Patent Grant
10117521
The disclosure relates to furniture construction, and in particular, to the manufacture of furniture that is upholstered. More specifically, the disclosure relates to the manufacture of upholstered furniture arms. Even more specifically, the disclosure relates to the manufacture of upholstered furniture arms where the arm panel stump is provided with a curvature at its top end. Even more specifically, the disclosure relates to the manufacture of upholstered furniture arms where the curvature is surrounded by EVA foam as an underlayment material and cushioning material and finishing material are layered, respectively, over the EVA foam.
In the manufacture of upholstered furniture, such as sofas and chairs, it is desirable to manufacture and assemble the arm panels with a variety of cushioning materials and upholstery. Generally, due to the construction of the arm panel frame, the arm panel cushioning is multi-layered to provide a sufficient level of comfort to the user. It is common for an arm panel to be comprised of a wood or wood product frame, a layer of cardboard, a layer of polyester padding, a strip of edge roll around the exposed front edges of the frame, a layer of low melt fiber, and a layer of upholstery fabric. The edge roll provides protection to the edges of the arm frame and gives a round edge.
Arm panel frames have a top end that can be shaped to provide differing aesthetic qualities. Many of the top ends are curved, round, or oval shaped. The top end is generally constructed with a number of wood slats, having rectangular cross sections that butt up against and are horizontally attached between the front and rear arm panel stumps. The wood slats are spaced apart thus resulting in exposed edges and flat surfaces around the top end. In a curved top end, it is desirable to provide for a smooth top end so that the consumer does not feel the wood slat edges. As such, it is known to use cardboard as the underlayment where the cardboard is placed over the wood slats and then attached to the frame. The cardboard provides a somewhat smooth plane of curvature over the edges of the wood slats. Cushioning materials are then placed over the cardboard and attached to the frame.
In constructing an arm panel frame, each layer is individually positioned over the frame and attached to the frame with a large number of fasteners, such as staples. After installation of a layer, another layer or edge roll is then placed and attached. In one example, the cardboard layer is correctly positioned over the arm frame and attachment is accomplished using 5 rows of staples with each row averaging 14 staples. Once the cardboard layer is correctly attached, the edge roll can be attached, using approximately 12 staples. The polyester padding is then placed and correctly positioned so that it butts up against the edge roll and covers the cardboard layer. Approximately 20 staples are then used to attach the polyester padding to the frame. The low melt fiber material is then placed and correctly positioned so that it covers and extends beyond the polyester padding and is attached to the frame using approximately 30 to 40 staples. Completion of the arm panel entails a final covering of upholstery fabric that is placed and correctly positioned to entirely cover and extend beyond the low melt fiber material. The upholstery fabric is stretched taut over the frame and is attached with staples to the frame thus completing the assembly.
The above process of manufacturing the upholstered arm panel is time consuming and costly since a number of parts must be assembled to construct the arm panel and a large number of fasteners must be placed. As such, a simplified method for manufacturing upholstered furniture and arm panels that reduces labor and material costs while providing a product that provides a sufficient or improved level of comfort to the user would be welcomed.
The disclosure addresses the need in the furniture manufacturing industry for a cost-effective and efficient way of providing upholstered arm panels that provide an expected and sufficient level of comfort to the user while also providing a structurally sound and sturdy product.
In one embodiment, a sofa with an upholstered arm panel has a layered composition comprising an underlayment material layer, a low melt fiber material layer positioned on top of and contacting the underlayment material layer, and a covering material layer positioned on top of and contacting the low melt fiber material layer. In one embodiment, the underlayment material layer is comprised a planar sheet of Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam (EVA foam). The use of EVA foam reduces the number of structural and cushioning materials currently required in arm panel construction and greatly reduces the number of fasteners or staples that are required to fasten these materials to the arm panel. The result is that assembly is more efficient due to removed work content, thus saving labor and material costs.
The use of EVA foam replaces the known practice of using cardboard as the underlayment layer and, due to its thickness and resiliency, acts as a replacement for the known practice of using polyurethane foam as a layer of cushioning atop the underlayment layer. In addition, the currently known practice is to use an edge roll around the front face of the arm panel frame to cushion and round the edges of the front face. The edge roll is generally located around the arm top end and extends down the inner side of the arm panel frame. Due to the thickness and cushioning properties of the EVA foam, the use of the edge roll can be negated by extending the edge of the EVA foam over the front face of the front arm panel stump. Optionally, an approximately three to six inch piece of edge roll, with one end butted to the EVA foam, can be placed on the side of the front face of the front arm panel frame adjacent the seat base to provide cushioning near the leg of the user. It is apparent that the use of EVA foam as the underlayment material reduces the number of materials needed for the initial cushioning layer from three to one. In addition, the number of fasteners and installation labor is correspondingly reduced. For example, in one embodiment, the number of fasteners needed was reduced by 70% by using EVA foam as an underlayment. Application of fasteners can be a time-consuming process, is very tedious, and it is difficult to get the fasteners perfectly spaced and positioned. Thus, any reduction in the number of fasteners can result in a reduction in labor and material costs.
Closed cell EVA foam is a lightweight material that has the characteristics of being bendable and flexible without the material fracturing and of conforming to fit the required shape, generally curvature in nature. Moreover closed cell EVA foam has very low water absorption. For example, in one embodiment, in an arm panel frame having a curved top end, the EVA foam would begin at the start of the curvature and end slightly beyond the end of the curvature and on the top end of the side panel. EVA foam has the added advantage of retaining a smooth top surface even when flexed to form a curved shape over spaced apart boards. In addition, EVA foam is capable of receiving and retaining fasteners without damaging the material. Other materials have been studied to be used as underlayment, and while they can be used in some embodiments, they do not provide the same benefits as EVA foam. For example, heavy duty foams, such as carpet pads or foam backed rugs, are costly and add weight to the arm panel and typically absorb moisture. Also, lighter weight foams, such as fatigue pads, may, in some instances, be too soft or incapable of providing the needed structure and weight bearing capabilities.
EVA foams with a density of 0.08 to 0.30 gms/cm3 are suitable for the EVA herein. In some embodiments, 0.11 to 0.20 gms/cm3 are suitable. The EVA foam thickness is, in some embodiments, 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick. In some embodiments the EVA foam is 0.6 to 1.1 cm thick. In some embodiments the EVA foam is 0.75 to 3 cm thick.
Additional suitable specifications of various embodiments of the disclosure are compression set (ASTM-D395(%) of 46 to 65. Additional suitable specifications of various embodiments are tensile strength (kg/cm2) of 25-35. In some embodiments of the disclosure, other polymer foams are utilized with these specifications, or combinations of these specifications.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an upholstered sofa comprises a sofa frame having a rectangular seat base with an upright back rest portion integral with the seat base, and a right arm panel frame and a left arm panel frame integral with the seat base and back rest portion wherein the seat base and back rest are disposed between the right arm panel frame and the left arm panel frame. The seat base has a rectangular shape and forms a box frame having a left side, a right side, a front side, and a back side defining an open interior space. The back rest portion is affixed to the back side of the seat base and between the right arm panel frame and the left arm panel frame so that the back rest portion is in an upright position. The arm panel frames each comprise a vertical front arm stump panel having an inwardly facing side, an outwardly facing side, and a top end having a curvature extending at least 270 degrees and a downward face. The arm panel frame can have a vertical back arm stump panel having an inwardly facing side, an outwardly facing side, and a top end having a curvature extending at least 270 degrees and a downward face. The arm panel frame further comprising a bottom member integral with and disposed between the front arm stump panel inwardly facing side and the back arm stump panel inwardly facing side. A plurality of wooden slats, having rectangular cross-sections, are disposed and integrally affixed between the inwardly facing side top end of the front arm stump panel and the inwardly facing side top end of the back arm stump panel so that the wooden slats are spaced apart and follow the curvature of the top end of the front arm stump panel and the top end of the back arm stump panel. The arm panel frame can have a horizontal wood slat, with a rectangular cross-section, integrally affixed between the inwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel at a terminus adjacent the downward face of the top end and the inwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel at a terminus adjacent the downward face of the top end. The arm panel frame can have an inner panel integral with and affixed between the inwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel and the inwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel opposite the attachment member.
In some embodiments, the upholstered sofa can have a flexible, compressible underlayment material comprised of a planar sheet of an Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The underlayment material having a first edge, a second edge, and a front edge. The first edge attached with a plurality of fasteners to the horizontal wood slat, the second edge attached with a plurality of fasteners to the inner panel, and the front edge of the underlayment material positioned to extend past the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel by about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches.
The upholstered sofa can have a vertically oriented edge roll having a top end and a bottom end where the top end is butted against the underlayment material second edge and is fixedly attached to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel with a plurality of fasteners.
In some embodiments, the upholstered sofa can have a low melt fiber material positioned on top of and contacting the underlayment material. The low melt fiber material has a first edge, a second edge, and a front edge. The second edge and the front edge both extend beyond the corresponding underlayment material second edge and front edge. The low melt fiber material can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners at the first edge to the horizontal wood slat and at the second edge to the inner panel. The front edge can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel.
A finishing material can be positioned on top of and contacting the low melt fiber material. The finishing material has a first edge, a second edge, a back edge, and a front edge. The edges can extend beyond the corresponding low melt fiber material edges. The finishing material can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners at the first edge and at the second edge to the arm panel frame bottom member. The back edge can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel, and the front edge can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel.
In some embodiments, the planar sheet of Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a thickness of about 8 mm±0.5 mm, a molecular weight of about 2,000 g/mol±10% and a hardness of about 50 A to about 55 A based on the Shore durometer hardness test.
In some embodiments, the underlayment material can be comprised of foams.
In some embodiments, the box frame left side and box frame right side can be the arm panel frame inner panels.
In one embodiment, an upholstered furniture arm has an arm panel frame, the frame having a vertical front arm stump panel having an inwardly facing side, an outwardly facing side, and a top end having a curvature extending at least 270 degrees and a downward face. The arm panel frame can have a vertical back arm stump panel having an inwardly facing side, an outwardly facing side, and a top end having a curvature extending at least 270 degrees and a downward face. The arm panel frame further comprising a bottom member integral with and disposed between the front arm stump panel inwardly facing side and the back arm stump panel inwardly facing side. A plurality of wooden slats, having rectangular cross-sections, are disposed and integrally affixed between the inwardly facing side top end of the front arm stump panel and the inwardly facing side top end of the back arm stump panel so that the wooden slats are spaced apart and follow the curvature of the top end of the front arm stump panel and the top end of the back arm stump panel. The arm panel frame can have a horizontal wood slat, with a rectangular cross-section, integrally affixed between the inwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel at a terminus adjacent the downward face of the top end and the inwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel at a terminus adjacent the downward face of the top end. The arm panel frame can have an inner panel integral with and affixed between the inwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel and the inwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel opposite the attachment member.
In another embodiment the front arm stump panel having a curvature of at least 180 degrees.
In one embodiment, an upholstered furniture arm can have a flexible, compressible underlayment material comprised of a planar sheet of an Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The underlayment material having a first edge, a second edge, and a front edge. The first edge attached with a plurality of fasteners to the horizontal wood slat, the second edge attached with a plurality of fasteners to the inner panel, and the front edge of the underlayment material positioned to extend past the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel by about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches.
The upholstered arm can have a vertically oriented edge roll having a top end and a bottom end where the top end is butted against the underlayment material second edge and is fixedly attached to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel with a plurality of fasteners.
In one embodiment, an upholstered furniture arm can have a low melt fiber material positioned on top of and contacting the underlayment material. The low melt fiber material has a first edge, a second edge, and a front edge. The second edge and the front edge both extend beyond the corresponding underlayment material second edge and front edge. The low melt fiber material can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners at the first edge to the horizontal wood slat and at the second edge to the inner panel. The front edge can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel.
In one embodiment, an upholstered furniture arm can have a finishing material positioned on top of and contacting the low melt fiber material. The finishing material has a first edge, a second edge, a back edge, and a front edge. The edges can extend beyond the corresponding low melt fiber material edges. The finishing material can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners at the first edge and at the second edge to the arm panel frame bottom member. The back edge can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel, and the front edge can be fixedly attached with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel.
In one embodiment, an upholstered furniture arm can have the planar sheet of Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a thickness of about 8 mm±0.5 mm, a molecular weight of about 2,000 g/mol and a hardness of about 50 A to about 55 A based on the Shore durometer hardness test. In some embodiments, the underlayment material can be comprised of foams.
In one embodiment, a method of assembling an upholstered sofa comprises receiving a sofa frame. The sofa frame having a rectangular seat base with an upright back rest portion integral with the seat base, and a right arm panel frame and a left arm panel frame integral with the seat base and back rest portion. The seat base and back rest are disposed between the right arm panel frame and the left arm panel frame. The seat base has a rectangular shape and forms a box frame having a left side, a right side, a front side, and a back side defining an open interior space. The back rest portion is affixed to the back side of the seat base and between the right arm panel frame and the left arm panel frame so that the back rest portion is in an upright position. The arm panel frames each comprise a vertical front arm stump panel having an inwardly facing side, an outwardly facing side, and a top end having a curvature extending at least 270 degrees and a downward face. The arm panel frame further comprising a vertical back arm stump panel having and inwardly facing side, an outwardly facing side, and a top end having a curvature extending at least 270 degrees and a downward face. The arm panel frame further comprising a bottom member integral with and disposed between the front arm stump panel inwardly facing side and the back arm stump panel inwardly facing side. A plurality of wooden slats, having rectangular cross-sections, are disposed and integrally affixed between the inwardly facing side top end of the front arm stump panel and the inwardly facing side top end of the back arm stump panel so that the wooden slats are spaced apart and follow the curvature of the top end of the front arm stump panel and the top end of the back arm stump panel. The arm panel frame further comprises a horizontal wood slat, with a rectangular cross-section, integrally affixed between the inwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel at a terminus adjacent the downward face of the top end and the inwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel at a terminus adjacent the downward face of the top end. The arm panel frame further comprising an inner panel integral with and affixed between the inwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel and the inwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel opposite the attachment member.
The method of assembling an upholstered sofa further includes receiving a flexible, compressible underlayment material comprised of a planar sheet of an Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The underlayment material having a first edge, a second edge, and a front edge. Attaching the first edge with a plurality of fasteners to the horizontal wood slat. Attaching the second edge with a plurality of fasteners to the inner panel, and positioning the front edge of the underlayment material to extend past the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel by about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches.
The method of assembling entails receiving a vertically oriented edge roll having a top end and a bottom end, and butting the top end against the underlayment material second edge and fixedly attaching the edge roll to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel with a plurality of fasteners.
The method of assembling further entails receiving a low melt fiber material. Positioning the low melt fiber material on top of and contacting the underlayment material. The low melt fiber material has a first edge, a second edge, and a front edge, extending both the second edge and the front edge beyond the corresponding underlayment material second edge and front edge. Fixedly attaching the low melt fiber material with a plurality of fasteners at the first edge to the horizontal wood slat and at the second edge to the inner panel. Fixedly attaching the front edge with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel.
The method of assembling further entails receiving a finishing material and positioning the finishing material on top of and contacting the low melt fiber material wherein the finishing material has a first edge, a second edge, a back edge, and a front edge. Extending the edges beyond the corresponding low melt fiber material edges and fixedly attaching the finishing material with a plurality of fasteners at the first edge and at the second edge to the arm panel frame bottom member. The method further entails fixedly attaching the back edge with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the back arm stump panel, and fixedly attaching the front edge with a plurality of fasteners to the outwardly facing side of the front arm stump panel.
A feature and advantage of embodiments of the invention is a sofa arm with only two layers of material between the wood arm frame and the upholstery covering. The wood arm frame having a top curved frame about a horizontal axis. The layers comprising an EVA underlayer and a second layer of fibrous material thereon. A feature and advantage is the sofa arm does not have a cardboard layer extending across the top curved frame as in conventional assembly techniques. Moreover, the top curved frame does not have an edge roll about the front edge of the curved frame but utilizes the front edge of the EVA layer instead.
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, the furniture frame 80 can further comprise a box frame 86 where the left side 87 and right side 88 panels of the box frame 86 are comprised of the arm panel frame 14 inner panels 44. The box frame 86 front side 89 and back side 90 are disposed between and integral with the arm panel frame 14 inner panels 44 such that the inner panels 44 comprise the box frame 86 left side 87 and right side 88. The back rest portion 84 left side 96 and right side 97 are disposed between and are integral to the corresponding arm panel frames 14.
The arm panel frame 14 is generally constructed of wood or wood product. However, other materials can be used that provide sufficient support and stability, for example, plastics, metals, and closed-cell extruded polystyrene foams.
The underlayment material layer 16 is positioned on the arm panel frame 14 so that it provides the bottom layer of the completed layered composition. The low melt fiber material layer 18 is positioned on top of the underlayment material layer 16 so that the low melt fiber material layer is in contact with the underlayment material layer 16. The finishing material layer 20 is positioned on top of the low melt fiber material layer 18 so that the finishing material layer 20 is in contact with the low melt fiber material layer 18. Hence, a layered composition comprises a finishing material layer 20 on top of a low melt fiber material layer 18, on top of an underlayment material layer 16. However, other layers and sequence of layers are contemplated.
Each of the material layers 16, 18, 20 can receive and retain fasteners 21, such as staples, where the fastener 21 enters one layer of material 16, 18, 20, through the top side 23 and exits through the bottom side 25 and affixes to the arm panel frame 14, thus effectively sandwiching the material 16, 18, 20 between the head of the fastener 21 and the arm panel frame 14. In other embodiments, adhesives can be used to affix the materials 16, 18, 20. An optional edge roll 58 can also be affixed, using fasteners or adhesives, to the arm panel frame 14, as detailed in
The underlayment material layer 16 includes the characteristics of being bendable and flexible without the underlayment material layer 16 fracturing. The underlayment material layer 16 also includes the hardness characteristic of being slightly compressible under force and uncompresses when force is removed. Generally, the underlayment material layer 16 forms the bottom layer or base layer of the layered composition so that one side of the underlayment material 16 is in contact with the wooden slats 36 that comprise the top end 12. The underlayment material layer 16 must be of sufficient thickness and hardness, while retaining flexibility, such that the user will not feel the wooden slats 36 through the underlayment material 16 but will be provided an adequate level of support and structure. In one embodiment, the underlayment material layer 16 can be a planar sheet of an Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA foam) that can be flexed to form a curved sheet having a curved planar surface. In one embodiment, the EVA foam 16 can have a molecular weight of about 2,000 g/mol, a thickness of about 8 mm±0.5 mm, and a hardness of about 50 A to about 55 A based on the Shore durometer hardness test. In other embodiments, the EVA foam can have differing molecular weights, thicknesses, and hardnesses, so long as the EVA foam provides the structural stability and support necessary while still providing a bendable and flexible underlayment material layer 16. In other embodiments, the underlayment material layer 16 can be comprised of a foam where the term foam refers to anything that is analogous to a foam, such as quantum foam, polyurethane foam (foam rubber), XPS foam, polystyrene, phenolic, or many other manufactured foams.
Referring to
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, the low melt fiber material layer 18 is a high density cushioning material that is comprised of polyester or polyester compounds. The low melt fiber material layer 18 can be provided in differing thicknesses and resiliencies where the thickness and resiliency used is dependent on the application. In one embodiment, the low melt fiber material layer 18 can be conjugated polyester fiber. However, other types of cushioning materials having resilient properties are contemplated.
Referring to
Referring to
It is apparent to those with skill in the relevant art that various embodiments of an arm panel frame 14 can be constructed that have variations of member placement dependent on the top end 12 configuration, the areas in which the material layers 16, 18, 20 are to be affixed, and overall furniture aesthetics. Thus, while this disclosure discusses fastening the material layers 16, 18, 20 to specific areas of one embodiment of an arm panel frame 14, it is understood by those with skill in the relevant art that the material layers 16, 18, 20 can be fastened to any location on the arm panel frame 14, or on other components of the furniture frame 80, or other embodiments of arm panel frames so long as the structure or operation fall within the scope of the disclosure.
While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail. It is understood however, that the intention is not to limit the application to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling with the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that various embodiments can comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the claims can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art.
References to “embodiment(s)”, “disclosure”, “present disclosure”, “embodiment(s) of the disclosure”, “disclosed embodiments”, and the like contained herein refer to the specification (text, including the claims, and figures) of this patent application that are not admitted prior art.
For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in the respective claim.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/244,046 filed Oct. 20, 2015. Said application is incorporated by reference herein.
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