US3706473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structural module and furniture or other structures formed therefrom
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-10
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1991-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A structural module and furniture constructed using the same, wherein preformed blocks of resilient or elastomeric material, preferably having rounded edges, with openings for connecting the blocks to others into structural assemblies are utilized to form seating or reclining furniture structures. The blocks are also preferably formed with a smooth exterior skin or a plastic film coating which may be applied by immersion or by spraying. Rods or flexible members may be used to join the blocks. The blocks may be formed as cubes with the openings disposed along one axis, two axes or three axes passing through substantially the center of the cube, or may be blocks elongated along one or two axes, with suitable openings formed therein.
Inventors
- 👤 John W Mullen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:24
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/02; A47C7/024; A47B; A47B87/00; A47B87/007; A47C13/00; A47C13/005; A47C3/00; A47C3/16; A47C5/00; A47C5/12; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/405; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A structural module comprising: a resilient body of elastomeric material in a substantially rectangular shape; at least one transverse aperture means opening between at least one pair of two opposed faces of said rectangular body and having slightly flared ends at the opposed faces, said ends of said aperture means opening through each of said opposed faces at a point spaced equidistant from at least three edges of each said opposed face, said aperture means comprising the sole aperture means opening between said opposed faces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A structural module comprising: a resilient body of elastomeric material in a substantially rectangular shape; at least one transverse aperture means opening between at least one pair of two opposed faces of said rectangular body and having slightly flared ends at the opposed faces, said ends of said aperture means opening through each of said opposed faces at a point spaced equidistant from at least three edges of each said opposed face, said aperture means comprising the sole aperture means opening between said opposed faces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein: a plurality of transverse aperture means are formed in said rectangular body opening between a plurality of pairs of opposing faces at points on each of said opposed faces spaced equidistant from at least three edges of said faces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein: the rectangular body is formed with a uniform dense exterior surface providing a substantially imperforate exposed skin on all exterior surfaces of the rectangular body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein: the rectangular body is provided with a coating of thin resilient flexible plastic sealing the same and providing a relatively impervious exterior skin on the exposed surfaces of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is formed internally hollow with resilient load supporting walls defining its outer surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A structural module comprising: a body of foamed, resilient, high density elastomeric material in a substantially cubical shape; at least one transverse aperture aligned axially between two opposed faces of said cubical shape and having slightly flared ends at the opposed faces opening at a point on each of said faces spaced equidistant from all edges of each said face, said aperture comprising the only opening on each face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A structural module comprising: a body of foamed, resilient, high density elastomeric material in a substantially cubical shape; at least one transverse aperture aligned axially between two opposed faces of said cubical shape and having slightly flared ends at the opposed faces opening at a point on each of said faces spaced equidistant from all edges of each said face, said aperture comprising the only opening on each face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 6, wherein: a plurality of axially extending transverse apertures are formed in said cubical body extending between a plurality of pairs of opposing faces and passing adjacent each other in the central portion of the body without intersecting, each end of each of said apertures opening at a point on each of said pair of opposed faces spaced equidistant from all edges of said faces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 6, wherein: the cubical body is provided with three separate axially extending transverse apertures each extending between a separate pair of opposed faces and passing each other without intersecting at the mid-portion of the body and opening through the mid-portion of each of said pair of opposed faces of said cubical body at a point equidistant from the edges of said faces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the rectangular body is formed internally hollow with resilient load supporting walls forming its outer surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structural module of the charaCter set forth in claim 6, wherein: the cubical body is formed with a uniform dense exterior surface providing a substantially imperforate exposed skin on all exterior surfaces of the cubical body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A structure comprising: a plurality of abutting substantially rectangular structural body modules each having at least one transverse aperture means opening between two opposed faces of said body module at a point spaced equidistant from at least three edges of each of said opposed faces and disposed to be aligned with the aperture means of the abutting modules; securing means extending through the aligned aperture means of a plurality of abutting structural modules and projecting from the opposed exterior surfaces of the outer modules of such plurality of rectangular structural body modules; and securing means on said connecting means securing the connecting means in place extending through the aperture means of the structural modules to hold said modules in connected condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A structure comprising: a plurality of abutting substantially rectangular structural body modules each having at least one transverse aperture means opening between two opposed faces of said body module at a point spaced equidistant from at least three edges of each of said opposed faces and disposed to be aligned with the aperture means of the abutting modules; securing means extending through the aligned aperture means of a plurality of abutting structural modules and projecting from the opposed exterior surfaces of the outer modules of such plurality of rectangular structural body modules; and securing means on said connecting means securing the connecting means in place extending through the aperture means of the structural modules to hold said modules in connected condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure of the character set forth in claim 11, wherein: each of said structural modules is formed of a body of foamed, resilient, high density elastomeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A piece of furniture comprising: a plurality of structural modules of the character set forth in claim 1 disposed in abutting relationship with at least one aperture means of each module aligned with at least one aperture means of the abutting modules to be joined together to provide a horizontal seating or reclining surface; and connecting means extending through the aligned aperture means of abutting modules to project from the exposed outer surfaces of the abutting plurality of modules for securing said modules in said abutting condition to hold the same connected together to provide such supporting surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
A piece of furniture of the character set forth in claim 13 wherein: additional structural modules are disposed in abutting relationship with selected ones of the plurality of the modules forming the supporting surface with at least one aperture means of said additional modules aligned with at least one aperture means of said abutting seating surface modules to provide arm and back rests; and connecting means extending through the aligned aperture means of said additional structural modules and of said abutting seating surface modules to hold the same connected together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
A piece of furniture comprising: a plurality of structural modules each formed of a body of foamed resilient high density elastomeric material in a substantially cubical shape; each of said modules having at least one transverse opening extending between opposed exposed faces thereof and opening through said opposed faces at points equidistant from the edges of each said face, said modules being disposed in abutting relationship in a plurality of parallel rows with the transverse openings of of abutting modules aligned; connecting means in said aligned transverse openings of said abutting modules joining said plurality of modules in said plurality of parallel rows forming a supporting surface and back or arm rests; and securing means securing said connecting means against displacement from connecting position in said transverse openings to hold said cubical modules in such parallel rows.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
137 words
A piece of furniture comprising: a plurality of structural modules each formed of a body of foamed resilient high density elastomeric material in a substantially cubical shape; each of said modules having at least one transverse opening extending between opposed exposed faces thereof and opening through said opposed faces at points equidistant from the edges of each said face, said modules being disposed in abutting relationship in a plurality of parallel rows with the transverse openings of of abutting modules aligned; connecting means in said aligned transverse openings of said abutting modules joining said plurality of modules in said plurality of parallel rows forming a supporting surface and back or arm rests; and securing means securing said connecting means against displacement from connecting position in said transverse openings to hold said cubical modules in such parallel rows.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein: a second pair of said opposed faces of said rectangular body have longitudinal dimensions twice the transverse dimension of said second pair of opposed faces; and at least one second aperture means opens between said second pair of opposed faces at a point spaced equidistant from at least three edges of each of said opposed faces of said second pair of opposed faces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 16 wherein said two opposed faces of said rectangular body through which said at least one transverse aperture means opens comprises a substantially square configuration having edges of equal length; and said second pair of said opposed faces Of said rectangular body have two transverse aperture means opening between said faces, each aperture being spaced from the three edges of said opposed faces adjacent the transverse edges thereof a distance equidistant from said three edges.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
107 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 16 wherein: said third pair of opposed faces comprising said substantially rectangular shaped body are formed with longitudinal and transverse dimensions each equal to the longitudinal dimension of said second pair of opposed faces of said rectangular body; and at least one transverse aperture means opens between said third pair of opposed faces at a point spaced from two adjacent convergent edges of said third pair of faces a distance equal to the distance which said at least one transverse aperture means is spaced from the three edges of said two opposed faces of said rectangular body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
A structural module of the character set forth in claim 18 wherein: said second pair of opposed faces is provided with two transverse aperture means opening between said second pair of opposed faces each spaced from the three edges of said opposed faces adjacent the transverse edges thereof a distance equidistant from said three edges; and said third pair of opposed faces is provided with four aperture means opening between said opposed faces and disposed at points adjacent the four corners of said faces spaced equidistant from the two convergent edges forming said corners a distance equal to the distance which said two transverse aperture means are spaced from said at least three edges of said second pair of opposed faces of said rectangular body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |