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional plan view along the line 5C-5C shown in FIG. 5B.
FIGS. 6A-D are top perspective, side, bottom and top views, respectively, of a hollow right circular cylinder attachment that may fit into the center hole of the board shown in FIGS. 5A-B.
FIGS. 7A-B are perspective exploded and assembled views, respectively, showing a leg footing composed of a hollow cylinder that a foot connects into.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a stack of nine units of the frame shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 9A is a top view of the frame stack shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional plan view along the line 9B-9B shown in FIG. 9A.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the stackable frame shown in FIG. 1 that may act as support to a top to form, say, a dining table.
FIGS. 11A-B are perspective and top views, respectively, of a stack of nine units of the frame shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an upper perspective view of a low table whose main component parts are the frame shown in FIG. 1 and a round aggregate top.
FIG. 13A is a perspective view the frame of FIG. 1 being coupled to the underside of a round aggregate top to form the table shown upright in FIG. 12 and that is shown in a coupled and locked configuration in the perspective view of FIG. 13B.
FIG. 14 is an upper perspective view of the underside and the constituent parts of the aggregate table top of the table shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 15 is an upper perspective view of the underside of the aggregate table top shown in FIG. 14.
FIGS. 16A-C are top perspective, top and side views, respectively, of the identical attachment parts that may be disposed on the underside of the table top, shown in FIG. 15, to interact with the openings on the rim near any three corners of the tray shown FIGS. 4A-D when coupling the top to the frame shown in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 17A-B are perspective views of an aggregate lock attachment that may be disposed on the underside of the table top, shown in FIG. 15, to interact with an opening on the rim near a corner of the tray shown FIGS. 4A-D when coupling the top to the frame shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 17C-D are perspective and top views of the component of the lock attachment that attaches to the underside of the table top and which constrains the coupled locking handle shown in FIG. 17E.
FIGS. 18A-B are perspective and top views, respectively, of a center attachment that may centrally affix the underside of the table top, shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 18C is a cross-sectional plan view along the lines 18C-18C shown in FIG. 18B.
FIG. 19A is a perspective view of the table shown in FIG. 12 atop which is disposed a stack of two identical nested pairs of the aggregate top shown in FIG. 14, with the arrangement secured by a stacking rod whose components are shown in the exploded view of FIG. 19B.
FIG. 20A is a side view of the table and stack shown in FIG. 19A. FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional partial plan view along the line 20B-20B shown in FIG. 20A.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a table with an aggregate square table top that is supported by the frame embodiment shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 22 is a top perspective view showing the underside and attached components of the aggregate table top of the table shown in FIG. 21.
FIGS. 23A-B are side views, with cutaways, of the aggregate top, shown in FIG. 14, being attached and attached in place, respectively, to a wall. FIG. 23C is a cross-sectional partial plan view along the line 23C-23C shown in FIG. 23B.
FIGS. 24A-C are perspective, front and side views, respectively, of a wall attachment that enables the attachment shown in FIG. 23B. FIGS. 24D-E are cross-sectional partial plan view along the lines 24D-24D, 24E-24E shown in FIGS. 24B-C, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present inventions are generally directed towards stackable structural frames and the tops they support in forming functional furniture units or platforms. The principles of the present inventions, however, are not limited to these. It will be understood that, in light of the present disclosure of the different embodiments, many of the novel techniques described can be successfully used in connection with other types of furniture and structures.
Preferred embodiments are provided in the following descriptions only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following descriptions would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, equivalents and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventions. Additionally, to assist in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the frames and tops, words such as top, bottom, front, rear, right and left may be used to describe the accompanying figures which are drawn to different scales. Also, characteristics of tables and chairs such as footrest may be used in the descriptions but the features of the inventions are not limited by these. It will be appreciated, however, that the structures can be disposed in a variety of desired positions or orientations and used in numerous locations, environments and arrangements.
A stackable frame 100, that can be used as a support structure, in accordance with one embodiment of a frame invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 through to 2B. A stack 1000 of a nine such frames 100 as shown in FIGS. 8 through to 9B is formed by the successive lowering of a clockwise rotated frame 100 onto the uppermost unit in a forming stack 1000. The frame 100 and another stackable frame embodiment 200, shown in FIG. 10, may couple, to the underside of the aggregate table tops 300, 600, shown in FIGS. 14 and 22, through couplings to form tables 400, 700, shown in FIGS. 12 and 21.
The stackable frame 100 may comprise curved tubes 150, disposed on a horizontal plane, that connect to bent and sloping vertical legs 140 whose tops may be welded near the diagonals of an inverted square metal tray 110 with a centrally disposed inner square cavity, details of which are shown in FIGS. 4A-D, that may be formed by cutting triangular segments off the flanges of a thin L-profile beam and bending its webs to form the corners of the tray 110. The tray 110 may then comprise the fused flange segments forming the flat top 111 whilst the fused web may constitute the perpendicular rims 112 on all four sides and on which are disposed a central screw hole 114 and rectangular openings 113, with rounded ends, near the top left corners, as shown in FIG. 1. The top ends of bent cylindrical leg tubes 140 may be welded to the undersurface 111 of the tray 110 on positions near its corners and such that the longitudinal axes of the tubes 140 are offsetted away from openings 113. The legs 140 may comprise a top straight segment 141 that slopes outwards and ends at the beginning of an outwards bend 142 which then continues as a short sloping straight segment 143 that continues as a downward bend 144 and finally to a straight lower segment 145 that may slope slightly outwards and at whose end may be disposed an aggregate footing 180. On or near the short straight segments 143 of two adjacent leg pipes 140, on a plane a certain height over the footings 180, may connect the ends of outwards bending cylindrical tubes 150 that may also act as footrests for the frame 100. The tray 110 may enclose a board 120 of relatively inexpensive wood or other suitable material with a centrally disposed hole 121 and with diagonal sides 123 that may cater for the top ends of the legs 140 and sides 122 parallel to the rims 112 of the tray 110 on which they may be screwed to. The middle hole 121 may accommodate a short hollow right circular cylinder attachment 130 that comprises a cylinder 132 whose lower base extends into a round flange 131 on which are disposed equally spaced screw holes 135. As shown in FIG. 6C, on the upper end of the inner face of the cylinder 132 may be disposed four equally spaced identical clockwise downwards-sloping thread segments 133 whilst on the lower end may be disposed two protrusion handles 134.
The aggregate footing 180 disposed at the lower end of a leg 140, may comprise a cap 170 and foot 160, shown in FIG. 7A, to enable height adjustment of corners of the frame 100 on, say, an uneven surface. The cap 170 may be a hollow cylinder with inner threading 173 and with a smooth outer surface 172 at the lower end of which may be disposed a brim 171 of dimensions such that it may tightly fit into the lower end of the leg pipe 140 and also be constrained against further displacement into the pipe 140. The foot 160 may be a long threaded solid cylinder 162 that merges to a smooth rounded base 161 of larger cross-section. The cap 170 may first be tight-fitted into the bottom of the leg 140 and then the foot 160 screwed into it.
FIGS. 8A through to 9B show the features of a stack 1000 of nine units of the stackable frame 100 that may be formed by the lowering of a unit that is slightly clockwise-rotated about a vertical center-line relative to and onto a current uppermost unit. The magnitude of the rotation, about twenty (20) degrees with this embodiment 100, may be determined by the legs 140 of an above unit interacting with rims 112 of the tray 110 of a unit below and the footrests 150 of the above unit touching the legs 140 of a unit below. The stacking may be done effectively both in a clockwise manner, as shown in FIG. 8, or in an anti-clockwise manner, when started as such. Also, a greater number of units other than the nine shown can likewise be stacked because the only contact between units 100 in the stack 1000 may be between the trays 110 of adjacent units. Thus, the loadbearing capacity of the lowest unit in the stack, especially of the legs 140 and footrests 150, may be the limiting factor that may determine the number of units that can stably be stacked. Also, the length of the lowest segment 145 of a leg 140 may determine the height of the footrests 150 from, say, the floor and may be limited by both the elevation and angular orientation difference between two adjacent units in the stack for the frame to have the ability to be innumerably stacked.
FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a frame 200 with constituent parts that are of different dimensions but of identical form to those described hereinabove for the frame 100. Compared to frame 100, this embodiment 200 may have longer legs with top straight segments that may slope less outwards and may connect to a wider square top tray and have longer footrests. FIGS. 11A-B shows nine units of the embodiment 200 in a stack 2000 achieved in a similar manner as described above for embodiment 100, and in which with each unit may be rotated about twelve (12) degrees relative to adjacent ones.
The frame embodiments 100, 200 described hitherto may, on their own, have enough strength to carry relatively large vertical loads that may be evenly distributed on the top trays 110 for dissipation through their legs onto the floor or other structures. In normal use, loads may be exerted on them as on the aggregate table 400, shown in FIG. 12, whose constituent parts are the stackable frame 100 and a detachable aggregate top 300. The top 300 can be nested with an identical unit, shown both in FIG. 14 and in the stack 3000 of the two nested pairs shown placed on the aggregate table 400 in FIG. 19A. The aggregate top 300 may comprise a table top 310, of wood or other suitable material and whose details are shown in FIG. 15, made of a round flat plate 311 with a smooth top surface, except for a middle hole 312, on whose underside may be disposed opposite pairs of arc skirtings 313, 314 of different radii that result in different constant offsets from the round edge of the plate 311. The arcs forming the skirtings 313, 314 may extend the same angle to the center and the short transitions 315 between them may be sunken to a lower height to enable nesting of identical units. The nesting of aggregate tops 300 may be possible because the height of all of the couplings attached, described below, may be less than half of those of the skirtings 313, 314. Coupling parts 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, made of metal, hard plastic or other suitable materials, attached to the underside of the table top 310 and described hereinbelow, may interact with the openings 113 of the tray 110 and the attachment 130 to securely couple the aggregate top 300 to the stackable frame 100 to form the table 400. A center attachment 360, shown in FIGS. 18A-C, may be in form of a hollow right circular cylinder 362, of diameter configured to fit into the cylinder 132 of the center attachment 130, with a base 361 that is closed except for a central hole 365 and that extends beyond the outer perimeter where screw holes 363, for conical flat head screws, may be disposed. On the inner surface of the cylinder 362 may be disposed a pointed ring protrusion 366 a certain distance from its free end. As shown in FIG. 18A, near the upper end of the outer face of the cylinder 362 may be disposed equally-spaced anti-clockwise upwards sloping identical thread segments 364 that may interact with the inner thread segments 133 on the attachment 130.
Near three diagonal corners on the underside of the table top 310 may attach corner couplings 320, shown in FIGS. 16A-C, that may simultaneously interact with any three arbitrary openings 113 on the tray 110 of the frame 100. Using the top view of FIG. 16B as reference, a corner coupling 320 may comprise a short length of a modified T-profile beam with the right end of its flange 321 transversely cut at its lower part to the web 322 that bends diagonally upwards to form the end boundary of the cut upper part of the flange. On the bottom of the web part 323, after the bend, may be disposed a transverse length of solid rod 324 of dimension that may fit into the opening 113 of the tray 110. The backend of the rod 324 may be welded or fused to both the web 323 and the flange 321 whilst its free frontend may protrude a distance from the plane of the web 323 and may be rounded and with a chamfer 325 disposed at its bottom. Screw holes 326 may be disposed on the flange 321 to enable a 3-point attachment. Near the remaining fourth diagonal corner of the table top 310 may attach an aggregate lock attachment 350, shown in FIGS. 17A-B, comprising of a modification 330 of the corner coupling 320, shown in FIGS. 17C-D, and a rotating knob-handle 340, shown in FIG. 17E. The main unit 330 of the lock attachment may be identical to the other corner couplings 320 except for the modified features, shown numbered in FIGS. 17C-D, that comprise a plate enhancement 332 that is disposed parallel to the web part 323 which it connects to in addition to the flange. At the bottom of both the web 323 and the enhancement 332 may be disposed holes 331, 333, respectively, which may accommodate the knob 341 of the knob-handle 340. The free end 334 of the enhancement 332, that extends only a short distance from the top, may curve slightly towards the web 323. The knob-handle 340 may be of two solid metal rods with the free end of the handle 345 slightly curved out of plane, for accessibility, whilst its other end may be fused to the transversely disposed straight segment 342 of the thicker knob 341 that merges to a right-angle bend 343 and onto a free-end straight segment 344. The knob-handle 340 may be disposed such that its handle 345 may snugly fit between the web part 323 and enhancement 332 whilst the coupled straight segment 342 may connect and rotate, through only about a right-angle, in the holes 331, 333 disposed on the web 323 and enhancement 332, respectively. To rotate between the two positions of the knob-handle 340 shown in FIGS. 17A-B, force may be needed to overcome the constraint rendered by interaction with the inwards curving end 334.
The configuration shown in FIG. 14 may initially be achieved by first attaching, with screws, the center attachment 360 on to the underside of the table top board 311. The frame 100 without its center attachment 130 may first be set in place. The center attachment 130 is then screwed tightly on to the top center attachment 360 with the help of the handle protrusions 134. The frame attachment 130 may then be screwed permanently to the underside of the frame board 120. The corner couplings 320, 350 may then be screwed to the table top board 311 to achieve the configuration shown in FIG. 13B in which the rods 324 and knob 340 may be disposed in the openings 113 of the tray 110 whilst also interacting with the undersurface of the top 111 of the tray 110 thereby restricting relative vertical displacement between the frame 100 and aggregate top 300, in addition to that rendered by the tight coupling between the center attachments 130, 360. Also, FIG. 13B shows the knob 340 rotated clockwise through a right-angle to a locked configuration in which its free end 344 may interact with the inner surface of the vertical side 112 of the raft 110 to restrict unscrewing or relative rotational displacement between the frame 100 and aggregate top 300. The table 400 may now be in the configuration shown in FIG. 12. Uncoupling the table 400 to its aggregate units may entail rotating the knob-handle 340 to its resting position, as shown in FIG. 17B, for the knob segments 343, 344 to now fit in the opening 113 of the raft 100, and applying an anticlockwise unscrewing force, opposite that of the arrow shown in FIG. 13A, on the aggregate table top 300. In practice, the coupling and uncoupling may be done with an upright frame 100 by using both hands to apply a rotational force to screw on or off an aggregate top 300 whilst a foot is placed on a footrest 150 to prevent the frame 100 from moving. Also, with the centers of the aggregate top 300 and the frame 100 aligned, a visible marking on the top 310 may indicate where the corner locking coupling 350 is located to ease the coupling from any configuration in which the two units are relatively obliquely rotated, as that shown in FIG. 13A. At the start of the coupling there may exist a vertical gap between the top of the frame 100 and the underside of the board 311 that disappears as the aggregate top 300 is rotated to the configuration shown in FIG. 13B and as the corner couplings 320, 350 fully interact with the rack 110.
FIG. 21 shows an embodiment 700 of a high table, here referred to as a dining table, that may be made of frame embodiment 200 coupled to an aggregate square table top 600 shown in FIG. 22. The table top 610, made of wood or other suitable material, may comprise a square or rectangular flat board 611 with a smooth top surface and a centrally disposed through hole and on whose underside may be disposed a continuous skirting of rectangular cross-section. The skirting may have sunken corners 615 and segments 613, 614 that may be disposed with a small and a larger offset, respectively, from opposite pair of edges of the flat board 611. The skirting may enable two similar aggregate tops 600 to be nested, in a similar manner as the pairs shown in FIG. 19A. In a similar manner as that described for the aggregate top 200, corner attachments 620, 630, which are similar to attachments 320, 330 except for their lengths, and center coupling 350 may attach to the diagonal corners on the underside of the flat board 611. The knob-handle 340 on the attachment 650 may be used to lock or unlock an aggregate top 600 coupled to the frame 200.
FIGS. 23B-C show the aggregate top 300 hanging on a wall attachment 820 that affixes a wall 810. The wall attachment 820, made of, say, plastic or metal and details of which are shown in FIGS. 24A-D, may be a semi-circular hollow cylinder 822 with a flat top disposed on an outer larger base flange plate 821 that may have screw holes 825 placed centrally at its bottom and rounded top corners for three-point attachment on the wall 810. On the inner surface of the cylinder 822 and near its free end may be disposed a trapezoid cross-sectional channel 823. Also, as FIG. 24A shows, jutting out and protruding vertically from a base disposed at an offset from the bottom of and within the cylinder 822 may be a bulge 824, with a round top matching the inner radius of the center attachment 360. On the top of the bulge 824 may be disposed a triangular cross-sectional channel 825 which may match the shape of the ring protrusion 366 on the center attachment 360. The aggregate frame 200 may first be placed to hug the wall 810 in a position in which the center attachment 360 is slightly above the wall attachment 820 and then lowering it, as the arrow indicates in FIG. 23A. The inner protrusion 366 may then be disposed in the channel 824 whilst parts of a pair of the threads 364 may always partly be lodged in the trapezoidal channel 823 for a secure constraint against out of plane displacement of the whole aggregate top 200, whose exposed top surface may be adorned with logos or pictures. In this configuration the aggregate top 200 can easily be rotated relative to the wall 810 for, say, varying of displays or alignment adjustments. The wall attachment 820, or multiple units of it, may be robust enough for hanging different framed structures on walls.
The constituent units of all the different embodiments of the inventions described above may be of relatively strong and durable materials with suitable characteristics like steel, plastics, wood, composites and the like. The longitudinal members 140, 150 and the raft 110 of the frames 100, 200 may be of bent and cut metal profiles of different cross-sectional shapes that are welded together and of dimensions and relative positions that may be varied to form various embodiments of stackable frames. The longitudinal members of the frames 100, 200 may also be connected by nodes and top rigid frames made of metal, hard plastics or other suitable materials, as disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 63/445,755, entitled STACKABLE FRAME AND AGGREGATE TOP ASSEMBLY. The corner attachments to the tops may be of cut and bent metal profiles that may connect to the undersides of the tops that the frames support. The table tops 310, 610 may be made of wood, metal, plastics, composites and other suitable materials that the couplings 320, 330, 620, 630, that may be lengthened to support larger loads, can be securely be connected to. Although the longitudinal members are described as hollow cross-sections, they may be filled with, say, heavy material and be of thicker or solid cross-sections, especially on the lower parts, for, say, increased stability of the frames. Also, although the aggregate tops are shown as embodiments of table tops, sets of top couplings may be attached to the planar undersides of large boards or structures of arbitrary shapes to couple to multiple frames thereby forming structures like, say, large banquet tables and platforms.
Although the inventions have been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments and structures apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined by the claims which follow.
Patent Application
20240268551
