US4124251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular furniture construction
Assignee: BURD Inc HOWELL DIV
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Filing: 1977-09-20
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Granted: 1978-11-07
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Expires: 1997-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A modular system of furniture components avoiding the necessity for cumbersome, heavy frames, has end leg modules connected by seat and back modules with finished panel modules mounted on the outer sides of the leg modules. The seat and back modules have rigid frames mounted on ledges of the end leg modules. The back module frame is also secured near its top to the end leg modules. The end panels seat within the end legs to cover the ends of the seat and back modules. The seat, back, and end panel modules can be upholstered and designed as desired and the module components can be shipped in a knocked down condition to be easily assembled at the point of use.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren D. Petersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:26
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C4/00; A47C4/02; A47C4/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An article of furniture comprising a pair of laterally spaced tubular metal end frames each having front and rear legs connected by an upright looped back portion and a forwardly extending substantially horizontal portion, an angle strip secured at its ends to the leg portions of each end frame spanning the space between the leg portions below the horizontal portion and having one of its legs projecting toward the other end frame to provide a support ledge, a seat unit spanning the space between the end frames resting on and secured to the ledges of said angle strips, a back unit spanning the space between the end frames resting on and secured to the ledges of said angle strips rearwardly from the seat unit, brackets secured to the upright looped back portion near the top thereof, fasteners securing the upper portions of the back unit to said brackets, and end panel units fitting in the tubular metal end frames secured to said angle strips and brackets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
An article of furniture comprising a pair of laterally spaced tubular metal end frames each having front and rear legs connected by an upright looped back portion and a forwardly extending substantially horizontal portion, an angle strip secured at its ends to the leg portions of each end frame spanning the space between the leg portions below the horizontal portion and having one of its legs projecting toward the other end frame to provide a support ledge, a seat unit spanning the space between the end frames resting on and secured to the ledges of said angle strips, a back unit spanning the space between the end frames resting on and secured to the ledges of said angle strips rearwardly from the seat unit, brackets secured to the upright looped back portion near the top thereof, fasteners securing the upper portions of the back unit to said brackets, and end panel units fitting in the tubular metal end frames secured to said angle strips and brackets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
An article of furniture composed of individual modules adapted to be assembled in side by side relation which comprises end frames each having front and rear legs, an upright back portion, and a substantially horizontal portion connecting the front legs with the back portion, a rigid angle strip secured at its ends to the front and rear legs of each frame and spanning the space therebetween at a level below the horizontal portion thereof, said angle strips having inwardly facing support ledges under the horizontal portions connecting the back and leg portions, back and seat modules resting on and secured to said ledges, panels nested in the end frames providing finished ends for the article of furniture, and fasteners securing the panels to the angle strips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
An article of furniture composed of individual modules adapted to be assembled in side by side relation which comprises end frames each having front and rear legs, an upright back portion, and a substantially horizontal portion connecting the front legs with the back portion, a rigid angle strip secured at its ends to the front and rear legs of each frame and spanning the space therebetween at a level below the horizontal portion thereof, said angle strips having inwardly facing support ledges under the horizontal portions connecting the back and leg portions, back and seat modules resting on and secured to said ledges, panels nested in the end frames providing finished ends for the article of furniture, and fasteners securing the panels to the angle strips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A chair comprising end frame modules, a back module, a seat module, said modules having rigid frames with base boards, ledges on the end frame modules supporting the base boards of the back and seat modules, and fasteners anchoring the base boards of the seat and back modules on said ledges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A chair comprising end frame modules, a back module, a seat module, said modules having rigid frames with base boards, ledges on the end frame modules supporting the base boards of the back and seat modules, and fasteners anchoring the base boards of the seat and back modules on said ledges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein each of said units is finished individually for selective attachment to the end frames.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the back and seat units have rigid frames with bottoms resting on the ledges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the horizontal portions of the end frames form arm rests above the seat unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the horizontal portions of the end frames are substantially level with the top of the seat unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein each of the frames and units are substantially flat and are adapted to be stacked for shipment in a compact package for assembly at the point of delivery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of furniture of claim 1 wherein the seat unit has a frame composed of a top board, a back board, a bottom board, ribs connecting the top and bottom boards, and end boards secured to the ribs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of furniture of claim 2 wherein the back module, the seat module and the panels are upholstered.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of furniture of claim 2 wherein the end frames are bent tubes with inverted U-shaped tops.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of furniture of claim 11 including brackets in the U-shaped tops and fasteners securing the top of the back module to said brackets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of furniture of claim 2 wherein the modules are easily assembled by screws at the point of use.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of furniture of claim 2 wherein the panels are secured to the end frames by blind fasteners.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The chair of claim 3 wherein the end frame modules are bent tubing having upstanding front and rear legs, an inverted U-shaped back and a portion joining the front leg with the back.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The chair of claim 15 wherein said portion is an arm rest.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair of claim 15 wherein said portion is substantially flush with the top of the seat module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The chair of claim 3 wherein the ledges are legs of angle strips.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The chair of claim 3 including end panel modules secured to the end frame modules.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The chair of claim 19 wherein the end frame modules are bent tubing and the panel modules are nested therein.
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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) | 1981-11-06 | 1982-05-08 | 1982-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-06 | 1986-05-08 | 1986-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-06 | 1990-05-08 | 1990-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |